#and i won’t have any problem listening if we move somewhere a little quieter

[like-rain-or-confetti]

Request: Mine (Alec Volturi x Reader)

WARNING: GORE!

You had to stay clear. Heidi was bringing in the tours and Demetri was around to make sure all would run smoothly, no one being left behind. Whilst you could only smile at a few of the tourists who locked eyes with you. You figured it wouldn't hurt, they'd go one way and you'd go the other, completely clear of what would happen next. Suddenly you heard your name. 

The voice was familiar but before you could recall who it was, they stepped out of the line of tourists, walking up to you with a smile. You felt your stomach drop. It was your ex boyfriend. Heidi and Demetri both looked at him but said nothing. "Well I'll be damned, I never thought I'd see you here." Your ex smiled. "It's good to see you." You said politely. Although you found it difficult to mask your unease. "Do you work here?" He asked. "Yeah." You nodded. "How have you been?" It was clear he was determined to get a conversation to you reluctantly gave in. "I've been good. Working mostly." You smiled gesturing to the room. "How have you been?" “I've been great. Travelling with friends. Partying. You know me." He winked. You hummed in 'amusement'. 

"Well hello there." Heidi glided up to you both. Your ex looked her up and down and smirked. "Hey." "(Y/N)'s considered new around her and doesn't know anyone." Heidi smiled, pulling you into her side. She rubbed your arm slightly. Although you were uncertain if that was her way to say she had your back. "So who's your friend?" She smiled wider, showing her teeth. "Oh he isn't my-" You began but your ex interrupted. "I'm an old friend. (Y/N) and I have quite a history together." He replied sending you a teasing flirtatious smile. "This is my ex boyfriend." You finished. "Oh I see. Well, you only have a couple of minutes, the tour is about to start and you..." She lightly tapped your nose with her free arm. "...have to get back to work." She broke away but kept at a close distance. Supposedly not paying attention anymore but you knew she was keeping close for you. 

"How long have you been here?" Your ex asked. "I've been here for nearly a year now."  "Wow. No one told me you'd left. Your mum told me when I went looking for you but she had no idea where you went. She said you had just up and left." You wanted to kick yourself and groan. This wasn't going to be easy. "Why...why did you speak to my mum?" You asked. "I was looking for you. I went to your house but your mum said you had been gone for months." "Yeah, I didn't tell anyone where I was going. I needed the space and time to build a new life here. My...my life back there was pretty much ruined." Thanks to him. "Ah, yes, that wasn't my finest moment." He said quieter. "It doesn't matter now. What's done is done. The way I see it, it would have been worse if I stayed." "In my eyes, the worst thing I've ever done is what I did to you." He responded. You were certain that your ex had cheated on you. If he hadn't then it would be a matter of waiting until he did. Waiting for your heartbreak. Not to mention he wasn't exactly apologetic for the flirting with others, and generally tiptoeing the line of cheating. 

When you ended things with him, he was determined to ruin your reputation with rumours about you such as being controlling. You saw the storm he was itching to give you. So you figured if you left, you'd be rid of him and any damage he caused, as well as he'd have no choice but to pick someone else or be his own downfall thanks to that oncoming storm. 

You shrugged. "Hey...can we talk? A little more privately?" He asked softly. "I don't think I can. I really need to get back to work-" "It'll only be just a minute." He said quickly. "Alright everyone, the tour is starting, if you could all please stick together and not wander. This place is very big and who knows if we'll find you again!" Heidi's voice rang out. The last sentence received a couple of chuckles. "Enjoy the tour. It was nice to see you again." You took a step back. "Please, it's important." He said hurriedly. You didn't know how to answer.  "One moment everyone!" Heidi smiled brightly as Demetri placed a hand on her back and guided her towards the corner in hushed chatter. 

"Make it quick." You said flatly. "I've been thinking about us. How we left things and I've really missed you." You sighed. "I know- I know we had our issues but if we try we can work through them." "No. I think the past is in the past and I want to leave it there." You responded. "If you didn't care you wouldn't have left everything behind." He said. "You know, I have more reasons to leave than you making up stories about me whilst you play around with others feelings." You frowned slightly. "I don't blame you." He answered. "I don't care and I don't need your validation. You made your choices and I made mine."  "You're just not thinking straight. You left your family. They don't even know where you are." He said. "That is none of your business." You said firmly. "Would you stop acting so entitled and being overdramatic and listen to me? It's no wonder we broke up. You do this every time!" 

"Excuse me, I think that's enough now." Demetri interrupted calmly. "The tour is about to start." "Buddy... you're really not involved in this and we're having a conversation so mind your business." Your ex said through gritted teeth. Before Demetri could respond, you jumped to his defence. "Don't speak to him like that! You can speak to me like that but don't speak to him like that!" "No, he can't speak to you that way." Heidi said, sending him a pointed gaze. Her hands on her hips. Your ex looked at her. Knowing him, he wanted to snap at her like he had Demetri but as soon as his eyes landed on her, they softened and he said nothing. He wore the same look he had back then. "You know that's why I'd get to angry with you." You said softly. "You always tried to convince me that I was crazy but even now, you have a wandering eye." "What? You'd want me to blind myself? Is that what would make you happy?" He said with snark and you didn't respond. Demetri nodded to Heidi . "Are we done here?" You asked him. "No." Your ex said flatly. You sighed before turning to Heidi. She was about to speak up but you cut her off. "It's okay Heidi. I can handle this." "You make it sound like I'm the problem here." Your ex frowned. "If your colleagues didn't hover around you then perhaps we wouldn't be disagreeing right now." "It's alright, Heidi." Demetri said as he put a hand on her shoulder. "You go ahead with the group. I'll make sure he catches up." Heidi thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Very well." With a flick of her hair she moved towards the front of the group. "As I said everyone! Stay together!" She began to walk down the corridor, heading towards the throne room. 

You knew at this point your ex was just shutting down. He knew that wasn't what you meant but everything he'd say from that moment forward was out of pure spite. "You do this every time!" He said in anger. "I don't want to fight with you! I'm trying to talk to you." "There's nothing to talk about. What you and I had is over." "No, it's not." He responded quickly and confidently. "You can't do that. You can't just speak to me like we just shared a ride home." He said, stepping closer. "You and I are more than that, we always have been." "We aren't anything. I've moved on and I'm happy." You responded, standing your ground. "Moved on?" He laughed. "No. No, I don't believe that. You're still standing here and we both know that when you're done with someone that you don't give them the time of day." "I'm trying to be civil and not make a scene." He laughed again, completely convinced. "Alright. Where is my replacement then, hm? Is it him?" Your ex nodded behind him towards Demetri. "No and I don't want you meeting him." You folded your arms. "Or I won't because you're lying." Your ex smirked. "You don't have to be like this babe. We can start again. We can have that happy life together we talked about. Laugh about all of this later. You and I were solid and we can be like that again." You shook your head. "No. I already told you I'm with someone else." "And do they love you like I do?" He asked. You paused. You knew Alec loved you. He just didn't tell it or show it all the time. Not in the way your previous relationships had. Alec wasn't like other people and sometimes that had challenges but you'd take that. You'd rather someone loved you and barely told you rather than someone constantly telling you they loved you merely because they loved the idea of you and wanted to keep you around. "My guess is that he loves me more." You answered quietly. It had been a long time since you had to deal with how your ex was treating you and you couldn't help but wonder if you were losing. Your ex hummed in amusement. "You tell yourself that a lot, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. Well let me tell you babe, loving you is easy." He moved closer, his voice lowering. "I promise you, I loved you more than anyone ever has and I still do. You're hurt. I get that. I hurt you but I can fix it just as easily. Just as easily as you light up my world with that beautiful face of yours. Come on, you and me." He took your arms and you shook your head. "No." You said quickly. Demetri stepped forward but you shook your head at him. "It's fine, Demetri. I can handle this." You said hurriedly. "In fact, don't you have somewhere else to be?" Your ex sneered at Demetri behind him. His grip on you tightened. "Stop it. You're getting angry at him for no reason." You said hurriedly. "Yes, I am because this dude doesn't know when to take a hint and clear off." Your ex said sharply. Demetri's eyes narrowed on your ex before turning on his heel and briskly heading down the corridors, the same way the rest of the tourists had. 

"Come on, you and me." Your ex said quieter and softly. "We had amazing times together and we should never have ended things the way we did." "You're not listening to me. It is over." You emphasized. "No, it's not." He said simply. Before you could pull back, your ex pulled you in by your arms and kissed you. You immediately pulled your head away. "You can't do that!" You cried out. However you cry was drowned out by a very loud scream of rage. 

Alec was in front of you both in moments and looked absolutely livid. With inhuman speed he grabbed your ex, throwing him to the ground. Alec was moving so fast that you couldn't see anything but a blur. Your ex screamed in terror as Alec dragged him by the legs, down a different corridor behind you. "Alec!?" You cried out but before you could move, Demetri held you back as Felix and Jane stepped around you, heading after Alec. Demetri forcibly made you turn in the other direction. 

You thought he was taking you to the throne room but her turned a sharp corner and instead led you to the kitchen. You could only say Demetri's name, unable to form a coherent sentence. You wanted to ask him a million questions but nothing came to mind. "Your arms..." Demetri said quickly closing the gap between you to inspect your arms. You looked down to see red scratches down your fore arms. "Do these hurt?" He asked. 

Now that you were aware of them, you acknowledged the burning sensation they left but you weren't even remotely concerned about that. You were worried about Alec. "No!" You said hurriedly. "I'm more concerned about Alec. He was- where did he go? What just happened!?" Demetri didn't answer, simply staring into your eyes. "Let us deal with this, understand the situation better so I can be accurate, alright? Just, let me take you to his room and be patient.” You let him, taking a glass of water with you for Demetri's peace of mind. 

Jane turned around to see Demetri approaching. "How bad is it?" He asked. Alec's screams of rage and the sound of breaking furniture very loud despite the door being shut. "Bad." Felix responded. "The human is basically soup in there." "The humans final minutes were nothing less of excruciating." Jane smiled darkly. "Is the human in pieces?" Demetri said in somewhat horror. Not because he suddenly had a concern for humans. More so because humans are basically bags of fluid and if your ex had been even slightly ripped open, blood and everything else would utterly destroy the very old carpets, rugs and walls. Not to mention Alec was currently destroying everything in sight. "Friend, I'm going to say this as delicately as I can." Felix said to Demetri. "That human was very much alive when Alec ripped him apparent and tore out his organs. He then threw the organs all over the room and has since been stamping on every bone. That human is a puddle of mush and then rest of him is across the room." "How lovely..." Demetri trailed off. Although he wasn't surprised. This was Alec after all. "He needs to calm down soon. (Y/N) is worried about him." "They'll need to wait." Jane responded flatly. "It's been a long time since he's been this angry." Jane spoke of it like talking about the weather and not that her brother was completely destroying a room whilst creating a gruesome scene. "I'm surprised you're not in there and helping him." Felix said to Jane. "He wouldn't let me get close. He wanted the human to himself." Jane smiled proudly as she thought fondly of her brother. "That human was in just as much pain if I got to him." Felix blinked. "Alright, what's the plan?" "You and I go to (Y/N) and explain the situation, then we go and inform Aro. Jane will stay here with Alec until he calms down. Jane, do not let him go to his room afterwards, (Y/N) is in there and they can't see him like that." Demetri said and Jane nodded as Felix moved towards Demetri. 

"Okay you're telling me not to worry but now there are two of you and you won't tell me what's happening." Your eyes narrowed on the two. "It's complicated and we don't know how to explain without crossing a line." Demetri responded. "Wait, Demetri, can we even tell them? Is it our place to tell?" Felix asked. "I don't think we have much of a choice. Do you think Alec will?" Demetri turned to Felix. You looked between the two. "If you don't tell me what's going on then I will scream." You warned them. The two simply looked at you, seemingly unconvinced that you would. You inhaled a deep breath. "Wait! Wait, hold on little human!" Felix said quickly raising his arms. "We'll tell you just don't do that." Demetri said quickly. Neither of the two wanted to find out what you screaming would do when Alec is already off the rails. It could be those two next for all they knew if you did. 

Before Felix could talk, Demetri cut him off. "I'll tell them. You are awful at breaking news to anyone." Felix huffed, annoyed he couldn't but at the same time slightly offended with the lack of faith his friend had in him. Although Felix knew his friend was right. He really was the worst at that. "You know that Alec can be temperamental and is very driven by his emotions when he wants to be." Demetri began. "You also know that sometimes be can be so aggravated that he has..." Demetri trailed off. "Tantrums." Felix said flatly. Demetri sent him a pointed look. "What else can you call this? We'll be here all day if we want to look at this with rose tinted glasses. It's tantrums." Felix continued in his defence and Demetri sighed. "Just as Jane does. You know of this but haven't ever experienced it for yourself. This is one of those times. Alec has disposed of the human and is currently on a uncontrollable rampage of destruction. All we can do is wait for him to calm on his own." "Why...why has this provoked such a reaction?" You asked. "Well-" Demetri was cut off again by Felix. "Because the twins do this every time they don't get their own way or something happens they don't like... usually the first one." "Felix!" Demetri scolded him. "It's true! (Y/N) lives here, they might as well know that when the twins don't get what they want, this is what happens!" Felix said to defend himself again. "What I was going to say is," Demetri said as he narrowed his eyes on Felix in warning. "Alec is very... protective of you." "Yeah but also possessive." Felix interrupted again. "Felix, I swear-" "I'm just telling the truth!" Demetri quietly growled in slight frustration. "Alec doesn't really know how to channel his emotions and his past has very much to do with that. He can't express himself correctly and so sometimes the twins have all this pent up emotion that they don't know what to do with it and...this happens." You blinked. "I can't do anything to help him?" "Darling, there is no reasoning with Alec right now in these states. It's best you leave him be and when he's ready he'll come to you." You sighed sitting on Alec's bed. "Might I speak with you about something for a moment? Something that has caused some concern?" Demetri asked. You nodded. "What's up?" You asked quietly. Demetri moved closer to you. "The way that human spoke to you. You know that isn't okay, right?" Demetri asked. You could see concern matching in both Felix and Demetri's eyes. "No one who ever claims to love you should ever treat you like that. You know that, don't you?" You nodded slowly. "I know." You said quietly. "I couldn't make excuses for him after some time and I know that when someone treats you like that... it'll only get worse. So I left. I told myself I deserved better and that I'd never go back." "Right on." Felix smirked softly from the doorway. "Did Alec hear?" You asked. Slowly, Demetri nodded. “He heard the human doubting him, shall we say? Although he was under control. He was approaching when I left when the human kissed you, Alec lost control.” You recalled the rage filled scream that rang through your ears. That must have been Alec. "Do you think he was worried? That I'd go back?" You asked. Demetri thought about it for a moment. "I think he doubts himself. How deserving he is of you. That being said, he'd hold you to him regardless." Demetri cracked a smile and you couldn't help but giggle. That sounded like Alec. "As I said, he's protective of you. You mean everything to him and when someone disrespects you. He will take that very personally." Demetri assured you before stepping back. "Give him some time. Maybe a couple of hours. He'll calm down and come back to you." "What did he do to him? My ex?" You asked. "I think it best that you don't think about that. It's better if you don't know." Demetri responded. 

Once Demetri closed Alec's door, Felix let out a sigh of relief. "They nearly screamed when we didn't tell them. Can you imagine if Alec heard them scream right now in this state? You and I would be done for!" "Now we'll be screaming next if the twins over heard what you said about them." Demetri's eyes narrowed. "We'll both get Jane's gift for that." "It was nothing but the truth!" Felix said. Demetri sighed, walking with more purpose. "(Y/N) is with us now, they'd figure that out eventually! Demetri, don't walk away from me!" Felix strode after his friend. 

After an hour of worrying, Alec returned to his room. He stood in his open door way, staring you down. "Are you okay?" You asked before you could even think. "You shouldn't have seen that." He said lowly. "Alec..." You trailed off with worry. After a moment of staring you down, he marched towards you. 

Alec collided with you so hard that you fell back upon his bed. His lips were on yours before you knew it as he climbed further on top of you. You pulled back and hurriedly said his name before he moved back in for another kiss. "Alec! Alec!" You said hurriedly, taking his face into your hands. His eyes were a deep red, an improvement from the pitch black ones that met your gaze before but it was clear that Alec was still very much upset, even as his control was gradually returning. "Are you okay?" You asked. Alec swallowed, his stare intense. "Sweetheart, everything is okay." You said weakly, feeling tears begin to build in your throat. "You're the only one that matters." You assured him, stroking his cheek his your thumb. 

You needed him to be sure that only Alec mattered to you. Unable to stand even the thought that Alec doubted that. Alec caught sight of your arm and a quiet sound that resembled a whine escaped him. The red marks that streaked down from your elbow to your wrist. Alec began to grow irate, unable to tear his eyes from your arm as he immediately pulled back from you and your hold to grasp your arm. You knew Alec was trying to figure out if he had done that but you couldn't tell him. You didn't know if it had been Alec or your ex when Alec grabbed him with such speed, tearing him from you. 

"It's okay." You said to him softly. "I-I didn't even feel it. It was so quick and with everything going on, I didn't even realise what had happened." "Does it hurt?" Alec asked. His voice made it clear that he was grasping at every straw of control he had. All the while his voice tone was slightly higher, almost like whine he was trying to hold back. "It stings a little every now and then but it's honestly just a scratch." That Alec knew. There wasn't any bleeding or even a break of the skin. However that didn't make him any happier about the situation. He exhaled and you barely heard the small whine before Alec pulled your arm to his cold lips, pressing kisses against the scratch. "I'm more concerned about you and if you're okay." You said to him. Whilst you had been told about how angry Alec could get, this had been the first time you had ever witnessed it. Alec's gaze met yours once more. "Kiss me." He said lowly before pressing his lips against yours.  You returned the kiss, without any further questions. When he was ready and if he wanted to, he'd say what's on his mind. "Come here." You said to him quietly and he leaned back slightly, allowing you to move up to the pillows on his bed. He followed and you pulled him into your chest.  "I'm not going anywhere." You whispered as Alec's eyes fluttered shut, surrounded my your scent. One hand played with his hair, the other across his back. Alec wrapped his own arms around you sliding under your back. Every so often he'd squeeze you that little bit closer to him.

#request #twilight #volturi #the volturi #reader #alec volturi #oneshot #one shot

[heliads]

Guns Blazing, Tides Rising (Part One)

When Kaz Brekker announces that they’ll be working with a certain Tidemaker to help with the latest heist, Jesper knows it’s not going to end well. He and Y/N L/N have a fierce rivalry, although feelings may change over a night.

series masterlist / part two

Jesper is almost one block away from the Crow Club when he senses that he isn’t alone.

Technically, he hasn’t been alone in a long time. There is no place to get away in Ketterdam, no alley left uninhabited or room without a listener. It’s certainly nothing like Novyi Zem, where you could find miles of farmland with nobody to talk to and nothing to do. No, the Barrel has never been somewhere to stay away from people.

This, however, is a different kind of presence. Jesper only notices it now, and he has no idea how long the Wraith has been following him. Sometimes he thinks she does it on purpose, walking behind him, footsteps silent as ever, just to see how long it takes him to figure out that she’s there. Jesper halts in his tracks, raising his voice to the hooded figure no doubt a pace or two behind him. “I know you’re there, Inej, and if I turn around just now you had better not do that thing where you wait two inches behind me just to make me jump.”

There is silence, as expected. Jesper turns in a slow semicircle, ready for the inevitable, yet he still stiffens just slightly to see Inej standing behind him. Jesper has been in the Barrel for a long time, and gotten used to the skulking and sneaking of the various goons. He fancies himself at least somewhat capable at figuring out when people are following him, but for some reason, he cannot do the same with Inej. Not at all.

She raises an eyebrow at him. “You did the thing.” Jesper finishes lamely. Something almost like a smile tugs at Inej’s lips. “That’s not exactly my fault. I’ve been waiting for you to notice me for a while. I’ve practically been stomping my heels against the cobblestones.” Jesper groans. “You have not. You’ve been as silent as ever, and you know that.” Inej ignores this, jerking her chin behind her, back in the direction of the Slat. “Your Crow Club endeavor will have to wait. Kaz needs you.”

Kaz Brekker needs him. “What a surprise. I’m very useful, as it turns out. Couldn’t this wait a little longer, though? I’ve heard they’ve got a new dealer over at Makker’s Wheel.” Inej just turns around, starting to walk back towards the Slat. No matter how hard Jesper tries, he cannot hear a single footstep echo against the stones. “This is more important.” Jesper raises an eyebrow. “More important than earning the Dregs money by supporting a local establishment? He doesn’t need to worry, you know, I’ve got money.”

Jesper grimaces at the look of incredulity starting to color Inej’s eyes. “Alright, it’s not a lot of money. But it is at least enough to buy a round or two. Besides,” Jesper continues, eager to shift the conversation away from his less than prosperous gambling habits, “Why did Kaz send you? He could have just delivered a note.” Inej lifts a shoulder, even the slightest of shrugs a graceful movement. “I told you, this is important.”

Jesper is intrigued by this. “Whenever you say ‘important’ more than once, it’s always good. Is it another heist? Extortion? Maybe a good clash of rival gangs?” Inej rolls her eyes. “I’m not supposed to tell you anything. That was the whole point of me going.” Jesper sighs dramatically. “You could tell me a little bit. I wouldn’t even mention it to Kaz.”

Inej instead lets her eyes trail upwards, towards the ramshackle glory of the Slat which is visible down the block. “You’ll get your information soon enough.” Her voice grows quiet, quieter than usual. It’s practically impossible to hear over the clack of footsteps on stone as pigeons and gang members alike rush to finish their business before it grows too late and the thieves come running. “I will say one thing, though. While we’re still away from prying ears.”

Jesper leans closer, fascinated. “What is it?” Inej looks up at him, and Jesper realizes that she looks almost regretful. “Don’t be too upset.” Jesper waits for more, some explanation to this excruciatingly vague statement, but nothing happens. “Don’t be upset? What, is Kaz going to cane me to death?” Inej tilts her head to the side. “There’s a plan, and it will involve some things that you won’t be too fond of. That’s all I can say for now.”

Jesper wants to pry a little further, even if he senses that the Wraith will remain silent, but the door to the Slat is already in front of him, effectively stopping any conversation. The Dregs may be Kaz’s gang, but loyalties can always be changed. Jesper has wandered the canals long enough to know that all secrets should be kept to locked doors, and even allies can turn against you. Some conversations are best when they’re not shared at all.

Jesper looks around for Kaz in the main room of the Slat, but he doesn’t see the dark-haired boy anywhere. Instead, Inej inclines her head towards the rickety set of stairs at the back of the room. “He’ll be waiting for you in his office.” Jesper moves to ask her something, anything, about what else is waiting for him there, but before he can even open his mouth to speak Inej has disappeared. It’s fascinating- Jesper hadn’t even turned away or looked elsewhere, yet she had vanished right before his open eyes. He hadn’t seen her go, just witnessed her blink away into the shadows.

Jesper stares at the empty floorboards where Inej had once stood, then, squaring his shoulders as if preparing for a particularly nerve-wracking round of cards, begins to ascend the flights of stairs. He pauses once outside the door to Kaz’s office, touching the hilts of his pearl handled revolvers for luck, then pushes open the door and steps inside.

Kaz is waiting for him, standing at his desk and running through a map spread out across the wooden surface. He looks up when he sees Jesper enter, straightening to nod once in greeting. Jesper’s eyes travel to Inej, who had somehow beat him up the stairs and is now perched, catlike, on Kaz’s windowsill.

Kaz doesn’t bother with pleasantries or questions about Jesper’s day, as per usual, just dives into an explanation. “There’s a mercher living down near the Financial District. He’s like the others- snotty, pretends to be pious, unseasonably rich for someone who just arrived at his title, but he’s strayed too far from his gilded walkways and tried to start restrictions on Fifth Harbor.”

Jesper lets out a snort. “Merchers. Always getting too big for their tie pins.” Kaz ignores this. “Under his new plan, we’d have to pay out reparations to him and also ease back on coaxing pigeons into our establishments. There’s no way in hell that would ever pass, but this mercher just happens to have some pretty significant blackmail on key members of the Merchant Council, and they’ll pass whatever bill he wants so long as he keeps his mouth shut. Unfortunately, we can’t kill him directly, but we can break into his mansion and steal his proof of the Council’s less savory transactions. Without the blackmail, the Council will never pass the bill, and we’ll be fine.”

Jesper raises an eyebrow. “As easy as that?” Kaz lifts a shoulder. “There’s a slight complication. This mercher, Joeri ter Steege, has a certain thing for oceanside views. He’s found himself a nice little inlet near the water’s edge, and access to his mansion is only available by boat. This means that any attempt to access his house would mean we would travel by water, and any boat could easily be sighted by guards that patrol the area.”

Jesper squints at Kaz. “What do you mean, only available by boat? If he’s living in an inlet, shouldn’t there be some dock connecting it to the mainland?” Inej flashes him a smile. “The merch has got himself a moat.” Jesper stares. “You’re kidding me. You’ve got to be kidding me. This merch is so extravagantly wealthy that he’s gone and got himself a moat? Ghezen’s hand, maybe I should become a banker. The things I could do.” Inej hides a laugh. “The moats you could build.”

Kaz’s hand tightens around his crow’s head cane. “Regardless of the merch’s terrible landscaping decisions, the fact remains that access will be practically impossible. To get across, we’d need a boat, and any boat would be sighted by guards. That’s why we need a Tidemaker.” Jesper’s smile starts to drop from his face. Suddenly, pieces are starting to fall into place. Inej’s warning. Kaz’s mention of a Tidemaker. Jesper shakes his head. “Don’t tell me you got the one Tidemaker I’m thinking of. Please say you brought in somebody else.”

Kaz opens his mouth to either condemn this or save Jesper’s skin, but then a voice rings out from the newly opened door and Jesper’s spirits sink into his boots. “Afraid not, Fahey. They’ve brought me.” Jesper turns around, finding himself face to face with a girl just walking into the office, hand loosely wrapped around the wooden doorframe. She tosses him a smile as if they’re old friends, when it couldn’t be further from the truth.

Jesper whirls back around to face Kaz. “You didn’t. You’re really trusting her? Y/N L/N?” Kaz shrugs. “She’s the best there is, unfortunately. We need to remain hidden, and she’s the only one who won’t rat us out or let us drown.” Y/N walks further into the room, letting the door close behind her. “I appreciate the vote in confidence, but don’t worry about me. I can get you in and out, no problem. Well, the only problem will be you, sharpshooter.”

Jesper feels the sudden need to grab one (or maybe both) of his revolvers and let fly with his bullets. Can a Tidemaker wash away a hail of ammunition? Jesper’s assuming not. Kaz taps his cane against the floor. “Let’s not reach to violence just yet, Jesper. Wait until after the extraction is over.” Jesper throws one last glare Y/N’s way. “Trust me, I’ll have no problem with that.” He can wait, after all.

The problem with Y/N L/N is this: she keeps finding a way to meddle with everything he does. First, Jesper was on a heist by himself, breaking into a stronghold of the Dime Lions to snatch up an encoded message left by Pekka Rollins. He was doing fine until a wave of water cascaded in through the windows, knocking him aside and thoroughly drenching the paper. It was useless now, both to Rollins and to Kaz. Y/N had only bothered to toss a wink across the room before leaving, allowing her wave to soak Jesper’s boots while she was at it.

The second time was during a shootout. She’d been hired to the other side, although Jesper hadn’t known it yet. Jesper was just about to fire upon the lousy goon who’d hired her when she’d used her powers again, this time specifically intending to ruin his guns. His precious pearl-handled revolvers, soaked through with water. It had taken him forever to get the saltwater out of every crack and groove in the metal, and during all of that time he’d vowed to himself that he’d be the one to darken her doorway and make Y/N regret ever stepping foot against him again.

Jesper had won the third time. This time, he was the unexpected guest, and she was seconds away from drowning an entire swath of gang members to protect a secret. She was just raising her hands to move the water into place when a gunshot sounded from out of nowhere and she was knocked sideways, hand already raising to the stain of red starting to bloom out from her arm. It wouldn’t kill her, unfortunately, but it was enough to give the gang members time to escape. Some of them were Dregs, after all, and Jesper had some friends to protect. That isn’t to say that he didn’t walk away with a smile, just that he had multiple motives.

Needless to say, he didn’t exactly have the best history with Y/N L/N. And now Kaz was asking him to have her back during a heist? It sounds like a joke. Unfortunately, Jesper has a sinking feeling that there’s no getting out of this. If he’s going to have to depend on Y/N for his life, things might not exactly go according to plan. He has no idea where Y/N’s loyalties lie, he reasons, but Jesper thinks there might be more to it than that.

The group meets up at the water’s edge. The canals bleed into the harbor here, and Jesper can just make out the lights of Joeri ter Steege’s mansion across the glittering black of the waves. He can also make out a slight tension in Kaz’s grip on his cane as he takes in the sight of the undulating water, but that isn’t for him to notice. Y/N melts out of the shadows, a blue lining on her coat the only indication that she might still cling to Ravkan traditions for Grisha. “Well?” She asks, walking past them as if not expecting an answer, “Are we ready?”

Y/N spreads her hands and the water of the harbor flickers and shifts on the surface. As Jesper watches, Y/N steps forward, and the water solidifies under her feet as if she’s walking on glass instead of the tides. She pushes her hands apart, and the area of solid water expands until it’s large enough to act as a bridge. She turns to the rest of the group. “We can walk from here. It’ll be faster than a boat, and far more quiet.” 

Kaz nods, beginning to walk after her on the bridge of water. Before his feet leave the ground, his mouth moves once. “No mourners.” Jesper nods. “No funerals.” They won’t be able to speak as freely at the mercher’s island, so this will do best. Jesper considers the unmoving waves one last time, then follows him. He’s half expecting Y/N to let the water liquify under his feet just a little bit, out of spite, but it holds. They continue along the harbor, and if Jesper turns his head he can see the bridge rippling back into normal water after they pass by it. It raises the hairs on the back of his neck to see his escape route disappear so quickly, but Jesper does his best to quiet the voice of warning. Kaz would never bring Y/N in if he thought she would betray them, and even if he did, Kaz would have another way out. That’s just the way Dirtyhands worked.

All the same, Jesper feels a little better when his heels land on solid ground once more. Kaz doesn’t have to say a word, just points at the roof. Jesper nods, remembering the plan. He and Y/N split away from Kaz and Inej, heading towards the roof for their line of entry. When Jesper had heard this part of the plan, he had complained viciously. Why should he have to go scale the building alone with Y/N? Why couldn’t Inej go instead? In the end, it hadn’t mattered- the plan needed them both there, so that’s where they would go.

Jesper doesn’t exactly have Inej’s skill in climbing, but ter Steege makes it easy. There are balconies and handholds practically everywhere, as if the merch is offering free mansion climbing lessons to anyone interested. Jesper supposes that one would be less concerned about robberies if you had a moat, but still. You have that much money, you might as well pretend to make it hard for light-fingered con artists.

Soon enough, Jesper and Y/N are standing on the roof, staring down at the fourth skylight from the left. This is where they’ll enter, once it reaches eleven bells and it’s time to move. Now, however, all they can do is wait as Kaz and Inej get into position. Jesper carefully sits down, letting his long legs prop up against the tiles of the roof. Y/N sits next to him, staring up at the sky. The moon is out tonight, the pale light illuminating her eyes and dusting her cheeks.

Distantly, Jesper realizes that he’s never seen her like this- letting her guard down for once. He’s not shooting at her, she’s not trying to drown him, it’s almost like a peace offering. Y/N must be having the same thoughts, because she turns to face him. The moonlight still stays on her face, as if unwilling to let go. Jesper has the sudden thought that he wouldn’t want to do the same either, if he had the opportunity to linger here, then shakes himself mentally.

Y/N’s voice is quiet, a whisper cutting through his thoughts and scattering them to the wind. “Do you ever wonder what would have happened if we hadn’t been fighting when we first met each other? Would we have been friends like you and Kaz?” Jesper chuckles in spite of himself. “If you think Kaz Brekker makes friends, I’m starting to think that you’ve suffered a head injury.”

Y/N rolls her eyes. “He trusts you. That’s rare.” Jesper shrugs, conceding this. He keeps speaking, though, even when he has just decided to remain silent. “I think we could have been close. We have similar interests.” Y/N raises an eyebrow. “Money? A good time?” Jesper flashes her a grin, easy as flipping a coin and landing it square in your palm. “Exactly. See? We already understand each other perfectly.”

Y/N lets out a short laugh at that, moonlight still teasing at the corner of her lips. Jesper’s eyes linger longer than they should. Curse his tendencies to start rivalries with the prettiest of enemies- it’s beginning to get him into trouble. Y/N’s head tilts towards the tides below, and then she stands. “It’s time. The bells are about to ring.” Jesper mourns the moment lost, then stands and takes his position by the skylight. He waits for the bells to begin to toll, then grabs his revolver, spinning it back and forth in his palm like a nervous tic before firing four times at the corners of the window, exactly where the locks will hold.

He doesn’t miss the way Y/N’s eyes track the spin of the gun, or the admirative tug of her lips into a half smile. However, now is no longer the time for schoolboy glances, and Jesper kneels at the window, carefully removing it from its frame. This is their entrance, and they would do well to hurry along.

The plan almost goes well. Almost. They manage to break into the mercher’s office, stealing the documents and meeting up with Kaz and Inej to get out, but just as they’re about to cross through the main atrium of the mansion, a loud dissonance of bells breaks out. An alarm. Jesper sees identical looks of panic reflected on every face- this was not supposed to happen. Not at all. They don’t hesitate, just run. Jesper’s lived in the Barrel long enough to remember this one lesson: when you can’t count on gangs or anyone to have your back, your feet always will. Just remember to keep moving.

They’re almost to the water’s edge when the shots ring out. Guards have followed them out of the building and fire even as their feet pound down the beach. Jesper’s revolvers are in his hands before another second can pass, bullets aimed with precision as he runs. They’re almost to the water when he hears a sound from behind him that draws all breath from his lungs. From here, it almost sounds like a cry of pain. It’s soft, as if someone’s trying not to draw attention, but Jesper hears it nonetheless.

He turns around and his stomach clenches with horror as he realizes he was right. Y/N is stumbling, clutching a terrible scarlet stain across her chest. It’s deep, too deep, and far too close to her heart to be safe. Y/N has time to fling her arms up, casting out the bridge of water once more, before she falls to the ground. All of a sudden, Jesper’s vision tunnels. He can only see two things: Y/N, hand limp over the spreading blood, and the guards, pistols still smoking.

Jesper’s shots ring out again and again. He can’t hear anything other than a buzzing in his ears, something that might be his pulse or just a sign that he’s gone mad. To be honest, Jesper’s not sure that he cares. Bullets careen through the air, curving around pillars and corners to reach their targets. His da would panic to see him, grab Jesper by his shoulders and tell him to be more careful. Anyone could know now, could see the way the bullets fly through the air as if guided by an invisible hand and figure out what that means, but Jesper doesn’t think about that for a second. All he can think about is revenge, and making sure that every single body falls to the ground.

Jesper’s haze leaves him, and he realizes that all of the guards are dead. All of them. Then his guns are back in their holsters, and he’s scrambling towards Y/N. When he picks her up, she feels cold. Too cold. Blood is staining his hands now, turning the long fingers red, but he barely notices at all. His heels flash down the beach, then onto the water, which is still solid. It must be killing her to keep this up, but she’s still doing it.

Jesper swore that it took far longer to make the trip over the harbor, but it feels like he’s barely taken a few steps before he’s on the other side and the water bridge is swallowed up by the tides once more. Kaz and Inej have just made it onto the other side, and their eyes widen at the crazed look on Jesper and the bloodied form of Y/N in his arms. Jesper doesn’t have time to consider this, and he shouts at them as he runs. “Get a healer! Get somebody- Nina, maybe. Anybody.”

Inej takes off into the streets, but Kaz remains, giving Jesper a particular look. “I remember you saying something about how Y/N was your rival. This is your chance, you know. The Barrel can be a ruthless place, and nobody would suspect you if she never made it back.” Jesper has the feeling that this is a test, some challenge placed before him to see how he’ll respond, but he can’t find it within himself to care. Jesper has always had an affinity for the odds, but this once, it’s not enough. “No. I’m getting her out. I need a Healer.”

Kaz steps back, allowing Jesper to pass, but not before he sees the appraising look in his eyes. Kaz nods once, briefly, and then Jesper is around the corner and sprinting headlong towards the Slat. A Healer is indeed waiting there, and holds out her arms to receive Y/N. For a second, Jesper’s arms clench around her body, unwilling to give her up, and then he forces his arms to relax and she’s gone, carried away into another room.

Jesper is left with the blood staining his shirt and the decision staining his conscience. If Y/N died, was it his fault? Should he care this much? He’s not sure that question can even be answered. The Healer comes out eventually, nodding at him. She’s not ready to have visitors, or at least she won’t be awake to see them, but that doesn’t stop Jesper from disappearing into her room the second the Healer leaves.

Jesper feels his throat close up when he sees her. Y/N is lying stiff and unmoving on a narrow bed, breath unnaturally slow and eyes closed. It’s strange- he’s seen her fiery and powerful, glowing as a Grisha does after they use their powers, but now she looks seconds from death. Jesper’s feet carry him woodenly over to the bed, and he stands there for a moment before reaching down and taking her hand. He doesn’t expect to feel anything at all, yet there’s a slight pressure and her eyelids flicker open.

“What, trying to finish the job?” A slight smile cracks Y/N��s lips, and Jesper feels like he could cry out in relief. Maybe it’s time he takes up Inej’s saints after all. “You’re alright?” She nods, although even this small movement appears to hurt. “As well as one can. I think I have someone to thank for that, though.” Jesper nods slowly. “Yeah, the Healer was great. We should keep her around just in case.”

Y/N laughs, the sound undamaged even as her blood still stains the bandages. “You’re impossible. I’m talking about you.” Jesper’s cheeks feel hot. “Oh.” Now this is unreal- usually he’s the one eliciting blushes, never the other way around. “I couldn’t just leave you there, you know.” She nods once, smiling, and then her eyelids seem too heavy to stay open and she starts to drift off to sleep once more. If Jesper happened to stay with her even after her eyes shut, and even if a kiss just happened to be pressed to her cheek, well, that was nobody’s business but his own.

#jesper fahey #jesper fahey imagines #jesper fahey x reader #jesper fahey oneshot #six of crows #six of crows imagines #six of crows x reader #six of crows oneshot #grishaverse #shadow and bone #sab #soc #shadow and bone imagines #shadow and bone oneshot #sab imagines #sab oneshot #soc imagines #soc oneshot #grishaverse imagines #grishaverse oneshot #jesper imagines #soc jesper imagines

[klvbxlove]

lunch (yosuke x introverted! gn! reader)

a/n: damn, i’m really out here with ANOTHER yosuke fic, aren’t i? not that i hate it, i have some fun writing for him! but i still can’t get over that one anon calling me a “subconscious yosuke kin” (to whoever sent me that, thanks LMAO). now, a bit off topic, i really wanna try to write for the investigation team girls as well, but i’m having a bit difficulty. so please note that it’s not like i hate the girls (if anything, they’re cool! i especially love naoto. i may or may not have a crush on her). it might take awhile for me to put out another fanfic for one of them that i actually like. 

reader type: gender neutral

reader specification(s): reader is an introvert (**)

genre(s): fluff

trigger warning(s): none

summary: yosuke noticed that you haven’t made the effort to make friends, let alone talk to at least one person, since the day you transferred to his class. he decided he would change that and invite you to lunch.

word count: 1.6k words

(**) i know i could’ve written this in the a/n above, but i felt like i had to point it this right BEFORE the drabble starts. for some people, the reader might not sound like an introvert. i understand. however, being an introvert myself, i did base the reader a little bit off of me and how i act around new people talking to me. 

♡ ♡ ♡ (ꈍᴗꈍ)ε｀*) ♡ ♡ ♡

key:

(l/n) = last name

♡ ♡ ♡ (ꈍᴗꈍ)ε｀*) ♡ ♡ ♡

   Yosuke knew that sometimes it would be considered rude (and creepy) to stare at a person for an extended period. 

   But was that enough to stop him from staring at you, though? No.

   Whenever he got a chance during class, Yosuke would gaze his brown eyes upon you. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you would be sitting alone at your desk and not paying attention to anyone around you. And either you would be reading a book or going on your phone. You were always so focused, as well. Yosuke swore the whole class could be extremely high on drugs, and you would pay no mind to it whatsoever. 

   It had only been a few days since you had transferred to his class, but as far as he knew, you still had not made any friends. Although, it did look like you did not care about it. He had never seen you trying to talk to one person in class before, either. 

   Yosuke knew himself as a bit of an extravert who has no problem making friends most of the time. So if anything, he expected himself to have gone up to you and at least introduced himself. But no, instead, all he has been doing was staring at you. Yosuke was conflicted on whether to talk to you or leave you alone. For all he knew, you probably did not like socializing with anyone. 

   At the moment you looked up to make eye contact, Yosuke immediately turned around in his seat. Oh God, he could only hope he did not look awkward or creepy doing that. The last thing he wanted was for a new classmate to have a negative impression on him. 

   Okay, he thought to himself. Maybe I can talk to the new student during lunch later. Maybe I could even invite them to eat with me! Well, unless they don’t want to. I mean, I hope they accept my offer.

-

   Holy crap, I did it! Yosuke felt like he was going stiff for the billionth time. He was currently sitting next to you on the rooftop after you had (surprisingly) accepted his invitation. Although, there was a bit of awkwardness in the air during this time. Yosuke felt too awkward to start eating as he could not help but steal a few more glances at you. Meanwhile, you were eating your lunch in silence while you looked off in the distance. 

   You gotta say at least one thing to (L/N), you know.

   “So, um, what do you think about Yasogami High so far? Is it alright?” Well, it was a bit of an unusual question, but Yosuke figured that he would start with that. “Or, what about Inaba?” 

   You hummed, thinking of how to answer as you chewed your food. “It’s alright. I mean, I haven’t gotten the chance to explore Inaba yet after moving in, so I can’t say how I feel about it so far.”

   Yosuke nodded in understanding. As much as he enjoyed living in Inaba, it was not comparable to big cities in Japan like Tokyo and Osaka. 

   And now that he thought about it, today was also the first time he got to hear your voice again. The last time Yosuke heard you talk was when you had to introduce yourself in front of your new classmates. Since then, you remained quiet amongst the class. 

   But then again, it already sent strange beatings to his heart for no reason. 

   “Is there a reason why you moved here?”

   “Oh, one of my guardians just got a new job in Inaba, so we had to relocate so they could be closer,” you explained. “Well, actually, they also got another job offer in Kyoto, but they wanted to settle with the one here in Inaba. So I was just like, ‘Alright,’”

   For some reason, this intrigued Yosuke. “Interesting,” he commented as he took a bite of his food. “So I assume your family is the quiet type, right?” 

   “Not exactly,” you shrugged. “I mean, I got some extraverted family members. But for a few months, my family began thinking maybe moving somewhere quieter would be a nice change. Not that they hated the city or anything, you know?” 

   “No worries, I get it,” Yosuke smiled at you. “Inaba might not be a big and interesting place, but you learn to like it over time,” 

   But at this moment, Yosuke felt a weird feeling in him when you chuckled, “Yeah, hopefully, I will,” you noted.

   Yosuke had no idea why he suddenly felt a bold of confidence. Just a moment ago, he was hesitant to invite you up to the rooftop for lunch! But he figured he would go through with it. 

   “If you want, I could show you around Inaba during the weekend! I can even bring along my friends, who are all not at school at the moment.”

   You pondered for a bit before you smiled. “That would be nice. I’ll consider it.” Then you tilted your head “And your friends are absent? Like, all of them?” 

   Yosuke chuckled sheepishly. “Yeah, literally all of them. All I know is that Yukiko is on vacation with her family, Chie got sick yesterday, and Yu lives in Tokyo. Not sure about Rise, Kanji, and Naoto. So I’m pretty much alone for the day.”

   Wait, he just caught himself. “Oh. Well, I guess ‘alone’ would be the wrong word now that I’m hanging out with you. Haha, oops!” he scratched the back of his head sheepishly. 

   The awkwardness was rubbing off on Yosuke, and he hated it. Why can he not ever be awesome? He was almost glad when you spoke up. Although, he was scared of your answer.

    “You’re all good,” you smiled as you closed your bento box and put it aside. “I mean, yeah. It honestly sucks when almost all your friends are absent from school. For me, I just sit in class and at lunch alone like, ‘This sucks. Why did you guys have to leave me?!’  

   “It’s kinda weird. Being an introvert, you would think I love lonely and having little to no friends. But no, I still need my small group of friends with me to make it through the school day, or else it will get boring as hell.” 

   Yosuke smiled. “Same here! My friends are great, even though sometimes they can be a pain in the ass. I can feel lonely when I’m not with them for long periods. It was why I wanted to invite you to eat lunch with me. And I also wanted to get a chance to get to know you after you arrived here a few days ago. 

   “Although, I gotta be honest. I was a bit worried that you would decline me. I dunno. I assumed you were the type of person who hated it when someone tries to talk to you. I-Is that a bit weird?” 

   Why are you asking if it's weird? OF COURSE, IT IS!

   Stop making this more awkward for yourself! For all you know, you’re probably making (L/N) uncomfortable!!

   OR HOW ABOUT YOU STOP OVERREACTING?!

   “Hanamura, it’s fine. Not weird at all!” you let out a light laugh. “Listen, it’s not necessarily a thing where I loathe people talking to me. But only if if they come up to me first. Other than that, I would much rather be quiet. If I’m with my close friends, then I can be a bit more talkative. 

   “But I mean, it’s so funny,” you continued, smiling. “My guardians say I’m such an extravert around my close friends and cousins. I talk so much around them, yet with strangers or people I barely know, I’m dead silent. I guess if I become more comfortable around a person, I won’t be as shy.” 

   God damn it, Yosuke knew this might be weird to ask. But he just had to know. “So…I assume you’re slowly becoming comfortable around me? I mean, you are talking a lot!”

   “I guess I am!” you said.

   Well, that was one hell of a quick answer. Eh, not that he minded! 

   Moments passed, but before Yosuke knew it, the both of you continued to talk more. It was not as if he had been around you for the longest time, but he felt like he knew more about you. He felt proud of himself for getting you to open up to him.

   And at this point, Yosuke looked up. He noticed how many of the students who were also on the rooftop were beginning to head inside.

   “Well, class is starting soon. We should probably get going before we’re late,” Yosuke suggested. You nodded in agreement, and both of you stood up. 

   “Hey, Hanamura,” you spoke up. In turn, Yosuke turned to face you and saw a soft smile on your lips (and a blush on his cheeks! Wait, no—).

    “Thanks for inviting me to lunch today, I enjoyed it a lot,” you thanked him, “And I appreciated you talking to me. You were the first person at school to have done that so far. Even though I like being alone, I still liked hanging out with someone after days of barely knowing anyone here.”

   Yosuke knew this for sure. He was proud of himself for offering you the invitation. If he had not, high chances were that you would have continued being quiet, and he would have no clue about who you were. So smiling back at you, Yosuke said, “It’s no problem at all, (L/N)! I enjoyed it, too. Wait, give me just a sec.”

   You tilted your head in confusion when Yosuke pulled out his phone and gave it to you. In a matter of seconds, you realized what the brown-haired boy wanted, judging by the screen showing. But still, you wanted to hear him say it. 

   “Put your phone number in here. And I can text you after school!” 

   With a soft chuckle, you did as Yosuke did. You especially loved seeing his eyes glisten with excitement after handing his phone back.

   And the both of you eventually went back to your classroom, feeling bliss in the air. 

#persona 4 #persona #persona 4 x reader #persona 4 imagines #persona imagines #yosuke hanamura #fanfiction #persona 4 golden #p4g #yosuke hanamura x reader #oneshot #gn reader #x reader #kristin's writings

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

3rd life Villain!Impulse perhaps? Reasoning because he's been so nice to all factions and appears very harmless...until he kills Tango in the firing squad scenario. Do with that as you will :3

honestly i think the villain 3rd Life AUs are some of my best writing. also i’m pretty sure i’m gonna end up writing everyone as a villain at some point lol (villains so far: Scar, Etho, Tango, Grian, Ren, Martyn, now Impulse. Joel too if you count that fic where he kills Jimmy)

…

A feeling of dread hangs over Impulse as he makes his way up to Tango’s base. Getting a private message from his best friend, simply saying “we need to talk”, has highly unsettled him. He has absolutely no idea what Tango could want to talk to him about.”

As he gets to the hill Tango calls home, he spots Tango himself standing at the top, arms folded, clearly watching him. A shiver running down his spine, Impulse slowly climbs up the hill. Tango watches him all the way.

Finally, he gets to the top. Keeping an eye on the sun, which must be about an hour away from setting, he gives his friend a wave. “Hi, Tango. What’s… What’s going on?”

Tango’s looking at him with a narrow-eyed expression of distrust. “I know your game, Impulse.”

“Huh?” Impulse blinks. That’s not what he was expecting. “What?”

“Your little game of pretending to be allies with everyone so nobody will ever turn against you. Etho, Dogwarts, the crastle folk. You’ve got them all wrapped round your little finger.”

Impulse frowns. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Tango rolls his eyes. “Uh huh, ‘course you don’t. You change the sheet music for everyone, don’t you? Everyone believes they’re the only one getting your support. Well, not me. I know what you’re up to and I’m gonna make sure you stop getting away with it, starting today.”

As Tango turns to start walking away, Impulse grabs his wrist, stopping him from leaving. “Please don’t, Tango,” he says calmly.

Tango scoffs. “Let go of me, Impulse. I’m gonna expose you whether you like it or not.”

Impulse hangs on to Tango’s wrist. “I’m giving you one last chance to back down. You’re red; if something happens to you, you won’t come back.”

“You’re not gonna stop me,” Tango retorts. “I know you. Your niceness has always been your biggest weakness, and in this case, it’s gonna be your downfall.”

“You’ve misjudged me.”

Impulse abruptly seizes Tango’s lapels and roughly swings him closer to the edge of the cliff, holding him dangerously close to the precipice. “I‘ll do anything to survive,” Impulse says coldly. “Anything.”

Tango’s eyes widen with shock. “Impulse-!”

But Impulse shoves him off the top of the cliff.

He waits for a few seconds, listening to Tango’s screams get quieter and quieter, until they’re abruptly cut off.

Tango fell from a high place

Taking a deep breath, Impulse takes off running. He doesn’t know if there’s anyone nearby but he can’t risk it. If anyone sees him here, he’s done for. Absolutely done for.

The chat is filling up with confused and concerned messages but it doesn’t matter now. Tango is gone forever. Nobody ever needs to know what happened.

Impulse dashes back towards the wool castle but as he passes Tango’s still-gushing lava minigame, he bumps into Etho, who’s running the other way.

“Impulse!” Etho breathes. “Gosh, you scared me. What happened?”

Despite internally panicking quite hard, Impulse manages to stammer, “I-I dunno, I was just going to Tango’s base to talk to him when I saw the message. I thought he might have been somewhere around here but I couldn’t find any dropped items or anything. He must’ve been somewhere else when he died.”

“Tango doesn’t just fall from a high place like that,” Etho says. “He’s careful. Impulse, I’m worried that someone might have murdered him.”

“What?!” Impulse gasps. “Who would do that?!”

“I don’t know for sure, but my prime suspect is the crastle alliance. Bdubs had it out for Tango for some reason so I’m sure he knows something.”

“Oh no…” Impulse stares at his friend with wide, innocent eyes. “Bdubs wouldn’t have taken TWO of Tango’s lives… would he?”

Etho slowly shakes his head. “I don’t know. I thought I knew our friends really well but lately, I…” He sighs quietly. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t put it past him. But it’s getting late; I’ll go talk to him tomorrow.”

He turns back towards the castle. “You coming?”

“I‘ll be there later. I’m just gonna go check on my villagers.”

“Gotcha. And Impulse…”

Impulse pauses as Etho glances back at him. “Thanks for being the only person on this server I can really trust.”

Impulse smiles back. “No problem.”

…

Under the cover of darkness, Impulse makes his way to the crastle. He can see Cleo up on the roof, aiming a crossbow at him, but thankfully, she lowers it when he gets close enough for her to see who he is.

Cleo and Bdubs let Impulse into the crastle. “What’s going on, Impulse?” Bdubs demands. “Nobody seems to know what happened to Tango!”

“Nobody’s owning up to knowing, anyway,” Cleo adds. “I don’t suppose you do?”

Impulse shakes his head. “I’ve no idea. But I’ve heard rumours going round the server and I thought I should come to you directly to let you know.”

“Let us know what?” Bdubs says.

“That Etho suspects you guys had something to do with Tango’s death.”

“What?!”

Bdubs and Cleo exchange a shocked look.

“Why would he think that?!” Bdubs snaps. “He has no evidence!”

“That’s why I thought I should come over and warn you,” says Impulse. “He’s gonna come over here tomorrow to confront you about it.”

“Oh gawsh…” Bdubs groans. “Thanks for telling us.”

“Oh, but this is just to give you some warning to prepare. You can’t let Etho know I told you, okay? Otherwise he might not tell me other stuff that concerns you guys.”

“Don’t worry, we won’t,” Cleo says. “If we’re your secret girlfriend, does that mean Etho’s your… uh… spouse?”

“I don’t really have a singular “spouse”,” responds Impulse, making air quotes over the word “spouse”. “More like the rest of the server is my “spouse” and I can’t let them know that I favour you over them.”

“Riiiight, gotcha. Guess you’d better head home before your “spouse” misses you.”

Impulse nods. “Yeah, I gotta go back to Etho. See you guys later.”

As he leaves the crastle and starts to head for home, he spots a figure watching him from next to one of Bdubs’s tall spruce trees. When the figure comes forward, Impulse recognises the person as Joel.

“Hi,” he says, giving a friendly smile. Joel isn’t one of his official allies at the moment but that doesn’t mean he can’t be nice to him. “What’s up?”

“I heard Tango died,” Joel says, eyes sparking with interest. “Do you know what happened?”

“No, I don’t. I just saw it in chat.”

“I think you’re lying.”

Impulse blinks. “What?”

Joel grins as he senses he’s caught Impulse off guard. “I said I think you’re lying. I think you’re manipulating everyone into believing you’re their friend when in actuality, you don’t care about any of them. And I think you killed Tango when he confronted you about it. Am I wrong?”

Impulse stares at him, unable to say anything in his defence.

In the ensuing pause, Joel takes a sudden step towards Impulse, who backs up a few steps, his hand automatically flying to the hilt of his sword. But he pauses. He has to be extremely careful here; Bdubs and Cleo may be watching him. If they see him put a single foot wrong here, it’s over. He has to let Joel make the first move.

“Would you kill me?” says Joel challengingly. “Would you kill me as callously as you killed Tango?”

Impulse carefully turns his back to the crastle and narrows his eyes. “Come and find out. Or would you rather die stupidly and pointlessly because you forgot about FIRE DAMAGE?”

That does it. Impulse knew exactly how to rile Joel up and it works. Eyes flashing red, Joel growls and lashes out with his fist.

Impulse allows himself to be hit in the chin, narrowly avoiding biting his tongue. Joel’s second blow, this time to the stomach, winds him and causes him to drop to his knees, vulnerable. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Joel drawing his sword. This is it; this is the moment. Either his position on the server will elevate… or he will simply die.

He holds his breath and squeezes his eyes shut.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!”

An arrow flies out of nowhere and buries itself in Joel’s chest, causing him to stagger back a step. A split second later, a second arrow hits Joel in the neck, and that’s all it takes.

SmallishBeans was shot by BdoubleO100

Impulse stares at the ground where Joel had landed, a second before he died. He can’t believe his plan worked so well.

“Impulse, are you okay?” Bdubs appears at Impulse’s side, discarding his crossbow. “What happened?”

“He… He was gonna kill me,” Impulse chokes out. This isn’t entirely an act; Joel’s unexpected hit to his stomach has completely snatched the wind from his sails.

“Why? Why did he wanna kill you?”

“Did he really need a reason?” Cleo says. “He was red and Impulse is green. Nuff said.”

“Wh-Whatever it was, you guys saved my life.” Impulse gives them a smile. “Thanks. If Etho or anyone else asks what happened, you guys spotted me getting attacked by Joel on my way back from checking on my villagers. Okay?”

“Ooh, good story,” Bdubs says approvingly. “But are you sure you’re okay? You’re not hurt, are you?”

“No, no, I’m fine. Thanks to you guys. I should probably head home, though.”

Bdubs pats him on the shoulder. “Yeah, go get some rest. Thanks again for… um… coming past and not visiting.”

Impulse nods, knowing exactly what Bdubs means. “No worries.”

…

“Joel just attacked you?” Etho frowns. “Why would he do that?”

“He doesn’t need a reason,” responds Impulse, recalling what Cleo said earlier. “He was red. I guess he just saw an easy target and couldn’t resist.”

“So he attacked you on your way back from the villagers, huh. And you’re okay, right? You’re not hurt.”

“No, I’m fine,” says Impulse. “A little shaken and tired from everything that’s happened, though.”

“Oh yeah, you should get some sleep.” Etho smiles at his friend. “See you tomorrow.”

“Night, Etho.”

As Impulse gets into bed in his room, he can’t help a small smile. He took a big risk today but it has really paid off. Getting rid of two red lifers in one day is enough of an accomplishment in of itself, but doing it without arousing suspicion on himself AND managing to turn Etho and Bdubs further against each other? That’s something he can be proud of.

All he needs to do now is make sure he’s in the right place at the right time for Etho’s confrontation with Bdubs tomorrow and perhaps he can be there for another red life death. Bdubs may be one of his strongest allies but if Impulse sees a chance to get another player out of the game, well…

He’s going to take it.

#3rd life smp #3rdlifesmp #impulsesv #etho #ethoslab #bdubs #bdoubleo100 #zombiecleo #smallishbeans #tangotek #vaunna’s requests

[blu-joons]

DATING SHINee A⇴Z HEADCANON ⇴ Lee Taemin

A ⇴ AFFECTION

Taemin isn’t someone who can talk a lot about his feelings, so he’ll often let his affection do the talking. You can often tell a lot about how he’s feeling just by the way that he holds you or if he decides to give you a bit of space.

B ⇴ BEFORE DATING

The two of you met through mutual friends as the introverts at the party. Whilst everyone else was loud and boisterous, the two of you tended to just take a seat at the back and watch the others. Throughout the night, you bonded about how much quieter the two of you were, and soon a strong friendship formed between you both.

C ⇴ CONFESSION

A lot of work went into Taemin’s confession, he had a good talk with the other members before confessing to you so that they could give him plenty of advice. They knew he wasn’t as good a talker as some of the others, so they gave him the chance to have a bit of practice. When it finally came to confessing to you, Taemin was incredibly nervous, he didn’t want to say or do the wrong thing and end up screwing things up. Luckily for him, and you though, everything went perfectly, and his confession was smooth.

D ⇴ DATES

Taemin spent a lot of time working on his solo stuff when he wasn’t with SHInee or SuperM, so your dates were usually quite limited. He tended to invite you to the studio for dates, even it just meant that the two of you had an hour together. Taemin loved to sit you down and show you what he was working on, even giving you a few spoilers if he wanted to. You’d usually end up sticking around whilst he continued to work, just to keep him company, tending to fall asleep and leave him to wake you whenever he was done.

E ⇴ EXPERIENCE

He wasn’t blind to what being in a relationship as an idol meant, he learnt a lot from filming We Got Married that he really put into practice with you. He was very protective of you and wanted to make sure that he kept you safe, he’d seen too many of his friends have their relationships destroyed to allow for the same to happen to the two of you. Whilst he had never experienced a relationship in the limelight himself before, he worked hard to learn from others, so he knew exactly what to do when the time came for him.

F ⇴ FIGHTING

When the two of you argued, Taemin would get very quiet. He wasn’t someone who shouted or raised his voice, in fact, he tended to do the complete opposite and just let you offload on him. If he really feels like he has to stand his ground though, he will. Petty arguments really aren’t his thing, if he thinks you’re being ridiculous or overdramatic, he won’t be afraid to tell you and encourage you to rethink what you’re trying to cause an argument about. He’s not one for games, and even when the two of you argue, he won’t allow himself to be messed around or bashed when he knows that he’s done nothing wrong.

G ⇴ GETTING TO KNOW HIS FAMILY

Finding the time in amongst his schedule to meet his family was almost impossible, so you tended to bond over calls whenever Taemin rang. They loved getting to know you and seeing the dynamic that the two of you had built up together, but best of all, they loved being able to see Taemin’s huge smile with you.

H ⇴ HOME

It didn’t take long for Taemin to encourage you to move into his home. He was like an excitable kid when he started dating you, he wanted you around as much as possible, the perfect relationship. The first morning he woke up without you tore him apart, and he knew that wasn’t something he wanted to go back to now that he had you.

I ⇴ “I LOVE YOU”

The first ‘I love you,’ actually came from Taemin in one of his songs. When he told you that he’d dedicated a song to you, you were definitely a little surprised, but as you listened to the lyrics, those three special words were the last of the song. You asked him about it straight away, thinking that you’d misheard, only for him to tell you once again that he loved you.

J ⇴ JEALOUSY

If someone was causing him to get jealous, Taemin wasn’t afraid to call whoever the person was out on it. Again, he doesn’t play games, and he won’t stand back and let someone get too close to your or allow someone to try and wind him up. It often surprises you when he gets into one of his jealous moods as he’ll become quite sharp and blunt until whoever is causing the problem has got the hint that they’re not welcome. It definitely brings a smile to your face seeing just possessive he can get of you at times.

K ⇴ KIDS

Just the thought of settling down with you forever was enough to put a smile on Taemin’s face, he knew there was no one else that he wanted to spend forever with. It wasn’t just kids that he imagined with you, he often found himself thinking about how the two of you would grow old together and where you’d live, even as far as where his career would end up with you and your young family supporting him.

L ⇴ LAUGHTER

Any day with Taemin is bound to put a smile on your face, he is the embodiment of chaos. He’s clumsy and messy, but somehow you wouldn’t have him any other way. He’ll often hear you sniggering at him when he bumps his hip against a table or accidentally knocks over the glass that he’s drinking from. As much as it hurts, knowing that it’s put a smile on your face will make the pain much more bearable for him, even if he will attack your sides afterwards for ever laughing at him when he clumsily falls.

M ⇴ MISSING

Being away from you is hard on Taemin, it was something he thought would get easier, but actually, it only ever got harder for him. He was away a lot on several different promotions, and as much as he’d try and have you there with him, it wasn’t always possible. When he was away, he’d arrange date nights for the two of you at least once a week, he’d pick a time that worked with both of your time zones so that the two of you could sit and have a call without any disturbances. It was the only thing that kept his mind focussed, having just a short amount of time with you was very precious when he was away from home.

N ⇴ NICKNAMES

He loved to just call you ‘love,’ he loved the traditionalism of the word and the smile it always put on your face. For you, he’d often either be ‘tae,’ or ‘min,’ if you ever called him by his full name then he was in trouble.

O ⇴ OBSESSION

Taemin is obsessed with your hands, he loves to be able to either hold your hand or feel your hand tracing around his body and exploring his toned physique.

P ⇴ PDA

If there’s one thing that is a big no for Taemin, it’s public affection. He’s quite quiet and reserved at the best of times, but that is especially the case when it comes to your relationship, he will hate for anyone to have their attention on you, he likes to keep the two of you as private as possible and out of the limelight.

Q ⇴ QUESTIONS

You’ll often be the one asking questions, as Taemin loves to daydream. You’ll wave your hand in front of his face often to bring him back into reality, and when you ask him what he was dreaming about, he’ll never remember.

R ⇴ RANDOM FACTS

Because you spent so much time at the studio with Taemin, he ended up having a whole drawer in his desk dedicated to you. It had hairbands, toothbrushes, cutlery, everything that you could ever need inside. Whenever you complained that you needed a tissue or some balm, all Taemin had to do was pull the drawer back and reach inside, and then whatever it was that you wanted would coincidentally appear in front of you.

S ⇴ SEX

He’s very much a passionate guy, he loves the heat of the moment and the intimacy that comes with being so close together. He’s not good with words, so he uses this time a lot to physically be able to prove to you how much he loves you. He always takes the best care of you, and Taemin is definitely the king of after care, he’ll cuddle you tightly and always make sure that you’re comfortable and got what you need.

T ⇴ TEXTS

When he’s away especially, he relies on texts a lot. He’ll often send you updates on what he’s doing throughout his day and will expect the same from you too so he can feel like he’s at home alongside you.

U ⇴ UNIVERSE

The best thing about being in a relationship with you, for Taemin, was that he always had someone beside him. Whilst he had plenty of people around him, at a distance, you were the one that he let all the way in.

V ⇴ VACATION

If he ever got the chance to go on holiday, he’d definitely make the most of it. Somewhere hot, and somewhere quiet was all that Taemin wanted. He loved to just be able to sit back and relax you for a short while without anyone ringing his phone or anyone at the office demanding that he head down as soon as possible.

W ⇴ WHINING

You’d usually only ever hear Taemin groan when he broke something, he’d cry out in frustration which would only end up making you laugh loudly.

X ⇴ XXXXX

Taemin knew that you were a big fan of his lips, and he would definitely use that to his advantage. If he wanted something from you, he’d use his lips to get what he wanted from you. He’d often come up behind you and press his lips against your cheek, murmuring in your ear exactly what he wanted. As much as you hated that he could push your buttons with his lips, you never turned down a kiss that came from Taemin.

Y ⇴ YOU

You were his soulmate, the person that he held closest to his heart.

Z ⇴ ZZZ

He would always be incredibly cuddly when the two of you slept, he loved to have you close. His favourite feeling when he fell asleep was when you’d run your hands through his hair and tug gently through the knots.

---

Masterlist

#shinee #shinee imagine #taemin #taemin imagine #lee taemin #lee taemin imagine #superm #superm imagine #shinee scenario #shinee reaction #shinee taemin #superm taemin #shinee drabble #shinee one shot #shinee fluff #taemin scenario #taemin reaction #taemin one shot #taemin drabble #taemin fluff #kpop #kpop imagine

[bluebellhairpin]

The Silence In Between

Jaeger Pilot!Levi Ackerman X Engineer!Reader

Part One

A/N: I know what I said about the writing thing, but this just happened over time and I finally finished it. - Nemo 

Warning(s): Injuries. Character Death. *sighs* Drfiting. 

Summary: 

Listening to: ‘When We Were Young’ by Take That - ‘We were drawn to whoever could keep us together and bound by the heavens above’ 

Series Masterlist 

Masterlist 

The Drift wasn’t something to be taken lightly. As years passed, Levi was the one person who knew about that the most. 

From his first three-pilot Jaeger, to the one he piloted with Hange - and everything in between - he’d been through so many co-pilots that he used to think his time was coming soon. It had to be. He was too tired for it to not be. 

It had been a week since he sparred with (y/n), and things were going as smoothly between the two as it had before the intense training session. But it still didn’t explain the weird feeling in his chest that he kept denying. And the fact that he didn’t really feel like dying in a Jaeger cockpit anymore. 

Then, for the first time since the early-morning beating, he suited up to go fight a Kaiju. Their tech gave them the ‘OK’ that they’d drifted properly, and Hange was already sending Levi looks from his right. 

“You and the engineer, huh?” 

“Shut up.” He said, finishing up prepping their Jaeger to be dropped in the ocean. He caught Hange’s eyes, seeing them with a no-good glint in them. 

“I’m not in your head as much as you are, but I sure as hell could see it coming.” They laughed. “You’re so dense.” 

“Hange, I-”

“- Ackerman. Zoe.” Erwin said, his ever-prominent ‘I’m the Marshall’ tone cutting Levi off before he could finish his threat. “You’ll be lifted off-base in T minus 3 minuets. You’ll be dropped in the Philippine sea. You’ll be fighting a category III Kaiju, dubbed by our Loccent Officer here as Anago -”

“- Nice name -” 

“- Hange. Please.” 

“Sorry.”

“As I was saying,” Levi could practically hear Erwin rolling his eyes. “It’s a category III Kaiju. It’s not something you haven’t fought before, but our sensors are picking up that it’s still pretty big. And moving fast. We’ll have Warrior Titan and her pilots on standby the moment things start looking like they’re moving downhill. It’s too early in the morning to have anyone die.”

Levi wondered if there was any time for anyone to die. 

By the time Levi got back to the Tokyo Shatterdome it was past noon. He was too tired to function properly. His eyes kept drooping, and his legs felt wobbly. 

He hadn’t felt like that since the day Ewrin lost his arm. 

Or when Furlan and Isabel died. 

These things kept happening. Bad things. And it was never to him. Always to his co-pilots. He hated it. With every fiber of his being he wished he could go back and save them. To have been able to keep Furlan and Isabel alive. To have been able to save Erwin from losing his arm. To have moved that much faster to save Hange.

Sure, Hange was laying across from him in the medbay, but they might’ve as well died. 

Looking back, one of the worst things about having Erwin ripped from the jaeger cockpit next to him wasn’t the fact he was sure Erwin had died - no, it was finding out he was alive and having to wait for if Erwin would even wake up. Now he was doing it all over again.

After spending the rest of his day with Hange Levi was ushered out of the medbay for the doctors to do their checks. He took the time he wasn’t allowed by Hange’s side to go to the mess hall to pretend to get something to eat. He was vaguely aware of what time it was, but when he got there he was a little surprised to find it was empty. 

He was even more surprised when - after he’d made himself comfortable at one of the many tables, nursing a mug of untouched tea - you stumbled in, looking as worse for wear as he was. 

Your tech overalls were tied haphazardly around your waist, your hair was messier than usual, and there were shiny grease stains all over your hands, forearms and tank top. If he squinted he thought he could see some on your cheek too. But your appearance wasn’t entirely unusual. 

He still liked it - only because it was normal. No other reason. 

What was unusual was that you were pouring hot, tar-like coffee from it’s urn into your bowl instead of the evening’s soup - of which was located on the other end of the room. You were tired. Very tired. Levi wondered what the hell you were working on to get you so exhausted. 

He watched you turn from the urn, still unaware of your ‘not-soup’ situation, and somehow navigate to take a seat on the table next to his. You sat right across from him, one table over, and still hadn’t noticed him staring at you yet. 

He also watched you raise your full spoon to your mouth. He had thought about saying something. But the thought of your reaction also crossed his mind, and he decided to go with staying quiet instead. 

Unfortunately the only reaction he got was you looking very confused. 

“It’s coffee you dumbass.” Your head shot up, meeting his eyes almost instantly. You rolled your eyes.

“Yeah, I know that now. Dumbass.” you said, dropping the spoon to simply drink straight out of the bowl French-style. “How’s Hange going?” You asked, voice much quieter, and much more gentle than you’d ever used with him before.

“Hange -” he started, letting out a sigh as he ran a hand through his hair, “- Hange is okay. At least from what everyone keeps saying.” 

“Good.” you hummed, “And you?”

“What about me?” He asked, bringing his mug up to his lips to take a long and unsatisfyingly cold mouthful of tea. He set the cup aside, scowling at it. 

“I’ve never piloted a real Jaeger before, Ackerman, but I do know that when things like this happen to one of the pilots, they actually happen to both.” He looked over at you, squinting. “So how are you?”

He didn’t think he’d been asked that in a while.

“What,” Levi said, “did you just say?” 

Erwin sighed. He knew this was coming, Levi could tell he did because he sighed. Erwin moved, his chair squeaking across the floor of his office as he lent forwards to address Levi more seriously. 

“You and I both know Hange won’t do well in a Jaeger anymore.” Erwin said. “As much as you know I’d hate to say it, you should seriously consider the possibility of finding a new co-pilot.” 

“I’d rather not.”

“I know.”

“I’d rather retire.”

“I know.”

“Why can’t I retire?” Levi asked. He knew the answer to that too. He just wanted to finally hear it. 

“You’re too big of an asset to just,” Erwin gestured, “let go. Your knowledge of Kajiu’s and skill in a Jaeger is unparalleled. Only Miche and Nanaba come close to your level and they’re -”

“- on maternity leave. I know -” 

“- so having you out of commission right now isn’t something my higher-ups are keen on.”

A couple beats past. Erwin and Levi kept looking at each other. They both also knew the solution to this new problem - finding Levi a new partner. 

“We need to bring in the engineer.”

“Don’t.”

“We have no choice, Levi.” Erwin squinted at Levi. “You weren’t so defensive the other times.” 

When Isabel and Furlan were replaced with Erwin. When Erwin was replaced with Hange. It was true, Levi barely battered an eyelid at them all being replaced - mainly because he did know them all fairly well before they joined him in the drift. They were all originally from the same batch of cadets. With you, however, it was a little different. 

Sure, he did know you - for a couple years now - but he also knew that your connection ran deeper than just being ‘drift compatible’. That scared him.

“I’m tired, Erwin.” Levi lied. “I just want it to be over.” 

“We all do, Levi.”

“Huh.” 

Levi raised his eyes at you.

“Is that all you have to say?” he said, “‘Huh’?” You quickly caught yourself, wiping your dirty fingers across your jumpsuit, and shaking our head.

“No, no, no, sorry,” you stuttered, “I just - it’s only just kicking in.”

He asked you to be his co-pilot. 

Hange had woken up yesterday afternoon, and there was nothing anyone could do about the lack of an eyeball they were now suffering from. They were no-longer fit to pilot the left hemisphere, seeing as the injury would be a hindrance. But you as a replacement for the dominant side of a Jaeger? 

“I can’t do that.”

Levi blinked at you.

“What?’ 

“I can’t pilot a Jaeger, Ackerman.” you said, shaking your head again. “Not one of such high of a reputation at least. I -”You were cut off by Levi grabbing your arm, yanking you away from the crew working on the Warrior Titan, and into a very small, and barely lit space.

That bastard pulled you into a supply closet. 

“Listen brat, and you better listen pretty damn well -” he said, his grip still tight on your arms, “- you train like a pilot. You want to be a Ranger, and this is your chance. In this world you make decisions - your choice is either one you agree with, or you regret. Make sure you don’t regret a single thing.” 

His words were dead serious, and you were planning on taking them seriously. But his eyes - they were saying something you couldn’t understand. Become a Ranger, live life to the fullest, regret nothing. Stay an engineer, stay safe, regret nothing. He was telling you to say yes, and to say no, at the same time. 

And he was also very, very, very close to you right now. And there was too little room inside that room. 

So you ran away.

Not even a few hours later, Marshall Erwin himself came to find you - and you made sure to put yourself somewhere where even the other engineers would struggle to find you. But he found you anyway - crammed in the space between a Jaeger’s breastplates and it’s reactor core.

Bastard.

“Ranger Ackerman said you didn’t respond too well to his offer.” he said. You sighed, dropping your tool in your lap. “Why did you run?” 

“I don’t really know.” You wiped your forehead with your arm, and then rested your hands on your hips as you looked up at him. He looked back at you, steely eyes softening, and he took a moment to sit down with you. 

“You don’t have to know, so I’ll rephrase.” he said, “Does it not feel wrong?” 

“No! God, no.” you said quickly, waving a hand out at him. “No it feels right. It’s just, it’s scary. The idea of going into that cockpit with him when he’s had so many others go through his brain like that. You, and Hange, as well as the other two he started with - that’s already more people than any other pilot in our history. I…”

“You don’t know if you can handle it.” Erwin finished. He stood, smoothing out his clothes and brushing off the dirt, then looked down at where you still sat. “If it helped ease your mind, he wouldn’t have talked to you about it at all if he didn’t think you could do it.”

“They’re not coming.”

“They have to.”

“They won’t.”

“Jeezus Levi, have some faith. I know the new copilot thing isn’t something you want to do but try to not act like you’ll miss me in your head that much.” He almost liked the idea of Hange being back in the med bay rather than watching from up in coms with Moblit. 

But deep, deep, deep inside, he was glad that Hange was awake now. 

After Erwin went to talk to you, he went back to Levi and they spoke a little more. Levi agreed to being nice on your first day. But inside he was adding if you even showed up. 

“Better quit daydreaming Ackerman, or I’ll start piloting this hunk without you.” 

He swiveled his head, turning to the left to see you standing there waiting to get ‘locked’ into place. Unfortunately, you looked really good in the drivesuit, and that was unfortunate only because you would know he thought that in, like, five minutes. 

You’d know everything in, like, five minutes. 

“You’d better be ready for this.” he said, looking over at you with an intensity only an Ackerman could pull off. “Don’t make me look like a fool.” A smile slowly creeped onto your face. 

“You know, technically I’m in charge. You should stop bossing me around.”

“Oh damn -” Hange’s voice cut through your coms, “- I like this one Levi.” 

“Shut up Hange.”

You’d prepared yourself for the drift. 

Erwin had given you a file the night before, barely an hour after you went to him and said you’d do it. It was a lot of paperwork, and a surprisingly vague amount of information. 

But was it enough?

Levi had been through hell and back, and now you’d get a front-row seat to all of it. But at least you were a little prepared. 

You guessed, also, that Erwin gave Levi some info on you too. Not that there was a lot of it. Or any of it. Not compared to what was in his head anyway. 

“Initiating the neural handshake in three… two… one…” 

A jolt went down your spine, through your arms, to your fingers and down to your toes. Memories flashed behind your closed eyes, blurry and rushed. 

Playing outside with your father. 

Reading with your sister. 

The first kaiju reached the news. 

Not being comparable with anyone in training. 

Sparring with Levi a few days ago. 

You sucking in a deep breath. No chasing the rabbit. Let the memories go. Then Levi’s memories hit. 

Growing up with his mother and uncle. 

Kaijus. 

Living at the shatterdomes.

Losing his friends. Again. And Again. 

You stumbled where you stood, opening your eyes and looking over at Levi. He was already looking at you, asking if you were okay without speaking. You nodded, letting out a shaky laugh as you smiled. 

“This is amazing.” you gasped. 

“I know.” he said, but you heard a different reply. ‘Just like you.’ 

You heard a lot, felt more too. The overwhelming emotions you got from drifting with Levi was more than you expected. He felt more than he let on. 

“How about taking her out for a run?” You offered, distracting yourself from overthinking about everything too much with the buttons and screens around you.

“What do you think Levi?” Erwin asked. 

“You ought to know what I think Smith. They wouldn’t have offered otherwise.” 

“Copy that Ranger,” Erwin scoffed, “We’ll get you ready to go out.” 

A beat passed, you side-eyed Levi, letting a giggle slip. He huffed beside you, and the jaeger weight shifted with you as you both lent your weight on a different foot. 

“What now?” 

“You like how my shoulders look in my tank top, huh?”

“You like staring at my ass so we’re even.” 

Series Taglist: @tanyeonn​ 

Series Taglist is Open! 

#levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman one shot #attack on titan x reader #attack on titan one shot #aot x reader #aot one shot #pacrim au #iin between #shingeki no kyojin x reader #shingeki no kyojin one shot #snk x reader #snk one shot

[whatifxwereyou]

Firestorm Part 3: Cross Your Heart

Fandom: Mortal Kombat 2021 Liu Kang x Reader

If you would like to be tagged for Firestorm when I post, let me know.

A/N: Almost forgot today was post day. Really enjoyed writing this one. Liu is just aldkjfwljaflj gah. Thank you guys for reading. Love you. Have a good weekend!

The Oncoming Storm Previous Chapter Next Chapter Chapter Index

Laying around and doing nothing would have been torture. Even with the storm raging as it was that day, your mind was too hectic to sit and listen. Too much had happened. The truth was that you were too exhausted to do much else either. Chen had lingered for a few minutes but had ultimately returned to her duties without saying so much as a word about what had so angered her. Deciding to work within your limits, you walked down the hall and to a small, covered balcony near the stairwell. It wasn’t much, just a stone archway leading onto a dusty platform that overlooked the ravine but it would do.

You’d meditate and the change of scenery would be nice. Raiden had told you to wait until you were feeling more yourself, but you decided to get a head start. It wasn’t that you didn’t want to wait, it was just that you no longer had faith that it was going to get better. What if it just kept happening? What if you kept getting sicker and sicker until you became a shell of yourself?

You couldn’t wait for better. You had fought too hard to come this far and fail.

You weren’t allowed to anything else, after all.

Doctor’s orders.

So you closed your eyes and meditated.

Meditation just became fantasizing about Liu Kang guiding you through meditation which may have been the silliest, most benign fantasy you’d ever had. It still helped to ground you but unconsciously the act had become associated with him.

No. No Liu Kang.

Meditation.

Once you got over the mental distraction that was Liu Kang, you managed to ground yourself. Meditation had been something that had brought you peace for years. As a kid you had relied on it heavily after losing Kung Lao. Even as you managed to find calm, your heart was beating still far too hard and too fast but it was world’s better than it’d been before you sat down. You were sure that if it had been a real problem then Chen never would have left you alone. It probably wasn’t even as fast as you thought. Just faster than you were used to.

As you opened your eyes and watched the rain fall, catching in streams over the side of the balcony, you wondered if you could force a vision. It seemed such a simple idea but you had never once tried to have one on purpose. It was kind of funny now that you thought about it. You’d always been afflicted with them. It had never been a gift and it had never been helpful until today. You shook ‘never’ from your mind and decided that you had to try.

It was a bad idea. You knew that. Bad things happened when you had them but if you didn’t try then you wouldn’t get control over them either. And besides, you would rather those bad things happen only to you and not to those you cared about.

You would try.

There was a significant chance that it wouldn’t work anyway considering that you had no idea how to make it happen or how to start. Your arm stung and you rotated your shoulder again. It was such a pain in the ass now. But you had faith that Raiden would find a way to help you get rid of it or at least keep it from getting any worse.

Deep breaths.

The throbbing in your shoulder was a rhythm you could focus on.

Pattering of rain muted to a dull sound, like distant tapping on a kettle. The sound grew quieter and quieter until it was gone.

It was dark and the weightlessness was unsettling. The room in front of you was odd and you couldn’t place it. A warehouse maybe? It was too dark to tell. There was light filtering in from somewhere to your left but it was cold and blue. The moon, probably. Everything was rushing around you, like smeared paint. Then you heard voices but the words were fuzzy.

You could make out an accent at least. An Australian accent, the kind you’d always been fond of. Even without words you could tell the man was confident, probably overly so. It was bordering on arrogant. There were two figures and they were struggling and then darkness spread beneath them.

Blood pooled and spread, far more than should have been in any one human. The figure that had come out victorious was looking right at you but his face was obscured and twisted. But the rest of him you could see and blazing in the darkness, a brilliant light on his neck.

The dragon mark.

He was a cruel man. A cruel man who had murdered in cold blood and it had resulted in him bearing the mark that would destine him to fight. The scene faded like someone had poured a bucket of paint over it. Your head was pounding and pain radiated through the back of it and down your neck. You had to focus.

You were seeing things, you just weren’t sure what they were or what they meant. His voice had seemed familiar. Had you seen this man before? You hadn’t ever met anyone from Australia before. Perhaps it had been from an earlier vision.

“Y/N!”

The voice called from behind you but you turned and it was like whiplash. Your body fell through the darkness and the sound echoed away into nothingness like the rain. Before you was a crowd of people and they surrounded a cage with two men fighting within it. They were shouting encouragement to the fighters within. An MMA match, maybe? You weren’t sure.

The crowd parted like the angry sea for you. You watched the two men within beat on each other but they were moving too slowly. Their faces, much like the faces of the other men in the warehouse or wherever it had been, were obscured. Hauntingly so. Their features smudged away by unseen hands.

But then there was the light of the dragon mark on the chest of one of the men. He was bloodied up.

Chicago.

You didn’t know why but you knew you were in Chicago. There were no signs that you could make out on the walls and the voices you heard were garbled and strange. It was as though you were underwater and the sound was distorted. Even the movements of the crowd and of the fighters were slowed.

A shadow grew on the other side of the cage. A shadow that spread like roots from a tree. You could hear crackling, like low static from an old radio but it became louder and more like fire.

That was what it was.

Fire.

Flames burned amidst the shadow and rose brightly within it. Inside the flames was the silhouette of a man. You tried to step back from the intimidating presence but your feet were firmly stuck beneath you. Had you stumbled too far into your vision? Were you getting more than you’d bargained for?

The man looked at you, bathed in shadow, hooded. He stared at you with white eyes. Then he took a step closer and the crowd froze along with the fighters in the ring. Fear left you frozen too.

“Y/N!”

The voice was calling to you again but you couldn’t place it.

Gasping suddenly for breath you shot upright from where you’d been laying. Your heart was racing and you grasped your chest and tried to take slower breaths than the ones panic was forcing you to take. Where was the balcony? This wasn’t it. Where were you? Oh. Oh wait.

It was your room.

Relief.

Okay.

You hiccupped trying to take deep breaths and found Liu Kang seated on your bed next to you, elbows on his knees, watching you. He’d been calling to you. It was unmistakable now. You’d heard his voice through your vision.

“Oh, god, Liu…” You were exasperated at the sight of him. “Did I hurt you again?” This was becoming abuse if you had. You laid back down, feeling your head spinning and Liu helped you do so. Sweat was dripping over your face, trickling down your forehead. Your heart was beating out of your chest. You placed a hand over your heart and swore it was going to leap right through it. What a horrible feeling.

“No, Y/N. Not at all.” He looked surprised that you’d be worried about him right now. He placed his hand on your cheek and then checked your eyes as though you’d struck your head again. “I found you outside, unconscious. You wouldn’t respond to me. I was about to bring you to the infirmary. Were you…” He looked to be filled with both relief and worry. You couldn’t blame him.

“I was having a vision.”

“Are you okay?”

“I think so?” You weren’t sure but you didn’t feel like you’d hurt yourself. Maybe you’d start laying down from now on when you tried. “I saw two men with the dragon mark.” You pinched the bridge of your nose while you tried to hold onto the little details.

“Should we call Raiden?”

“No, no it’s not urgent. I’ll write it down and tell him later. I was just… don’t be mad.” You offered a nervous smile and leaned up on your elbows. “I was just trying to get control over… well, anything.” You laughed. It had worked. You had no idea how you’d done it or what exactly you’d seen but you’d done it. You felt like crap but ink hadn’t exploded from you. You hadn’t hurt anyone but yourself. According to Liu, you weren’t even having a fit. You’d been unconscious.

You’d take that as a win.

It was a huge improvement.

“I thought that maybe if I tried to have a vision instead of being forced into one then maybe it would be less devastating.”

“Y/N…” Liu couldn’t have looked more concerned. He didn’t have to say it. You could just tell. “You should have told me. Or Lao. That’s not something you should do alone. It’s dangerous. You could have gotten seriously hurt and no one would have been there to help you.”

“I considered that, Liu, but I need to be able to handle this on my own. You won’t always be with me and I don’t… what if I hurt someone else? It’s different when it’s you. You’re a tough guy. You can handle it but what if… what if I hurt just… Chen or one of my friends? I’d rather it just be me.” You shivered. He smiled sympathetically; those dark eyes filled with a strange admiration. He seemed to have more to say but he held his tongue. He bowed his head in understanding. You appreciated that he was trying, even if he was worried. You’d lived your whole life without him by your side and you needed your independence. He respected that about you and you were grateful for him.

“You’re freezing, Y/N.” He grasped your hand and brushed his thumb over the side of it You got the shivers, but not because you were cold. He had the gentlest and most thoughtful touch.

“Fever probably. This is the second vision today. I suppose I was sort of playing a dangerous game of chicken without thinking.”

“You were. Living very dangerously lately, Y/N. Dancing in lightning storms, for example.” His eyes sparkled and flickered up to yours before down to the prayer beads wrapped around his wrist. He’d been fiddling with them less. Interesting. “I heard about your vision earlier today.” Liu’s smile was soft, his lips just barely upturned. He leaned a little closer to you. “You saved a lot of people from what I hear.”

“I don’t want to take credit for that, Liu. I just saw. I didn’t do any saving.”

“Not taking credit for it doesn’t make it less true.” Liu was often wise in ways that you could never be.

“I’m assuming that you brought me back to my room?”

“Yes. I didn’t want you to be out in the rain. I was going to bring you to the infirmary but I wanted to give you a chance to wake up if it was a vision. I knew that’s what you would have wanted. I figured it was safe to bring you here. Raiden has a way of knowing when things are going catastrophically. He would have found you before I did if it had been something worse.”

You wondered if that was why he had come to you earlier. Had he sensed you’d seen something important? Or perhaps he had felt your panic and knew you’d been in trouble? You struggled to push yourself into a sitting position so Liu helped you do so. His hands were careful and gentle, strong and secure. It reminded you of when you had first arrived at the temple. He had taken such good care of you. You bowed your thanks and then scooted enough so that you could look out your window and watch the rain.

The storm raged on but the thunder was distant now. Rain and wind were kings. Raiden had told you to get control of your visions and your arcana if you wanted to survive and have a fighting chance. It was your only shot to live through this long enough to figure out your truth. You should tell Liu but that was a conversation for another time. He was worried enough. If it came up then you would tell him. No secrets.

He sat next to you before the window but he faced you, legs folded. You watched the rain and he watched you watching it.

“May I say something?” Liu placed his hand on your forearm. His fingers were stained with soot and the soot stained your arm. He was warm. Dramatically warmer than you and it sent a shiver straight through you. He smiled but it faded quickly. “Confess something, rather.” Oh, you hated the way he worded that. What did that mean? You couldn’t make any assumptions. He’d tell you.

“Of course you can, Liu.” You shivered again. Fuck it. Whatever he wanted to say, you would deal with the fallout afterward. Why were you always afraid of rejection? Liu retracted his hand and you immediately missed his touch. He scooted so he was just next to you and stared out the window like you did. He seemed to struggle to find his words.

“Kung Lao and I made a childish bet over which one of us would win your heart.” The words came out very matter-of-factly, like it was a simple thing. You did a double take. Of all the scenarios you’d been panicking about in your head, this was not one of them.

“Huh?” How were you supposed to process that? A bet? What did that even mean, exactly? How could they bet on something like that? You knew how but you didn’t understand.

“It’s stupid. I know. We called it off. No more bet but I still had to tell you that we did it.”

“So… wait, huh?” You laughed in disbelief, feeling a little dumb for not understanding. “I’m sorry, but you made a bet? On my feelings? Like… some terrible movie-style bet made at my expense? Two macho jerks betting on the feelings of another human?”

“If it makes it any better the stakes were just chores.”

“Wow, my feelings are worth chores.” You gasped in disbelief.

“I never felt good about it, Y/N, but it was… harmless. We figured that you were going to make a choice at some point anyway. I uh…” He was suddenly tongue-tied, a very funny thing to see happen to Liu Kang. Like he knew what he had to say but no matter how he spun it, it would come out wrong. “It wasn’t an excuse to trick you into doing anything like… that.” He was uncomfortable talking about romance. Oh no. It was adorable. Like he could be any cuter. “It was just a stupid bet. I couldn’t get it out of my head. It felt manipulative and… I’m sorry, Y/N.”

This had Kung Lao written all over it in capital letters. You could even hear the proposition in Kung Lao’s voice! You bet that he’d put Liu up to it.

“Kung Lao felt guilty too.” Liu was avoiding your eyes. You could see the guilt weighing on his shoulders. Ah, yes. You recognized it now. They had both appeared guilty as shit in separate circumstances. That explained that.

“And what exactly would I get out of this bet, hmm? Like… is someone going to do my chores? I feel like either way I would have won so… someone should be doing my chores.” You tapped your finger on his knee and he laughed in surprise.

“Y/N!”

“What, Liu? Am I supposed to be mad?”

“I thought you might be hurt by it and…” Liu drifted off and watching him drenched in guilt made you a little sad. It was sweet but also sad. He’d been so worried about your feelings getting hurt. If you hadn’t known him so well then it would have hurt but you did. He never would have intentionally done something to hurt you like that.

“Well, answer a question for me.” You were going to have a hard time asking it.

“Of course.”

“Has any of what… you’ve done or what’s happened between us… has it been because of this bet?” That came out easier than you’d expected. Good.

“No.” He answered very quickly and then laughed at himself. “I even held myself back a few times because of it.”

“Then why would I be mad?” You turned to face him, resting your arm against the wall next to the window. “I mean, it does give me some clarity. It explains the few times I noticed you both looking guilty without reason and… the hesitating… some weird behaviors.”

“I’m sorry, Y/N.” He picked up your hand and held it close to him. Yeah. He was definitely sorry. “I’m… confused that you aren’t angry. I expected you to be at least a little bit.”

“Did you know that the monks in the infirmary are betting on which one of you that I end up with?” You were immune to people in the temple betting on your feelings these days. Maybe if the stakes had been you fucking them it would have felt different, but that hadn’t been the case. Liu clearly did not know they were betting on you in the infirmary, judging by the wide-eyed stare he gave you. You nodded to confirm that it was true and he looked away in disbelief. “It seemed to me like everyone except for me is making a profit off of my feelings. All I get to do is agonize over said feelings.” He laughed. You looked to him in mock aghast.

“It’s funny, Y/N.”

“Yeah, I guess it is a little funny.” You chuckled. Liu’s laughter faded and so did his smile.

“You’re really not angry?”

Wow, you thought you were the overthinker of the bunch.

“Did you fake any of it?” You nervously listed off the incidents on your fingers. “The touches… the close calls? The uh…” You couldn’t believe that you were talking about this so plainly. “The kisses?”

“I don’t think that can be faked, Y/N.”

“Then yeah, I’m not mad.”

“…I’m surprised. I was nervous to tell you.”

“…do I come off as particularly difficult to deal with? I mean other than the visions and the ink stuff.”

“No, it’s not that but…” Liu’s nervous laugh was quiet and cute. “I suppose that I don’t know you well enough to know how you’d react to something like that. And I felt terrible about it from the very beginning. I think that I built it to be something bigger in my head than it actually was.” Liu adjusted the prayer beads from his palm to his wrist again and you admired him as he did. It was kind of nice to see someone besides you a little nervous for once.

“...would you like me to pretend that I’m mad? Would that help? I can stomp around and huff and throw a fit about it. We can have a little pretend fight before I have a change of heart and understand why you did what you did, etcetera.” You suggested with a smile. Liu considered this and looked away but you could see a smile beneath his serious expression.

“That could be fun.”

“I’m really not mad, Liu.” You chuckled and rested your hand on his forearm. His posture shifted back to his usual confidence. “I might pretend that I’m a little mad until Kung Lao tells me though.”

“Oh, please do. This was his idea. Give him a taste of his own medicine.”

“It stunk of Kung Lao.” You gave his arm a squeeze. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

“It’s a huge weight off of my chest.” Liu beamed. You’d never seen him with such a goofy grin on his face. It was charming. “Are you hungry?”

“Umm…”

“Food. Are you hungry? Want to grab a bite to eat with me?”

“I’m not super hungry, but yeah, I should probably eat.”

“I can grab some food and bring it back here. You should be resting after today.”

“I’m fine to go to get food, Liu.” You smiled at his insistence.

“I’m happy to, Y/N. Then it can just be the two of us.” He practically bounced off of your bed and toward the door. You watched him in delight and then rested back against the wall. “I’ll be right back with food. Don’t try to have any more visions, okay?”

“I promise.” You laughed and watched him leave. Then you pulled the blankets around your shoulders, still freezing. Today had been a lot to process. Two visions. One had saved lives; the other was vaguer and more confusing. Either way, you hadn’t exploded with ink or hurt anyone but yourself and that was an improvement. Then there were those little sneaks, Kung Lao and Liu Kang. Making bets behind your back!

You’d been taken off guard but Liu had softened the blow. He had this way about him. Besides, what made their bet so much different from the bet that the monks had in the infirmary? There was no point in being angry about it. It’d only hurt you more. You had enough going on and in the span of things it didn’t seem so important. In fact, it was kind of funny. You were just glad that it had ended before anyone’s feelings had gotten hurt.

_________________________________

Tag List

@shang-hung (lol i wasn't sure if you meant you wanted to be tagged or not so I guess here you go?? Let me know if you want me to take you off!)

#mortal kombat #mortal kombat 2021 #kung lao #liu kang #liu kang x reader #fanfic #drabble #fluff #mk movie #arcana #female reader #reader insert #liu kang x you #drama #romance #fanfiction #ludi lin #max huang #liu kang/you #the oncoming storm #angst #lightning #slow burn #mk kung lao #mk liu kang #mortal kombat fanfic #mk fanfic

[boxes-of-perfect-worlds]

Practical Heart

Fiddling with the box in her hands V stands in front of Judy’s apartment. Her eyes twitch from the intercom to the door and back. Maybe she should try again? Judy might have not heard her, or she forgot that she is standing here or she-

The door gives of a short buzz before Judy’s head appears in front of V.

“Hey”, she breathes.

Judy always manages to take away her breath, without noticing no less.

“Heya.”

The answer is short and not as upbeat as V is used to.

“Can I… come in?”, she asks carefully.

“Oh yeah! Sure!”

Judy opens the door wider and steps out of the way. V sends her an appreciative smile and walks inside. She looks over Judy’s shoulder in hopes of finding Evelyn. Is she still in bed?

“Whatcha doin’ here?”, Judy questions, seemingly not noticing the box in V’s arms.

She sounds tired and defeated. V decides that she doesn’t like it.

“I’m here because of Evelyn.”

V only realizes that she should have probably rephrased that, when Judy tenses and immediately shifts into a defensive stance.

“Listen V, if you just came by to question Eve further, I’m gonna have to kick you out!”

“No, I don’t- I actually brought some things… for…”, V trailed of, looking to the ground sheepishly, feeling like an absolute gonk for assuming that Judy would welcome her idea.

“Huh?”

V huffs and tries to explain what happened as best and non-creepily as she can.

“Well, after we got Evelyn out of… that place, I was concerned by her state and wanted to help. I figured that havin’ somethin’ familiar around might help her recover, y’know? It’s just really useful to have somethin’ at hand that she can feel, or hear that reminds her of- home?”.

V isn’t really sure that ‘home’ would be the correct word to use for Evelyn. She didn’t strike her as someone who would settle somewhere for a longer period of time.

“So, I asked a bit around tryin’ to figure out where she is- was- would be currently staying”, V fumbles with her words, “Went there, got some stuff I thought she might wanna have and came here.”

“V that’s- that’s really thoughtful of you”, Judy loses the tension and slumps against the counter again. This time though she wears a small, genuine smile, “Thank you”.

“It’s- Don’t mention it. No problem.”

“Still, thank you. It means a lot to me… and to her, too. Just put it in her room.”

She noticed how Judy described it as Evelyn’s room, not her own.

V went ahead and entered the bedroom and put the box down next to the closet. Evelyn was lying in bed. Completely still. If not for the little breathing motions of her shoulder, one could mistake her for a statue. Or worse. Dead.

At least she was dressed in new clothes – they looked like they once belonged to Judy – and not in the awfully bloody Cloud uniform. Others might say that it just served to make her look more pitiful; all pale and stiff and afraid.

But to V, she had never looked stronger. This woman had survived so much shit and yet she is still here. And V’d do anything to keep it that way.

As V slowly stepped back into the living room, Judy was rummaging through the cupboards. She perked up when she heard her footsteps and regarded her with unguarded curiosity.

“You want somethin’ to drink?”

“I wouldn’t want to put more work on you.”

“Hey, it’s all fine! So, you want somethin’?”

“Uh… a beer? Would be fine, I mean!”

“I can whip that up. One beer, comin’ right up.”

V leaned against the open window. Judy stepped next to her and extended the bottle. She took it thankfully and sipped from it.

“This is nice”, she whispered, looking at the bottle as to avoid Judy’s eyes.

“I oughta thank you”, Judy answered.

“What for?”, V looked up in surprise.

“I dunno. Everything, I guess. For helpin’ Eve, for findin’ her, for bein’ such a good friend to both of us”, then she whispered quieter, “Hell, just for being ‘ere right now”.

“Judy, that’s nothin’ you have to thank me for.”

“Well since this city seems to have forgotten human decency, I do think it’s important that you know how much you mean to me. A-and what y-you do too, of course!”

“Of course”, V smiled.

Then she took another sip and stared at Judy.

“Somethin’ on my face?”, the girl asked and wiped a hand over her cheek.

“Y’know I’m just one call away, right? Always.”

The sincerity in Vs voice so obvious, as was the love and care she held for her newfound… friend. Just a friend, she scolded herself in her head.

“Yeah. Thanks. I honestly don’t know what I’d be doin’ without you.”

V turned to the window and stared outside. She took another sip.

It was quiet.

But V had more to say. It was eating at her and not in a sexy way. It was like… like something dark resided under her skin, just waiting for the opportunity to jump out and destroy or consume.

“I just- Every time I think back to what happened, I get so angry!”, V spit out and waved her bottle around.

Judy jumped at the outburst and looked at her attentively.

V wanted to hit something, but this wasn’t her apartment and she could never do that to Judy.

So, she reigned in her temper and pressed her fist against the windowsill. Minding the fact that Evelyn was still recovering in the next room she lowered her voice.

“What those fuckin’ assholes did to Evelyn- god she didn’t deserve any of it! I can’t say that I knew her well, for all I know I woulda been ready to strangle her myself after the damned mission failed, but she was- she was- she is good! She tried to help people and I respect that. Hell, I admire her for it! To do something like that takes a lotta balls in our fucked-up world.”

It was quiet again. Only the noise of the cars outside and the occasional gunshot rang out.

V visibly deflated. She hadn’t meant to unload all of this on Judy. It wasn’t fair to her. But before she could apologize for all her baggage, Judy took this moment of vulnerability and opened up a little of herself.

“I’m scared that she won’t get better. And it terrifies me even more that she might, and then she’ll blame me for not bein’ there soon enough for her”, Judy admitted.

“Judy. Judy stop! Listen to me”, V turned to her in less than a second. Her gaze unwavering and certain. For the first time in weeks. Judy looked at her.

“You tried everything you could. You fought to get her back an’ you have her here with you now, because you were strong enough to push through all the shit that was thrown your way. And Evelyn will do the same.”

She spoke with such conviction that Judy wanted to believe her. She truly did.

“I just- I can’t help but seein’ the Evelyn I knew. The strong one, who was not afraid to take on anyone or anythin’ no matter how impossible it seemed. Who was all bite and could never get enough. Who reached for the stars and instead grabbed the entire universe, because her fire just burned brighter than anyone could ever imagine. And I’m afraid I won’t get that Evelyn back.”

“I understand”, V took hold of Judy’s cheek, “This will change her, it’s inevitable. But you can help her get through it. To heal into someone who won’t be terrorized by what happened. Someone who can see a future for themselves.”

“And you didn’t let her down! Never think that way again! You saved her, and you continue to save her now! This”-she gestured around the room with the beer in her hand-“is how far you have already come! And you won’t give up now.”

Judy chuckled. V let her hand fall to her side.

“You ever done this before?”, Judy asked and chuckled, feeling a bit better than before.

“What, drink a beer with a friend? Because I can assure you, contrary to popular beliefs I do have friends”, V tried to lighten the mood.

Judy smiled.

“No, you idiot”, she slapped her arm playfully.

Then she grew somber again.

“Helped someone grieve. An’ tell them it’s not their fault.”

“You mean after someone died?”

“Yeah.”

V looked away.

“I’ve had to do my share of that. More than I woulda liked.”

“Everythin’ you do seems so easy. Like you are so sure of yourself, as if live couldn’t surprise you with anything.”

V laughed dryly. Then turned to the window again and chucked the rest of the bottle down. She ran a hand over her face and sighed wearily.

“I… lost someone… a long time ago. The pain and the guild from it nearly destroyed me then an’ I still haven’t managed to completely shake of either of ‘em.”

Judy looked surprised but made no move to stop V in her monologue.

“I still wish that back then I woulda had someone to tell me it’d be alright one day – or as close as it gets to okay – an’ that it wasn’t my fault but… I was alone. And that ain’t good for anyone.”

“’s that why you’re here? Because you want to tell me what you never heard?”

V looked up again. The pain she felt was clearer than ever in her, and it frightened Judy to imagine a younger V, trying to deal with death all on her own, thinking she was at fault and no one there to help her pick up the pieces.

But V shook her head.

“I’m here, cause I’m your friend. Who knows, maybe even Evelyn’s? And that means that I make sure the both of you are goin’ to be alright and that you understand that what happened was out of your control. Sometimes, when there is no other way all we can do is… let go.”

It was quiet again. V put the empty beer bottle down and inhaled deeply.

“Thank you. It means a lot to me- you mean a lot to me”, Judy admitted after a while.

V wanted to answer, but suddenly felt the familiar tingle of another relic malfunction coming up. She gulped, then forced a smile on her face. She couldn’t – wouldn’t – burden Judy with any more problems. Not only that, but she had to get out fast.

“’Course. Y’know I’m always available. Just gimme a call, and I’ll be there. Always.”

“I appreciate it. Truly.”

V pushed herself of the window frame and walked a step. The dizziness began, and she ground her teeth together to stop herself from crying out.

She turned around again, this time a real smile on her face. Even if it was small: “I’ll be back soon. Promise!”

Then she left the apartment fast. In panic.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Instantly she doubled over, clutching her stomach, her head spinning. She felt the urge to vomit, but Judy would hear her, so she suppressed it and gulped down air instead.

She tried to stand, but it was too hard to even move so instead she let her back fall against the cool wall behind her. Her head lolled back and she closed her eyes. Maybe she could pretend – for just a second – that her world was alright. That not everything was slowly falling apart.

But it didn’t work. It never did.

She cursed the universe like it was the reason for all her misery and she cursed Arasaka and Johnny and everyone who came to her mind until she felt the urge to throw up her breakfast subside.

Finally, she thought.

Then V stood up and left. But she remembered her promise to come back. And this one she knew, she would hold. If not for her, then for Judy.

#cyberpunk 2077 #cyperpunk 2077 imagine #judy alvarez #v #female v #judy x v #judy alvarez x v #judy alvarez imagine #evelyn parker #this is also on my ao3 #EdensWonderland #if anyone is wondering #it's the first part of a series #these two are so gay #and totally in love

[dreamescapeswriting]

Little Dove ~ JJK [M] [Request]

↬↬↬Word Count: 2.4K

↬↬↬Genre: SMUT!!!!! SMUT!!! SMUT!!!! (Did I mention it’s smut??)

↬↬↬Pairing: Uni!Jungkook x Shy!Reader x Junkook’s Girlfriend

↬↬↬WARNING: This includes descriptions of a threesome and a cute nickname. PLEASE DON’T READ IF YOU’RE UNDERAGE

You hated parties and you hated your friend Lee Felix for dragging you along to one telling you it would be good for you to ''get out there for an hour'' so that was exactly what you were doing. As soon as you arrived at the frat house you set a timer on your watch and disappeared into the house going to find somewhere a little quieter to sit and read from your phone. Looking around you were glad you'd made the decision not to bring a book because you never would have been able to see it in all of the low lighting there was.

"Hey! Who brought the nerd?!" Felix appeared by your side again warding off the drunken jocks that were trying to make a pass at you and you thanked him.

"I'll get us some drinks, want anything?" Felix asked turning to look at you and then over at his friend - Chan - who was calling his name.

"Cranberry juice?" He nodded and headed in the direction of the kitchen and you walked away to find a staircase knowing Chan and Felix too well to know he wasn't going to come back to you anytime soon with a drink and even if he did it wouldn't be the juice you'd asked for.

"Kookie." Chi nudged her boyfriend so he would look away from the boys playing beer pong, he looked up and followed her gaze over to the girl sitting alone on the stairs with her eyes glued to her phone and checking her watch every couple of seconds.

"She looks so sweet." Jungkook laughed smirking as he knew exactly what his girlfriend was thinking the moment she made him look at you.

"I'll go say Hi." Chi jumped down from the table and walked over to the staircase where she dropped herself down beside you and began talking.

"I'm Chi, what's your name?" She introduced herself as though you wouldn't know her, she was one of the most popular girls in your college, everybody knew her. You stared at her, she was the living embodiment of perfect. Her hair was curled perfectly, her skin looked flawless and she was breathtakingly beautiful and you had no idea why she was talking to you.

"Hi...I'm er- I'm Y/n." She smiled taking your hand and shaking it, she spotted your phone case and began talking to you about the same interests you shared.

"I love her music, have you listened to her new song yet?" She questioned moving hair out of your face so she could stare into your eyes, you felt your cheeks heat up and your stomach flip and she smiled knowing she had that effect on you, she adored having that kind of effect on people it's what made her and Jungkook's game all the more fun for them. Innocent girls like you made the game even more enjoyable since they had a corruption kink,

"I haven't had the chance yet. My friend dragged me out tonight-" You pointed over at Felix and she smirked knowing him all too well and then looked back at you,

"I have it back at my dorm. Come with me and my boyfriend and we'll show you it?" You nodded and took her hand as she helped you up from the stairs, she walked you over to Jungkook who had been sizing you up since Chi had pointed you out to him.

"Jungkook this is Y/n, Y/n this is my boyfriend Jungkook." He kissed your hand and you smiled shyly at him following him and Chi out of the house party and towards the car that Jungkook was driving.

"We'll sit in the back baby, I want to show her something." You nervously got into the back of the car with her and she began twirling strands of your hair around your finger smiling brightly at you as Jungkook drove.

"Your hair is so damn beautiful." You thanked her shyly smiling down at the floor of the car and she began tutting, tilting your head up so you would look her in the eyes,

"Don't look down, little dove, you're so beautiful it would be a shame not to get to look into those eyes all night long." You didn't even know what happened next she was leaning into you and the next thing you knew your lips were together and you were making out in the backseat of the car with Jungkook watching in the review mirror,

"Y-Your-"

"Don't worry about him, he loves to watch me play." She whispered in your ear running her fingers up and down your arms and sending shivers throughout your body and sending tingles to all the right places. You weren't a virgin but you weren't exactly experienced in all of the departments but she began kissing you again, a little rougher this time and you felt her fingers going down to the waistband of your jeans. You parted your legs and felt her smirked against your lips as she dove her hand into your jeans rubbing you over the thin pink lacey fabric you were wearing,

"You make just the cutest sounds and I haven't even started yet." She forced you to look her in the eyes as she pushed two fingers into your dripping core and you let out a long whine throwing your head back against the car seat she began giggling.

"Fuck Kookie, I can't wait to taste her and she's so fucking tight." You whimpered as she continued to work her two fingers in and out of you curling them so she was hitting the spot where you needed her the most.

"C-Chi." You panted taking hold of her wrist and biting down on your lip as you felt the knot in your stomach begin to tighten and you knew you were close to your release.

"Cum for me little dove." You whimpered out at the nickname she was giving you and she began pumping faster hitting your hilt without problems and sending you over the edge. Your orgasm hit you like a wave and you were crying out her name while your back arched and your toes curled, she made you look at her while she cleaned her fingers off before kissing you so you could taste yourself.

"Hurry up Jungkook I think someone is still very needy for more, aren't you little dove?" You nodded desperately and she began kissing you once again but she slapped your hand away when you went to touch her.

"Not until we get back baby," She whispered biting down on your neck and smirking as you let out a whine of disappointment of not being able to touch her like she had you.

"Tonight is all about you." She whispered pushing you to lay down on the bed so you were exposed to both her and Jungkook, she'd wasted no time stripping you from the clothes the moment you got back to her dorms and when you looked up now they were both naked as well and Jungkook was stroking his hard-on.

"Have you done this before?" She whispered in your ear as Jungkook stood between your legs,

"O-Only with one person." She nodded bending down and kissing you lovingly,

"Don't worry darling we'll take good care of you won't we Kookie?" He nodded chuckling as you gazed down at him,

"W-Will it-" You were cut off by another kiss, they didn't want you to worry about that for now,

"Kookie I'm needy, fuck me while you eat her out?" Jungkook's mouth fell open when he heard Chi say that, he was normally the one that had to fuck the guest while he ate her out but she was changing things up for the night.

"She's just made me so horny, I can't wait any longer." Jungkook wasted no time getting onto the bed so that Chi could ride him while you sat on his face.

"Just sit down baby, he'll do all the work." You looked down at Jungkook for confirmation who just grabbed your thighs and sat you on his face.

"O-Oh shit." You whimpered at the new feeling of having his tongue buried deep inside of you, you were letting out gasps of pleasure mixed with whimpers whenever he would start rubbing your clit. He began thrusting up into Chi who in return pulled you closer to her and began making out with your while she rode her boyfriend moaning into your mouth.

"Fuck Kookie right there." She panted hooking her fingers around her breasts and massaging them to give herself extra pleasure,

"S-Shit." You stuttered out feeling your clit throbbing and your walls tightening, Jungkook let out a moan sending waves throughout your clit.

"Fuck I'm g-gonna cum." Chi grabbed you again forcing you to stare into her eyes while Jungkook fucked her and ate you out roughly.

"Cum with me little dove." You whimpered as she bit down on your lip tugging at it as you felt yourself drawing closer and closer until it was too much to handle and you let go.

"Fuck...I'm cumming, I-I'm cumming so fucking hard." Jungkook groaned as he heard your pornstar like cries and he continued to fuck into Chi as she came around his cock crying out his name as she continued to bounce on him bucking her hips as she came down from her high.

She pulled herself off him panting and sweating as she fell down onto the bed beside you both, you sat down at the side of Jungkook who smirked wiping off his face and reaching down to pump himself.

"You wanna fuck him little dove?" You looked at Chi and then at Jungkook who was watching you while he stroked himself,

"Yes." You whispered back and he smirked bringing you down to kiss him, his hands tangled into your hair as he held you close to his body. You could feel the heat radiating off his skin and onto yours as he turned you around and dragged you to the edge of the bed. You let out a squeal of excitement as he put your legs together and brought them to rest over his shoulder.

"Fuck her well baby, she's so tight I bet you won't last five minutes." With that Chi left the room to go and run a bath while Jungkook smirked down at you.

"Are you sure you want this little dove?" Tingles shot through your body as he called you the nickname that Chi had for you and you whimpered pushing up against him to get any kind of friction you could from him and he smirked rubbing the tip of his cock over your folds making you whimper and beg for him to fuck you.

"Fuck me please Jungkook, I can't wait any longer." He slowly pushed into you not wanting to hurt you and your back arched off the bed as you gasped out for air. He was bigger than the guy you had slept with before and the stretch was painful.

"Tell me when little one," He whispered in your ear knowing that you were in a little pain, he began kissing your neck and sucking on the exposed skin when you nodded for him to keep going.

"M-Move." You whimpered and he began to thrust in and out of you at a slow and torturous pace making you cry out for more, you reached up to his arms and ran your nails down his skin leaving claw marks and he growled at the sensation,

"You're so fucking tight, she was right." He grumbled pulling all of the way out of you leaving just the tip in before slamming right back in and hitting your hilt. Your head threw back against the pillows and you let out a cry of his name encouraging him to do it once again,

"F-Faster." You begged and he began to thrust his hips faster into you, not missing your sweet spot once, your legs fell to either side of him and he wrapped them around his waist so he could reach deeper inside of you.

"A-Ahh shit." He grunted as he felt himself getting closer to his release and you whimpered reaching down and rubbing your clit,

"S-Shit don't stop Jungkook." You begged feeling your third and final orgasm of the night coming closer to you with each thrust.

"You gonna cum again? Huh? You gonna cum all over my cock?" You nodded frantically and he smirked bringing one leg over his shoulder and fucking you harder into the mattress,

"Cum for me then little dove, cum all over my cock." You clenched around him as you heard your nickname and he smirked whispering it in your ear as he fucked into you.

"Jungkook!" You cried out your final orgasm hitting you like a truck and knocking the wind out of you, you saw white as you came around him crying out his name while your hips bucked.

"Ah fuck." He grunted as he spilt into you painting your walls white before pulling out and collapsing on the bed beside you panting loudly.

"Come on little dove, let's get you cleaned up." Jungkook chuckled sitting you up and helping you walk towards the bathroom where Chi had ran an amazingly relaxing bath for you all.

The next morning you walked into the apartment in one of Chi's skirts and one of Jungkook's baggy shirts since your clothes were ripped in several places from the night before. You shut the door and quietly put your bag down on the ground thinking Felix - your roommate and best friend - would still be asleep but when you turned around he was stood there with Chan facing you. The bowl in Chan's hand dropped onto the floor as soon as he saw you and Felix dropped his spoon back into the bowl of cereal he was eating.

"I told you I saw her with Jungkook and Chi!" Chan yelled turning to look at Felix and then to you, you walked over to the mirror to see what they were so shocked about when you noticed your neck was covered in hickies and scratches from the previous night.

"I'm gonna go shower-"

"No, you are not! You're going to give me details!" Felix yelled following you into your room and demanding answers from you.

"I'm not explaining my sex life to you," He blinked at you knowing that you would since you both shared everything together and Chan came into the room wanting to hear about it as well.

"We're too close as a friendship group." You joked shaking your head and starting to tell them about everything.

Tagline: 

@writingdreamsnottragedies @yoongisdumplingcheeks @snowy-meowl @lynnthevirgo @jooniesdarlingdimples @chimchims-stories-and-tales @fan-ati--c @lyoongx @mitzwinchester @btsiguess-kpop @callingmyangel @rjsmochii

#bts #bts x reader #bts x you #bts x y/n #bts imagine #bts imagines #bts smut #kim seokjin #seokjin #jin #min yoongi #yoongi #suga #jhope #hoseok #jung hoseok #kim namjoon #namjoon #park jimin #jimin #kim taehyung #taehyung #jeon jungkook #jungkook #jungkook x reader #jungkook smut #jeon jungkook x reader #jeon jungkook smut

[tuanyiems]

Champagne Truffles

Yugyeom x Reader (f) It’s a little angsty at the start oops but still this is a fluffy one, it’s me after all words: 4k plot: it’s your anniversary date night and he’s determined to make this a night you’ll never forget, established relationship!au a/n – Forgive this unedited piece, it’s 3am rn lulz I spent too much time gushing over got7 I had to take out the smut content to make the deadline lol but anyways, make sure to stream Last Piece as you’re reading!!! And this concludes my November of posting exclusively for Yugyeom! (It still counts as November if I haven’t slept yet!) And what a beautiful month it was! Thank you for following me on this Chocolatier journey, I’m sure these two will show up again in a drabble or two in the future. But until, please enjoy and give got7’s new album a listen if you haven’t already. It truly is another masterpiece album c’: // part of Le Chocolatier drabble series, which you can find the masterlist for in my blog. feel free to read this as a one-shot or part of the series, in any order you want <3

“So, how was work today?” you start, climbing into bed where Yugyeom is already tucked in and scrolling on his phone. The bright light illuminates his face, and you pause, admiring his profile as you wait for him to answer.

But Yugyeom only shrugs, not even bothering to look at you. You grab your own phone from your nightstand, twisting it awkwardly around in your hands as you think of something else to say.

“It’s getting colder these days, isn’t it?” you ask softly, staring down at your phone as you flip it once more and watch it light up to a picture of you and Yugyeom at a carnival. It was one of those summertime, pop-up fairs. Yugyeom had convinced you to call in sick and the two of you made a trip an hour out from the city to play like two teenagers in love. 

Your lips twist as you press your thumb into the screen where Yugyeom is holding your hand in his. Even when your hands were getting clammy from the summer heat and the nerves of waiting in line for the pirate ship, he had refused to let go. 

“Nice try,” he had scoffed, before lifting his hand to kiss the back of yours. “If I let you go for even a second, you’ll definitely find a way to hurt yourself.”

You rolled your eyes, “You’re so protective for the weirdest things.”

“Weird? Who was the one who fractured their wrist while bowling?”

You looked away, pretending not to hear.

“And who’s the girl who got a concussion while walking in a department store, hmm?”

“Hey! That time wasn’t my fault!” you pouted, allowing yourself to be tugged along as the line moved up. “Who puts such heavy items on the top shelf anyways?”

“But what normal person climbs the shelves?!”

“An! Independent! Woman!” You defended, slapping his chest with your free hand with each word.

He only laughed, eyes shining down on you. “You could’ve called for help, or oh I don’t know, asked your boyfriend to get it for you? I mean, what else is my height good for?”

“Eye candy, of course!”

“I’m just a piece of meat to you, aren’t I?” he joked, bumping you by the hip before quickly pulling you back into his chest.

You giggled, “Oh course not, babe. I’m obviously using you for our future offspring too. It’s my gracious consideration for future generations.”

“Future offspring?” Yugyeom’s cheeks blushed a rosy hue and as soon as you noticed, you followed suit.

“I mean! Uh-well…if…” you sucked in a breath, forcing your heart to calm. “Anyways, if they end up inheriting your height and my butterfingers, it’ll end up being a disservice to society actually.”

He chuckled, hand squeezing yours. “Probably,” he mused softly, cheeks still warm with daydreams.

When you turn your phone again, the screen flickers awake and there is his blushing face again, eyes twinkling with thoughts of the future…or, that’s what you always thought he was imagining when you look at this photo, but maybe you were just being delusional. It could’ve just been the summer heat making him flush.

The Yugyeom from that memory and the one sitting next to you feel like completely different people. You don’t understand what happened, only a few months had passed since that day. At first, you had summed up his quiet behavior to the changing season. It’s not like Yugyeom had never been quiet or moody before, but never has he iced you out like this for so long.

It makes you nervous actually. In two days, it’ll be your three-year anniversary. This is supposed to be a good thing of course, but in the back of your mind sits the nervous belief that something bad will happen on that day.

None of your previous relationships have ever lasted longer than a year. You and Yugyeom were always so stable that you never thought this would be a problem, but his sudden changes have made you more superstitious. 

“Baby?” you utter softly, touching his wrist to put his phone down. He looks over but doesn’t say a word. “Um, I was wondering how you wanted to spend this Saturday? We haven’t really talked about it, so…”

Your voice trails. He looks at you almost fiercely, a slight frown on his lips.

You swallow. “Not that we have to do anything. Maybe we could just have a quiet day inside. We can marathon that anime you really like! What was the name again? With the cute pig?”

“Seven Deadly Sins,” he answers, looking back at his phone.

“Yeah, that one!” you say, voice much brighter than how you feel. “But…I was just suggesting. We can do what you want to do. Did you have something in mind? Food you’re craving?”

Yugyeom sighs, turning on his side to turn the lamp off. “It’s late, babe, let’s decide later.”

“Oh, okay.”

In the darkness, your worries fester though.

“Baby?” you whisper cautiously. Quietly, you curl against his back, wrapping your arms around his waist. “Goodnight, Gyeom.”

A moment passes before he twists in your arms and pulls you to his chest. You smile, looking up even though you can barely make out his features in the darkness.

“Night baby, I love you,” he presses a kiss to your forehead, and you find yourself relaxing in his arms.

That night you fall into a sleep so good, you end up missing your alarm.

Rushing around the apartment in only a forest green blouse and your nude hip huggers, you unpack your purse for the fifth time that morning.

“Babe, have you seen my charger?” You yell from the bedroom.

“It’s not in your purse?” Yugyeom calls from inside the bathroom.

You huff, throwing the items haphazardly back into your bag. “No!”

“Just take mines!”

“Thank you!”

Rounding the bed, you make your way to Yugyeom’s nightstand. Unlike your own though, his drawer is a disorganized mess. You furrow your brows, shifting through the old mail and random trinkets.

“How does he find anything in here?” you mutter, stuffing your hand to the back and hoping the wire was buried somewhere there.

“Y/N!” Yugyeoms voice booms from behind you. You jump in surprise. “Why are you going through my drawer?”

He snatches your hand out and slams his drawer shut.

“I-” You try to blink back your surprise. “I was just looking for the charger.”

He let out an exasperated sigh, bending behind the nightstand, and pulls the wire out.

“Here,” he tosses it into your hand before walking to your shared closet. “And don’t go through my things.”

Gaze on his back, you place the charger into your purse meekly. Grabbing your cream trousers from the bed, you quietly step into them as Yugyeom gets dressed too.

“Sorry,” you mumble when he finally turns to you.

He lets out a sigh, threading his fingers between yours. His thumb rubs over your hand gently. “I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean to yell.”

-

“Jackson,” you slide on your rolling chair towards your cubicle buddy, cup of hot chocolate between both palms.

“Uh oh,” Jackson looks at you once before twisting dramatically in his chair. “You’ve got the frowny face!”

“Frowny face?” Jinyoung pokes his head into your cubicle. Seeing your expression, he immediately walks into your cubicle, leaning onto Jackson’s desk. “Who do we need to hurt?”

“No one,” you sulk, stirring your drink. “I just had a question.”

“It was Susan, wasn’t it? I hate her,” Jinyoung scoffs, crossing his arms. Jackson chuckles, nudging him to stop.

“No, I was just wondering,” you pause, looking at your cream flats. “What are some signs when a guy no longer loves you?”

“I’m going to kill Yugyeom.”

“Why is murder always your go-to?” Jackson jokes, trying to lighten the mood. “It can’t be that bad, the last time I saw Yugyeom he was madly in love with you!”

“I just…I don’t know…it’s a feeling,” you frown, gut twisting as you’re speaking the words aloud. “It’s probably nothing.”

“Well, what signs have you been getting from Yugyeom?” Jinyoung asks.

“He’s just gotten quieter in the last couple of months. Sometimes it feels like he’s hiding something from me. Like last night, he was mostly on his phone even though I was trying to talk to him.”

“On his phone doing what?”

You tilt your head, shrugging. “I don’t know, Instagram? Twitter? But that’s not the point.”

“Wait, Instagram or Twitter, Y/N? Was he scrolling through news or was he sliding into DMs? These are important details,” Jinyoung interrupts. Both you and Jackson look at him with wide eyes.

You feel your heart jump to your throat. “Y-you think…maybe, he’s c-cheating on me?”

That thought had never even occurred to you as a possibility but now that you hear it…Your vision starts to blur.

“Oh my gosh, Y/N!” Jackson slaps Jinyoung’s thigh, pushing him away as he hurries to put an arm over your shoulder. “Jinyoung was just asking stupid questions. Yugyeom’s not that kind of guy.”

“But what if he’s right?” you mumble. “This morning I was looking in his drawer to borrow his charger and he yelled at me for going through his things. He’s never done that before! And every time I ask about his day, he won’t really tell me anything.”

You sniffle, rushing to wipe your falling tears.

“Don’t cry, Y/N,” Jinyoung pats your hand softly. “You’re probably just spiraling right now. I don’t know Yugyeom the way you do. He was probably just scrolling through pictures of tattoo art or something.”

“But he’s so handsome and amazing, he could have any girl he wants. What if he’s found someone better? Someone who doesn’t burn toast or, or-”

“Hey,” Jackson squeezes your arm with a frown. “We don’t tolerate that kind of talk in this house.”

“House?” Jinyoung chuckles.

“Our cubicle home!” Jackson clarifies, making you smile.

“Ah, I see a smile,” Jinyoung announces, making your lips stretch wider.

“My makeup is running, isn’t it?” you laugh weakly.

“Yeah, you’re a mess,” Jinyoung teases.

“Good time to ask Susan for an early weekend,” Jackson nudges you playfully.

“Yeah, leave early and go have a real conversation with Yugyeom about how you’re feeling. No use in holding things in if it’s just going to make you cry anyways.”

“Someone’s crying?” Susan, your project manager, pokes her head into your cubicle. When she sees your state, she gasps. “Y/N, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I’m okay,” you flush with embarrassment.

“Nonsense, you should let her start the weekend early, Susan,” Jinyoung states before smiling at her sweetly. “And as her favorite co-workers, you should let us join her!”

“Nice try, Jinyoung,” she laughs goodheartedly, before turning to you. “You two have to stay, but Y/N, you’re free to go. Come back Monday, feeling better, okay?”

She sends you a wink before striding off.

“I hate her so much,” Jinyoung grumbles.

“You gotta stop lying to yourself, man,” Jackson laughs. He turns to you and pulls you into a hug. “Go and talk to him, Y/N. The longer you wait it out, the longer you’ll just be running circles in your head.”

You nod, convinced. “Alright, I’ll do that. Thanks guys.”

“Call me if you need a hitman!” Jinyoung calls as you rush out of the cubicle.

-

“Hey, why are you calling at this hour?”

“I just missed you,” you hum into the phone, as you walk down the familiar sidewalk towards your favorite chocolate store. “How’s work?”

“Um, actually,” there’s a pause on the other line before he continues, “It’s kind of busy. Probably be home late today.”

“Oh, okay,” you put on a tone of disappointment as you round the corner to the store. You snicker to yourself. Maybe surprising him at work and helping him with the shop will pick his mood up.

“Yeah, sorry, but you know this time of year. People like to eat chocolates.”

You smile to yourself, slowing your step as you reach the storefront. “Yeah, I know. It’s how I met you.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing,” you chuckle.

“Anyways, I really have to go now.”

“O-” You freeze, staring into the window of the chocolate store. “Okay.”

“Bye,” Yugyeom doesn’t wait for you to reply before he cuts off the line. You barely register the dead phone line though. You gulp, watching as your best friend, Jenny, pulls Yugyeom into a tight hug between the counter. In her arms, he smiles with full cheeks.

Stepping back, you cross the street in a rush, collapsing into a seat outside the French café across from Yugyeom’s store before your legs give out entirely. 

This doesn’t make sense. While Jenny was one of your closest friends, she and Yugyeom weren’t especially close. This was partially due to the fact that Jenny lives in another city two hours away from yours. Yugyeom has never expressed any interest in spending time with your friends unless you were with him, and so things just don’t add up.

Jenny never sent you a text that she’d be in town, especially on a Friday. Just as you’re about to go through the text messages in your phone just in case, you see the door of the chocolate store open and out walks Yugyeom and Jenny. They’re so deep in their own conversation, they don’t even glance at you, right across the street from them.

You take in a breath, shaking your head. This just doesn’t make sense. Getting up again, you make your way down the street, watching them from across. Maybe Jenny needed a special order of chocolates. Was there a birthday you were forgetting?

You stop in your tracks, watching as Jenny practically jumping with excitement alongside Yugyeom. She must’ve said something funny, because he tilts his head back, mouth open wide, the same way he always laughs at you when you make a stupid joke.

Shaking your head again, you continue your steps. No, Jenny is a trusted friend. You’ve known her since high school. But the longer you follow, the more your stomach starts to hurt. It’s exactly because you’ve known Jenny for so long that you know she would never be this animated with your boyfriend.

Your chest hurt at just the thought, but you can’t help it from echoing in your brain. That the two of them look too comfortable—like they’ve been meeting for a while. 

Biting your lip hard, you stop in your tracks again and force yourself to turn around. No, this just didn’t add up. And you didn’t want to trail after them like some kind of stalker.

You trust Yugyeom and you trust Jenny.

Hailing the nearest cab, you enter with a huff. It was like Jinyoung said, you were probably just spiraling.

-

“I’m home,” Yugyeom calls softly as he enters the house. You freeze in your seat at the kitchen table, despite having sat there for three hours for this very moment.

“Hey,” Yugyeom peeks his head into the kitchen, looking at you with furrowed eyes. “What are you doing just sitting here by yourself?”

You chuckle dryly, trying to shake off your nerves. “Oh, I guess I was just spacing out.”

He smiles at you before sitting down in the chair across from you. “Everything alright?”

“Yeah, everything’s okay,” you lie. “How was work?”

“It was fine. Busy as usual,” Yugyeom shrugs. “What did you have for dinner?”

“I made pasta. There’s leftovers in the fridge for you.”

“It’s okay, I’m stuffed already.”

“Oh? You ate?”

Yugyeom’s eyes grow wide before he is blinking away, running his fingers through his hair. “Uh, yeah, um…Bambam, he bought me dinner.”

“That was nice of him,” you mumble. You breathe loudly, trying to keep yourself collected despite feeling like you were going to vomit with each second that passes.

He chuckles before raising his voice abruptly. “Anyways! Let’s talk about tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow? Did you have something in mind?” your chest jolts with hope.

“Actually, I was thinking you could have a girl’s day with Jenny! And then we could do something in the evening.”

“Jenny’s in town?” you watch him closely, noticing the way he licks at his lips and swallows.

“Oh! Yeah! I uh, I heard it from Bam. He must’ve seen a story update from her or something.”

You dig your nail into the cuticle bed of your thumbs as you listen to him lie straight to your face.

“Jenny didn’t text me though. She probably has something else going on this weekend.”

“Nope!” Yugyeom whips, smiling far too big for this conversation. “I messaged her about tomorrow already.”

“So, you want me to hang out with Jenny…on our anniversary?” You question slowly.

Yugyeom looks away, his ears flushed. He brushes at your hand. “Yeah, you two should catch up, get your nails done or something. You should really stop doing this to your nails.”

You look to your hands, your nail beds raw.

“I’m tired,” you mutter, getting up from your seat first. “I’m gonna go to bed first.”

“Oh, okay…well, just remember, you and Jenny at noon!”

You don’t answer.

-

“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Jenny turns to you with concern as the nail technician keeps her right hand hostage. “Is something bothering you?”

“Why are you in town again?” you ask, eyes concentrated on the deep red shade that your nail tech paints onto your fingernails.

“Oh!” In your peripheral, you can see her noticeably jolt. “I came for a conference on Friday and when Yugyeom reached out to me I decided to stay for the weekend.”

“A conference, huh?”

“Yeah,” she mumbles, turning back to her technician. “You know how much the beauty industry loves their conventions.”

“Must’ve been draining.”

“Yeah, totally. That’s why I didn’t text you I was in town. I was completely exhausted by the end of it that I completely forgot.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Mhm,” she turns back to you. “You should add a gold accent. Gold accent, please!”

Your nail tech nods, bringing out another tray of gold embellishment from underneath her desk. You turn your head, hearing the click of Jenny’s nails on the screen of her phone. There’s a bright smile on her face and it makes you want to burst into tears on the spot.

At first you thought maybe the two of them planned for Jenny to reveal the truth to you. You didn’t think Yugyeom was a coward but lately, none of the things you thought before make sense anymore. However, after hours spent with Jenny, all you’ve managed was getting prettier nails and lots of lies from who you thought was your best friend.

“Gorgeous,” Jenny coos, leaning in to admire your fingers. 

“Yeah,” you murmur half-heartedly, feeling your spirit fully deplete.

No confession comes. No explanation. When evening comes, Jenny sends you right back home. Your walk up to the apartment is slow. This is it, isn’t it? Gyeom needed time to prepare himself to break up with you. It’s why he didn’t want to be with you for your anniversary. 

Your stomach sinks when you get to your door. Was this your last time ever entering? Where were you going to move to? 

As the familiar tone of the keypad rings in your ear, hot tears prick at your eyes. Stepping into the house, your vision blurs as you step through the hallway and into the kitchen. Yugyeom is standing at the stove when he turns to you with a smile.

“You’re back!” he greets you. When you hear his laughter, tears spill down your cheeks. “Crying already, babe? You haven’t even tasted it.”

Hiccupping, you try to calm yourself but the more you try to contain the tears, the more your chest fills with fear and floods you. You cry even harder, a terrible wail leaving your throat.

The sound of tin crashes onto the floor and quickly, you are enveloped in Yugyeom’s warmth. The feeling only makes you more sick and you bury your face into his chest, crying harder. Your last embrace. Your last time being comforted by him. The thoughts send sharp pains straight to your chest.

Yugyeom holds you tight against him, taking the impact of your shaking body to his chest. “Baby, what’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere?”

It’s a long time before you feel calm enough to stand on your own. When you finally do, stepping back from his arms, you feel yourself tearing up again from seeing the concern on his face.

“What happened?” he whispers, fingers reaching out for yours. 

You pull away though, taking another step back.

“Yugyeom,” your voice comes out shaky but determined. “Are we breaking up?”

Tears spill again.

Yugyeom looks at you with a shocked expression. “What? Where is this coming from?”

“You don’t love me anymore,” you cry.

“Of course I do! What are you talking about?” 

“Then why did you lie to me?” You look at him sharply, gaze severe despite the shine of tears. He doesn’t say anything, and the silence breaks your heart.

Lips quivering, you sit down at the kitchen table. “You lied to me. Jenny lied to me…H-how long? How long have you been doing this?”

“Baby,” Yugyeom whispers, bending to the floor. He rests his hands on your thighs, looking up at you and there are tears in his eyes two. “Baby…baby, you’ve got this all wrong.”

“Even if it’s not Jenny, it’s still not me, is it?” you whimper, tears spilling down your chin. They splatter on the back of his hands. “You don’t talk to me anymore. You don’t want to share anything with me. Not even stories about your day.”

Tears run down Yugyeom’s cheeks as he presses a kiss to your knee.

“No, no, baby, you’re wrong.”

You sniff, cupping your palm to his wet cheek. “I want to be wrong. Please prove me wrong, Gyeom.”

“I was trying to keep it a secret,” he scoffs to himself, shaking his head. “I was planning this for months.”

“Planning?”

“I was so afraid I’d accidentally let it slip, or that you’d find it.”

You frown, brows furrowing in confusion now. “Find what, Gyeom?”

Yugyeom takes in a deep breath, breaking into a gentle smile as he glances down at the kitchen floor. Following his gaze, you realize he had dropped a tray of chocolates earlier.

“Chocolates?”

“Champagne Truffles,” he tells you, reaching down to grab one.

“You…you made a new recipe?”

Yugyeom lets out a loud sigh. “Good thing I marked it.”

You look at him, bewildered. He chuckles softly, turning to you again.

“I’m not going to break up with you, baby,” he laughs, digging his thumb into the spine of the chocolate until it bursts with a pop. “I’m trying to spend my whole life with you.”

Your hands to fly to your mouth in surprise as a fresh wave of tears spring to your eyes. He drops the chocolate shell to the floor, holding onto the shining gold band with shaking hands.

“Every day since meeting you,” his voice breaks and you cry, hands coming to cup his face as tears run down his cheeks too. “I thought I had a good life, and then I met you…And then I realized, I was missing everything before you came into my life.”

“Gyeom,”

He sniffs, breaking into a smile as more tears fall from his eyes. “Baby, you’re my everything. You’re the first person I want to tell anything to. You don’t know how hard it’s been trying to keep this from you.”

You laugh with him, “And Jenny.”

He nods. “She was helping me pick out the ring, plan the event, pick the flowers.”

You grin, pressing your forehead to his. “You bought me flowers!”

He laughs, nose brushing softly against yours. “Yeah, and a ring too…if you want it.”

“I do, I do, I do,” you giggle against him as your tears wet his cheek. 

He chuckles, breath ghosting your lips.

“Not yet, baby, that one’s for the wedding,” he chuckles and you laugh with him.

“Either way, it’s I do.”

#got7 scenarios #got7 imagines #got7 reactions #kim yugyeom #got7 series #fluff #angst #writing #fanfiction #le chocolatier series

[d3lto1dpr0c3ss]

This piece is set in @wildfaewhump‘s Pathverse, following a Class A Path currently in a transport truck.

The lines blurred, is a thought, recognized. Next is the sensation of being dragged back from the endless space between consciousness and nonexistence. Things seem to be shifting themselves into place after having not been so for some time. Places that didn’t quite fit, like puzzle pieces not cut from the same board forced together. Thoughts swim in a sea of confusion, slipping between their fingers when they—they?—reach out to cup one.

When they shift, so slight it isn’t much more than a tensing of their shoulders, they press against something warm and oddly comfortable—confusion and fear begin to ooze into them—again?—and their head feels full of water, sloshing and mixing as everything gently shakes around them; it feels familiar, but so completely foreign, like taking a breath for the first time as the world came into view again, limply dragged ashore and choking, crying, heaving up water after they’d fallen from the boat—

They manage to grab onto a thought, letting it drag them away from the memory before they dip too deep—no, no it’s not like that at all, that’s not right—not mine—what’s going on? They had been fighting to stay awake, and there had been her and him, then him and her—her and him? Was she him, or was he her?

They are jostled, suddenly, and come apart for a moment. In that moment some part of them recognized they had been split from the Other—not part of self, you need to remember self and Other—someone she had been leaning against, unconscious. Nausea washes over her as she gently sways from side to side, only managing to stay upright between being seated and her arms being cuffed to the wall behind her. The incoming headache from the reading starts to ease into her like a swell of rising pressure in the back of her head, but then the ground underneath her bounces, knocking her to the side, and she falls into them again; her cheek pressing against his bare arm as the reading crashes into her.

Please I want the cuffs off I don’t want to be here who’s leaning on me I can’t see anything why did they blindfold me I didn’t even do anything wrong I’m not one of those dangerous Paths that needs to be kept under control if he’d just let me talk he’d understand but if I say anything he’ll hit me again is he still even in the truck with me is he watching me please I just want to go home get off of me—

It fills the cracks and bites deep into what little defense she’d had time to muster before—before there was a them but now there is, and they can’t stop but they need to, don’t they? Because this is wrong. I’m being bad, I’m not supposed to read like this—please let this be a dream—I’m so sorry—what did I do to deserve this?

They begin scrambling, like digging through sand to try to rip apart self and Other before they sink further into it; but the sand only spreads, thoughts catching and painfully gritting under fingernails; where are we—I’m scared—why are they doing this—sorry sorry sorry—take them off—I can’t stop—and they can’t tell who is thinking what between the pain and fear and pain and fear and pain and fear and—stop!

As they reach out they only find more of him, digging themselves deeper and deeper until there is no her and him, they were one and the same and both the one wearing too-tight cuffs, walling off from the memories of pain and fear and sobs cut-off from a boot to the stomach and tears quietly dripping onto the floor when their voice is too hoarse to cry anymore and shaking hands that didn’t want to reach out to read again but would anyways and—

There’s a choked sob. Loud, and in her ear, then fainter rumbling behind it. The sound is distant, distant like the dark green house he could still make out even from the shore, the one where he trails his hands across the deck banister, wood-grain rubbing against calloused palms as he hums in appreciation at the builder’s care, still early enough in the morning that his friends have yet to arrive. He’s excited—was, not now—not now don’t think about this again not now…

Fingers—threading through hair. They’re abruptly ripped apart; forcibly made aware of self and Other in the same instance of separation. Pain hammers its way into her skull at the harsh end of the reading as her head is mashed into the hard metal wall beside her. The bench feels as though it wobbles beneath her, sloshing her insides back and forth and back and forth and it’s all she can do to avoid throwing up. Not him, just a memory. An arm brushes past her own, tangling into the cuffs securing her arms behind her as she quietly mewls, trailing off into shallow panting.

There’s something said, grumbling or growling, she thinks, but she only makes out the last bit of “—the fuck up, Path”, her head pounding with intent to crush her brain being hard not to let consume her and the cool metal pressed against her cheek not cold enough to assuage the oncoming migraine. She opens her eyes and is met with the nearly ever-present darkness of the blindfold tied around her head.

The hand slides from her head and closes around her upper arm as the cuffs come unclasped from the wall. Her head lolls forwards, no longer supported. Then, they pull upwards, yanking her to her feet. It feels like her body only follows a moment later, and a dull ache spreads through her stomach as her torso bends. Her knees don’t manage to lock before the legs she can barely feel give out—their grip doesn’t hold and she limply slides through their arms, dead weight falling to the floor with a fleshy thunk.

“Fuckin’ shit!” Laying down seems to settle the wobbling and sloshing some, the floor only slowly swaying beneath her. A shoe presses into her side and she doesn’t move, holding her breath. It nudges more insistently, and she does her best to stay still, not wanting to give them reason to kick her and finding herself unable to dredge up the energy to do much else. With all the movement, the ache becomes a sharp pain, slowly digging into her gut as she clenches her eyes shut behind the blindfold with a slow exhale.

“W-What’s going on?” The voice seems to come from behind and above her, slightly panicked. The shoe leaves her side and the heavy thud of a footstep is shortly followed by a familiar sharp noise; a gloved hand meeting flesh. “Please, I—”

“Shut it!” All this loud noise bounces around inside her skull, pinging off the bone and chiseling away at it. A drawn out breath catches in her throat, twisting into a breathy groan.

Someone steps away from her, then the footfalls stop for a moment, replaced by a metallic click and clang followed by a faint thud, before the walking resumes, fading out with distance. Their voice is loud enough she can unfortunately still hear it when they shout, “Eric! One of ‘em passed out.”

She vaguely registers that the floor—the truck? I was in transport—isn’t softly vibrating anymore, and hasn’t been for a while. That’s good, she supposes; one less thing jostling her head around.

“Hey, um… Are you… Is anyone there?” It’s the same soft voice as before, behind her. Breathing shallowly as to not disturb her stomach further, she manages a weak nod, cringing as the movement makes her head swim, then makes a noise approximate to an affirmative moan when they don’t say anything to her nod.

“O-Oh god, are you okay?” She feels pretty bad. But she’s been through worse. She can maybe sleep it off. Going to sleep sounds really nice. If they stay quiet maybe she will. But they don’t, they whimper, voice cracking, “Do you- do you know what’s going to happen to us?”

Bad, if he doesn’t stay quiet. We’re supposed to be quiet. It’s too difficult for her to hold onto more than one thought at a time, the rest spilling over and dripping off into some blank space in her mind muddled by pulsating pain. She doesn’t have to try to keep thinking though, because whoever left earlier is back—grunting somewhere close but not inside the truck when their voice doesn’t echo, “I ‘unno what to do, I’m tryin’ to make it your problem.”

There’s someone else, quieter, laughing maybe, and she listens, grabbing onto something to hold her steady as the headache washes over her. “C’mon! Just carry it in, don’t be a baby.” “Maybe I am a baby! But I’m a baby that’s not gonna be holdin’ the damn Path when it pukes!” Her mouth twists uncomfortably, grimacing in pain. So loud. It only gets louder when they get into the truck, footsteps echoing off the hollow walls. She bites her tongue, trying to hold back a whimper, but the added pain doesn’t help and she instead lets her mouth fall open slightly, shakily exhaling.

There’s another laugh, but it trails off into a more serious tone. “It’s not going to puke.”

“They always do!” Spit is thick in her mouth and she takes a moment to swallow, fingers curling slightly as she tries to focus on steady in and out breathing. The pain in her head pulses, throbbing in tandem with her heart beat, like each contraction of her heart was a vice grip milking her brain for thoughts. Nausea swirls in her stomach still, but the pain there recedes back to something duller.

“Do not, you’re just trying to shirk the heavy-lifting. Don’t think I can’t see that!”

There’s silence for a moment. “Just get in ‘ere.”

More footsteps approach, clambering up into the truck. “…Man, it’s really just out, huh?”

“Nah I was just pullin’ your leg—c’mon dude? Why the fuck would I lie about that? Out like a light, ‘s just what I said.” One, two, three footsteps, then their voice lowers, “…I know you sure as hell don’t wanna carry ‘em either. I won’t let out a peep if you wanna make a little ‘accident’ happen an’ call over a stretcher, we can both get outta it.” There isn’t any talking for a bit, and she focuses on breathing steadily, tensing and relaxing her hands, focusing on the feel of the cuffs against her skin. The nausea’s started to ebb away with the stillness and a slight bit of tension is soothed with it.

“Alright.” There’s a long pause before they speak again, “You grab the other one, we need to bring at least one of them in, yeah?” The side of her face rests against the floor of the truck, panting through the pain in her head. Hands press against her back; she flinches then tenses under the touch as they slide to her arms, roughly dragging her off the ground as she slumps into their chest.

She barely registers their hands no longer on her before there’s pain—like a knife driven into her skull when she hits the ground again, keening as her head cracks off the metal floor. It doubles the pounding, throbbing pain drowning everything out, dragging her in as her stomach roils. The pain and nausea swirl together, pulling her back and forth between acidic bile burning at the back of her throat and her skull compacting her brain into paste.

Muffled and distant as if her ears were stuffed full, there’s a very sarcastic, “Whoops.” The rest of their words are too difficult to discern over her ragged breathing—she pants heavily, then clamps her mouth shut around the rising urge to vomit. Everything sways dangerously as pain webs its way around her head and seeps through the rest of her body, biting deep into her.

She’s not sure how long she lays there, distantly hearing footsteps and voices, until eventually she’s picked up again. Her hands make their way in front of her, the cuffs discarded, as she’s laid on her back against something softer than the ground. Her stomach lurches when she’s raised into the air, and she squirms until she’s stopped by straps being pulled tight over her. Something tighter wraps around her arm and squeezes, too tight, almost painful, and she wheezes, weakly turning her head to the side. The last belt is secured across her chest and she sways, nauseatingly, when what she’s restrained to starts to move, bringing her with it. Her eyebrows scrunch together as she clenches her eyes behind the fabric at the shrill squeak of an unoiled wheel.

With each rhythmic squeal, the pounding in her head only gets worse.

#whump #uhhh i dont know what to tag this as? #injury #dehumanizing language #i dont know how to insert a horizontal line i spent an hour messing around and looking things up but couldnt get it to work

[dercolaris]

The tea party

Hey folks. Today there is something completely different than usual. No Scriddler, surprise, surprise^^ I wrote a short story a while ago to cheer up @weyoun, but sadly only in German. I wasn't so convinced about my English skills back then and successfully shoved the translation aside for the past few months, but hey - now it's finally done! Hurray! I hope you're not too mad at me, Ronnie, that I decided to upload your story on Tumblr and Archive of Our Own.

I rarely write about Ivy and Jervis, but the two characters are on my favourite list in the DC Universe. Especially Jervis is so pleasant to write. He's the absolute mad sweetheart of the rogue gallery in my opinion. I can only vaguely remember the song I was listening to while I was writing the story, but I think it was this one from Avicii:

https://youtu.be/Qc9c12q3mrc

Thanks again to you, @weyoun. I hope you can enjoy your little story now and maybe one day come up with a new idea that interests you. My ears are always open to you and I love to write for friends. Thanks also for beta reading the story, @shin-arei. 

The red-haired beauty wandered through the deserted forecourt of the asylum and snorted softly under her breath. Escape was rarely the best choice, but on that cursed evening there was simply no viable alternative for her. Ivy growled bitterly. What were these sacks of meat all thinking, especially the male ones? The evening meal in the way too small canteen had escalated completely. After she got into a little discussion with Edward Nygma about the tasteless flower decoration of the tables, Jonathan Crane immediately got involved and gave his unasked opinion. When Harley, Harvey and Victor got on board, it was all lost. The botanist probably still had scraps of food in her beautiful hair. Her fingers slid through the long strands, actually found a loose spaghetti. She pulled out the sticky noodle in disgust and flicked it to the floor regardless. Absolutely disgusting. Ivy shook her head slowly, just stepped faster in the direction of the botanical garden. Normally she was not allowed to visit it on her own, but today it was more than safe to take this small risk and to be honest: who would stop her anyway right now? The guards were all still busy calming the food fight in the canteen. The redhead pushed open the glass doors of the greenhouse and took a deep breath. It was liberating. More than liberating. The air was saturated with the clear, filtered air of her favourites. Quieter than before, she slipped into the entrance area and let her fingers hover over the first tendrils on the sides. Fortunately, her offspring were doing well. In particular, the facility's caretaker went to great lengths to maintain the garden. A useful person. How surprising. Almost delightful. She felt the flowers and roots begin to tremble at her touch. The botanist smiled wickedly, breathed a little kiss on a loose leaf. She whispered softly: "Sweet little thing. You will grow big and strong one day, will you?” She released the sheet from her grip and strolled deeper into the long corridors. The background noise was impressive. Such a strong contrast to the typical noises from the penitentiaries. Ivy sighed softly and visibly relaxed. In this atmosphere she could completely forget all the trouble of the last hours. The redhead was just about to rest for a moment when she suddenly heard a low voice near by. She frowned and walked leisurely around the corner. The source of the noise still seemed to be hiding somewhere in the branching corridors. The words were an incomprehensible murmur and very hard to understand. After a few steps, there was also the faint clatter of dishes. The botanist was completely perplexed at this moment, but also slightly curious.

A few seconds passed before she finally found the stranger in the greenhouse. Pamela crossed her arms over her chest and examined the small man on the rusty bench in front of the bust. The blond, longer hair framed his boyish face and his contours were unusually gentle, almost delicate. Actually, the whole stature did not correspond to that of a powerful man, the small body size completed this impression. In addition to this realization, she immediately noticed the stubborn old fashion clothing. The green cloak was wrapped tightly around his narrow shoulders and the matching top hat sat a little at an angle on his head. He wore matching white leather gloves. Ivy bit her lower lip slightly. Jervis Tetch. She had overheard the guards' conversation when he was admitted in the facility. He was arguably obsessed with the story of Alice in Wonderland and had committed some unimaginable atrocities in adaptation to this book. Probably including kidnapping, rape and multiple murders. Another madman for the asylum. Ivy was just about to go the way back when the man's low voice nestled almost pleasant in her ear: "March hare, what's the point of saying this bad things? Naughty thing. We have to finish the tea first before we go back to these lewd rascals. If we go back at all. Maybe we'll just stay here and hide for the remaining eight months.” The botanist stopped dead in place, just sighed softly. That was expectable. How could it have been otherwise? There was a good chance that the young man would have trouble with the other inmates. It was his first stay in the clinic and this was always particularly tragic for most new inmates. Experienced patients weren't exactly squeamish. Luminaries like Jonathan Crane in particular broke inexperienced souls at lightning speed and the different villains had a perfidious joy in doing so. The redhead frowned. She had a big problem with the self-proclaimed Master of Fear. Jonathan was intelligent, no question about it and his expertise was certainly inexhaustible, but he went too far with his psychological games on some points. A large number of new patients had killed themselves because of him after less than five hours in the asylum. The older one always acknowledged this with a small smile, while the cleaning women cursed and had to work through the mess in the cells. Seen in this way, bets have often been made as to how long a newcomer would survive if he was put in the cell with the infamous Scarecrow. That the guards also took part in this spectacle made the botanist incredulous and very sick. The Arkham staff really wasn't interested in patient recovery - except perhaps some of the psychologists. She looked again at the young man on the bench.

After a while the redhead overcame her mental reservation and slowly sauntered towards the lonely inmate. At first he didn't seem to notice her. Ivy tried to crack up an honest smile and said carefully in his direction: “Hey. You're Jervis Tetch, I assume?” The addressee startled slightly, his eyes panicked like a deer. The botanist raised her hands soothingly and smiled a little more gently. The Mad Hatter relaxed only gradually, the opals still twitching wildly through the corridor. Apparently he was already planning his escape. Great. Two souls on the run from the large mob in the canteen. Pamela carefully came closer, made it clear to her counterpart that she did not want to harm him. As if in slow motion, she sat down next to him on the bench and continued softly: “Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Not all inmates here are barbaric fiends." Jervis looked down at his hands and played a bit with his fingers. After a short while he dared to look up, his blue eyes glittering slightly in the weak light. Finally he carefully lifted his fingers and ran two of them through Ivy's long hair. He mumbled cautiously: “My, my. You have such beautiful hair. As red as my queen's, but like silk and velvet. So beautiful. So pure. Cheshire Cat, just look. I don't even want to sew a hat for your head, that would completely disturb the aesthetics.” At first the botanist wanted to reject him more than harshly, but then quickly refrained from doing so. The expression in the blond's opals was strange. These did not contain any disreputable or even sexual intentions, as was always the case with such acts. The devotion and admiration for her hair seemed sincere. A short time later the young man added in a whisper: “What's your name? Tell me please. I need to know. The Hatter needs to know immediately. I've never seen such gentle beauty and your unique nature makes it perfect.” Pamela almost choked on her own spit. What had gotten into this guy? Or better: what got into her?

She didn't even know this man for two minutes. Nevertheless, he seemed to be familiar to her in a certain way and, contrary to her usual reason, she only smiled at his doing. His fingers were unexpectedly gentle with their easy play with the strands. Ivy replied muffled: “My name is Pamela Lillian Isley, but probably better known by my alias Poison Ivy. Eco-terrorist by trade.” The Mad Hatter smiled knowingly and only nodded slowly. He let his fingers slide out of her hair and turned away from her. The blond-haired man looked for something next to him on the bench for a moment, then suddenly held out a small white porcelain cup. It smelled suspiciously of black tea. The woman frowned, but picked up the cup and looked down at her moving reflection. Her greenish skin shimmered slightly in the pheromone-soaked halls of the botanical garden. The young man next to her whistled happily: “Hear, hear. Another participant in our small, private tea party. What a pleasure and beneficial surprise.” He took his own white service and swirled the black liquid a little, then drank the broth with relish. Ivy tried the tea too. It was bitter, but not in an unpleasant sense. Similar to a good coffee, but with a gentler after taste. The wonderland lover was certainly well read in the field and knew how to properly prepare tea. At least it tasted excellent. A certain silence fell between them, only interrupted by the low whirring of the insects around them. The redhead stretched a little and asked softly: “What brought you here in the first place, Jervis? You should be in the canteen for dinner. Not that it would bother me to enjoy your company here tonight.” To her surprise, the addressee slumped a little. The little figure appeared even a little smaller than before. The blond-haired man breathed his answer barely audibly: “They said to me that I shouldn't close my eyes tonight and if I do, the black man will get me out of the cell next to me. The lean man with the brown hair and the piercing eyes. After that I lost my appetite.”

Ivy gave a muffled sigh, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. He was talking about Jonathan. That was to be expected. So they had put Jervis in a cell with either Harvey or Edward, which were located right next to the Master of Fear. The botanist stroked the shiny porcelain. Both villains weren't exactly comfortable room mates for the first stay. Of course, that could no longer be changed. The redhead sat up and calmly replied: “That won't happen, Jervis. The so-called black man is also just a person in a silly scarecrow costume and he is locked in at night like everyone else. You don't have to worry, my dear.” The Mad Hatter blinked slightly, then sipped his tea in silence. He put the cup back on the saucer with a clatter and replied a bit lost: “What am I actually doing here? I should be outside and looking for my Alice. Now I'm going to spend eight months in these narrow corridors with other crazy people who don't even know how to make original English tea. It's sad. Almost to cry." Ivy clicked her tongue. At least the man seemed to understand that he was as mad as anyone else in the asylum and did not plead his sanity. The botanist crossed her legs, then replied calmly: “Perhaps you can convince some to learn, Jervis. Other inmates like me, for example. The tea tastes really fantastic and I would love to sit here with you more often.” The addressee perked up his ears. The cloudy eyes suddenly shone and a broad smile crept onto his unusually full lips. He refilled them both with some tea. While they were enjoying the second cup together, the loudspeakers suddenly rang out above them: “Jervis Tetch and Pamela Isley, return to your cells immediately. You have no business in the botanical garden. Especially you, Mrs. Isley, are not allowed there. You know the deal. Move!” The redhead groaned in annoyance and looked into the upper corner of the room. The small camera humming barely audibly, the red light glowed suspiciously. Without further ado, the woman rose and said quietly to Jervis: “We should go. If we don't act quickly, they'll drag us by the hair out of the greenhouse and refer us to an unpleasant electroshock therapy with the prison director Quincy Sharp.” The Mad Hatter nodded slowly, then took his picnic basket from under the bench. Where in the world had he found it? The young man carefully stowed the tea party utensils in the basket and pushed himself off the bench, still smiling happily. He took a few steps in the direction of the exit, then turned to Ivy and said happily: “Are you coming with me, Mrs. Isley? We don't have to walk the path alone and all of us would prefer your company on the way out. By the way, especially the Cheshire Cat is very fond of you. Maybe we can have tea together again tomorrow. This time in the canteen?” She couldn't help but smile again. Yeah, that wasn't a bad idea.

#DC #Batman #Poison Ivy #pamela isley #Mad Hatter #Jervis Tetch #ArkhamVerse #Friendship #Tea Party #Alice in Wonderland #For Weyoun

[yujinfey]

—SUNKYU⋆ˊˎ

“or-- or i tell her we’re actually moving in together? i could come here or you could come to mine, that would imply we’re spending more time together, right? i could give her a time and day for the ritual, but i think she’ll have a problem with me setting it in two centuries.”

his eyes prickle in frustration, but he takes a deep breath, willing it away. “or i’m open to any other options. we can move somewhere south instead, i just thought you’d like the cold better than the heat,” he mumbles, scratching at the fabric stretched over his knees. quieter, he says, “anything you want, yujin-ah. i just don’t want you to have to go back to them.”

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚ —

yujin squeezes his hand back, for just a moment, and gently tilts his head back, closing his eyes, as sunkyu works on taking off his excess makeup. his question makes a little sigh fall past his lips, and he shrugs just a little, but not anything to disrupt sunkyu’s work.

“they’ll let me know, as they always do. i was hoping they’d be gracious and give me a break, but they’ll probably call me back home tomorrow morning with something else. i’ve learned to just— accept that. it’s why i was napping, i figured i should get as much sleep as i can get,” yujin murmurs, feeling the tenseness of his shoulders dissipate the longer sunkyu is holding onto him, enough to let a small laugh out when he says he’s a racoon with a sleeve.

“a badass raccoon, you mean,” he returns, though he’s listening just a moment later, the smile falling from his lips as he mentions the ritual.

“they always think we’re moving too slow,” he says, a little bitter, and he is, and maybe they are but yujin doesn’t care. he doesn’t. this is him and sunkyu against everyone else, and he will fight for it and fight for it and he doesn’t care. all he cares about is sunkyu. that’s all that matters.

and he knows how hard this all is, how scary it all is, and yujin can only wish that somehow, he could do more to alleviate it. all of these years, all he could do was try and swallow down the fear that crept up his throat, thinking about sunkyu having to hold and be connected to all of him, when he’d never want to wish that onto anyone else in the whole world, and especially not sunkyu. especially not sunkyu, who has stayed with him through it all.

the escape plan sounds very tempting, too, but yujin still knows that somehow, there would be no running, even with how much they would try. and it’s not even a concept of not being able to run— it’s about the fact that they’d never be able to stop. that his parents would never, ever let him go, they would always find him, and there is sunkyu, too, and it’s a fate yujin doesn’t want to expose him to. feels guilty enough that this is their fate currently, and yujin is the person that sunkyu has to be so intertwined with.

throat a little tight with fondness, with the fact that sunkyu has thought all of this out, he moves a little closer to him still, finding the lack of space between them making everything easier to try and swallow. “while i would love to see you with colored hair, i don’t know if i’d be a very good ice fisher. and i would like the cold, but i’d much rather not see you be a popsicle all of the time. your hands are cold enough already,”

he looks to them now, scratching over the fabric on his knees, and yujin reaches out to thread their fingers together, intertwined.

together, they’ll do this together.

“the south could be nice too. i think you’d be much more content in the sun, hm?” he offers, and he runs his thumbs over the backs of sunkyu’s hands, tries not to think about the weight on his chest, the way it feels harder to breathe, trying to think of a solution for it all.

“i’ll always have to go back to them, but i think it would be easier if i got to see you first. come and be here. they pay for it anyway, so we wouldn’t have to worry so much about rent. maybe it’ll quiet them down for awhile, knowing that we’re together every day, at least,” he tells him, and he leans over until he can lean his head against his, letting his eyes fall shut.

“and we can come up with another plan when they start asking again— but this will buy us some time. maybe let us research some places, figure out what hair color to choose. have you ever considered going blonde? i think you’d look pretty cute, kyu,” he says, and he does let out a little quiet huff of a laugh, this time, squeezing his hands in return.

all he can think is, we’ll be okay. yujin won’t have it any other way. even seeing sunkyu like this is tearing him apart, always has, and he always wishes that his arms around him was enough to protect him from the world, from his parents, from yujin’s, maybe even from himself, as selfish as it was to want to be the person doing it, too.

he was always selfish, when it came to sunkyu.

@feysunkyu

#feysunkyu #—✩THE SHAPE/I FOUND YOU IN. #—ˋˏFOR THOSE WHO PLAY WITH FIRE. #me watching as this reply got away from me

[letsmellowjello]

Let Me Love You

Pairings: Poe Dameron x Reader

Warnings: Implied smut, mentions of sex, bit of angst, brief mention of PTSD (please please please correct me if you think I romanticized it or didn’t use it properly)

Summary: Poe and y/n have been friends with benefits for years, but now that the war is over, Poe is looking for more.

Request: By @hkmultifandom​ “Poe x fem!reader, set after tros, with 9&21, plase?🥺 they’re friends with benefits for years and poe feels it’s time to try something else?” 9. “My problem is that I love you so much that I don’t know what to do with myself” 21. “Why won’t you let me love you?”

Masterlist ~ Requests/Prompt

Notes: I hope you like this! I tried me best. I wasn’t sure how you wanted this to end, so I kind of took the liberty of choosing myself. Neither gif is mine

The war was over, but old habits die hard. Isn’t that what people say? You weren’t entirely sure when it started, but at some point during the war against the First Order you had started a friends with benefits relationship with one of your close friends: Poe Dameron.

After a particularly difficult and taxing mission where you, leader of Green Squadron had lost one of your fighters. It had absolutely killed you and the stress of everything was beginning to set it. You had tossed and turned in your bed at night, unable to get a wink of sleep since every time you closed your eyes you heard the pilot’s screams right before their x-wing exploded in front of you. Moments later you found yourself standing outside of Poe Dameron’s chambers after just knocking on the door. An exhausted and sleep-deprived Poe answered, it was clear that he was unable to sleep as well.

“Can’t sle-?” He began.

“I need you Poe. Right now.” You told him bluntly. You weren’t one to beat around the bush, all you wanted right now was a distraction from the horrors of war. He understood what you meant and nodded, stepping aside to let you inside where you began something that almost resembled a ritual. 

It became a very common occurrence for either one of you to go to the other’s room just to let loose for a while and forget everything. 

After that first night, you both decided that it would be best to keep this strictly friends with benefits, no strings attached. That’s always how it starts, but every single time someone will get feelings and the original purpose for the relationship goes out the window. And this was no exception.

Poe had only first realized his feelings for you that went beyond sex when he had almost died when he was captured by the First Order but then rescued by a defecting stormtrooper. 

When their stolen tie fighter was plummeting towards the dunes of Jakku, all he could think of was you. The way you kept him company for all of those dark and lonely nights. The way your hands were always so soft which had always confused Poe since you did so much heavy, manual labor. Or the way that you would try and make everybody feel welcome. Poe thought of all the things about you that he loved. The way you would tilt your head when you were confused, or quirk your eyebrow up at him whenever he would say something dumb, or the way you cheeks would puff a bit and your lips would tighten whenever you were trying not to laugh at something somebody had said or done.

And then when Poe had miraculously survived the crash, it was the little things that had kept him going until his rescue. He had told himself that the next time he saw you he would tell you how hard he had fallen for you, but when he landed back on D’Qar, he saw you laughing with some guy he didn’t know. After that, he chickened out and kept his feelings buried deep inside him. But no matter what you did, his love for you never faltered.

The topic of relationships and the long term had been brought up in friendly conversation once when Poe had asked you if you were open to the idea of starting something serious with somebody. You had told him that the only more-than-friends relationships that you were willing to start with anybody were not meant to be long term and were meant to be just short little flings. You had told him that you didn’t want anything serious as long as the war was still going on. It was too much commitment and left you too vulnerable to hurt.

Poe understood your reasoning and promised himself that if he made it to the end of this war he would finally tell you how much he loved you and ask you to be his.

What both you and Poe had planned to happen when you first began was that if you both survived the war, after it ended you would stop the arrangement. But now the war had been over for almost a year and you and Poe were still having sex regularly. Although you were no longer living through the ravages of war, you both now had to deal with the trauma of everything that you had gone through. There were no longer miscellaneous missions to go on to distract you, so once again you turned to each other.

Originally you had thought that once the war ended you would go back to living a normal life just like you had before you joined the Resistance. But after Exegol you came to the shocking conclusion that you had nothing to go back to. So instead you were now assisting Poe and others in the rebuilding of an intergalactic government. 

~

“Whew, never gets old” You sighed and rolled over off of Poe after just rounding out yet another ‘meeting’. The day before had been astronomically bad and both you and Poe had needed a serious distraction which led you to be in his quarters for far longer than you had anticipated. 

Coruscant’s sun was beginning to peek through the window and cast a soft golden glow on you as you stood up from the bed. Poe watched you from the bed as you went around the room gathering your clothes. But your back was to him so you couldn’t see the admiration and love in his eyes.

“Hey Poe, do you know where my shirt is?” You asked turning back to him with a pile of clothes in your hands. He reached over to pick up your shirt from the floor next to his side of the bed. “Thanks.”

“Y/n, you know it’s okay if you stay for a little bit longer.” He spoke as you began putting your clothes on. 

“What?” You looked up at him with a twinge of suspicion in your gaze.“I’m serious, you don’t always need to rush off afterward.” He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed to pull on a pair of pants. 

“You have the day off today and Finn is covering for me until noon.”

“Listen Poe, I know you mean well, but this,” you gestured to the two of you and the room around you, “this isn’t meant to be much more than an outlet. Why would I stay for longer than is needed? And besides, even on my days off there is always still work to do.” Poe took this as a punch in the gut. Was he really just an outlet for you? Did none of the last several years mean anything to you?

“Y/n the war is over, don’t you think it’s time to move on and make this something more?”

“Poe what’s gotten into you? What’s your problem? You’ve never acted like this before. When did everything change?” This was not at all how you were expecting your night to go. He had never expressed any desire to progress your relationship past anything more than friends with benefits, so why now?

“What’s my problem? My problem is that I love you so much that I don’t know what to do with myself! Y/n I love you, I’m in love with you.” Poe’s voice was beginning to waver as he moved closer to you. “I want, no I need something more than just sex with you. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it before.” It was true, you had thought about the prospect of making it something more before, but had immediately put it out of your mind when you reminded yourself of your original intentions.

“No, no you can’t.” You turned away from him and shook your head, your hands pressed to your temples. “You don’t love me. We can’t become a thing.”

“Why not? The war is over! We aren’t in danger of dying from everything that moves anymore! We finally have the chance to live happily. Let's take that chance, together.” He pleaded with you. “Why won’t you let me love you?” All you needed to do was say yes and admit that you loved him too. Somewhere deep inside, you knew that it was true but your conscious mind would not let you admit it. Poe reached out to take your hand and turn you towards him but you ripped your hand out of his grasp and whipped around to face him. 

“No! Don’t you see? We aren’t done! We can’t live happily ever after! That doesn’t happen in real life! And you can’t love me! You are only a distraction for me just as I am for you!” You yelled in his face. Your words were harsh and pierced his heart. His eyes became misty and you knew that you had hurt him but in the moment you just couldn’t bring yourself to apologize.

“You don’t mean that.” He said in a quieter voice. “You are so much more than a distraction. Y/n, I would die for you a million times over. You are the absolute best thing in my life, I want us to be so much more. You mean the absolute galaxy to me.” 

You became overwhelmed at the whole situation and crumpled to the floor in a fit of sobs. Poe caught you in his arms and stayed with you on the ground as hundreds of emotions coursed through your body all at once. Everything from fear to love to anger; you felt everything. 

“I’m sorry Poe, I’m so sorry.” You cried into his chest.

“Shh it’s alright, you’re just tired and overwhelmed is all.” He stroked your hair and could feel one or two tears spill over onto his cheeks. “If you don’t love me it’s okay. Just know that I love you, alright?”

“No but that’s the thing! I do love you!” You sobbed through hiccups, “I just don’t know what to do.” Poe kissed your hair and gently lifted your chin to look up at him.

“I’m here for you. I have been and always will be. I will never ever leave you.” It was in that moment that all previous doubts about your relationship left you. All that was left was your undying and unconditional love for the man who had been with you from the start. 

It all became clear to you what you needed to do. Slowly and gently you leaned up and softly pressed your lips to his. This kiss was massively different from any kiss that the two of you had ever shared before. This was filled with passion and love, whereas all prior had been out of lust and distraction. The kiss began to deepen and he became your oxygen. 

“Wait,” You tried to follow him as Poe pulled away, breaking the kiss. “Are you sure this is what you want? Because two minutes ago you wanted nothing to do with this.”

“I’m sure, Poe.” Your voice was no longer scared and angry, but rather it was sure and confident. “For a long time I wasn’t being truthful with myself. I would cross the galaxy for you. I love you.”

“Oh Maker, I love you.” He leaned down to give you another kiss. It had taken him a lifetime to find the courage to confess the way he felt for you and Maker did it pay off. 

#poe dameron #poe dameron imagine #poe dameron x reader #star wars imagine #star wars #imagine #fanfic

[chappedandfadedvds]

Jan 16th, Saturday 15:16

Jens was actually laughing. 

Genuingly laughing, when Lotte told them some really bad joke she had heard in school. A dumb pun. But it had been the fourth in a row and they had finally reached the breaking point.

He sat at the table, an half emptied plate of apple slices between him and his little sister, while Lies roamed the kitchen to write down a list of groceries to buy on her way home. She planned to visit their mom and it had weighed heavy on her, when she had admitted this to Jens early that morning infront of the bathroom mirror.

Lies had told him, how much it hurt to live so far away and unable to travel and come home. She would have loved to help Jens over the past year, even if it would just have been for a week here and there. It was the reason why she had been so desperate to secure the position to be send to Brussels. 

Not that it been an actual problem, her wokrplace knew very well about her family situation. Still, Lies had said, that the moment she had recieved the plane tickets only a week ago, she had broken down in her boss’s office. 

Lies was here though now, thankful for the opportunity to bid farewell to their mother in person at last.

Jens understood the relief his older sister had explained to him. He couldn’t even entertain the thought of not being able to see his mom, while prohibited to visit inmidst the pandemic.

„Oh, I know! There is this one dish Theo and me always make as comfort food. Quite easy, but really nice in winter, with a good hearty broth. I’m going to do that.“ Lies declared vague from where she stood behind the opened door of the fridge. Mumbling something under her breath, while she noted things down on the piece of paper on the counter next to her.

„I don’t know if I should trust you to actually cook something delicious.“ Jens mocked, reminded of the many times that Lies had simply ordered take-out on every evening she was watching her siblings. Cooking was for loosers, she always had said, and simultaneously implied that she was at an absolute loss in the kitchen.

„Says the person who had managed to let noodles get burned to crisps while boiling them.“ 

„I was ten.“ He defended, cackling when Lies snorted and their gazes met. So much time had passed, but Jens was assured that the loving arguments between them would never cease to exist.

„But Jens is really good now. He makes like a super good riceotto“ Lotte chimed in, the wide smile on her face somewhere between amused and puzzled. She hadn’t much memories of Jens and Lies together, so it was reasonable for her to be unsure why it was funny. Their little sister had been only five when Lies had left. 

She had cried for a whole week, but with time passing, she had stopped even mentioning Lies alltogether. She knew her, yes, but she couldn’t tell what they had done or talked about together any longer. And maybe it was a little sad, Jens thought, but it also meant that Lotte wouldn’t miss Lies as much as Jens sometimes did.

„Risotto.“ Jens corrected, while he leaned a little over to ruffle through her hair. She slapped his hand away, stucking out her tounge at him in jest.

„Well, maybe Jens should cook then. I won’t complain.“

„No way, you are the oldest now, you cook.“ Jens quickly proclaimed his flawless reasoning against the mere suggestion Lies had voiced. His older sister barely contained herself from laughing again, instead nodded along, as she continued to write even more things down. 

Jens knew that she had come with a rented car from the airport, but the list just grew and he wasn’t sure, if he should tell her off. It looked like she wanted to stock the kitchen for an entire month.

The mood turned a little quieter, only Jens’s spotify playlist filled the house with some comfortable noise, while Lotte sketched some abstract scenes on paper. Jens’s eyes flicked over every once in a while, but it appeared like there wasn’t much reason behind it.

He yawned and stretched his arms, a loud cracking sound in his shoulder earned him a gleeful glance from Lies, who he flipped off. Despite it, he felt younger today. He felt lighter. His breathing wasn’t hurting as much, his thoughts came easier. 

Lies and him had talked for hours yesterday. He had forgotten how close they used to be. Which was wierd given their age difference and them not even being the same gender. But somehow they always stuck together. Jens wished she would stay.

The day they had bid goodbye at the airport had been locked somewhere into his head. Even after three years he didn’t dared to touch it.

This all would be easier if he had Lies to live with them. But it wasn’t reality and Lies had made him understand that it was okay to be scared. She had admitted at three in the morning, when they had headed to bed, that it had taken her month to figure out how to live on her own. Especially after she had moved to a different continent, while leaving her family behind. Jens could do this too.

He still had all of his friends around. He had this house. He had Lotte.

He just had to start somewhere.

„I think I’m going to call Lucas.“ Jens suddenly said. For a moment he had considered the possibility that he hadn’t spoken aloud at all. However, it became clear that he had, as both his sister’s heads spun towards him in an instant.

„Really? That came out of nowhere. But good for you. I think you should.“ Lies said, a little startled by his surprising change of demeanour. Only this morning he had still sat depressed and hunched over in pity in front of his breakfast. Jens wasn’t even sure himself where the urge to do it had popped up from.

„Yes!“ Lotte followed up quickly with bright wide eyes. Of course she would be excited.

„Okay. I’m going to do it.“ He declared, more to will his confidence in excistense than aynthing else.

He was nervous. Maybe Lucas wouldn’t even pick up? Jens wasn’t even sure, if Lucas’s mom was still around. This was a bad idea. 

The whole conversation from thursday sprung back into his mind. The hurt in Lucas’s eyes and the anger in his words. All caused by Jens. What if the other boy needed more time? What if he wouldn’t even pick up?

The fear must have shown on his face. Jens was sure, because Lies stood suddenly next to him, to push his phone into view. He had been starring at the surface of the table, unmoving, even when Lotte had come closer too, with a hand resting on his shoulder.

„Come on. Call.“ Lies demanded, despite the gentleness in her voice, it still made him take the phone into his hand.

„Alright.“

„Do you want us to leave?“

Good question, Jens thought, unsure how to answer. But then, he wasn’t planning on having the needed conversation over phone anyway. He was scared that words would get twisted and intentions screwed by the missing connection one had face to face.

So he shook his head.

The phone rang four times. 

Nothing.

He tried again. Just this second time and then he would put it away again.

It merely managed to make a sound, before the call was answered.

„Jens?“

He sat at the table, his breath on hold, as he listened to the boy on the other end. Jens wouldn’t cry from solely his name being spoken by the person he missed so much for only a couple of days now. He wouldn’t.

That was at least what he desperately told himself.

„Jens? Are you there?“

There was worry in the voice and Jens didn’t trust it. He didn’t deserved it. But he was on the phone, he remembered. He had been the one to iniiate the conversation. He should probably say something.

„Hi.“ 

Jesus. His voice had certainly cracked, like some fifteen year old teenanger going through puperty. This was embarrassing. But it also helped. Lucas was definitely snorting on the other end of the call. And the three siblings all fell into laughter, with Lies wheezing at her brother’s pitiful attempt to make things right. His sister’s really tried to keep quiet, but it kind of was in vain. Lucas must have heard them.

It took Jens a solid minute to speak again. 

„Sorry, about that.“

„It’s alright.“ Lucas said as he took an audible deep breath to calm down to continue. The faintest amusement in his voice still there, even if the mood had turned serious again. „I am really glad that you called.“

It was the earnesty that struck Jens the most. It came unexpected. He had planned to force Lucas to hear him out if he had to. In the strong assumption that the younger boy didn’t wanted to talk to him in the first place. Apparently Jens had been wrong. Again. Like so often. It seemed to become a habit.

„I’m glad you picked up.“

„Of course.“ Lucas replied without any hesitation, it made Jens smile a little. It felt so good to hear him again. To hear him at ease. Jens pushed away the intruding thought in his head, that told him that it probably had to do with Jens’s absence. He hated that he somehow could belive it.

„I thought, maybe we can talk?“

There was a brief pause on the other end, as the call fell silent.

„I’d like that. When?“ Lucas asked and Jens noticed that he hadn’t thought that far ahead.

„Uhm, when?“

„Yes, when?“ 

The amusement in the younger boy was back. Jens could imagine Lucas shaking his head at the silly and ungraceful awkwardness Jens presented. There was a hand in his view, that lead him to look up at Lies, who tried to get his attention.

„Tomorrow.“ She whispered, nodding her head quickly, while she pointed a finger to herself. „I can watch Lotte.“

Jens loved Lies so much, it was ridiculous.

„How about tomorrow? I could come over to yours.“

„Okay. Be here at one maybe?“

„Yes, that works.“ He affirmed in a heartbeat. Jens would have agreed to any proposed time. It wouldn’t have mattered as long as he got the chance to talk to Lucas. He had an idea what he wanted to say after last night’s conversation with Lies. He knew that it wouldn’t be perfect or maybe even work in his favour, but it would be a start.

„I’ll see you tomorrow then.“ Lucas said.

„Tomorrow.“

They sat in silence for a moment. Usually Jens would have told him that he loved him. But it didn’t feel right, even when the feelings were clearly there. It felt too much to voice it. They hadn’t broken up yet, but it wasn’t as if they were in a relationship still either. So he simply waited. 

And then there was a clicking sound and the call was ended.

__ __ __ tagged: @odi-et-amo85, @tayspots

#week 13 #wtfock #skam #vds #jens stoffels #lucas van der heijden #chapped and faded #final week #picking up the pieces

[jimlingss]

The President’s Son [18]

Chapter 17 - Chapter 18 - Chapter 19

➜ Words: 4k

➜ Genres: 100% Fluff, Slice of Life, Bodyguard!AU

➜ Summary: Kim Taehyung is the President’s son, mischievous and playful, and infamous for being a troublemaker. When everyone’s given up, they call for you to be his personal guard. There’s no other choice when your dad’s assigned you to it and surprisingly Taehyung doesn’t mind either. Maybe because you happened to grow up with that brat.

It’s still fresh in your memory.   You remember your feet cold against the floors, gripping your nightie in a tight fist, nudging the big door just enough to look through the crack. You had brushed your hair behind your ear, scared of being scolded for looking like such a mess. But before you could stumble back into the darkness, you had caught his eye and he turned his head.    “I thought I told you to go to bed.”   You grip the fabric in your hand tighter. “Is mommy home?”   Your father doesn’t answer you, merely glancing out the window for a moment before he sets the glass in his hand down onto his desk. He slumps onto the sofa that’s pushed against the wall and you take the invitation to come into his office.    He looks down at your legs. “What happened?”   You follow his line of sight to your bruised knees before hesitantly meeting his eyes again. “I fell.”   You didn’t — someone pushed you at kindergarten today. Maybe he knows about it. It’s not good to lie, but you don’t wanna tell the truth either. He would be happy though. You got up and didn’t cry at all.   Like you guessed, he asks point-blank, “Did someone do that?”   He’s smart. Your dad’s very smart. So, you wonder why mom would wanna go and not come back. It might be your fault, but you tried your hardest to be a good girl and you didn’t cause any trouble.   “No.”   Your dad scans you up and down, the same way he looks at you when you get to pick out your own clothes before school and come out all ready and dressed. But this time, he seems sad.    You don’t know why.   “Go to bed.” He finally turns away. “We’re going somewhere bright and early tomorrow.”   You know better than to ask questions, so you nod, slowly padding out of his office and making sure to close the door behind you. Your feet scatter against the tiles before racing up the stairs, scared that monsters in the dark will get you if you look around or stay for too long. The covers are pulled above your head once you make it and you fall asleep staring at the closet that might have skeletons.   In the morning and after some cereal for breakfast, dad takes you to the dojo — it’s like the gym at school, but with wooden floors and mats, and kids older than you practicing. They’re punching the air and kicking mats that others hold. You watch them before dad brings you away.   “What are we doing?”   “Seokjin, can you come here for a moment?” Dad calls out and an older kid comes running forward, bowing his head. He’s taller than you, bigger, bright eyes and dark hair. You don’t have a lot of time to look at him. “Shove her for me.”   “Sir!” His head spins around, eyes wide.   You don’t get it.   But dad looks stern and the student is forced to comply, doing his best to lightly shove your shoulder. “Harder.” The boy complies with the command and he pushes you, making you stumble back. Your dad hums a note and turns to look at you. “Bend your knees, root your feet to the ground.”    You try your best to follow his instructions and he nods to the boy again. You’re pushed again, but this time, you don’t stumble back or fall on your butt. “Good. Now turn your body a little. Like that. One leg in front of the other. Yes. Now when he pushes you again, twist away.”   Seokjin tries to shove you.   You deflect, but barely.   “Again. Put some muscle into it, Kim.”   The student frowns and he tries harder. He’s faster than you expect, stronger, and you’re staggering back, nearly shoved off the mats all together. But your dad has your hand on your back, keeping you upright.   “Again.”   Again and again until he’s happy. “Now open your palm. When he pushes you and you twist, you can throw your arm this way and hit him on the side of his head. Try to get him behind the ear.”   The teacher told you hitting wasn’t allowed — but you listen to your dad and do it the next time Seokjin tries to push you. It works, your arm coming out fast to jab where dad showed you. The boy winces and while you feel bad, it’s kind of fun…   “Do you understand?”   “Yeah!”   “Now next time, they won’t be able to push you anymore. If they do push you around, it’s because you let them.”   You nod and while it’s all weird, you’re glad dad taught you.   You don’t feel so scared anymore.

“Y/N!”   You’re literally shaken out of your daydream, startled and snapping back to attention with a couple of blinks. “Huh? What?”   “Wow. Unbelievable. I can’t believe you were ignoring me this entire time. How rude is that?! The audacity. Our relationship is already going downhill and we haven’t even gotten married yet. Aren’t we supposed to experience this after ten years of having a dead bedroom?” Taehyung’s not impressed whatsoever and he sighs deeply. “If you were listening, I was saying...that there are a lot of ways you can show your dad you care without blatantly saying anything to him. I know you’re not the type to go declare your love or anything, as much as I’d like that.”   “Thanks for the advice.”   “I’m serious though.” Taehyung shrugs, picking up his pace before matching his steps with yours. “Actions are stronger than words anyway. Words can be cheap.”   You pat him on the shoulder with a reserved smile, deciding his meddlesomeness was unwelcome and brushing it off. “You should do the same with your dad then.”   “Nah. I’m already close to that old man. Too close. He ruined my first crush by yelling it out when he was picking me up from school once. Should’ve never told him.” Taehyung smiles to himself, now fond of the memory filled with crippling embarrassment. “He’s just busy these days. Nothing he can do. When he’s done though, he promised to go fishing with me again. I don’t know if you remember, but we used to do that together. Too bad he can’t fish for shit. Keeps picking up seaweed and we end up with seaweed soup instead of grilled fish.”   The story is cute, but you wonder about something else. “What about your stepmother?”   “Nah. You can’t get close to everyone.”   “You haven’t even tried.”   “Don’t make this about me when we’re talking about you.”   “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” You smile before reaching over to hold his hand, squeezing securely. It does a good job of making him silent. “Thanks for the advice, Taehyung.”   //   It’s on your day off that you muster the courage to act, instead of just thinking. Maybe Taehyung’s words have really gotten to you because otherwise, you don’t think you’d be doing this.   You release a shaky exhale, crumpling the slip of paper that has the address in your hand before opening the gate. It’s a tiny house on the corner street, not far from the Blue House. It looks unkempt, like he doesn’t come here often; it’s understandable considering he lives and breathes work.   But before you knock on the door, you notice how the roof’s singles are falling, a few kicked in the corner of the patio. The gutter is also torn, hanging haphazardly in the air.   Your fist raps against the surface of the door and it opens. The man on the other side is old and weary, wrinkles lined all over his face and he looks at you with his eyes squinted, blinded by the morning sunlight. “Y/N? What are you doing here?”   “I...uh…” It’s terribly awkward as you shift your weight from one foot to the next, much like a forlorn child who’s been abandoned by their parent and is now showing up one day out of the blue. You shut your eyes to compose yourself. “I heard you were off-duty. I am too. I thought I’d visit..since I’ve...never...really…”   Your voice gets quieter against your will. But the hinges creak, door widening.    “It’s nice of you to come by. I don’t get many breaks often so…”   “Yeah, yeah, no, I get it. But breaks are good. You should, um, keep your health in good condition and breaks help with that.”   It’s a small home, one main room, a single bedroom and a bathroom. It’s meager, little furniture that’s dusty and brown. He’s not one for interior decorating, but you already knew that. Though what takes you by surprise is a picture of you in your graduating outfit on the shelf by the one-seated tiny dinner table.    “Would you like tea or coffee or water?”   “Sure. Any! I’m fine with any.”   When you’re no longer in a professional environment, you’re not sure how to address him or how to act. But while it’s still tense, you focus on taking off your coat, hanging it on the tiny rack, a painted one that you had sent him in grade eight after making it home ec class.    You step closer, the floorboards creaking. “I...didn’t know you moved.”   He stirs the cup of coffee he made with powder inside a packet and hot water. “I don’t need a whole house by myself. This place is enough and close to where I need to be. But it’s still there. The house. In case you need it one day.”   “Oh.” You take the cup he offers, mumbling a ‘thank you’. The conversation dies off, air becoming still, and your eyes stray. “The wall’s wet,” you comment, noticing how the stream of water captures the light.    “Right.” He follows your line of sight. “It’s the roof leaking. I keep telling myself it needs to get fixed, but I keep forgetting—”   “I can do it,” you offer and he turns as you give a small smile. “I can fix the roof….if you want.”   //   Taehyung was right. You’re not bold or courageous like he is. Declarations and confessions are out of the question. You can’t spill the words out of your throat or let them be written on paper if you wanted to. It’s better for you to act without saying. To do rather than to think or speak.   You realize this is the only way you know how.   “I’m sorry for calling you right after your shift.”   “It’s not a problem, chickpea. I’d come running for you no matter the circumstances.”   You’re giddy, giggling while your cheeks heat, face feeling too hot. But then suddenly—   “Y/N!” There’s an angry shout that has your eyes lifting to a man with square shoulders and his fists balled up, a witness to how you’ve become sheepish. “What the hell are you doing?”   “Taehyung? What are you doing here?”   Jimin leans over to be seen, popping out of nowhere, having been hidden by his friend’s larger body. He wears an apologetic smile. “We...we were at the Blue House...and h-heard you call Jin….s-sorry.”   “They joined me.” Seokjin grins. “The more the merrier, right?”   “I guess.”   “You wanted me to help you fix the roof….” Jin turns with his hands on his hips, staring upwards where the damage has been done. “Can’t say I’ve ever tried, but we’ll see what we can do.”   “Psh, you’ve never?” Taehyung scoffs and saunters forward in an arrogant manner, his face cocky.    You’re not impressed. “Have you?”   “Doesn’t matter,” he brushes off quickly. “But I can probably be of more help.”   “Absolutely not.” — “That’s not a good idea.” — “ No.”   All three of you speak over each other, Jimin in a panic, Jin with his mouth curled upwards, and you shaking your head. Taehyung’s jaw drops and you smile, trying to placate him. “You, out of everyone, can’t get hurt.”   “Who said I’ll get hurt?”   His whine is ignored as Jimin pipes up, “Actually, I worked at a roofing company for a year before coming here.”   “Really?” Seokjin smiles. “Then that’s great.”   “But who’s going to watch Tae?”   It goes silent.    “I can watch myself!” Taehyung protests in a voice increasingly becoming shriller. “I’m not a child!”   “Alright, alright.” You pat him on the shoulder. “Let’s get started.”   A short trip to the hardware store later, with Taehyung tagging along with you and bothering you the entire time while Jimin reads off a list he found on the internet and Seokjin goes to consult a worker, all the necessary supplies are gathered together.    Taehyung’s nervous when he watches the three of you climb the ladder. He stands at the bottom to catch you if you slip and also prepare for moving out of the way in case it’s the other two that come falling, especially Jin. Then again, if the older man were hospitalized, that would be a perfect opportunity for you to go running into his arms shamelessly without looking back.   Goddammit.   Before Taehyung could even reconsider what to do, everyone’s gotten up safely and without worry.   He tries to help in other ways, but there’s not much he can do. He stands back as things are thrown off the roof, bits and pieces being torn apart to be replaced. Taehyung watches in envy, wishing he knew how to do these things despite lacking the most knowledge and strength of everyone here….   But there are still things he can do.   “I made lemonade!”   “Thank god!” Jimin wipes his brow with his wrist. “ It’s so hot!”   “Not for you!” he shouts back.   “Oh.” In an instant, the bodyguard’s shoulders fall, dejected.   “Taehyung,” you scold him simply by calling his name. He gives you the glass after you climb down and peel off your gloves, and he begrudgingly pouts as he pours another glass from the large pitcher, listening to you and handing it to Jimin.   Park Jimin wheezes upon the first sip.   Jin observes and it’s enough for him to politely refuse.   But Taehyung doesn’t pay any mind — he only cares about your reaction.   And you drink.   Somehow the lemonade is salty. And you wonder what he could’ve possibly put in it when there’s only supposed to be sugar, lemon, and water. But upon realizing that your pre-boyfriend boyfriend is watching, you hold your breath and down it all.   “Good?”   Your mouth is dry, throat somehow more parched than it was before. “Very.”   “Here have another one then! You drank all of that in one go! You must be super thirsty.”   “Nope.” You give a tight-lipped smile. “I’m fine, Taehyung. Thank you.”   “Aw, you should have another one,” Seokjin playfully shouts behind you. Your expression is blank and you turn around to glare, making the older duck his head and Jimin giggles incessantly.    Work continues.   Taehyung turns to the man sitting beside him. “Want some, Mr. ____?”   “No.”   “Alright then.”   “Don’t worry, Chief. Should only take us two more hours!” Jimin yells down, throwing a thumbs up to show things are going well.   Yet, your father doesn’t speak a single word. Taehyung glances at him, taking in the awkward air and intimidating aura of the man. He shifts, swaying from side to side, fidgeting before he decides to put the pitcher back on the patio table. The table rocks, but luckily the old thing holds up the weight of the drink, and he breathes a sigh of relief.   Taehyung’s eyes stray up again, looking intently. He realizes you don’t look like your dad, but you certainly have his personality, or at least the intimidating aspect is similar…..   The man sighs through his nose. “Son, stop staring at me.”   “S-sorry.” Taehyung looks away.   It goes silent again, excruciating, until he breaks it. “This was your idea, wasn’t it?”   “Pardon?”   “For her to come here. And visit me. Just doesn’t seem like something she’d ever do.”   “This...was her decision.” Taehyung looks up at you working and without realizing himself, a proud smile sneaks up his lips. “She wanted to come here, believe it or not. I didn’t tell her anything.”   “I see.”   “She doesn’t hate you,” Taehyung says suddenly, twisting his body to look straight at the old man. Like you, it’s not so scary when he faces it head on. “In case you were thinking of that. She doesn’t. It might not be my place to tell you, but she came back because of you.”   “Because of me?” The old man lightly scoffs and turns to gaze at you. “She’s still stupidly soft, isn’t she? I thought after all that we went through, she would’ve hardened and not care about anything.”   “Is that such a bad thing?”   Your dad pours himself a glass with the pitcher. Taehyung’s about to help, but the other man’s stare keeps him from interfering. Once he gets himself his own drink, he sips on it. And he sets the glass down immediately.    “That’s absolutely disgusting.”   “Sorry.”   “You can’t even make lemonade?”   “I don’t cook.”   Your dad scoffs with a smile tugging at his face. He leans back in his patio chair. “I was surprised she even invited me to her graduation ceremonies. When she finished high school, when she finished the police academy…..I still have the pictures. They’re in my wallet.”   Taehyung doesn’t know why he’s telling him all this, but the old man continues anyway. After all, to him, Taehyung might as well be as stupid as a cactus and it’s easy to talk to plants. “I regret a lot of things. When you get to my age, it’s hard not to. But one of my biggest things I regret was how hard I was on her. I just wanted her to be the best...to be strong and tough….and I didn’t realize I was making things worse until it was too late.”   “Nothing’s too late.”   His comment is ignored. “You can tell her I’m proud of her.”   “Why don’t you tell her?”   “Hmmm, I don’t feel like it.”   A grin spreads into his cheeks and Taehyung stares at your dad. “You’re emotionally stunted too, huh, old man?”   “Excuse me?” His neck cranes, eyes dead.   “That was a joke, it was a joke, I’m sorry.” Taehyung has his hands out, trying to undo and retract his words while begging for mercy.    “I never liked you,” your dad says out of the blue and colour drains from Taehyung’s face.   “What?”   “I only tolerate you because you’re my closest friend’s son. But I always found you...stupid. You lack any form of self-discipline, you’re spoiled, you’re too carefree and idiotically optimistic about things.”   “That’s….harsh.”   “But you’re very kind and genuine. A brave boy, even if you’re dumb about it.” Your dad nods and hums to himself, a conversation he has on his lonesome. “I guess those are a few good traits about you I never realized. I apologize for misjudging you.”   “Uh….I...um….it’s okay.”   Taehyung didn’t even know he was hated so much by your dad.   “I know you two are together.”   If possible, Taehyung’s become even paler. He barely holds himself up from slipping out of the patio chair. His palms are clammy, lips dry, sweat rolling down his face and it’s not from the afternoon sun. “W-who? Me and Jimin? C-Course we’re not together!”   Your dad shifts around again. “Don’t play stupid with me, son. I hear about things all the time. I have eyes and ears everywhere. I know what’s going on between you and my daughter.”   “Oh.”   “To be frank, I don’t care. If she’s going to make idiotic decisions, then she’ll have to bear the responsibilities and consequences herself.” He blinks. “But if I find that any failure is your fault, I will not be happy. Do you understand me?”   “Y-yes. I promise to make your daughter happy, Mr. ____. I-I w-won’t disappoint you.”   The corner of his mouth curls into a ghost of a smile. But he turns away before Taehyung can get a good look. “You’re not asking for my daughter’s hand in marriage, son. I wouldn’t give it to you if you did anyway. But you don’t need to look so scared. I don’t have plans to kill you...any time soon.”   “Oh. Okay. T-Thanks.”   “Get rid of the lemonade before a bird drinks it and dies.”   “Yes, sir.”   While he scatters off, back inside the house, he catches your line of sight. You wonder what your dad and Taehyung were discussing, if it was possibly about you. But your thoughts are interrupted when Jimin asks for the pliers beside your left foot.    Whatever the case may be, you’re glad they’re getting along with one another.   //   You take your coat off the rack, clearing your throat. “The...roof’s done. At least for now. Call me if there’s any leakage or issues with it.”   “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He lingers by the doorway, back hunched from decades of hard work. “There’s no need to worry.”   “Alright. Then, I should get going then.” Your hands stuff themselves in your pockets. “They’re waiting for me outside, so…”   “Go ahead.”   You turn around, facing the surface of the door. But before you open it, you swivel on your feet, question on the tip of your tongue. “Have you been eating well?”   “I have.” Your dad nods. “You don’t need to be concerned for me. I know how to take care of myself.”   “Right. It- uh, seems kind of cold in here, so if you need me to mess with the thermostat or fix any heating issue, you can call me.”   “I’ll make a note of that.”   You hesitate. For some reason, there’s something stopping you from walking straight out the door like you should, something on the tip of the tongue that you want to spill out. You’re held back and you look at your father once more, mustering the courage you don’t have. “Let me come again. I’d….like to visit again, if that’s okay with you.”   “You can do whatever you want,” he deadpans, but then his voice warms, even just by a little. “I’ll always welcome you.”   You’re not used to physical affection — it’s still difficult to get used to how Taehyung throws his arm around your shoulder, how he holds your hand or cuddles when you’re trying to watch TV. You hate being emotionally vulnerable — it feels like a weakness even though it isn’t. And most of all, you struggle to show your dad that you care.   But you hope he can feel it, even if you don’t say it out loud.    “Are we going to go eat anywhere?” Jimin strolls down the neighborhood, forgetting about his duty of guarding and protecting the person beside you. “I’m starving.”   “I know a good sushi place a block away,” Seokjin notes to the other man’s glee.   “Hey.” Taehyung nudges you, speaking in a murmur to keep the conversation private. “Is everything alright?”   “Y-yeah.” You take a sigh of relief, shoulder losing their tension. You meet his eyes. “Everything’s great.”   He smiles softly. “I’m glad.”   You did it. It hits you now as you walk away. You did it without anyone’s help, and it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t scary or frightening or terrible. He never slammed the door in your face or looked at you in disdain and disappointment. It was normal. Your dad was welcoming.   The next time you visit is a week later. And strangely enough, the fridge isn’t empty upon your arrival. Rather, there’s fresh ingredients on shelves and plastic bags. He insists on cooking dinner as a way to thank you for fixing the roof or as he says ‘returning the favour’. But you wonder how long it took him to think of this, to learn and memorize a recipe and act nonchalantly like it came from the top of his head. You wonder how long he’s been waiting for you to come back, what he would’ve done if the ingredients had gone stale.   He’s never cooked before and you watch him mumble to himself helplessly until you help chop the carrots. For the first time there’s a tight feeling in your chest….an emotion you’re not quite sure of but that you’ve felt before—   Family. It comes to you as you take in the cozy atmosphere. For the first time, being with your dad feels like you two are part of a family, and not distant relatives with professional obligations.   Your dad tries and that’s all that matters.   You just have to thank Taehyung for giving you the push forward.

#bts fanfic #bts scenario #taehyung fluff #taehyung scenario #taehyung fanfic #WE'RE SO CLOSE TO THE END I CAN TASTE IT #FINALLY