#slow burn but they jump each other all the time lol

[i2ycat]

Trouble is a Band

synopsis being in a band was all you ever wanted, and so when you were able to fly across the globe to join your brother’s high school band, you jumped at the opportunity to show everyone everything that you’ve got. singing in a band? check. performing in front of a crowd? check. falling in love with your brother’s best friend, who is in a complicated relationship with one of your fellow bandmates? check?

pairing park jongseong x fem!reader genre high school!au, kind of band!au, fluff, angst, friends to lovers, brothers best friend trope, slow burn-ish? word count 7.5k warnings implied sexual relationships (there’s no smut), kind of an implied fwb situation, liking someone who is taken(??), mentions of toxic relationships, bitchy character lol, cursing, kissing, nicknames (princess, baby), semi-proofread, lmk if i missed anything else lyn speaking i’ve been writing this for like 2 months and even lost sleep over this, the real ones know ☝🏻 idk why but this was much harder to write compared to my heeseung one… and this is not my best work, wouldn’t say i’m entirely proud of this i’m ngl so i won’t be too surprised if this flops </3 also this got me thinking ab jay and guitars wayyyy too much main masterlist

reblogs and comments are very much appreciated!

“Are the schools here always up a damn hill?” You heave out an exasperated pant, your legs burning from the early morning cardio you definitely weren’t prepared for, or even expecting for that matter.

The summer sun is so unforgiving that in under ten minutes, you’ve become such a sweaty mess that you’re furiously sweating from every possible angle; your uniform practically drenched from your back and underarm areas. A layer of perspiration sheens the expanse of your forehead and it results in you resembling something the likes of Abby from Chicken Little as individual strands of hair stuck to it like glue.

You look over at an unbothered Jake with his hair still perfectly intact and looking as if he had just walked out of Vogue magazine. You scoff at this.

The only things you and Jake had in common were having the same last names, a slight similarity in facial structures, and maybe a shared interest in band music but that was about it. You’ve had totally different upbringings up until now, with you having lived in France while he was in Australia, and soon after, in Sokor. You were apart for most of your childhood, only seeing each other for vacations and special occasions, like that one time Aunt Jung had her outdoor wedding in Barcelona and you’d met Jake and your mother at the airport out of pure coincidence.

But despite the distance, it didn’t deter the both of you from being as close as you guys are, still making the effort to talk almost every day, even if you were drained from school. You remembered nights when you would call up Jake just to rant to him about boys — yes, multiple — you were talking to while he ate lunch on the other side of the world.

However, other than just being brought up differently, you guys were total opposites. If Jake was known to be the golden retriever with his high energy, bright smiles, and friendly dispositions, then you would be considered the chihuahua — closed-off and somewhat sarcastic. You didn’t have a social circle as expansive as Jake's because you liked to be alone. People have always told you that you had this brooding aura about you, and you could never tell if they were complimenting or insulting you.

“You get used to it,” Jake simply shrugs, adjusting the straps of his bag in a manner that did not mirror yours in any capacity. It was ridiculous how not even a single drop of sweat was in sight. “Now hurry it up! If we walk any slower, we might actually be late.” He drags you by the arm, to which you inwardly groan, already regretting the fact that you transferred to a pseudo-gym of a school in the dead of summer.

—

Transferring to an entirely different school system definitely posed itself as an inevitable challenge at first, but even then, half a day passed you by uncharacteristically fast. It might have been because you were sleeping through the majority of your morning classes, unable to totally grasp or get used to your supposed mother tongue just yet, that made time pass seemingly faster.

That, coupled with the fact you never functioned properly in the morning in the first place thanks to your night owl tendencies.

You’d spent most of your life conversing in either English or French, rendering your skills in your own mother tongue to an intermediate level at best. You could, at the very least, listen and understand it to a certain degree but not speak it as well as Jake does. You were only able to communicate with simple sentences and the few swear words and phrases your father used whenever he was lecturing you.

A day before your flight back home, you’d even attempted to touch up on your language skills with the help of your father and a facetimed version of your brother and mother, but it was already too late then. You were a lost cause. You definitely don’t blame your parents for your inability to speak the language, but rather, you blame your own lack of enthusiasm to learn it on your own in the first place.

“Y/n, right?” You rub the sleepiness from your eyes away as your gaze averts to the girl standing in front of your desk. She, with her neatly braided hair and black rims, sported a welcoming smile that gave you the impression of a class president. Maybe she was; you haven’t been paying attention to anything the teacher said since this morning.

You slowly nod, “Yeah, I am.”

“I’m Mia, the class vice president.” Okay, so your guess wasn’t entirely off the mark. You were only missing a word.

“Hi.” You purse your lips into a tight-lipped smile, unknowing of what to say next and silently wishing that your brother would come get you faster. Why did his classroom have to be so far from yours? Did the administration really think you could handle all this on your own?

In the painful silence, you were sure that this Mia girl could sense the awkwardness radiating from you with the way she’s trying so hard to keep the conversation afloat, probably thinking that you’re an introvert that doesn’t like approaching people first — which if it was any other day she would’ve be right on the money on but all you wanted right now was to be left alone to your own thoughts. You were still suffering from jet lag and time differences, and those two combined ran your social battery dry.

“Where’d you transfer from?”

“France.”

“You’re french?”

“No, I just moved there really young.”

“I see,” she said, nodding her head as if she were deep in thought. “I’ve always wanted to go to France.”

“It’s nice there.”

“So, can you speak-”

Before she can even finish her question, a blaring bang coming from the front door reverberates in your almost empty homeroom, save for yourself, Mia, and a group of friends in the back with their homemade lunches. You almost dropped to your knees to thank the heavens for hearing your prayers as you watched your brother's figure stand there, taking a moment to catch his breath as if he’d just finished running a marathon.

“Hey, Jake!” You damn near winced at Mia’s drastic change of voices in your brother’s presence. You were sure she had a deeper voice just a few seconds earlier, even having the same mezzo tone as you do. It definitely raised a few brows, but you weren’t the type to judge people too quickly, and you didn’t want to think that about such a sweet-looking girl.

Maybe she just had a crush on your brother; whatever it was, your senses were telling you that they were currently not in favour of Mia’s presence.

"Oh, hey, Mi. I see you’ve met my sister.” Jake acknowledges her before turning to you and saying, “Come on, we've got to go meet the others.” He beckons you towards him with a nod of his head, to which you happily oblige, just thankful that you don’t need to go through the rest of lunch with any more of Mia’s interrogation-style questioning.

You follow your brother after handing Mia a terse goodbye, attempting to at least have an amiable smile on your face in the process.

Even if Mia had more things she wanted to ask you, she put them aside on the backburner for a later date. Instead, opting to just wave you and Jake off with the same friendly grin she always has on.

When you’re out of earshot, making quick work to slide the door close behind you, you make your way beside Jake in quick strides. “You know her?”

“Obviously. Why?”

“Nothing.” You shrug the feelings of uncertainty off, not having the energy to try and dig anything up on the first day of school. “You said we’re meeting the others?”

“Yeah, my friends, you’ve seen them. They heard you were transferring here and really wanted to meet you.”

From the number of times you’ve called Jake during his school hours, you were bound to interact with a few of his friends, mainly the three youngest of the group: Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki. There would even be times he’d leave you alone with his friends while he went for a toilet break, and when he’d come back, you'd already be three months into the storyline with your then-current situationship.

You were obviously excited to finally meet them after only having talked to them via Jake’s phone. Throughout the four years, you’d like to think that you’ve created a connection with some of the boys, given that they already know so much about your life and you know theirs. The older ones, not so much, despite being much closer in age ranges.

Out of the four oldest, you’ve only managed to properly talk to Sunghoon. It was when you were on call crying to your brother about the fourth boy of the month, and Sunghoon just so happened to be going home with Jake that day. He’d eavesdropped on your conversation and offered you some advice, explaining that he had a sister of his own, as if that gave him the certification needed to meddle in your affairs.

You didn’t even know he was with Jake, let alone hearing you bawl your eyes out, blowing into copious amounts of tissues included, until he started going off about how boys are scary and that you shouldn’t trust them so easily. It startled you, almost making you scream, but you were grateful for his brotherly advice either way.

When the two of you finally make it towards the other end of the sixth floor, Jake slides the door to his homeroom open, and you’re immediately greeted with the view of six boys scattered around the empty classroom, a few having acoustic guitars and drumsticks in hand. This may sound cringy, but it reminded you of that one scene from Lemonade Mouth, where everyone was in the detention room and just communicating through the music. Except you weren’t in a detention room, and instead of singing, mindless chatter filled the space.

You’ve always daydreamed about being in a band, even going as far as attempting to create one of your own, but keyword: attempt. You obviously failed at doing so in your previous school because nobody likes being in bands nowadays, and your brother, knowing this, instantly jumped at the idea of adding you as their newest member.

He’d already gone through the logistics a week before you even officially transferred, coercing everyone in the band to agree to your addition, but truth be told, it didn’t even take that much toiling since everyone was just excited to finally meet you, and they'd already heard about how talented you are thanks to Jake’s endless bragging.

“She’s here!” Jake announces, prompting everyone to halt whatever it was they were doing and immediately jump at the sight of you gracing their homeroom entryway.

“Y/n!” Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki are the first ones to capture you in a big embrace, effectively squishing you under their hold. Is this what people feel when they finally meet an online friend?

The mixture of fulfilment and excitement bubbling inside you was hard to maintain levelled, spilling out of you in the form of a grin that extended from ear to ear. You considered these three your babies at this point, wanting to spoil and shower them with as much love and affection as an actual mother would. It didn’t matter if you were only a few months older than them, that’s wasn’t the point.

When you’re released from their embrace, you can finally see the rest standing there with a cordial expression plastered over their features. You must admit, you’ve always thought that Jake’s friends were all attractive and had a relative charm to them, but it’s even more apparent now that you’ve met them in real life. With their tall stature and undeniable talent, you could only imagine the long line of girls waiting for them.

As you start to scan the boys one by one, you catch yourself gravitating towards Jay. He’s donning the school uniform, the same exact ones that the rest are, but he makes it so uniquely his by unbuttoning it to show the black shirt underneath and cuffing the sleeves until it reaches his forearms.

From the plethora of Instagram stories you’ve seen about Jay, you knew that Jay was into fashion and occasionally designed the outfits the guys wore onto stage. And as a fashion guru yourself, you applauded his impeccable style, finding yourself in constant awe of the effortless aura and innate ability for fashion that he possessed.

It also didn’t help that he was totally up your alley in terms of physical attractiveness. The others were pretty and charming in their own way, yes, but Jay had you hooked the moment Jake posted that photo of him fresh out of the beach, with tan skin and wet hair, looking like a damn Greek god.

Did you mention that you’ve also watched an unhealthy amount of videos of Jay playing the guitar? Because you have and it made getting attracted to him so much easier. Even through the screen, you could just tell that he was in his element, like he was born to perform as the passion he had for the instrument oozed out. Everything about him was just so mesmerising; you’re sure that you’re not the only one who sees that.

The timeline is blurry but from then on, you’d developed a small, insignificant crush on him, one that you didn’t bother mentioning to your brother because you were scared he would force you to act on it, even when you weren’t sure if you liked him enough to want to date him. You haven’t even properly met the guy at that point.

To you, it was simply an attraction. One that you’d get over in about a month because it’s what you always do.

“Hey, guys.” You wave.

“You’re awfully shorter than I thought you would be.” Riki says this from beside you, silently mocking you for all the times you’ve challenged him about his height.

“Of course you would say that.” You playfully roll your eyes. “You’re obsessed with your height, Riks; we get it.”

"Okay, back off, guys. That’s my little sister you guys are hogging.” Jake shoos the younger boys away with a flick of his hand, to which they dejectedly comply, making way for you to enter further into the classroom. “What was on our agenda again? Right, Y/n’s position in the band.”

“We could use another guitarist.” Sunoo muses, with Jungwon and Sunghoon silently agreeing on the side.

“Nah, we already have Jay and you for that.” Your brother shakes his head. “Wait, speaking of Jay, where’s Jiwon? You said she’d be here when I came back.” At this, all eyes shift towards Jay, who simply shrugs.

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t tell me you guys are having a lover's quarrel again.” Heeseung sighs. Your ears immediately perk up at the mention of Jay, Jiwon, and a lover's quarrel in the same sentence. Confusion starts to pervade your stomach.

Huh? When did they start dating? You thought Jiwon was only a close friend.

You’ve only ever heard of Jiwon, not once seeing her face in Jake’s stories or any of the others. All the information you had on her was that she was the same age as you and played the keys for the band. Jungwon, Sunoo, and Riki mentioned her once or twice, but it was more of them complaining about her. Other than that, it was as if her existence evaded you completely.

“The third one this month, mind you.” Riki quips.

“It’s only the second week of the month, though.” Jake’s mouth gapes at the fact that his best friend is still willing to go through such a toxic relationship, or whatever it was, even when she limits the people around him until she’s the only one left in his life, when they constantly fight over the smallest things, or even when she encourages him to drop his best friends. He doesn’t understand what’s so good about Jiwon that’s got Jay under her spell, and he doesn’t want to know either.

“Can we just drop it?”

Your brother puts his hands up in defeat and says, “Whatever you say, bro.”

An awkward air of silence starts to permeate the air, and by now, you’re sure someone could cut through the tension with a knife.

You clear your throat before saying, “Is it okay if I’m just a singer?” in an attempt to divert the conversation back to its original agenda, which thankfully works because the others start talking, adding in their own thoughts here and there. And by the time lunch ends, you’re officially set as the band’s lead singer and lyricist.

Finding out about Jay and Jiwon’s relationship made you realise just how little you know about these guys, only having talked to them through FaceTime and watching them live their lives through snippets of Jake’s Instagram.

The warmth and familiarity you were initially met with made you completely forget that you only officially met these guys today. They were all, to some extent, still strangers to you.

—

A few hours of school turned into two weeks, and two weeks into a month. By now, you’ve gotten more than used to everyone’s dynamics and energy, though it was still a little too high for you at times. You were thankful that your brother was there whenever you couldn’t communicate your feelings and thoughts as well as you wanted to, and for the rest for being so understanding.

All of this was a dream come true for you, truly. Ever since your father introduced you to the world of music, you’ve dreamt of being in a band yourself, singing your own songs in front of people, and feeling the music course through you as you stand on the stage.

But no matter how much you wanted to saturate your mind with happier, less confusing thoughts, it always seemed to circle back to the same thing: Jay and Jiwon.

Over the course of a month, you’ve managed to interact with Jiwon on several occasions, each lasting around a minute. They consisted of mostly quick pleasantries, instructions, and the rare ‘how are you’s? She wasn’t cold but not entirely friendly either, which you totally get because it’s not like you were any different.

Throughout the majority of the breaks in between practice sessions, she stuck by Jay’s side, engaging in playful and flirtatious banter that the boys would secretly roll their eyes at. You’d asked your brother why everyone seemed to not like seeing Jay and Jiwon together, but he simply shrugged you off, leaving you with even more questions.

“Hey, Y/n.” You look up from your notebook to see Mia, who you’ve wrongly assumed was a pick-me at first, cheerfully greeting you.

Somewhere along the line, she’d bashfully admitted to you that she liked your brother. It definitely explained the change in personalities and voices whenever he was around, but it didn’t make you want to recoil any less. She was a good-natured girl who hated letting anyone down, so when she asked for a favour from you — one that involved you setting her up with your brother — there was just no way you could decline. If she wanted to date your brother, you would happily aid her in that.

Which brought you to a now-blooming friendship.

“Hi, Mi.” You managed to reciprocate her energy.

“You’re having band practice today, right?” She asks with a tilt of her head, to which you nod. A beat passes before she bites her lip in anticipation. “Is it okay if I come watch?”

From the way her eyes glowed with hope, you could immediately tell that she only had one mission in mind: to see Jake. “You’re not being very discreet with this,” you chuckle, endeared by her amateurish antics. “But, sure. Practice starts at 4.” Hearing this, she immediately clasps her hand into yours, thanking you as if you just saved her entire bloodline.

She leaves you to your own accord not soon after being called by the teacher, “I’ll be there!”

With twenty minutes to spare and no one to spend it with, seeing as your brother was busy with lunch detention and your three babies had a student council meeting to attend to, you decided to make your merry way towards the practice room with your notebook in hand.

Pushing the door open, the view of Jay playing the guitar by the window warmly greets you. You're awestruck by the way he strums the chords so effortlessly, filling your ears with the most beautiful progressions you’ve ever heard, like it was heaven’s sonata. You would’ve loved to just stand there all day and relish in the intimate moment he’s created in the dingy room, but it only takes a few seconds before Jay inevitably notices your figure by the door.

“Y/n?”

“Sorry, I didn’t think anyone would be here right now.” You take a step back, ready to shut the door close behind you, but before you could move even an inch, Jay refused, instead asking you if you could keep him company. “You want me to stay?”

“I mean, why not?” He pats the space beside him and scoots over.

Your steps are hesitant, somehow alarmed by the prospects of Pandora's box in your heart breaking open the moment you decide to sit next to him. But it was just a simple, friendly act, so what could possibly go wrong here? You push those thoughts away and plop yourself on the cushioned window seat, leaving just enough space between you and him.

“So, why are you here?” He asks you as he carefully sets the guitar back on the floor.

“Everyone else was busy,” You could feel Jay’s intense watch on you, and you couldn’t help but feel the burning sensation on your skin. Just being in his presence alone was already making you feel hot; your cheeks were heating up in the process. “How about you?” You just wanted him to stop looking at you, because you wouldn’t know what to do if he noticed just how he was making you feel.

“Me?” He hums. “I guess I just wanted some peace and quiet.”

“Oh, am I disturbing your peace and quiet? I could leave right now.”

“You don’t have to be so antsy. I’m not going to bite you, ya’know?” He chuckles, clearly amused by your response. “And besides, you’re giving me peace by just being here.”

“I see.” You nod slowly as you bite your lip in an attempt to get a better hold of your nerves. There was absolutely no need to be so nervous around your brother’s best friend.

“I just realised something,”

“What?” You shift in your seat to get a better look at him.

“This is the first time we’ve ever had a one-on-one talk.”

“Yeah, I wonder why.” You retort, and he raises an eyebrow at this.

“What do you mean by that?” His head tilts at an angle, looking at you with those deep-set eyes of his. You can try to deny it all you want, but the skip in your heartbeat is hard to mistake; it’s not a feeling you’re stranger to.

“I don’t know; you never seem to talk with anyone else other than Jiwon during practice, so it’s no wonder we’ve never actually talked before.”

“Wow, you’re sounding a little salty there.” Jay’s lips form a lopsided smirk after noticing the defensive expression that adorned your features. “Nah, I’m just toying with you.” The airy laugh he lets out does little to nothing to soothe the chaos that ensues in your heart and mind.

“For your information, I am not salty. It’s just a bummer that you never really tried forming a closer friendship with anyone else in the band.”

“It’s not that I haven’t tried." He mumbles.

“Sorry?”

He shakes his head and says, “It’s nothing.”

A comfortable silence engulfs the air between both of you before Jay continues, “Hey, since you’re so salty about me not giving you my attention, how about I buy you ice cream tomorrow?”

“First of all, I am not salty. And second of all, it wasn’t that-”

"So, is it a no?”

You narrow your eyes at him. “If you admit that I’m not salty, then maybe I’ll agree to it.”

“You’re not really in the position to be giving me a challenge, seeing as I’m the one offering you free food,” he bites down a simper. “But fine, your highness, I hereby declare you not salty.” He adds a curt bow for the dramatics, and you can’t help but roll your eyes in faux annoyance.

“You’re so annoying.” You huff out.

“If you’re going to be in our band, you’re going to need more tolerance and patience than that.”

You could feel yourself slowly letting your guard down in Jay’s presence. The playful and witty banter he offered you made you feel like you’ve known him longer than you actually do, and it felt nice.

It felt almost too nice to be around him. But like everything else in your life, this feeling too shall pass. He has a girlfriend, for Christ's sake. So you better make sure that it will.

—

With your head resting on your hand, you silently watched the busy street beside you. When you first came to Korea, it was summer, but now that the leaves were starting to turn orange little by little, you could tell that it was nearing your favourite season of the year — autumn. To you, everything felt just a little more romantic under the autumn leaves and the cool breeze that hangs in the air.

“Were you waiting long?” Jay’s voice snaps you out of your thoughts, and you quickly shake your head. “Sorry, Ji wanted me to teach her this riff on the guitar.” He pulls the seat out in front of you to sit, and you take the opportunity to sneak a longing glance at him: tousled hair, swollen lips, an untucked collar. It definitely looked like he did more than just teach her chords, but you bite your tongue.

It was none of your business.

“Did you order already?” He flips through the menu of desserts.

“No, I was going to, but I realised I didn’t know what flavours you liked.”

“Sorry,” He passes you a sheepish smile. “I’m going to go on a whim here and guess that you like Rocky Road.”

You raise an impressed brow. “How’d you know?”

“I just know you like that.”

“We’ve known each other for 3 weeks, Jay.”

“Okay, damn. You really do wound me,” a hand raises to his chest, feigning hurt. “Okay, now you guess what flavour I like.”

You ponder over for a while but decide to just settle on the most basic flavour of all, “Vanilla?” His face visibly falters at your answer; you could almost make out a pout forming on his kiss-bitten lips.

“Wow, I could tell the amount of thought you put into that.” His sarcastic claps boom throughout the modest ice cream parlour, earning him dirty looks from the few customers at the neighbouring tables.

“So you don’t like vanilla?”

He crosses his arms and asks, “What do you think?”

“Ugh, this conversation is going nowhere; go order it yourself.” You groan out, rising on your feet to order on your own.

“Calm down, princess; I’ll go order it.” Before you could protest, he'd already made a beeline for the cashier.

Princess? That was new. Oh, who were you kidding? All of this was fucking new.

A feeling of internal turmoil starts to bubble violently, like a seething kettle waiting to be opened. You hated how he was so nonchalant about everything. And you hated how he unknowingly made you feel things you shouldn’t feel. It felt awfully wrong on so many levels, but this thing was just a friendly gesture, a payback, if you will. There was nothing wrong with hanging out with your brother’s best friend on a Thursday evening, even if you held an underlying attraction for said friend, right?

“Here, one Rocky Road for your highness, and one good ol’ vanilla ice cream for her loyal servant.”

“So you do like vanilla ice cream,” you scoff.

“I never said I didn’t.” He shrugged. “Woah, this might actually be the best vanilla I’ve ever tasted. Try it!” He scoops a chunk out for you to taste, which you politely decline. There was a certain line you didn’t want to cross, no matter how insignificant and innocent the gesture might’ve been. Maybe you were thinking too hard, but it would’ve been weird for you to share an indirect kiss with a taken man, even if he was your brother’s best friend. “Hm, your loss then.”

The both of you remained in silence with the dulcet melodies of Wave to Earth playing in the background, and it served as a pleasant companion to the overly complicated noise in your head, all caused by the boy sitting a few feet from you.

“I’ve been meaning to tell you.” Jay’s voice pulls you out of your own mind, causing you to look up at him expectantly. “You have a really beautiful voice.” His warm smile shoots you in the heart, right where you know it shouldn’t. It was just a simple compliment, one that you’ve heard plenty of times before, yet it sounded so good coming from him. It almost made you want to keep proving yourself to him so you could keep hearing him praise you like that.

“Thank you,” You bite the insides of your cheek as a way to chide yourself. Just why were you so easily affected by everything he says and does?

“I really want you to sing this song I’m writing. I mean, I’m not totally done yet, but I wrote it with your voice in mind. It’s for the upcoming music festival.” He pulls out his phone and earphones from his pocket, sliding his chair closer to yours and offering an earpiece, which you cautiously take.

You straighten your back in an effort to keep yourself focused, not wanting to mind the way his shoulders are pushed up against yours, or the way you could practically make out every single feature on his face, or the fact that you would’ve felt his breath fan against your face if he turned even just a bit to the left. You needed to physically force yourself to focus solely on the music.

Don’t mind the confusion.

The sense of focusing.

The only sure thing is you.

So now, put it all behind.

I’m just going to walk according to how my heart beats.

Fatal trouble.

Jay’s voice fills your ears, alongside Jungwon and Sunghoon’s. You could appreciate their heavenly voices all day, but the striking lyrics seemed to be the main reason for taking your breath away. It sounded as if they were speaking to your troubled thoughts right in the face, slithering around you to tempt you into falling deeper. Deeper into what? You didn’t want to even think about it. 

"So, what do you think?”

“It's... it’s good.”

“That’s it?”

“What did you want me to say?”

“No need to get so feisty, princess.” He ruffles your hair, and you sigh, feeling the overwhelming defeat take over you because, no matter how much you wanted to fight the feeling, you knew that all your efforts would come crashing down anyway.

You were a weak woman with many faults, and being attracted to someone who is so painfully taken is the biggest one of them all.

—

With only a few weeks left until the school’s music festival, it’s no surprise that everyone has been on edge, but particularly so with Jay and Jiwon. Anyone with a pair of eyes could tell they were going through a rough patch in their relationship right now, made apparent by the abnormal amount of distance between them and the lack of flirtatious banter filling the room.

Every practice session was filled with the suffocating tension that made practicing so much more exhausting, and Jake had had enough of it.

“I know you guys are having yet another lover's quarrel, but can you guys quit it? We have a festival coming up, and we can’t afford to have both of your immature asses fucking this up for us.” Your brother’s stern voice shakes the entire room. He was usually never the one to get mad at people, so it felt unusual to see this side of Jake.

“We’re not lovers,” Jiwon retorts as her fingers mindlessly hover over the keys on the keyboard. She tilts her head at Jay and says, “He made very sure of that.”

“Look, it doesn’t matter what the fuck you guys are or not; I just need you guys to keep it civil for the sake of our performance, if not our team.”

“Oh, fuck off. As if you guys have ever even tried keeping it civil with me,” Jiwon seethes, the dark chuckle of complete disbelief she lets out hanging heavy in the air. “Yeah, I see the way you guys roll your eyes at me, and I hear the way you guys bitch about me behind my back too. I’m not fucking blind, Jake.”

You could see the way everyone shifts uncomfortably in their spots, and you can’t help but do so too.

“Quit it, Ji.” Jay’s attempts at getting Jiwon’s rampage to stop proved futile, as it only spurred her on.

“Shut up, Jay. I know the only reason you refuse to make it official is because you started liking your best friend’s little sister over me.” As soon as she dropped the bomb, all eyes darted towards Jay, who only stared at Jiwon. His jaw ticks in what you could only surmise as vexation, with the evidence of it starting to sprawl across his features. “What, baby? Cat got your tongue?” Jiwon sneers.

“Jiwon, if you’re not going to contribute anything to the band, you can just go home.” Sunghoon speaks as he points to the exit.

“I was planning to anyway,” she says, picking up her bag from the floor. “I am so fucking done with this, and you guys are all fucked.” With that, the door behind Jiwon shuts with a deafening bang.

The eight of you remain frozen in your spots with the shock of it all coursing through your veins like a hot iron. You needed a minute or two to even begin to assimilate whatever the fuck just went down.

When she said that Jay liked you over her, she meant it as a friend, right? There’s no way it meant anything more than that, right? Why does he keep confusing you? Why did he have to have your heart right in the palm of his hand? You felt your head start to pound the more you thought about it, and you just wanted to escape from it all.

—

Life since you joined your brother’s band has been everything you’ve ever imagined and more. You were finally able to meet people you called your family; you were able to sing your heart away on stages the way you always wanted to; and you were able to feel alive in a way you couldn’t when you were in France. But it didn’t stop there. You fell in love — a little too hard at that — and now you were suffering the consequences of that.

You had a track record for falling in love way too easily with people, as evident by your long list of situationships turned relationships, so when you found yourself staring at Jay for a bit too long, you weren’t entirely alarmed because you knew you’d be able to get over it in a few weeks. It was no biggie, or so you thought.

After Jiwon’s official departure from the band, the overall atmosphere had lifted and everyone was back to their normal selves; Sunoo and Sunghoon were back to bickering, and Jungwon and Riki were back to hogging you. Heeseung occasionally joined in sessions despite the senior duties that called for his presence. Jake and Jay, on the other hand, were preparing diligently for the festival, working on the song non-stop. It’s because of that that you haven’t been seeing either of them lately, which you were thankful for because it gave you time to really think. Think about whether Jay liked you as a friend or in a romantic sense.

“You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” Mia nudges you in the arm. She knows you like the back of her hand at this point, given the amount of time she’s spent at your practices. It’s thanks to your cupid skills that your brother and her have been spending much more time together inside and out of the practice room, and despite either of them telling you that they’re just friends, you know better than that.

You sigh, knowing that it’s no use lying to her. “Is it that obvious?”

"Oh, baby, it’s written all over your face.” Her neatly manicured fingers push loose strands of hair out of your face just before squishing your cheeks in an endearing manner. “Talk to me about it.”

“Ugh, I don’t know.” She gives you a knowing look. “It’s just... that I liked him for so long, thinking that he was taken, and I felt so fucking guilty for it. Then the whole ‘Jiwon leaving’ thing happened, and now I’m all confused. Honestly, there hasn’t been a moment where Jay hasn’t confused me. Everything he says and does just makes me want to scream, ‘What the fuck are we!’ but I know he’s just doing it because we’re friends or whatever.

I mean, he literally calls me princess. How does he not expect me to not feel things? It’s so damn frustrating. I thought I would be able to get over these feelings before winter started, but here we are in the dead of winter, and I’m still helplessly pining over my brother’s best friend, like a damn loser.”

Everything you’ve been holding since you transferred here finally threatens to spill out, and by now, you just couldn’t help the tears from lining your eyes and your throat from constricting.

“Oh, my Y/n.” She embraces you in a hug and connects her forehead with yours; it only eggs you on to fully succumb to your emotions, and so tears become full-fledged sobs. “It’s okay, let it all out.” Her voice, along with her hand ministering to gently soothe your back, lulls you.

Until you’re left only as a sniffling mess, she continues to caress your back. “Thank you, Mi. I really appreciate it.”

“I’m always here for you,” She squeezes you one last time for good measure before letting go of you. “Now, we need a plan for you to get your man.”

“No, we do not.”

“You did it for me, so it’s only fair if I return the favour.”

“I don’t even know if he likes me like that,” you exhale for what seems like the nth time this month.

“Then we’ll make sure he does. Simple as that,” she claps her hand. “Boys fall for anything, so if he doesn’t already like you, he will anyway, because just look at you! You’re stunning, funny, kind, talented, and so so so much more. Believe me when I say that, Y/n.” Her features soften even further as she shares a look of sympathy with you.

Her words melt right through you, and you’d like to believe that you do hold the ability to make Jay fall for you.

—

Endless weeks of toiling had brought you all to this exact moment — d-day. You fidgeted with the microphone stand to try getting a better hold of your emotions because there was no way you would mess things up, not when you’ve all worked so hard for this.

The seats in front of you are filled to the brim, yet out of the hundreds of faces, you could only recognise a select few: your mom, Mia, and a few of the others’s family members.

Jay, who stood not too far behind you, could see the trembling in your legs. “You’ll do perfect; I know that because you were made for this.” He whispers in your ear, squeezing your hands in the process. You’ve never wanted anything more than to just kiss the boy for being so damn near perfect — everything you could’ve asked for and more — but he wasn’t yours to kiss, so you heed those thoughts away, instead simply nodding your head.

“Hello, we are ENHYPEN, and we’ll be performing an original song called ‘Fatal Trouble.’” Jake’s voice echoes throughout the school hall, with claps following shortly after, just before it falls back to a silent abyss.

Sunghoon’s keys fill the empty air before you start, “Can’t believe. You, in front of my eyes, everything is the same. But your smile is one I don’t know. Your pupils are like an abyss.” You shut your eyes, letting your emotions lace through each and every word you sing.

As soon as Sunoo and Jay’s electric guitars and Riki’s drums joined in on the melody, you could physically feel the shift in the air. It brought goosebumps to your skin watching people gape at you in awe and watching their eyes twinkle against the stage lights.

“Fatal trouble. It’s getting blurry. The memory of you is crumbling down.” Heeseung and Jungwon’s lower voice harmonises with your higher one, creating the most heavenly of harmonies to echo across the expanse of the hall. It felt so electrifying to finally be able to see the fruits of all your hard work. You’re happy you got to perform with these boys side by side.

By the time the instrumentals fade to complete silence, your heart roars against your chest like a lion so hard you can practically hear them in your ears. You all take time to thank the audience before heading backstage, where you all instantly huddle together.

“We did so well!” Sunoo beams.

“For all our hard work, I say we go drinking after this,” Heeseung suggests with a motion of his hand, to which the others instantly agree.

“Drinks are on me!” You chuckle as you watch your overly excited brother raise his arm like a puppy. You of all people know just how hard he exerted himself just for this performance, if the dark circles under his eyes were anything to go by, so you’re just happy to finally see him be himself again.

Cheers and hoots are heard throughout the backstage area until the staff politely asks you to leave. Before you could even follow the rest past the door, Jay’s call to you stopped you in your tracks.

“You did well out there,” he compliments with a sheepish smile, and it does the same thing it always does to you — make you fall even harder. You were so damn weak for him. “I knew you would kill it.”

“You did too, considering it is your song.” He steps a foot closer to you, and despite the hitch in your throat, you don’t do much to shy away. Jay takes this as a sign to be more forthright with you. He takes your hand in his, tracing circles with his thumb along the backside of your hand.

“I wrote this song for you. It wasn’t just your voice that inspired me to write this song; it was your smile, the way you made me feel, and the warmth you gave. So, technically, it’s our song.” The boyishness in his tone is obvious, almost like he was scared to admit this to you in the first place.

“I-…” You’re rendered speechless at his insinuation, feeling the familiar giddiness starting to spread across your body. “Are you confessing to me right now?” His deep eyes hold yours, staring at you with such admiration and intensity that you feel like you could cry.

“Yes, I am, princess.” His voice was nothing short of a whisper. You could see the way he eyes your lips, and so without much contemplation, or even hesitation for that matter, you take the first step in your newfound relationship by trapping him in a kiss. Further closing in the distance between you, your arms travel around his neck while his hands find purchase in your waist.

As breathless as you felt, you couldn’t let him go — not when this is all you’ve ever wanted for so long. Months of seeing him with Jiwon and hopelessly pining over him brought you to this moment, and you were going to let yourself relish the fuck out of it.

taglist @enhaslay @channiesdarling @kim2005bomi @letwiiparkjay

© i2ycat 2024

#i2ycat #enhypen imagines #enhypen jay #enha jay #jongseong x reader #enhypen fluff #enhypen ff #jongseong imagines #enhypen angst #jongseong fluff #park jongseong #enhypen x reader #enhypen jongseong #jongseong angst #enha jongseong #jongseong soft hours #jongseong soft thoughts #enhypen #enhypen scenarios #enhypen soft hours #enhypen fics #jay fic #jay ff #enhypen fic #enha ff #enha fics #enha x reader #enha fluff #enha imagines #lyn’s archive

[hawkinsbnbg]

Love Me Some More

written for 'edge' | word count: 509 | rated: E | ao3 | @steddiemicrofic

Steve didn't know when Eddie had become such a fixture in his life.

Eddie was subtle enough to bypass the scrutiny from other people but he saw it still; the lingering touch, the longing look when Eddie thought he didn't notice, and the hopefulness on Eddie’s face when Steve finally asked him to stay the night.

Yet, Steve was afraid that he had been over his head and decided to keep silent about it. Because he was content with what he had at the moment, and greed wasn't his thing.

(Or so he told himself.)

Steve never shared it with anyone besides Robin, but he had always been on edge his entire life. Thanks to his exemplary parents, ironically, Steve was never at ease with himself even if he tried. It was stressful, for the lack of better words.

Therefore, it was understandable that Steve was ten times anxious around Eddie, whom he didn’t know what to do with.

Their friends barely knew about it but they had started out as one-night-stands. Stumble into bed together then leave at dawn and never meet again, the whole gist.

Considering Steve was good at sticking to the only rule that reminded him to not make the mistake of getting too close to his one-night-stands, he was equally surprised and terrified that he had let Eddie worm into his life so effortlessly.

Thank god Steve hadn’t fallen for him. (Yet.)

Oh, who was he kidding? After months of making love with Eddie, he was at his limit.

And so did Eddie, apparently.

It wasn’t intentional, Steve swore on Robin’s right elbow. He just wanted to rant, and since Eddie was always ready to listen to him, he didn't think twice before complaining about his overbearing parents sending him on endless blind dates.

When Steve eventually stopped and had dinner with Eddie, he should've known better than to let Eddie stew for half an hour. But it was a lesson he would have to revisit another day.

As usual, their last destination was the bed and Steve ended up being fucked senseless. He didn't know where all that frustration and aggression came from, because Eddie was oddly intense tonight. Although Steve’s brain could barely function at the moment, he was still on edge.

He didn't have a chance to ask, however, before Eddie dropped a bomb on him.

“I love you,” said Eddie. Or rather, he kept chanting over and over again as he moved inside Steve. As though he wished to burn those three words into Steve’s body forever, and carve a home for himself so Steve would never dare to leave him for anyone else.

Steve’s eyes filled with tears as he clenched around Eddie just as fiercely in silence desperation. Then, he looked up to meet those loving chocolate eyes and smiled shakily, knowing he had nothing to worry about.

"Then let's date. And we’ll do it properly this time.”

There was a pause and then they started laughing together. When Eddie kissed him silly, Steve’s world became whole again.

#steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steddiemicrofic #steddie fluff #slow burn but they jump each other all the time lol #robin and the gang were in pain just by watching those two idiots dancing around each other #robin won the bet btw #the party was resigned to their fate that they now have two dudes as their parents #sionewrites

[thebearer]

nothing in the world belongs to me |carmen berzatto x reader|

prompt: still new in your relationship, you show up to the bear for dinner unexpectedly, surprising carmen and the others.

based off this prompt from the other day :)

contains: fluff lol. really, it's just fluff. established-ish relationship (the others don't know). carmen being a little nervous and possessive but mainly cute <3 language.

“Alright, listen up,” Richie stood next to Sydney, flicking through the piles of tickets that were ringing through by the second. It was normal now, an expected task in their routine. “We need to walk the focaccia to table seven, please.” 

“Yes, Chef!” A chorus of nearly robotic voices rose from the sizzling hiss of the lamb searing in Carmen’s pan, lifting the spatula to tip the meat over, before giving it back to the chef on the line. 

“And for table nine, we’ve got a shellfish allergy, alright? So let’s triple check the cross contamination on that. T, can you handle that one?” Richie moved from his leather bound book of notes back to the ticket. 

“Yes, Chef!” Tina chimed, pulling a freshly washed pan, filling it with the veal stock. 

“Table nine, is that- that’s the senator?” Carmen turned to Richie, tasting the roux bubbling on Victoria’s station, giving her a curt nod of approval. 

“No, that’s table eleven.” Richie hummed, looking back at his notebook. “Nine, is… a birthday. Booked online.” Carmen had already begun to drone him out, mind racing with a million other things as Richie listed the guests name. Until he got to one. 

The name Carmen was sure he was hallucinating. The name no one knew- How would they know? How could they possibly know your name? 

You and Carmen had been seeing each other for a little while. A few weeks that were slowly turning into months. A casual thing that was slowly turning more serious. Dates and meetups are becoming more frequent. You’d even invited him over to your place a few times, he’d spent the night last week. 

Still, Carmen hadn’t managed to tell anyone. Selfishly, he liked that you were all his for now. Privacy was not guaranteed in the Berzatto house, in Carmen’s life still. He knew they meant well, they always did- he knew it wasn’t purposeful, the intrusion that almost always led to a demise. Carmen wasn’t ready for it, not yet, he still wanted you all to himself. 

“Carmen?” Sydney’s voice pulled him out of his panicked trance. “Chef, are you- are you good?” Her voice lilted with that familiar suspicious quip, the one always accompanied with her lifted brows. 

“What?” Carmen blinked, hands buzzing, heart thumping. He could see the window, Richie’s frame blocking most of it. “Sorry, yeah- yeah, I’m good, Chef.” 

Sydney watched him carefully, a slow nod before she continued calling out orders. Carmen could feel Richie’s eyes on him, narrowed with curiosity. Carmen tried to be nonchalant, crossing the kitchen back towards Tina, his eyes cutting carefully, looking out the window. 

There you were. 

Sitting pretty at the middle table, surrounded by friends, some Carmen recognized from your Instagram. He’d actually logged in to the app, looked you up after the first date, consumed every photo of yours in the dark of his room. Cheeks burning with excited heat, stomach fluttering in a way he hadn’t felt since junior high. 

“Alright, walk five salads to nine.” Sydney called out. “Where’s our runners? God, Richie, can you run-” 

“-I got it.” Carmen called, the urgency in his tone making Tina jump behind him. Carmen took the tray before Gary could, his hands shaking as he lifted it. 

“Cousin, I can get it.” Richie frowned. 

“No, I-I got it.” Carmen nodded, swallowing down his fluttering nerves. His eyes cut to your table through the window, heart skipping when he saw you. “I got it. I’ll be- I’ll just be a second.” 

“I don’t- I can’t even handle that one right now.” Sydney sighed in exasperation. “Alright, Chefs. Let’s get back on track.” She announced, shaking her head. Richie frowned, pulling out his phone. 

Sugar’s cell buzzed against the hostess stand, excusing herself to check it. 

From: Richie 

‘Look at table nine.’ 

Sugar huffed. 

To: Richie 

‘Why? Is there something wrong?’ 

She stepped back, casually turning to scan the room, eyes landing on the table. A small group of girls, younger, and amongst them- Carmen? 

To: Richie 

‘Is something wrong with the food? Do I need to comp it?’ 

From: Richie 

‘No. Cousin wanted to go out there.’ 

Sugar frowned, angling her body behind the large plant near the front as casually as she could. She watched through the leaves as Carmen passed out the salads, each girl grinning widely, but their eyes always cut to one on the end. 

Carmen saved your salad for last, hoping the lowlights of the restaurant would hide his boyish blush, setting the bowl in front of you carefully. “Hey,” 

“Hi,” You smiled sheepishly, looking to meet his gaze. “Everything looks so good.” 

“Yeah? Thanks.” Carmen nodded. “I-I didn’t know you were comin’ tonight.” 

“I’m sorry.” You cringed softly, embarrassed heat flooding through your veins. You knew better, knew you shouldn’t have done this- showed up at his restaurant unannounced. 

“I, uh, it’s my friend’s birthday.” You nodded towards Alicia at the end of the table. “And I was telling them about that pasta you made me, and they really wanted to come try it.” Your nerves bubbled, rambling in nervous peals that seemed to pour out before you could stop them.  

“Yeah, no, that’s really nice. Thank you.” Carmen nodded, giving a half smile to your friends, hoping they didn’t see the way he wiped his clammy hands on his apron. “Why didn’t- Why didn’t you just call me? Tell me you were comin’ in.” 

“I didn’t want to bother you.” You muttered softly. “I honestly didn’t think you’d even see us here, I swear. I didn’t mean to bother you or anything-” 

“-You’re not bothering me.” Carmen’s voice dropped to a coo, accompanied with a soft smile that had your head spinning. “Never a bother, but, uh, next time? Bother me, ok? Wanna make sure you get the best seat in the house.” 

Your cheeks flushed with heat, your friends excited giggles only intensifying the rushing heat blanketing over your body. Carmen’s own cheeks heated, tongue rolling on the inside of his cheek to hide his grin. 

“Alright?” Carmen added, and in a complete act of shocking boldness, his hand squeezed your shoulder affectionately. A small gesture on the outside, but for Carmen, it was huge. 

“Alright.” You grinned, leaning into his touch, your hands sliding over his. 

“How’s everything so far?” Carmen turned to the table, nodding at the excited gushes of compliments, not missing the way your friends cut their eyes to you with animated glee. 

“Just let me know if you need anything, ok?” Carmen turned to you.

“I will.” You nodded, starry eyed with love sick affection. 

“Good. I’ll see you before you leave, alright?” Carmen muttered, ducking down towards you. His lips brushed over your cheek, your perfume clouding his senses. “You’re not botherin’ me. ‘M glad you’re here.” 

Your cheek pressed to his, a gentle, affectionate rub before Carmen parted. Both of your features painted with shy delight. 

Carmen could feel everyone’s eyes, through flickering gazes and lifted brows. Sydney’s gaze lingering over him skeptically, still counting tickets. Fak’s wide grin from the corner, loading trays to take out. 

“Hey, uh, Marcus.” Carmen ignored Richie’s raised brows, a teasing, questioning remark on the tip of his tongue. 

“Yes, Chef?” Marcus muttered, looking up from the cannolis he was garnishing. 

“Table nine has a birthday. I was thinkin’ maybe the chocolate ganache, punch it with the little circle to make it look like a cake. Add a candle?” Carmen muttered, hand rubbing across his face. 

“Yeah, Chef, I can do that.” Marcus nodded. 

“Thank you.” Carmen nodded. “And Chef? Let me know when it’s ready before you walk it.” 

Marcus frowned. “No, it’s not- I just wanna walk it, ok?” Carmen shook his head. 

“Alright.” Marcus nodded slowly. “Heard, Chef.” 

Richie smirked, leaning against the stainless steel table. “So,” Richie hummed. “There a complaint or somethin’? Need me to go talk to ‘em-” 

“-No,” Carmen snapped, the possessiveness in his tone startling the both of them. “Sorry, it’s- No, I-I don’t need you to do that, Chef. Everything’s good.” 

Richie nodded slowly, passing the dishes to Gary with a nod. “You gonna tell me what that was about?” 

“No, Chef.” Carmen clipped, an edge to his tone that was teetering on annoyed. “But, uh, there’s not gonna be a check on table nine.” 

“What?” Richie frowned. “Did you mess somethin’ up? Seriously, Cousin, if something's wrong it’s my job to know-” 

“-No, it’s not-.” Carmen huffed, eyes pinching closed, running a hand over his face in frustration. “Look, that’s… The girl on the end? I-I’ve been kinda seein’ her, ya know?” He muttered. 

Richie gawked, blinking in disbelief. “No shit.” He grinned. “No shit? You-You’re serious?” He turned to look out the window. 

“Don’t fuckin’ look.” Carmen hissed. “Look, it-it’s not a big deal, alright? Just don’t-don’t say anything o-or do anything.” 

Richie swallowed back a teasing remark, a reactive reaction from years of being with Mikey. How the two of them used to tease Carmen endlessly, until they were fighting on the front lawn, Mikey howling with laughter while Carmen was red faced with mortified anger. 

This time, Richie held back. He wasn’t sure why, call it divine intervention, a gut feeling maybe, but it felt different this time. 

“Alright.” Richie nodded slowly. “No ticket for nine. Heard.” 

Carmen’s foot tapped anxiously. “I mean, right? Th-That’s what I should do right?” Carmen looked over his shoulder out the window. “That would be shitty to give her a check? Be a complete jagoff move to charge her?” 

“Yeah,” Richie scoffed lightly. “Jagoff of the fuckin’ year. Makin’ your girl pay to come to your place.” 

Carmen’s heart swelled at the term- your girl. His girl. You were his girl. 

“Walk four Pappardelle to nine. Walk one Pappardelle vegetarian style to nine.” Sydney called. 

Carmen dipped the spoon in the glaze, garnishing the plate before sliding it towards Sydney. “So, you gonna take these out?” He muttered. 

“No,” Carmen huffed. “Gonna wait until the cake.” 

“Yeah, good idea, Cousin.” Richie nodded with a proud smile. “That when you’re gonna tell them no check tonight?” 

“No,” Carmen shook his head. “I don’t- It would feel weird comin’ from me.” He looked up at Richie. “I was gonna let you do it.” 

“Yeah, I can handle that.” Richie smirked. “And I won’t say anything, Cousin.” He stopped Carmen before he could say it. “I got you, Cousin. I won’t fuck it up, alright?” 

Carmen nodded slowly, a strangled thank you on the tip of his tongue. The door swung open behind Richie, and for a second, Carmen caught a glimpse of you. Smiling and laughing, leaned in over the table, no doubt giggling with your friends about him. Carmen’s heart squeezed, but this time, without fear. No, there was no dooming fear that you were mocking him, making fun of him. This time, he felt the content rush of adrenaline filled love. A change in his routine, yes. Unexpected, sure, but he was glad for it. Glad that you were there- here, with him.

#thebearer #bearblahs #carmen berzatto #carmen berzatto x reader #carmy berzatto x reader #the bear #carmy berzatto #carmen berzatto fluff #carmen 'carmy' berzatto #carmen berzatto blurb #carmen berzatto imagine #carmy x you #carmen berzatto ​x fem!reader #carmen berzatto x female!reader #carmen berzatto x you #richie jerimovich #marcus brooks #sydney amadu #tina the bear #neil fak #sugar berzatto #carmy fluff #carmy berzatto fluff #the bear fic #carmy the bear #the bear fanfiction #the bear hulu #carmen berzatto fic #carmen berzatto fanfiction #thebearerblurbs

[solarmorrigan]

Hello! So I saw you were doing “angsty-ish prompts” and was wondering if you could do “you don’t have to stay” with Steve angst and the typical complex from his parents making him think he doesn’t deserve to be cared for. Or smth of the sort lol

If not that’s totally fine! Feel free to ignore

You want me to write about Steve's abandonment issues and insecurity?? Gosh, anon, twist my arm, why don't you. (But seriously, I loved writing this, thank you for the prompt! I'm afraid the "parents" part didn't quite make it in, but I hope this is okay, anyway!)

[Warning for vague mentions of sex? Nothing explicit]

-

This is the part Steve has been dreading.

He lies on his belly, arms folded beneath his head, and listens as Eddie’s breath evens out beside him. He knows that as soon as the effects of the exertion wear off, Eddie will have no reason to stay, and he’ll pick his clothes up off the floor, get dressed, and go.

Steve had known that’s what would follow if he slept with Eddie. He’d known that if he finally acted on the weeks upon weeks of flirting and dancing around each other, the only possible outcome would be Eddie walking away when they’d finished.

He’d known it would happen, and it was worth it, but that doesn’t mean he wants to watch.

Steve keeps his head firmly turned away as he hears Eddie sit up with a rustle of sheets. He tries to keep his body relaxed, his cheek pillowed on his arms – the picture of lazy disinterest. He doesn’t want to make Eddie feel guilty by appearing upset; Steve’s feelings aren’t his problem.

Instead of listening for the sounds of Eddie getting up and hunting for his clothes, Steve tries to focus on the signs that he’d been there. He concentrates on the residual burn in his thighs and the slightly over-stretched feeling in his hips, where Eddie had made space for himself (where Steve had gladly opened up for him); he concentrates on the ache in his wrists, where Eddie had gripped him tightly, somehow making Steve feel safe and held, rather than trapped; he concentrates on the slight sting of the bruising bitemarks Eddie’s left on his neck and chest (and belly and thighs and elsewhere, probably). He focuses on all the ways Eddie had worshipped and pleasured him before their time together was up.

He's focusing so hard, in fact, that he jumps at the feeling of lips pressing to his lower back.

Eddie lets out a low chuckle and kisses him again, just above his tailbone. “Alright?” he asks, the warmth of his breath raising goosebumps across Steve’s skin.

“Fine,” Steve says, twisting to look over his shoulder; Eddie has situated himself near Steve’s hip and is leaning over him, pressing slow kisses up the length of his spine. Steve suppresses a shiver. “Just… wasn’t expecting you.”

Eddie hums, fitting his fingers in the dip of Steve’s waist as his lips reach Steve’s shoulder. “Not ready to take my hands off you just yet,” he says, and – oh.

Steve hadn’t been expecting this, but he’s definitely willing to work with it.

“Looking for round two already?” he asks, letting a flirtatious lilt warm his voice.

But then Eddie shakes his head, and Steve’s confused all over again.

“Just want to be able to feel you,” Eddie says, before he nuzzles his way into the crook of Steve’s neck and heaves a contented sigh.

He runs his hands up from Steve’s waist, over his ribs, up to his armpits, and then slides them back down again, the drag of his touch just heavy enough to keep from tickling.

Finally, Eddie settles, lying half on top of Steve, chest to back, one leg crooked over the backs of his thighs, his arm cradling his ribs with his hand tucked between his chest and the mattress. His bangs tickle Steve’s cheek and his nose is pressed so firmly to his neck that Steve’s not even sure how he’s breathing, but he seems happy there, and Steve doesn’t know what to do.

People don’t do this – not with him. Usually, he’s the one who has to initiate cuddles, has to find a sort of sideways method of accomplishing it because he knows he’s not supposed to ask. It’s not something he’s allowed to want out loud.

This is the most skin-to-skin contact he’s had in ages. It’s the most he’s been touched in ages, and it’s so much; it feels so good it hurts, but–

Steve doesn’t understand why it’s happening. Eddie doesn’t want to have sex again, and Steve isn’t sure what else could be keeping here, and so, like an idiot, Steve just says what he’s thinking.

“You don’t have to stay.”

“Mm?” Eddie rouses, pulling his face from the crook of Steve’s neck. “What?”

“You can go,” Steve says, before realizing that sounds a little too much like a dismissal. “If you want to, I mean.”

For a long moment, Eddie is quiet.

“What do you want?” he finally asks.

Steve can’t help the bitter huff of a laugh that escapes him. “What I want doesn��t matter,” he says; maybe it’s a childish sort of answer, but it’s been proven true, time and time again, and Steve is tired of asking for things—for affection, for love—only to be denied.

Eddie sits up, and the colds sets in immediately, every part of Steve that he’d been touching now crying out for him to come back.

“Of course it matters,” Eddie says, sounding nearly affronted, before his tone gentles. “Steve… sweetheart, can you look at me?”

Maybe it’s the pet name, or the hand resting softly in the middle of his back, but even though he’s not entirely sure he wants to, Steve rolls onto his side to face Eddie.

There’s something lost and sad in Eddie’s expression that makes Steve want to turn away again, but he stays where he is.

“Did you really think I would just leave after this?” Eddie asks, and Steve shrugs, the muscles of his shoulders screaming after being held folded beneath his head for so long. Eddie’s face twists into a frown. “Why?”

“That’s… how it works,” Steve says. “People don’t want to stay. And they don’t have to – you don’t have to. It’s fine, I understand.”

“No, baby, I don’t think you do,” Eddie says, and while Steve’s brain is still fuzzing to static over the second sweet name in as many minutes, Eddie slides back down to lie in front of Steve and presses a soft kiss to his unresisting mouth. “I want to stay.”

Steve stares at him. Blinks. Finds that Eddie is still there, still offering him a gentle version of his usual infectious grin, and Steve has no idea what to do.

“Why?” he asks.

“Because I want to fall asleep with you,” Eddie says, pressing a kiss to Steve’s cheek. “I want to wake up with you.” A kiss to his other cheek. “I want to fuck you again in the morning.” A kiss to his chin. “Or we can just shower,” a kiss to his forehead, “and I’ll make you breakfast.” A kiss to the tip of his nose, and Steve finally breaks, letting out a short laugh.

“This is my house,” he says. “And you don’t even cook.”

“I’ll have you know I fry a mean egg, and I am a master at making toast,” Eddie says with a grin.

“What if I like my eggs scrambled?” Steve asks, a little more quietly.

Eddie’s smile softens again. “Then I’ll learn,” he says simply. “Do you want any of that, Steve?”

And somehow, in the small, warm space between them, it feels almost safe, almost easy to nod and say, “I want all of that. I want you to stay.”

The only reply he gets is Eddie’s arms wrapping around him, pulling him close, and Eddie’s warm, soft mouth against his; but for Steve, that’s answer enough.

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #eddiesteve #solar wrote #answers from solar #anonymous #last one before the new year!

[tencrushesperday]

dont know if you take request or what not but i would die for a 7 minutes in heaven with mrempes. whole size kink and all just being trapped in a closet with him during a house party visibly knowing all the girls want him but he chooses you.

warnings : suggestive language (i guess?)

i think im better at writing angst and sad stuff (got a lot of experience to take inspo from lol)

“You”, Matt said pointed in your direction. You hated playing this game until he had picked you. He stood up from his armchair, the girl that was perched on the arm rest almost falling down but he paid her no mind. His eyes were set on you and it set your body on fire.

You grabbed the hand he was extending you to help lift yourself up from your spot on the couch and followed him to the closet. Who knew playing 7 minutes in heaven as adults would be this fun.

You had been a regular at the Lake House since your teenage years. Your parents owned a house down the street so when the Hughes boys would throw a party during the summer or go out on the lake you would attend and bring some new girls that were in town for the summer each year. You had also met their college friends and teammates throughout the years.

However this was the first year that Matt Rempe had come. You heard that Ethan Edwards, a friend of Luke’s had brought him along. You had made a mental note the first time you saw the guy to thank Edwards because boy was he something. Tall, big, a pile of muscle that could throw you around like a rag doll. Overall, your type.

He opened the door and let you in the clothes first. A gentleman too. You gave him a smirk and went in. He followed and tried closing the door behind him but he was too big. He was mumbling apologies as he tried to close it again but failing.

You grab his shirt and pressed him to your body. The door closed now.

You had to crank your neck all the way up to look at him. Was that blush on his cheeks? It seemed he had looked at you with determination earlier but maybe you have misinterpreted his gaze.

“We can just talk if you want to.” he was avoiding your gaze.

“Oh don’t go all shy on me now big boy.” you said with a chuckle. His eyes drifted to you finally. His gaze was intense. You felt so small under it. And naked. Not like you were very dressed with just your bikini top and jean shorts.

Even those felt like too much when he was looking at you that way, towering over you.

His left hand slowly traveled from the uncomfortable position on the shelf behind you to your cheek. So he just needed encouragement. How sweet. “Are you always this cocky?” Amusement laced his voice which made your lip tug upward in turn.

“I’m worse usually”

His other hand moved to your hip, his touch burning hotter than the summer sun. His fingers spread on your back and he pulled you closer to him. “Is this okay?” his voice so low, you felt it in your core. You hummed in response. “Lost your voice already baby?”

To show him you were still in control, your other arm, that wasn’t grabbing his shirt, reached up to his neck and dragged him down. Your lips hovered over his, teasing. He wanted to take it slow? Why not make it as painful as possible.

He exhaled heavily then closed the distance between you two. The kiss was heated and heavy and his tongue slipped into your mouth right away.

Might as well make the best of the 7 minutes.

Your hand reached under his shirt, his toned abs feeling hard as rock. You were holding onto his waistband and eager to get to more exploring. His own hand traveled lower from your back then he nudged your thigh to jump.

Leaving your explorations for later, you jumped and wrapped your legs around his waist. The very few times you pulled apart was to get into a better position in the small space.

The 7 minutes were coming to an end and you remembered where you were when you heard footsteps outside the door. You slid down from Matt’s grip. When your feet touched the ground, your legs were slightly wobbly from the state he had felt you in. Your head was spinning and you just knew you needed more of him.

“We are not done.” he whispered in your ear when the door opened. Your voice was failing you so you nodded.

You went back to your seat on the couch and were stealing glances to Matt until the end of the game. Once this game was done, you knew you were going to follow him into the nearest available room.

#matt rempe x reader #matt rempe

[bvidzsoo]

Compass of our hearts

Author: bvidzsoo

Warning: smut, violence, blood, murder

Pairing: Park Seonghwa x female reader

Word count: 20,7k

Summary: Park Seonghwa was an orphan. The day Captain Kim found him on the shore the only thing he had with himself in the little basket was a golden compass, his mother's name craved inside it. Seonghwa cherished it dearly and worked hard to find out where he belonged to. However, as a pirate, you make a lot of enemies and you decided to make Seonghwa yours the day you stole his compass. It was your first mistake, you messed with a feared pirate. Your second mistake was not realizing that Seonghwa would find you, and take his compass back as well. (Reader is called Kim Bora in the following oneshots.)

A/N: Helloo everyone, the first part of the Black Ocean series is here!! I hope the fight scenes aren't as bad as I personally think they are lol. I'm not a master smut writer either, but I tried my best, so I hope it's not horrible. If anyone wants to be added to the taglist just let me know, there will be seven more oneshots with the other members in this universe. Please leave feedback, reading your thoughts about my work is the best feeling ever. I hope you'll enjoy this little oneshot, happy reading!

Taglist: @pingyu-in-wonderland @marievllr-abg @lelaleleb @loveforred @horanghae8 @jeonghanscarat7 @orshii

Series Masterlist

               I was breathing hard as I tried to gain focus, having been thrown against the wall, again. It was starting to take a tool on me, the pointless tousling and teasing. I did not like fighting this way. I liked getting straight to the point, getting what I wanted. I never played around with my prey, but Seonghwa seemed to enjoy it as a wide smirk decorated his lips, his strides long and slow as he came closer, almost caging me against the wall. I huffed in irritation as he raised my chin with the tip of his very sharp knife, our eyes finding each other’s. Seonghwa was breathing hard too, lips parted and forehead sweaty as his long wavy black hair fell into his sharp eyes, his ponytail messy. His eyes held an intensity which was capable of making me surrender to him, but I stayed collected. Not this time, I wouldn’t give in. My lower left arm was burning from the huge gash Seonghwa’s knife made and I couldn’t ignore the blood dripping down his cheek where I had cut him just minutes ago.

“You could have made this so easy and quick for yourself, Y/N.” His voice dripped with venom and I gulped when his knife pressed harder against my skin, lightly grazing against my neck.

“I like to play around,” I muttered and forced out a chuckle, ignoring the quick pounding of my heart, “But you know that already.”

“Too well.” He snapped and I gasped when I felt blood trickling down the side of my neck, skin slightly burning. He really meant it this time that he’d kill me if I didn’t give back what was his. All of this fiasco for a damned compass. I glared at him and in a swift moment pressed my own dagger against his torso, ripping his shirt open and making it clear that if he were to slice my throat I wouldn’t hesitate in sticking my own weapon into him.

“How are you going to find the compass if you kill me, Seonghwa?” I taunted, mimicking his tone when he said my name. For a split second his eyes turned into slits and I was sure he would kill me right then and there, but the pressure of the knife from my neck disappeared and I felt the lump in my throat disappearing as well. It didn’t mean I was safe, it just meant I wasn’t getting my throat slit open. I lowered my dagger from his torso as well and tried to come up with an escape plan fast. The window was open, if I kicked him hard enough to get him to double over, I could run to the window and jump out. I knew where my sister’s friend lived, I would go there and take her with me. Going into hiding was a must right now.

“Where is it?!” Seonghwa’s voice slightly trembled from anger and I looked behind him, eyeing the window.

I shrugged before looking back at him, having decided what my next move would be, “I don’t know, want to play a game to find out?” And before he could answer, I punched him hard in the jaw, making him stumble backwards. He was flabbergasted as he looked back at me, wiping the blood from his lips, but before he could charge at me, I kneeled him in the stomach, hard. Seonghwa doubled over instantly and started wheezing, face contorted in pain. I didn’t necessarily liked hurting him and I found myself hesitating for a second before I snapped out of it and made a run for the window. The room wasn’t big, I could easily make it out and get away from Seonghwa. But I heard groaning from behind and as I latched onto the window sill, ready to jump over, a hand was suddenly in my long hair, fisting it. I was yanked back harshly and I yelped, eyebrows furrowing as Seonghwa held me flushed against his body, pulling on my hair so hard I thought he’d leave me with a bald spot. I went to fight back, but he grabbed my neck from behind with his left hand, but he didn’t squeeze. He secured me in a firm grip, warning me. I gulped and listened to our rapid breathing, Seonghwa’s chest rising and falling quickly against my back. His body hadn’t changed at all. He was still as sturdy as before, even felt like he had gotten stronger.

“Let me go.” I snapped and turned my head to the side, trying to look at him. Seonghwa watched my face for a second, taking it in, before he blinked and his gaze turned cold. I couldn’t pretend like the warmth of his body and the grip he had on me wasn’t affecting me, but my self-respect would never let me tell him. I had already admitted to thinking about him often back at the Inn.

“I prepared a little surprise for you,” Seonghwa whispered in my ear, my eyes fluttering for a second, before he harshly turned my head towards the window, making me watch what was happening outside. And my whole blood ran cold in me. I froze, almost unable to breathe. My little sister was walking outside, singing to herself as she played around with a pebble. The sight that terrified me wasn’t her being home despite her saying she’d spend the day at her friend, it was the man dressed in all black with a rag covering his lower face following her, knife held very obviously in one hand. Nari was oblivious to him and he was getting closer and closer to her.

“Stop!” My voice raised and I tried to wriggle myself free from Seonghwa’s grip. The man following my little sister, Nari, was Choi San, a ruthless mercenary. She stood no chance against him, I couldn’t stand here and watch as San kills my little sister, the only family I have left.

“Stop him,” I begged Seonghwa as I stopped trying to get away from him, “please tell him to stop. I will give you anything you want, Seonghwa, please don’t let him hurt Nari.” I knew now the two worked together. Seonghwa was the Quartermaster of a very infamous pirate crew whom had been terrorizing the four kingdoms and four seas for a decade now and everyone knew what they were capable of. Even I did now. I would’ve never thought Seonghwa was smart enough to find me as I barely came home, once a week every month, but seeing San trailing my sister woke me up to the reality of the predicament I found myself in. I was careless and dumb; I stole from someone whom I should’ve never messed with.

Seonghwa chuckled and I felt his hot breath on my cheek before he whispered in my ear again, “Never thought I’d hear you begging, love.” And without another word, he whistled loudly and I watched as San placed his knife up his sleeve and turned around, walking off, my sister oblivious to everything that could’ve happened to her due to my stupidity.

“Now, give me my compass.”

            One year ago business wasn’t going as well as at the moment, so I was forced to earn money in questionable ways sometimes. Nari, my little sister, was attending a quite well-known school in our humble city and it cost us a lot. I never complained, I wanted her to have a good life. A life better than mine. We are seven years apart and after our parents one day just mysteriously disappeared, I had to take things in my hands. I had to keep the two of us well fed, clean and I had to earn enough money to pay our monthly payments and schools. However, when things got hard I had to give up some luxuries and one of them was my education. I was only fifteen, but I had no choice. Nari started going to school that year and we wouldn’t make it if I didn’t start working full time. It was a hard choice, I loved what I was doing, I always loved studying. I dreamed of becoming a historian one day, but I placed my dreams aside and worked hard so that my little sister would have a nice life. But even that wasn’t enough, so I decided to try out something new. I wasn’t proud of myself at the beginning, and I was scared too that people would realize I was the one stealing their jewelry. However, nobody seemed to find the thief, and I continued on with my antics until I was almost caught. It was the wake-up call that I needed to move to a bigger city, where everyone didn’t know everyone. And that’s when my hard work started paying off. I became a merchandizer of sorts; I exchanged the stolen goods for gold or money if the buyer paid me well. It was a shady business, but everyone knew how I got the expensive jewelry, it’s not like I had anything to hide. Besides, usually pirates or other criminals were interested in what I had to offer and it was rather easy to trick them into paying me more than the jewelry was actually worth. And just like that, I had enough money to bring back to my sister to pay her school and the utilities at home. She always thought I was working for a wealthy family; I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the money I earned wasn’t rightfully mine. Perhaps one day, when she’d understand why I did the things I did, I would tell her the truth. But the business didn’t always go smoothly, sometimes I needed to do some extra work here and there, that’s how I found myself working at an Inn, dressed in a silk dress with a corset accentuating my waist and pushing my breasts higher up for the pleasure of mostly disgusting men. I refused to sleep with any of them, no matter how many times I was offered a large amount of sum, I wasn’t that desperate. I was just a simple waitress who liked to trick men into paying more for their drinks than the actual price was. But of course, nobody had to know about that.

“Welcome, Sir Edwards!” I plastered on my brightest smile as the constable walked inside, wearing his very expensive fur coat he bought last week from the boutique down the street. I bet he didn’t know it was stolen from a very wealthy man who stopped by here two weeks ago. I was the one who stole it and then sold it to Madam Joy, her clothing was the best of the best, even the royal family would come here to buy her newest gowns. A wide smile appeared on Sir Edwards’ lips, his eyes lighting up at the sight of me. I happened to be his favorite waitress, always humble and sweet; the man loved compliments and a person who would listen to his gloating.

“Ah, Y/N!” He exclaimed and I rushed to his side, helping him out of the fur coat. It was still as soft as last week, however once its white fur was now brown, Madam Joy thought a little change was necessary to it, so its real owner wouldn’t recognize it, “I haven’t seen you here in over a month.”

I looked away, blinking quickly, hoping I looked abashed, “How attentive you are, Sir.”

Sir Edwards chuckle and leaned a bit too close for my comfort, “With my favorites I always am.”

I giggled and grabbed onto his arm, starting to lead him towards an empty table. The other girls I was working with gave me amused looks before turning their heads away, not wanting Sir Edwards to notice them. If he was here, his little officers would be also joining him, and that meant we’d make a lot of profit tonight. These wealthy men always ordered the priciest wines and scotch. The table I led the constable to was close to the opened window and furthest from the bar, he didn’t have to see if we mixed anything into their drinks. Sometimes these men would get rowdy and really loud and since we were forbidden from kicking anyone out as long as they were buying, we’d put a little powder into their drinks which would make them sick or sleepy, depending on how much they’ve had to drink.

“I hope you don’t mind this table, Sir, it’s a bit far from the bar but it’s close to the window and that way you can always catch a whiff of fresh air.” I smiled at the man sweetly as I pulled out a chair for him.

“It’s almost as if you read my mind,” He chuckled loudly as he sat down, placing his hand on mine, making my stomach churn. Sir Edwards was by no means attractive or young, but he paid well and he came in just when I needed it most, “I’ve been craving fresh air all day long.”

“It must get stuffy sitting in your office all day long,” I said with pity lacing my voice, slowly pulling my hand out from underneath his, “May I bring you your favorite, Sir Edwards?”

“Bring five extra glasses too, sweetheart, my boys are joining me soon.” Just as I thought, he was bringing over his favorites from the night watch. The other five guys were regulars too and every waitress hated them. They were relatively younger than Sir Edwards and they were nastier and ruder as well. I usually turned a blind eye to all of their snide remarks, but I promised myself that one day I would punch all of their teeth out. But first, I needed to scam them into giving me all of their money.

            And the night went accordingly to my plan. Currently, there were fifteen extra pennies hidden in my little pouch, all from charging our buyers with some extra pennies. It was hilarious how easy drunk people were to scam, they didn’t even care about the money as long as they had something to drink. During the night, a few women had stumbled inside the Inn as well. Few were wearing quite eye-catching rings and bracelets. That was their first mistake. Their second mistake was letting me fawn over them and touch them, testing whether it would be easy taking it from them or not. And their third mistake was getting so wasted they could barely speak. The musicians were playing a catchy song and a few people were dancing and singing loudly as I made my way through the crowd, almost spilling the expensive wine on my white silk dress. I glared at the man, but he wasn’t paying any attention to me, of course. Fixing my expression, I smiled sweetly as I made my way to Sir Edwards’ table, hearing the front door squeaking as it was opened, nobody wanted to fix it and it was bloody loud.

“And here is your glass of wine, imported straight from France, a little sweet but not too much.” I announced loudly once I reached the table, carefully pouring wine into the six glasses. The men stopped conversing and watched me, some too drunk to actually see me and some merely tipsy.  Sir Edwards was clapping excitedly and he placed a ridiculous sum on the table for me, thanking me for paying so much attention to him that he didn’t even have to tell me the previous glass was empty now. I took the pennies while bowing my head at Sir Edwards, thanking him for being so generous, but he just laughed it off and offered me his glass.

“Why don’t you try it yourself? Tell us whether it’s good or should we just ask for another one?” I blinked surprised at Sir Edwards as he has never offered me his glass previously. I gulped and smiled a little as the six men from the table watched me with curious eyes. So, I brought the glass up to my lips and slowly took a bigger sip, expecting it to be sweet, like I was told. But it was rather bland and strong. I tried not to cough and plastered a wide smile on my lips, acting as if I had tasted the best wine in the whole world.

“Now I understand why these cost so much!” I exclaimed, acting rather daft, making the men laugh. They raised their glasses in the air as I handed his back to Sir Edwards and went to head back to the bar, when I felt a grip on my wrist. I looked down at the man holding me, he was the newest recruit of the night watch. He was rather young, I heard he comes from a wealthy family, probably bought his way in, but he was very rude and violent. I witnessed him beating someone to a pulp one evening, when I was headed home, because they dared bumping into him. I know the man he beat up; he was blind, how could he possibly see him?! Thankfully he survived and was at the infirmary, recovering.

“I’ve got enough money to buy this whole building,” The young officer started, eyeing me up, “How much would it cost to have you for one night?”

I scoffed and looked off in the distance, trying to collect myself. Men would say ridiculous things here, but nobody was as shameless as this disgrace of a man gripping my wrist. So I yanked it out of his hold and leaned down, whispering in his ear, “You could be the richest man of the four kingdoms and four seas, and you could still not afford me for one night.”

The young officer was outraged as his eyes widened and lips downturned, raising to his feet at lightning speed. He wasn’t even taller than me. I smirked at him before starting to walk off, hearing Sir Edwards telling him to sit down and have some manners when his seniors were talking. I probably shouldn’t get on the police’s bad side, but a young officer like him could do nothing to me. I went back to the bar and sighed loudly, pointing at a glass and a cheap scotch for Jongdae to pour. He chuckled and poured just a little bit as the waitresses couldn’t get drunk while working.

“That’ll be five pennies, young lady.” I chuckled as I downed the liquid in one go, cringing at the foul taste of it.

“I’ll give you eight if you pour me another one.” I playfully bargained with my colleague and he chuckled.

“Nine?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Eight, take it or leave it.”

“Fine.” He poured me another one as I placed eight pennies on the surface of the bar, making Jongdae chuckle.

“You sure these are real?” I gave him a look before downing the alcohol again.

“Go ask Sir Edwards if they are real, dickhead.” Jongdae started cackling and I shook my head at him, fixing my apron.

“I’d rather stay here; they look like awful people.” He wasn’t wrong, but to be fair, they could’ve been worse.

“Sir Edwards is alright; the others are the problem.” I muttered.

“It’s always the younglings which are rude,” He said that as if he wasn’t only seventeen years old, making me chuckle, “By the way, that man walked in like five minutes ago, you should go serve him before he leaves.”

I let out a quiet groan as I turned around, looking for the client Jongdae was talking about. My feet were killing me and the corset started being a little too tight, I couldn’t wait for my shift to be over. And just to my luck, the man had to sit the farthest from the bar, right next to the exit. Jongdae poured me a glass half full of scotch and I took off towards the man. He was alone, sitting at a table for ten. I eyed his surroundings, wondering whether he was here by himself or with others. But it seemed like he was alone, looking down at something he was holding, deep in thought. I stopped next to him and cleared my throat.

“You seem like a scotch lover.” I spoke up, a pleasant smile on my lips as I caught the man’s attention. He wore clean but slightly scruffy looking clothes. His waist high pants were of black leather, it was quite obvious he’s been wearing them for a long time now. And his unbuttoned shirt at the top seemed faded in its color. When he looked up, I was speechless for a second. His face was mesmerizing, I could confidently say he was the handsomest man I have ever seen until now. His sharp eyes were dark but they held a soft intensity, rather friendly than intimidating. The bridge of his long nose was straight and his red plump lips formed a small smile.

“I actually hate scotch,” He said softly with a chuckle. His voice was smooth and melodic, I was taken aback by the appearance and aura of the man sitting in front of me, “Do you happen to have beer?”

“We do.” I had to clear my throat as I sounded rather breathless, I tried not to blush out of embarrassment, but the man’s cheeky smile had my heart somersaulting.

“If you could bring me that, I’d appreciate it.” He was so polite, very rare around here, “And you can have my scotch, you look like you need it.”

That made me chuckle as I looked around the Inn, taking in the chaos and drunk people, “Yes, I do.”

But the scotch wasn’t free and I wasn’t about to pay for it, I just gave Jongdae eight pennies, “It’ll cost five pennies, though.”

The stranger’s smile got wider, amused, “Other Inns sell it for three—”

“Quality over quantity, you know.” I cut him off with a nonchalant shrug. The man chuckled and shook his head a little, easing his hand into his pocket before he placed five pennies on the table. I looked at it for a second before I downed the half full glass in two big gulps, instantly regretting it. I shuddered and closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the burn to pass.

“Oh, yeah,” The man chuckled as if he read my thoughts, “I don’t drink scotch for exactly that reason.”

“Noted.” I managed to say hoarsely, taking the pennies and placing them in my pouch, “I’ll be right back with your beer, but that’ll be eight pennies.”

And before he could complain about the cost again, I walked off, shaking my head and massaging my stomach. I haven’t eaten since lunch, one more glass like this one and I’ll be drunk in no time. Jongdae spotted my expression before I arrived at the bar and laughed loudly as he poured water in a tall glass. I took it without hesitation when he handed it to me and cursed loudly after downing it in one go.

“One beer, please.” I placed the glass inside of the bar, where Jongdae worked, and he chuckled, handing me the beer meanwhile I handed him four pennies for it. Yes, I charged everyone double the amount so that I could still gain something. Being smart was necessary at crucial times. Once arriving to the handsome man’s table, eight pennies were waiting on the table for me and I handed him his beer without a word, focusing on other clients in need.

            The handsome stranger ordered five more beers before I was finished with my shift and I threw my apron at Jongdae when he mentioned how my pouch looked heavier than usually. He wasn’t wrong, but it was none of his business, so I waved at him and bid goodbye to my other colleagues before taking off. Sir Edwards and his boys left an hour ago, the Inn was starting to finally quiet down, eight waitresses weren’t needed anymore. But as I was making my way towards the door, the handsome stranger noticed me and smiled at me. I was about to bid him farewell too, but he called me over. I apologized and told him my shift was over but he could ask Yoona for more drinks, and to my surprise, he asked me to join him. I debated on refusing, but my curiosity got to me. I haven’t seen him around here until now, and not many new people frequented our Inn. The compass he kept clutching from time to time caught my eyes and I was curious to see it from up close, but it looked like it was very significant to the stranger, I knew I had to get close if I actually wanted to see it. Besides, he was handsome too and well mannered, I figured sitting down and talking to him wouldn’t hurt anyone. Except that we got extremely drunk, the both of us. The stranger, who’s name I learned was Seonghwa, kept buying beer after beer, he was downing them as if they were water and at some point, we started mixing the scotch with the beer, which was a big mistake. It hit me like a truck and I found myself unable to form coherent sentences. My head was spinning and my eyes were struggling to stay open, but I wasn’t sleepy, it just felt better if I closed them. Anything that Seonghwa was saying sounded funny and I kept giggling as I tried ignoring how hot I was feeling. Seonghwa and I had moved closer to each other sometime during our drunken story-telling and I tried to keep my eyes off his red lips, but they were really plump. And looked really soft. And kissable. And warm. And before I could blink again, those red limps were pressing against mine, not too harshly but not softly either. I was surprised at first and didn’t react, thinking that my intoxicated mind started hallucinating, however, when Seonghwa pulled back I realized it was very real and I quickly leaned forward, pressing my lips against his. He kissed back, his lips warm and soft and as kissable as I imagined them to be. The sounds of the Inn seemed to disappear around us and Seonghwa’s sudden hand on my thigh definitely made me feel hotter. It wasn’t the alcohol only anymore making me feel warm all over. Our lips moved cautiously against each other, curious of the other’s rhythm, slow and exploring.

Before I could form a sentence, I felt myself moving, standing from the chair and walking away from the table, Seonghwa’s arm around my hips guiding us up the stairs, towards one of the many room’s the Inn had upstairs. I was probably the one who mentioned it to him, but I couldn’t be sure as my mind was in a haze, barely registering what was happening around us. It felt like ages, but it were probably just a few minutes before I felt my back pressed up against a cool material, it was the wall of the room we had walked inside. Seonghwa was standing in front of me, taller with a head and it made me giggle as I looked up at him and started playing with his black, wavy hair. It was longer than most men wore it and I liked it as I let my fingers run through it. Seonghwa’s hot breath kept hitting my face as he was leaning down, taking in my face. I didn’t realize it, but he caged me between himself and the wall, acting as if I had in mind to run. When our eyes locked, my giggles died out and I bit my lower lip, taking in the intensity in his eyes. He was insanely attractive and I could feel my body heating up once again as I pushed his head closer to mine, very slowly connecting our lips. There was no softness and curiosity in this kiss, it was needy and feverish as Seonghwa devoured my lips, holding the back of my head as if his life depended on it. I followed his pace and explored his wide shoulders with my fingers, lightly tracing his neck before he suddenly gripped my chin and pulled away, pupils dilated. He was gasping for air and my heart was beating like crazy. His lips opened and quietly whispered if it was alright and I nodded, fingers already unbuttoning his shirt, eager to see what was underneath. Seonghwa’s fingers made quick work with my corset as he quickly undid the string and I was finally able to breathe regularly, that is, until he grabbed my thighs and lifted me up, my legs securing around his hips. I pushed his shirt down his shoulder, biceps, and arm, allowing my hands to roam against his blazing skin. Seonghwa’s lips found mine again and we started kissing as I held onto him tightly, poking my tongue in his mouth. He started sucking on it as he walked us towards the bed, making me sit as he pulled away, my lips desperately following after his, but he stopped me with his finger.

I gulped and watched as he took his shirt off, followed by his leather pants, standing in nothing but his undergarment. His body was lean and smooth, muscles bulging everywhere, showing off the physical effort his work required. I reached out and grabbed his waist, feeling his soft skin. Seonghwa closed his eyes as I leaned forward and started pressing soft kisses against his torso, following his V line, but he stopped me before I could reach his undergarments. His fingers hooked underneath the thin straps of my silk dress and he pulled it over my head as I raised up a bit to help him. Suddenly the cool air of the room hit me, and only now did I notice that the window was open. The salty breeze entered the room as I moved back on the bed, allowing Seonghwa to crawl towards me, eliciting a chuckle. My breasts were perky from the sudden temperature change and I laid down as Seonghwa crawled above my body, a hand grabbing my left breast, kneading it carefully. I closed my eyes and sighed, running my hand up his arm as his other hand trailed my thigh up to my stomach, slowly massaging it. I gripped his nape and pulled his face down, kissing his lips feverishly, allowing his tongue to explore my mouth as he pinched the bud of my breast, making me gasp. My legs went around Seonghwa’s hips and I pulled his body close to mine, as he slowly started grinding against me, building the tension more and more. My mind was hazy and foggy from all the alcohol, I could only remember bits and pieces, but Seonghwa’s groans and moans followed by his rhythmic thrusts were forever drilled in my brain. His pace was slow at first, allowing me to accommodate to his size as I hadn’t done this in a while, but when I faintly whispered to him that I wanted him to go faster he picked up his pace, pulling out and pushing back in, one hand holding my hips fiercely, leaving little fingerprints for me to later find. His other arm rested next to my face and his head was next to mine, lips grazing against my ear from time to time as he whispered sweet nothings to me, my moans getting gradually higher the faster and stronger he slammed back in. My head was thrown back as I whispered his name, but it wasn’t enough, I needed to feel more, so without much thought, I flipped us over, making Seonghwa’s eyes widen.

I groaned at the new feeling, his member reaching deeper inside in this position. I adjusted my knees a bit, making my hips move and Seonghwa’s hands flew to hold them, a whine leaving his lips. I watched him as I slowly started moving, dragging out my movements as best as I could, watching as Seonghwa’s eyes closed and his mouth opened, cursing quietly to himself. Pleasure racked my body as I fastened my pace, gyrating my hips, gasping when I hit the spot I much needed to. Seonghwa’s eyes snapped open and he started thrusting upwards, watching me as I matched his pace, moans getting throatier and whinier as I was chasing my high, stomach tightening and toes curling from the pleasure. We were a mess of moans and groans, chests falling and rising rapidly, holding onto each other desperately, moving messily, chasing our own release. Seonghwa’s head was thrown back as one hand held my breast and all I could remember was the knot exploding in my stomach, making me moan his name again and again, feelings his hands guide me through my high as he came undone inside me, lips parting in a loud moan, hips stuttering for a second before stopping their movement altogether. I was panting on top of him and ran a hand through my hair, missing the warmth of his hand once he release my breast. As I opened my eyes he pulled me down and captured my lips in a passionate kiss, slowly pulling out, and flipping us over, lips never leaving mine for a second. I ran my fingers through his hair lazily and felt the fabric of the blanket being pulled over my body as Seonghwa pulled back, pressing a soft kiss against my lips, then my eyes and my forehead before settling on his back and pulling me into his side. I bit my lip and fought the smile that threatened to appear on my lips, but when he wished me good night, I could hear the smile on his own lips. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I wouldn’t be here when he’d wake up because I wasn’t planning on staying the night. I had to go home and hide the stolen jewelry and money before anyone could come back to the Inn and accuse any of us from stealing it. So I promised to close my eyes and wait until Seonghwa fell asleep, except that I also fell asleep and when I opened my eyes again, the sun was just about to rise. I panicked and groaned when my headache hit me like a hammer, head pounding viciously. I had too much to drink last night, my mind was still hazy, memories after I sat down to drink with Seonghwa unclear.

Slowly, I became aware of the naked body I was sleeping against, of an arm holding my middle lightly and of my own naked body. The activities of last night hit me suddenly and I gasped, carefully getting out of Seonghwa’s grasp. I did not intend on sleeping with the handsome stranger, yet I couldn’t complain. I clumsily dressed myself, struggling with the string of my corset, so I didn’t even bother to pull it together as tightly as I normally would. I looked around for my pouch and found it on the floor, next to the nightstand, where Seonghwa’s pants were thrown. As I bent down and grabbed my pouch, making sure nothing fell out of it, my eyes fell on the golden compass I had seen Seonghwa clutching. He wore it around his neck, but while he was undressing, he took it off and placed it in his pants, it probably fell out when he threw it around carelessly. I took the compass in my hands and stood up straight, examining it from up close, realizing it was made out of gold. I bit my lower lip and opened it, examining it. It was in perfect condition, it looked old and like it cost a lot of money. Squinting a little bit and bringing the item closer to my eyes, I could make out a name on the inside of the compass, Bu Seolhwa. I wondered who that was, but my attention was quickly back on Seonghwa as he sighed in his sleep and shifted, turning around, onto his stomach. I probably shouldn’t have taken an item which looked so personal, but when did I care when stealing from innocent people? Now really wasn’t the time that I would start caring, although I probably should have been wiser and placed the compass back inside his pants pocket. But back at that time I didn’t know who Seonghwa was. I didn’t know the danger I’d place myself and my sister into by stealing his golden compass.

            I pulled on the reins, slowing my horse to a trot as we entered through the gates of the city to which I haven’t been to in six months. There was nothing wrong with it, I loved it here, but for some reason I couldn’t find the power in me to return. It was weird, it’s never happened to me. Suddenly, as if it burned me, I was reminded of the weight of the compass around my neck, indirectly making me think of Seonghwa. There was something particular about him that I couldn’t place my finger on. Perhaps it was his constant politeness while we conversed, his softness and carefulness. It stayed with me, and I often times found myself thinking about him, wondering where he was. I didn’t ask what his occupation was or where he was from, therefore I basically knew nothing of him. He mentioned something about the Black Ocean and then about the Barren Sea being the most chilling experience of his life so far, but I couldn’t be very sure, my intoxicated mind couldn’t pay much attention to his words. Perhaps it was the compass I kept on myself at all times that kept him so alive in my memories or perhaps it was the way he made me feel. Shaking my head, I focused back on my surroundings, slowing my horse to a walk as we entered the heart of the city. It was buzzing with people, merchants shouting and trying to charm people to their stalls, selling their products. Little cafes were opened, ladies in beautiful dresses were enjoying their teas while giggling and gossiping, meanwhile men either read the newspaper or hurried back to their work places as lunch time was over. I pulled the reins to the left and my horse took down on a smaller street, walking us away from the madness. The shop I was headed to was by the heart of the city, but not quite at view as the owner tried to stay away from the watchful eyes of Sir Edwards; the two have always had the ick for each other. I stopped my horse and carefully got off, petting its head before tying her reins against the lamp post in front of the shop. She looked at me and neighed loudly, making me chuckle as I took off the smaller bag from the saddle I carried with myself. From the outside it looked as if the shop was closed, but I knew Mr. Jung kept his shop open at all times, too greedy and desperate for any kind of stock. I pushed the door open and walked inside the dimly lit place, looking around. It hasn’t changed at all. The shelves were still covered in dust and the chandelier hung way too low in the middle of the room; a few candles unlit. I walked around it, eyeing the desk and the empty chair behind it. There were papers scattered around the table and a pen lying messily on a bare paper, the ink creating a small black circle on it. I stopped in front of the desk and knocked on it loudly, waiting for a reaction. And it came instantly as there was commotion behind the door I was facing. After a loud grunt and a crash, the door flew open and out came a middle-aged looking man, beard long and already white, a funny hat resting on Mr. Jung’s head. I chuckled as I watched him stumble through the door, shoe catching in the doorway, and for a second I thought he’d faceplant on his own desk, but he caught himself last minute and puffed loudly.

“What a particular way of greeting your customer.” I muttered amused, throwing the small bag I carried with myself on the desk carelessly. Mr. Jung’s eyes lit up and he was quick to sit down, pushing the papers off his desk and onto the floor. Seems like his business hasn’t been flourishing lately.

“Good morning, Miss Kim.” He said with a sweet tone, his golden tooth showing as he grinned. I rolled my eyes and opened the bag, knowing very well he was being nice only because I had something to offer him. Mr. Jung was a cranky and unpleasant man to be around.

“No need for fake kindness,” I said as I held the bottom of the bag and raised it up, emptying it’s contents onto the table. Mr. Jung’s eyes grew wide and he gasped, hands flying to touch the golden coins. Indeed, I did bring a lot, but not all was his. Unless he paid me well, of course, “How much for these?”

He didn’t hesitate with his answer, “Your bag filled with pennies and two bars of gold.”

I chuckled, crossing my arms in front of my chest. My bag was not a big bag, it wouldn’t work, “Johnny from the little town just two hours away offered me more, Jung.”

“Perhaps Johnny is easily fooled.”

“Perhaps Johnny isn’t on the verge of closing his shop due to losing clients—”

“I did not lose clients!” Mr. Jung exclaimed, cutting me off, pointing his finger at me accusingly.

“Did you not, really?” I raised my eyebrows, taking a coin in my hand, “Because that’s not what Madam Joy said to me last night.”

“Madam Joy doesn’t know anything!” Mr. Jung stood appealed, face going red, “That woman gossips all day—”

“That woman is smart for knowing at all times what’s happening in the town,” I cut him off, throwing him a glare, “your pathetic reasoning leads me to believe that you did lose clients, Jung.”

The man opened his mouth to say something, but quickly closed it and sat back down, rubbing his chin. His reaction said it all. Business was awful and without stock he’d be closing his little shop in no time.

“Give me two bags, full bags, of pennies and I won’t ask for any gold—”

“Outrageous!” He exclaimed again and I chuckled, playing with the coin in my hand.

“Take it or leave it Jung, I can always find a dealer who’ll pay me better than you have been paying me throughout all these years.” I snapped and threw the coin back down on the desk, leaning forward to grab my small bag to start putting away the goods I had to offer. Mr. Jung’s eyes widened in panic and he started stuttering as he tried to stop me from putting the coins away.

“I guess Sir Edwards won’t have to keep an eye on you for too much longer.” I muttered as I made eye contact with Mr. Jung, infuriating him.

“I am not closing my shop!” Mr. Jung slammed his fist on the table and I chuckle, muttering a small ‘sure’ as I closed the bag, tying it tightly and turned to walk away without a word. A shuffle and then the crash of something, probably his chair hitting the floor, echoed behind me before hurried footsteps followed after me. I wasn’t even close to the door when Mr. Jung grabbed my wrist, stopping me from leaving his shop. I looked back at him uninterested, watching him fumble for a second before his eyes fell to my collarbones, eyes narrowing slightly.

“I fill your bag with pennies, give you two bars of gold for now…and in two weeks you can come back for another penny fill, what do you say?” I took a second to think, knowing that this offer was the best. Johnny offering me more was a lie, he didn’t even want to fill my own little bag with pennies, “And…I sell that beautiful compass ridiculously overpriced, giving you half of the money.”

“No.” My answer was instant; I didn’t need to think about his second offer. The compass was not up for sale. It was mine, and I wasn’t giving it to anyone. They could tell me they’ll make me Queen and I’d still not give it away, “The compass is not for sale.”

“But—”

“I said,” I snapped, stepping closer to Mr. Jung menacingly, “It’s not for sale.”

His eyes narrowed again as he looked down at the compass, nose flaring in anger before he shook his head, “But the other offer?”

“That one’s good.” I said with a smile, pulling my wrist out of his grip as I offered him my hand. He didn’t look pleased as we shook hands before he took my bag full of coins, a few watches, and women’s jewelry, “I’ll be back in two weeks.”

“I’ll make sure to have the money.” Mr. Jung grumbled, still eyeing the compass, making me glare at him. I grabbed it and pushed it underneath my white shirt, pulling the collar of the jacket over it, hiding my little treasure from him, “I have seen that compass before, Miss, you should be careful.”

His eyes held no emotion, but his words were threatening as Mr. Jung continued, “Ateez has been asking around about you. Not only here, in neighboring towns as well…”

Ateez? The name sounded familiar yet I didn’t know from where as I racked my brain, knowing that I’ve heard it from Sir Edwards once in passing. He was saying something about a tiara and a ship, pirates too even?

“You should be careful too,” I spoke up as Mr. Jung walked back to his desk and I headed for the door, “Sir Edwards was saying last time I was in town that he’s caught a link of yours, another dealer. Perhaps he’ll catch you before you could close your shop.”

I didn’t wait for Mr. Jung’s reaction as I pushed the door open and walked outside, the closed door behind me muffling his angry shouts. The man had terrible mood swings; he was never able to deal with his anger properly.

I approached my horse and petted her nose again, kissing it before I whispered to her that I would be back. There was a little bakery down the street and I haven’t had breakfast yet, I was craving some freshly baked bread. The weather was pleasant despite it being the beginning of September, if my coat wasn’t so thin I would’ve felt hot by now. I greeted a few people I knew as I walked, smiling and stopping to exchange pleasantries with an older lady who sometimes played the piano at the Inn I would work at when in need of more money. She was always nice but very nosy, I made sure to tell her as little as I could about myself. The bakery was in sight when I heard rapid footsteps approaching me from behind. When I turned my head to see what was happening, it was already too late as my mouth was covered by a rough hand and I was pushed into the dead-end alleyway to our right. I came face to face with three men as I was pushed forward by the one holding me. I glanced back to see two more there. This was bad. I was a skilled fighter, but I was alone and they were five. Two would’ve been good enough already. Damn Mr. Jung. He really hated it when something didn’t go his way. All of this for one stupid golden compass? I sighed and grabbed the sleeves of my coat, the man around me tensing. There was one really tall and really muscular one, I hoped he’d attack me last or at least knock me out fast if he decided to come at me first.

“Relax, boys,” I said with a chuckle, taking the coat off and throwing it to the side, not wanting it to get in the way, “I’m just taking my coat off, why so tense?”

I knew teasing and talking would do nothing right now, but I tried to stall and think of a way of running away. I was quite the fast runner, too many close calls of getting caught do that to you.

“Give us the compass.” The biggest said and I sighed, grabbing the handles of the two daggers hidden in my thick belt.

“There’s really nothing special about it,” I said with a shrug, its weight reminding me of Seonghwa again. Now really wasn’t the time to think about him.

“Boss wants it,” The same man said, “give it to us while we’re asking nicely.”

“No, because it’s mine.” I snapped and the first guy to my right took off running towards me. I quickly took my daggers out and sliced his arm when he reached out for me, making him scream out in pain. I kneeled his stomach and kicked him to the ground as hard as I could. The next one was by my side in an instant, grabbing my arm and hauling me around, making me scoff. I elbowed them in the stomach and sunk my dagger into their thigh, his cries of pain loud as he fell to the ground. I ripped the dagger out and attacked the next guy straight away, not waiting for them to attack first. They had a knife, this time, and he was successful at cutting my cheek, making me hiss. I tried to punch him, but he dodged, when I was whirled around and punched in the face. I groaned loudly, holding my nose in bewilderment. But again, my leg was kicked and I almost lost my balance, turning around in a furry and punching this time successfully the guy in the face not just once, but twice. They stumbled into the wall and as I was about to stab them, my hair was grabbed and my head was yanked back, making me yelp.

“Don’t touch my hair!” I screamed, stepping on the man’s toes hard, twisting my heel and leaning forward to elbow them in the jaw, making them stumble back. I turned around and stabbed them in the stomach, making the man gasp. But I didn’t even have time to pull my dagger out as the last guy standing, the really big one, had me by my shoulder and threw me against the stone wall. I groaned as my shoulder crashed into the wall rather hard, pain spreading through my right arm. Great, now I’ll have to get that fixed probably. But as I looked at him, I was slapped rather hard and accidentally bit my tongue, making it bleed. What a perfect day I was having…and it was only Wednesday. I groaned and straightened up, attempting to punch the guy, but he grabbed my fist and twisted my arm, turning me around as I was pushed into the stone wall, left cheek crushed against it. It was rather painful and I scoffed at how weak I seemed to appear next to this big man. It was really comedic; I could usually protect myself.

“All of this for a compass—”

“Shut up!” It wasn’t enough that I was struggling to speak due to my face getting crushed, he proceeded to smash my head against the stone wall, making me lightheaded too. I huffed loudly, squeezing my eyes shut for a second as I felt so dizzy I could throw up. The man’s right hand raised, leaving my right arm free and despite me trying to push him away with it and wriggling around, he still held me pressed against the wall, hand grabbing the compass around me. I started writhing around more aggressively, trying to squeeze the chain between my chest and chin, thinking it would do anything to stop the man from taking it. I really couldn’t lose the compass; I would never forgive myself. I shouldn’t even have taken it in the first place. The name on the inside made it seem really personal. I had no idea who Bu Seolhwa was, but assuming by their name, it could be a sister or other relative of Seonghwa’s. Perhaps a lover too. I yelped when the man tugged on the string harshly and thanked the Heavens for putting the compass on the hardest metal I owned at home, as it didn’t break right away. The man was grunting as I was fighting against him, trying to get him off pathetically, when suddenly he just stopped moving. The grip around me disappeared instantly. I was released in a blink of an eye; the action startled me. I turned around swiftly, still holding one dagger and pointed it forward, thinking that the man was playing games with me, but he wasn’t. He was dead. Eyes wide with blood pouring out of his jugular. My mouth dropped open when I took in the scene in front of me, all the other four men having suffered the same fate. My eyes fell on the man standing to my left, a thin, little knife in hand as he watched the men on the ground. He was dressed in all black, hands glowed and a hat on his head as the lower part of his face was covered by a black rag like thing. I stepped back when their head snapped towards me, crashing into the wall. I held the dagger firmly, ready to fight them at any given point. When our eyes met, I gasped, holding the dagger higher up, pointed at the person now. The man’s sharp eyes watched me with intensity, rage mixing with bewilderment. His eyes…they looked exactly like…Seonghwa’s? I gulped when he took a step towards me, eyes falling to my neck, but I stood ready to defend myself. When the man and I made eye contact again there was nothing but hatred in his eyes and I felt confused as they approached me, gripping my wrist so hard that I dropped my dagger. I hissed and grabbed his wrist with my other hand, trying to pry their fingers off myself, but the person tugged on my wrist and I looked up at them, eyebrows furrowed. The person looked and felt so familiar. Have we met before?

“Seonghwa?” I whispered startled as the scent of salt and lilies engulfed me. Not many people walked around here smelling like lilies and Seonghwa was the only one I could remember recently meeting who smelled like it. Well, six months ago, that is. But the man said nothing and released me abruptly, turning around and running off, making me run after them, but I realized I couldn’t leave my daggers at the crime scene. I had to leave now if I didn’t want anyone to see us. I was sure someone has already reported to the constable about weird noises, I couldn’t let myself be seen by Sir Edwards here. So I grabbed my daggers and coat and ran off, having long forgotten about fresh bread, as my mind was reeling at the thought of having just seen Seonghwa. Was it really him? Why would he save me after I stole his compass? Right, so then it couldn’t have been him. And who were these Ateez people looking for me? I had to figure it out fast, before I could put Nari in even more danger.

             I barely made it to my horse when the constable came hurrying down the street with a few of his men, searching for the people creating the disturbance. I concealed my face in order to avoid getting seen by him and got on my horse, directing her towards the Inn I was staying at. It was the same Inn I work at, but today I was their client. After making it back there I realized how shaken up I was and the violent thumping of my head. That huge man didn’t go easy on me, I figured I had a mild concussion. I had enough strength to bring my horse to the stable and ask the little boy to take care of her until tomorrow and I’d pay him generously before I made my way inside the Inn, struggling to walk up the stairs. My vision was blurry and the coat around me made me feel hot. The compass seemed to be a screaming reminder of Seonghwa right now, and without thinking much, I took it off, glaring at it.

“Oh my goodness,” I heard a female voice muttering worriedly, coming from the top of the stairs, “Y/N you’re so pale—”

I felt hands gripping my arms and I looked up, but couldn’t see well. It was one of the girls working at the Inn, Yoona. I tried to tell her that I was alright and I just needed to sleep, but my mouth wouldn’t move and my vision was darkening second by second. All I could hear was Yoona’s panicked scream before I felt my body falling towards her.

When I came to it the sun was setting, and there was a damp cloth on my forehead. I rubbed my eyes, and groaned, my right shoulder quite numb at the moment. I looked around and realized I was in the room I was staying at and sighed, closing my eyes for another second, noting that my head was still thumping, but not as violently as it had been previously. There was knocking at the door and then it opened, Yoona walking in with a tray of food. My stomach churned at the smell and I grinned at her, slowly sitting up.

“Figured you’d be hungry,” She muttered, placing the tray on my lap as I thanked her, “How are you feeling?”

“Ugh,” I groaned, grabbing the bowl of rice and the chopsticks, “like I was slammed against a brick wall more than once.”

Yoona chuckled and grabbed the damp cloth off my forehead, “You looked very bad in the morning. I thought you were about to die or something, you’re lucky Jongdae has some little knowledge about diseases.”

I chuckled as I munched on my dinner, looking at Yoona, “I’m not sick, I was beaten up.”

Her eyes widened and she gasped quietly, coming to sit on the bed, “What? By who?”

I shook my head and bit into the chicken wing, “Don’t worry about it, they’ve been taken care of.”

“I heard they found five dead men in an alleyway close to the market…” Yoona’s voice was quiet and I looked up, our eyes meeting.

“It wasn’t me,” I shook my head quickly, “They were the ones who attacked me, but I didn’t kill them—”

“You’re so fragile, how could you kill them?” Yoona chuckled and ruffled my hair, making me glare at her, “I’m just glad they didn’t get to kill you.”

I hummed and drank some water, placing the cup by the bed, on the floor, as Yoona stole some bread from my tray, “What did they want from you?”

Her question made me pause and I looked at her as I swallowed the food I had in my mouth, “A compass—”

When I touched my neck, there was nothing. And it registered that I couldn’t feel the weight of the golden treasure anymore. I panicked as my eyes widened and I placed the tray on the bed next to me, heart racing as I turned to my bedside table, searching my coat for it. Yoona watched me grow more panicked before she placed a hand on my own, stopping me from getting out of bed, “Stop, you didn’t lose it.”

I looked at her confused, and slightly desperate, as she grabbed something out of her pocket and handed it to me. It was the compass. I let out a long breath, opening it and checking the name inside, making sure it was mine, “You dropped it when you fainted and while Jongdae carried you to your room I went back and got it—”

“Thank you!” I whispered as I offered Yoona a quick hug, taking her off guard. She chuckled and patted my back, pulling away.

“I figured it had a sentimental value when I saw the name on the inside.” Her words made me feel bad all of a sudden, making it clearer that I had stolen something from Seonghwa which was very significant to him. Mr. Jung’s words rang through my head for a second and I watched Yoona stand and take the tray with her.

“Wait, do you know anything about—Ateez?” I stopped her with my question. Her eyebrows furrowed and she slowly shook her head.

“I’m not sure, but—” She hummed, pursing her lips, “They might be a Pirate crew.”

“Pirates?” I muttered surprised as she nodded before walking out the door, leaving me alone. I placed the compass around my neck and got out of bed, opening the window to allow the fresh air inside. I leaned against the frame and started thinking. The man which saved me today made no sense. What was his reason? He was clearly hostile towards me so I don’t understand why he ran off. Perhaps he knew the constable was coming and didn’t want to get caught. His eyes flashed in my mind and I sighed, shaking my head. I was confused. The eyes reminded me of Seonghwa, but it couldn’t have been him. The scent was another giveaway, but still, his demeanor and the intensity behind his eyes weren’t like Seonghwa’s. They were menacing and filled with hatred, the man wasn’t gentle nor careful. I glanced down at my right wrist and realized I had bruises from the harsh grip he held me by and I groaned, realizing my right arm and hand were of no-good use for the week. I convinced myself that it couldn’t have been Seonghwa and I was probably hallucinating from getting my head bashed against the wall so many times.

            After washing up and braiding my long hair, I dressed in clean clothes and applied a little bit of blush on my nose and cheeks, making them appear sun kissed. I was feeling better by the evening, having eaten and taken a little medicine for my head, the only give away that I was in a tousle was the cut on my cheek, now all cleaned up, and the bruises around my wrist. My right shoulder looked fine; however it didn’t feel exactly fine. But all in all, after a jug of beer I knew I wouldn’t be feeling the discomfort anymore. And the night was young, I had to use it to my advantage as the Inn downstairs was already filled with drunken people, so easy to trick. After walking around, I found myself sitting down at a table with six men who were playing some card games. They eyed me curiously as I placed three pennies on the table and asked for some cards too. Upon realizing what the stakes were, they each dropped some pennies on the table, the winner would take it all. At the beginning I allowed myself to lose, pretending like I needed to be taught the rules of the game, also waiting for them to get drunker and less aware of my cheating. Yoona came by to give us a new round of beer, I only drank one as I wished to stay sober, and as she was passing by me she whispered that the man next to me had a red heart. I grinned and as it was my turn, I asked the man if he had that specific card, having him hand it over to me. I was the first one this round to have no cards in my hands, therefore I won. The men groaned as they watched me take the pennies, making me chuckle.

“Seems like you learn fast, young lady.” The man to my left said with a loud laugh, patting me on my back. I chuckled and made sure I closed my pouch before taking the cards in my hands to shuffle them.

“The secret is to pay close attention for two or three rounds, mister.” I said as I started handing out the cards for everyone, the six men placing each five pennies on the table. The sum was getting bigger and bigger as the game progressed and I was enjoying it. One of them seemed to be rather cunning and he was always very close to winning, and probably would have, if I wasn’t cheating by Yoona’s help. She’d pass each round by us, when I subtly signaled it to her, and would look at the cards of the men in passing, whispering the missing card I needed. At the beginning it was all for fun, we did this to frustrate men, until we realized we could actually make some plus money by it. So now, the pennies I earned throughout these games were always half mine and half hers. The men I played with got louder and louder the more jugs of beer they kept drinking, and I found myself enjoying their company. They were middle aged men, all happily married and five of them making their living by fishing. The cunning man made jewelry with pearls, he liked going out on the sea with his friends, always bringing them food and more water to drink. I found myself telling them about my sister and how good she was at school, poetry being a passion of hers. They advised me of letting her live her life freely because once she gets married she won’t have the time anymore. While the man sitting in the middle was shuffling the cards for us, I smiled at the cunning man and told him that if he ever needs pieces for his jewelry to make them fancier and pricier, he should let Yoona know about it and I would get back to him. The men were surprised to hear that I was a merchandiser myself and still single, a woman at twenty-four years old was expected to at least have one child. However, they seemed nicer than most men as they just made a joke about it and carried on with their tales about the sea and their fear of pirates. That perked my interest and I found myself focusing more on the conversation than on the game, which wasn’t the smartest as I had placed the compass on the table as prize instead of coins. When the men saw it their eyes had a new glint in them, all wanting it probably.

“Why are you afraid of pirates, mister?” I found myself interrupting their conversation, almost missing my turn to ask for a new card. Thankfully, I got it right and I was still ahead of the cunning one.

“Have you never met one?” The man to my left asked and I shook my head, peaking at the cards of the man sitting on my right as he accidentally placed them on the table. He was rather drunk, he probably didn’t even care about the game anymore.

“I haven’t.” I answered with a shake of my head, “I’ve never sailed out onto the sea…or the Black Ocean.”

“Perhaps that’s better,” The man next to the cunning one cheered as he got one pair of cards right, having to get rid of only two more, just like me. I bit my lower lip and looked around, checking the others cards. They still had plenty besides the cunning one who only needed to get rid of one more before he equals us. That wasn’t the best, but I could still make it, “The sea isn’t for everyone, child, especially not for a lady like you.”

“I’m quite the fighter, mister.” I said with a chuckle, watching the cunning man as he looked around the table and asked the really drunk one if he had the card he needed. I smirked to myself, he probably must’ve also checked his cards while they were on the table as he got it right and the drunk one had to hand it over.

“It’s good to know how to protect yourself,” The cunning one said, giving me a small smile, “Pirates are different, however. They are violent and ruthless. More people die at their hands than at the Justice Court.”

My eyebrows furrowed as I hummed, noticing that he has equaled me and the other man in the cards. Now I really needed to pay attention, so I looked around for Yoona as the front door opened, still squeaking as loudly as ever. My back was facing it and I wasn’t curious to see who entered, I needed Yoona to help me out in these next two rounds. Thankfully, she noticed my stare and started walking towards us, watching for the signs I made. I needed a black leaf in this round and a red clover in the next one.

“Have you met a pirate?” I asked the table, all men nodding grimly. The one next to me, the really drunk one shivered and looked at me with wide eyes.

“This scar,” He pointed at the scar on his chin, it was quite wide, “was made by one of them. Just because they were asking for the fish I caught and I refused to give it to them…I still remember them, Ateez—”

“Ateez?!” My voice raised, which made Yoona look at me as she found the card I was looking for and motioned that it was at the cunning one. She shook her head at me and smiled when she was noticed by one of the men, asking if he needed anything. He said the music should be louder and Yoona walked off with a chuckle, giving me a warning look.

“They are quite known, child, have you never heard of them?” The man to my left said as the one to my right slurred his words, asking for some cards from me, which I didn’t have. I shook my head as an answer to the question and looked at the cunning man, asking if he had the black leaf. He nodded and handed it over, now I only had to get rid of the clover pair and I’ll win.

“It’s said that their initial Captain died when his son was only fifteen and ever since then he’s been the Captain of the ship. He’s called The Slayer, and child, if you ever come across them, just run the other way. They traffic women and not only, steal, and commit crimes no human should—” The man to my left shuddered and took a big gulp of his beer, checking his cards and asking me if I had the black heart, but I didn’t, “They’ve been the kings of the four seas for ten years now, many ships have sunken in the Raging Sea and Icy Sea…yet they somehow always come out unscratched. Constables hate them in each kingdom and people fear them everywhere. You should look for a golden ring with the letter A engraved in it if you want to know it’s them.”

“Didn’t—” The man to my right hiccupped and closed his eyes for a second, “Didn’t their Quartermaster—have a compass?”

“A compass?” I asked surprised, my eyes falling on the one on the table.

“He’s an orphan, child,” The man to my left explained, eyes barely open as he looked at his cards, these men were finished, I had a feeling this would be our last round playing, “The compass he always carries with himself is the only thing he had on himself when the initial Captain found him.”

I gulped and felt a bile rising to my throat, impatiently waiting for it to be my turn, so that I could finish this game and get a fresh breath of air. My heart was beating faster than before and the longer I looked at the compass, the worse the feeling in my gut was getting. It couldn’t have been Seonghwa. He looked nothing like a pirate. And he wasn’t wearing any rings the night we met. It surely must be a coincidence that he has a compass just like the Quartermaster of Ateez.

“Mister,” I smiled at the man to my left, eyeing his cards, “Do you happen to have a red clover?”

The man looked down at his cards with a frown, lips turning into a pout when he had to hand it over. I thanked him and placed my last cards down on the table, raising my palms in the air, showing them that I had finished the game. All men groaned as I pulled the pennies towards me, placing them in my pouch and quickly wearing the compass again. It felt uncomfortable to not have it around my neck, these past six months I have grown quite fond and protective of it.

“I’m afraid I have to say no to a next game,” I said as I stood and waved Yoona over, “But the next round of beers is on me.”

The men chuckled and nodded, one telling me that was only fair after I took all of their money, “Yoona, please serve each one of them a jug of beer, I’m paying.”

“Yes, of course,” She said with a pleasant smile and after biding farewell to the men, I followed Yoona to the bar, “Y/N, listen, there’s a man—”

I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows when she gripped my arm harshly, “He’s been staring at you quite—murderously ever since he entered the Inn, I think you should go.”

“Where’s he?” I muttered and Yoona turned her head, muttering quietly in which direction to look. Following her instructions, I turned my head and gasped. In the same spot where six months ago he was sat, it was Seonghwa sitting again. His eyes were narrowed and a scary smirk formed on his lips when he saw how wide my eyes were. I sucked in a harsh breath and ripped myself away from Yoona, “I’ll find you after your shift is over to pay you, I have to go now.”

Yoona said nothing as I hurried away from the bar and from the following eyes of Seonghwa, up the stairs and straight to my room to pack all of my belongings and leave earlier than planned. But first, I had to wait for the bar downstairs to close and for Yoona’s shift to be over. I couldn’t leave without keeping up my end of the deal.

            I had been a nervous wreck for the past few hours, pacing up and down in my room, checking the door every five minutes to make sure I had locked it. I even closed the window and drew the curtains closed, too paranoid of Seonghwa possibly watching me from the outside. There was one single candle lit in the room, barely creating any light, but it was more than enough. I couldn’t give away which room I was staying in, scared that Seonghwa was here, watching, listening, waiting for the right moment to attack. I had taken the compass off and hidden it deep inside my bag, tucked away in my other pants’ pocket. I knew what he was here for. The sailors tales about the Quartermaster of Ateez kept ringing through my mind and I jumped every time there was the lightest sound outside my door. I knew I was overreacting, but I couldn’t help it. If Seonghwa was here, he was here to take his compass back and possibly kill me. It must’ve been him in the alleyway who killed those men, and he was brutal. He stabbed the jugulars of five men without batting an eye to it and I knew he could do worse to me. I sucked in a deep breath as the clock hit three o’clock in the morning, Yoona’s shift was over and I could finally leave. The bar wouldn’t close for another one or two hours, but that wasn’t a problem, at least I didn’t have to sneak out. I quickly rolled up the tail of my braid in a low bun and pinned it up, making sure it wouldn’t annoy me while riding my horse back home. The ride took about four hours and then I needed a boat to cross to the small island my sister and I lived on. I looked in the mirror and made sure my pouch was secured against my belt before I walked up to the door and paused. I took a deep breath and opened it to a dimly lit hallway. It was quiet and nobody was standing in front of my door, so I allowed myself to relax a little bit. Perhaps Seonghwa wasn’t here for me. I stepped outside my room and turned to the left with the intention to go to Yoona’s room, but my body crashed into a solid one. I gasped at the familiar scent and jumped backwards, body moving on its own before my brain could even register what was happening. For a second, Seonghwa and I stood staring at each other, until both of us snapped out of it at the same time. I jumped back inside my room and went to close the door and lock it, but Seonghwa pushed it open before I could even place my whole wight against it. The door slammed against the wall loudly as I let go of it, grunting due to the force he was using. I walked backwards further inside the room, hand gripping my dagger’s handle. Seonghwa watched me menacingly as he very easily pushed the door closed with his foot only, lips pulling up into a bone chilling smirk.

“Long time no see, Y/N.” The way he said my name made me shiver, I found myself unable to speak, “Six months, to be exact.”

So he was counting the months too. Perhaps he was awaiting our next meeting. Perhaps he’s been planning this for a long time. Perhaps I’d be a dead woman once Seonghwa walks out of this room. I couldn’t let that happen, I couldn’t leave my sister alone. So suppressing a shudder, I tried to gather myself and act fearless.

“I see you’ve been patiently waiting to see me again.” I mocked, body tense as Seonghwa made no moves, just watched me like a predator watches its prey before pouncing on them.

“I wouldn’t say patiently,” He chuckled, eyes taking in my form, searching for something, “you move around a lot, so it was difficult to find you.”

So this would’ve happened sooner if I didn’t travel around the South Kingdom so much to steal, “Why would you want to find me?”

Perhaps playing coy wasn’t the smartest right now, but it seemed to stop Seonghwa from attacking just yet. He chuckled and massaged his forehead for a second. He didn’t look much different since the last time I had seen him. If anything else, his shoulder seemed to have gotten wider, or perhaps it was just the corset hugging his torso perfectly creating that illusion. His wavy hair has gotten longer, though, and it was tied up, the shorter strands falling in his face. I tensed when Seonghwa suddenly approached me with slow steps, and almost took my dagger out when his fingers touched my left cheek. I stared up in his eyes, missing the gentleness in them from last time, now only seeing anger and hatred. I never thought this man was capable of looking at me like that.

“Was it you—” I found myself whispering as his fingers traveled down my cheek and then jaw, “who killed those men in the alleyway?”

Seonghwa smirked again, raising an eyebrow, “What do you think, love?”

Before I could answer him, his fingers just barely pressed against the skin of my neck before his hand wrapped around it, holding it firmly. I reacted instantly, dagger in hand and pointed at his own neck. Seonghwa chuckled, but didn’t squeeze me or even move.

“Where is it, love?” He asked quietly, eyebrows raised as I tried to control my body and stop it from shaking.

“Where is what?” I managed to ask breathlessly, finding myself lost in his eyes. Seonghwa hissed and his grip suddenly turned tighter around my neck, yanking me closer as I pushed my dagger harder against his neck too.

“Don’t act like you didn’t take my compass, Y/N,” He hissed, voice dangerously low and dark eyes boring into mine, “I saw it around your neck earlier.”

“I don’t have it—” His free hand gripped my wrist and twisted it so suddenly, that my dagger fell from my grip as I cried out, a stabbing pain travelling up my arm. Seonghwa looked furious and I tried to free myself, but he started choking me as he whirled us around and walked me backwards until I was slammed against the wall, head crashing against it harshly. For a second my vision blurred and I knew this wasn’t good for the small concussion I got just this morning, and as if a reminder, my head started thumping lightly. With my left hand I tried to push Seonghwa off but he was like a rock, way stronger than I was.

“Stop it!” I choked out somehow as my left hand made it to his face and I started pushing him away by it, turning his head away. Seonghwa still didn’t budge, but when I tried to push his eye with my thumb, he released my right hand and slapped my other hand off his face, allowing me to grip his neck back with my right hand, squeezing as hard as I could. Seonghwa’s jaw clenched as we stared each other in the eyes, both of us fighting to suck in an ounce of air, lungs burning from the lack of it. Of course, I started seeing black spots already, having been restricted for longer than Seonghwa, but I still tried to squeeze him harder, which wasn’t working out too well. He suddenly released me, making me cough as I sucked in a deep breath, glaring at him. Seonghwa had a crazy glint in his eyes as they had widened and he looked at me with a grin that made my skin erupt in goosebumps.

“Stop it?” He asked with a chuckle, getting all up in my face all of a sudden, making me recoil from him as I avoided eye contact, “You took my compass. For six months I’ve been trying to find you to take it back and you’re still playing games with me. I should’ve killed you in that alleyway.”

My jaw clenched and I mustered up the courage to look at him, “Then why didn’t you? The compass was right there, around my neck—”

I jumped when he punched the wall next to my head, face so close to mine our lips were almost touching, “Where did you put it?”

“I don’t have it with me—”

“Don’t lie to me!” Seonghwa shouted, making me jump as I cursed myself for only have one dagger on me.

“I’m not lying!” I screamed back, “Do you see it around my neck?!”

“No,” Seonghwa chuckled, his demeanor suddenly changing, “because you’re not wearing it.”

“Because I gave it—”

“Don’t make me torture it out of you, Y/N.” The sudden sweet tone mixed with the look in his eyes and the caress of my cheek rendered me speechless as a chill ran down my spine. I gulped and opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t. Why would I think he wouldn’t harm me just because I was a woman? Just because he slept with me once. If he was who I feared he was, I needed to get away right now.

“Who are you?” I asked in a whisper, flinching when he gripped my chin and raised my head.

“Park Seonghwa,” He leaned down to be eye level with me, “Quartermaster of Ateez.��

I tried to keep myself composed, not give away anything, but for the first time in my life after the disappearance of my parents, I was scared. Seonghwa watched me closely, a smirk appearing on his lips as I gulped and glared at him, calculating my next move. I didn’t miss the subtle glance at my lips and I couldn’t help but glance at his, trying to distract him in any kind of way, but Seonghwa seemed unimpressed.

“Is that supposed to tell me something?” I feigned ignorance, making Seonghwa chuckle. He looked at the wall past me, sucking in a deep breath, and it was the little momentum I needed to take action. I suddenly gripped his head and headbutted him, making Seonghwa yelp as he stumbled backwards. I pushed him roughly and ran to my bed to grab my bag and leave, but Seonghwa recovered faster than I thought he would. I barely grabbed the bag when Seonghwa composed himself and gripped onto my bun, yanking me backwards. I yelped and held onto his wrists, his tug on my hair making my scalp hurt, but he just pushed me forward, making me fall face first into the bed. I tried to break free, but Seonghwa kept me pinned down by my head.

“It’s in your bag, isn’t it?” He asked amused as we both looked at the disregarded bag on the floor.

“No, it’s not!” My answer came too quickly, making it very obvious that it was there. Seonghwa just chuckled and pulled me up, still holding me by my bun. I took my chance and elbowed him hard in the stomach, but he still didn’t release me. My other dagger was on the nightstand table, so I tried to tug us in that direction, but Seonghwa realized what I was trying to do and stopped me, pulling me against his body.

“Love, will you stop fighting back? It’s quite obvious I’m stronger.” He whispered in my ear and I huffed, stepping on his toes, making him hiss. His grip loosened a bit on my hair and I yanked myself free, whining at the harsh pull of my scalp, but at least I was free. I turned swiftly and slapped Seonghwa hard, making him chuckle as he pushed me with such force that I fell backwards on the bed, him instantly straddling me. My hands went to hold his neck, but he pushed them away and pinned them on both sides my head, chuckling. I tried to kick him or do anything with my legs, but it didn’t do much as the position wasn’t favorable for me.

“Will you give up now?” He asked smugly, leaning closer to my face, “It’s embarrassing how many times I overpowered you in the past few minutes.”

“Aren’t you such a gentleman?” I scoffed, lifting my hips and trying to throw him off balance, but it literally did nothing.

“I would be…if only you deserved it,” He said with a shrug, eyebrows furrowing for a second, “Do you know what we do to those who steal from us?”

I remained silent and just glared at him, making Seonghwa roll his eyes, “We cut their hands off—and then feed them to the sharks.”

I scoffed but said nothing else as I stared up at the ceiling, ceasing my resistance. I had to outsmart him somehow, but nothing I seemed to do was good enough, “Did you ever take your sister to the mainland?”

My eyes snapped to his, mouth falling open at the mention of her. How did he know I had a sister? My heartbeat picked up and I started wriggling around again, huffing and letting out a silent cry when he didn’t budge, “Don’t you dare touch her!”

“Oh, she’ll be safe as long as I get what I want.” Seonghwa said nonchalantly, smiling sweetly. I really needed to give the compass back to him, didn’t I? This was embarrassing. I have never been caught by the person I stole from before. I should’ve just given that damned compass to Mr. Jung when he asked for it, then I wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“I sold it already, Seonghwa.” Yet, I still found myself lying to the man holding me down, “A wealthy man is probably sitting at his desk, marveling at the beauty of that golden compass, meanwhile my pockets are filled to the brim with coins.”

“You didn’t sell it.” Seonghwa muttered, eyebrows furrowing.

“Yes, I did.” I taunted him more, smiling when his eyes darkened and he leaned closer. Just a little bit more, and I could execute my new plan. If brute force wasn’t working on him, I had another way of distracting him.

“No, you didn’t.” Each of his words was sharp, eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at me with hatred and I chuckled, abruptly leaning my head up and smashing my lips against his. Seonghwa made a surprised sound and didn’t kiss back, pulling back instantly, but I caught his lower lip between my teeth, refusing to let him go so quickly. Seonghwa hissed and pulled his head away swiftly, glaring down at me as I licked my lips, looking up at him smugly.

“What?” I chuckled, suddenly easing into the bed, releasing all the tension from my muscles, he looked at me as if I was crazy, “Don’t tell me you didn’t miss me. What else would you be here for?”

“I’m here for my compass!” He exclaimed annoyed and his grip around my wrists turned stronger, but I continued to smile innocently.

“Are you, really? Then why didn’t you take it from me in that alleyway? Why are you here, in my room, on top of me, pinning me down against my bed?” Seonghwa’s eyebrows furrowed as he watched me.

“I’ll tell you why,” I whispered, leaning my head up again, looking him in the eyes with the most alluring expression I could muster up, “because you missed me. Because you’ve been thinking about me just as much as I have been about you. Maybe it was because of the compass at first, but then you remembered the way I felt around your body. The way my lips tasted. The way I moved against you and the sounds I—”

I couldn’t even finish my little taunting because Seonghwa crashed his lips against mine, pushing harshly and kissing me urgently. There was nothing soft in this kiss, just us fighting for dominance and teeth crashing against each other occasionally. I moaned into his mouth when his tongue pressed against mine and noted how his body seemed to soften, rather than pinning me down, he was just keeping me in one place. Taking that to my advantage, I sucked on his tongue, making Seonghwa moan into the kiss as I buckled my hips and swiftly pulled my legs out from underneath him. Seonghwa went to pull away, but I didn’t allow him as I sucked his lower lip between my teeth again and he just pressed his body against mine, melting into me. I hooked my legs around his hips and knew the next thing I needed to do was get him to release at least one of my hands, so I started slowly moving my hips against his, moaning to distract him even more. Seonghwa’s lips moved against mine urgently and I started getting affected by his quiet noises and obvious bulge in his leather pants. But I willed myself to stay focused, and thankfully he fell right into my trap when he went to hold my hips down with his left hand, releasing my wrist. I quickly held onto his nape and pressed our lips even more together, lips slightly hurting from his feverish kisses. I didn’t need my other hand as I held onto his hips tightly with my legs as I suddenly pushed him backwards, flipping us around. I tried to continue kissing him, but Seonghwa gripped my neck firmly, pushing me away. Our lips were touching as we breathed out through our mouths, our breaths hitting each others faces. He held my back with his other hand and sat us up, eyes ablaze as he watched me. I couldn’t escape if he held me so close to himself, so I just kissed him again, waiting for him to let his guard down completely. His soft lips fit perfectly against mine and I found myself moving against him once again, subconsciously this time. Seonghwa whined quietly and I pulled back, but he started kissing down my jaw towards my neck, making me suck in a sharp breath when he bit into my neck, probably cracking my skin. I could feel his body getting comfortable, forgetting what he was here for in the first place, but I didn’t. He’d take the compass whether things continued or not right now. So I did the right thing and allowed my hands to trace his shoulder before they settled around his neck, pretending I was just resting them there.

“Seonghwa.” I whispered in his ear when he started kissing my collarbones, making him look at me. His eyes were hooded and I kissed him again, slowly pushing him down against the bed, stroking his jaw with my finger. His hands held my thighs and he adjusted them before he gripped my bottom and harshly pressed me down against him. I moaned again, body begging for any sort of friction as he started grinding my hips against his, panting against my cheek when I pulled away. This was the perfect timing, I had to do it now or else we’d go further. Seonghwa’s fingers were already undoing my belt, lightly biting my cheek and jaw as I slowly started tightening my grip around his neck, hoping he wouldn’t notice. I kissed him again when his hand made it inside my pants, and suddenly he was caressing my clothed core, making me whine into his mouth. I pressed my forehead against his as he slowly started stroking through my undergarments, cursing in my head and wishing I could continue, but he’d still kill me after this. He’d still take the compass. So, without hesitating anymore, I squeezed my hands around his neck harshly, restricting his airway. Seonghwa’s eyes widened as he looked me in the eyes and quickly held onto my torso, trying to push me off him, but I made sure I was placing my weight in all the places where I knew I could pin him down, render him unable to move. Seonghwa’s eyes filled with hatred again and I bit my lower lip, hating that I was doing this to him, but he gave me no choice.

“I’m sorry.” I whispered, but his eyes conveyed the message that I was dead once he’d wake up. He realized I had overpowered him this time and stopped fighting back, accepting his fate making me almost let go of him out of pity, but I quickly reminded myself that I would be dead if I did so. And if I wasn’t alive, Nari would suffer. So I squeezed until I felt his body going limp and eyes closing, face red from the lack of air. I released him quickly and sat on top of him, checking for a pulse. He was alive, I didn’t have it in me to kill him. A part of me would be devastated if he were to die, and I didn’t know why. There was something different about him, I still remembered his aura the first time we met and perhaps if I hadn’t wronged him, we’d be in a different predicament right now. But I knew I had to leave right now and get as far away from Seonghwa as I could. If he was a part of Ateez, he'd find me no matter what and all I could do was brace myself for when the time comes. And of course, protect my sister from any danger. I got off of him and quickly fixed myself, taking my bag and daggers, and hurrying out the door. I entered Yoona’s room without knocking, she was already asleep and placed her payment on her little desk, taking off next towards the stable to get my horse with only one person in mind. Nari. I had to go back home right now and make sure she was alright, possibly hide her so that Seonghwa wouldn’t find her and threaten me with her ever again.

            I was lucky enough to get to the first boat going to my island in time. It was a man I happened to know, a baker who always traveled between the mainland and our island, bringing freshly baked goods for the people living in the town by the shore. He looked surprised to see me so breathless and tired, but asked no questions as he allowed me on his boat. I had to part from my horse, unfortunately, but I knew the stable boy here would take good care of her, I always left the horse with him when I came home. The poor baker tried to make conversation with me, but he realized I was in a sour mood, restless to get to see my sister so he stopped talking…that is until I asked him if he knew anything about Ateez. And the man knew. He knew a lot about them, in fact, and all the tales he told me about them made me feel sick to my stomach. They were ruthless people. They killed without a reason and they enjoyed taunting people. I couldn’t believe my stupidity. Once Seonghwa found me, I was finished, no doubt. I had heard of the menace Choi San was before, but I never knew he worked together with the pirates. I shuddered when the baker told me they killed his best friend too for refusing to help them out with a little food. They killed him, took all of his belongings and then placed his head on a stick for the whole village to see and know how to act when Ateez asked for something. The incident made the baker move to our island, hoping he’d be free from their terror, and so far, he had never seen them. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that they were closer than he thought, thankful that he gave me a ride. I handed him five pennies when we got off the board and I instantly took off, the walk to my town taking two hours by feet.

The sun was blazing by the time I made it home, well around noon, Nari wouldn’t be home and I couldn’t go to her school to check if she was alright, they didn’t accept visitors during teaching hours. I walked inside the house cautiously and took in the surroundings. Everything was in its place, showing no signs of anyone breaking in. I walked to Nari’s room and saw it was clean, bed made and papers full of poetry scattered around her desk. The house still smelled of omelet, so I knew she was home this morning. I walked to my room and made sure it was empty too, releasing a sigh of relief when everything seemed to be just alright. I unpacked my things and took the compass, walking back into the living room and placed it in a vase sitting on top of the fireplace. I started smelling, so after opening the windows to air out the house and eating some leftovers Nari left in the fridge, I walked outside and prepared some water for me to take a bath in. Our house was the furthest up the hill, nobody was close enough to see or hear us, so sometimes Nari and I would take a bath out in the open, behind the house where a few trees still concealed us. It was rather calming and comforting to take a moment to relax and enjoy that you were alive after tonight’s happenings. We still weren’t safe, but here, at home, I felt safe and protected. Seonghwa had no idea where we lived, so we were good for now. After washing up, I dressed in a white simple flowy dress, allowing my long hair to dry by itself, the wind and warm air drying it quickly up here. When I walked back inside the kitchen, I sat down at the table and noticed a note on the table, left for me. I always returned home the second to last week of the month, so Nari would start leaving notes for me a few days prior in case I returned earlier and she wasn’t home. The note said that she wouldn’t return home today as her and her friend planned a sleepover at her house, the mother inviting Nari over for dinner. I smiled and sighed, glad that Nari was living a simple life, filled with happiness and friends. I never wished for her to live the life I was. Constantly in danger and mostly unhappy. Don’t get me wrong, it was a life filled with adventures and treasures, but sometimes I wished I had someone who supported me and offered me comfort. A person whom I could return to and cuddle up to, rant about my day to and laugh about silly things with. Sometimes I just wished to be loved by someone. I sighed and started cleaning my daggers, pushing my wandering thoughts to the back of my mind, because I couldn’t help but picture Seonghwa as the man who would offer me all of these things. He probably hated me and wanted me dead at the moment, yet here I was fantasizing about us living a regular life.

Once my daggers were crystal clean and shiny, I stood from the table and twirled them around in my hands, gripping them firmly and pretending that I was stabbing someone. I rarely killed people. Only if the situation was dire and I truly had no other choice. So far I had only killed three people and I always felt awful. Sometimes I’d go and pray afterwards, but I knew it was fruitless as the sins I was committing wouldn’t allow me to have a happy afterlife. Shaking my head, I held the daggers and walked out of the kitchen with the intention to head inside my room and take a nap, but I froze once I reached the living room. Seonghwa was leaning against the wall in the doorway of our front door, arms crossed in front of his chest, face pulled up in an irritated expression. My heart started beating quickly and I felt at a loss at the sight of him, all feelings of security disappearing. He found me. It didn’t even take him a day, just merely some hours. The grip on my daggers tightened and I stood up straight, looking at him defiantly.

“Thought you’d never return from your daydreams.” He said mockingly as he pushed off the wall and walked further inside the room. I remained quiet and with my guard up, expecting him to attack at any given moment, “That was a nice little escape method you pulled a few hours go, Y/N, render me speechless.”

I gulped, averting my eyes from his as they burned into mine. My body felt hot all of a sudden and I was ashamed that I still wanted him despite of everything.

“I see you’re not wearing my compass anymore, what a shame…” He offered me a smile, menacing, “I wanted to cut off your head while you were wearing it.”

I tensed, shivering at his words, the scene playing out in my head. The whole living room covered in my blood, head separated from my body, Nari’s screams once she found me dead. I bit my lower lip to try and stop it from trembling and willed myself to try and looked fearless, but I was sure Seonghwa saw right through me as he sat on the sofa.

“So…where’s my compass?” He raised his eyebrows and groaned when I remained silent. His leg was bouncing up and down, he was getting restless. I was playing with fire, prolonging my anguish before my death, “Don’t tell me cat got your tongue all of a sudden, love?”

“I don’t have it, I told you already.” I spoke up, voice low and eyes glaring at him.

“Do you want to watch me destroy your house until I find it and kill you after or do you want to die first and for your sister to return while I search for it, only for me to offer her the same fate I offered you—”

“Leave my sister out of this!” I said menacingly, body shaking from anger as I walked closer to him, my grip turning painful on the daggers.

“It’s dangerous to have weaknesses in a world like ours, love.” I scoffed at his words, smirking at him and pointing a dagger at him.

“You should take your own advice, love.” I snapped back and Seonghwa’s jaw clenched as he stood up, slowly pulling his big knife out of its sheath. He came closer but I kept my distance, and soon we found ourselves walking in a circle.

“So…where is it then?” Seonghwa asked, glancing around the room.

“I don’t know,” I answered, pointing my dagger towards him, “Since you think I still have it, why don’t you go find it yourself?”

Seonghwa chuckled humorlessly, “I’m not in the mood for games, Y/N.”

“And I’m not in the mood to be tormented by you, but I guess we can’t have everything we want in life, Seonghwa.” That seemed to tick him off as he lunged forward, aiming his knife towards my abdomen, but I blocked it with my daggers. I pushed back and slashed towards him, narrowly missing cutting his hand. Seonghwa seemed unimpressed as he attacked again, aiming for the same spot, pissing me off. He was playing with me. He wanted to tire me out so that he’d gain the upper hand, but I wasn’t having none of it and charged towards him, fiercely attacking him with my daggers. He was quite good with his knife as he blocked all of my blows, fast on his feet and somehow always knowing my next move. He was pissing me off and I was starting to get frustrated as he managed to make a small gash on the skirt of the dress. He smirked when I huffed and as I jumped forward, his knife suddenly disappeared from his hands and he blocked my blows with his arms, managing to push me and take me off balance ,as I fell against the wall. I gave him a glare and jumped forward, attempting to strike him again, when suddenly the knife was in his hand and all I felt at first was the burn of my skin on my left lower arm, blood slowly oozing out. I gasped at the pain and looked down, blood dropping on the floor and even tainting my white dress. When I looked back at Seonghwa he was smirking and I jumped forward, only one dagger in hand as I dropped the other one due to the pain, and managed to slice Seonghwa’s cheek as he wasn’t fast enough when he tried to dodge my attack. He wasted no second jumping towards me and slamming me against the wall, making me groan loudly when my shoulder got hurt again. I swear to God, nobody even needs to kill me, at this point my injuries will do just that. But I reacted quickly and punched him in the jaw with my left hand, ignoring the pain, making Seonghwa hiss as his head turned in the opposite direction from the blow. He was breathing hard as he turned his head to look at me and he slapped me back, making me gasp.

“What? You can punch me but I can’t slap you?” He mocked and I clenched my jaw, ignoring the slight sting of my cheek, “I thought we were playing fair.”

I growled and kicked his hip, making him stumble backwards and almost fall, but he managed to catch himself in the wardrobe, pulling himself back up. I charged toward him and raised my dagger, but he blocked it with his knife, our faces close when he grabbed me by the hip and pulled me in, eyes falling onto my lips. I scoffed and pushed him off, but he grabbed my arm and squeezed hard as he flung me against the wall, my forehead crashing into it this time, making me hiss as I saw dark spots all around me. My concussion would beat Seonghwa to killing me. I was breathing hard as I tried to gain focus, having been thrown against the wall, again. It was starting to take a tool on me, the pointless tousling and teasing. I did not like fighting this way. I liked getting straight to the point, getting what I wanted. I never played around with my prey, but Seonghwa seemed to enjoy it as a wide smirk decorated his lips, his strides long and slow as he came closer, almost caging me against the wall. I huffed in irritation as he raised my chin with the tip of his very sharp knife, our eyes finding each other’s. Seonghwa was breathing hard too, lips parted and forehead sweaty as his long wavy black hair fell into his sharp eyes, his ponytail messy. His eyes held an intensity which was capable of making me surrender to him, but I stayed collected. Not this time, I wouldn’t give in. My lower left arm was burning from the huge gash Seonghwa’s knife made and I couldn’t ignore the blood dripping down his cheek where I had cut him just minutes ago.

“You could have made this so easy and quick for yourself, Y/N.” His voice dripped with venom and I gulped when his knife pressed harder against my skin, lightly grazing against my neck.

“I like to play around,” I muttered and forced out a chuckle, ignoring the quick pounding of my heart, “But you know that already.”

“Too well.” He snapped and I gasped when I felt blood trickling down the side of my neck, skin slightly burning. He really meant it this time that he’d kill me if I didn’t give back what was his. All of this fiasco for a damned compass. I glared at him and in a swift moment pressed my own dagger against his torso, ripping his shirt open and making it clear that if he were to slice my throat I wouldn’t hesitate in sticking my own weapon into him.

“How are you going to find the compass if you kill me, Seonghwa?” I taunted, mimicking his tone when he said my name. For a split second his eyes turned into slits and I was sure he would kill me right then and there, but the pressure of the knife from my neck disappeared and I felt the lump in my throat disappearing as well. It didn’t mean I was safe, it just meant I wasn’t getting my throat slit open. I lowered my dagger from his torso as well and tried to come up with an escape plan fast. The window was open, if I kicked him hard enough to get him to double over, I could run to the window and jump out. I knew where my sister’s friend lived, I would go there and take her with me. Going into hiding was a must right now.

“Where is it?!” Seonghwa’s voice slightly trembled from anger and I looked behind him, eyeing the window.

I shrugged before looking back at him, having decided what my next move would be, “I don’t know, want to play a game to find out?” And before he could answer, I punched him hard in the jaw, making him stumble backwards. He was flabbergasted as he looked back at me, wiping the blood from his lips, but before he could charge at me, I kneeled him in the stomach, hard. Seonghwa doubled over instantly and started wheezing, face contorted in pain. I didn’t necessarily liked hurting him and I found myself hesitating for a second before I snapped out of it and made a run for the window. The room wasn’t big, I could easily make it out and get away from Seonghwa. But I heard groaning from behind and as I latched onto the window sill, ready to jump over, a hand was suddenly in my long hair, fisting it. I was yanked back harshly and I yelped, eyebrows furrowing as Seonghwa held me flushed against his body, pulling on my hair so hard I thought he’d leave me with a bald spot. I went to fight back, but he grabbed my neck from behind with his left hand, but he didn’t squeeze. He secured me in a firm grip, warning me. I gulped and listened to our rapid breathing, Seonghwa’s chest rising and falling quickly against my back. His body hadn’t changed at all. He was still as sturdy as before, even felt like he had gotten stronger.

“Let me go.” I snapped and turned my head to the side, trying to look at him. Seonghwa watched my face for a second, taking it in, before he blinked and his gaze turned cold. I couldn’t pretend like the warmth of his body and the grip he had on me wasn’t affecting me, but my self-respect would never let me tell him. I had already admitted to thinking about him often back at the Inn.

“I prepared a little surprise for you,” Seonghwa whispered in my ear, my eyes fluttering for a second, before he harshly turned my head towards the window, making me watch what was happening outside. And my whole blood ran cold in me. I froze, almost unable to breathe. My little sister was walking outside, singing to herself as she played around with a pebble. The sight that terrified me wasn’t her being home despite her saying she’d spend the day at her friend, it was the man dressed in all black with a rag covering his lower face following her, knife held very obviously in one hand. Nari was oblivious to him and he was getting closer and closer to her.

“Stop!” My voice raised and I tried to wriggle myself free from Seonghwa’s grip. The man following my little sister, Nari, was Choi San, a ruthless mercenary. She stood no chance against him, I couldn’t stand here and watch as San kills my little sister, the only family I have left.

“Stop him,” I begged Seonghwa as I stopped trying to get away from him, “please tell him to stop. I will give you anything you want, Seonghwa, please don’t let him hurt Nari.” I knew now the two worked together. Seonghwa was the Quartermaster of a very infamous pirate crew whom had been terrorizing the four kingdoms and four seas for a decade now and everyone knew what they were capable of. Even I did now. I would’ve never thought Seonghwa was smart enough to find me as I barely came home, once a week every month, but seeing San trailing my sister woke me up to the reality of the predicament I found myself in. I was careless and dumb; I stole from someone whom I should’ve never messed with.

Seonghwa chuckled and I felt his hot breath on my cheek before he whispered in my ear again, “Never thought I’d hear you begging, love.” And without another word, he whistled loudly and I watched as San placed his knife up his sleeve and turned around, walking off, my sister oblivious to everything that could’ve happened to her due to my stupidity.

“Now, give me my compass.”

And I knew I had to do just that. No more games, no more taunting. Pride placed aside, I waited patiently for Seonghwa to release me and after a second of silence, he did just that. I sucked in a shaky breath and turned to face him, our eyes meeting. My heart was beating like crazy and I was terrified for my sister, but I still managed to give him a glare for even daring to threaten me by harming her. Seonghwa looked back with the same intensity, wanting his compass back right now as he watched me closely when I started walking towards the vase I had hidden it inside. I placed my dagger on the fireplace, not needing it anymore, before I reached inside the vase, fingers touching the golden treasure.

“Will you kill me once I hand you the compass back?” I found myself wondering out loud, hands slightly shaking. Seonghwa remained quiet but I could feel his gaze burning the back of my head, so I just gulped and spoke up again, “Whatever, I don’t care what you do to me as long as you leave my sister out of this. She doesn’t even know I’m a thief, she thinks I work for a wealthy family on the mainland.”

I gripped the compass and took it out of the vase with a sigh, turning around to hand it to Seonghwa, but he was already standing in front of me, making me jump. He looked down at my hand and gripped the compass, ripping it out of my hold. I gulped and watched his expression closely as his eyebrows furrowed, clutching the compass with both hands. He raised it up to his eyes and consulted it closely, hands slightly trembling as he opened it. A sense of relief seemed to wash over his face as he touched the inside of the compass and then suddenly looked at me. I tensed and averted my eyes from his.

“Why did you steal it if you didn’t sell it?” He asked in a whisper and my eyebrows furrowed, feeling uncomfortable by his question. I noticed how numb my lower arm started feeling from the big cut and that the back of my head was thumping violently again.

“I don’t know—” I muttered, wetting my lips as I looked back up in his eyes, “I just—I couldn’t. When I saw the name on the inside I just—I just had a feeling it was a very personal item. I guess…I didn’t have it in me to get rid of it.”

Seonghwa remained silent as he looked down at me and I felt even more guilty when his eyes filled with tears. Why was he the one on the verge of crying? He was about to kill me any minute.

“You have no idea how much this compass means to me, Y/N.” He muttered with a sigh, closing it and placing it around his neck. It looked beautiful. It complimented his complexion and I found myself mesmerized by the man standing in front of me. All the hatred and roughness was gone, the Seonghwa I met the first time was the one standing in front of me. Soft and kind.

“I’m—” I gulped, feeling weird for apologizing, “I’m sorry.”

Seonghwa’s eyes widened slightly and his jaw clenched as his eyes traveled over my face, analyzing whether I meant it or not. And I did, I was genuine with my apology, I shouldn’t have taken it.

“You could’ve given it back the first time I asked for it, you know.” Seonghwa’s eyebrow raised and I looked away embarrassed.

“A thief getting caught and then forced to hand back the treasure is quite humiliating, Seonghwa.” I muttered, looking at him startled when he gripped my chin and turned my head to face his, “When I took it I had no idea who you were, so I thought I could get rid of you fast.”

Seonghwa chuckled and leaned down, eyes at the same level as mine, “I would’ve never thought you were this silly, love.”

“Are you going to kill me?” I whispered as I bit my lower lip, Seonghwa’s eyes falling on them. He shook his head wordlessly, looking back in my eyes when I gasped quietly, “Why not?”

“For the same reason you didn’t sell my compass.” He whispered back and my heart somersaulted when he pressed his soft lips against mine, holding the side of my neck firmly as I kissed him back feverlishly, holding his nape to pull him closer. I had no idea if he figured out that I had taken a fancy to him, but his kiss felt weirdly loving. I allowed this unknown warm feeling overtake my body as Seonghwa proceeded to pull me into himself, almost engulfing me in a hug as he pulled away only to press two more kisses against my lips, making me blush against my will. I refused to open my eyes, embarrassed and shy at the same time, when Seonghwa chuckled and stroked my lower lip with his thumb.

“Who’s Bu Seolhwa?” I whispered, making Seonghwa sigh.

“My mother.” I opened my eyes and looked at him surprised, the rumors said he was an orphan, “I found out five years ago where I come from and who she is. But that’s all I know.”

“Let me help you,” I blurted out before thinking more about it, making Seonghwa raise his eyebrows in surprise, “I mean—I know a lot of people from different circles and ranks. I could help you find her…if you want me to, of course.”

Seonghwa smiled and pulled away, making me yearn for his touch, it was so silly, “Alright, love, at least I’ll have an excuse to see you each month.”

I chuckled and looked away embarrassed, watching him collect his knife as he walked towards the front door, “I’ll see you second to last week of the next month here, love, don’t do anything crazy until then because I won’t be able to save you.”

My jaw dropped as I ran up to the door, watching him leave. He turned back with a cheeky smile and winked as Nari and him crossed paths, she was rather close to the house, good thing we stopped fighting. But how did Seonghwa know when was I home? For just how long has he been keeping an eye on me?

“Y/N?” I heard my sister’s excited voice call out, “You’re home early!”

And I allowed my eyes to fall on my little sister as she ran up to me, completely ignoring the state I was in as she hugged me. My body felt frail in her arms and I allowed myself to breathe in and breathe out, thankful that she was safe and in my arms. My eyes fell back on Seonghwa’s retreating form and I found myself smiling, curious of what the future held for us.

“Who was that man?” Nari asked as she pulled her head back and looked up at me, she was at least two heads shorter than me.

“Just a friend.” I answered her and ruffled her bangs, stepping out of her embrace, “The house is a mess because—”

“Don’t worry, you can clean that up yourself,” She grinned cheekily as she ran inside the house, “I’m only home because I forgot Joohyun’s bracelet at home, I’m still sleeping over at hers.”

“I see.” I muttered and shook my head, cursing the heavens for letting her forget such thing today of all days. But it was alright, because in the end I took care of it. Because in the end, I would do anything to keep her safe and myself alive.

And because maybe Seonghwa would kill anyone who dared harm us.

Next part (divider)

#bvidzsoo #ateez series #ateez smut #seonghwa x reader #seonghwa smut #park seonghwa #seonghwa angst #seonghwa fluff #seonghwa ateez #ateez angst #ateez fluff #seonghwa oneshot #ateez x reader #kim hongjoong #jeong yunho #kang yeosang #choi san #song mingi #jung wooyoung #choi jongho #ateez pirate au #ateez fanfic #ateez imagines #ateez scenarios

[daechwitatamic]

Of Ruin: Chapter 13 | KTH

(banner by @itaeewon)

Of Ruin (Masterpost)

Rating: NSFW - minors dni Genre: vampire!au magic!au royalty!au, s2l, slow burn, eventual smut, angst and fluff

Summary: Taehyung of House Rune, Prince of Infracticus has been cursed. You’re the human world’s leading curse-breaker. It should be simple. But unraveling the curse becomes the least of your problems in the face of a world on the brink of civil war… and the love you start to feel for the prince.

A/N: Thank you endlessly to @sailoryooons for betaing!!! 💕

//

Section Warnings: language, kissing, we are jumping straight into smut lol, nip stim, clit stim, dry humping, fingering, oral (f. receiving), uhhhh fang play? lolol pls do not perceive me, penetrative sex, love confessions during sex oops lol, biting/feeding during sex but its consensual on all parts, kind of sort of subspacey at the end with help from vampire venom, taehyung pov for a minute, drinking and drunkenness, hurt feelings wc: 6k

“You must have been terrified.”

“No. Not once I knew it was you.”

To emphasize this, you loop one arm around the back of his neck, drawing him closer, kissing him harder. Everything you’ve been holding back seems to burst from you - his faith in you, your trust in him, the love you’ve been tucking away, all of it. You kiss him feverishly, trying to translate every bit of it into the way you press against him, open for him.

He licks into your mouth and you groan quietly, wanting more, more of him, more of his mouth, more of his hands, just more. He responds to your sound with a pleased grunt of his own, and he slides one large hand around your waist, pressing against your lower back, pressing your hips harder against his own.

You slide your tongue against his and he brings his hand up your back and wrap his hand firmly around the back of your neck to keep you close. You let out a tiny whine, letting your hands wander up his chest over the thin cloth of the shirt he wears. You pass your hands over his shoulders, down his back, holding tight as your head spins - from the kiss, or from the events (and blood loss) of last night, you aren’t sure.

You murmur his name when the kiss breaks, and he responds by capturing your lips again, sweetly, then pulling back to look down at you.

“What is it?” he murmurs, voice as deep as the ocean.

You strain upwards, trying to find his mouth again, your right hand gathering the material of his shirt’s hem and bunching it in your fist. You slide your other hand into the gap you’ve made, practically gasping with delight as your palm slides along his cool, bare skin for the first time. He shivers beneath your touch, then reaches between his shoulder blades to grab the neck of his shirt. You let go of the hem, allowing him to tug it off and over his head before he bends to kiss you more.

Pleased, you press your mouth to his gladly, letting your hands explore up and down his ribs, over his pecs, down his stomach, around to his back, feeling him move and respond beneath each touch. You can feel him beneath you, responding to each kiss and every caress, and you tighten the grip of your thighs on either side of his own, as if holding on tighter can urge him even closer.

“So warm,” he murmurs against your mouth, letting out a quick sigh as one of your hands works to memorize the slope of his jaw.

You still want more. You use both hands and card your fingers through his hair, curling them to hold his roots, and pull lightly. He moans into your open mouth, the sound so pretty it makes your toes curl. You do it again, pressing your hips against his as you do, trying to egg him on.

He’s behaving too much, keeping his hands on your waist, your hair, not daring to toe the line even as you leap over it. You don’t want him to behave.

“I want to feel you,” you breathe, pressing your forehead to his as you both take a second to catch your breath. “Please.”

He doesn’t need to be told twice; he finds the hem of your shirt and pulls. You lift your arms so he can slide it over your head. His eyes follow the path of newly bared skin - up over your stomach, your chest, your face, up to your arms.

You reach back to unclasp your bra, tossing it away, but Taehyung isn’t watching. His eyes have instead caught on the scabby marks on your upper arm, and then on the inside of each wrist. He reaches for your right arm, pulls it closer, examining the place where his very first bite had pierced you.

“Did it hurt?” he asks sorrowfully, brushing a thumb lightly over the reddened skin around the bite.

“No,” you say, but it isn’t quite true, so you try again. “I mean, yes, but after a few seconds it was…”

“What?” he whispers, even as he pulls your wrist towards his mouth, brushes the healing bite with his lips. Your breath stills in your throat, but he only kisses the spot, waiting for your answer.

“Once the venom hit,” you admit, a little embarrassed, “it felt… kind of good, actually. Like being a little drunk.”

He lets out a breath that’s almost a laugh. “That’s how it feels when we drink,” he tells you. “The want, the thirst, it’s lessened… but it also gives a sort of high. It’s addicting - you’re addicting.”

He punctuates this thought by pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the fang-marks on your wrist, as you think that he must be mistaken - between the two of you, it’s him that’s addicting: powerful and beautiful, thrilling and dangerous.

He moves to kiss you again, licking against your lips until you open for him again, hands skimming along your now-bare sides, thumbs coming dangerously close to your chest before sliding back down. You shiver, grinding down into him, making an encouraging sound low in your throat.

He finally slides a hand where you want it, caressing and gently kneading your breast, letting his thumb circle the sensitive nipple before flicking over the top of it as it hardens beneath his touch. You keen, the sensations tingling and magical, pressing harder into his touch.

He abandons your chest and slides his hand down your arm, still kissing you languidly, deeply. His fingers rest against your wrist, and the wound starts to tingle. You recognize the sensation and realize he’s healing you as he kisses you, fixing each broken spot he finds, undoing the damage he’d wreaked on your body the night before.

He does the same to the wounds on your upper arm and the opposite wrist, then goes back to exploring what sounds he can pull from you as he lowers his mouth to your breast. He hums happily as he kisses, licks, and nips his way around the full bottom of one before making his way back up to your nipple, taking it between his lips and flicking his tongue against it repeatedly. You feel your eyes roll back, your core clenching in response to the feeling of him.

“God, Taehyung, please,” you beg. You don’t even know what you’re begging for - more, just more.

At your plea, he pulls himself back up and kisses you so hard that your head spins. He slides a hand, behaving no more, down your stomach and around your waist, gripping you tightly as he pulls you tight against his trapped cock, which is solid beneath you, begging for attention. You gasp, hips jerking with the sudden friction, breaking the kiss.

He releases your waist and his hands travel around to grab full handfuls of your ass, fingers tightening there as his lips work their way down your jaw and towards your throat. You groan in pleasure and excitement, feeling yourself getting wetter at an alarming rate.

“Smell fucking amazing,” he murmurs, lips against your throat, and you feel your whole body heat at the words. He holds you, mouth pressed to the flushed skin of your throat, pressing closed-mouth kisses to it as his fingers slip beneath your waistband, sliding down the bare skin of your ass and seeking the heat and wetness between your legs.

He toys with you, teasing your hole from behind, sliding easily through the slickness waiting for him. He doesn’t enter you, as you’re still pressed too tightly against him, rocking against his clothed length. Even still, you whine at the sensation of his fingers exploring what parts of you they can.

He growls, and you shiver. He lifts you in one easy motion, pulling his hand from inside your leggings to settle you down onto your back. He presses his long body alongside yours and slips his hand beneath your waistband - properly, from the front this time. He runs his fingers through the arousal he finds only once before plunging two fingers into you just as his mouth finds the tender place his fangs had pierced into your neck the night before. You moan so loudly it echoes through the room, the sound long and tortured as your body adjusts to the stretch of his digits and as the tender wound on your neck tingles at the pressure of his lips and tongue as he kisses and licks over the healing punctures.

“God,” you breathe, rocking against his fingers, trying to work them deeper. You can hear them squelching, and that should be embarrassing, but you can’t care. Not when he’s pulling his sticky fingers out of your leggings and rolling back over top of you, pressing his still-clothed length against your mound, his mouth firmly attached to the marks on your neck, tongue caressing the spots as if he could convince just a bit more blood out of them.

He ruts against you mindlessly, like he doesn’t even know he’s doing it, seeming to be fully focused on your neck, like he’s forgotten about relieving his aching cock when faced with the promise of your fresh blood. His hands are splayed and pressing into the mattress on either side of you, holding himself up just above you.

He slides his mouth from the wound to the unblemished skin just slightly to the left, sucking deeply, no doubt pulling more blood to gather below the surface of your skin. A growl reverberates through him, but you feel no fear; he’s not the beast now, he’s yours - yours. You know he won’t hurt you.

He brings up a hand to caress your jaw. “Tell me what you want,” he murmurs, barely removing his lips from your neck enough to enunciate.

You close your eyes, sighing, letting every sensation wash over you. I want to be yours, you think, just the same as you are mine.

“You,” you say, only part of the truth.

His mouth finds yours again, his taste slightly coppery, and then he’s pulling at your waistband. You hurry to assist, lifting your hips up and using both hands to push the material over your ass and down your legs, kicking both leggings and underwear to the side as quickly as you can.

“You, too,” you say petulantly, and he smiles against your lips.

He lifts up to untie his own trousers. When he’s free of them, you expect him to settle himself back as he was, but he surprises you by scooting down the bed and gripping your thighs firmly, pressing them apart, opening you reverently. You shiver as the room’s cool air, and his hungry gaze, find your exposed core.

“Taehyung,” you keen, not sure if you’re urging him on or questioning him away.

He tears his eyes away from your glistening pussy, gaze rising to find yours, hungry. His pupils are so blown out that for a second you jolt with alarm, thinking you’re seeing the black Infracti eyes of the beast.

“Can I?” he asks, and you’re reminded of last night, the way he asked before each bite, the way that despite instinct and thirst driving him to bring his mouth to each spot, he still waited for permission.

“Yes,” you breathe, head falling back against the mattress, as if you’re physically incapable of watching as he grips your thighs again and pulls himself closer, burying his face in your heat and licking his first stripe from bottom to top.

You let your breath out between gritted teeth as he does this again and again, tongue dipping in, stretching your entrance for only a second before sliding up to pass firmly over your clit before retracting altogether. It’s a slow, dizzying torture, and you find yourself shaking slightly each time he repeats the series of motions.

Eyes screwed shut, fingers digging into the blankets beneath you, you suck in a breath and try to relax, try to open your legs wider for him, even as the tremors roll through your lower body gently, building up to something fiery and explosive.

He stops his repetitive torture, flattening his tongue and rubbing firmly over and around your clit, the onslaught so intense that your hips jerk and twitch away until he reaches up and holds them still with firm fingertips. You whine and moan as he works you, powerless to shift away from the onslaught of his tongue and lips. He groans when you do, his dulcet voice weaving with your own wordless pleas, his hips undulating slowly against the bed beneath him as he feasts.

You breathe his name, needing reprieve, needing more, needing to unclench and inhale, the sound morphing into a low moan. He seems to hear your unarticulated request, pulling off and moving to press kisses to the insides of your thighs, the juncture, your spasming entrance as you gasp for breath.

Then, his mouth moves, tongue slipping along your outer lips. The sensation changes, alarm bells sounding in your head several beats before your buzzy brain can process why. It’s sharp, and your breath rattles to a stop, muscles tensing in anticipation, as Taehyung slides the tip of his left fang up one side of you, pressing it just hard enough against you that you can feel the sting even when he’s moved on to a higher place.

“T-Tae,” you gulp, pulse thudding even harder than it was before, desperately aware of how close he is to biting you. He growls again, then licks over where his fang had trailed, soothing, before moving to the other side. Gently, slowly, he lets the tip of his sharp tooth press against you, and weaves a line from bottom to top with it. Your breaths come shallow - you’re afraid to move, lest you accidentally pierce yourself on him.

“You’re so, so good,” he groans, and you don’t know if he means for staying still, for letting him play, or if he’s talking about your taste, not your behavior. You whimper, still nervous - but the fear is exciting. He centers his mouth and places a chaste kiss over your clit, causing you to jerk under his hands again.

“Taehyung,” you whine, a plea and a complaint all at once. “Please.”

He heeds your tone, releasing you after one more kiss to the spot he’d been torturing. “Please what?” he asks, teasing, starting to climb back up your body, mouth working its way up the plane of your stomach, past your ribs, over your breasts, up your throat, and then kissing you again, heady and impassioned.

You’re shaky from the adrenaline released by his toying with you; you pull him close, his chest flush against yours, trying to find comfort in his solidness, hands clinging to his biceps as they flex above you. You can feel his cock, hard and heavy, brushing your inner thigh, and you shift, trying to get it closer to where you want it.

He growls when he feels himself slide easily up your slit, grinding frantically against you until he’s slicked up, too, then letting his head snag on your entrance.

His eyes find yours, asking the question that he doesn’t vocalize.

You answer wordlessly, too, lifting up to take the first inch of him, letting out a strangled sound as he follows your lead and pushes through your heat until his hips are flush with yours again.

You stay locked like this for just a moment, and you look up at him with adoration as your body adjusts, stretching to accommodate him.

“God,” he breathes above you, starting to move minutely, just barely shifting. “You’re so -.”

He doesn’t finish the thought, dipping his head down to kiss you again. He shelters you between his arms, his black hair swinging above you, casting his face in shadow, and he begins fucking into you in earnest.

You move with him, hands roaming his arms and back, hooking one leg around the backs of his thighs to draw him even closer. He feels amazing dragging away from your walls and slamming back in, feels amazing kissing you so deeply you could drown in it, feels amazing stroking your face with gentle hands that promise to honor you.

As you move together, each delicious slide causing your core to tighten and grip at him, it builds - fuller and more powerful until it’s crashing over you: the need to tell him.

“I love you,” you breathe. “I should have said it before.”

He rolls you easily in response to this, one arm tight around your back as he maneuvers you so you sit astride him, his cock managing to sink even deeper into you from this angle. You moan, eyes slipping closed, missing it as he reaches for your upper body, trying to pull you down into some semblance of an embrace, even as he fucks you steadily, not faltering for a second.

He kisses you sloppily, arms locking you against his chest, cock sliding in and out of you at a steady pace. One of his hands slides up your back and rests across your throat; you shiver at the contact, and then you feel the familiar tingling. He’s healing your neck, where he drank from you last night.

When he releases you, hands settling on your hips and helping to lift you up and pull you down, you sit back up, looking down at him. He looks so good spread out beneath you that it makes your core clench, which makes his hands on your hips tighten and a low grumble reverberate from his chest.

He squirms and sits upright, capturing your mouth in another searing kiss as soon as he’s close enough, huffing against your mouth happily when he gets what he wants. He tugs you down on his cock and you keen, whining deep in your throat as his tip kisses your cervix until he lets up.

“Fuck,” you manage, gasping for a new breath as the pain-pleasure ebbs. You’re close, you realize, as he kisses his way down the column of your throat, teeth grazing in places and then tongue soothing the scrapes. You rock against him, your hard nipples brushing his chest, your hands finding his hair again, and you know exactly what you want to push you over the edge.

“Taehyung,” you say, lips so close to his ear that you can see him shudder from the tickle, “I want…”

He spears you particularly hard, grunting, and you lose the thought for a second, letting your forehead drop to his shoulder.

“Want what?” he asks, breathless, fingers splayed over your waist. He watches the place where your bodies meet, distracted by the sight of his cock emerging from within you, shiny and sticky.

“Drink from me,” you beg, not lifting your head, not wanting to see his reaction.

“No,” he says, not looking up, not stopping his fluid strokes into your tight heat. “It’s too dangerous, especially like this - I might not be able to stop.”

“If you can control yourself through the curse, you can control yourself now,” you argue, swiveling against him a little, relishing the feel of how deeply he’s touching you. “Please. It wasn’t you last night - I want it to be you.”

It’s not quite the whole of what you mean; if you weren’t split open by his cock right now maybe you could explain better than it felt like you’d been intimate with him without his presence, that you wanted a chance to share that intimacy with him, now, now that you’d told him how you feel about him.

But he seems to understand. His strokes slow but don’t stop as he tips your head up with the knuckle of his pointer finger, looking deep into your eyes as if looking for the right answer within them.

“Please,” you say, and you watch him break.

He pushes himself deep within you, then presses his face to the side of your neck he hadn’t touched yet. You rock against him, feeling his hard length push against each sensitive spot, colors exploding behind your eyelids as you move.

“Please,” you whimper again, because the anticipation is worse than the pain will be, and you want him.

He can’t resist, not with you begging, and he presses his fangs to your sweaty skin, then pierces you swiftly. The pain overtakes you, worse than you remember from the night before. You cry out loudly, eyes squeezing shut, fingernails raking down his shoulder blades, your whole body squirming and fighting instinctually to get away. He holds you tightly, and all your squirming does is push him deeper inside you, all those spots lighting up behind your eyelids again, causing your cry of pain to trail into a loud moan.

The venom hits you as Taehyung starts pounding into you faster than he has this whole time, his arms tight around your back, fangs still lodged in your throat, a growl ripping through him as your blood hits his tongue and your body tightens and twitches around his length.

The floating high hits you as your body reacts to his new, breakneck pace and you let out a mindless wail as you pulse and squeeze around him in rhythmic waves. It lasts and lasts, and you think you might trip straight into a second orgasm as he holds you even tighter, removes his mouth from your neck long enough to gasp your name as he pumps his release deep inside you.

After, he holds you still, hands petting your hair, smoothing down your back, until your heartbeat calms under his hands. Then, he lowers you to lay down side by side.

You float, aware of only snippets of sensation - the pulsing between your legs taking ages to settle, aftershocks causing the muscles in your legs to tense and release. Your heartbeat slows. The well of blood to the wound in your neck, Taehyung’s gentle tongue still pressed to the spot, taking what your body willingly gives but not pulling from it.

Slowly, you come back to yourself.

“How do you feel?” he asks, perhaps a bit apprehensively.

“I need to eat, shower, and sleep, in that order,” you murmur, eyelids heavy. “But otherwise… I can’t complain.”

In the end, his guards keep the corridors clear as he carries you back to his rooms. It’s a bit embarrassing, you think, but you’re way too weak to walk there, so there’s no arguing the point. He orders a full breakfast spread from the kitchens, sends Satuel to your rooms to get you something comfortable to wear, and runs a hot bath in a tub so deep you’d honestly call it a small swimming pool.

When your stomach is full and your body clean, you burrow under the blankets in his ridiculously opulent bed, body thrumming with happiness and oxytocin and all those other happy chemicals that come after good sex and good food.

“I suppose I should thank you,” Taehyung murmurs as his fingers trace patterns over your shoulder. He lays beside you, on top of the blankets, waiting for you to be claimed by sleep. “I got a whole night of sleep last night. My first in months.”

You hum, stretching, halfway to sleep already. “I think you have other things to thank me for,” you tease, the words falling heavily from your lips as you’re pulled under.

You feel his hand, gentle on your throat, drawing near the bite mark he’d made this morning, the one he’d made as himself, at your request.

“No,” you say strongly, suddenly awake. “Don’t heal that one.”

He balks. “People will know.”

“Good,” you say firmly. “Let them know I’m yours.”

Let them know you’re mine, you think, and then you only know sleep.

—

Taehyung watches you sleep for longer than he’d admit to anyone. He watches your face, calm and smooth in sleep. He thinks of how he has to bite back smiles when you get fired up about something, your eyes narrowing and mouth tightening.

He thinks of the look of quiet determination you get when you’re casting, when you’re working with the magic that naturally lives within you.

For all of history, Infracti and venefici have lived together, helped each other. Long ago, the heir to Infracticus’s throne would be purposely matched with the venefici’s strongest magician - the Highest. Venefici would leave their homes, live and practice with the other magic-wielders, train and compete to be the best, to be given the honored title. It’s been hundreds of thousands of years since the days of those arranged unions, but Taehyung’s had that custom in his head for weeks now.

It makes him feel fated, like you were brought to him on purpose, his natural other half. The Highest to his hunter. The Priestess to his Blood-letter. His venefici, his witch, his bringer of humanity, his to protect.

Like in another lifetime, it would have always been you and him. 

Loathe as he is to admit his father could be right about anything… he was right about you. You’re powerful, beautiful. You’re brave, surprisingly funny. Taehyung sees a lot of himself in you - in your bravado, in the way your words don’t always seem to match what you want to say, in the way you only find peace when you’re faced with the sea.

He loves you. He loves you, and he thinks you could be amazing here - thinks you’d be an amazing queen, thinks you could be happy in his palace by the ocean’s side.

But you had a whole life before, that you’d left on hold to come here and fix him. If he loves you, he thinks, then the right thing to do is to let you go back to that life. It isn’t right to keep you here, away from your family, away from your studies and your job, just because he wants you to. It isn’t fair to ask you to give up what you worked so hard for.

It is with these thoughts in mind that he presses a feather light kiss to your unfurrowed brow and makes his way out of his bedchamber into his main rooms, closing the door quietly behind him to let you sleep.

—

When you wake, you’re alone. You worry for a split second, then you hear his voice floating from further in his wing, and you relax.

You rouse yourself slowly, savoring the chance to take your time, to be alone with your thoughts in the comfiest bed you’ve ever experienced. A quick look around the room alights your attention on a bundle at the end of the bed; someone left clothes for you.

You do your best to make yourself presentable, and then follow the sound of voices and laughter into Taehyung’s main rooms.

You’re greeted with a sight you’ve never seen before: the group of young Infracti men seem to be having fun, just hanging out. Taehyung is lounging on one of the couches, ankles crossed and arms folded behind his head. Jimin is perched on the arm of the couch, currently doubled over in laughter so strong that he wheezes and clutches at Taehyung’s shin desperately. You also recognize the round-eyed Infracti who had attended the strategy meeting in the pub not that long ago - Jungkook. The other two you’ve never seen before, but they appraise you with interest as you step into the room.

Taehyung lights up like a Christmas tree when he spots you, sitting up so abruptly that he almost knocks Jimin from the couch.

He crows your name, and then calls to you, “Come! Make merry with me!”

You step forward with trepidation, looking around at the others for an explanation.

“His Majesty has been imbibing,” Jimin explains, straightening himself up. “But, yes, you should join us. Your time here has been very serious, and we’re determined to have a pleasant night now that the business is handled.”

“Business?” you echo, still making your way into the room by degrees. It does not escape you that if these Infracti are drunk, it may put you in a bit more danger than normal.

“You just missed Seokjin,” Taehyung explains, the words a bit loose. He waves a hand towards the door as if to indicate which way Seokjin left. “We were discussing matters of state.”

“While drunk?” you can’t help but ask.

Taehyung lets out one cold laugh, and then holds up an arm, making a space for your body to fill. As you make your way over, he muses, “Yes, it makes it less painful to stare the cold, hard future in the face that way.”

“That’s a bit grim,” Jimin remarks from behind you as you settle next to Taehyung’s torso, seated on the edge of the couch’s cushion.

“Justice is grim,” Taehyung declares dramatically, and you press your lips together, trying not to giggle. Then, he adds, “Especially when it’s coming for your own family. Or yourself.”

He flops back against the arm of the couch, reaches around you for his goblet. You can smell the wine as it passes by you.

“Do you want some?” Jimin has the presence of mind to ask, but you shake your head.

“Better not,” you say. “Is it even safe for me to be here right now, while he’s…?”

Taehyung sputters loudly in indignation. “What,” he demands, “you think I can control myself while I’m cursed but not when I’m inebra - ineba - ineeny - drunk?”

Your eyes widen in mirth, and you hiss at Jimin, “What did you do to him?”

Jimin laughs, shaking his head. “His Majesty did this to himself, I’m afraid. I think he’s been stressed.”

“Come on, little witch,” Jungkook says, playfully taunting, black eyes glinting. “Are you afraid? I thought you put people through walls.”

You eye him flatly. “I don’t want to mess up Maiesti’s pretty face,” you deadpan.

This gets a smile out of the others in the room. Beside you, Taehyung pats at his face thoughtfully but says nothing.

“You should all go,” he finally says, the words slow and lazy, head lolling back on the arm of the couch. “Come, now, begone.” He literally waves a hand at them as if they’re nothing but gnats.

“He’s brattier when you’re around,” Jimin tells you petulantly, as he rises. You start to follow, but Taehyung’s inhuman grip finds your wrist and tugs you back.

“Not you,” he murmurs, and there’s a hint of growl to it. A shudder rolls through you.

The others make their way past you, saying their goodbyes, and Taehyung tugs you by the wrist so that you fall over top of him, chest to chest. You think he’s going to pick up where you’d left off this morning, but instead he wraps his arms around your back and buries his face somewhere near your clavicle, eyes closed.

“You’re warm,” he murmurs.

You smile, feeling a rush of affection. “You’re cute,” you counter.

You feel his lips pout against your skin. “I’m not cute. ’M scary.”

“Sometimes you’re scary,” you agree lightly. “But not right now.”

He lets out an unhappy hum. “You’re scary sometimes,” he muses. He unburies himself, lets his head flop back to the arm of the couch. His eyes are still closed. “You’d be the best queen because everyone would be scared shitless of you.”

He’s let slip similar thoughts before, but never in a setting where you could sit with the words, consider the weight of them.

“I can’t tell if you mean that,” you admit, “or if you’re just…” Getting ahead of yourself, you finish the thought silently.

“Why wouldn’t I mean it?” he argues. He lets his arm drop over his face, his eyes hiding in the crook of his elbow. “I agreed when my father told me to court you, didn’t I? Wouldn’t have done that if I didn’t think…”

He mumbles the rest of this sentence into his arm, and you don’t try to catch it. You’re stunned, knocked breathless.

“Wait,” you say, the word dropping from you like a stone. “What?”

“Mm,” he says, like this is an answer, nodding his head minutely. “My parents were intrigued by your magical quotient. I, on the other hand, was intrigued by your-”

You’re barely hearing him. “Wait,” you interrupt, the word the only one you can grasp. “You… they asked you to court me because of my magic? And you… you… agreed?”

“Well, yes,” Taehyung huffs, frustrated. “I had to, or he wouldn’t have -”

“So,” you interrupt again, head spinning, “how much of it was… for his sake?”

Taehyung removes his arm from his face and looks at you in confusion, brows furrowing, lips pouting.

“Were you faking it?” you demand, feeling yourself spiraling but unable to stop it. “Was I just… a means to an end? An asset for the bloodline?”

He winces, which is enough of an answer for you. You push away from him, and he’s too slow in his drunken state to catch you in time. You stand, backing away.

“I have to go,” you say hollowly, already looking at the door.

“No,” he says, desperately, sitting up and reaching a hand towards you. Your heart breaks another degree; part of you wants to go back to his embrace and tell him never mind, you aren’t fighting, everything is okay. You force yourself to back away, making your way around the couch.

He watches you go, mouth turned down and a hand following your path. “My love,” he breathes, “please don’t.”

“No,” you say, shaking your head, half to yourself, half to remind yourself not to give in. “No, I need to. I need to think. You should… drink some water and get some sleep… or whatever it is your people do to avoid a hangover.”

You open the door and slip through, but you’re weak. You’re weak, and you look back over your shoulder, and so as the door closes you get one last view of Prince Taehyung, watching you go, his eyes now a deep, fathomless black.

—

You move in a daze. Namjoon is closed in his own room when you reach your rooms, so there’s no one to stop you as you toss a few essentials into a small bag, no one to witness it when you tell Satuel that if she doesn’t take you to the Ostium then you’ll walk there yourself.

“His Majesty will be very displeased,” she points out as you walk.

“His Majesty has a long, long life ahead of him during which he can get over it,” you bite back.

The Infracti working the Ostiums - both the one in Infracticus and the one above, in your city - nod politely at you as you pass through, checking your identification, but don’t say much.

In fact, no one speaks to you again until after you’ve climbed a familiar, worn set of stairs, pushed open a squeaky office door.

Dr. Kim stares at you like you’re a ghost, an apparition drifting up through his carpeting.

“You,” he says, eyes wide with disbelief, “are not supposed to be here.”

<- Prev | Next ->

LA LA LA BYEEEE!!!!!!!!!

#bts x reader #bts fanfic #bts fic #bts supernatural au #bts royal au #taehyung fanfic #taehyung fic #taehyung x reader #taehyung smut #taehyung angst #taehyung x you #taehyung x y/n #kim taehyung fic #kim taehyung fanfic #kim taehyung smut #kim taehyung angst #supernatural au #royal au #s2l #magic au #fic: of ruin

[livingemkayde]

ch v. just you

joel miller x f!reader x unrequited!tommy miller (no outbreak AU)

chapter five of chaser

warnings: 18+ minors please dni. smut, half porn half plot, unprotected p in v, oral, f!receiving, a little fingering, kinda dom!joel but hes sweet. rough sex and mentions of bruising. some verbal disagreements and fighting. love triangle forming formed. lots of angst, talk of miscommunications. age gap, reader is 23 and joel is 35. Tommy is 30. (ages of all characters and plot do not follow canon strictly for the story’s sake).

summary: you confront joel about, well, everything. you talk it out in more ways than one.

a/n: i been waitin for this one. TURN IT UP. i hope you guys like this slow burn reward, im happy with how this chapter came out. enjoy this before all the drama lol. love you all smsmsmsm.

Joel cuts you off, dips his head lower, his tongue dips into your entrance and when you whine and moan he trails higher, tasting you and gently sucking until he reaches your clit. You bite your lip in favor of screaming, and you can barely hear Joel whisper, like he’s in awe— “I knew it,” as he takes another taste of the slick dripping out of your entrance. “I fuckin’ knew it.” “What?” “Knew you’d taste like heaven,” he says with a muffled groan, sinking his tongue back into your aching hole, his nose rubbing against your clit in a way that makes you shut your eyes so tight you see stars. 

There are times you wish texting was never invented. 

You like calling people — hearing their voice. The intonations of their words, knowing exactly what they’re thinking. 

But there are other times, you thank the lord for creating the form of communication — because you have no idea what to say to Joel. 

You stare down at your phone. The text’s words float through your mind. Trying to desperately figure out what to say. 

Your thumbs fiddle with each other, you bite your lip as you try and concentrate on a suitable text. Joel’s contact name just stares back at you, unmoving.

You: going to the store on my own, i don’t need your—

You delete that text quickly as you start making a pot of coffee. 

You: i don’t think we should go together—

You delete that one too. 

You run a hand over your forehead, swiping through your phone to get to Tommy’s text.

You slump against your kitchen counter when you realize you don’t know what to say to either Millers. You look out the window, it’s a nice day out, the sun shining through the early morning dew. The spot in front of your house stares back at you. The spot where Tommy was parked in last night. Where he had cut you off after his question, and begged you to consider it. 

“Just think ‘bout it before you say no.” 

And when you hadn’t said anything—

“Please?” 

So you nodded, and you’re not sure why, but tears threatened to spill from your eyes, leaving the truck in disarray and falling asleep in much the same manner. 

When you woke up this morning, you hoped it had been a dream — his big brown eyes had never looked that desperate, and you know you fucked up by telling him you’ll think about it — when all you can think about is his brother. 

You stare back at Tommy’s messages and type in your own. 

You: can we talk in person?

You look at the words for a long time, before hitting send. You needed to clear the air as quickly as possible. 

You open Joel’s texts. The last couple ones just revolve around Sarah, pick up times, and what the plans were for dinner.

But the very last one, from last night — looks particularly menacing. Like it might grow wings and fangs and jump out of your phone. 

Joel M: Get home okay?

You sigh, ignoring his text and typing out your own. 

You: i think i’m gonna go shopping on my own soon. be by to drop off the stuff later

Whatever — you think to yourself before hitting send. 

_

You don’t even know what month it is. 

You hadn’t realized the calendars flicked to July, until you walked through the Party City and all the decorations you can find are red, white, and blue. The aisles are crowded, everyone getting last minute party favors and decorations in prep for Monday’s holiday.  

You find the birthday section, rifling through to get streamers, string lights, balloons, and banners. You smile to yourself when you find a small toy horse from that show Sarah likes. 

You put the toy into the basket.

The market is next, you haul ass to get as many two liters of soda you can carry, chips, and different snacks for the party. Tommy had managed to get a decent turn out from his RSVP (which was just a phone call asking if they could come) and you want to make sure there’s enough food for everyone. 

Your name being shouted from down the aisle snaps you out of your thoughts. It’s Janet Baker, one of the moms from Sarah’s soccer camp, she strides towards you pushing a cart full of hot dogs and buns. You distinctly remember seeing her at one of Sarah’s games. The one where Joel and Tommy both showed up, you, slotted to sit between them. 

“Hey, you!” she says, pulling you into an unexpected hug. 

“Oh! Hi, Mrs. Baker,” you reply shyly with a chuckle, her cart is abandoned when she gets a peek into yours. 

“Now, I told you to call me Janet, don’t be makin’ me feel old with all this ‘Mrs’ crap,” she chides, you smile, not really knowing what to say.

“Sorry, Janet,” you say with a chuckle. 

“What are you shoppin’ for missy? Fourth of July party?”

“Oh — uh —” you look down to your cart, “actually, Tommy’s birthday is tomorrow.” 

“...Tommy…?” she says, while looking up towards the sky. 

“Oh my god, sorry — Tommy Miller, Sarah’s uncle?” you say, trying to get it to ring a bell. She thinks for a long time, you’re about to say it’s not important but she cuts you off—

“That’s right! We met at that game last weekend,” she says, nodding her head, remembering the encounter. 

You remember that game. It was before all of these new — situations — with Joel. 

Sarah had come up to the three of you before the game started, a friend in tow. You were introduced to one of Sarah’s close accomplices, Katie. 

“Are you Mrs. Miller?” Katie had said, looking between you and Joel hesitantly. Your cheeks felt hot.

Joel stifled an awkward laugh beside you. Tommy was quiet.

“Oh, no, kiddo — ’M just Sarah’s nanny.” 

Tommy was silent the rest of the game. You don’t remember much after that. 

But you remember Janet, giving you a couple friendly smiles, when you introduced her to Tommy after the game had ended. The same smile she gives back to you right now.

“Yeah, just getting some decorations and food,” you say, pointing down towards your cart. 

“Well, aren’t you a sweet thing for throwin’ him a party.”

“I appreciate that, Janet. Why don’t you and your daughter come tomorrow, she can play with Sarah?”

“Oh, how nice of you to invite us. I sure hope Tommy’s okay with it,” she laughs. 

“He will be,” you say back, trying to match her enthused demeanor. Her bright eyes and almost obnoxious laugh make you chuckle to yourself a bit. 

She’s suddenly close to you, dipping into your personal space to whisper slyly so that no one else can hear her ask—

“Y’all aren’t datin’, right?” 

Your eyes widen. This woman’s timing is fucking impeccable, you’ll give her that. 

“No! Oh no, no, I’m just — I’m Sarah’s—” 

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Sarah’s babysitter. But between you and me, sweetie —” she leans even lower, her hand coming to the side of her mouth like she’s telling you a secret. “ — even though you’re Sarah’s babysitter, all us moms think you look mighty nice next to Joel.” 

You don’t even know what to say, Janet’s eyebrow sticking up like she’s hinting at something. Jesus, it’s like she’s had a private viewing of your life this past week and she’s taking the footage and taunting you with it. 

“M-me? With…?”

“Joel. Yes, doll—” she says, like now it’s her turn to get you to remember one of the Miller brothers, “—we see the way he looks at you.” 

“No — I think you might be mistaken, Janet—”

“Don’t worry, sweetie. You’ll see it soon too.”

_

Joel’s door stares back at you. 

You have all the bags in your hands, the plastic of the handle turns your fingertips white from the pressure of the two liters pulling it down, but you can’t bring yourself to knock. 

Not until you hear some movement from inside — not wanting him to catch you waiting outside his door like a creep. You kick the door a little with your shoe in place of freeing a hand to knock. 

Joel opens the door, his eyes widening at your state. 

“Jesus, what are you—” he cuts himself off with his movements, bending down to take the bags from your hands, though you protest. 

“I got it, Joel, just—” 

He takes the bags from you anyways. 

“Should’ve called me,” he mumbles while turning towards the kitchen counter, leaving you in the doorway sans the six bags you struggled to pick up all on your own. 

“Sorry. I —” 

You don’t really know what you’re apologizing for. 

“Thanks,” you say when he puts the bags on the table and begins to unpack them. You move to help him, opening up the fridge for some of the food. 

“What’s this?” he says, pulling out the toy horse for Sarah. 

“Oh. It's for Sarah. ‘S the horse from that show she likes.” 

He stares at you for a long time, before looking down towards the toy in his hand. 

“You got this for her?” 

“Yeah,” you say, confused as to why he seems surprised you got her a toy. 

“She’ll like that. Thanks,” he says, setting the toy on the dinner table and rifling through more stuff until it’s just decorations left in the bags.

“She’s at her sleepover?” you ask, looking around the living room at any signs of life. 

“Mhm,” Joel replies from the kitchen.

You wait in silence for a while, unsure of how to proceed. Normally you would probably just ask him if he wants to set up some decorations but this is far from normal. 

“You wanted to go without me?” he asks, when you stop walking around and stand in front of him. 

“I just didn’t want it to get too late, since Sarah was here…sorry” you say. You try to keep the hurt out of your voice. 

“‘S fine, I…wanted to—” he shakes his head, organizing his thoughts before changing the subject. It sort of surprises you — but it seems like this has been on his mind all day. “You didn’t answer my text. Had to call Tommy last night.” 

“Oh.” 

Shit. 

He sounds so fucking worried it almost makes you sick. 

“‘M sorry. It was a—long night.” 

“You got back okay? No issues?” 

Yeah. No fucking issues except your brother asked me out. 

You think you should say something. Not like Joel has the right to know, but it’s the right thing to do in your eyes regardless. 

“Did Tommy tell you…?”

“Did Tommy tell me what?”

Fuck. 

“He—uh—um,” his eyebrow lifts at your words, you can barely get the sentence out, your pulse thrumming with each second you stall with stuttering. 

“He asked me out. Last night.” 

Joel looks at you. It might be the first time you’ve ever seen that look in his eye. Like he’s the embodiment of disappointment. Like he doesn’t know what to do with his face, let alone his hands, his body. 

The warm sunlight peeking in through the window starts making you sweat the longer he stands looking at you. When he finally speaks you can barely hear him — the drawl you love so much, quiet and blanketed under an emotion you can’t place. 

“Tommy?” 

“Yeah.” 

He nods like he’s trying to collect his thoughts. Though, it only makes you more scared from the uncertainty of his words and actions. But surprisingly he doesn’t act out at all, he just gives you an emotionless face and words that seem harmless, but cut through your skin. 

“Oh. Happy f’you two.” 

“No—I—” 

“Nah—’s…’s good.” 

“Stop, Joel—” 

He stops. But you’re not entirely sure he’s listening very clearly. 

“I didn’t say yes. He told me to…think about it.” 

“And?”

“And I wanted to talk to you.” 

“About?”

“Jesus, Joel,” you say, exasperated. Your hand comes up to your forehead. “About last night? About…?” 

Everything. You want to say. But fall short. 

“What about last night?”

God, was this all in your head? It certainly didn’t feel like that at the bar. Nor on the front porch when he almost kissed you, or on the phone that same fatal night. 

“Joel,” you plead with him, your voice breaking a bit. He breaks your eye contact when you say his name, almost like it hurts him to hear you say it. This game you two are playing right now is fucking ridiculous, an old tired version of the one from last night, in front of the bar. 

“There’s nothing to talk—” 

“Don’t do that. You can’t just fucking—” you almost laugh. 

Who the hell is this guy in front of you? You continue, even through your ragged breaths and tears that now stain your cheeks.

“You can’t. Don’t—”

“He’s my brother.”

“So? I knew you before any of this—” 

“He’s my brother.” 

His loud voice cuts off any thoughts you had forming. You wait for a while, trying to understand what he means by that — maybe this is some petty competition they have going and Joel feels like he’s losing. You don’t know what to think of their dynamic anymore.

“I can’t just ignore it,” you say. You hate how your voice sounds so small. “I didn’t want it like this,” you say, more tears falling, you try to wipe them away quickly, embarrassed to cry in front of him.

“You think I do?” his rhetorical question lingers in the air when you don’t respond. “That fuckin’ day you met Tommy, he—” Joel can’t even look at you anymore. 

“He asked me if I — liked you — or whatever, ‘n I said no. You and I were done. We had just decided it was over.” 

“So you’re just gonna throw this away because he called dibs?”

“I ain’t throwin’ anythin’ away—” he shakes his head. “I don’t wanna throw this away.”

“Right. Like last night?” 

“So this is about Caroline? I told you that I don’t like her — it was a fuckin’ set up.”

“This is not about Caroline,” you could almost laugh. 

He gives you a knowing look. You both know this is definitely not about Caroline.

“‘M sorry. About last night, ‘bout everythin’, but you left,” Joel says, “You wanted to leave. I—I wasn’t gonna stop you.” 

“I thought you were gonna come with me.”

That shuts him up. He looks at you with a slack jaw, like he was going to say something already braced on his tongue but at your response, he became speechless. Like your sentence smacked the words out of his own mouth. 

“I wanted you to come with me,” you say, softer this time. “And then you—fucking—left me and got Tommy.” 

“Tommy was—”

“I didn’t want Tommy. I don’t want Tommy.” you say, your voice breaking more with each confession. “But you wanted to hand me off to him—”

“C’mon. ‘F course that’s not what I wanted. You know that.”

“Then what? Because this isn’t a game to me, Joel.”

“‘S not a game,” he forces out, like he’s tired of playing too. “It was never a game.”

You stay silent, taken back by his words. You can tell his head is spinning, not really sure of what to say or rather, how to articulate his feelings. 

“This is — you’re fucking…Jesus, I don’t know,” he starts, but begins to pace around the room, unable to finish. 

You stay silent, watching him walk around slowly until he’s rooted right in front of you, closer than before. 

“‘S a mess. Tommy is — you’re gonna break his heart because this is —”

You raise your eyebrows, pleading with him to continue, to finally say what he’s been thinking about since you two met at the bar. 

“This is real. You’re real.”

Your heartbeat bangs in your ears, he’s closer than before. You don’t remember when he got so close. Close enough that when he talks after an unbearable silence, you can feel his breath on your nose. 

“But you don’t know. You don’t see — any of it.”

“I see you, I —” you can’t get much out because your breath hitches. Big brown eyes stare back into yours. “Help me — show me,” you hiccup out while his hot breath catches your eyelashes. 

His hand reaches down, like last night, pulling you closer, this time, you let him. His fingers sprawl out across your cheeks, feeling your neck, his big brown eyes pulling you in. He's a bit more breathless than you if that’s even possible. You keep blinking like you’re scared it might be a dream. 

You look up at him. For the first time in a while your gaze isn’t cut short by wandering eyes or loud interrupting voices. 

He dips down, his lips just barely touching yours, letting you make the final move towards him, kissing him, tasting him. It might be silly, but you remember his taste from all the weeks before. It feels like yesterday when he moans a bit in your mouth, and your hands fly to his chest to steady your shaky knees. 

He breaks away first, you’re both panting into each other, like you’ve just surfaced from being underwater for so long — maybe you have been. 

But he doesn’t say anything, only takes your hand in his and with a couple panting sighs, pulls you towards the stairs, towards his bedroom. He looks at you with a silent question etched on his face. 

You nod before you know what’s happening, and he’s whisking you off into his room. You’ve never been in his room before, upstairs, sure, to help Sarah with things. But his room was unspokenly off limits. It smells like him, and as the tears reside and the genuine want rushes over you, it seems like he’s one step ahead of you, closing the door, and guiding you back towards the bed. 

He’s kissing you, it’s sloppy but calculated at the same time. So much pent up frustrations and wandering eyes seemed to break at the feeling of his lips on yours, his hands running up and down your body. 

You’re moaning and whimpering into his mouth, almost desperate despite always trying to remain stoic. But who are you kidding, it’s Joel. 

“Please,” you bite when his mouth trails kisses down your neck and even more so when he slips your top off, catching your nipple in his hot mouth. 

“Joel,” you whine again, when all he does is hum against your sensitive bud. 

“Baby,” he says, and you notice the drawl is back. Like it never left, rich and honeyed — matching what you imagine every night before bed — hell — every waking moment. 

You’re naked before you muster the brain power to notice him taking your clothes off. He doesn’t bother with his clothes, almost like he’s too eager to see you, forgetting about himself. You claw at his flannel but he pushes your hands back and over your head, rending your arms useless. 

His other hand reaches down, finding your aching cunt dripping onto the gray bed sheets and he genuinely groans at the feeling. Brooding Joel Miller reduced to a moaning mess at the feeling of you wet and hot for him. The thought drives you up the walls a bit. 

“Fuckin’ wet, so fuckin’ wet, sweetheart,” he grumbles more to himself than to you. 

He runs his fingers over your outer lips while mouthing at your neck — you whimper and squirm under his grasp but his hand just holds yours harder. It might — no, it definitely will leave bruises on your wrists the next morning, but you could care less. The biting pain of it shoots right down to that white hot burn in your lower stomach. 

“Quit movin’,” he says while beginning to trail down, almost like a warning for when he releases your wrists and settles in between your legs. He pants hot breath onto your swollen folds and despite his warning, you squirm underneath him. Joel seems a bit too desperate to tell you to stop or punish you otherwise. 

When his lips place a hesitant kiss to your clit you almost scream, forcing his head in between your thighs and when he stops, you realize you might be squeezing him too tight. You sit up a bit, releasing your thighs when he stops and looks up at you. 

“‘M sorry — shit — I — no one’s ever…I’m sorry, Joel—” 

“‘M fine, lay back down.”

You do lay back down, but you're hesitant. 

“No one ever do this to you, baby?” he asks, smiling up at you from between your legs, your face feels hot and you hide a shy smile. He mouths at your thighs and places a few gentle kisses to your folds. 

“No, I — I guess not.” 

“It feel good?”

“Good? Joel it feels fucking—” 

Joel cuts you off, dips his head lower, his tongue dips into your entrance and when you whine and moan he trails higher, tasting you and gently sucking until he reaches your clit. You bite your lip in favor of screaming, and you can barely hear Joel whisper, like he’s in awe—

“I knew it,” as he takes another taste of the slick dripping out of your entrance. “I fuckin’ knew it.”

“What?”

“Knew you’d taste like heaven,” he says with a muffled groan, sinking his tongue back into your aching hole, his nose rubbing against your clit in a way that makes you shut your eyes so tight you see stars. 

His mouth feels like a shot. Your grip in his hair, more like the chaser, grounding you back to the bed, his bed. In his room. The bite of him seeping through every corner of your body, his flat tongue pulling your fast approaching orgasm out of you so quickly you forget your name. 

“Joel, I—” 

You shut up because you think he knows, his hum against you sending vibrations through your clit, his wide palms coming up to grasp at your thighs until the spasms from your orgasm cease. 

He keeps going even after you come down from your high, mouthing at your entrance which seems to get even wetter after you come. He snakes back up to kiss you, you moan into his mouth at the taste of your own slick all over his lips. 

The feeling of his clothed length pressed into your all too sensitive cunt makes the wanting need spark back up, like he’s blowing hot air onto a fire starter, and it just ignited. 

“Need you,” you moan into his lips as he kisses you, his hands coming to grab your breasts, he’s everywhere, and you need more. And you need it now. 

He pulls back at your words, a darker look on his face. You remember this look from the bathroom, when he asked you to beg for his cock, his name, and to cum inside your hot cunt. 

“I — I don’t think I can be gentle, baby — I don’t wanna hurt you.” 

“Please, want it rough,” you tell him, looking back into his brown eyes, almost pleading. 

I just need you.

“Fuck, darlin’,” he says with your final words, your permission. Joel suddenly hauls you up towards the head of the bed so you’re resting against his pillows. He shucks off his flannel and t-shirt, undoing the belt buckle of his pants in such a timely manner, if you weren’t watching him intently you might’ve missed it. 

He’s kissing you, rubbing his cock through the slick of your folds, you remember the punch of his girth and how the length of his cock almost kissed your cervix, and you don’t know if you’ll ever be prepared for that feeling, especially now, when you’re pent up, and tense and you just need him. 

“God, feel fuckin’ perfect, baby,” he says, running the tip of his cock through your folds, when it hits your clit you buck up against him, but he falters. 

“Easy.”

His voice, his drawl, a bit darker, but you’re not scared. Like he said before, he can’t go easy, he can’t be gentle. You don’t want him to, anyway. 

But what surprises you is when the tip of his cock comes to fit snug against your entrance, he falters. Almost like he’s asking the final permission, in a dark drawl that might almost sound whiny if he wasn’t so brooding—

“Can I? Please?”

“Yes. Joel, yes, please — ngh —” he cuts you off, sinking into your heat with a tight thrust, you’re surprised at the stretch of his length, it’s like he barely fits. 

“What…Jesus — you —?” 

“Didn’t touch myself much,” you admit, knowing what he’s saying; How are you so fucking tight? 

“Was trying not to think — ngh — about you.” 

Your face feels a bit hot when you remember your phone call half a week ago. It was one of the first times following the night at the bar you touched yourself, and there was definitely no time to see anyone in the last couple weeks. 

Joel can evidently feel that too, groaning when he sinks in to the hilt, his breath punching somewhere near your ear, his hand bruising your waist with the force that he grips you with. 

“You gotta relax, baby, I —” 

“Please just — move, Joel,” he laughs a bit at your neediness, but it’s cut off with a groan as he moves, retreating a fraction of an inch before pushing back in, rending your breathless, boneless. 

He picks up his pace when you start to relax around him, mold to him, like he’s the only one who will ever fit inside you. His groans and grunts are no match to mask your whimpers, his praises ring through your head, you feel weightless. 

“Fuckin’ perfect, angel,” he groans, you claw at his back, probably leaving scratch marks but you’re too fucked out to care. “Just like I remembered.”

It feels like old times. Before all this mess, before the incident in the car, on the porch, outside the bar. Before Tommy, or Caroline, or Janet fucking Baker. Before everything. Before all the laters and everything unsaid. Like old times. Like he’s saying Hi for the first time and not Goodbye like he has been for the last week. 

His grip on your waist tightens if possible — so much for wearing a bikini tomorrow at the party. The bite of his fingers almost snap you out of it, but he feels so good, teetering you right on the edge of painful as he spears into you with no remorse. It’s like he can’t help himself, and he probably can’t considering all the blue balls over the last few weeks. 

For some reason that spurs you on further, your orgasm quickly approaches with each stab of his fingertips digging into you, his hot breath near your face, and the feeling of coarse hair nudging at your clit just right. 

“J-Joel,” you moan, but you don’t think you have to tell him you’re close. You know he can feel it. 

“Missed you so much – fuck, baby,” he groans, placing hot kisses on your neck, “Needed you. Needed this.” 

“Joel—” it’s already braced on your lips, you both know it. An unspoken ritual that feels way too possessive for either of your own good — but you say it anyways and he groans all the same. 

“Can I cum? Joel, please?” 

You don’t really hear much aside from his small yes and your vision blinks white as you moan out long and deep into his ear. He fucks you through it, grunting out praises when he feels you get impossibly tight around him. 

It might even be too much but you don’t care. 

You wait for him, your aftershocks sending him closer to his own release as his hips stutter and he gets out one last demand that sends him over the edge. 

“Say it’s me — sweetheart. Please,” he groans, almost begging. Like it’s the last thing that will push him towards bliss. 

“‘S you, Joel — it’s-’s always been you,” you comply and feel him groan and shudder when his orgasm rolls through him. You can feel the hot stickiness of it roll through you, and he holds himself up to whisper one last thing to you before you both slump onto the bed and fall asleep. 

“Tell him no. Tell him — just — just be with me.” 

You nod, panting, he finally falls into the crook of your neck and you welcome it graciously, pulling at his curls until you fall asleep. 

“Okay,” you whisper. 

_

chapter vi. bruises

taglist! comment or message me if you want to be added. (for this series, i took the liberty of adding you to the taglist if you commented that you wanted more parts on chaser. you can let me know if you want to be taken off) kisses!

@sofiparallel @akah565 @going-to-californiaxx @gintheginger @defnotashifter @missgurrl @daddy-din @earthtogrogu @rooney-verse @ratoonstown @skysmiller @pedritosdarling @lovely-ateez @pluzo @spongebobspooploop @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @tsunamistorm123 @awhoreforalotofshows @disassociation-daydreams @anoverwhelmingdin @violinchick @rhoorl @yoongjennie88

@rainbowcosmicchaos @pedropascalissofine @purplemechanics @suzmagine @untamedheart81 @hellaradd @josephine1837 @noisynightmarepoetry @lawh0re @joelsversion @vanillen @brujitafantomatico @cartoon-garbage04 @jpbplvr @whattownheadshake @beccerjune @pedrotonin @sen-mirjahaal @awesomebunnyqueen @bluetattoos @sunnysaphira @vickywallace @bbyanarchist @gossipgirl-03 @casa-boiardi

@anavatazes @joeldjarin @l0vem3n @brinabees @lmariephoto37 @tsunamistorm123 @splicer13vex @turtles-all-the-way-d0wn @withasideofmeg @dinwifey

#joel miller fanfiction #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x reader #joel x reader #the last of us hbo #joel miller #joel miller self insert #the last of us #joel fic #the last of us fanfiction #tlou fic #joel the last of us #pedro pascal #pedro pascal smut #pedro pascal as joel miller #joel miller smut #smut #joel x f!reader #joel x female reader #joel x you #tlou fanfiction #dbf!joel miller #dbf!joel #dom!joel #dom!joel miller #tommy miller #chaser

[archangeldyke-all]

Did someone say cowboy Sevika?

Absolutely delicious, I have thoughts.

Theres the classic off limits farmer’s daughter dynamic, which is to die for every time, but I thought what about a farmer’s widow? All lonesome on her big empty property, she hires Sevika for some extra help and then the tension is off the charts!! I think it would be ideal for a long, slow burn style fic. Draw it out, make them drool over each other for a bit til they can’t take it anymore

For a blurb idea what about Cowboy Sevika teaching the reader to ride a horse? It could be cute and flirty or it could get nasty lol whatever you’re in the mood to write!

Also let’s take a moment to imagine her tying those fancy cowboy knots. Rope steady in her big rough hands. She’s stripped down to her used to be white tank top, you can see her muscles flexing while she pulls it taught. She’d be all sweaty and you innocently walk over to her, pluck her bandanna out of her pocket, and dab away the droplets on her forehead. You tuck it gently back into the front pocket of her tight, dirt stained jeans and saunter away so sweetly. She’d want to chase you down like a wild animal in heat after that

the last paragraph here made me dizzy. thank u.

ur the second person to request a 'teaching reader how to ride horseback', mars, @sexysapphicshopowner , being the first! so lets do that ;)

part 1 of cowboy sev here, part 2 here!

men and minors dni

you're now the only one in your little mis-matched family who doesn't know how to ride horseback.

sevika's been riding since before she could even properly walk. powder took to it like a fish to water. violet was a little more hesitant, but figured it out in time. and now all three of them are trying to convince you to learn.

you've never needed it. you were born and raised in this town, everything you need is within a mile's walking distance. but, they're insistent.

you've ridden horseback before, clinging onto sevika as she controls shimmer's pace, but you've never been in control of the reigns. it seems scary, being that high up, going that fast, the only person keeping you from going flying off shimmer's back being yourself.

and now, sevika's got you in the stable, grinning at you as you hesitantly look at shimmer. powder and violet have been asleep for hours, exhausted after working in the garden all day with you.

"can we just go for a quick trot with you in front?" you ask, pouting at your wife. she laughs. "just so i can see you do it!" you insist. she rolls her eyes, then lifts you up by the waist, helping you straddle shimmer's back, before hopping up in front of you.

you press your grin against her shoulder, quickly wrapping your arms around her waist. she laughs in front of you, giving shimmer a little tap with her spur, the mare slowly trotting out onto the main street.

"you're such a baby." sevika teases. you pinch her side, watching her wiggle.

"i'm just lucky. got a wife who knows how to ride so i never had to learn." you say. you can't see her smile, but you can tell she's grinning in front of you.

sevika slowly walks shimmer down the main street, picking her pace up to a cantor when you get out of town.

the three of you ride out into the desert, and you tilt your head up to soak in the sight of the stars above, sighing as the wind whips past you.

"you're not even lookin' at what i'm doing." sevika laughs ahead of you. you giggle.

"stars 're so pretty sev. look." you say.

sevika brings shimmer to a stop, tilting her head up to look at the stars with you.

"hm." she says. you squeeze her waist.

"what?" you ask, enjoying the heat of her back pressed against your front.

"they're pretty, i guess. nowhere near 's pretty as you." she says. you grin.

"sap." you say.

it's summer, but this late at night, the desert is chilly. you sneak your cold fingers up under sevika's shirt, watching her jump, then giggling when she elbows you. you don't move your hands. she doesn't ask you to.

for a few minutes, the two of you just stare at the sky, the vast expanse of stars and planets before your eyes.

it's a new moon, and without her shine, all the stars in the galaxy are visible.

shimmer shifts beneath you, and sevika laughs.

"she hates waitin' around." she says. you smile.

"just like you." you say. sevika laughs, nudging shimmer's side, letting her trot around the empty expanse of the desert.

you hook your chin over her shoulder, watching how her hands hold the reins, how she uses them to gently guide shimmer to and fro.

beneath your fingers, you can feel her belly rise and fall with each breath she takes. a smile ticks up at the corner of your mouth, and you turn your head to press a kiss to sevika's neck.

she goes stiff in your arms.

"what're you doin'?" she asks. you smile against her throat.

"'m watchin' you." you say. "learnin' how to ride."

"you don't need any help learning how to ride." sevika says. you laugh at her horrible joke, pinching her waist. she chuckles.

"speaking of..." you start. sevika snorts in front of you.

"yeah, darlin'?" she asks. you nip her neck.

as much as you both love powder and violet, their abrupt entrance into your lives has left your sex life in shambles.

it's not like you're not having sex. it's just that you can't have it like you used to.

when you used to spend any spare moment the two of you had sprawled out in bed, naked and sweaty and kissing, now you gotta keep your romps quick, lest the girls get in trouble while they're unsupervised.

plus, with the nightmares that violet's been having, paired with powder's separation anxiety toward her sister, a majority of your nights as of late have ended with the four of you piled up in your-- used to be-- marital bed.

you've just had to get a little more creative. you and sevika have been doing a whole lot of 'chores' in the stable, trying to avoid shimmer's judgmental eyes as you fuck against the haybales.

and now... out in the desert, with sevika pressed against you and nobody out here beside you, your wife, and the stars... now seems like the perfect opportunity to get creative.

slowly, you inch your hands down sevika's abdomen, taking a moment to admire the firmness of her rippling abs shifting with each step shimmer takes. she chuckles huskily in front of you, and you begin sucking a hickey against her neck.

"insatiable." she says. "'y had me this morning while we were 'pinning the laundry to dry'." you hum.

"want me to stop?" you ask. she laughs out loud, a bright, echoing thing.

"hell no." she says. you grin, and continue trailing your fingers lower, fiddling with the button of her chaps.

shimmer continues her aimless trot, slowing occasionally to munch at spare patches of grass, knowing that you and sevika are in no rush to get anywhere.

when you slide your hand down her pants, she sighs, leaning some of her weight back against your chest. you pepper kisses against the side of her face, trying to give every branch of the scar on her left cheek a solid smooch. she giggles against you, then moans when your fingers start working against her clit.

"you're wet already." you mumble against her. she hums.

"knew this is what you were workin' up to the second you asked me to ride in front first." she says. you chuckle. "i'm never gonna get you to learn to ride, am i?" she asks.

"mmm, maybe someday. don't need it now, though, do i?" you ask. "not when i've got you." you say.

sevika sighs and turns her head to capture your lips in a kiss against hers. you hum against her mouth, nipping her lip as you start rubbing her clit in slow circles.

"fuck." she sighs, turning her neck back around to watch where shimmer's going. "i love you." she whispers. you smile and nip her neck.

"love you too." you say, trailing your free hand up her chest to fondle her breasts.

sevika's tits are sensitive, you've made her cum from your hands and mouth on her chest countless times before. she shudders against you, her back arching as she shoves her chest further against your hand. you snicker, and start to gently fiddle with her nipple.

"fuck-- your hands." she says.

"'s kinda what you're doin' now, baby." you tease. sevika snorts, but it quickly dissolves into a moan as you increase your pace on her clit, sinking your teeth into her neck as you pinch her nipple.

"y-you're horrible." she chastises you for the joke. you giggle against her.

"you close?" you ask. she laughs.

"yeah." she says.

shimmer lets out a sneeze-- clearly disapproving of the activities happening on her back, and you giggle.

"she's sick of us." you say. sevika sighs.

"she, fuck, she's so judgmental." sevika whimpers.

"should be gettin' back soon. 's almost midnight-- violet's gonna have her nightmare soon, we should be there when the girls come lookin' for us.' you say.

"fuck, can we please not talk about the kids while you got your hand on my cunt?" she asks. despite her complaints, sevika tugs on shimmer's reins, turning her back toward town as you work your hand against her.

"y' better hurry up. we're only a few minutes away from town." you say. sevika groans. "need some encouragement?" you whisper against her ear. she shivers, and you smirk.

"shut up." she whispers. you grin, knowing that sevika's 'shut up's tend to mean 'keep talking.' especially in the bedroom.

"you sure? y' don't want me to tell me how much i love you? how perfect you are for me?" you tease. sevika's thigh shakes against shimmer.

"fuck."

"my cowboy. my wife. so strong and handsome, givin' up her life of crime just for me. gotta compensate that kinda sacrifice properly, don't i?" you ask. sevika whines. "fuck, 'n you look so good when you're on shimmer's back. why would i wanna learn to ride when i could just watch you instead, hm?" you ask.

sevika lets go of the reins with one hand to grip onto your arm. you kiss her cheek.

"cum for me, pretty thing. if you're lucky, maybe i'll wake you up before sunrise to help me 'feed the chickens.'" you say. sevika whines, remembering the last time the two of you used that excuse-- you ended up with sevika's tongue inside of you, your back against the coop as she knelt on the shitty ground, clawing at your thighs. "c'mon sev-- give it to me, baby."

sevika cums with a resounding "shit!" shimmer spooks a bit, jumping and bucking beneath you, and you both squeal as you hold on to the mare while she calms down.

sevika's cunt is still fluttering beneath your palm as she pulls on shimmer's reins to bring her back to a walk as the shimmering lights of town become visible ahead. you hum against her, ducking your fingers down to gather her cum from her dripping hole, before pulling your hand out of her pants and popping your fingers in your mouth.

you moan. sevika moans. shimmer grunts, a disgusted little noise.

"fuck." sevika sighs out, her back slumping against your chest. you giggle, removing your hand from her tits to button up her pants, before giving her cunt a little pat over her chaps. she jolts. "hey!" she says, giggling. you grin against her neck, pressing another kiss to the skin beneath your lips.

just before shimmer starts down main street, sevika pulls her to a stop with a "woah, girl."

you're about to ask her what she's doing-- the tavern about two hundred feet away, but sevika answers your question before you can get it out when she turns her head, grabbing your chin with her fingers and smashing your lips together.

you sigh against her mouth, nipping on her tongue when she swipes it against your lips, giggling at the little involuntary twitch of her thigh.

she pulls away with a sigh, looking into your eyes dreamily.

"i love you more than there are stars in the sky, darlin'." she says. you smile against her lips.

"i love you too, my sweet wife." you say, reaching forward to snap shimmer's reins, letting the horse lead the two of you back home. sevika raises an eyebrow at you and you smile. "see, i did learn a little somethin'." you say.

sevika laughs.

"guess i gotta take you out for ridin' lessons every night, huh?" she asks. you grin.

"i wouldn't mind that at all."

taglist!

@lesbeaniegreenie @fyeahnix @sapphicsgirl @half-of-a-gay @ellabslut @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner @shimtarofstupidity @love-sugarr @chuucanchuucan @222danielaa @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther @gr0ssz0mbi3 @ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @leomatsuzaki

#i know nothing about horses so have some smut hahaha #sevika #sevika imagine #sevika arcane #sevika x reader #sevika x you #soft sevika #sevika smut

[alotofrandomfangirling]

Dance with me? (Roronoa Zoro x f!reader)

Summary: you try to convince Zoro to dance to a slow song with you.

A/n: okay so i love dancing. And i love Zoro. So i thought: why not have Zoro dancing?! And then this idea came out 🤣 it's kinda short, just cause i wanted to write down this scenario ajskajakja i hope you like it though 🩷 this was slightly inspired by Selena Gomez's Body Heat. This song isn't as slow as the song i imagine them dancing to in the fic but the lyrics fit sooo well 🤭 also let's pretend there's a band playing at the Baratie lmaooo

Warnings: drinking, swearing, maybe ooc Zoro (i just had to get this man dancing yk ajskajksja)

"We're connected by the sun

And all of the stars above

You melt me and my body feels no shame

And I don't care tonight

If it burns too bright

'Cause, baby, that's why I came"

You were at the Baratie celebrating after very a successful mission!

Luffy and Usopp were inside eating as much as they could (like always lol) and you were outside watching the band play and the people dance.

Sitting with you and sharing drinks, there were your best friend Nami and your crush Roronoa Zoro.

Yep, you were crushing on the moss haired swordsman ever since you joined the straw hats.

You thought about confessing to him several times, but you were really afraid of being rejected and making things awkward at the Going Merry. No, you couldn't risk that, not when you loved your crew that much.

What you didn't know is that the pretty swordsman felt exactly the same, even though he tried to fight that feeling everytime you flashed your beautiful smile at him.

yeah two idiots secretly in love with each other oh well ajskajskaj

The three of you were just relaxing and drinking when the band started playing one of your favorite songs. It was a slow and romantic song that touched deep into your heart.

- oh my gosh, i love this song - you closed your eyes and started swaying to the beat. It felt wonderful.

You weren't sure if it was the alcohol making you brave or if you just couldn't stand hiding your feelings anymore, but you turned to face Zoro and you were so certain of what you were saying even he was a bit surprised.

- come on, dance with me - you said, very sure of your words.

- what? No. I don't do "dancing", (Y/N). - Zoro replied, crossing his arms and looking away, knowing very well that if he kept looking at your beautiful eyes he was going to give in at some point.

- please, it's just one song... i can lead you - you said almost pleading.

You approached him and put your small hand on his strong arm (yep, the alcohol definitely was making you brave). That's when he couldn't resist anymore and turned to look at you.

- please, Zoro... for me?

The way you said that and tilted your head slightly to the side made Zoro feel something deep inside of him he never had felt before. How could he say no to you?

He rolled his eyes:

- okay, okay... but just one song. Make it quick.

You were so happy you nearly jumped out of your seat.

- yay!! It'll be short, i promise. Let's go! - you said clapping and happily standing up.

He got up too and you grabbed his hand to lead him to the dance area. Yes, you just grabbed the Roronoa Zoro's hand and pulled him with you. Maybe it weren't the drinks, maybe you were just really determined to be with him ajskajskaj

When you got there, you started giving him the directions.

- okay, you have to put your hands here - you grabbed both his hands and placed them on your waist. The touch was so soft and intimate it made your whole skin tingle - and i go here - you placed your arms around his neck.

You could feel he was still a bit suspicious about the whole thing for how tense his muscles felt, but you decided you were going to make that a good time for both of you.

- hey, you're tense - you said softly - just... relax, okay? I know it may seem scary but dancing is supposed to be fun. You don't have to be a pro to enjoy it, just... feel it. It's just you and I having a good time together. No pressure at all.

Little did you know Zoro wasn't feeling nervous because of the dancing. Well, maybe a bit (he had never done that before ajskajskaj), but it wasn't the main reason.

He was nervous for being that close to you. God knows what he could do being so close to the girl he had been crushing on for so long.

You ran your hands through his shoulders and arms, trying to calm him down and feeling his strong muscles slowly relaxing under your touch.

- now you just focus on the beat and move along. When i move right, you move right. When i go back, you go forward. Just... feel it and enjoy - you said kindly and you started moving with the song.

You both moved smoothly through the dance floor and it felt amazing.

- see, it's not that hard. I'm sure you've faced bigger challenges than this one, pirate hunter - you emphasized these two words in a mocking way.

That made him chuckle and look down, feeling a bit shy.

Yes! You made him laugh 🤩 you loved knowing you were the one to create such cute sight.

On the other hand: fuck, you made him laugh 💀 everytime he smiled it made you weak on your knees and you couldn't even think straight.

That's when you closed your eyes and rested your head on his chest, while you both just moved along to the beat. It was such a blissful moment, dancing to a song you loved and sharing it with a person you loved too.

Being there with him, enjoying the beat, feeling safe in Zoro's arms... you felt like you could live in that moment forever.

When you lifted your head and looked into his eyes again, it was like the rest of the world disappeared. There was just the two of you, holding each other and sharing loving looks.

You were so close and you could feel his eyes staring at your lips. You took that as a sign.

You cupped his cheek and slowly went in for a kiss.

Was that really happening?! You wanted to pinch yourself to check if all of that wasn't actually another delulu dream of yours.

But it was real. You could feel it.

The kiss was soft and sweet, but also full of emotion.

When you parted you were blushing madly so you just hid your face on his chest again and went back to dancing. This time you could feel he laid his head on top of yours too and that made your heart so warm. And that's because you didn't know he was enjoying it so much he had his eyes closed too, or else you would have exploded.

You knew at some point later you and Zoro would have to discuss feelings and stuff, but at that moment all that mattered was enjoying now.

You stayed like that for another few seconds until the song ended and everyone started clapping at the band. You and Zoro parted and smiled at each other. crap there was that pretty smile again

- see, you nailed it! - you said playfully punching him - thank you for coming with me, it was so nice. And i kept my promise, short and quick - you chuckled.

- yeah... now i kinda wish it lasted longer though - he said trying to look away to hide the small blush that was on his cheeks. Now besides smiling!Zoro, you also had him blushing?! It was definitely a dream.

You hooked your arm in his and led him out the dance area.

When you were going back to your seats, you saw Nami staring at you with a smug face. Damn, was she watching the whole thing?! Prepare for teasing in 3, 2...

- what a show, huh? - Nami said smirking and raising her eyebrows.

- shut up, Nami - Zoro said nonchalantly as he sat down and crossed his arms again, with that "100% done" face of his to try to hide the faint blush that was still on his cheeks.

You just chuckled and sat down for another drink, still feeling the bliss of that amazing moment you had just lived.

And you know what, the night was just beginning. Who knows what else could happen 😉

"Let's go all night

Just you and me

If you're the flame, I'm kerosene"

#roronoa zoro x reader #one piece x reader #live action roronoa zoro #one piece live action #opla!zoro x reader

[visenyaism]

If the King Visenya Dance ends with Rhaenyra on the throne, who’s crowned after her? Just curious no worries if you haven’t thought about her?

Does Aegon IV still exist since Viserys was sent to Lys?

no i have a outline for this very silly conflict. buckle up under the readmore this is barely hinged and deeply unserious

so.

- Queen Rhaena (the lesbian) dies, names Saera as her successor at the last minute which no one wants to honor.

- Starts with Rhaenys on dragonstone, Baelon in KL, and Saera in Volantis headed to KL.

- Baelon still gets appendicitis and dies pretty early but everyone thinks it’s some kind of treachery.

- The war officially starts when Damon Targaryen runs into Corlys at Riverrun, trying to negotiate a betrothal between his daughter and some Muppet to back Rhaenys for the throne. fresh off of losing his father and currently consolidating support for his brother, Daemon wants someone to blame and kills Corlys.

- Daemon and Aegon (Viserys I) try to jump Rhaenys at Rook’s Rest, but she gets her way out of the trap and manages to take down Aegon’s dragon and severely injure him in the process. Aegon goes back to KL to rule and protect his daughter Rhaenyra, Daemon spends the rest of the time flying around the riverlands and lighting stuff on fire.

- while all of this is happening, there’s also an extended naval conflict between the Targannister faction, which exists, Viserra has a dragon(this is my mind palace i make the rules) and the Saera chaos faction. Two battles there:

1. combined Greyjoy/Triarchy chaos faction, almost successfully take Casterly Rock while Viserra is down by the gullet and little Jaeson (lol) tries to flee on his dragon at which point Saera’s daughter Aerea takes him down. However he just barely survives even though he loses his dragon, and the last man ended up killing Aerea, who is pinned down in enemy territory in the keep.

2. While trying to break the Triarchy blockade of the Gullet for her nephew who holds King’s Landing, Viserra and Saera have a dragon fight. Balerion is old and slow and unwieldy: takes a few scorpion bolts meant for Vermithor and goes down. Viserra and a severely injured Vermithor go down as well, some historians argue she was trying to save her drowning sister. Who knows.

- With both other factions, looking pretty bad, Rhaenys takes King’s Landing: Aegon (Viserys I) dies here, but his 10-year-old daughter Rhaenyra is able to see the city on her dragon. However, Syraxis very young at the time and takes a few hits which get infected and dies right after they makes it to the Eyrie.

- Daemon and Rhaenys kill each other over the gods eye on their parents’ dragons.

- Some variation of the storming of the dragonpit happens. Laenor and Laena successfully flee to Dragonstone, but Silverwing and Seasmoke do not :(

- No longer worried about being burned by Daemon. The Riverlands, Crownlands, and Stormlands forces are able to muster enough troops to actually get to Kings Landing and restore order.

- The war ends when they put Laenor on the throne. it ends with the wedding of Laenor and Rhaenyra to create some form of stability after everything.

- They have three kids “together.” Baela the Bdefiant, future mother of Daena Darksister, Jakey who dies in dorne with cregan stark, and Joffrey the religious freak.

- Laena stays in KL and later becomes master of coin.

- Saera’s son Viserys II is in Volantis and comes to King’s Landing with his wife Larra Rogare and their son Aegon to serve as Laenor and Jake and Joffrey’s hand after they extend an olive branch.

- The Targannister kids technically survived but lose their dragons so they’re just sort of like well you guys didn’t see any of that. we’re just lannisters now.

arc 2 of this absurd fire and blood revamp where everything is cringe in a way that’s specifically appeals to me complete

#asoiaf #king visenya au #i forgot about gael. well she’s just hanging out #also aerea has tessarion. ooos

[dreamtydraw]

please... Darcy x Qiu crumbs... tell us more 👉👈

*Inhale* I already made a post about it once that resume the evolution of their relationship with some funfact here but let me dive further.

Rom com high school crush.

She’s his best friend’s sibling, they have seen each other afar for a long time, they have the familiarity you’d get off people who often see each other even if they don’t really talk.

There is this awkwardness of the jump between platonic care and affection to someone you grew close to the romantic attraction that both stop them from making any move or even thinking there is any move to.

They aren’t childhood friends they are childhood connaissance, there is a slow-burning connection that links them to each other and it’s scary because-

What if they said no ?

What if she just imagined feelings that weren’t there ?

What if

That is too scary to think about. The incertitude that if your selfishness for a romantic connection wasn’t reciprocated it would hurt more than just you two. It would hurt your close common friends, it would hurt your confort zone, it would be impossible to not be confronted to that refusal everyday when you get out of your house and see theirs and know that they are here too and you will bee seen but you don’t want to be seen.

The possibility of a failed relationship is scary, even more so when you deeply care for the other and want them to feel at ease after all they went through.

Darcie knew Qiu had a hard time when they were younger, Qiu noticed that Darcie changed when they entered high school, and they are proud of each other and want to cherish that growth.

They are content with what they have, despite yearning for more.

*inhale* in conclusion none of them would confess unless there is a 100% certitude that it would go well or when it’s already too late to regret it-

Step 4 is far away for now but if we can have an ending like with Cove where you reunite after college, they would probably confess at this period lol

Very long, long, long slow burn.

#Ask answer #My art #darcie second #qiu lin #olnf #our life now and forever #olnf qiu #qiu x mc #doodle #dreamty’s ramble

[red-riding-wood]

Saltwater Tears

@runnning-outof-time K... Tumblr ate your ask when I saved it to my drafts so I apologise for the shitty screencap (I always take these beforehand in case it does this lol). And thank you for the request. <3 As I promised, I brought all the angst.

Also, while writing this, the character/reader reminded me of the song Dragonslayer by Lana Del Rey (Isa, you have ruined me) so I decided to use that as some added inspiration.

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x F!Reader

Fandom: Peaky Blinders

WARNINGS: Angst, sexual references, mentions of cheating, language

WC: 1816

Thomas’ words still echoed through your throbbing skull, no amount of his haughtiness lost on your memory as you trudged through the rain slicked streets. The coldness of his gaze was blazoned on the forefront of your mind, the flippancy with which he had dismissed you after the tense meeting with your father as if you were merely a trophy to flaunt before shelved to suffocate in a slow build of dust.

And with each step, your lungs seemed to constrict tighter. With each step, you remembered bits and pieces of the evidence you’d found of his infidelity – the unfamiliar hair brush on his bedside table, the smell of another woman’s perfume on his sheets. You hadn’t wanted to believe it, hadn’t found your suspicion to be unbearable until now.

He called your name past the roar of the storm, but it only drove the spike in your heart deeper each time, your tears mingling with the cold of the rain and your body shuddering from head to toe.

And yet, every time your name was uttered, you couldn’t help but falter, your bleeding heart beating for him and some cruelly human part of your mind urging you to turn back and let yourself fall into arms that would be so warm in the cold, that would soothe the bitterness in your burning veins.

You jumped back, a sheet of filth drenching the skirt of your dress. A shiver seemed to travel to the very marrow of your bone, and as you stopped, staring in shock at the car that sped by and the road you had nearly stepped across, your heart felt as if it were about to split your ribcage in half.

“Y/N.” A gravelly yet distant voice called to you so soft now, a warm breath on your neck sending another shiver to your aching bones. You turned, slowly, and swallowed your grief as you met Thomas’ piercing eyes. Once his touch grazed the bare of your arm, it was over. You weren’t going anywhere.

“Let’s talk about this,” he said, catching his own breath as his fingers travelled down the length of your arm and laced with your own that shivered, numb, from the cold.

That was the first time you had ever heard Thomas Shelby suggest you talk about anything, and it pulled at an aching heart.

“Okay. Let’s talk,” you breathed, voice nearly washed away by the roar of the storm. You blinked fiercely, lashes fluttering in the rain that struck them. “You never told me your history with my father.”

“It’s in the past,” Thomas said, and you nearly winced at his words. As his other hand reached to brush the hair slicked to your cheek, you flinched away. And like that, your bleeding heart came undone, and you said, “Really, that little pissing match was ‘in the past’? The entire purpose of that meeting was just to rub his nose in the fact that you fucked me.”

Thomas’ hand seemed to catch in the air, not used to this side of you. The side of you that was bitter, that was fed up.

And he didn’t say anything. But his fingers loosened from yours.

You choked back a sob, and your words came weaker now, and you stammered over them because you couldn’t believe what you were saying, didn’t want to imagine him answering. “Did you… did you ever… Do you really want me? Or is this your way of getting back at my father?”

All your life, you’d been taken advantage of by men who wished to grow closer to your family for their ties and their power. And while your father had many enemies – the Blinders included – you never could have imagined that someone would pretend to love you just to hurt him, let alone the one person who seemed to understand you, who’d offered you some ounce of reprieve in this unforgiving city.

You’d been used many times, but this, this was different. It would’ve hurt less had you stepped onto that road.

Thomas was still silent, chest heaving as he panted out his own breaths. Blue eyes twisted with grief, the bright of them taking your reluctant mind through memories of the pastel sky above the two of you as you rode through the countryside, of the dress he had bought you and had said did not compare to your beauty.

Your fingers bunched the drenched fabric of the very same dress, peeling wretched garment from your flesh as if it caged you to such memories. You tried not to think of all the times you’d worn it for him, that it had been discarded across the same bed that had been inhabited by other women.

“I know about her,” you added bitterly. “Or them. I know about them.” Your eyes bled tears, and your heart pumped venom. “I’ve lied to myself for too long,” you said, as you began to turn away. “Goodbye, Thomas.”

“They were just business.���

You halted, anger flaring from the raw ache of your heart, and you spun on your heel. “So you’re using them, too?” you snapped. “Everything is business with you, Thomas. Everything. Even me.”

“You’re not just business.” He took a step forward. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”

It seemed as if your heart hadn’t broken enough. At his words, it shattered in your chest.

“Y/N, I want you,” he said. “And I don’t say it enough, but I love you. It was never about your father.”

“What was it about, then?” Your voice shook and you fought against every basic instinct to draw him in close, to press your chin to his chest and hear his own heart beating for yours.

He shook his head, lips parted but not speaking, as if at a loss for words. You were about to turn away again, when he took another step forward, his hot breath fanning against your cheeks. “That first time you asked me to take you to the ocean. And fuck me, I nearly didn’t say yes.” The faintest of chuckles broke his speech, the rare chuff of his laughter clawing at your aching chest. “But when you caught the wind in your hair it was like you came alive.”

Past the damp of the rain you could smell the sea, could nearly taste the saltwater on your lips when he’d kissed you that day. The last of your worries had melted away in the heat of that kiss, had been swept away by the breeze and carried far offshore. Or so you had thought.

“And you made me feel alive,” he said, his hands cupping your cheeks now. You were paralysed, at his mercy, leaning into his touch and inhaling the scent of horses and gunpowder past the rain. “For the first time since the war.” 

Breaths exchanged, and you tilted your head so that his lips brushed your forehead instead, and you said, “Why don’t you say things like this to me more?”

“I don’t know. But I can. Just come back to me.” His fingers wrapped around the back of your neck as if to trap you. You’d never heard him so desperate. It nearly made you do exactly what he asked.

As if that wasn’t what you yearned for. As if you wouldn’t do anything to forget all of this and go back to that day by the sea, or under the pastel blue sky on the back of a racehorse.

“I want to.” You could hear his heart beating now, thundering like the hooves of one of his horses as you uttered your truths into the dampened fabric of his shirt. “And I want to believe you. But I don’t know if I should.”

“Come back inside,” he breathed against your hair.

“I don’t know if my heart can take this, Thomas.” You tore yourself away, practically shoving him off while avoiding his gaze. “I don’t know if I can go through this again if you’re lying…”

“I’m not lying. Look at me. Look at me.” Firm fingers swept beneath your chin and forced your gaze to his.

“If I make you feel so alive, why do you keep killing me, slowly? Why do I keep watching you drift from me?” As if you were taken by that ocean. Your saltwater lips trembled around your words.

They were questions you’d been burning to ask for a long time now. Questions you’d buried beneath your own lies that you told yourself, like how you’d buried your anguish beneath the sands of the beach only to feel it slam once more against your chest, harder, more forceful than anything you’d known.

You couldn’t take it anymore, not as each second of silence that dragged by killed a piece of you. “You can’t answer. And if I come back to you, it’s going to keep happening.” You spoke past the rising sand in your throat until it came out as a whimper, and you shook your head helplessly, and you realised that it was your tears that you could taste on your tongue, not the ocean. “I’m so torn, Thomas.”

“I’ll flip a coin,” he said, digging into his pocket. “Heads, you trust me. Tails, you walk away.”

Those words might as well have been the last nail in your coffin. They’d sealed your fate, at one time. When he’d asked you to work for him. When you knew the moment the silver caught the wink of light that he would be your undoing no matter what it landed on.

“Not everything can be solved with a coin,” you protested, the bitter taste of betrayal on your tongue.

“Remember, it will tell you what you want. Remember when – “

“I remember, Thomas.” It was all coming crashing down on you just like the rain that pelted your shivering body, and you closed your eyes, your tears achingly warm as they bled across your cheeks.

“Watch.”

“No – “

The coin was a watery vision as it came down in the air, your lashes peeling open and lips parting in terror. Whatever it landed on, it was over. Either he’d kill you slowly or you’d die here, tonight; you’d never be the same. Your fate had always been sealed.

He snapped the coin shut in his hand. You met his eyes, your own fear reflected in their bright blues. And you realised that neither of you wanted to look. And so, tentatively, you asked,

“What is it?”

Slowly, he opened his hand. Slowly, you both looked at the coin. And slowly, the shards of your heart weighed so heavy in your chest that you felt as if you’d collapse to your knees.

But the answer wasn’t what crushed you. It was the realisation that, despite what the coin said, despite knowing what was best for you, you just…

… you couldn’t.  

A.N. I'm leaving the ending ambiguous and it's up to you if the coin landed on heads or tails!

MASTERLIST • REQUEST

Please let me know if you would like to be added/removed to any of my taglists and notified of new works!

TAGLIST: @eclecticwildflowers @emotionalcadaver @evita-shelby @minaethrym @shelbydelrey @zablife @runnning-outof-time @poisonedtruth

#peaky blinders #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby #thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #cillian murphy #angst #peaky blinders fanfiction #peaky blinders fanfic #fanfiction #writing #my writing #fanfic #oneshot #peaky blinders imagine #requests #x reader #saltwater tears

[angel-eyes05]

bite the hand (chapter 2)

PREVIOUS CHAPTER

pairing: spider-woman!oc x miguel o’hara 

summary: lorena's whole world was taken away from her in the blink of an eye, after she accidentally broke a canon event. lucky for her though, she was able to find a portal watch in her dimension and used it to get out before she glitched out of existence. unfortunately though, running from dimension to dimension, she's been named as an anomaly by the spider society. now, she's constantly on the run from them, their leader in particular. when she eventually gets caught though, she's recruited onto a mission to catch another anomaly who might be from her past. to her dismay though, her partner on this mission is her very captor. will she be able to stop arguing with him for long enough to get the job done?

info: enemies to lovers, maybe a slow burn depending on chapter count, oc is 24 and miguel is 27, both oc and miguel are super sad lmao, they're also both super violent so, they also hate each other what a slay, in regards to my oc you can read her character sheet right here

warnings: there might be spoilers for atsv in this so watch the movie before reading this, recreational drug use, blood mention, cursing, not much tbh

word count: 3.3k 

notes: again, if you see me use "you" instead of "she/her" just ignore it i probably missed it while proofreading and it's instinct lol. this chapter took me so long for no reason idk why

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

“I think you’re being too hard on yourself,” Eddie said, jumping onto Lorena’s bed next to her. Lorena took a long drag from her blunt and passes it to Eddie when he snuggles in next to her. “I don’t know. I just have so much work due by the end of this week and I don’t know how to get it all done,” she said, wiping her hands across her face. Eddie took a hit, set the joint onto the ashtray on Lorena’s nightstand and pressed soft kisses into the crook of her neck, wrapping his arms around her stomach. “You already get super good grades, I don’t see how you can’t just not turn in one assignment. Take a little break,” he says in between pecks. 

She sighs. “I don’t know. You know how my aunt and uncle are.” They sit together in silence for a little bit, until Eddie presses his lips to her cheek and rolls of the bed. Lorena stared at him in confusion. “What are you doing?” she asked him. He looked through Lorena’s stack of records, pulled one out, and placed the vinyl onto the record player. Soft R&B music echoed throughout the room as Eddie walked back over to the bed, reaching out his hand for Lorena to take. She raised her eyebrow at him. “Just take it ok?” he said, a little annoyed. She sighed and put her hand into his as he helped her stand off the bed. He pulled her into him, placed a hand on her left hip, and put her into a swaying notion with him. 

“God you must be so high Eddie, you never dance.” 

“Will you just go with it?”

She sighed. “Fine.”

Lorena rested her head onto his shoulder and swayed with him to the rhythm of the song, the singer’s voice fading into the background with the rest of her bedroom as her senses melted away. She closed her eyes and all she could sense at this moment was him, wrapping both of his arms around her waist. He was right, this was definitely calming her down. Eddie Brock always knew how to get Lorena out of her bad moods. They’d known each other for such a long time that she had begun to think he knew her better than she knew herself.

There were some things he didn’t know about her though. Like how she had randomly gotten superpowers about a month ago and that was why she was spending less time with him recently. But if she were being honest with herself, it kind of felt like he was pulling away from her too.

She lifted her head from his shoulder and pressed her forehead to his. She brushed her thumb across his stubbled cheek, and locked her lips with his, his grip on her hips tightening. “Thank you,” she whispered to him once she pulled away. “Anything for you gorgeous.” She giggled a little bit and dug her head back into the crook of his neck. Her hiding place away from the world outside them

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

Lorena could see the neon orange illuminations from the insides of her eyes. Once she finally did open them up, the effects of the poison now wearing off, the harshness of the light nearly blinded her. What was that just then? A dream? No, a memory. One of her favorites too. Her childhood best friend turned boyfriend, who she then ended up accidentally killing. She didn’t know it was him inside that monster. She had tried not to think about him too often, overwhelmed with the guilt of her actions, despite whether her choice was the right one or not.

Her head rested up against whatever forcefield/cell she was currently in. She tried to move the rest of her body up as well, but stopped after her ribs sent an aching pain through her body in protest. She was still in her suit, so she couldn’t examine how bad her injury was yet, but she could tell it wasn’t good by how much blood she was coughing up earlier. 

She took a look around her see through enclosure, trying to get a gauge of where she was. There were hundreds of other cages surrounding hers, only about half filled with people. Or creatures would be a better word to describe it. She felt as if she recognized some of them, such as a man with mechanical arms outstretched from his back, and a man with a lion vest. She sat there for a bit, taking everything in from her surroundings, her momentary peace interrupted when she started glitching again.

“I guess Jess forgot to give you the day pass while bringing you in.” 

“¡Ay, carajo!” she exclaimed, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. She turned her head to see a guy, speaking with a thick cockney accent, guitar slung across his back, just rolling around in a chair down the hallway. “A warning next time would be nice.” “I thought you saw me,” he said, uninterested. 

“Hobie, could you stop conversing with the anomalies for five seconds?” This voice she recognized. The woman walked up from behind her cell up to who she assumed was the Hobie kid she was talking to. The woman was the same one who had debriefed Lorena when she first got shot into the wrong dimension, except this time she looked like she was pregnant. That must be Jess. “Just trying to make conversation,” Hobie said defensively. He played around with the watch on his wrist and opened up a portal to hop into whatever dimension he was heading into next. Jess rolled her eyes as another man followed up close behind her. The same man from earlier, still wearing that red and blue suit that was hurtful to the eyes. His mask was still covering his face. Both of them turned to face Lorena’s cage, causing her to slink further back into the corner instinctively, as if they were both about to eat her heart out. 

“Not so tough now without somewhere to hide, are you?” the man mocked. “Sorry if I don’t find waking up in cage as the most warming welcome,” she snapped back. “What? Were you expecting flowers and a carriage, you little shit.” Jess smacked his arm quickly, almost as if he were a child being reprimanded by his mother. 

“You’re a hard one to catch,” Jess said. “Your first instinct would probably also be to run if you found someone like him chasing behind you,” Lorena said, motioning to the man. He just stood there stoically. It pissed her off even more. She sighed. “Let’s just cut to the chase and skip the small talk and just tell me what you want fro-.” Her words were cut off by a harsh glitch. This one in particular stung around her ribs. She went into a slight coughing fit, and coughed up some extra blood into her hand after. “Shit,” Jess whispered to herself, and dug through her pocket to look for the day pass Hobie was mentioning earlier. Just before she could open a little hole in the forcefield to hand it to her, the man placed a hand in front of Jess, as if to stop her. Lorena laid on the floor in pain, panting from the glitch, as the man walked closer to her enclosure and crouched in front of the barrier.

His hand reached up to his neck, as her hooked his fingers underneath his mask, and smoothly pulled it off and tossed it to the side. God, he was gorgeous. Dark brown hair, the front slicked back while the sides hung free. Sharp cheekbones that perfectly sculpted his face. And those eyes. They were almost hypnotic. She couldn’t tell if the orange lighting of the room was messing with her vision, but she could’ve sworn his eyes were a crimson red. She prayed that she wasn’t blushing right now, the intensity of his stare putting butterflies into her stomach. After staring at her for a little, a smirk curled onto his lips, allowing his left fang to slightly peek out over his bottom lip.

He stood up, looking down at Lorena now, like she was no more than an injured animal on the side of the road. He signaled his hand back at Jess for the day pass. She tossed it to him, and he opened a slight crack into the cage and slipped it in. Lorena almost rushed for it, shoving it onto her wrist, and earning a scoff from the man. He turned his back to her and walked back over to Jess. She took a moment to look at him, confused. “We need your help,” she finally said.

The only think Lorena could do was laugh. And she laughed hard. She only stopped when her ribs quickly reminded her of their condition. “What’s so funny?” the man asked, annoyed. “Nothing,” she said, wiping the tears forming in her eyes and a pity smile forming on her face. “I just can’t think of a single reason you think I would help you.”

“Because if you don’t, we take that wristband away and throw you back into the streets,” he said coldhearted. “See how much fun it is to have your atoms slowly ripped apart, one by one, into nothing. You’ll wish we had killed you ourselves instead of being a victim to time as it waits for the right time to finally end your suffering.”

Her smile slowly dropped. A smirk formed on his face. She wished she could smack it off. She must have really been a problem for him to be getting this worked up over her little comments. Jess just sighed, tired of him constantly taking his bad cop role too far. “Well, if you do help us, I can promise you this. You get to keep that little day pass of yours, and we’ll drop you off in whatever dimension you’d like, and you never have to see any of us again.” Then it was the man smacking her arm this time. “Jess…may we have a word for a second,” he said, as calmly as he could right now. “Of course we can Miguel!” she said back, with fake enthusiasm. Huh. So that was his name.

Miguel pulled Jess farther back into the room and began talking to her. Lorena scooted closer to the wall closer to them, trying to make out their conversation. She caught a few sentences. 

“That is not what we agreed to!”

“Hey, you get to go off script, so do I. Plus, what are we really gonna do with her once the mission’s complete?”

Mission? What mission?

“It’s not like she has anywhere else she can go. You’re just gonna stick her back into one of these cages for the rest of her life? ”

“I’d rather that then have an anomaly just running around on a world that isn’t her’s.”

There was that word again. Anomaly. She hated the way Miguel would say it. The inflection in his voice making it sound like a dirty word. That she was a dirty person.

“Come on O’hara, you have to have at least a little bit of compassion left in there.”

It went quiet for a bit. She couldn’t tell if they had just stopped talking, or if they had gotten quieter. Then she saw them walking back over to her. She scooted back to her corner of the cage. Miguel sighed deeply before talking, and Lorena could’ve sworn she heard a quiet “Ay coño” under his breath. Then he spoke.

“If you help us, we’ll let you free and you’ll never have to see any of us again. But try and dimension hop after we leave, desert the mission, or try anything slick and I swear-.” Jess smacked him again. “Do you agree to the terms?” She said. Lorena took a second to think. “....You haven’t even told me what the mission is yet.” Miguel let out a long sigh and turned his head to stare at Jess. She just shrugged. He could feel the gray hairs growing on his head as Lorena spoke. “Lyla?” he called out, pressing his bridge with his fingers. “Yup,” the same avatar from earlier said as she popped up. This must’ve been his assistant or something. “Can you pull up the mission file?” “....What’s the magic word?”

Lorena could’ve sworn she just saw three new wrinkles pop up on Miguel’s forehead. “He’s gonna shut you off pretty soon Lyla,” Jess interjected. “Ugh, fine,” Lyla said. A tiny illuminated file cabinet popped up as Lyla sifted through it. “Could you spare us the antics for a second?” “Hey, if you’re gonna turn me into your personal slave, you might as well let me have fun with it,” Lyla shot at Miguel. Lorena hoped Miguel couldn’t hear her slight giggle. Her hopes were crushed when she saw Miguel giving her a death stare to her out of the corners of his eyes. She slouched down as an attempt to hide away from his insistent glare

“Here it is!” Lyla exclaimed, pulling up a digital file. She threw it to the floor, causing a slideshow presentation to pop up out of it. The first slide was simply the front cover of a file. “Thank you Lyla,” Miguel said. “At your service,” Lyla replied, taking a bow, and then popping out of the room. Miguel took another sigh, seemingly the only emotion he expressed other than anger. “Take it Jess,” he said, facing her. Jess walked up closer to Lorena’s enclosure before swiping the cover of the file open.

“So obviously, you’ve gotten the whole idea of anomalies through your head at this point.” “It’s hard not to when you two wont shut up about them,” Lorena responded. Jess ignored her attitude. “Some just happen to be more dangerous than others, and also slip through our fingers easier. I’m sure you would know a lot about that.” Lorena gave Jess a big, forced smile. “It’s my pleasure.” Jess returned the smile. “We have one in particular that, like you, has managed to get a hold of one of our watches. He’s been hopping in between dimensions at fast speeds and seems to be gathering materials for something. We’re not sure what for. Which means we have to catch him as soon as possible.”

“Uh huh, uh huh,” Lorena said, uninterested. “Why do you think I’ll be able to help you though.” “Because we’ve found that you’ve had a particularly close relationship with one of his variants,” Jess said, flipping to the next slide. “What the hell does that mean? You guys don’t make any sen-.”

She looked up at the projection. Her eyes softened and her mouth laid slightly agape. Her eyes had to be fooling her, there was no way. But there he was. His picture brought memories flooding back into her head. Her nails scratching through his blonde-ish hair. Both of them smoking in her room. Him running into her arms when things were getting too rough for him back at home. He hadn’t just been her boyfriend. He was her best friend too. One of her only ones on top of that. But at the end of the day, all of the warmth that their time together brought to her was quickly washed away by the returning sight of her hands drowning in his blood as he faded away from her. Would she have still done “the right thing” if she knew it was him inside that creature. She would constantly run away from that thought every time it would sneak its way back into her mind. 

She couldn’t find it in her to care about the slight smirk Miguel was giving her, amazed at how easily a picture could knock her off her high horse. He probably enjoyed seeing her so vulnerable. Jess on the other hand, had a slight frown on her face, understanding how much this had to be messing with her.

“It’s not yours,” Miguel said, breaking the silence. “The multiverse might be weird, but it can’t bring people back from the dead. This Venom is from Earth-86. Yours was from Earth-2497.” “Yeah…I know,” Lorena said, almost as if she wasn’t fully there. “We’ve seen your history with Eddie Brock through the the scanners. You’ve gotten to know him better than any of the rest of us have,” Jess said. “You might be able to tell his next move. His patterns.” Lorena was quickly catching on what Jess was saying. Before Jess could continue her proposition, Lorena stood up and quickly interjected. 

“Nope, no no no, no way. I’m not catching him for you. You can’t seriously think that you can ask me to catch an alternate version of my dead best friend and I would agree,” she said, panic in her voice. “For once I agree with her that this is a very bad idea,” Miguel said, clenching his teeth towards Jess. “You have anyone else you wanna recruit?” she asked rhetorically to him. “You won’t be able to stop her emotions from getting in the way of the mission,” he said, avoiding the question. “It’s rude to talk badly of your guests while they’re still in the room,” Lorena shouted sarcastically at Miguel. “Cállate! I’ll get back to you in a second,” Miguel shouted back. Jess sighed. “Well it’s a good thing I’m not going with her, because I’m sure you’ll do a great job at that.” His eyes widened in horror. So did Lorena’s. She started laughing. “¡No mames!” she chuckled, still in disbelief. 

Miguel looked at her, bewildered at her laughing fit. “Jess that is, not, what we agreed on.” “I know, I know, but I had a talk with my husband, and he doesn’t want me going on any dangerous missions while I’m pregnant, and we don’t know how tough this guy is going to be. So I think it’s better if you take this one. And plus, just like you said, I won’t be able to keep her under control. But I’m sure you can!” she said, a sarcastic smile on her face. Once Lorena finished laughing, she turned to face Miguel. “Yeah I’m sure you’ll do a great job controlling my emotions,” she shot at him. Miguel almost pounced towards the cage, before Jess put her arm in front of this. “Can you please just do this one thing for me?” He took a second to think. Then he sighed. “Fine.”

“Thank you,” Jess said softly before walking away. Miguel walked up towards the cage and put in a combination to open up the enclosure. “Wait, hold on a second, so do I not get a say in this?” Lorena scoffed. Once Miguel had opened the door, she tried to make a run for it, but was stopped when Miguel grabbed her forearm. He pulled her into his chest. This is when she was finally able to gauge how massive he actually was. She was never really considered short, being taller than most girls her age throughout her school years. But up against him, she felt like an ant. 

“No. You don’t, chiquita,” he finally whispered into her ear. Chills rolled down her spine at the intimacy of all of this. The nickname only made her even more upset. He whipped her body around and placed a forcefield around her fists, shackling both of them together. He almost had to drag her out of the containment room and into his office to discuss the details of the mission.

She had almost wished that she had stayed in that basement, not prepared for whatever torture this man was going to bring onto her.

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

NEXT CHAPTER

a/n: NEVER TRUST A MAN WHO CALLS YOU SHORT EVEN THOUGH YOU AREN'T‼️‼️‼️ (ive been a personal victim of this so yes i was projecting a little lmao)

taglist: @the-ikran-man @jenniferdixon05207 @yuuuumii @elwyn7 @waniesss @lust-for-pan

#miguel o'hara x oc #miguel o’hara #spiderman 2099 #across the spiderverse #miguel o'hara x reader #fanfiction #fem!reader #into the spider verse #fanfic #spiderman across the spiderverse #spiderman #spiderverse #spiderverse oc #spiderverse 2

[cookie-crumblr]

✨My Dastardly Villain~✨

F!Hero Reader x M!Villain Yan OC

Part 3~

His Info: 💰✨

Part 1

<<<Previous Part _ Next Part>>>

!!!MINORS DNI!!!

CW: F!Reader, reader has a vagina, reader referred to as she/her, readers alias is Solar, protected sex, dub con(reader doesn’t know it’s the same guy he knows it’s us.) P in V, rough sex, kidnapping a kid(in a not so serious way. ((still a serious thing irl) legit shoulda just called the cops, but this is for entertainment purposes XD LOL luv u, but plz don’t do this XD) explicit language

Song Rec: i like the way you kiss me - Artemas

Your arms lock around his hot, silver chain covered neck, he holds you back by the sides. His face turned so your kiss lands on his cheek, “Woah, someone’s eager,” He laughs nervously.

Your heart clenches in guilt, “Sh-shit sorry!” You step back instantly, “I thought that was why you really invited me back…” you smile apologetically.

“It’s all good, I just… Had a weird day,” He stretches up and messes with his dreaded hair. His shirt hem lifts with his arm~

You turn away momentarily, “Uhg! sorry! I still gotta cool off!” now it’s your turn with nervous laughter.

“I could get you some Ice” His laugh this time comes from his belly, it’s that same sound you practically fell in love with at the bar. He really makes you melt, and he’s not even doing anything!

"That might actually help" You spin back around to join in his smiles.

"Gods, you're so hot for little old me, that ice will actually help?" His voice is low and gravely right now.

You cover your heat filled face, "Okay! If you don't wanna fuck This second you better not tease me, Kai!"

"okay okay, hah, 'm sorry," he pats you on the head, looking down at you, "and it has nothing to do with you..." not even he's convinced. Its all to do with you... You're Solar... He's had issues with you interrupting his work for so long now—

Wait—

He's had so much pent up energy towards you, and now you're right here practically begging him to fuck you. As he looks you over, your arms are down holding your hands in each other, your legs press together, and shake with wanting.

"Actually Y/N... Get on the bed."

You almost *Yippeee!* at the development, none the wiser to the villain's newest plot. You jump on the bed, legs rubbing together and already panting.

He grabs a condom from his nightstand.

"Good." as he approaches he sheds clothing, chains tinkling and clinking as he does~ oh gods, your core is burning! "Roll over."

As you do he grabs your ankle and roughly pulls you to the edge of the bed, your body flies back in his grasp as if you weigh as much as a limp rope on the mattress.

He checks you, sliding his fingers between your folds and you're already so wet for him, but he still grabs lube and spreads it over the condom on the outside. He's not planning to be nice, but he isnt cruel.

"oh gods!" you feel the cold lube touch you first, eliciting intense shivers.

"Your pussy is so hot," He pushes in slowly, stretching you as he bottoms out.

"i-is it good?" you gasp with how full you feel. His hand finds your tummy and pushes in, creating so much pressure inside of you, you're already bursting when you cry out "Ah!~"

"So good~" He groans, he hasn't even moved and you're already cumming messily all over his cock. "you must've wanted me so bad, Y/N~"

"I do! I-I Really L-want your cock! Pl-lease!~" You gasp excitedly, your hips moving and shaking and pushing into his hips taking him as deep as you can.

"gods," his voice rumbles through you. His free hand caresses chills into your back as it hikes up your body to your neck, and back down before going back up. His touch is so soft, your shaking under it.

His hand finally stops tickling you and roaming when it finds your neck, he caresses you there just as softly, wrapping around your flesh until he's pulling you up into his chest by just your throat.

Your mouth is open, tiny, hushed little moans leaving freely.

He finally moves his length in you, pulling out agonizingly slow, and then~

*plop!*

He thrusts so hard into you, ripples flow over your flesh.

You swear you'd die if you were anywhere else, but here, right now.

*plop!* *plop!* *slap!* *plop!*

He's using your throat to control your body as he fucks you from underneath, all the muscles in his legs taught with the force he's using.

His skin glistens with a sheen of sweat and yours does too as you continue to reach for the mattress, or his hard legs, or anything at all for purchase against his brutal pace but you can hardly reach any of it. He's too tall, so you're just being used as a ragdoll for his pleasure, and you're loosing your mind in the process.

You've lost track of how many times you've came, you were never counting to begin with, they've all been blending amazingly with the building pleasure coil that feels like it'll never snap! You keep wanting more, even thought you definitely are not going to be able you walk after this.

He finally throws you back down onto the mattress and you feel like you can catch your breath for a second until he's ramming into you harder than before using your own hips as a tool to hold you in place. Your whole body jostles with orgasmic waves of pleasure now as he continues fucking you into the mattress chasing his own imminent high. and when he cums, he cums buckets; filling the condom and spilling it out all over your quivering pussy and thighs.

You gasp starting to actually catch your breath with your messed up face pressed into the duvet, when he reaches over you into his nightstand for another condom.

~

He let you use his family shower, you both decided to take them separately, since he seems like he could keep going and you want nothing more than to keep being used by him…

But! You’re here for another reason, not just sex.

Although…

The sex is so~ nice.

*POP*

You feel something hard and hot grinding into your crotch, before you even open your eyes.

You teleported into his literal lap.

at least you don’t have to try and walk back.

“Wow, I was just thinking about you too,” he laughs and caresses up your sides.

You cover your face, “How did you know!?”

“That’s what I was gonna tell you; teleportation, it’s just like summoning. When you think hard enough about something, you just bring it to you, or you to it.”

“It’s that simple?”

“Well, the thing i was gonna actually help you with, was figuring out how you’re gonna start to control your thoughts. It’s -ah-” He sighs under your weight, “It’s different for every person.”

“What about some of the— Wait.” an idea strikes you like a lightning bolt! “What if i think about Sobek! He’s probably doing something pretty dastardly right now! I could just-”

“NO-!”

*POP*

Air rushes around you as you fall back into Kai’s lap.

“Ooof!” his legs close around you, oh shit!

“Sorry!! Oh my gods! are you okay!?”

“Just—my balls” He wheezes.

You climb off of him, legs squishing down into the mattress, rocking him around.

“Huh, why didn’t that work?” you think for a second about Sobek again. Reaaallly hard. His stupid hips, and tiny waist. He looks so hot.

*POP*

You land on top of Kai’s back this time as he’s still hunched over on the bed.

“STOP!” he coughs out in a higher pitched and cracking voice.

“Oh! sorry!! I don’t know why it’s not working!!”

“Maybe h-he’s got like a-shield o-or something…” he had to think fast, and that’s what he came up with.

You think about it for a second, “Yeah you’re probably right. Sorry about falling on you… Do you need some—”

“Get back on the bed.”

A little later~

You decided you’d get more done at central park. In public. since you can’t stop fucking eachother long enough to actually get any thing done.

When you get into your rental car you don’t even notice that keys are already in the ignition.

You definitely didn’t notice—

“Mama? H-hey you’re no my mama!” The cute squeaky voice of a child rings out from the backseat.

“Kai…”

“Y/N…”

You say in unison before slowly turning to look at the less than five year old.

You slowly look back eachother.

And then back at the kid. And then foreword. “Kai… We just kidnapped someone’s kid.” You keep your words quiet.

“What do you mean We!?” He whisper-yells back “It’s your rental we got mixed up!!”

“oooo, if my mama finds out you’re both in trouble…”the kid adds.

“Where-Where abouts is your mommy?” You ask… Hoping the kid knows a street maybe.

“Cony island!!!”

“Okay kid, we definitely did not pick you up at—” You start.

“WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” The kid screeches.

“Okay!!! okay! Cony Island! jeeze.” Kai covers his ears, and yells back at the child.

“No! why would we take the kid to—”

“If you take me to Cony Island, I’ll tell my mama dis was allllll a misstake.” they’re blackmailing you now. a child.

You drive, weaving down busy streets through skyscrapers until you make it to the East coastline, the ferris wheel noticeable from where you are already.

The kid bounces in the backseat with excitement. It’s really quite cute actually. They are just so innocent and tiny. Even though they’re BLACKMAILING YOU. Oh well. What’s the harm in some carnival time?

You and Kai each take a hand of the child, leading them to the bridge, careful not to let them wander even the slightest bit away from you both.

You’re smiling at all the lively and noisy people around you, while Kai is a little too focused on only you. He doesn’t notice a tent pole he walks straight into it, or a couple of people that he shoulder checks.

The way your smile is lighting up the open air, and your swinging your hand with a smiling happy kid that isn’t even yours.

Now he’s shy.

He was so angry earlier, and now he just can’t believe that your the same person that’s always getting in his way.

You take the kid on the tea cups while Kai watches, he isn’t much into spinning rides, he says.

He grabs some cotton candy and an elephant ear; his favorite sweet. The cinnamon sugar over an airy, crusty deliciously fried thin bit of bread! MM!!

he’s enjoying himself when you and the kid sway over to him while giggling, neither of you can walk straight after how fast you had been spinning the little cup.

He can’t help but laugh along with you. The kid reaches up for Kai, as if to say “up!”

He gives the kid the rest of his sweets and their little chubby face lights up! It’s just darling! Then he picks the little one up, and holds him against his side. The kid is spilling cinnamon sugar and sticky sweetness all over Kai’s nice black jacket, but he doesn’t care. It’s a beautiful day and he gets to spend it with you…

He can’t help but be infected by your joy in such a weird circumstance.

“Seconds stweet” they say as you walk to a game booth that had the kid’s eyes glued to a stuffed toy.

“Yes! Thank you!! we’ll win you this prize and take you home, sound good kid?” You ask them.

“Yus! Thank you for today!” They say with big cute bright eyes. “mm gettin sweepy” They’re little head drapes over Kai’s shoulder. Both of your hearts thump! it’s just too cute!

You throw a couple darts, hitting and popping every balloon. The man hands you a giant teddy bear, and you carry it and the now sleeping child back to the car.

When you make it back you explain to the worried parents that prove it’s their child by the car documents and their ID’s matching. You may have kidnapped the kid, but you didn’t want to give them to the wrong people!

The parents seem less mad and more just thankful their child is safe and happily napping in their car seat.

They tell you to leave, understandably. You both nod and go to your actual rental. Where you have to pull your keys out of your pocket this time to drive away.

You both sigh out shaky laughs.

“We should have probably just called the cops.” You tell each other and laugh more.

You end up back at Cony Island…

Your hands entwined as you just enjoy each other’s company this time… You didn’t really plan this. But you’re both happy in this moment.

The salty air of the dirty beaches nearby, and the beautiful blue sky with just a couple of fluffy little clouds above, has you both smiling peacefully.

You lead him to the ferris wheel as the sun is setting turning the sky hot orange.

you’re holding each others hand, not saying a thing when Kai looks to you, “Be my girlfriend, Y/N.”

“You don’t know me that well though….” You look down, thinking about possibly being a disappointment if he were to find out more about you.

“I want to.” He says, picking up your face to lock eyes with yours. “I want to get to know you. And I want to be exclusive while I do.”

“Woah.” You don’t mean to say it out loud, “I want to know you too, Kai.”

He kisses you, seriously kisses you. Nothing but lips this time, nothing even sexual about it. It’s as if you’re signing a binding contract. The ferris wheel pod rocks as the wheel stops turning. It’s your turn at the top now. But neither of you look out at the world below, you’re too enthralled by each other to even notice.

You breathe in each others’ scent as you pull away. he’s always smelling like sweets. It makes you feel dizzy and giddy.

His hand ghosts down your arm, and goosebumps rise in his wake. The tickle of his featherlight fingers over your flesh, has you gasping. He keeps doing it as your head leans into his shoulder, and your hand hold his free one. The sky darkens in the time it takes you to go around the wheel two more times, until you both are satisfied and tired enough to head back.

He drives you back to your place, and carries your sleepy form inside…

#my oc #yandere #oc x you #yandere x you #oc x reader #my fic #cute villain #villain oc x you #villain oc #oc smut #oc superhero #oc villain #villain x hero #hero x supervillain #superhero x villain #superhero reader #fem reader #yan smut #x oc #x you #x reader #villain x reader #reader x villain #reader x villain oc

[yoongiaahh]

First Day - Me or Him

title: first day

series: me or him

pairing: yoongi x reader(f), namjoon x reader(f)

genre: love triangle ; rating m (18+)

summary: as you and your best friend start the first day of senior year you realize you have no classes together. you don't like people and stray away until someone catches your eye in class, not only that but you're assigned to sit next to each other. this is not how you wanted to kick off the first day of school… will feelings bloom? does your bestfriend approve?

note: hiiii this is my first fanfic so im really nervous lol. i decided on a series because as i was writing my mind was RACINGGG lmao i had so many ideas and didnt want it to be forever long. so i hope youll stay along for the ride. please let me know how you like it! im trying to work on my writing skills so any tips are appreciated :) as for the fic its gonna be spicy but itll be a slow burn so dont get your hopes up lol i want to give you a good taste of the characters before jumping in. i wanted to keep this chapter pretty short to begin so we can leave off with a little cliff hanger SORRY itll be worth it i promise! im also new to the tumblr writing scene and still figuring out the controls AGAIN tips appreciated! thank you <3

warnings: none YET

estimated total wc: 1.6k

-

-

-

Your alarm is much louder than you're used to. Not that it matters, you had woken up a whole two hours before it went off.

It’s the first day of your senior year, you can hardly keep your smoothie down due to the rumbling pit of nervousness in your stomach. As you are pacing the room waiting for your brother to come bursting through the door you get a phone call. It's Namjoon, your best friend since middle school and suddenly you feel a little better about how the rest of your day is going to go knowing he’ll be right by your side.

“You ready? I'll be there in five.”

“As ready as I'll ever be Joonie.” You say with a smirk and major sarcasm wondering how you landed a friend so opposite from you.

“Perk up, it's our senior year… what could go wrong.”

“Yeah, yeah whatever see you soon.” Hanging up the phone quickly you grab your bag and run down stairs. You practically plowed through your brother as he was running up to make sure you were ready.

He’s pissed you can just tell by the way his eyes bolt directly to yours.

“Are you fucking kidding me, I had the courtesy of coming to get you and you repay me by messing up my hair.” His words come out like an avalanche as he immediately runs to fix what you supposedly messed up, yet it doesn't look like one strand fell out of place.

“Tae maybe instead of worrying about your appearance so much you can put more effort into school this year.” You scream through the house.

Your brother is a year below you and a complete douche. It comes across your mind more than ever how the two of you can be related. He's the king of his class, making new friends every day while you have had one friend for the entirety of the time you've been in this city. You’ve never really had the want or need to have anyone else than Joon, and you’re glad you havent had to share since he’s never kept another friend besides his gaming buddies.

Joon finally arrives at your driveway. As you're walking out the door you remind yourself there's only one more year of this hell you've been going through for the past three years. You atleast need to get through today, leave your worries for tomorrow and do your best.

The car ride to school lifts your spirits as you listen to Joon gawk about all the clubs he wants to enter and all the classes he signed himself up for. You’re happy for him but not at all what you are thinking about at the moment. Playing your favorite tunes through his amped speakers you reflect on the amazing summer you had and wish that it never had to end.

Gathering your things you and Joon walk up to the bulletin board to check what classes you got put into. Just as your morning got better all the nervousness you had earlier hits you like a truck. You don't have a single class together with him, which in the five years of knowing each other has never happened.

Immediately you both turn your heads in shock. You knew one day this would happen but why the first semester of your last year. You're sweating bullets not knowing how you'll get through today without him.

Trying to make you feel better, Joon offers to switch a class in hopes the teacher would approve.

“It’s alright Joonie, you already said how excited you were for the classes you picked and you got into all of them. I’ll manage somehow.” As soon as you say it you regret it. He would definitely switch if you had just agreed but you don't want to hold him back.

“Well we still have lunch together so just keep your cool till then.” His smile is the nausea pill you wish you had.

He wraps you up in a hug, letting you know everything will be alright. Once separated from the embrace you needed you make your way to your first class of the day.

The bell rings and students come piling in to take their seats before the teacher starts going over the plans for the semester. Writing everything in your notebook to keep your mind off this lonely day that has just started.

It’s not that you don't like school, you actually very much enjoy it and have always kept good grades. You’re just horrible at conversation and not much of a people person to begin with.

Joon and you had been paired together for a project way back when, which is how you and him ended up being friends. He is a very straightforward person so making conversation with him was never an issue, and you actually had quite a bit in common. He could clearly tell you were shy so to say the least he started most of the talk between you two. Once the project had been turned in everyone had returned back to their chosen seating to sit with their friends and you were surprised to see that he chose to continue sitting by you. Since that day you had been inseparable.

Lunch is finally here. Classes fled by quick since it was mostly introductions and receiving your sylbasses. Your backpack feeling like a brick from the textbooks you gathered you make your way to the cafeteria. You quickly find Joon and walk up to the line to get food.

“So how’d it go? Make any friends?” Joon snickers as he says the last part, knowing you all too well.

“Oh yeah I actually already have a new best friend so I guess i'll go sit with them.” Turning your head pretending to look for someone as Joon lets out a laugh. You spin around to smack his arm knowing he saw right through your mockery.

“As much as I would hate to be replaced, it wouldn't kill you to make a friend or atleast find someone else to talk to.” Nudging your shoulder as he says the words.

“I’m good with my small circle, thanks”

You both go back and forth with how the day has gone so far. He couldn't go on enough about how happy he is with his classes, which makes you forget the regret you had earlier about his offer.

The lunch bell goes off so you both clear your trays and head out to the hallways. Study hall is next for you so the nerves have suppressed as you know you can put your earbuds in and tune out the class. Joon gives you a wink and lets you know to meet back at his car when the day is over.

Heading to your locker to put the stack of textbooks you received away you get a text.

JoonieBug🪲🤍

Fighting❤️

Whatever loser❤️

You giggle as you put your phone back in your pocket and head to your class.

“Hello class, I hope your first day of senior year has been great! As you all know, study hall is your hour window to get caught up with your work or take a breather and relax before heading to the rest of your classes.” The teacher says much too loud for your liking. “I have put a seating chart together in hopes everyone can meet some fresh new faces. Please follow this chart as it is part of your participation grade.”

Great.

The last thing you wanted was to meet ‘fresh new faces’.

You grab your assigned seat and whip out your airpods in hopes that the person who's placed next to you takes the hint and stays to themself. Though to your surprise the bell had rung and the seat next to you was still vacant.

As you get out your syllabi to scan and send to your mother you hear commotion at the front of the class. You take out an airpod to see what is going on and you're taken aback when you see a boy with bleached blonde hair rolling his eyes as the teacher is complaining to him about being late. You don't know why but there are butterflies in your stomach as you look at him. Retracting your gaze he turns to meet your eyes. and the butterflies only get worse as you see him heading to the seat next to you.

He throws himself down in the seat and you can feel the heat in your cheeks rising. You don't know why your body is reacting this way.

In all of your other classes you had gotten a seat to yourself luckily but that wasn't the case here.

Hoping he doesn't notice your face looking like a cherry, you press play on your phone and get back to sending the photos to your mom.

“From the way you look you either really didn't want someone sitting here or you must be absolutely enthralled that I’m the person to sit here.”

You barely make out the words as you throw your head around to look at the all too cocky boy taking up the seat next to you.

“I-I don't know what youre talking about.” Turning away with a flushed face. Your mind racing wondering why he would even spout out those words.

“Yoongi”

“What?”

“My name silly, I’m Yoongi.”

“Oh okay”

The smirk on his face is absolutely annoying. You want to slap it right off his face.

“So do I get to know your name?” The smirk slowly turns into a grin as his eyebrow cocks up.

“Alright class, enjoy the rest of your day, I’ll see those bright faces tomorrow.” Your teacher says as the class ending bell goes off.

You have never gathered your things into your bag with such haste. Not realizing you left your notebook on the desk you throw the bag over your shoulder as you dart out the door to get anywhere but that classroom.

#bts fanfic #bts smut #bts yoongi #min yoongi #yoongi x reader #namjoon x reader #fanfic #fan fiction #yoongi smut #namjoon smut #faeswrites #yoongi fanfic #namjoon fanfic #meorhim