#Bts v imagine | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kimbappykidding · 5 months

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Other Parts: Part One, Part Two and Part Four.

V felt better than he had in a long time. He had a clear goal in mind and that gave him purpose and a reason to wake up in the morning. You. He knew now the future he wanted involved you and while that future was not guaranteed it gave him something to work for.

The first thing he did was cut out all his crutches, the booze the girls and everything in between. He didn't put anything in his body that he shouldn't and he immediately started feeling the benefits. Next, he started taking work more seriously. He began exercising to get his stamina back up to what it could be and went with Jimin to his vocal coaching appointments. He was on time at work and stayed late whenever he needed to. About a month in RM commented on V's progress and V thanked him but he wouldn't feel proud until you noticed the change in him.

Now his life was more stable he started working on himself. He started talking to a counsellor about his worries and struggles and she helped him come up with healthier mechanisms. He got checked out to make sure all the partying and sex hadn't affected his health or made him catch anything and felt so reassured when all his tests came back clean. He started examining his friendships and any that weren't okay with him taking a healthier approach to his life, he cut off. The guys in particular seemed happy when he told them he wasn't hanging around with that crowd anymore and he realised his members had been through a lot too.

He saw his family more and made sure to spend time with his mum in particular. He went home for her birthday for the first time since he'd broken up with you and she burst into tears when she saw him. He had no idea she'd missed him that much and promised to visit her more which just made her cry even more. Of all the things he'd done, this was what you noticed first.

When you came off hiatus you decided to just pretend V didn't exist so didn't look in his direction at any events and were hypervigilant about anything BTS. However, on your private Instagram, you could look at what you wanted and you'd seen the video on V's mum's Instagram of V surprising her for her birthday and were pleased. She was so happy to have her son back and he stayed with her for several days which was nice. V looked healthier in the photos and you couldn't help but notice that all his family members had alcohol but he clearly had a bottle of water instead. You had no idea if it was just a coincidence or not. You remembered what V had said at the end of his apology text about wanting to become a better person if you wanted him. Was this what he meant?

You were curious and so you asked your members what V was doing and they reported he'd dropped his toxic friends and they hadn't seen him at a nightclub in weeks. "Apparently he's performing better too" Yuqi said "my friend at Hybe said he's working hard to be a better idol and is always practising, exercising or rehearsing. They think he's turned over a new leaf but I'll believe it when I see it". "Or when it actually lasts long term" Soyeon said "he could easily revert back to his old ways". You nodded along but were a mixture of confused and dare you say excited? This must be the change V meant and if he did pull it off...well then you might think differently about letting him into your life again.

"Why?" Minnie asked noticing your frown and you shook your head "no reason". That convinced nobody. Soyeon narrowed her eyes at you and Yuqi shook her head "no come on, what's the reason?". You shook your head "nothing just...V said something to me after that video was leaked and I was wondering if he really meant it". The girls were SO curious so you showed them the text and were met with silence. "So you think...he's serious?" Shuhua asked cautiously "that he's changing like he promised?". You shrugged "I don't know...maybe?". "Do you want him to?" Soojin asked and you frowned "I don't know! Am I an idiot if I do?". "No!" Miyeon said "not at all!" and the girls all echoed her except Yuqi. She was the most straight-talking of the members so you looked at her and called her name. "Yuqi, what do you think?" you asked. She looked down and then up at you. "I don't know, part of me wants to just bundle you up and take you away from him because he does not deserve a second chance and I don't want you to get hurt if he reverts back to his usual ways". "So you think I shouldn't get my hopes up?" you asked and Yuqi shook her head "not at all and I think he's definitely doing all this for you". "You do?" you asked and Yuqi nodded "100% but I just hope it lasts. I think you need to give him time to mess up honestly. I'm worried he'll break your heart again if you go back to him now". You blinked "woah Yuqi I'm not planning to go back to him now". "You're not?" she asked with a hint of relief in her voice and you shook your head "god no! I was just checking if there were any reasons to hope this might be a good sign". Yuqi smiled "there's always a reason to hope, we'll keep an eye out for signs for you" and the girls all rushed to agree. "Thank you" you smiled at them "I promise I won't rush into anything" and from how tightly they all hugged you, you knew they all felt like Yuqi. They didn't want to see you hurt, you just hoped you'd be able to protect yourself better than last time.

V felt like his life was finally on track again but he reminded himself he couldn't expect you to suddenly come rushing to him. You might not actually be interested in his anymore or the damage might've already been done. He might've destroyed your trust in him and you needed solid proof before you were ready. Or maybe there was someone else or you were taking a break from dating after that leaked video nearly wrecked your career. There were so many reasons why you could be hesitating and V couldn't get ahead of himself. So he kept his head down and just carried on but some of your joint friends had different ideas.

Kai had noticed the changes in V majorly and he also knew about the text he'd sent you. At first, he was angry. Did V really think not sleeping with tons of girls and stopping putting toxins in his body for a few weeks would make things okay? He hoped you wouldn't fall for it and had his obligatory "he's not good enough for you" friend speech ready but he didn't need it. You didn't mention V and everything seemed to be okay...but then Kai started believing it. He'd known V for a while and heard a lot about him through Jimin and despite everything he didn't think V was a calculating person. He knew how to play the game and act when he had to but he wasn't malicious...so was this change real?

One day when he was hanging out with Jimin he "casually" asked how V was. Jimin looked at Kai almost questioningly and then nodded "he's good". "How good?" Kai asked "just the news has been really quiet about him lately. Is he on hiatus or something?". Jimin shook his head "no that's been all V, he's been a different person lately and all that's behind him". Kai snorted "yeah sure!" Kai smirked and Jimin shook his head "it's true!". "Jimin, I know he's your member but come on, I've seen him on a night out. Guys like that don't change". Kai didn't mean what he said but he wanted to prod Jimin into spilling more and it worked.

"Well you clearly don't know him and are judging him like everyone else!" Jimin burst and Kai held up his hands "calm down, no need to get mad". Jimin nodded "I know but he's been working really hard lately. It's not just his health and his worth ethic which he's taken charge of. He's repairing family relationships, he cut out bad friends who use him and he's talking to someone about the pressure and stress we're under! He's doing so well Kai and I don't care if you run and tell Y/n or not but he's doing amazing and I'm so proud of him". Kai nodded "you should be, it sounds like he's doing great". Jimin nodded taking a breath and after he'd calmed a little changed the subject but V stayed on Kai's mind the rest of the day.

Kai watched V even closer and recruited his members to also watch him and report back anything bad they'd heard but there wasn't much of that except a small bit from Sehun. "Binna is pissed at him" he excitedly said one day, taking to his detective role very happily. "Why?" Baekhyun asked "because he broke up with her?". Sehun nodded "apparently he'd ended things with her lots of time before" he said, doing air quotes when he said ended "but they always got back together or well Binna could find some way to convince him to carry on but not this time. According to my source, she's tried everything even showing up at his apartment in the middle of the night wearing nothing under her coat. He wouldn't even open the door to her and when she wouldn't leave he called her members to come get her. Apparently she went kicking and screaming". "Wow" Kai said "that must've been horrible for him" and all the guys nodded. "Are you going to tell Y/n?" Chanyeol asked and Kai noddded "I think I have to, I know she still cares about him and if he really has changed then I think he could make her happy". "Yeah and if he doesn't she knows we'll all kill him right?" D.O. asked and Kai smiled "I will make that crystal clear.

Kai did exactly that. He sat you down one day and explained why he thought you might just be able to listen to what V said. He warned you he'd only been watching him for 2 months so it might not be long term but so far it was looking good. "I'm not telling you this to tell you to get back with him" Kai said "just so you've got all the information. I'd considered keeping it from you but knew I couldn't do that. I want to protect you but I also want you to be happy and V might be able to do that". You got goosebumps as Kai said that and nodded "I've been watching him too, it looks good right?". Kai smiled "it really does" and you both exchanged things you'd noticed and were pleased with. "Okay so what do I do next?" you asked and when Kai hesitated you smiled "and I don't mean romantically. That's in the back of my mind but I want to start off as friends first. So how do you think I do that?". Kai smiled "leave it to me".

"Okay" Kai said the next time he saw Jimin "what would you say if I told you Y/n was open to being friends with V again". Jimin's huge eyes got even wider "WHAT!" he cried "she said that? She's open to him? This is amazing!". Kai held up his hands "calm down, I'm just feeling things out". "But you must think she's open to it if you're asking me" Jimin pointed out. Kai nodded "we've both noticed the changes in V's behaviour and they've seemed pretty consistent...and that is the only reason I am encouraging this" Kai said "if I thought for a second V was trying to trick or deceive Y/n..." Kai started but Jimin shook his head "he's not Kai. Trust me, I like Y/n and don't want to see her hurt. If I thought he wasn't serious I would tell you to put her off but he's deadly serious. He's had laser focus and it's really impressive". Kai nodded "okay great, so how do we do this? Y/n is open but also nervous". Jimin frowned "would she be okay if V messaged her or should we do something a little more organic?". Kai nodded "I like your thinking, what are you doing next Saturday?".

Chanyeol's birthday party was pretty low-key to say how popular the stunning rapper was but he liked it that way. However, lowkey for an idol meant a party with 100 people and so Kai managed to get two tickets for Jimin and V to attend. He'd checked with you in advance and you were okay with it and actually a little excited. Even though you were definitely coming at this from a friendship perspective, you still dressed extra nicely tonight knowing V would be here. Kai was probably more nervous than you and with two good reasons 1. he had helped organise this so if V hurt you it would be his fault and 2. Yuqi had threatened to kick his ass if no.1 happened. So Kai was fluttering around you nervously when he saw V enter.

You hadn't noticed, too busy chatting to NCT's Johnny and Kai was unsure if he should warn you or not. V saw him watching him and gave him a small nod which Kai returned. Kai took a seat next to you and you could just tell from the look on his face V was here. Sure enough, when you searched you found him. He was at the bar with Jimin but he didn't order anything. He looked nothing like the last few times you'd seen him. Before he'd either been cocky and smug or emotional and frantic. This time he seemed softer, you watched him smile at something Jimin said and nod to some Red Velvet members who passed him. You looked down, worried he'd look up and see you watching him and felt a little flushed. You reminded yourself the whole point of V being here tonight was so you could talk to him and wondered how you'd do that.

Luckily it happened pretty casually. You were walking with NCT's Doyoung and Jeno when Jeno saw Jimin and rushed to hug him. Jeno had apparently met Jimin years ago at some event before he was an idol and they'd remained friends. Doyoung also went over to greet Jimin and V. You followed and smiled at Jimin before looking at V. He was staring at you a little and looked almost stunned you were in front of him but he quickly smiled and bowed to you. He said a polite hello to everyone and the conversation continued. You let Jimin and Jeno talk before looking back at V. He caught your eye and smiled "I liked your latest comeback" he said softly. You smiled "thank you, it was a lot of work but it turned out well". He nodded "I can imagine it was, the concept was so cool and the routine looked really difficult". You nodded "it was, I still don't think my thighs have recovered" and V laughed. You liked the sound of his laugh and smiled a genuine smile. V noticed and paused "would you like to go have a chat? I'd love to catch up on how work and stuff is going?" and you nodded.

The two of you talked for about half an hour and it was a little awkward but sweet. V was careful with you and you could tell the effort he was putting in. He'd clearly remembered everything you liked when you were together and when he asked about your favourite sports team you had to smile. "I thought about you when they won" he admitted and you did blush a little at that. He asked you tons of questions and watched you answer with his attention fully fixed on you. You could see Kai and your members watching you nervously so decided to wrap things up before anything could go wrong. "Yeah of course!" V said "it's been so nice speaking to you, would it be okay if I texted you?" he asked and you nodded "yeah I'd like that" and V smiled.

So after that, the two of you were in contact. It started off slowly, exchanging polite conversations and funny photos before it got more casual and evolved into meeting up. The two of you had to be super careful not to be photographed together but V always made sure you came first and were comfortable with where you wanted to go. You went to all your old hangouts and also lots of new ones. V commented on how much you'd grown since you'd last been friendly and you did feel proud. You weren't the same person as before and had matured so much...the same could be said for V. He was different not only from when you last new him but also from the sex-obsessed party boy you'd come to know him as. He explained to you what some of these changes involved and how he'd given up the drink and other addictive substances. He admitted he didn't know who he was in those times and how he enjoyed his life a lot more now. You were so happy to hear that and had noticed a huge difference in him but didn't really know what to do from here.

You'd told Kai you just wanted to get to know V as friends and you'd done that. You'd sussed him out and liked what you saw but what now? You were terrified to take the next step even though on paper everything was straightforward. V was stable, healthy and in a place for commitment. You still had great chemistry and had never stopped finding him attractive. You felt great when you were around him and found yourself missing him when you didn't get to see him for a bit. So why couldn't you just tell him you wanted him?

It was really bothering you and V noticed you seemed more anxious than usual so he asked you why and it all spilled out. "I don't know what's wrong with me!" you admitted "everything is perfect but something's making me hold back". V shook his head "nothing's wrong with you Y/n, I hurt you really badly several times so of course you've learnt to be cautious around me and it's not in your nature to jump into something with me". You frowned "I know but I figured if I spent time with you that fear would go and it hasn't! We've been hanging out for nearly 3 months now and I'm still wary of going any further. The attraction isn't the issue either, I like you and I want you I just can't" you said exasperated. V nodded and patted your hand "Y/n it's okay, you don't need to blame yourself. The problem is clearly me and something you're not getting from me so think, what do you need me to do?" V asked "seriously just tell me and I'll do it". "V it's not that simple" you sighed but he shook his head "no it is, you tell me absolutely anything you need from me and I'll do it to prove how serious about you I am". You shook your head "I want there to be something, some act that can make it all better but I don't know V...I'm not sure if there's anything that can reassure me enough. I'm too nervous and scared about the whole thing".

That broke V's heart. "I never want to make you upset" he said and you smiled sadly "and you haven't, these past months have been so nice and I'm really glad you're back in my life...I just don't know if it was wise. I feel like it's made us both want each other and I didn't want to give you false hope but I just don't know what you could possibly do to prove it all to me". V nodded "I understand, can I still see you?" he asked "or do you think that would be too painful for you?". You shook your head "I don't want to lose you V just maybe we'll need a break for a bit. If I see you right now it's just going to remind me of what I can't have and that will just make me upset and depressed". V nodded "okay I respect that, if you think of anything I can do though can you let me know?". You hesitated before nodding "I can't think of anything that would prove to me how serious about all of this you are but of course yeah, if I think of anything I'll tell you".

You parted ways quickly after that with heavy hearts and V was wracking his brains of ways he could fix this. What you said last to him stuck in his mind. He gave it a few days and when his mind still didn't change he decided to go for it. It was the riskiest thing he'd ever done but if it showed you how serious about you he was, it would all be worth it.

V set up his phone and purposefully chose a room in the studio that locked. He'd vaguely told the staff he was going live but left it at that so technically he never lied to them about what he was going to do.

He quickly greeted fans after he went live and then got to the point. "So I know this in unplanned but I'm here today because I've got something I need to confess. The truth is, I'm in love with Y/n from G-(I)dle" V said. He felt the atmosphere change even though it was a virtual medium and knew this was monumental but kept going. "We dated for 3 years and broke up 5 years ago because I wasn't a good boyfriend. I was immature, unsupportive and wasn't happy having one amazing girl. Y/n put up with me for way longer than she deserved" V said as a member of staff tried the locked door. "When she ended it with me I was happy because it was the excuse I needed to sleep with any girl I wanted but I now realise it was the worst moment of my life. Y/n was an amazing girlfriend, she was caring, thoughtful and made me feel like I could do anything. She loved me more than I even knew was possible and with her I just felt at home" V said smiling slightly at the memory before his smile vanished "but then I ruined everything" he said. "I'm telling you all this because some of you have taken it upon yourselves to abuse Y/n for dating me. I'm telling you all if you want a villain, it's me. I started that argument you all saw with Y/n because I was selfish and wanted her to come back and save me after all I'd put her through. I was a jerk but I wasn't the one put on hiatus or punished and anyone who harassed her is not a true fan of mine" he said shaking his head in anger. The person trying to get in started knocking on the door getting louder and louder and V sighed "I'll be cut off soon but I wanted you all to know. I love Y/n and will never love anyone else like I love her. She is the greatest person I know and I would give up everything, all of this" he said gesturing around the room "for her...because she's really that special and I wanted you all to know that".

He ended the stream and opened the door, ready to face the consequences.

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allysonhope · 2 years

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girl code | kim taehyung

pairing: taehyung x reader (y/n)

genre: fluff, some angst

warnings: y/n and her best friend have a crush on the same guy, a little swearing, insecurities, taehyung being so cute, y/n not wanting to hurt her best friend, pining

words: 7.4k

summary: y/n is falling for her best friends crush, but she won’t make a move because she doesn’t want to break girl code. that doesn’t stop taehyung from falling for her and trying to make a move

based on a snippet i heard on tiktok of brynn cartelli’s new song girl code, which comes out this Friday! (8/5) i heard the song and i immediately fell in love and had to write about it LOL hope you all enjoy! i’ll add her username so if you want to listen to the snippet as well! :) <3 (tiktok: brynnzzyy)

My girlfriend told me she was into you that night we were introduced outside of the pub

“What are we waiting for? It’s so fucking cold out here! Let’s go inside!” My best friend, Lisa, complained to Jimin and me as we waited outside of the pub.

“We’re waiting for Jungkook! I already told you this. Stop complaining,” I chuckled as my two best friends bickered back and forth about waiting for our other friend Jungkook outside. “Why do you always have to complain about everything? Y/N isn’t complaining that is cold. Oh, and, look, there they are!”

I looked up to see Jungkook waving at us as he crossed the street with a random man by his side. I felt my heart beat quicken and butterflies flutter when I made eye contact with Jungkook’s new friend. He gave me a shy smile and made his way over to us without taking his eyes off of me. I took my eyes off of him when Jungkook stood directly in front of me and wrapped me up in a warm hug.

“Y/N! I haven’t seen you in forever!” He greeted me with a huge grin and a small kiss on my forehead. I wrapped my arms around his waist tightly, moving my head to the side so my ear was against his chest. With my new position, I saw Jungkook’s friend again, who was once again staring at me. I blushed but quickly looked away from him when Jungkook let go of me.

“You literally saw her this morning, dumbass. What took you so long? It’s freezing out here! And, why did you only say hi to Y/N? Did you forget Jimin and I existed too?” Lisa once again complained, making me giggle as Jimin and Jungkook groaned out in frustration with her nonstop complaining.

“That’s my bad,” the mysterious man spoke up, looking toward Lisa and Jimin briefly before smiling down at me. “I showed up at Jungkook’s house without any warning. I didn’t know that he had already made plans for tonight. I hope you all don’t mind me tagging along unexpectedly. I’m Taehyung, by the way.”

He put his hand out in front of me, hoping that I would shake it, but before I had the chance to Lisa slightly pushed me to the side and placed her hand in his, subtly biting her lower lip. “I’m Lisa. It’s nice to meet you, Taehyung. I hope you know that I’m not always this whiny. I just get a bit cold,” she pouted at him, causing him to let out a small chuckle.

“I don’t mind. My apologies for making you freeze.”

Taehyung then introduced himself to Jimin, while Jungkook pulled me toward the entrance so we could find a place to sit. When we found a table, we sat across from each other and Taehyung sat next to me, smiling warmly.

“Sorry, I don’t think we got to properly introduce ourselves to each other,” he talked into my ear since the pub was so noisy. His closeness and deep voice caused me to shiver slightly and I looked up to see his beautiful smile and comforting eyes looking down at me once again. “It’s Y/N, right?” I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion that he knew my name. I nodded slowly when I remembered Jungkook greeted me by name when he arrived.

“It’s nice to meet you, Taehyung,” I responded, putting my hand out so he could finally shake it which he did, but he also pulled it towards his lips to give it a gentle peck.

“The pleasure is all mine.”

Jimin and Lisa sat down at the booth with us, with drinks and food for everyone as we talked and joked around with each other. Taehyung surprisingly got along well with all of us and fit right in with our friend group. A few times, when he would talk, he would put his arm on the back of my seat or lean in closer to me when he was laughing. I didn’t want to think too much of it because we just met and he could possibly be extra friendly when he had a few drinks in him. I didn’t want to fall too hard for him already because I had known him for less than two hours and I don’t yet really know anything crucial about him. All I know is he has a beautiful smile, a contagious laugh, and a deep, comforting voice.

Jungkook had put the plate of cheesy bacon fries between us and occasionally would lift a fry up to my mouth to feed me out of habit. I didn’t think anything of Jungkook feeding me because it was normal for us to feed each other on a night out, but it seemed to confuse Taehyung when he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

“I didn’t know that you and Kook were a couple,” I nearly choked on my drink when I heard him say that. I looked up at him with wide eyes and he tried to rub my back to control my slight coughing.

“Oh, no! Kook and I are not dating,” I nervously laughed when he raised his eyebrows in suspicion and gave me a small smirk.

“There’s no sort of relationship between you two? Then how come he only greeted you and why is he only feeding you fries?”

“Aww, do you want him to feed you some fries too?” We laughed together and I lightly patted his shoulder. “We’re just good friends. We don’t see each other like that, you know? We just so happen to get along really well and he likes to take care of me so feeding me fries is just him being kind.”

“Hmm, okay. I’ll believe you.”

“You know, Taehyung, it’s a little too early in our friendship for you to be getting jealous about other guys,” I teased him with a wide smile on my face. He smirked and leaned closer to my ear, his warm breath giving me chills once again.

“I just like to seek out my competition early,” he moved back to look at my face and winked before rejoining the conversation between Jimin and Jungkook. I blushed as I played with my drink.

That means that he feels it too, right? Some sort of connection. Some sort of attraction. I was pulled out of my thoughts by Lisa calling my name.

“Y/N, will you go to the bathroom with me?” She asked, sliding out of the booth. I, wordlessly, followed her lead and made my way to the bathroom behind her, but that wasn’t before I heard Taehyung’s quiet request for me, or maybe us, to hurry back.

“Y/N! Do you see him?” She squealed when we were finally alone. I looked at her with wide eyes, not liking where this conversation was headed. “He’s so beautiful! And funny. Oh my god, do you think I have a chance? Do you? Please tell me that I do!”

I felt as if my heart dropped to my stomach and I wanted to throw up all over her shoes, as I tried to figure out how to respond to her confession. Obviously, she finds Taehyung attractive. Anyone in their right mind would find Taehyung attractive. I knew that Lisa had a chance. She probably had a greater chance of getting Taehyung to fall for her than I ever would have for him to fall for me. She was absolutely stunning, funny, exciting, and overall, everything that I wasn’t. In more simple words, I am pretty simple. And a guy like Taehyung would never go for a simple girl.

“Yeah…yeah. Obviously, I think you have a chance. He would be missing out if he didn’t want to get to know you,” I fake smiled in her direction and I couldn’t help but feel happy for her when I saw her eyes light up.

This was only an attraction to Taehyung, and I will get over it in no time. I just want my best friend to be happy.

Lisa cheered and pulled me close to her, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Yeah, and if you ever gave Jungkook a chance, then he would be the luckiest man on this planet,” she added cheekily, causing my eyes to roll.

“Jungkook and I don’t like each other like that! We’re just best friends.”

“I know, but I can hope that my best friend ends up with a hottie like Jungkook, and we already know that he treats you right!”

“I’ll find someone one day. Let’s focus more on you and Taehyung,” I smiled sadly, knowing that it won’t be Taehyung that will treat me right because I just gave up the battle for him to Lisa. Lisa and I brainstormed ways to get Taehyung to notice her before we made our way back to the table with the three boys.

“Are y’all okay? You were in there for a while,” Jimin checked in us, worriedly. I let out a small chuckle, thinking about how kind of a friend Jimin is.

“Yeah, we’re good! Just girl talk, you know?” Lisa answered, sitting closer to Taehyung as we planned for her to do.

“Hey,” Jungkook gently placed his hand on my hands that were folded on the table. “You sure you’re okay?” I smiled up at him. I wish that the universe had planned for Jungkook and me to fall in love. Life would be so much easier if I ended up falling in love with him since I already know how caring and gentle he is with me, and obviously, he is gorgeous.

“I’m fine, Kookie. I promise,” he gave me a small smile before removing his hand from mine and continuing his conversation with Jimin.

I looked over and saw Taehyung laughing at something that Lisa said. He smiled down at her with a wide, beautiful smile and I knew my chance with him if I ever had one was over. I sighed and tried to pay attention to what Jimin and Jungkook were talking about. I would occasionally insert my opinion on a topic and I would laugh along to their jokes and their stories. Taehyung looked over at me briefly before placing his arm back around the back of my chair. Lisa was telling the boys a story about the party she went to last weekend when Taehyung reached for the cheesy fries that were placed in front of me. He leaned down to whisper in my ear once again.

“I know it’s not really my place since we just met, but I just want to make sure that you’re really ok,” my heart fluttered at his concerned tone and I looked in his eyes to reassure him that I truly was fine. I forgot what I was going to say for a minute when I looked up and saw how beautiful he truly was up close to me. His concerned eyes and soft smile looked down at me.

“I’m fine, Taehyung. I think the beer is just getting to me a little bit.”

“Here, have some of my water,” he pushed his water cup toward me and encouraged me to drink out of the same cup that his mouth was on. I took a small sip before placing the glass back on the table. “Here. I’ll keep it between us, so if you need more water you can have some of mine.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling flushed that he would share his drink with me so willingly.

“It’s no problem, Y/N. And here,” he grabbed another fry from the plate and directed it toward my mouth. “You should eat some more to make you feel better.”

I ate the from his fingers and smiled a genuine smile at him. “You were just jealous that Jungkook got to feed me, so now you want to establish dominance,” I joked, causing a louder laugh to exit his mouth.

“I would know how to take care of you better than Jungkook does,” he flirted with me, and I was about to reply back with a smart comment about how I would like to see him try to take care of me and treat me well, but Lisa pulled on his arm to start a conversation with him once again.

This is already harder than I thought it would be.

I, stupidly, encouraged her to make a move, told her to pursue what possibly could be love

I walked out of my bedroom to see Lisa dressed up for the day, making me pause and stare at her with a smile. “You look pretty! Where are you going?”

“I’m gonna go hang out with Taehyung!” She squealed excitedly. She looked at herself in the mirror one more time before turning to me. “I texted him if he had any plans today and then I asked if he wanted to go to some arcade.”

“Oh, that’s exciting! When is he supposed to pick you up?”

“Any minute now! I’m kind of nervous, but I thought we hit it off pretty well at the pub, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, he seemed to really like you,” I lied to spare her feelings. I wasn’t exactly sure how Taehyung felt about Lisa, but something is telling me that the feelings were not reciprocated. I am hoping that I am only feeling this way because I want Taehyung all to myself, and not because they are true. She jumped up and down when I told her that and squealed even louder when we heard the doorbell ring.

Wow, what a gentleman. Who rings the doorbell anymore to pick up their date?

Lisa rushed to the door, while I walked over to the kitchen to find something to snack on. I heard his deep voice greet Lisa, while I heard Lisa’s soft giggles making me sigh. While I finally found some chips to eat, I heard footsteps approaching the kitchen. Taehyung’s head popped around the corner and he offered me the warmest smile.

“Hey!” He greeted me, walking toward me. “How are you, Y/N?” He put his arm around my shoulders, turning my head to rest on his chest.

“I’m doing good, Taehyung. How are you?” He pulled me away from his chest but kept his arm around my shoulder.

“I’m great! You look great, by the way,” I scoffed and pushed him away from me. I was only wearing biker shorts and a sweatshirt so I knew that he was lying. “I’m being serious! You look good. Are you ready to go?”

I stopped in my tracks and looked at Lisa, who also had a confused face. “Um, I’m not going with you two,” his smile dropped and he sighed.

“Oh? Why not?” He asked disappointed. I was about to answer when Lisa cut in.

“She has plans!” She smiled before grabbing Taehyung’s arm. He looked down at her before looking back at me.

“Oh, with who?” My eyes widened because I truly did not have any plans, but Lisa thought it was a good idea to lie to him.

“Um, I made plans with Jungkook. Nothing too exciting. Just stay inside and watch some movies.” I smiled, but it quickly fell when Taehyung stared at me confused.

“Jungkook has plans tonight with some of our friends,” Taehyung informed me, causing my cheeks to burn red. I let out a fake laugh and scratched my neck out of embarrassment.

“Oh, yeah! I meant with Jimin. Jimin! I have plans with Jimin!”

“You two are more than welcome to join us though. Or we could stay in and watch some movies with you,” Tae suggested. I looked over to Lisa once again, who did not look pleased at all.

“It’s fine. I don’t want to intrude on y’all’s time.”

“No! It’ll be fun,” he insisted, which forced me into joining their date and thankfully, Jimin was available to tag along.

“Ugh! Why are we going to an arcade again?” Jimin asked me as we were in the backseat of Taehyung’s car. I had argued with Jimin for at least five minutes on the phone before I could convince him to go out with me. He had insisted that he could not leave the house because he was too busy watching Netflix, but after I promised to pay for his meal tonight, he reluctantly agreed.

“Because Lisa and Taehyung invited us,” I said, rolling my eyes. He groaned in annoyance before leaning toward me so the other two could not hear us.

“Why are we really going?” He asked, glaring at me to answer him honestly.

“Lisa likes Taehyung,” I whispered, causing Jimin to gasp loudly and both of them to look back at us with curiosity. I hit Jimin’s arm and waited for the attention to be taken away from us before I continued my explanation. “Taehyung thought that it was a group activity at the arcade and he insisted that I come as well. But, I didn’t want to be a third wheel, so who better to drag along with me than my best friend,” I smiled widely.

“Ahh, so you’re using me?” Jimin fake pouted, causing me to smirk at him. “But, uh, I thought there was something between you and Tae.”

I looked at Jimin in shock before profusely shaking my head no. I was confused about how Jimin came to that conclusion because neither Taehyung nor I have shown any signs of possibly being interested in each other. I looked ahead and caught Taehyung’s eyes as he briefly glanced through the rearview mirror. He noticeably beamed once he noticed my eyes. I quickly turned to Jimin, who was already giving me the ‘I told you so look’.

“Shut up,” I muttered to him.

Not long after we arrived at the arcade. Jimin and I tried to stay to ourselves as much as possible, but somehow, Taehyung and Lisa kept finding us.

“Fix your posture,” I heard being instructed in my ear. I immediately knew it was Taehyung and I stiffened as I felt him behind me. “And relax,” I was playing the basketball game, which I was failing at. “Here let me help you.”

He placed his hands on my hips, angling them toward the hoop, kicked his foot in between my two feet to separate them, and pushed my hips down to get my knees to bend. “Perfect,” I blushed as he moved his hands to my hands to help me grip the ball better. “You got this, Y/N.”

I took a deep breath and shot the ball toward the hoop, and surprisingly made it. I squealed in delight and jumped towards Taehyung in excitement. I gave him a quick hug, causing him to chuckle before urging me to continue since the clock was ticking down. I was able to make a few more baskets, but I wasn’t able to make it to the next round. I turned to my right to see Taehyung leaning against the machine, watching me play with a grin on his face. My cheeks turned red, and I played with my hands when I remembered how close we were just a minute ago.

“Thank you for helping me. I’m not too good at basketball.”

“Of course. I couldn’t let you embarrass yourself,” I smacked his shoulder and rolled my eyes as he made fun of me. “I’ve barely seen you all night. You don’t want to hang out with me?” He pouted.

“I’ve just been busy hanging out with Jimin like you’ve been hanging out with Lisa.”

“Looks like Jimin ditched you,” I looked to the back of the arcade where the bar was and I noticed Jimin sitting there with a drink in front of him. I couldn’t help but giggle at him. “I was so worried about Jungkook being my competition that I didn’t even realize the real competition was Jimin,” he remarked, making me tilt my head to the side.

“I think you need to work on your jealousy. Jimin and I are definitely not dating. He’s just my best friend. I’ve known for a long time. It would be too weird, you know?” Taehyung nodded his head in understanding.

“It’s hard not to be so jealous when you’re so beautiful,” As I was about to respond, Lisa made her way over to us and gripped Taehyung’s arm.

“Sorry that I took so long. The line for the restroom was so long,” She greeted me as well and I couldn’t help, but feel bad when I fully registered that Taehyung was flirting with me and called me beautiful. “You want to go play air hockey with me?” She asked him, now ignoring that I was standing with them as well.

“Sounds fun. You coming, Y/N?” He pleaded with his eyes, but I couldn’t bare to spend time alone with the two of them and I don’t think I could convince Jimin to leave the bar now.

“No, I’m okay. I’m gonna go sit with Jimin. I’m kind of tired now,” Taehyung’s eyes followed me as I hurried away, but I didn’t look back since I didn’t want to change my mind.

I definitely need a drink now.

But there you are with your hair pushed back, and a big ole smile gave me a heart attack, got me feeling things I never have before. And we talk all night, but I play it cool. I don’t cross the line, follow all the rules and I wonder if you’re thinking about it too

I grabbed the remote on my bedside table and scrolled through the different channels, but groaned out in frustration when I couldn’t find anything I wanted to watch. Lisa went out tonight to hang out with friends of hers that I never met before. She offered to take me, but I didn’t feel like going out to a bar tonight.

I screamed out in frustration once again when I felt my phone vibrate, wanting to be left alone. I reluctantly picked up my phone to see I received a text from a number that I didn’t know.

random number: hey! i’m hoping this is y/n, if it’s not please ignore this message lol i got your number from jungkook, and if you’re not busy or anything right now if you wanted to come over to my place and hang out with me and my friends! if not, no worries. it’s taehyung btw! :)

I sat up in shock that Taehyung had texted me to hang out with him and his friends when I don’t really even know him that well. I contemplated my options since it didn’t seem like a horrible idea. I didn’t want to be bored at home alone but did I really want to hang out with Taehyung and his friends without any of my friends? I bit my lip and decided that I could just go over to his place a little bit and then hopefully when I come home, Lisa will be there already.

y/n: hey tae! this is y/n btw lmao that sounds fun, just text me your address and i’ll be over soon!

tae: no, I’ll come pick you up in 20! see you soon!!

I quickly jumped out of bed and changed from my pajama pants to a pair of jeans and threw on a random shirt. I decided that my hair looked fine as it is and threw on the first pair of shoes that I could find. I quickly stopped in my tracks and regretted my decision to go. How would Lisa react when she found out I was out with Taehyung? How mad will she be? I sat on the couch and threw my head back on the couch; however, I did not have much time to regret or change my decision because I already heard my doorbell ring. I took a deep breath before I slowly made my way to the door.

When I opened the door, Taehyung was standing on our welcome mat with his hair pushed back, his hands behind his back, and a wide smile.

“Hey!” He breathed out, holding his arms out for me to walk into. I shyly made my way into his arms, hugging his waist. He squeezed me tight and swayed me from side to side a little. “Sorry if my text was a bit random and weird. I just, I don’t know. I guess I wanted to hang out with you. I didn’t really get to spend much time with you at the arcade the other day.”

“It’s okay! I’m actually glad you texted,” I pulled away from his arms and locked my front door.

“Oh, really? Why?”

“Lisa went out tonight so I was bored and alone,” he nodded in understanding, leading me to his car.

“Well if you ever get bored and need someone to hang out with, you can always call me,” he opened the passenger door for me and helped me get into his car. He waited for me to lock my seatbelt before he closed the door and made his way to his side.

We made casual conversation on the way to his house, getting to know each other better and learning more about his friends so I wasn’t as nervous to meet them. I slowly followed him as he led me to his house. He, unexpectedly, reached back and grabbed my hand dragging me so I stood beside him.

“You don’t have to be so nervous. I’ll be right here next to you, I promise,” Taehyung tried to reassure me so I took a deep breath and decided to just trust him. There’s no way his friends could be that bad if Taehyung is near perfect. We entered the house and I already heard loud talking coming from the living room. When I came face to face with all of Taehyung’s friends, they quieted down and stared at me, which was very intimidating.

“This is Y/N. She is also friends with Jungkook. That’s how we met. Y/N, this is Jin, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Namjoon. They’re my friends,” he introduced me to the group of guys, who gave me welcoming smiles and small, friendly introductions.

“Hi, nice to meet you guys. Thanks for letting me come to your guy’s night.”

Taehyung led me to the couch, where there were two empty spots left perfectly for us. He let me sit first, which left me between him and Namjoon. Once he sat down, he moved his arm lower to my hip to pull me a bit closer to him since I was sitting close enough to Namjoon that our legs were touching.

“Tae,” I said in a warning voice, causing him to stop in his tracks and move his arm away from my hips. “Are you moving me closer because you’re jealous again?” I teased him, causing him to blush and clear his throat. “This is the third guy in a month that you’ve been jealous of!”

“What can I say?” He leaned closer to tease me as well. “I must really like you,” I leaned in closer as well to tease him back, but then I remembered that I had to follow the girl code. Even though Lisa wasn’t here, I wouldn’t feel right flirting with the guy that she likes behind her back. I leaned back and just gave him a soft smile.

“I’ve already told you that you don’t need to be jealous.”

“I know, but it’s hard!” He complained. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop until people can no longer see you or be near you unless it’s me of course.”

“Then, maybe you shouldn’t have invited me over to your house with your four roommates,” I sassed him, making him laugh and he rested his head on my shoulder.

“You can just say that you wanted to get me alone,” I puked his stomach for his comment, making him laugh even louder, making me smile at how happy and carefree he sounded. “I missed you too much,” he mumbled. I couldn’t respond before we were dragged into whatever conversation the boys were having.

We ended up throwing on some random comedy movie after an hour or two of pointless, yet very funny conversation. Taehyung continued to be a bit flirty with me throughout the night, but I didn’t engage in the flirting as well. I tried my best to be on my best behavior, but I definitely slipped up a few times, but I couldn’t help it since he’s so beautiful and makes me feel comfortable around him.

I yawned while looking at the tv screen, and I slowly laid my head on Taehyung’s shoulder. He pulled me even closer to him if that was possible and laid a gentle peck on the top of my head. “Are you sleepy, pretty?” I gently nodded my head and I could feel his shoulders shake as he laughed. “Do you wanna lay in my bed?”

“I want to, but I should probably go home,” I complained. He nodded his head in understanding and helped me off the couch. As I was saying goodbye to all of the boys, he put his arm around my waist and helped me walk to his car in my sleepy state. He helped me get into his car, once again, before he made his way over to my home.

“Thank you for coming over tonight. I had a really great time,” he shyly mentioned as the radio softly played. I glanced over at him and I knew that I was screwed because as much as Lisa may like him, I definitely like him more but I shouldn’t. I was the one that encouraged her to make her move and I couldn’t just completely dismiss her feelings just because of my own.

“Your friends are great. It was so much fun.”

“Yeah? What about me?” He asked, nervously biting his lip.

“I think you’re pretty great, too, Tae,” I whispered as this moment started to feel personal to me. “Maybe not as great as Hobi, but still pretty great.”

“I think you’re pretty great, too, you know?” He looked over at me before focusing back on the road. “You’re so kind and sweet. And funny. And I’m really glad that we met,” he listed all the things he liked about me as he drove into my driveway. He turned off the car and moved his body so he was facing me, making me do the same.

“I’m glad that I met you, too. I guess I can thank Jungkook for doing something right,” we both giggled and as he was about to reply to me, we heard a tapping on the window. We both turned to the driver’s side window and saw Lisa smiling at the two of us.

“Taehyung! What are you doing here?” She exclaimed, throwing her arms around him when he opened his door. As much as I want Lisa to be happy, I couldn’t sit around and watch this. I felt tears come to my eyes and I quickly tried to blink them away.

“Um, thank you for tonight, Tae,” I said, opening my door. He was about to stop me from leaving, but I cut him off. “I guess I’ll see you around,” I closed the door and turned to look at Lisa. “I’m gonna be in my room. Don’t be too late out here.”

I hurried inside the house as the tears started falling down my cheeks. Ugh! Why does this always have to happen to me? Why can’t I ever just put my happiness before others? I’ve known Taehyung for a month and this is already one of the most horrible heartbreaks that I’ve ever experienced. I crashed onto my bed and hugged my pillow tight into me.

No matter how much I wanted to be with Taehyung, I couldn’t. I can’t be with Taehyung because of the girl code.

So here we are in this photo booth with your eyes on me while she’s all on you under neon lights in this crowded room I was getting shy, don’t know what to do with my hands or my toes

Tonight was Jungkook’s birthday party and I was getting ready to go there with Jimin. I am going to meet Lisa there since she went to hang out with Taehyung this morning. I haven’t seen him since we hung out at his house, but he has texted me occasionally.

“So are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and Taehyung? Because, sure, Lisa may like him, but he likes you!” I rolled my eyes at Jimin, as I opened the door to leave for the party.

“Yeah? And where did you get that idea?”

“What? Y/N! It’s so obvious. Through his body language, his flirting, and well, Jungkook told me,” I stopped in my tracks and looked back to see if Jimin was telling the truth. “I’m being honest! Taehyung told Jungkook that he likes you.”

“He doesn’t like me, Jimin. He can’t because,” Jimin cut me off.

“Because Lisa called dibs? Who cares? If you like him and he likes you, just go for it! You deserve to be happy,” Jimin put his hand on my shoulder and pulled me into his chest. “I think if you sit down and talk to Lisa about this, that she would understand. Lisa wants you to be happier than anyone does, other than me of course. Your real best friend. She may be a little hurt at first, but she would get over it.”

“This is just too much for me right now,” I told Jimin with tears in my eyes. “I just want to go to Jungkook’s party. Please?” He held me tighter and sighed.

“Okay. We can go now.”

We sat in silence on the way to Jungkook’s house. I really didn’t want to believe that Taehyung actually liked me. This made me feel worse about the situation because how do I tell Lisa how I feel when I was the one who gave her the go-ahead. I was about to get out of the car when Jimin stopped me.

“I just want you to be happy, Y/N. I think you should give Taehyung a chance,” he held my hand and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles.

“Thank you,” I gave him a genuine smile and got out of the car. When we entered there were already so many people drinking and dancing. I looked around for Jungkook and finally found him with Taehyung and Taehyung’s group of friends. I dragged Jimin over with me, so we could tell Jungkook happy birthday.

I snuck up behind him and wrapped my arms around his back. He jumped in surprise, but relaxed when he heard me scream. “Happy birthday bestie!” He laughed and turned around to give me a quick hug.

“Thank you Y/N!” He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before greeting Jimin as well.

I glanced over to Taehyung, who was already smiling down at me. I gave him a hug, which he immediately reciprocated.

“Hey, pretty,” he whispered in my eye, hugging me tighter. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever.”

“Mhm,” I hummed in agreement. “I’ve missed you,” I truthfully told him, making him soundlessly chuckle.

“I’ve missed you more.”

I hugged Yoongi, Jin, Namjoon, and Hoseok, happy that I remembered all of their names and faces. Jimin seemed to be getting along well with them, so we stayed there and talked for a little while longer. Taehyung put his hand on my lower back and leaned over to ask me if he could talk to me really quick. I felt nervous as to what he wanted to talk about, but I still followed him.

“I just wanted to apologize,” I looked up at him confused about what he would be apologizing for. “I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable when I invited you over to my house. I…I just thought it would be fun to hang out with you and get to know you more, but I can understand why you felt that way.”

I tilted my head toward him and furrowed my eyebrows. “I wasn’t uncomfortable, Tae.”

“You don’t have to lie to make me feel better, Y/N. You rushed out of my car really fast. There’s no way that you weren’t uncomfortable.”

Oh. He thinks because I hurried out of his car when Lisa came that he made me feel uncomfortable.

“I wasn’t uncomfortable, I promise. I just was tired and Lisa didn’t know that I had gone over to your house so I just bolted out of there, I guess.”

“So it wasn’t anything that I did?” He had me reassure him and I quickly nodded my head to agree with him. “Okay. Good. I was worried.”

“I wasn’t lying when I said I had a fun time,” I gently reminded him. “You could have texted me and told me that you were worried.”

“Yeah, well, I actually wanted to talk to you about something else as well,” he took a deep breath and grabbed both of my hands with his. “I’ve had so much fun getting to know you and hanging out with you, and I wanted you to know that I like you.”

My heart stopped. Why is this happening to me right now? I couldn’t even look Taehyung in the eyes. I felt my stomach twist and my hands start to sweat. I glimpsed around the room and though no one was looking at me, it felt as of everyone was.

“Tae,” I whimpered out, not knowing how I was supposed to respond to him. “I don’t know what to say,” I told him truthfully, with tears in my eyes.

“Hey! That’s okay,” he pulled me into his arms and rubbed my back. “That’s okay, I promise. I already knew that there was a possibility that you wouldn’t like me, and I hope this doesn’t ruin our friendship.

I pulled away from him and sighed. “It’s not that, Tae. I…I do like you,” his eyes widened and a small smile appeared on his face. “I have to tell you something though.”

“You can tell me anything,” I looked around to see if I could find Lisa, but she was nowhere to be seen.

“Lisa likes you, too.”

He exhaled and shook his head slightly. “I had a feeling that she did,” he admitted. “Please don’t tell me this is going to interfere with us.”

“Lisa’s my best friend,” I reminded him. “I can’t break girl code.”

“How is it breaking girl code if I want you, and not Lisa? Lisa and I have nothing going on!” He insisted, but I just played with my lip. “Y/N, please listen to me. I really like you and I know that I might sound insane right now, but you can’t tell me that you don’t feel it too. You can’t tell me that you don’t want me too because I feel it. I know you want this, and I want it too. I want you so bad. I need to be with you so bad. Please break girl code…for me.”

At this moment, it felt like Taehyung and I were the only two people in the room. His beautiful eyes stared down at me with a pleading look. His hands nervously played together and his lip stuck between his teeth. I couldn’t deny my attraction to him anymore. He was standing here, in front of me, telling me that he wants to be with me and give us a try. I would be stupid to deny him just because of Lisa. I grabbed his hands and stepped closer to him, sighing.

“I do want to be with you, Taehyung. I’ve had so much fun just talking to you and being around you. I want to give this a try, us a try, but I want to talk to Lisa first.”

He nodded in understanding and gripped my hands tighter. “Please come back to me,” he whispered and I couldn’t help, but grin at his gentleness.

“I will. I’ll be right back, okay?” He nodded and grinned at me. He kissed my knuckles before letting me walk away to find Lisa.

But I don’t want to break girl code cause who knows where this will go

I found Lisa outside, talking to some of our mutual friends and dancing to the music. I smiled at how carefree and happy she looked at the moment, and I almost backed out of talking to her since I did not want to ruin her happiness. She jumped up and down and waved as soon as she saw me. She ran over to me and gathered me in her arms.

“Y/N! My baby, how are you?”

“I’m doing okay, Lisa. You seem like you’re having a lot of fun,” she nodded, happily. “I just wanted to talk to you, but I don’t want to interrupt your night.”

“You are the best interruption! What’s wrong? Do I need to cuss someone out?” She pulled me to sit away from everyone.

“Lisa,” I already felt tears in my eyes as I took a shaky breath. “I have to tell you something,” she placed her hands on top of mine and looked at me with worry.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know I should have told you right away, but I was scared and I want you to be happy. I,” I looked her in the eyes and let my tears fall. “I like Taehyung and I thought it was just a stupid crush because I had just met him and he was so beautiful, but it turns out I like him more than just a stupid crush. I’m so sorry and I understand if you hate me.”

“Y/N,” she started. “You should have told me right away,” I whimpered, thinking she was mad at me. “Then I would have never pursued him! There’s nothing I want more in this world than for you to be happy. Why do you think I’m always trying to get you to date Jungkook or Jimin? Because I want you to be happy and for someone to treat you right and if Tae makes you happy then I say you go for him because I know he’ll treat you right!”

“But, you like him,” I was confused about how she was so okay with this.

“Babe, it was a small crush. I could have told you after the arcade that he and I were not going to work out. Plus, I could tell he wasn’t that interested.”

“You’re really not mad at me?”

“I promise I’m not mad at you,” she gave me a tight squeeze, rocking us back and forth. “Now go back in there and get your man. I love you, Y/N.”

“Thank you, Lisa. I love you too.”

I went back inside the party, feeling way better than I did when I left it. I couldn’t believe Lisa was so kind and okay about this when I was literally freaking out all night. I looked back to where I left my group of friends to see Taehyung standing alone with a drink in his hand now. He had his head down and was nodding his head along to the music.

I stopped at the bar to get some liquid courage before I made my way back to him. While waiting for my drink, I looked back to see him already staring at me. I smiled and signaled for him to wait one minute until I got my drink. After what felt like forever, I got my drink and turned to find Taehyung, who was unsurprisingly right behind me.

“I couldn’t wait any longer,” he whispered as he towered over me. “Did you get her permission?” He moved his hands to my waist and I smiled, wanting to laugh at how surreal this all was. I set my drink down behind me and wrapped my arms around his neck.

I pulled him into me, knowing that I couldn’t wait any longer. Our lips met and everything finally made sense. It once again felt like Tae and I were the only two people in the world but in a good way this time. He pulled me even closer to him as our lips continued to move in sync. I pulled away from him to breathe, but our breath still mixed together since I didn’t move very far. Our foreheads were touching and we were giggling at each other’s eagerness.

“Let me take you out on a date,” he whispered against my lips. I nodded my head, wordlessly and found his lips again.

I can’t wait to see where this may go.

————————————————————————

masterlist

not saying i love you back prank (jimin)

thank you all for reading! i hope you all enjoyed! :) <3

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taekeofyourclothes · 1 year

Text

pretty woman. (for)

pairing ex boyfriend!v x reader conspectus a love that annoyingly stayed for him... but left you. word count 0.4k words notes been playing bts like on loop recently, what are y'all doing recently? jfgsjffkfkkf happy reading!!

"you're the prettiest man!" you'd compliment taehyung, a giggle bursts out his mouth as he snuggled near you - "and you, y/nie - you are my pretty woman!" he breathes softly to your neck. the memory is a bittersweet melancholic dream he has, and he awakes no longer having you nearby.

taehyung's spotify is currently playing gnash's i hate you, i love you on a loop since forever, the lyrics "do you miss me like i miss you?" and "feeling used, but i'm missing you.." i miss you? the three words that formed a cacophony of memories with you in his mind,

"i hate u, i love u" wasn't even the only song he'd been listening to the last couple months - he had created a playlist with almost a thousand songs that reminded him of you - filled with songs that he remembered you said were your favorites, songs that just perfectly described you like "dress" by taylor swift or "close to you" by the carpenters.

it's been awhile since the mutual break up yet despite taehyung's positive assurance to his friends of his wellbeing.. would you really say someone who has barely moved in their apartment, been listening to a spotify playlist of breakup angsty songs, been crying themselves to sleep at the memory of the split where they had to feign "being fine" to subside the increasingly heartbreaking effect you had on him and appear cool.. yeah taehyung was very much: not fine.

ever since he'd just been scrolling your profile and losing his mind noticing you had deleted all your photos together, and seeing the new ones with your new guy friend.. "who the hell was he? and why was he so close to you? and god damn how beautiful you looked", taehyung thought. not realizing his fingers due to reflex double tapping the photos, the notification reaching your cell.

"@ thv liked your photos. 19s"

"@ thv liked your video. 12s"

taehyung only realized when he received a message from you, and he panicked apologizing repeatedly - unnecessarily providing reasons such as "i just was spamming my feed and your photos happen to be here" and yada yada yada, your nonchalant response of an "ok" leaving him flabbergasted. he let a beat pass before sending you a bold text saying "are you thinking about me?" the text made you scoff, but you weren't taken aback that much.. you always adored taehyung's daring character, adored it so much it began to irk you until it hurt you and you hurt him. the relationship ending was for the better, the break up was mutual - and so you left him on read.

taehyung sighs at this, and everyday is the same as today. with him stalking your page, watching you rise and thrive without him - he learns to love you like this, from a far.. until he accepts that it was over and that you were no longer his pretty woman.

#taekeofyourclothes #kim taehyung #taehyung imagine #thv #taehyung x reader #taehyung x y/n #bts taehyung #bts #bts x reader #bts taehyung x reader #taehyung fluff #taehyung x reader fluff #taehyung ff #v imagine #v x reader #bts v x reader #bts v imagine

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btsmosphere · 16 days

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His powers are as volatile and vibrant as the man behind them. The purple flames that frighten so many have always been a comfort for him. Even now, after being dragged from the darkest points in his life, while he may no longer need them to light the way, the fire is just so fascinating...

#taehyung aesthetic #taehyung au #taehyung moodboard #bts v au #bts v aesthetic #bts v moodboard #bts series #bts v imagine #taehyung imagine #kim taehyung imagine #supercharged #jungkook x reader #superhero bts #taehyung villain aesthetic #villain taehyung #bts v villain #bts mafia au

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ratherbefangirling · 2 years

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Drabble : Blind for you

Pairing: Yandere Taehyung x toxic darling reader

Summary: Who thought blind could turn into blissful

Warning: Yandere, mentioned lovemaking non explicit (they do makeout though i guess), mentioned cheating.

More in this universe 🖤

Taehyung isn't interested in any of the blind date candidates he has met so far. They are the same old boring women.

Until he meets you.

At first you don't seem to be worthy enough for his attention. Honestly he just wanted to try the latest menu of the restaurant and Jungkook refused to accompany him because he was on a diet, the traitor.

You are an anxious mess. Easily startled when he comes sits infront of you. Your hands tiny compared to his are fiddling but he pretends not to notice that.

"You must be Miss Y/n. I'm Taehyung. Nice to meet you."

You were perhaps not ready to meet him because for a while you just stare at his face he doesn't blame you its hard to come across a face like his, but then you realise yourself and offer him a polite smile.

"Same.. I feel the same." you say.

He nods.

The server comes to takes your order.

You are torn on what to decide.

"I would like the same as his." You tell the server trying your best not to seem to out of place hating you are out of your comfort zone.

Then you both talk light topics. Taehyung is bored, he can tell you're pretending. Like calls to like afterall.

"So Miss Y/n What are you looking for in a partner?" He asks really not interested.

"Someone who can protect me?" You say eyes earnest. Wouldn't it be lovely to kill the hope in you.

"As lovely as you are I'm not the one youre looking for I am not a good man."

"I didn't ask for a good man." You said taking a sip of your drink.

He raises an eyebrow. Amused by the turn of conversation, do you even know what you're talking about.

"I just want someone to love and protect me."

"Waiting for your prince charming cinderella." He laughs rolling his eyes internally.

"No I don't mind a villain. Rather I'm fond of them."

A misinformed kid, he thinks. Probably with a saviour complex.

But then he looks at you, really looks at you and there is something about you which makes him feel that there is something more.

"You are very interesting Miss Y/n. Has someone told you that."

"You just did."

Marriage with Taehyung was an experience to put it lightly. You were a couple everyone envied.

Taehyung did everything for you. He really was the perfect husband. You didn't have to lift a finger to get what you wanted and it would stay that way as long as you looked only and only at him and loved him above everyone.

Even though Taehyung had found a perfect doll he could use to decorate his doll house. There was still a part of him that remained unsatisfied.

He did adore you. Cute little thing you were so soft, so precious and his idealism of you really was something because there were so many things you would call yourself but you don't think even half of his 'endearments' aligned with you.

You were always there for him. If he needed a cuddle buddy because that work trip was terribly lonely you would accompany him even if you only got to see him for 15 minutes that day. If he needed someone he could show off his tie collection to, you would listen about designs and patterns to no end. He was especially glad when you got him a tie organiser and tie clips.

In return he made sure that you had everything you wanted and he would procure it by any means necessary. More importantly he was ready to end anybody who even dared to look at you in any way that was less than savory if you wanted. He made a show out of it too because killing them wasn't enough he had to ruin everything they loved first. It really was too perfect.

Around two years into your arrangement, your friend accused him of cheating. He had expected you to get angry, make a fuss, maybe even cry about it. You surprise him by doing none of those.

You simply asked your friend to leave and to never talk to you again.

That night you made love to one another as usual and were laying caged in his arms. When curiosity overcame him.

"You trust me that much." He whispered into your ears.

"No." You replied unfazed.

It almost excited his inner child when you were like this.

He had seen you laugh and cry, smile and sing, devasted and angry but when you were unfeeling, it was then he wanted to get inside you and destroy you.

"Then?" He said biting down on the hickeys he created.

"I know your brain is enraptured by mine. You couldn't touch someone else and not be reminded of me." You turn to face him.

"Besides I too keep tabs on you. You know it Taehyung." You add kissing his Adams apple.

Using your nails you trace your name on his skin.

"And you promised to protect me jagi that includes my honor which will be tarnished if you betrayed me...and if you do that I might just have to end you then."

Taehyung laughs entertained by your daring words. You smile back and pull his neck bringing his face closer to you so you can kiss him.

"And how will you end me." He asks lips swollen and hair crumpled.

"Do you have suggestions jagi.. really though please don't make me work so hard I did marry you to avoid the hard work?"

"You really are something else?" He says.

"Mm hmm." You say cuddling closer to the warm body of your husband.

"Just keep looking after me and I will look at you . We both won't have any problems then."

"Maybe I should just stop letting you meet your friends?" He says rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Mmh I will be bored then but should I just become you're secretary?"

"My mom would kill me if I made her precious daughter in law work."

"Just give me a baby then."

"That sounds better."

"It does. But right now I'm sleepy. So goodnight hubby."

"Goodnight wifey." He says kissing your forehead.

Who would have thought a boring blind date would turn into a lovely marriage.

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sunshinejunghoseokie · 2 years

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Footnote; kth.

—summary: Loving Taehyung has taught you that feelings are reckless.

—pairing: Childhood Friend!Kim Taehyung x Reader

—word count: 2.3K

—genre: Angst. Implied Smut.

—au: Childhood Friends AU. College AU. Accidental Hookup AU.

—rating: 18+ (Just to be safe, folks. Minors DNI.)

—warnings: Swearing. Mentions of alcohol /drinking. Heavy make-out, wandering hands. Implied intercourse. Reader and Tae are tipsy but everything is consensual. Morning after an accidental hookup and things get awkward. Taehyung definitely makes what happened seem like it’s nothing, when to the reader it is very much something. Taehyung is pretty unlikable in this fic - I AM SO SORRY. Unrequited/One-sided love. Pining. Rejection. Miscommunication. Heartbreak. Arguing/Confrontation. No happy ending for these two.

—a/n: this drabble is a part of the "superache summer" collab with the incredibly talented @pjmsdior and @joonlery inspired by the "superache" album by conan gray. This fic is based (albeit loosely) on the song footnote. A very, very special thank you to @playmetheclassics for beta reading this for me and giving it so much love. (I adore you, Indigo, baby. Mwah!) I am so excited to be writing and posting fics again after an unexpected hiatus. I hope you guys enjoy this story despite Taehyung being a complete and utter douche.

You often asked yourself why you fell for Taehyung. How was it possible to love someone as much as you loved him when they weren't yours? Why did it have to be someone who didn’t see you the way you saw them?

But, in those moments where you question your unrequited feelings for him, you’d replay all of the little moments the two of you had shared over the years.

In kindergarten, he was the kind boy with the boxy smile who shared his crayons with you during arts and crafts. He was the boy who never failed to split whatever treat his mom packed in his lunch - always giving you the bigger piece - because he knew how much of a sweet tooth you had.

He would fight off imaginary dragons as you waited at the top of the slide of your elementary school’s playground, ready for your knight to save you. After the beast was slain, he would bow at the bottom and giggle as you slid down to join him, taking your hand in his as he pulled you to your feet and whisked you away to the jungle gym where your imaginary subjects awaited your heroic return.

Playgrounds eventually became dingy basements that smelt like stale beer. Tag and make-believe became games of seven minutes in heaven and spin the bottle. You would hope that every time it was Taehyung’s turn it would land on you. When it didn’t and he kissed someone else, urged on by the cheers and chants of your friends, you pretended that it didn’t break your heart. He would tease you on the drive home, asking who you hoped the bottle landed on instead of Kim Seokjin, the senior you had only ever met in passing before the bottle stopped on him during your turn and you shared an awkward kiss that you’d rather forget.

He would look at you whenever something funny happened, eyes wide and bright. He would hang onto every word you said when you spoke. He was always there when your world felt like it was falling apart, ready to help you pick up the pieces and put them back together again.

You aren’t quite sure how it happened, still confused on how you found yourself here.

One minute you were giggling in the back of an uber after a night of drinking with your friends from high school that you hadn’t seen in years and the next Taehyung’s hands were gripping your waist as he kissed you.

Maybe it had been the liquor coursing through your veins.

Maybe it was the lazy smile that tugged at the corners of his lips or the knowing gleam in his eyes as he helped you into the elevator and pressed the button for your floor, arm wrapped around your shoulder to keep you steady as the metal doors closed.

Maybe it had been the way his fingers had wrapped around your wrist and taken your keys from your trembling hands to unlock your door for you after an embarrassing number of failed attempts to do so on your own.

It was almost instinctual, the way your hands fisted the front of his shirt and pulled him into your entryway after you, kicking the door shut with your foot as you went.

Maybe he felt it too, that insatiable hum that left your ears ringing and thoughts chanting his name in a persistent mantra. Maybe that’s why he let you drag him along without a fight, his hands tangling into your hair as he pressed you against the wall of your front entryway.

His lips met yours and you gasped, losing yourself in the kiss.

It was rough and desperate. A clash of teeth and tongues as his mouth pressed against yours.

His hands tightened on your waist, nails digging into the skin left exposed as your shirt hiked up with the arching of your back.

You thread your fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, giving a slight tug when his lips wander away from your mouth and ghost across the curve of your jaw.

The sensitive spot below your right ear. Where your neck and shoulder meet.

You can’t help but think he tastes like coffee liqueur and vodka when he kisses you again. You find yourself chasing after it as he abruptly pulls back, forehead coming to rest against yours as he takes in a deep breath.

Your fingers tangle in the ebony hair at the nape of his neck and give a light tug.

You had spent years longing for a moment like this. For a moment, no matter how fleeting you feared it might be, where Taehyung wanted you in the same way you had wanted him. As much as you wanted him.

“Fuck.”

It was a blur of wandering hands and breathless sighs. Clothes bunched in white-knuckled fists and sweet nothings whispered without a second thought as he led you through your dark apartment towards your bedroom.

It was easy to get lost in him. To get lost in the feeling of his touch as he made your body come alive and left you breathless in the wake of his hands and mouth, of his skin against yours. To get lost in the way the lines blurred between where your heartbeat ended, and his began.

The morning sun filters in through the gauzy curtains lining the only window in your bedroom, rousing you from sleep.

Your temples throb with an expected hangover thanks to the alcohol from the night before. You reluctantly peel open your heavy eyelids and stretch your legs underneath the comforter, hoping to ease some of the tension from your stiff muscles. You’re sore, but you can’t bring yourself to care. Not when Taehyung is lying next to you, still asleep.

His arm falls from your waist as you push back the covers and get up, doing your best to be quiet as you cross the room and slip into the adjoining bathroom for a shower.

When you reemerge, the steam from your shower trails behind you and into your bedroom, and the sight of Taehyung pulling on his jeans with furrowed brows catches your attention.

“Hey, good morning.” You use a towel to dry your hair, catching the drops of water beading at the ends before they can fall to the floor. When you’re satisfied, you toss it into a hamper beside the bathroom door.

“I didn’t wake you up, did I?”

When Taehyung doesn’t answer, you watch him as he gathers the rest of his discarded clothes around the room. His chest is still bare, smooth muscles flexing as he bends to pick up his shirt and hoodie from the end of your bed. His hair is a mess, the unruly curls sticking out at odd angles. A frown darkens his usually bright features.

“If you’re free tonight, want to go to Tony’s and get a pizza?”

“I, uh…I can’t. I already promised Eunji that I would get dinner with her tonight. Maybe we can meet later this week if we both have time?”

Your smile falls, schooling your face into a mask of indifference despite that sweat slickening your palms and turning your stomach upside down.

“Oh, uh…Eunji? I thought you guys broke up a few weeks ago.”

“We did. She texted me last night at the bar and asked if I had time to meet up and talk about things. About…” He sighs.

“Look, it’s complicated, okay? You know how she is. We do this. We fight and break up but she always comes back. We always make up after she’s had time to cool off. It’s just what we do.”

“Seriously, Tae? It’s just what you do?”

“About what happened last night.” Taehyung changes the subject, pulling on his hoodie before running a hand through his hair in an attempt to tame the tangled strands.

“It shouldn’t have happened. We’ve been best friends since we were in diapers and things like that…they just shouldn’t happen between us. It was a mistake.”

“A mistake?” You sit down on the side of your bed, pulling the sheets over your lap.

“Yeah. A mistake.” He moves about the room, gathering his discarded clothes.

“We should have been more careful. I get that we got caught up in whatever moment had been there, but we’re friends. I don’t see you like that.”

“See me like what?” You want to scream, humiliation staining your cheeks a deep crimson.

“Like anything other than a friend. I like you, Y/N. Just not like…that. I’ve known you pretty much my entire life. It’d be weird..”

“Wow.” You want to cry. To scream and throttle him.

“I’m good enough to hang out with. To fuck, even. Just nothing more, right? A hook-up with me is fine as long as I don’t expect anything to come out of it.”

“Y/N, you know that’s not what I meant. Don’t twist my words and make me out to be the bad guy here. We were drunk. We weren’t thinking clearly. If we were, it would have never happened.”

“God, you’re so good at that, aren’t you?” You scoff, hands fisting in the sheets resting in your lap.

“Does it make you feel good? To make someone feel like they’re important, like they mean something to you, just so you can bring their world crashing down around them when you’re done with them?”

“Y/N…”

“No.” You shake your head, anger rising up inside of you.

“No, Tae. You can’t just say my name and expect me to give in to you. I’ve loved you for so long and I am such a fool. I’m a fool because you knew and you let me believe that for a moment I had you. You’re right. What happened last night? It was a mistake. I regret it. I regret all of the years I have wasted on you. I regret falling in love with you and, right now, I regret ever meeting you.”

“You don’t mean that. I know you’re upset right now, but give it some time. Think about things and you’ll see I’m right. We work as friends. We’re good at being friends. Great at it. Why change something when it’s fine the way it is? It’s like that saying your dad always uses, “why fix something when it isn’t broken”, you know? I care about you and I don’t like you being upset. You know you mean the world to-”

“It hurts!” Your eyes fill to the brim with tears.

“I can’t stand it. I get it, okay? I get that you don’t feel the same but please. Don’t feed me all of these bullshit lines about how much you care about me and how much I mean to you.”

“I didn’t mean-”

“I think you should leave.” You cut him off before he can finish.

“What?”

“Go.” You look up, trying not to cry. “I just…I can’t be around you right now. So just…I think you should go.”

Taehyung is quiet for a moment, and you can feel his eyes on you, watching you as he seems to make a decision. He grabs his phone and keys and turns to leave, stopping a few steps short of your bedroom door to turn back and look at you again.

“You will be everything someone has ever wanted and more someday. They are going to love you with everything they have. That someone just isn't me. It never will be.”

“You really need to leave, Taehyung.” You point to the door, eyes falling on anything but him.

The cracked bathroom door. The clothes in your laundry basket, spilling over the edge and piled on the floor. Tickets from the concert your friends took you to for your birthday freshman year of college tucked into the corner of your vanity mirror. The picture of your graduation, Taehyung’s arm around you as you grinned at the camera. The tassel from your cap hanging from the corner of the wooden frame.

It’s bittersweet. Knowing this is how things would end but still clutching onto hope that you’re wrong. That maybe, just maybe, you hadn’t fallen for something that was always bound to end in heartbreak. You had ignored all of the red flags and warning signs and you only had yourself to blame. All of the times he ditched you for girls. The weeks he would all but ghost you because whoever he was dating saw you as a threat and he blindly gave in with no regard to your friendship. The times he expected more of you than he would ever give back. It all added up and led to the inevitable self-destruction of your own creation that you’re left to face now that reality has caught up with you.

He nods and gives you a final once over before leaving, shutting the door behind him.

Taehyung would never love you. Not in the way you loved him.

In his story, you would always be a footnote.

A mistake that he would one day chalk up to youth and living in the moment.

For you, he would always be so much more.

A what-if and what-could-have-been.

#btshoneyhive #btswritingcafe #bangtaninn #castlebangtan #btscarnivalnet #bts imagine #bts angst #bts smut #kim taehyung imagine #bts v imagine #kim taehyung x reader #bts v x reader #kim taehyung angst #kim taehyung smut #kim taehyung #bts fan fic #kim taehyung fan fic #bangtan #bts

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headintheclouds-posts · 1 year

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hellooo, i wanna pls request a softdom!kim taehyung x sub!reader smut, when yn sits on his lap while he is doing some work and he gets turned on, if it's okay for u. ty in advance, take your time!

Hi Sweetie, thank you so much for the ask. I hope this is ok and please send over any more stories you would like me to write ❤️

Smut

Your hand gripped around the warm coffee cup as you pressed the button for the 6th floor. You knew your boyfriend would need this coffee more than anything right now. Taehyung was currently working on a song for a new drama that was coming out and he had been spending a lot of time in the studio perfecting every little detail that he could. The lift pinged for the 6th floor and you stepped out into the hallway. A soft silky voice could be heard echoing down the hall as you follow the sound to the front of the studio.

‘Hey baby’ you said, walking into the studio, ‘hey’ an exasperated voice said back. He looked so tired, it hurt your heart to see. You slowly make your way to the front of him and slid onto his knees to face him. ‘I brought you this’ you smiled and handed him the coffee. ‘Thank you but that’s not what I need right now’ he responded by placing the coffee cup on the side. Before you could ask what he needed, he rolled his hips up into your heat. A small moan escaped your lips. ‘That’s it baby, that’s music to my ears’ he whispered before pressing into you again. You tilted your head back and let out another breathy moan. He always knew exactly what to do, exactly what to say and you would he like putty in his hands.

His hands snaked around to grab your ass as you both continued to grind into each other, he groaned at the friction between you both before effortlessly lifting you up and laying you on the couch. His hand met the back of your neck as he kissed you passionately whilst his other hand trailed down to your clothed core, delicately rubbing you through the fabric. You could feel how wet you were, how wet only he could make you. His swiftly removed your shorts and continued to rub you through your underwear before his hand trailed up to cup your breast. ‘It feels so good’ you whispered. A smirk grew across his face, ‘I’m going to make you feel more than good’ he responded. He slowly removed the rest of both of your clothes. ‘Please I need you right now’ you begged, pulling him closer to you. ‘Then take me’ he responded, slowly sliding into you. You gasped at the feeling of complete fullness as he slowly pumped himself into you. He grabbed on the side of your hips as he slowly pumped himself in and out of you, ‘that’s it baby, take all of me, you’re so good at taking all of me’. Jolts of pleasure soared through you like electricity whilst he lifted one of your legs over his shoulder to get a better angle. He continued to thrust into you as he fingers pressed into your hips. Throaty moans echoed throughout the studio as you both chased your needed highs. He pressed kisses all over your neck and breasts telling you how you were his and only his. The pleasure started to become overwhelming, your legs started to shake. ‘Yes baby, let’s come together’ he whispered in your ear. You both started to loose yourselves, bodies entangled together as you both came undone.

#kpop timestamps #kpop scenarios #kpop reactions #kpopidol #kpop #kpop fluff #kpop smut #kpop imagines #bts timestamps #bts imagines #bts smut #bts fanfic #bts reactions #taehyung #kim taehyung #bts taehyung #taehyung smut #bts v imagine

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yimejk · 2 years

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Mate

Pairing: Soft Yandere Wolf Taehyung & Lost Reader

Duration: Oneshot

Warnings: a little yanderish, overall fluff

Summary: Who knew that a little run in forest could bring you what your heart desires?

This is a pure fiction and I do not condone this behaviour. Credits to the owner of the giph .

Taehyung POV's:

I was running through a forest when I heard quite sobbing. It made my skin crawl, my insides churn in a anxiety. My wolf was restless and howling in pain. I didn't know what was wrong with me but I still speed up in the direction of the said sobbing. On a few minutes I was at my destination. The sight that unfolded before my eyes surprised me. There was a young lady who was crunched and massaging her swollen looking ankle. But what was more surprising and dare I say exciting was her mesmerising scent. It's addicting peachy smell was honestly really potent around this area. I assume she was here pretty long. I stared at her in my wolf form. I so badly wanted to console her. Hug her prettily small figure in a bone crushing hug. Lick ker fallen tears out of her gorgeous face. See it lighten up when I nuzzle her neck. Give her pecks from her rich emerald eyes that hold my future inside them. I would end up in her amazing neck. The neck that would carry my gift. My mark. It would look like a nice jewellery decorating a queen's neck. My queen. Then it struck me at a lightened speed. I found my MATE. What a joy brings me knowing this. I trembled in anticipation to already go to her and bury my head in her alluring scent. In all the haze I felt I whimpered and with a set of two brown, big, sad eyes I stalked to her crunched position. Her head snapped up and now was looking with a frightened gaze pinned at me. It made my heart squeeze in pain. I numbly went to sit next to her. O pressed my side to her's and nudged with my snout at her tear stained cheek. I licked her tears away and let out a happy huff. I snuggled against her breathtaking neck. I felt like at home. I relaxed more when I felt her soft hands comb in my fur. Unbeknownst to me it made me sigh in a joy and press into her a tad tighter. In that moment I made up my mind:

'She is coming with me.'

So guys this is a little something before I start writing Yoongi's series. Hope you like this one and to be hones I had fun writing something softer.

#bts #bts fic #bts imagine #bts v #bts kim taehyung #bts kim taetae #bts v imagine #bts kim taehyung fic #wolf v #wolf Taehyung #wolf content #yandere content #yandere v #yandere taehyung #bts fluff #fluff

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werewolfbansheelove · 1 year

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HAPPY V DAY

Happy Birthday to our Winter Bear

Kim Taehyung (December 30 1995)

#bts imagines #bts x reader #bts fic #bts v #kim taehyung #bts taehyung #bts x you #bts v imagine

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staytinyville · 7 months

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Stay Alive Masterlist

" Came like a Miracle, Look like a miracle, Just like Miracle, Those few words...."

Synopsis: When you started working at a pharmaceutical company, you didn’t realize where it was your life was heading. After getting a patient mix up, you meet seven men who would didn’t seem to want any other nurse that wasn’t you. When you start to know them, you notice things that made you question if they were really human. No matter what excuse they would give though, you would always go home with a heavy heart. The day the truth is revealed to you, things take a turn for the worst.

Pairings: BTS poly!ot7 x Reader

Genre: Mystical Creatures AU, Fluff, Romance, Angst, Fantasy

Warnings: Smut in future chapters, toxic work environment, abuse

Taglist: I have decided to write smut chapters. However it’s just one per member. Maybe some things here and there. With that being said. I will not have a taglist on those chapters for fear of having minors tagged. My books are mostly for a general audience because smut isn’t my main writing. However with the very small number of chapters I will probably do, it’s best to not tag anyone. I understand some of you have ages but I don’t want to struggle with picking out each adult blog. Thank you for understanding.

A/N

(1) -- (2) -- (3) -- (4) -- (5)

(6) -- (7) -- (8) -- (9) -- (10)

(11) -- (12) -- (13) -- (14) -- (15)

(16) -- (17) -- (18) -- (19) -- (20)

(21) -- (22) -- (23) -- (24) -- (25)

(26) -- (27) -- (28) -- (29) -- (30)

(31) -- (32) -- (33) -- (34) -- (35)

(36) -- (37) -- (38) -- (39) -- (40)

(41) -- (42) -- (43) -- (44) -- (45)

(46) -- (47) -- (48) -- (49) -- (50)

" Those few words that saved me I'll be by your side after many nights..."

Taglist is officially closed!

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sona-verse01 · 1 year

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❃ BTS ❃

🚪DATING DOORS GAME🚪

Topic: Who will take you for Shopping??

My bias: RM

Pics: Korean Earrings

Request: 👻 Anon

Check out my masterlist for more.

Disclaimer:

Images are downloaded from internet, only mood board is made by me.

Don't take it seriously. For entertainment purpose only.

Don't copy/steal my work.

Picture:

❃.✮:▹

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

*＊✿❀

☆♬○♩●♪✧♩　　

✧༺♥༻✧

♩✧♪●♩○♬☆

❀✿＊*

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇　

◃:✮.❃

Members:

Tell me who is your bias, and which member you got, in the 'Reply' section of this post.

Like and Reblog if you like this game.

Follow for more.

Request OPEN.

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kimbappykidding · 5 months

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Other Parts: Part One, Part Three and Part Four.

You didn't think much about V after that. You felt like your show with Kai won you some even footing so you stopped stressing about him and the airport was becoming a distant memory but V seemed to know how to stay in someone's head.

A few days before Christmas there was a knock on your door. You were expecting a delivery which it was...you just didn't bank on knowing the delivery man.

V was standing there with a present and for a second you thought you'd gone back in time. "Hi" he said "I've got a present for you from my mum. She's still not over you saving me and demanded I give this to you personally". "Oh that's so nice of her" you said and went to take it off him but he pulled back "it's kind of heavy". You nodded "okay well why don't you set it down inside?" you asked and V followed you in.

He set it down by your tree per your instructions and then straightened up, he was clearly in no rush to leave. "So got any nice Christmas plans?" V asked and you nodded "yeah I do" but didn't elaborate "you?". "I'm heading back home right now" V admitted and you nodded "say hi and thank you to your mum for me". He nodded and then completely threw you off guard "I will but I have to ask...Y/n are you really with Kai?". You paused and then tensed realising something "is that why you insisted on coming inside? You wanted to see if he was here?". V looked down and you knew you were right.

"Answer the question" V said and you shook your head "I don't think I will, I don't owe you anything". "I don't think you are together" he said "it seems too convenient plus I know he's not your type". "Because you know everything about me?" you asked and V shrugged "I know what guys you're attracted to and how you look when you're turned on. Neither of them matched you with Kai". "It's been nearly 4 years V, you're going to pretend you still know me?". "A person doesn't transform in 4 years Y/n and I saw that look in your eye when you saw me naked in my bedroom. You still want me" he said with a slight smile and you were caught between being furious and pleasantly flustered.

"I'm going to repeat what I said earlier" you said "I don't owe you anything and frankly I don't get why you're saying all this". "I'm curious" V said "you've not dated anyone since us and I wanted to know if you and Kai were". "That you know of" you said and V paused "what?". "I haven't dated anyone that you know of" you said pointedly. "Yeah I suppose but I can tell you've had nobody like me Y/n" V said with a smirk and you realised he was enjoying this. You looked down, growing annoyed "why are you here V? Are you trying to punish me or something? Get back at me for dancing with Kai? Because I thought you were better than that". "No I'm not" V said and you believed him because you knew what he looked like when he was lying. The only perk of being lied to so many times by the same person. "Then why are you here?" you asked and he paused "I don't know I just had to find out if you'd really moved on". The sad way V said it made you furious.

"Are you kidding me?" you asked "you moved on weeks after we broke up and you came to my house, poked around and upset me because the idea of me moving on years later was uncomfortable for you? You want proof I'm still into you to make you feel better? Get the fuck out V". V's eyes widened as he saw how genuinely pissed you were and he tried to apologise but you weren't having it. "Get out!" you yelled "now!". V nodded "I'm sorry Y/n" and hurried from your house. Once he'd gone you sat down with a sigh wondering what on Earth had just happened.

Hours later you opened the present from V's mum and were annoyed because V had obviously helped her with it and your statement about changing over those years was clearly wrong because everything V had put in the basket for you was stuff you still loved to this day. Your favourite candy, scented bath soap you loved, cosy socks, the wine you liked, a cute bee plushie because you loved them. It was as if V had gone out of his way to prove he still knew you and you hated that.

You explained all this to the girls and they were very sympathetic. You spent Christmas with them as you did every year. Unlike V, you didn't have a loving mother and father to go home to. You didn't get on with your family. They wanted you to have an academic career and didn't support your idol life. That was why you never introduced V to them. Even your members had only met them twice. They hated you being a singer if they knew you were dating one your fragile relationship with them would've crumpled. In retrospect, you didn't get why you cared so much. Your girls were your family so losing your parents wouldn't have been the worst thing...it was an unnecessary wedge between you and V but it was far from the thing that caused all your problems.

You also told Kai what had happened with V and he was furious. "Okay we need to go further how about I post a photo of you asleep in my bed on my Instagram story or you post a photo of me like basically naked?" Kai said starting to undress before you stopped him. "Kai whatever we do V still isn't going to change his mind so let's just leave him. Ignoring him so he doesn't think he got to us will be the best thing". Kai sighed but nodded "yeah you're right. Plus we don't want to go into the new year with jealous vibes". You nodded "totally".

V meanwhile was having a very different winter holiday. He spent Christmas day with his parents but then left and spent the rest partying and the usual burying himself in girls and drink. Then unexpectedly he spent New Year's Eve in a doctor's office because the girl he was casually seeing, the one who had been dating Kai, thought she might be pregnant.

V's relationship with Binna had been strange from the start. He'd always found her pretty but she was from a rich popular company so had never even glanced at him at the start of his career. Then when he became famous she became a lot more friendly but she was with Kai and V was with you. Then you broke up with V and she started getting more forward. V knew some of their actions definitely counted as cheating without officially crossing the line but he didn't care. He figured it was Binna's choice and he didn't know Kai that well anyway. Finally Kai broke up with her and they had an amazing night together which lasted the whole night. After that they hooked up sporadically but were never more because V didn't want to be. He liked Binna physically but when the lights were on they had nothing to talk about and were so different. He knew she'd be the perfect public girlfriend for him but even he could see how she wanted his fame and he was determined not to give it to her. He should've just broken up with her but she was good in bed so he kept seeing her, ignoring her pointed questions and attempts to make others see them...but Binna might get her way after all.

V hoped she wasn't. He knew if she was, she'd want to keep it and she'd want them to raise it. V would be a father and he didn't want that, so he sat there probably more tense than she was. Just before midnight, the doctor called them in and then V did have something to celebrate because she wasn't pregnant. He tried not to look too happy but the second Binna left he cheered and jumped in the air. He went straight to the nearest bar but instead of continuing to feel great, he felt shit. He almost ruined his life. He got lucky but with his lifestyle, this could easily happen again. That depressing thought didn't stop him from drinking the night away though.

V walked into the BTS house the next day around midday but they could all tell he'd been in those clothes a while and he looked worse for wear. "What happened to you?" Jin asked and V groaned "I had a tough night but got some good news and had to celebrate". "Good news?" Jhope asked smiling and V nodded "Binna thought she was pregnant but she's not thank god". That sucked the tone from the room so V continued hurriedly. "But it was odd because I suddenly didn't feel like celebrating after a bit and then I woke up this morning face down on Y/n's lawn". "Y/n's?" Jimin asked and V nodded. "What did she say?" Suga asked but V explained you thankfully weren't there. "I don't even remember going there and I don't get why I would. I guess maybe I was feeling nostalgic or something". "That makes sense" Jhope agreed "your life almost changed irreversibly so it scared you and made you miss Y/n". "Miss her?" V asked and Jin nodded "yeah, you had a scary experience so your mind went back to a time before Binna when you felt safe and that was Y/n". Plus you saw her just before that right?" Jungkook asked "so she was on your mind. Maybe drunk you just wanted to clear things up with her?". V nodded "I have been wanting to speak to her after our argument and I'm glad I'm not a father. It's scary to think if things had been different I would've been engaged right now". "Well you wouldn't have had to get married" Jimin argued but V shot him a look "have you met Binna?" making the boys laugh. "Anyway I'm done with her, it was way too close a call" V said and all the boys were surprised. "What about Y/n?" RM asked and V shrugged "I want to talk to her but she doesn't want to talk to me so what can I do?". "Give her time" Jin suggested "then she might be less angry at you and willing to talk". V shrugged "I guess that's all I can do".

V thought a good thing to do might be to not get any bad rumours about him for a bit. That way when he did try and speak to you, you wouldn't brush him off as a party boy and might've noticed the changes in him. Then he saw you do the Rover challenge with Kai and he had a wobble. The two of you looked good together and didn't try and hide your relationship...whatever it was. He felt jealous and wondered why he still felt this way after you'd been broken up for so long. He decided to broach the topic with the boys.

"Did you see Kai's rover challenge?" V asked and Jimin nodded "yeah, which one or do you mean in general". V paused and Jimin smiled slightly "the one with Y/n?" and V nodded "they looked good right?". All the boys agreed you looked very good doing the dance and suited each other well. "Did you guys hear about Y/n and Kai's dance at his party?" V asked. "Yeah it was supposed to be impressive" Jhope nodded and V sighed "is it weird seeing them together bothered me?" he asked. The guys all paused and RM frowned "bothered you how?". "As in, it made me a little annoyed to see Kai with her. I know they're not dating but it still pissed me off". "Why?" Suga asked "you've been broken up for ages now". "I know I think it's just because she's never been with anyone since we ended and so it was the first time seeing her with another guy" V said and the guys all looked at one another awkwardly. "What?" V asked noticing and Jungkook coughed "she's been with guys V". "What?" he cried "who? When?". You'd alluded to that when he dropped your Christmas present off but he hadn't given it any thought, or taken you seriously.

"Erm there's been a few hookups I think, you really didn't know?" Jungkook asked and V shook his head "no, now answer me". "Hey calm down, I don't know for sure" Jungkook said. Jimin could see V wasn't going to stop and sighed "the ones I've heard are Jeonghan and Taeyong". "For how long?". "Just hooks ups and they weren't too long ago" Jimin said predicting his next question. "Who else?" Jungkook asked and the guys came forward with some more names. "How didn't I know or hear about it?" V asked. "Because Y/n wasn't showy like you" RM admitted "she knows how to keep it quiet" and V felt as if he'd been slapped. "V why do you care?" Suga asked again "you've slept with way more girls. So what if Y/n's had some fun too. She's nothing to do with you". That stung more but V didn't let it show. He nodded to Suga thanking him and pretended everything was fine.

V couldn't stop thinking about how you'd moved on. His first thought was it hurt because you'd always been his safety net. He figured he'd have a shot with you and that eventually he'd end up back with you but now he realised that was not the case. You weren't waiting around for him, you'd ended things with him and clearly stuck by that decision. Then he thought it might just be competitiveness. Exs usually raced to find a new partner before the other and V supposed it could be that but that didn't feel right either. It was more, he thought you showing up at his house to help get him to the airport was proof you still cared for him and he liked that. Nowadays he was never sure if people really liked him or his money and fame. He hardly had any friends from before he got really famous and the idea you still cared for him and there might be something there was comforting and exciting! That's why V had flirted with you and he couldn't lie, he was still attracted to you. He thought he might've had a shot with you if you were still harbouring feelings for him but you weren't. You'd been with other guys too and maybe that really was just a favour for his mum? He didn't like the thought of you not caring about him anymore and he realised he'd never stopped wanting you or wanting you to want him. He definitely felt like things were unfinished between the two of you but V was a brave guy. So he figured at the next opportunity he'd try and get back into your life one way or another.

By chance, your group and BTS hadn't been at the same event in ages. You got lucky and anytime they promoted a song you weren't there and vice versa. Plus BTS were so busy you hardly saw them on the circuits nowadays but the stars all aligned because there was a big spring showcase and your groups and many more were in attendance.

V thought this would be a great time to ask if the two of you could be friends again. He thought that would be a good way of getting back into your life without being too full on. From there he planned to regain your trust and see if you still had any feelings for him. So he texted you asking if you'd be available for a quick 5-minute chat in his dressing room. He assured you it was nothing bad and that he just wanted to put things right after how he acted at Christmas. He assured you the staff and members would all be gone and it could just be the two of you having a civil chat.

V's text caught you by surprise and you debated it a lot. You were curious and so decided to go see what was going on. "I'm just going to see what he wants" you told Yuqi "I'm not going to get involved in anything and if it's the same crap as at Christmas, I'm going to tell him to leave me alone". "Good for you" the girls called as you left the dressing room. Part of you was excited, V's text had made you realise you'd been on his mind and you were pleased we wanted to smooth over what happened at Christmas. It showed he cared for you and despite everything it made you feel good to have V care for you. So feeling positive, you didn't knock on the dressing room door figuring it'd be empty apart from V and that's how you saw everything.

Minutes before you were due to arrive there was a knock on the door and V assumed it was you so hurried to open it but it wasn't you. "Hey babe" Binna smiled "why have you been ignoring me?". "Binna" V said slightly panicked because you'd be here any moment "I...I thought I explained everything". "You sent a text V saying we needed to stop seeing each other, is that all I deserve?" Binna asked. "No sorry I should've spoken to you in person. I just thought your pregnancy scare was a real eye-opener. I don't want to be a parent and I don't want to risk that again". "Is that all this is about?" Binna asked "V there are so many things we can do that don't lead to a pregnancy, why don't I show you?" and she started heading towards him.

"Binna no I'm seeing someone in a minute so I can't". "Y/n?" Binna asked "I just saw her going the other way with her girls. She's not coming V, she's not interested". "No she wouldn't do that" V said but he was cut off as Binna backed him up against a sofa and he fell onto it. "She did and I'm sorry" she said leaning over him and gently stroking his face "but I can make you feel better". It had been a while since V had slept with anyone so the things she started to do felt good and V's body reacted without his volition. He tried to get her to stop but it felt so good, so he let her keep going and that's what you saw when you walked in.

V just so happened to be facing the door and he saw you walk in and knew he was in trouble. Your expression changed in seconds and he knew he'd lost you. "Shit!" he cried pushing Binna away but it was too late. "Y/n wait" he said but you just turned on your heels and stormed away. "Leave her, she doesn't want you" Binna said but V pushed past her and ran after you.

He caught you quickly and called your name. "Y/n please wait! It wasn't what it looked like"." It wasn't?" You asked "because I think it was pretty clear what was happening!". "I know I just meant...". "Is that why you brought me there?" you asked "some cruel joke? You wanted me to see her and you together as a way of one-upping me?". "No I'd never want that! I wanted you" he said and you froze "what?".

"I miss you Y/n and want you in my life again" V said and that made you laugh "V two seconds ago Binna's mouth was..." and he nodded not wanting you to finish "I know I know but she'd literally just started. I didn't want it to happen it just kind of did. I've told her it's over that's why she came and found me and did that". "Come on V I know you and this sort of stuff isn't out of character for the new you. Why would I believe anything from you?" you asked and V sighed "because it's the truth!" he said loudly "Y/n I just want you in my life again it doesn't have to be romantic but I want to be friends again or see you in some form" V said "please Y/n can we go somewhere and talk?". He tried to grab your hand but you pulled away "no V!" you cried and you'd both been making so much noise your members came out of the dressing room to make sure you were okay.

You took a breath and sighed. "V why are you saying this? Why now?" you asked quieter "it doesn't make any sense you wanting to be friends all of a sudden". "Because I've missed you" V said matching your quieter tone "you helping me get to the airport reminded me I'm a better person around you. When we were together you made me a good person and I need that so badly. I need to be the best version of myself and you bring that out in me. Nobody else, you! I need you to save me again Y/n" V said. "Y/n are you okay?" Seoyon called and you nodded at her before turning back to V. "V it was never my job to make you a better person or save you. I'm glad I had a positive impact on you but it's not fair to put such a big role on me. I never wanted to be your manager or minder I just wanted you to love and care for me". "I do!" V said and then you both froze "did...do, Y/n I..." but you stopped him. "V don't, we don't need to rehash this. It's not the time nor place". "So can we speak about this later?" V asked and you shook your head "I don't know V, I don't think so" and started to walk away.

V went to follow you but Yuqi and Soojin were right in front of him. "I think she wants to be alone" Soojin said and V nodded "I know but I have to make her listen, I have to make her see..." he started but Yuqi shook her head. "Y/n doesn't have to do anything now respect her wishes and go". V sighed but knew he'd have to fight your members to reach you and not only did that not look good but he wasn't sure he could take Yuqi. So with a sigh he turned around and left. "And zip up your jeans!" Yuqi called after him and he realised his fly had been down the entire time.

The next day a video of your argument with V was posted on the internet.

It made sense someone had seen you. You'd argued in the middle of a busy studio and there was bound to be some staff around who wanted some extra cash. Thankfully the audio of the video was muffled but you could clearly see you and V in the video, arguing passionately and it wasn't hard to fill in the blanks. Everyone pieced together that you and V had dated and were in a breakup, they just didn't know it had been 5 years ago.

Your company was furious with you for having a public argument with one of the most famous idols in the world and put you on a temporary hiatus as punishment. Soyeon was furious and fought with them but they said you had to learn you couldn't be so frivolous and emotional. You doubted V was punished and his fans definitely thought you were to blame. You didn't post on Instagram a lot but your Christmas post from the previous year was suddenly spammed with lots of toxic fans hurling abuse at you. For dating V, for breaking up with V, for arguing with V...basically just for knowing V they hated you. You disabled your comments and then when the private messages wouldn't stop also deleted your social media. So you backed away from the outside world all because of V. You should've hated him but honestly, you were just still in shock at what he'd said. If you were angry at anyone it was yourself by how his words still affected you. You thought you'd have known better after 5 years.

V's members were all stunned by what had happened and quizzed him on it a lot after the event. "Did you know you were going to confess that to her?" Jin asked and V shook his head "no". "Did you mean it?" RM asked and V looked down and nodded. The guys all went quiet. "I didn't know you wanted help" Jimin said "why didn't you come to us?". V shrugged again "last time she was the only thing that helped me hold on. Even the other month it was her who got me to the airport when you all couldn't. I guess I panicked thinking more about how I needed Y/n without considering if she needed me or if I deserved her". "Don't say that" Jhope said "you're a good person you deserve a good girl". "But not Y/n" V said, noticing how his hyung had left your name out of it. Jhope looked down and Suga spoke up "I don't think you're undeserving of her, you just handled everything terribly. Her walking in on you and another girl and you blind-sighting her with your confession...there's just ways you ask your ex to repair things and it wasn't the way you did it". V nodded "have I ruined everything?". "We don't know" Jungkook said gently "but time helps all things, so just wait and see. Maybe text her apologising?". V nodded "if she hasn't blocked my number".

You got Vs text after it was announced you'd been put on hiatus. "Y/n I'm so sorry, I never meant for this to happen and it's all my fault. I'm trying to get my company to make a statement so the fans will leave you alone. If I can do anything to help please tell me or Jimin if you don't want to speak to me. I won't bother you again but I meant what I said and I will work to make myself a better person for you if you want that". You read V's text and didn't bother replying. What could you say other than "yes this is all your fault?". That was just spiteful so you left it. You had to wait 3 months but finally, your company let you rejoin the group and you just ignored the boos and glares you got from toxic BTS fans. In your opinion, it was your fault for hearing V out in the first place.

V was so happy when you returned. He'd been phoning your CEO daily until he'd finally been able to get a meeting with him and had demanded your reinstatement. Your CEO was lovely to V and agreed in a heartbeat which made V sick. This was why he'd wanted you, because you were the only person besides his members who he could trust but that didn't mean he deserved you and he's just recently come to terms with that...and he'd decided he could change that.

V was going to become the man you deserved. Of that, he was certain because he realised now he did still love you and hadn't loved a girl since you. He needed you, not just to save him but because he was sure you were his future. He might've let you slip away once but now he was going to fight for you. As far as he was concerned, nothing would stop him.

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kimtaegis · 7 months

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just having a good time

#btsgif #dailybts #userbangtan #bts #bangtan #taehung #taehyung layover #V's 20 second live @ Gangneung #usermaggie #usersky #usersan #userkelli #trackofthesoul #*th #*gifs #imagine sitting in front of him while he's doing that. tears

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btsmosphere · 2 years

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Still Waters Run Deep | KTH

~summary: down at the riverbank is a boy whose eyes hold each swell of the waves, whose hair ruffles like the reeds. but the peaceful magic of the river may become your only sanctuary when wilder forces come into play ~pairing: taehyung x f!reader ~word count: 13.6k ~fluff, angst, childhood friends to lovers, fantasy au, historical au, spirited away inspired ~rating: pg13 ~warnings: fantasy violence, kids being mean, flooding, storms, mention of arranged marriage, war, potentially implied drowning, I gush about tae’s hair too much

~a/n: omG I’m finally back!! much like the last time I participated in @toikiii’s wonderful ghibli collab, I have ended up with something wayyy out of hand compared with what I expected haha - I srsly thought this one would not be as long! but somehow... here we are. it mainly consists of lots of scenes and some giant time skips, so bear with me! I haven’t done such a chunk of writing in so long and it’s honestly wild, I’m pleased with it but I have no idea on the quality hahaha. please let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy this <3

Small feet slipped clumsily down the muddy bank, your shrieks and giggles accompanying each bump on your way down.

Reaching the bottom, you pushed through the tall reeds that grew beside the river. Water seeped into your shoes and the hem of your skirt, not that you paid it any mind. Maybe your parents wouldn’t be too impressed when your returned home, but you were too impatient to try the small contraption clutched in your hands.

Father probably meant for you to cross the bridge and walk down to the flattest river bank. Instead, you had rushed down on this side of the bridge, simply wanting to reach the water as soon as you could.

Padding over to the bridge, you grasped onto the stone with one chubby hand. Last night had been the first rain in a while, leaving the ground soggy, but it meant the river was low in its banks.

Carefully crouching down, you took another look at the little boat in your hand. Smile making its way onto your face, you finally plopped it into the calm water, watching it bob up and down.

It was nothing more than a bundle of sticks your father had fashioned together with a flag on top, but to you it lit your heart with excitement. Going to the river was your favourite treat, and going to play was even better.

A wave, slightly bigger than the other ripples on the water, caught the small boat then. With a small gasp, you grabbed it before it could get out of reach, still clinging to the pillar of the bridge with one hand.

The sticks dripped water onto the front of your jeogori, but you didn’t notice, already busy placing the boat back upstream.

Letting it go, you decided to try a new game, running a short way along the bank and giggling all the way. Near the bridge was a willow tree, its tendrils drooping over into the water, and you waited at its base for the small boat to float your way.

Bouncing up and down on the river bank, you watched its gentle progress. When it drew closer, you clutched one of the willow branches in your fist and crouched again, holding a hand out to scoop your prized toy from the water.

You repeated your little game a few times, each time snatching the boat and rushing back to the bridge to do it all again.

Having just placed it in the water again, you skipped back to the spot by the willow tree. The wind had picked up, pulling teasingly at your hair and eliciting more giggles. It wasn’t until you crouched to capture the toy again that you saw it, too, being jostled by the wind, tugged away from the shore.

Holding tight to the willow branch, you stretched towards it, but your arm was too short to reach. Filled with urgency, you swiped to grab it, but it sailed past your fingertips, leaving them to grasp at nothing but water.

Crying out, you tried to grab it again, but it was hopeless. With your lunge, your feet slipped on the mud and you fell on your front, air expelled from your lungs and hands falling helplessly by the riverside.

Looking up, you watched your little boat bob happily out of sight among the willow leaves.

Lip wobbling, you pushed yourself up, still winded from the fall. Small gasps escaped your lips as you sat up, and as soon as you had regained enough air, you burst into tears.

Salty droplets began trailing down your face, eyes screwed up as you bawled to the empty river.

Your cries eventually died down into hiccups, and you looked glumly across the water through waterlogged vision. Between your sniffles, the willow branches swayed. You were too distraught to notice that the wind was no longer blowing.

It wasn’t until a small boy pushed between the leafy canopy that you tore your eyes from the place you had lost your boat.

Sniffing determinedly, you clumsily wiped a hand over your face. You didn’t want him to know you had been crying.

As you blinked away the tears, you could see the boy better. His dark hair was wavy, long enough to reach his big eyes. They were fixed on you.

Looking back at him, you frowned. Why was he looking at you?

You were about to tell him rudely to go away, even though you knew mother would never want you to do that, when he stepped closer again.

His hanbok was simple in shape like yours, dyed a pleasant blue colour. But you had never seen any of the other children’s robes glitter like that in the light when he moved. Nor did you recognise the pendant which hung around his neck, a small blue swirl.

Surely he couldn’t be the child of a yangban though – he walked with bare feet.

You sprung from the ground, startling him to a stop in turn.

“What’s your name?” you asked.

Those big dark eyes blinked. He stared for a bit longer.

“Taehyung.”

He spoke softly, but his answer was direct.

“I found your boat,” he said.

Your hostility towards the boy flew away at once. Instead, your heart filled with elation.

You hadn’t noticed him holding the boat earlier, but you didn’t care because now it was right there in his hand. Holding it out, his offering bridged the space between you.

Smile taking hold of your face, you bounced forwards eagerly to grab it. The sticks were dry again, the little flag still standing proud. It was like new!

You had already turned to hurry back to the water’s edge when you hesitated. Turning around, you found the little boy still watching you from the same spot. Looking towards the boat and back up again, you shifted your feet.

“Thank you,” you said dutifully, like you parents said you should. “Do you want to play?”

Needless to say, your parents were quite shocked when you bounced through the door later that day, clothes damp and smeared in mud – even more so than normal. Sighing fondly, your mother ushered you away to attempt to wrangle you into clean clothes.

Wriggling from her grasp every time, you seemed more occupied with showing off your boat and the story of the friend you had made at the river.

“He came from the willow tree!” you garbled excitedly, “and we played and played! He could make the boat go really fast!”

“Did he really?” your father smiled, taking the boat carefully from your hands. He made a show of observing it while your mother finally had the chance to begin unfastening your ruined hanbok.

“The willow tree?” she asked, capturing your attention.

You eagerly nodded, but she merely laughed.

“Darling, that’s the edge of town, he can’t have come from there,” she explained, pulling your arm from one sleeve.

“But he did!” you insisted.

“The willow tree?” your father then echoed, “why were you on that side of the river, hmm?”

Eyes growing wide, you hurriedly shut your mouth. Not a very good denial of guilt, but it worked all the same as your father simply ruffled your hair and told you to obey your mother.

Successfully more subdued, you stood still and allowed your mother to bundle your dirty clothes up and send you on your way.

“Did you meet your friend again?”

Your mother was still fixing the chima you had ripped last week. When she looked around to see you come in, once again with grass stains littering the hem of your clothes, that was the first question she asked.

Since you had first met Taehyung, this had become a sort of tradition. When you were down by the river alone, he would often find you and play together just as you had done that first time, a few years ago now.

The fun you always had together was usually missed by your parents, though. Instead, it only caused them frustration at the ruined clothes and damp shoes. They had taken to sending you out in your wet weather shoes anytime you went to the river.

Coming to stand in front of her, you chewed your lip. She never seemed to believe you, aways merely amused at the stories you came back with.

“We watched the merchants coming down the river,” you told her, defensive, “and we ran along, trying to keep up with their boat.”

Your mother hummed, placing down her sewing and taking in the state of you. It could have been worse, at least.

“Go and get changed, please, darling.”

Water gently lapped against your toes. It was a good thing you had carefully removed your shoes to stand at the bottom of the bank. Your hands smoothed over the pale pink fabric that adorned your hanbok. You were definitely not allowed to get these clothes dirty.

For once, you didn’t want to either.

It was your birthday.

Your nicer things had been brought to you, and you wanted to make the most of wearing them. Eventually you had managed to make your mother relent on taking them off your before you could run outside with them.

On your trip to the river, several people had greeted you and the wise lady on the corner had said a blessing that you didn’t really understand, but bowed to her anyway.

What you hoped most of all is that Taehyung would come.

Fingers fumbling with the pendant your father had crafted for you today, you eyed all along the river.

Even though it was your birthday, your father still had to work and your mother chores to do. So you would have a little time out here. If only you could say you waited patiently.

You shifted several times, grabbing your shoes and taking them to sit on the river. Then you decided to forage for stones, taking pretty ones until they spilled from your palms, when you would make a little tower that invariably collapsed back into the shallow water.

The preservation of your nicest clothes had left your mind, instead preoccupied with impatience. Tired of waiting, you flopped back onto the grass with a pout.

A few children bigger than you were laughing down by the willow tree. Other than that, it was quiet. It was the middle of the day, all the fishermen had left already and it was overcast with clouds, so no one would be coming to wash their clothes or enjoy the river.

It was unfair that you should have to frown on your birthday. But here you were, trying not to let your frustrated tears burst from your eyes.

Before they could begin, they were startled from your eyes.

A gasp left your lips, and you sat up straight, eyes fixed above.

Something disturbed the expansive cloudy sky. Among the sheet of whiteish grey, a creature dipped down, parting the billowing sea.

With wide eyes, you watched a long silvery body swirling through the air. It was far away, and moved very fast, but you caught sight of a dark, flowing fringe along its back.

Without thinking, you pushed yourself to your feet and started racing along in an attempt to follow the creature. You had just reached the other side of the bridge when the dragon tilted its head, and even in the vast distance between you on the grass and it, so high in the sky, you felt its piercing gaze.

The wind rumbled and the dragon twisted, its body snaking back into the canopy of clouds.

You were left standing on the bank, blinking in disbelief. Already you questioned what you had saw. If you told your parents, they would undoubtedly laugh at the imagination of their child. There was only one person who might believe you, and you wanted to see him now even more than before. If only he had seen it too!

Returning bashedly to the stony bank, you stopped your fidgeting. You replayed the vision of the flying snake over in your mind.

“Happy birthday.”

How had the time passed? While you sat thinking, you never noticed Taehyung approaching, never saw him come over the bridge, nor emerge from the willow tree where the other children were now paddling in the river.

Jumping up, you wasted no time bouncing over to him.

“Taehyung! You’ll never guess what! I saw a dragon!”

His eyebrows rapidly climbed his face.

“Where?”

“In the sky, of course.”

He turned to look at the sky, a funny smile on his face. Frowning, you put your hands on your hips.

“Well it isn’t there any more. It went away.”

“Dragons don’t have to be in the sky, you know,” Taehyung said, eyes glittering.

You blinked at him.

“Where else would they be?”

Slowly spinning around, Taehyung’s eyes searched the place before his face lit up.

“There’s a big dragon that lives in the river!” he exclaimed, bouncing forwards, “and it’s really strong, and it makes the waves go!”

Hurrying after him, you hesitated as he splashed into the shallows.

“Then shouldn’t we be careful?” you worried, “it might not like us. It might eat you!”

Taehyung laughed so hard he flopped onto the bank, tummy shaking with his happiness.

“Don’t be silly! It likes people – it lets them have the bridge here. And it knows it’s your birthday!”

By now you were grinning, familiar matching joy on both your and Taehyung’s faces. Before long, you were always having fun with Tae, and you eagerly joined in his game.

“It will come to visit me, and it will jump out of the water and splash everywhere!”

As you rambled, you bent down to the water and scooped some up, flinging it into the air with your arms spread. Some droplets sprayed back onto you, but most landed on Taehyung who was soon leaping to retaliate.

The sounds of your laughter rounded out your birthday that year. He would always come.

Expansive blue skies stretched above you today. The sun reached down, caressing the roads and rooftops of your village unhindered by clouds.

Leaving your house, you skipped happily to the end of your road. Turning the corner, you headed downhill. A cart kicked up dust from the baked ground on its way past.

Passing the next street, you waved at the kind lady who lived on the corner. Her walking stick was stubbornly abandoned against the wall of her house as she draped clothing out in the sun.

Walking in the shade of the trees that grew on the corners, you passed two more streets before making it to your small bridge. Further up the road, you could see the town’s larger bridge and part of the crowd of merchants who gathered around for market. But you had already gone this morning, and were now heading elsewhere.

The willow tree rested today, no wind to stir it.

Continuing past, you made your way across the stone bridge. Though your river was peaceful, it was wide and deep in the middle. Stopping to lean over the edge, you looked back at your reflection far away in the dark water below you. Though there was no breeze, the river still had life, and the image undulated as you watched.

Motion beyond the reflection caught your eye, dashing out of sight before you could focus on it. Maybe a fish? It had caught the light momentarily, and now you stood on your tiptoes, fervently eyeing the water to catch another glimpse.

A shrill shriek sounded, a large splash rapidly following.

You whirled around. At the other side of the bridge, a group of children was gathered, laughter rising from them. One climbed up onto the edge, just in their underthings. They leapt enthusiastically from the side, clutching their knees with their hands before they descended from view.

Cheers rose again as the group rushed forwards, peering over the side as the next splash sounded.

Looking over your shoulder, back to the water, the reflections were now disrupted by the ripples. Something light darted through the waves, but again, it was gone too soon. Probably a trick of the light.

Light frown on your face, you tore your eyes away and approached the gaggle. Some of them noticed you, but soon enough the attention was taken by the next one to launch from the bridge.

Finally catching up to them, you peered over with the others. The three children were splashing around in the water below. It wasn’t as deep as the very middle of the river.

“Join in!” someone nudged you as the next one climbed onto the edge.

Most of the group was a little older than you, but you recognised these children from playing at the river before. A slight flutter of nerves hit you as you watched the next girl jump, thinking it could be you.

But you had come here to swim, and the cries of laughter from below told you it would be alright.

Running to the end of the bridge, you discarded your overgarments in a pile with the others before joining the waiting group, smaller now. One of the older boys gave you a hand up, and you found your toes hanging over the edge, gently rippling water waiting below you.

With a gulping breath, you looked forwards and sprung from the bridge.

For a split second, the cheers from behind met your ears, air rushing past you, before you hit the water. Plunging down in a blur, the cool river engulfed your head, bubbles roaring around your ears.

You plummeted until a force suspended you in the water briefly, then the river shot you back to the surface. Gasping with glee, you opened your eyes, blinking away the droplets clinging to your lashes in order to look around.

To your surprise, you only saw your own legs below you as you trod water. The others had already swum further off.

You were so certain you had felt someone catch you – like a pair of arms had stopped your descent in the water. But your worries were unfounded. You hadn’t accidentally fallen on top of someone.

Getting your bearings in the water, you gasped when your toe met the slimy ground below you. It was almost shallow enough for you to stand up here! Maybe when you grew some more-

“Look out below!”

Startled by the yell from above you, you hurriedly splashed and paddled away, watching another boy drop into the river.

Rays of sun beating down, you enjoyed floating beneath the bridge where you could shelter in the large swath of shade. Giggling surrounded you, and your face was sprayed with refreshing drops as friends splashed each other.

You were rocked by the large wake as some of the boys ran around to jump in again.

Turning away from the laughter and cheers, you gently swum under the bridge. Lazing in the water, you eyed the centre of the river where you had seen the fish earlier. You weren’t quite brave enough to swim that far out.

Instead, you brought yourself closer to one of the bridge’s stone supports, peering around at the empty bank on the other side.

Was Taehyung going to come out today? It was the height of summer, and you couldn’t think where else anyone would want to be other than in the cool water.

Your eyes searched left and right along each bank, but there was nothing beyond the water’s shine as it lapped against the banks. Some of the willow leaves shimmered.

An increase in the racket behind you made you turn away at last. The willow leaves stilled again, a large, dark pair of eyes blinking from behind the cover as your form slipped back under the shadow of the bridge.

When you emerged on the other side of the bridge, it was to the group laughing and waving upstream. In that direction, a shape was visible and growing above the water.

Specks of light from the river danced on the prow of the boat as it approached.

“The fishermen are setting off!”

“Bring back lots!”

Some of the children were announcing.

In the boat, some of the fishermen gathered on the nearest side of the boat, or leaned from the prow. They waved back grinning.

“Take care of your mothers!” they called.

The boat passed, the lot of you bobbing in the wake it left.

“We could chase after them,” you suggested brightly to a girl beside you.

“Let’s chase after them!” she echoed.

A great splashing commenced, all of you propelling yourselves clumsily in the direction of the boat. Some of the older ones made it to the other side of the bridge before the vessel disappeared completely around the next meander, as if swallowed up by the sunlight streaming between the trees.

Already panting, you gave up sooner, splashing and spluttering around until you were able to simply float instead.

Still laughing, the group headed back towards you. They were all tired out enough, making their way towards the shallows.

“I got a lot closer when I played that with Taehyung,” you remarked, “it’s faster if you run.”

But you just got a frown from the nearest boy.

“Who’s Taehyung?” he said.

A few of the others looked around as well. Nearing the edge of the river, they were clambering out over rocks and earth.

“She plays with him, but no one’s ever seen him,” one girl stopped and chipped in, but she was only looking at the boy who questioned you, “my mum told me.”

Slipping over a rock in your attempt to stand, you tried to catch up to them as they went further up the bank, laughing.

“He’s my friend!” you called.

“Aren’t you too old for imaginary friends?” one of the older ones questioned from their spot leaning against the bridge.

Pouting, you finally reached the group at the shore. They were all busy retrieving their clothes, but seemed quite interested in this new topic.

“She’s strange,” someone said, “why did we let her play with us?”

“Why don’t you play with Taehyung instead, next time?”

The group erupted in laughter. Folding your arms defensively, you huffed. Trying to keep your eyes down, you headed forwards to grab your things and leave. Maybe you would go and find Taehyung after all. Even if you didn’t know where to find him. He only came when he wanted to.

As you stormed through, the group parted for you, but you couldn’t see your things anywhere.

A small scuffle caught your attention, muffled laughter.

On the bridge, the boy from earlier was holding something. Reaching over the wall with one hand, it unfolded from his grasp, fabric dangling dangerously towards the water. Gasping, you took a step forwards.

It looked as if one of the eldest was trying to pull him away, but he didn’t pay attention, laughter growing louder as he saw your face.

He let go, and your clothes fell from his fingers. The simple cotton pieces drifted slowly in the air, but their path was certain.

Your feet were already moving, splashing once more in the shallow water and slipping on the riverbed. But there was nothing you could do. Your clothes landed certainly on the surface, growing patches of translucence spreading as they sat there.

Laughter once more filled the air, but faded as the children left, back over the bridge. Even the older boy who gave his younger brother a smack over the head didn’t linger much more.

Paddling determinedly back into the river, the cold was no longer a pleasant respite for you. You had spent enough time in the water, and your damp skin had just been above water, cooling you down more. The drops hitting your face made you frown against the spots of freezing cold which bloomed where they dripped on your cheeks.

Your clothes lay flat on the surface, undulating with the slight current. Simply floating, harmless enough, they still drifted further away. It wasn’t until you had come under the bridge again that you caught up enough to grab them from the water in front of you.

There was no hope for them. Even before you gathered them into your arms, they were utterly soaked.

Clutching them tightly in one arm, you awkwardly swum towards the grassier shore this side of the bridge. You swallowed stubbornly, focussing on your one-armed journey through the water. Cold water enveloped your neck, lapping at your chin as you dipped below the surface a little with the added difficulty staying afloat.

Despite their ruined state, you refused to let go of your bundle of clothes. As your feet found the earthy ground, small pebbles stung your bare feet, but you stumbled towards the shore in any case.

Cascades of water flowed from the fabric even as you stood, the sad clump weighing your arms down.

Some irresistible force was dragging the corners of your mouth down. Sniffing stoically, you finally deposited yourself on the bank, staring out over the water. Soaked and starting to shiver, your will to keep back the sting in your eyes faltered.

The other kids were long gone, not around to see you anymore. All you had was the river, suddenly looking duller and less inviting, and the sodden fabric which chilled you more as it lay pathetically across your lap.

“Are you swimming?”

Shoulders instantly stiffening, your tears were startled to a stop. Blinking rapidly, you twisted to look over your shoulder.

Taehyung stood just behind you, dressed in just a simple shift like your own. His dark hair curled down to his eyes, innocently fixed on you.

“Not anymore.”

You turned your head back towards the river, hoping your eyes didn’t look red. Or that he hadn’t noticed, if they were.

Feet padded softly over the grass and the boy settled at your side. There had been no breeze, but perhaps the air was stiller now. It bit less at your damp skin.

The two of you sat in relative quiet on the riverbank. Water flowed calmly past you, no movement below the surface attracting your eyes as you stared blankly over it. Taehyung shared the stillness with you, not moving or speaking but his presence remained firmly at your side.

Glancing towards him, not enough to meet his eyes, you chewed your tongue. Then you placed one hand on your knee, pushing yourself clumsily from the ground and letting your clothes slide to the floor. Mud stains couldn’t make them any less wearable than they were now.

“I need to go home,” you said.

Taehyung eyed you curiously. Despite your words, you didn’t move.

His gaze shifted back over the water.

“It’s sunny,” he said.

A frown was still etched into your face, but you followed his gaze. Specks of sun bounced off the crests of miniature waves, rays dancing through the grasses and tickling your toes. A sigh left you, some tension melting away.

“Why didn’t you come to play earlier?” you asked quietly.

“I’m here now!” Taehyung smiled by way of explanation, jumping up. His smile was bright and made his cheeks look round. Already, you felt a budding smile making its way to the surface.

“Do you want to swim?” you asked.

Serious for a short moment, he fixed your eyes. “You shouldn’t go back in the water.”

Some relief came to you, although you wondered whether Taehyung must be too hot. He hadn’t been in the water yet, after all.

But there was no time to ask; he spun around and raced a short distance up the bank, leaving you to follow. You were quick to give chase, giggling as he looked back with a beaming grin.

“The trees left sticks!” he exclaimed as you reached the first scattered trees that marked the forest at the edge of your village.

Understanding him perfectly, you instinctively rushed around the base of the trees, looping around Taehyung as you both gathered bundles of twigs.

“Thank you trees!” you called gleefully. Taehyung bowed low to the clump you had visited. He bowed more carefully than you saw even your parents do at the shrines, and it made you eager to join in. Even if your mother frowned at this habit of thanking everything.

Your small pairs of feet pattered back up to the bridge, Taehyung just a step ahead of you as you leant against the edge, panting.

Little more time was spent before you were eager to play, however, both of you leaning over the far edge in sync to drop your sticks into the water. For the first several rounds, you invariably came out on top, smile growing with each win until the children from earlier were far from your mind. The current must have been on your side.

It was only then that the wind picked up, and Taehyung suddenly started winning some. But it was far too fun for you to be upset. You only laughed at Taehyung as he stood proudly with his hands on his hips, intolerable grin lighting up his face.

A fishing boat approached from downstream, and you waved off the bridge at them.

“The sun will go down!” someone called, “you should go home to your mother!”

“I will!” you cried back.

When you turned around, Taehyung was no longer on the bridge. He waited for you on the bank.

Hurrying down to join him, you noticed that the light had grown less intense as it had been at the height of the day. His dark hair cast shadows over his eyes and cheeks as it danced in the scarce breeze.

Ready to say goodnight, you launched forwards and wrapped Taehyung in a tight hug. One arm circled you back, gripping tight as you always did.

This time, his other arm forced its way between you. Breaking apart, you looked in surprise at his hand before realising he was returning your bundle of clothes which had been sat on the bank all this time.

Smiling gladly, you gathered them in your own arms, expecting to find them still damp from the earlier swim and their position on the river grass all afternoon. Instead, they were bone dry.

Starting, you fumbled with them, patting the fabric to check.

Assured, you found the shoulders and let them unfold. You paid no mind to the mud still streaked across it, only happy to have them wearable.

One more smile was directed Taehyung’s way after you slipped it over your head, before you were running back across the bridge and up the hill to your home.

Thunder rolled through the clouds, like drums ringing behind the heavy grey.

Casting your eyes to the raging heavens, you were only met with more rain striking your bare face. The dirt under your racing feet was rapidly turning to mud, each hurried footstep splashing more than the last.

Your arms were folded over your head as you ran. The extent of their shelter was questionable, but you had nothing else to shield yourself with as the cold, wet arrows struck from above.

The storm had come out of nowhere. Totally unexpected, it now shadowed the land like it had always been there, only thickening as the river came in sight.

Everyone else had already taken shelter, but you had been far from home when the weather turned, on an errand for your father. He was occupied with expensive and apparently urgent commissions from the impatient yangban, but his conscience refused him to ignore the family across the river who were due a new baby. They paid him to make the most beautiful pot their money could afford, and though not ornate, you thought it had been gorgeous. You had cradled it even as you rushed to their house, having heard the news that the mother was in labour.

Your father’s work was safely under a dry roof, but the same could not be said for you. No thought was spared for the new arrival anymore, or the omen that this raging storm could mean for its birth.

It wasn’t as if you were averse to the elements, but the water you usually loved spat against your face and the wind tore at you, nearly pushing you off the track you valiantly trod along.

A startling flash of light illuminated the path for a moment before the sky bellowed once more. The remnants of thunder echoed as you finally came to the bridge. Raindrops splatted ferociously against the stone, battering the moss which grew between the cracks.

Instead of running across, your feet instinctively took you downwards, around the side of the bridge to duck underneath it.

There wasn’t a still patch of water in the river, the surface battered relentlessly by the storm.

However, the storm had not set in long ago. The river sloshed in its banks but was only rising slowly.

Your chest heaved but you couldn’t fall against the brick to rest, soaked as it was. Some rain blew under the bridge, but the small sprays were nothing compared to the downpour you had just been subject to.

Resting a hand against the stone, you panted, shoulders relaxing at the lack of rain bombarding your frame. Trickles of water ran down your skin, but that didn’t bother you.

Eyeing the scene from under the bridge’s overhang, the river you knew so well was blurred and obscured by the determination of the sky. Jumping at another jolt of lightning, you bit your lip at the thunder that roared again soon after.

Your house wasn’t too far, but you knew the cascade your road would become in such rain, the hill sending all water rushing to its home in the river. It was summer after all, and with any luck this would be a passing, though fierce, shower. Well, perhaps ‘shower’ was too light a term.

However, the impossible crescendo of the rain combined with the endless dark clouds that had invaded the sky gave you reason to doubt your initial hopes.

Though you had been sure every inch of you was wet, you became aware of cool water soaking into your shoes. Jumping back from the sensation, you looked to the ground. The river lapped higher up the bank as you watched, crawling over the mud and stones.

With a gulp, you inched back, but the room under the bridge was undeniably shrinking.

When the thunder bellowed, it bounced around your small hiding space. The rain showed no sign of ceasing.

It was clear the situation would not change the way you wanted, but in your indecision you glanced outside once more, as if to remind yourself the rain was still there.

Your eyes fell on something else instead.

Squinting, you stepped forwards, nearly slipping but not taking your eyes off the figure.

You weren’t imagining it. Someone else was out there, standing a little further along the bank. Perfectly still, as if they hadn’t noticed the storm at all.

You looked about wildly, but of course no one else was there to see it too. The person continued to stand, looking out over the growing waves in the river. The wind buffeted their dark curls, raking it back away from their face-

Water flooded over the top of your foot, icy droplets sliding inside your shoe. With a shriek, you hopped away, looking back at the river, offended.

With barely enough space for your remaining foot, you were forced out from the bridge’s shelter to escape the river’s advance.

Rain striking your face again, you turned towards the spot you had seen them. Already, you knew inside you who it was.

He had moved, and your eyes raced around the drenched riverbank until you caught sight of a black mop of hair between the rushes further away. The rushes that were steadily being submerged, water climbing up their lengths.

As you watched, the rushes swung wildly in the gusts, almost totally obscuring the movement of the person behind them. Towards the rising water.

The patch of rushes swayed and bucked, and they were gone.

“TAEHYUNG!!”

Your yell was almost instantly lost to the storm, but your feet were pounding forwards, sliding over the soaked grasses that were rapidly engulfed in mud.

You couldn’t see him – he had been right there, heading towards the river.

Not stopping, you raced after your friend. Of all the times to be at the river, now was not one. Ignore the fact that you were there too. You didn’t want the place where you forged your memories with Taehyung to be the place you also lost him-

Forcefully stopping that terrifying thought, you simply plunged onwards. Not flinching when cold river water splashed around your ankles, another boom shaking the heavens.

“TAEHYUNG!” you cried again, parting the rushes with your arms and bursting through them, only to be met with yet more emptiness. The tall leaves were reaching past your head now, their dancing peaks blocking your view as you fruitlessly splashed in circles, stumbling onwards in blind hope of finding your friend.

Water sucked and slopped against your waist, skirt becoming sodden and heavy.

Struggling to step again, your foot met a rock which tumbled sideways next second. Nothing to catch yourself on but the bendable reeds, you lost your footing, plummeting towards the water.

Lightning washed the nightmare in white. In that split second, bright eyes turned towards you.

Your head disappeared below the water.

Currents caused by the rain swelling the river tangled themselves around your legs, pulling you down. But not seconds later, they loosened their hold.

Water retreated from your face, replaced by the rain which almost felt like a comfort despite being just as relentless as before. Gasping in a breath, you blinked thick drops from the river out of your eyes.

Hands were hauling you up, gentle but powerful. Under your arms, they lifted you so you were left scrabbling to stand on the treacherous stones again. Elsewhere, the river still thrashed in its banks, rising more and more, but the reeds must have provided some shelter here. The water slid placidly around you, allowing you to be pulled to shore.

Wiping your eyes with the back of your hand, you finally rid yourself of the water blinding you. Looking back at you was Taehyung.

He had grown lately, standing just a little above your own height, and he looked down at you with intensity swimming in those dark eyes, cast into more shadow under the darkness imposed by the looming storm clouds.

Finally reaching the water’s edge, you walked after him, the hem of your skirt splattering torrents of water onto the ground. His clothes did not do the same, but you were too gripped by shivering to notice.

“What are you doing out?” he asked directly, one hand lifting to comb your saturated hair from your face. Cold moisture was replaced by warmth.

“What about you?” you fired back, though weakened as you stood shaking. “I-I saw you, in the river…”

He gulped visibly, grabbing your wrist softly but enough to lead you further up the bank. His breathing quickened, his manner fidgety as his eyes darted across the river, drawing his lips together.

“This is my home,” he said distractedly, “not yours. You should be up the hill.”

He started bundling you over the bridge. Already, heat was returning to you and your shivers subsiding. At the far side, you pushed back against his touch, bringing you both to a stop.

“Come with me,” you breathed.

“It’s rising,” Taehyung muttered, eyes on the river. You weren’t sure he was even aware he spoke.

“Come inside,” you insisted, your turn to pull on his wrist this time. Desperate to get him away from the writhing river, so much more menacing than you had ever seen it.

Whirling back to you, Taehyung withdrew from your grasp, suddenly intensely focussed back on you. Stepping back towards him, you tried to bring him with you again, but he didn’t reach for you.

“It isn’t safe. Please go.”

“Taehyung-“

“I’ll see you soon.”

Taking your hands firmly in his own, he looked at you with earnest eyes. You didn’t notice the rain still assaulting you both, too breathless from the realisation that he wouldn’t back down.

You bit your lip.

“You’ll be okay?”

“Yes, yes,” he gently pushed you away, “but these closest houses won’t be… you need to go- if I don’t…”

His voice trailed off, last cryptic words obscured in a tide of thunder that ripped through the sky.

Somehow, you trusted him. Even though you knew it was insanity to leave your friend out in this, you knew you believed him. And if he had to go, you knew you would see him the next time you came down to the river.

With a small nod, almost an affirmation to yourself, you turned around.

As you knew it would be, the road up the hill that greeted you was more of a river in itself by now. Running into the flowing stream, you felt the downpour heavier against your face the further you got from Taehyung.

A few paces drew you level with the riverside houses. A rising roar the moment you reached them had you fooled for a moment, thinking more thunder was stirring up. But the following crash of waves had you turning abruptly back to the river.

Behind you, where you had just left Taehyung standing, the river had transformed into an ugly, writhing mass, large waves plunging downstream like a fearsome serpent. It erupted from its banks, water murky and angrier than you had ever seen your peaceful stretch of river.

Brown wash swirled wildly with no regard to the banks that usually constrained it. A wave frayed with white crashed over the bridge, the path you had just taken lost to the insatiable currents.

You were frozen, shivers creeping back in as you found yourself unable to move under the rain.

Your feet were the only islands as water continued to rush past them, drawn to the growing beast below. The storm continued to fuel the flood, but miraculously, most water seemed to rush out towards the forest rather than rising further up the banks.

“Y/N!”

A desperate call of your name cut through the howling storm and roaring river. It came from behind you.

Finally tearing your eyes from what had become of your river, a blue grew clearer through the curtain of rain.

Your mother ran down the hill. Her hand reached for you, gesturing for you to come. Her hair rapidly flattened against her forehead with water, but she focussed only on you.

Finally, you could go home.

Splashing in the waterfall below your feet, you began to run back to her.

The river was still swollen, and you weren’t allowed on the bridge. You had to walk up to the bigger one by the market in order to cross.

Your father carefully led you as the track became wilder, the nearer to the forest you got. The mud showed no sign of drying, still eager to swallow up your uncertain steps.

Everyone in the town was keen to visit the shrines after the awful storm. They didn’t even need your wise woman’s advice to convince them of the necessity.

“You can place the fish,” your mother told you, handing you one of the baskets. “to show our respect to the river spirit.”

“And our reverence,” your father chimed in, “they’ve made clear their displeasure, we need to appease them again.”

They hardly needed to explain these things to you; you had visited the shrines with them since before you could remember. You watched your parents carefully place rice at the foot of the shrine and kneel, appearing deep in thought for a long moment.

As they drew back, you followed suit with the fish. But as you bent your head, you were unable to direct your thoughts to the river spirit. Instead, your mind spun back to Taehyung, standing on the riverbank before the flood. How was it that you felt no worry for him? Somehow, you felt sure the spirit had taken care of him, too.

You thanked it.

“Some may be displeased,” your mother was saying behind you, “but the river spirit saved our town from that anger. I heard that the forest was wrecked by the flood, trees torn up all along the river. But our houses were untouched.”

Taehyung hadn’t come today. That was okay, sometimes he didn’t.

You remembered the storm a few years ago, when you hadn’t seen him for a week. Every day, you had gone down to watch the water which turned back to its normal shade gradually, recovering from the rampage it had been on in the flood.

You remembered the day you realised he would always come back. After a walk to the shrine, taking in the now empty offering baskets, you had crossed back in the evening to find him waiting for you.

You remembered the spot where he had stood, the same place you left him before the waters had risen from the banks.

Now, lying on the grass, you let your eyes drift lazily to that spot on the other bank where you had found him, his eyes creasing in a gentle smile as you had gasped, running to him.

Drowsy, your eyes wandered, catching sight of a flicker in the sky. Perhaps you were dreaming already – there was a silvery ribbon-like dart flying between the golden clouds. It reminded you of the fish that darted in the water, the way a flash of light bounced off it in its swirling motions through the air.

It also awoke some brief memory in you, but it blurred in a haze with all your times with Taehyung. Something just out of reach…

You squinted against the brief dazzle of light, and when you focussed again, it had gone.

Yep, probably your imagination.

A smile settled your own face, thrown into shade by the dusty pink light of early sunset. Somehow, even lying beside the river felt like you were with Taehyung. This had been the setting of your friendship from the start, so long ago you could barely remember.

And though you had never figured out whose son he was, where he dwelled, you knew him better than anyone. His regard for the river, the way he would talk to the wind like an old friend. Every minutiae of those turbulent eyes, the way his hands would card through your hair…

“You’ll get cold sleeping out here.”

Roused by the voice, your eyes fluttered open. The fingertips running through your hair were real.

Slowly blinking, you took in those familiar eyes, dark as they always were. A gentle wind teased his flowing hair as he smiled at you, a soft chuckle coming from his throat as he saw you waking. His voice had grown deeper these past years.

He shifted backwards, hands leaving your head as he moved to rest beside you. Awkwardly sitting up, you stretched out a slight stiffness in your neck.

“I’m not cold,” you retorted, quite truthfully.

He raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking in what was a familiar smirk. With a shake of his head, he turned his eyes to the water. The sun was practically dipping below the treeline now, showing how long you had drifted for. Molten gold had replaced the blue water running between the riverbanks.

“You’d rather stay asleep and not see me, I get it,” he teased.

His laughter boomed as you rolled your eyes. Eyes in crescents, he flopped back to lean on his lanky arms. Better to look at the irked fondness on your face.

“Silly, why do you think I’m out here at all?” you huffed.

“Of course you love me,” he said matter-of-factly, almost keeping the smile out of his voice.

Not knowing quite what to say to that, you pushed down the odd feeling he had stirred up and turned to watch the river with him.

A shadowy breeze teased the rushes. Their ghostly shushing rose from silhouettes, only the glistening water catching the last sparks of sun, waves glittering like embers as they tripped downstream.

It occurred to you that you probably should be cold, having dozed off out here. The playful wisps of breeze that dragged through your hair weren’t exactly warm.

Still, you smiled at it. Before even turning your head, you knew what Taehyung’s thick waves would look like as they flowed in the wind, almost like water themselves. The same shiny hair as the young boy who found your boat all those years ago had.

“You are late,” you finally spoke.

There was never an agreement between you, no arrangements of your next meeting. But you enjoyed coming to the river with or without him, and you knew before long you would always see him again.

Today, you were thankful for the long summer evenings, even if they stretched less and less as summer wore on. It gave you and Taehyung some stolen time, while normally you would have to run home this late.

“They’re dumping fish back in the water at Jugeon,” came his reply.

The lower notes of his voice shone through, his tone sombre. The buttery light on his tanned skin threw his frown into deep shadow.

His gaze rested on the river, but was truly far away.

You were used to Taehyung’s thoughts coming from nowhere, but it still threw you. News from that far took a long time to arrive here. Gulping back questions of how he had travelled three towns in just a day, or whether he was from there, you simply asked, “why?”

“Trading. Prices. I don’t know,” he sighed deeply, “it’s not right. I… The river gave them as food for people, and all it gets is death in return.”

Biting your lip, you turned your gaze from Taehyung to the water. What he told you didn’t sit right with you either. For what good reason would you risk displeasing the spirits like that, for one thing?

“We can take care of the river.”

And maybe it was childish, to believe you could make such a promise. But when Taehyung lay back in the grass by your side, he smiled at you.

Taehyung still liked to climb trees.

As he hung from a branch, calling for you to catch him if he jumped down, you could so vividly see the gleeful child you had played with years ago. The boxy smile between round cheeks, the mischievous glint in his dark eyes as you laughed at him.

Only a second later, all you saw was your inevitable doom, as what was not a small child anymore but a nearly-grown man plummeted towards you.

Somewhere among your scrambled reflexes, you stumbled backwards, while holding your arms out in some misguided hope of actually catching him. And you screamed.

Your yell choked off as you bumped against the ground, the forest floor handily having tripped you up. Air whooshed from your lungs, and then time slowed down.

You were hardly conscious of taking another breath. Where you had fallen, Taehyung had landed over you. Clearly, his plan to scare you had paid off, and he was perfectly capable of getting down by himself all along.

Feet either side of your own, he braced himself with one arm beside your head. His face hovering above yours was all you could focus on.

His crooked grin only grew at the sight of your startled state.

With a movement all too sudden for the illusion you seemed to be under, he pushed himself away to sit back on his haunches. Forcing your limbs into action, you stiffly sat up.

“You alright?” he asked, smile dimming fractionally.

Your mouth was strangely dry. You swallowed.

“Don’t do that,” you finally laughed, breathy and nervous. It was all it took to put him at ease, smile back to its full glory and bubbling over into a laugh.

“Should have seen your face,” he teased, leaning across to help you up.

It was so easy to play with him. The teasing roll of your eyes and the faux annoyance as you muttered playful retorts came so easily; it was almost enough for you to ignore the touch of his skin as you accepted his hand up.

Side by side now, you walked slowly between the trees. Feet scuffling through the carpet of leaves the forest laid down each autumn, you occasionally brushed shoulders with Taehyung, laughter intertwining in the air.

The steady tinkle of trickling water told you you had nearly made your way back to the river.

A small stream hurried through the undergrowth over stones and between drooping grass. Hopping over first, Taehyung turned to give you his hand, which you held lightly as you followed him across.

As you returned to the river, the sky grew greyer and greyer. There was too much cloud today for the sunset to be anything but a slow retreat into darkness.

Taehyung was laughing at a joke you made when the willow tree came in sight. The joyous sound you loved to hear was quickly replaced by the shushing of the trees boughs. Tae sighed, promptly calling an end to the light-hearted atmosphere.

His feet slowed, dragging in the dying leaves.

“You should get back,” he turned his eyes to where the moon would be, though all that could be seen of her light was a faint white bleeding through the mist, “the mercenaries will be out before long.”

You never wanted to leave. But these days, it wasn’t as if you could stay, hang off his arm and beg for one more game.

You were grown, and you very well knew he was right. Tensions had been escalating, your parents told you – with whom you didn’t know – but now the men of your town would wander around after dark with their swords at their hips.

Even the words past his lips saw Taehyung’s smile vanish.

Something was hurting him lately. After all these years, there was nothing in his heart that you couldn’t read through his face, his actions. If only you knew what caused it.

It was probably true that your face betrayed the same things. Stepping away, you looked at each other. You felt no need to smile, wave and pretend. You just looked.

Then you walked away, parting the willow and letting the leaves swing behind you, Taehyung obscured behind their curtain.

Lamps flickered on in the houses you walked past up the hill. The smell of rice and laughter drifted from them. A bolt sliding shut made a grating noise as you turned the corner. The eldest son at the end of the road was stepping out into the evening, weapon unmistakeably sheathed at his side.

Tearing your eyes away, you slipped into your own house.

The familiar sight of your mother’s back greeted you. She was working on something.

Only vaguely curious, you rounded the room to greet her. Then you saw it.

The dim yellow of the lamps glinted off the fabric, no doubt silk. Deep and jewel-blue, it lay in glistening folds across her lap while her needle picked out fine gold among the other embroidery already lacing the garment.

It took her a moment to look up from her work, but she caught your awed expression.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” she smiled.

You nodded, but were still puzzled. Where on earth had she got something like this?

“What is it?”

“It’s a wedding gown, dear.”

You blinked.

“A wedding gown?”

“Of course we’re starting to think of when you should marry, you are at the age. We’ve begun speaking about a good match.”

Your eyes slid down from your mother’s peaceful face. Now, the fabric looked heavy, light glaring too bright against its oppressive dark colour. The embroidery was tacky, too much crammed in. Too delicate, too heavy.

Too much.

“A good match?” you echoed, hollow.

Shifting, your mother placed the funeral robes to one side. Stood, walked towards you.

You didn’t look at her face but her hands were real where they held your own. Soft.

“You know we would rather keep you for longer,” she was joking. Pinching your cheek. “But with all that’s going on, it should be done sooner.”

“What does all that have to do with me? Why marry among the fighting?”

“Because it is not here yet,” she assured, “and now is the time to gain prosperity. Make a home, a family. Your father is not needed as much for his skills when all that is needed are weapons. We just want what’s best for you.”

You swallowed hard. Lifted your gaze to your mother’s. Steadfast, they glistened but any tears remained unshed. Her mouth curved into a thin smile. Her hands trembled.

“And this is… what’s best?” you spoke weakly.

Pushing her lips together, trying to keep the smile on, she nodded.

You waited until the last lamp died. Held your breath as your parents’ steps padded through the house. Until they didn’t anymore.

Poking your head around the door, tiptoeing to the end of the hall, felt almost childlike, if it wasn’t for the lack of a smile on your face. No bubbling nerves as you sat bolt straight on your bed, waiting. No attempts to hide mischievous laughter. Only a fearful intent as you dropped quietly through the window and eyed your dark road for mercenaries.

All the lamps were out. Moonlight barely filtered through the mist which dampened the senses, blurred the hill you knew by heart.

Even the river seemed silenced tonight.

Only hours ago you had seen Taehyung. It was nothing more than blind hope that brought you back here so soon. At a loss, all you could think to do was go to him.

The bridge was encased in the thickest mist yet. It was as if strands blown down the river had snagged, cocooning it.

Glancing quickly around at the long open road beside the river, you stepped into the dense fog. You practically knew every flagstone on this bridge by touch.

It sloped up, and down, guiding you to the bank where the fog was little better. You kept walking.

At first sight of the dark figure through the mist, you tensed up. But it was hardly long enough to put a falter in your step, your body recognising Taehyung’s silhouette before your mind could catch up.

The eerie coating of cloud drifted away as you neared, revealing him under the moonlight.

He faced the water, the back of his head thick with curls picked out by the moon. Without a sound from you, he turned. Once more, you knew you reflected perfectly the sad look in his eyes. Silvery light danced there, but more striking was the darkness rippling underneath, unfathomable.

No words needed for now, you moved to sit by his side. The river dragged on.

“Aren’t you going to tell me it’s late?”

A breath of his laugh fell dead in the mist.

“Why should I? You’re well aware, but here you are.”

Silence, for a moment.

“So are you,” you tried weakly to tease him. A delay to the inevitable, a leaf to be washed away in the current.

He let a kind silence settle. The river trudged on and the mist huddled, shelter for your secrets.

You took a breath.

“They want me to marry.”

Speaking it to the water was almost unbearable. The words out loud were too real. Too nervous to turn, to see Taehyung’s reaction, you missed the way he stiffened at your revelation, busy instead grappling with the heavy, nauseous feeling in your stomach.

“Now’s a good time. Maybe the only time.”

Taehyung’s response was measured. Low, like it would slip from his control if he didn’t push it down

“I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Courageous enough at last, you looked at him. Taehyung’s hands gripped the riverbank, shoulders taught.

“Who?”

You were right – his voice did slip, and it was raw and desperate. He was trying so hard to look at the water, but couldn’t stop himself from slowly turning to face you too.

“I hadn’t really thought about it– ” you repeated “– only, now I have, I realised… I never wanted to marry anyone else.”

Lips hanging slightly open, his face slackened imperceptibly as your words sunk in. His hand had moved, relinquished his grip on the grass. He was leaning towards you, as if the earth was tipping you together. Neither were you immune to the magnetic pull of his eyes, and maybe it was the mist that blurred your surroundings, leaving nothing but him in focus.

“Can’t we?” you breathed, words lighter than the mist itself.

You watched his eyes and already knew the answer.

The way his gaze deepened, dragging away from your own and tracking across your face, down… Your eyes, too, were drawn to his lips. They closed gently, and he swallowed, adam’s apple bobbing. And your gazes lifted as one, fixed on the other.

You knew what it meant, knew his actions even before he moved. The way he looked at you…

Like he was memorising it for the last time.

Shoulders dropping, he moved away. Taking back the uncharted territory that had been breached moments ago.

Somehow, it didn’t surprise you. There must be reason for his hiding, the fact no one else in the town knew him, or even saw him. Your parents already disapproved of you continuing to spend time alone with a man, but someone so hidden was yet more cause for worry.

But if this was to signal the end, you had to know.

“Why?”

To your surprise, he stood. At the first few paces away towards the fog, panic charged through you.

“Taehyung!” you pleaded, jumping up to follow him, “Taehyung, please-”

A cold impact on your cheek told you you were crying. Just as the second made a path down your skin, accompanied by a shuddering breath, Taehyung turned. His eyes held yours steadily, even as tears welled and spilled from your own.

Something in his intense gaze halted all protests on your lips. Determination.

He had stopped, as had you. Heart seized with dread, you could only watch. Was he saying goodbye?

Your fears increased as he began to be engulfed by the mist. But wait- he wasn’t moving backwards. The mist was creeping forwards, its tendrils obscuring him partially, a veil. His eyes shone through.

How they shone, you suddenly realised you could not explain. The moonlight was not penetrating this fog.

Stunned, you stayed transfixed. Something around Taehyung seemed to change, shift, his clothes billowing in the non-existent wind until they grew. Large, silvery and frayed, they were ruffled by a breeze, except…

They were not threads of clothes but whiskers of a dragon. A dragon with dark hair along its back, the same flowing curls forming a mane around its head.

Taehyung’s eyes had not moved.

Gaping, you could not speak. The dragon was huge, serpentine and poised on legs with large talons, tail stirring up the mist behind it… behind him.

You didn’t need to be told that this was Taehyung. Beyond the fact you had just seen him transform, his eyes were the same. And they betrayed the same sadness now as the boy you had just whispered your confession to.

One step. Another. You crossed to him where he stood, waiting.

Tentatively, you held a hand up. Hovered just inches from his face. For a breath, you looked at each other, before he gracefully dipped his head to meet your palm.

He had to bow to come to your level, but you pressed your forehead against him, between his eyes. His snout and jaws, which must hold such power, rested placidly against you.

Your eyes shut as you held him close, and after several moments, you felt arms circle you again. It was Taehyung as you knew him, his forehead touching your own and those curls tumbling down to his eyes.

“You’re not meant for my world,” you murmured.

Taehyung held you closer at that, one hand lifting to your head. You felt the vibrations as he spoke next.

“We were meant for each other’s,” he pledged. “But… not this way. With-with marriage, and this war…”

The hands that gripped you trembled.

Pulling back, you hurriedly brought your hands to cup his cheeks. He tried to look down, but he could never hide the cracks coming through.

“Tae…” you pleaded as his breaths grew ragged. Your thumbs smoothed along the ridge of his cheeks as a tear fell.

He cast his gaze then back over the river, water the same deep black as his eyes. It was perfectly still, shrouded in mist and lazy moonlight. Unshed tears swam in his eyes.

“This is my river…”

He chewed the inside of his cheek for a second. Still looped around your back, his arms held you close, where you could pick up on his every move. Your chest ached with yearning, to bring him to you even when he was physically so near…

The night revolved around his every word as he continued.

“I haven’t been here that long… but it’s mine, and I belong to it. There are older dragons who are just as angry, and they set fire to the ships. But it’s my river, and I never let anyone die here. I-I can lay people and creatures to rest when they should, but I never let anyone drown… be killed.

“But now… there’s too many. The fighting is coming closer, and there are more ships. I can’t” –his voice cracked– “I can’t save them all.”

All you could do was hold him tightly as he let himself finally fall into your embrace. Your chest felt tight just hearing his pain, muffled cries and whimpers against you as you carefully lowered you both back to the ground.

“You don’t have to, Tae,” you assured him quietly, not really sure if he heard. You rubbed his back and continued your mutterings, “this is the humans’ war, not yours. You’re doing all you can. But you have me. I won’t leave you.”

At some point, Taehyung’s crying and your whispers had faded, leaving the two of you slumped against each other, tangled up with your head lying on top of his as you looked out across the water.

“You’re beautiful,” you whispered, “all of you. And your river…”

It felt so right that you had always had such a connection with this water, its banks and its bridge. It felt like an old friend. Perhaps it was, after all.

Tae sniffed, swiped at his watery eyes.

“You always came back,” he said, voice a little gruff.

Squeezing him lightly, a sad smile graced your lips as you stared across your river.

“Of course,” your replied, “and I always will. I promise.”

“Promise,” he echoed.

Shifting in your embrace, he moved to untangle the two of you somewhat. Just your shoulders leaned against each other. Sighing, you gazed over his tanned skin in the moonlight, tear tracks fading already.

“Let me help you. You look after the river, the town… and me.”

His hand raised, cupping the side of your face with elegant fingers that trailed through your hair.

There was that look again.

“I always want to help you.”

“So let me take care of you too,” you insisted, your own fingers curling around his own, capturing his hand where it hovered beside your face. “You don’t have to do it alone.”

Those promises rang in your ears.

Your parents’ backs grew smaller as you watched their journey downhill from the window. Bags clutched at their shoulders as they headed for the port.

“Look after them,” you muttered, eyes fixed on the glimmer of river you could see from here.

In your hand lay a pendant your father had pressed into your hands before you left. It was the one he had made for your birthday, a lifetime ago, when you thought you had imagined the dragon snaking through the sky.

Its blue glaze that swirled along the bottom always reminded you of your river, your safe place. Your Taehyung.

Fastening it around your neck, you turned away from the window. Walked through your house without much aim.

What had started, months, even years ago as hints of unrest, trouble with shipments and stories of quarrels brought back with the fishermen, had only grown.

You had grown used to seeing convoys going past the village, horses and armour and weapons glinting hungrily. Your own townsmen had begun patrols, but still the clash of swords was rare.

But still, nothing would stop it. Someone far away, whose name you would never know, wanted something. Wanted your peace, wanted your river.

And now the next town was on fire.

That morning, you had awoken to shouting, and smoke billowing over the hills. Strangers had run into your town, clothes charred and clutching pouches. Swarmed into boats or knelt crying at the corners.

They were coming up the river. Your parents had wasted no time.

Chests lay open, fabrics spilling from them, all but the essential clothes left behind. Cascading from one, its folds pooling on the floor, was the deep blue wedding gown. Forgotten like some common rag.

Stepping over it, you came to stand at your doorway. The road was barren.

You had sworn to stay with Taehyung nearly two months ago, but you could remember every word. Every utterance that you knew kept you tied to this place. Still, never were you tempted to take it back.

You stepped out, made your way to the river. But you had no bags like the others, and weren’t travelling to the bigger bridge where boats were fleeing. Descending the nearest bank, your feet were steady.

Moving past the rushes, standing tall as ever, you nestled yourself among the willow’s hanging branches.

The boats left. One by one, you watched them slink away until they were obscured by the forest, carried round the turn. You could almost imagine it was the fishermen going out to sea, that they would be back around that meander before two sunsets.

But the boats were crammed with people, leaning over the sides to catch a last glimpse of their town.

The ripples faded from their wake. The sun was making its curtain call when Taehyung came behind you.

“It’s late.”

His arms curled around your waist, cheek pressing against the side of your head.

“Is it too late?” you replied.

“They’re wise to leave,” he said.

But neither of you could.

You walked, slow through the forest. The sun was paling, watery rays piercing the canopy as you moved beneath it. What else was there to do?

The town would only be occupied by mercenaries and cavalry sent by the city. But you had no wish to be there, when you could be with Taehyung. Passing the stream that ran without fail, the willow you had swung from as youngsters, the outcrop where Tae had dragged you to slide along the frozen winter river. The countless trees you had scaled, and fallen from, together.

Though the memories were nothing but ghosts, and though you waited for some inevitable shattering of the stillness, you found you had never shaken that five-year-old eagerness to find your friend by the river to play.

As always seemed to happen, you settled on a bank. Maybe the laughter was a little stifled today, but the air was never free of it when you were together.

A lull came.

“Thank you.”

Taehyung’s voice had shifted, suddenly more bashful that you blinked in surprise.

“Tae?”

The eyes that met yours were creased in a smile. Biting his lip, he tried to keep it in check, as if embarrassed to smile too brightly at a time like this.

“Thank you for staying,” he beamed.

Then he kissed you.

His soft lips against yours sent you soaring instantly. The river faded away, only the cool light bathing your eyelids as they slid shut, feeling the ecstasy of the kiss.

Unhurried, his lips moved against your own, creating sparks like fireflies that spread through your limbs. Fingertips grazed your jaw, one last savouring motion before you slowly pulled away. Awed, your eyes took a moment to flutter open.

Tae’s smile had softened, warm adoration pouring from his gaze. You must look the same.

After a breath, or maybe forever, his eyes flickered away. His hand rested by yours on the ground, but he withdrew it.

Still warm from his kiss, you blinked slowly, only now picking up on his faraway look. He sat up straighter.

A moment later, he blinked, staggered up reeling. From what, you could only guess as he turned breathlessly to you. Fumbling hands found yours.

“I’m sorry-” he panted, already distracted, looking past you, “I have to go-”

The wind picked up around you, swirling and pulling at you from every direction, only his hands anchoring you.

They slipped from yours. In front of you, Taehyung surrendered himself to the wind and transformed, the muscular dragon standing tall on the bank instead. Not a moment later, he pounced into the wind, a vigorous swish of his tail propelling him above the trees, leaving you behind.

You were left standing. Taking a deep breath, you let your hands fall back to your sides.

You turned back to the town.

The closer you came through the trees, the faster your feet scuffed through the undergrowth, stumbling in your hurry as you began to hear shouts. A faint undertone of metal colliding only grew louder.

The willow tree was the last remaining barrier. Hurrying towards it, you caught yourself on its trunk.

A bang rocked the skies, loud as thunder but it was over fast, deafening and cruel. Firing a bolt of fear through your chest.

Pushing aside the leafy curtain, you stared.

Orange glowed over the far end of town, beyond the larger bridge. Black was rising above it, harsh as it twisted into the sky. On that same bridge, men were collected at the bank, struggling to push back against other figures running along the bridge, silhouetted by the violent glow.

There were boats stacked up on the water, but you could not make out how many. You saw them rock as the river started to churn, angrily shaking the vessels of the intruders.

More shouts. Stepping out from your secluded place, hooves thundered closer as a rider yelled from behind a helmet. A small pack followed soon after, skidding around to dash upstream. Fleeing. Away from the heat now blazing at the top of your hill.

Were they attacking from that side too?

Your feet pounded up the bank, racing to the bottom of your road as the devastation encroached. Flames licked the rooftops, taunting orange and red as it devoured without care.

Gulping, you backed away to the little bridge. You should warn Taehyung – but where would he be? The skies, the water?

Hurrying to the side of the bridge, your hands gripped the stone as you leaned over recklessly, searching the waves beneath.

A sliver of light, caught by something darting underneath.

“They’re coming from the hill too!” you called.

The light stilled, then flashed away, melting into the depths.

Chest heaving, you stared at the spot for a moment longer before pulling yourself back. A glimpse back where you had come showed nothing more than a blur of raging light, leaving you totally unable to distinguish the streets you knew.

Unable to escape the rising dread, you clamped your mouth shut. Your feet backed away slowly, instinctively, but you couldn’t quite rip your horrified gaze from the scene.

Another roaring blast stole your attention. From the side of a boat a way upstream burst a ball of sparks. It plummeted into the wreckage that remained that side of the river. There was no saving it now.

One last painful glance, and you ran. The bridge taking you down to the other shore.

No sooner had your feet left the stone than another explosion rang out, more sparks exploding into the dying day. You felt its heat knock you back, along with the terrifying realisation that your only path of escape was up in flames too.

Changing course once more, you raced back up the bridge, but could not go further than halfway as both sides were equally ablaze.

Your eyes desperately travelled to the source of the fires and the violence, the cluster upriver. The wind bellowed furiously down its course, tugging the choppy surface until a wave grew, swiped at the fire nearest its banks like a cornered wildcat.

Another boom, sparks collided with the water and it fell, splashing uselessly on the scorched earth.

“Taehyung!” you cried. But your voice was lost to the fighting.

The waters raged, blue spikes of waves now edged in the gold of sunset. They could barely be distinguished from the jagged fire jeering at you as it surrounded your bridge.

Battering your face, clawing at your clothes, the wind whirled around you. Either that or the oppressive heat of the fire that loomed closer, the air shimmering with deadly intent wherever you looked.

The cracks bursting from inside the fire were hardly different to the cannons that had first given it life.

In panic, you clambered up, any hope of getting away. The stone under your feet held firm, as it had since you jumped off this ledge as a child.

Stilling, you took a shuddering breath.

Twisting your head, you looked down at the water. Dark, unlike the blinding fires. Cold, unlike this stifling war.

Home, like Taehyung.

You turned.

Lifting your eyes up, you stared down the river, searching for any sign of him. But it was just you and the stone beneath your feet, nothing in front to separate you from your fate.

“Taehyung!” you called.

And with all the trust in the world, you stepped.

The fiery wind was replaced, engulfed by the icy waters that thrashed around you, closed over your head. Empty water charged around you, buffeting your limbs and pushing you this way, and that.

Sinking, you rolled over in the current, falling…

Caught.

Indistinguishable at first from the limbs of the currents, two flows of water wrapped around you, holding you still at last. They grew stronger, solid in the water as Taehyung encased you, clutching you to his chest, your head tucked under his chin.

Wrapped in his arms, you were suspended in the water. Blinking in the flurry of the river around you, you caught sight of those curls, flowing like the water themselves.

The fire blazed above, red staining the surface. But here, resting against a firm chest and weightless as the water carried you, you were safe.

You closed your eyes.

Water no longer pressed in on you. Your skin was warm, not cold like you last remembered.

Experimentally moving one hand, you felt grass brushing against your fingers. You breathed in, the taste of flowers on the air.

It was light when you opened your eyes, but not the infernal glow you had just run from. Or perhaps more time had passed than you thought… you weren’t in your town anymore.

Sitting at last, you found yourself on a riverbank. At least, you thought it was. The only problem was that there was no river, only a dip in the land, filled with boulders that stretched through an otherwise green field. The grasses were lush green and bent in the peaceful wind.

Most puzzling was your lack of panic as you found yourself looking around at totally unfamiliar surroundings. The last thing you knew was being held safe in Taehyung’s arms.

A little way down the bank there was a round statue, a smiling face etched on the front.

The sky was a calm blue and stretched endlessly, littered with fluffy clouds. And something moving between them-

The dragon swirled closer through the great blue, dark curls flowing like water. As he touched down just a short distance away, you climbed to your feet.

Taehyung shed his dragon form and walked towards you through the grass.

“Taehyung!” you called, speeding up to jog over to him.

His eyes lifted, as welcoming as the arms he held out towards you. Rushing happily into them, you collided, uncaring about the impact as you buried your head in his shoulder and hugged his middle enthusiastically.

“Where are we?” you spoke, muffled, almost as an afterthought.

He breathed in slowly. His hands were grounding at your shoulders.

“I told you I would protect you.”

“You.. you brought me here?”

Pulling away from him, you took another look around. The arms still holding you loosened, but stayed there.

“Where… where is here? And the town…”

Following your gaze, Taehyung hummed thoughtfully. He pulled you closer as he watched the empty bed where a river should lie.

“I can feel my river from here – maybe I can take you back with me?”

Thank you for reading! Remember a comment goes a long way💜

You can check out the other stories from this collab here!!

Taglist: @aianloveseven @preciouschimine @un2-verse @taegularities

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