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#do kyungsoo au
biaswreckingfics · 1 year
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Hello! Did I make it with enough time to spare for the drabble game? If so, I’d love Kyungsoo from EXO with 80 + 90. Thanks a million!
Kyungsoo + Fluff/Suggestive -❤️-
(I love being with you like this. + If you want to keep sitting on my lap, you have to stop wiggling around like that.)
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The night couldn't be any more perfect. The apartment is all warm and cozy, and the lights are creating the perfect ambiance. You snuggle deeper into your blanket and lean your head against Kyungsoo's chest. His arms are wrapped loosely around you while the two of you cuddle together and watch a movie.
You let out a content sigh and Kyungsoo lightly rubs his hand up and down your arm. Closing your eyes, you let yourself sink into the moment, enjoying your free time together without any distractions or obligations. This is bliss.
"I love being with you like this," you tell him.
"Me too." His deep voice warms you up even more than before.
You wiggle a little on his lap to see if you can achieve maximum comfort, but feel Kyungsoo's body tense. Frowning, you look at him. "Everything okay?"
"Mhmm," he hums and you brush it off. It doesn't escape your notice that he's still super tense, and then it dawns on you that you might be hurting his …friend.
Quickly, you shift again, hoping that you're not squishing anything. A rush of air hits you and you pause, now second-guessing yourself. Are you crushing him now?
When you start to move a third time, Kyungsoo's hands tightly grip your hips, and you freeze.
"What are you doing?" He asks in a gruff voice.
"I'm trying not to hurt you…"
"Thank you for thinking of me, but if you want to keep sitting on my lap, you have to stop wiggling around like that."
You take note of Kyungsoo's nearly frozen body and the strong grip he has holding you in place. It's then that you realize you're not hurting him, you're turning him on.
A devious idea begins to develop in your mind. Letting your body fall still, you allow him to think you're behaving and have no intentions of moving. Gradually, his hands loosen until they're once again just resting on your body. 
You move, making sure to properly grind against him this time. He glares down at you and you give him your best innocent expression and apologize. He slowly nods once, and when he's focused back on the TV, you do it again.
This time, when he glares accusingly at you, you can't help but giggle. He shakes his head and grabs your hips. When he attempts to push you off him, you wrap your arms around his neck and fight back. 
The two of you end up pushing and pulling each other until you land on his lap and straddle him. Kyungsoo's movements slow as he admires the new position you're in.
"Why are you fighting me?" You pout. "You don't want me to grind on your dick? Because I like grinding on it…"
His eyes flash dark with lust, and you know you've got him. "I like it a little too much."
Leaning forward, you whisper in his ear, "There's no such thing."
Kyungsoo's hands shoot out, wrapping around you and holding you tightly against him. He pushes off from the couch and twists your bodies so that you're now laying on the couch with him on top of you.
Your legs spread open and Kyungsoo falls right in between them, making himself at home as he grinds hard against your lower half. He leans down to your ear and whispers, "I'll just have to return the favor then."
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anyamaris · 9 months
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Something Sweet
Word Count-3055
Summary- You and your friend have started a weekly ritual of baking in your apartment, and you both find yourselves enjoying each others company more and more.
Pairing- Kyungsoo x f!reader
Trope-Friends to lovers AU
Warnings-Sexual language, vulgarity, baking (food), unprotected sex (wrap it up irl), oral (fem receiving) MINORS DNI 18+
Tags- @cultofdionysusnet @wooyoungmybelovedhusband @yoonguurt @shinestarhwaa @babesindestroyland @lemonhongjoong @stardragongalaxy @kpop-stories-21 @flowerboykun @millennial-fangirl @ericssmile @kthpurplesyou @changbinslovelylegs @yeosxxx @ssaboala
A/N- I COULDNT HELP IT-I needed to write Kyungsoo cause his lips are killing me and I....I am getting wrecked by my wrecker. I hope tags are ok for everyone-if you are getting tagged and don't want to be tagged for anything besides certain things, please feel free to let me know! Also-I'm so nervous about this one so please feel free to give feedback and I am totally fine with constructive criticism.
@starillusion13 LOOK I WROTE AN EXO
As always-Thank you to @babesindestroyland for being so helpful and encouraging to me while I have panic attacks over this. @stardragongalaxy as well for talking me through it all! I love you all and thank you for reading! 🤍💜🤍
Thank you as always to @cafekitsune for the absolutely gorgeous banners and dividers I always use, I adore your work!
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“Okay! That’s everything….” you say to yourself, letting your eyes sweep over the ingredients you had on the counter.  You check the time and realize you still have about 30 minutes before Kyungsoo would arrive, so you run to take a quick shower and change.  Turning off the blow dryer, you peek at your phone and see you’ve got a few minutes so you make your way back to the kitchen.  Your friend is always on time so you just triple check that you have everything and pull some fruit out of the fridge to snack on while you both bake.  
You’d both started this weekly ritual when you had been baking at home one day when he’d stopped by with some of your friends.  He had expressed his own interest in baking and cooking, and you’d gotten to talking.  He’d shocked you by asking for you to text or call him the next time you’d felt like destressing like this and to invite him along.  So the following week, when you found yourself pulling out supplies, you’d sent him a text, not expecting anything.  
To your surprise, he had messaged back almost immediately asking what he could bring and that he was on his way over.  Initially, you’d been concerned that it might be awkward.  You had all been friends since college, but Kyungsoo was on the quiet side and while you’d had plenty of conversations, you couldn’t recall spending any alone time with him.  You remember the little butterflies in your tummy when you realized you’d be able to get to know him a bit better one on one.  Possibly getting closer to him.  
Smiling down at the ingredients, you can’t help but feel your excitement spike as the doorbell rings.  This was the moment you looked forward to every week now, spending an afternoon baking something interesting with him, then either cooking or ordering in if you wanted to just clean up and relax while watching a movie.  Many nights you both just talked without even watching whatever you’d put on.  
Opening the door, you smile at Kyungsoo as he gives you a big grin.  “What are we making this week?” he asks as he makes his way in.  You grab the bag he brought, tsking at him.  “I know, you can tell me all day not to bring things, but I’m not going to listen.  Just deal with it.” he says before you can complain and you laugh, unable to help it.  For a long time, his sometimes abrupt way of speaking used to make you think he was a bit cold, but you’d come to realize that he was just blunt and honest.  It made him that much more interesting to you.  Interesting and attractive. You shake your head, trying to ground yourself back into reality.
“Cupcakes! I thought it would be fun to decorate them and send them home with you for the other guys.” you say, making your way into the kitchen.  He goes and immediately gets the apron you’d designated for him and he turns to eye the array of ingredients you have out.  “Sounds good, but they don’t deserve cupcakes.” you snort at his comment and he smiles at you as you laugh.  “So true.  Especially Chanyeol and Baekhyun.” you say and he nods,groaning.  
“I’d rather give them to a stranger than those two,” he mumbles and you shake your head.  “Ok! I thought it’d be fun to color some of the buttercream, or we can leave it and decorate with all of these…” you say, showing him all the fun little sprinkles and decorations you’d picked up. “Also, let’s discuss flavors for the cupcakes themselves…”  You both are swept away by the excitement of your shared love of creating and being able to work together. 
 Before you know it, the cupcakes are out of the oven, and the buttercream is made, separated into fun colors.  “All that’s left is to let them cool and ... .the super fun clean up!” you say and swipe a finger across the paddle you’d used to beat the buttercream as you remove it from your mixer.  “Mmmm!” you say, always excited to taste the outcome of your efforts.  
“Good?” he asks as he watches you taste it and you nod, holding out the little left on it.  He smiles and shakes his head, already setting up the sink for clean up.  “You don’t have to help me with this part, you know.” you say, as you always do since you started this.  You remove your apron, taking his as well to put to the side. “One day you’ll give up on that silly argument.  We both bake together, we both clean up.” he states, leaving no room for argument and you shrug.  “Fine, fine.” you glance over at him and can’t help but grin at his handsome face smiling back at you. 
He laughs as he dries his hands as you’re finishing up washing.  “What?” you ask and he glances over at you.  “It’s just…I’m glad you actually texted me to start doing this.  It’s…nice.” he says, then looks at you. “Oh geez, Y/n…” he says, and reaches out, running his thumb over the side of your mouth, showing you the buttercream.  “Oh…” you blush, embarrassed momentarily, but then you watch as he puts his thumb into his mouth as he stares at you.  “You’re right…” he says in a low tone.  
You swallow hard as heat ignites in the pit of your stomach and your cheeks flare a brighter shade of red, gripping the counter as you watch him lick his full lips.  “It’s delicious.” he says, his eyes flicking down to your lips.  “Oh uh…” you manage, your hand going to your mouth to wipe at it.  “Sorry…I -” but you’re cut off as he gently grips your hand and pulls you closer, his arm slipping around your waist.  Your heart is beating in your throat as he pauses to study your face, his eyes seeming to be asking permission.  
When you don’t pull away and you just stare up at him as you quiver gently in his arms, he brushes your hair back from your forehead.  “So sweet.” he says as he brushes his lips over yours, and you can’t help but let out a small whine.  He stops momentarily to let out a small breathy laugh and you dip your head, berating yourself.  “Have you wanted this as much as I have, then?” he asks softly and you look up into his big, dark eyes.  “Yes, I-” you whisper, but his lips are on yours, this time more eager.  
You let yourself lean into him, finally getting over the shock as you wrap your arms around his neck.  He backs you up to the counter, his body pressing against yours as his lips part, his tongue slipping along the seam of your mouth.  You open to him, and his tongue searches for yours, his hand slipping up into your hair, lightly cupping the back of your head as he deepens the kiss.  
Your senses are enhanced; the silence of the apartment seems to emphasize the soft, wet noise of your mouths meeting; the rhythm of your heart increasing as his fingertips skim your scalp, the hitch of his breath as he presses against you and you can feel his arousal against your thigh.  Your soft whimper as you bunch his shirt in your fist, pulling at him, wanting more. You gasp as his lips leave yours, planting kisses along your jawline, then down to your neck.  You clench your thighs together at his soft breath on your skin, his small low noises as he stops, resting his forehead against your collarbone.  You run your fingers through his hair as he lets out little puffs of air, his hands grip your waist, his thumbs rubbing the skin under the waistband of your pants.  
You hear his audible swallow and he pulls back to look at you, his dark eyes searching yours.  “We should stop here.  If we keep-” he starts, but cuts himself off as he looks at you.  His hand comes up to cup your face, and you lean into it, your gaze never leaving his. His thumb traces your bottom lip as he bites his own.  “If you keep looking at me like that-” he whispers, but you open your mouth to nip at his thumb, then take it into your mouth to suck gently on it.  
His groan has arousal pooling in between your thighs and he yanks you to him, grasping your hair lightly in his fist as he gently tips your head back to look up at him.  “I’m not playing around with you, if we go further, things will change between us. I want that clear.” he says bluntly and you feel your body tremble in his arms.  “Yes.” you say and he studies you momentarily, as if confirming and giving you time to back out.  Instead, you move your legs to allow him to press his thigh between yours, your hand tugging at his shirt.  
A smile plays across his lips as he presses his mouth to yours.  “You’re mine then, from here on.”  “Yes-” you start, but his tongue is rolling against yours, leaving you breathless as his fingers slip under the seam of your shirt.  His thigh presses between your legs, yanking a moan from your throat as his hands slip under your shirt.  Suddenly, he’s pulling it up, forcing your arms up as he yanks it over your head.  You grab the counter behind you as his lips brush your neck, an arm around your waist, his free hand splayed over your ribs right under your bra.  
“Beautiful…” he whispers against your skin, causing the hair to raise all along your body.  You can only let out little breaths and moans as his mouth moves along your collarbone, to your shoulder, kissing as his fingers slip under the strap of your bra, gently pulling it down your arm.  Your fingers go into his hair again, urging him on.  Your head falls back as his soft lips skim along the flesh of your breast above the material, and then he’s tugging the garment down, exposing your bare tit.  You glance down at him as his tongue flicks across his lips, his eyes on yours as he takes your nipple into his mouth.  The sight of him doing that has you crying out, his teeth grazing the sensitive bud.  
You instinctively draw your leg up to go around him, and he responds by adjusting himself so he’s between both of your legs, then grinding himself against your aching core.  “Please-” you gasp out and his hands are in your pants, pushing them down as he cups your ass.  The hand tugging them down slips between your legs, plunging into the lake of arousal pooling there.  The low growl in his throat, his eyes seeming to darken even more before he’s dropping down, hands running along your skin as he removes your pants and panties completely.  
You can’t stop the trembling in your body as you look down at him on his knees, hands on both thighs as he spreads you open.  “Kyungsoo-” you gasp, gripping the counter behind you, your hand tightening in his hair.  He gives you the smallest of smiles before he presses his face into you, his tongue immediately separating your folds, tasting your desire for him.  His plush lips are pressing against your clit, his tongue lapping up your juices as his hands open you more, his fingers coming to assist him.  Your leg is shaking and his eyes are on yours as you watch him, your lips parted and your face flushed.  The tip of his tongue is testing you, his gaze studying you to see what you like.
At each hitch of breath and moan, he applies the knowledge better, his fingers teasing along your entrance.  Moving to get a better angle below you, he takes your left leg and moves it over his shoulder to steady you, and you lean back for him, never taking your eyes off what he’s doing.  Suddenly, his lips are around your nub and he’s sucking, his fingers slipping into you.  “Kyungsoo!” you cry out and he hums against you in response, his fingers curling and searching as he plunges them in and out of you.  
“There-yes-yes-” you gasp and he hums louder, urging you on as your hips move on their own, the heat in your abdomen close to burning you up.  “Please!” you cry and he slides another finger in as he presses against the spongy spot inside of you.  Your whole body is quivering as your walls start to clench around his fingers, then it’s like a dam bursts as you tense up, flooding around his fingers as he continues to pump in and out of you.  “Oh god!” you bite out as he pulls his fingers back, his tongue delving where they were to taste you.  The feel of his tongue probing against your hole has you pleading for more, your hands grasping at his shirt and he lets out a small laugh against you as he finally lets your leg down to stand up. 
You immediately pull his mouth to yours, this time it’s you frantically pulling his shirt off, tugging it over his head, throwing it.  It’s your hands unbuttoning his pants as his are cupping your ass, lifting you as you push his pants down and take his length into your hands.  “Need you-” you manage between kisses and he’s complying, kicking off the last of the barrier between you.   
“Right here?” he asks breathily and you nod, your legs going around him.  “Please- yes- now-” you moan and he doesn’t hesitate to guide the head of his cock to your entrance, lifting you as you tilt your hips for him.  You revel in the taste of yourself in his mouth as he presses into you, your already aching pussy eager to accept him even as you stretch around his girth.  “Oh my g-” you choke out as he thrusts into you, his moan mixing with your cries as his fingers dig into your hips.  
“So soft and sweet-” he moans out, dropping his head into the crook of your neck as he slowly pulls back just to take his time pushing back into you.  “Kyungsoo….” you sigh, and you feel his lips against your pulse, licking and kissing, then sucking.  There’s a slight sting as you realize he’s marking you and you clench tight around him.  His hips stutter, then start to speed up as his breathing quickens.  “Mine.” he whispers against the mark, kissing it and your legs tighten, nodding frantically as he holds you closer against him.  
“Yours-yes-” you murmur and he leans back, holding you up as he thrusts harder into you.  His normally stoic, placid face is now contorted beautifully into lust and concentration as he looks between your face and where you are both connected, watching his cock delve into you.  You look down to watch how well you’re coating him, the wet noises of him fucking you growing louder as his hips put more power behind each thrust.  Your moans are growing louder as well, and as you look back up at him, you cry out at his possessive eyes taking you in.  Your walls tremble at the pace he’s setting and you clutch desperately at his shoulders.  “I’m- I- Oh god I’m_” you say, feeling tears prick at your eyes from the sensation building in your womb as you clamp around him, crying out.  
“Fuck!” he cries out as you cum around him, his brows drawing together as he bites his lips, arms tightening around you as he rocks you against him, riding out your orgasm.  “I’m close-So close-” he pants, and you nod as you blink, trying to clear your head as you come down.  “Where-?” he asks, and you can tell he’s about to burst, so you push back, making him withdraw as you drop to your knees and press your tits together.  
Opening your mouth, you watch his eyes get huge then roll as he grabs his dick in his hand and almost immediately releases hot, white ropes of cum all over your chest and face, moaning as he leans forward to grip the counter above your head to steady himself.  You let go of your breasts and reach up to take him in your hand, stroking him, milking him of every drop.  You close your lips over the tip to taste him and moan in pleasure at the salty bitter taste of him.  
You stop when you hear his breath catch, knowing it’s too much and you draw back to look up at him.  There’s a sheen of sweat over both of you and you can’t help but smile up at him as he looks down at you.  “That…” you breathe out, trying to form words.  “Yeah.” he just says, petting your hair back.  “Let me catch my breath and …I’ll get you a towel..” he says and you nod, licking his cum off your lips.  He groans at the sight and you try to stifle a giggle at his cock twitching in your face.  
“Be right back.” he says and you nod, finally trying to stand.  Your legs feel like wet noodles as you steady yourself against the counter and he’s back, wiping at your face, then your chest.  You just smile as you watch him, feeling overwhelmed and giddy.  “Yes, before you ask.” he says, his eyes flicking up to stare into yours.  “So there’s no question.  Yes, I meant it. You’re mine.” he says matter of factly and you grin like a moron.  “Yours.  I meant it too.” you say and he’s pulling you back into his arms, kissing you deeply.  
“Think the cupcakes are cooled-” you start to ask, but he’s not letting you talk.  “Fuck the cupcakes.” he says, pushing you towards the bedroom.  “I mean…we could bring the frosting-” you murmur and he just growls, reaching out to grab one of the bowls to bring with you.  
“Done.” he says and you giggle as you make your way for another round. 
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gyudior · 8 months
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Culture Shock
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⤑ pairing: do / doh kyungsoo x f.idol!reader ⤑ prompt: inspired by kyungsoo's reaction to hwasa's performance at the 2023 blue dragon film awards show ⤑ warnings: none ⤑ word count: 1.6k
The prestigious awards show was in full swing leaving the audience captivated by the dazzling performances. You, an incredibly talented singer and overall performer, were set to take the stage for your solo act.
Being a member of a top girl group in Korea, a powerhouse group known for its powerful vocals and captivating performances, it is safe to say that your group has and continues to conquer the music industry. With a steady rise in your group's popularity and influence, your name is known both locally and internationally.
Feeling a burning desire to showcase your individuality and artistry through a solo project, you decided to debut your first solo album. Blessed with the support of your group members and the agency, you finally embarked on a solo journey, pouring your heart and soul into creating a record that was truly your own.
Your solo debut quickly became a sensation that you were able to become a million-seller just with your pre-order sales, truly a testament to your great talent, immense popularity, and the emotional connection you forged with your fans. Your fame and success as a solo artist were unprecedented that you couldn't believe the overwhelming love and support you received. Fans, artists, and celebrities alike praised you for your breathtaking vocals and the emotional depth of your songs.
You've been performing in music shows and a couple of festivals but you've never been invited to perform at a renowned event such as the Blue Dragon Film Awards. You had always dreamed of becoming a successful artist and your hard work and talent had finally paid off. Extremely honored to be invited to perform as one of the main acts for this event, you knew that you had to deliver a performance that would leave a lasting impression.
The night of the awards show was a star-studded affair, with the biggest names in the film industry gracing the red carpet. You felt a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, nerves, and a deep sense of fulfillment.
With the lights dimmed and the spotlight shone on you, your radiant presence was made even more mesmerizing. Illuminating the stage with a soft glow, you finally began your performance. The music slowly starts playing making you move gracefully and confidently to the sultry rhythm.
And then your voice soared, filling the entire venue with its power and emotion. Every note sung, every movement made, all exuded confidence and charm. You left the audience spellbound that even fellow artists in attendance couldn't help but watch you in admiration because even your mere presence demanded attention.
The stage was your canvas and you painted a masterpiece that night, thus, showcasing your versatility as an artist.
A common thing to do during performances was to also showcase the audience watching. Their authentic reactions are highly anticipated by fans, especially with the biggest names in the industry, since you never know who'll be featured on the big LED screens until you see it up there itself.
The camera panned to different members of the audience, including your own members, capturing their reactions to your performance. They sweetly give hearts and applause to the camera as their support for you.
When the camera landed on Kyungsoo, his eyes were wide in awe and a very visible shape of an 'o' formed on his lips. He couldn't tear his gaze away from the stage that he failed to even notice the camera pan towards him as his eyes were firmly glued to the stage and you with your elegant and alluring movements that commanded the attention of everyone in the room.
Still mesmerized, Kyungsoo finally snapped back to reality with a glance toward the screen and snapped his mouth shut. He heard the crowd laugh. Seeing his face on the big screen, he was startled but he couldn't help but laugh as well. He found himself unable to articulate his racing thoughts, thus, resorting to showing two thumbs-up toward the camera coupled with a light shake of his head at the silliness of what transpired instead.
He's usually calm and composed at these types of things, literally the embodiment of professionalism, radiating a more reserved and mature demeanor compared to the other members from EXO, but this time around, it's different. Mainly due to his culture shock at your tantalizing yet vocally brilliant performance for this specific awards show, he couldn't contain his surprise that you were able to elicit a reaction like that from him.
Kyungsoo was genuinely mesmerized by your performance. He had always known that you were a talented singer and dancer with your group and his often competing against each other in music shows. But seeing you in your element, with such grace and sensuality, was an entirely different experience for Kyungsoo. Certainly a first. It was as if he was seeing a side of you that he had never known before and he couldn't help but be in awe.
As the performance continued, Kyungsoo's eyes remained glued to the stage, soaking in every moment of your dance and vocal prowess. He felt a mix of admiration and a newfound appreciation for your artistry. The way you moved, expressing yourself so freely, left him feeling both inspired and captivated.
As the last note echoed, the audience erupted into thunderous applause giving you a standing ovation. Tears of joy welled up in your eyes as you basked in the overwhelming love and support from the crowd. Kyungsoo joined in, clapping enthusiastically, his heart still pounding from the sheer brilliance of your performance.
As the camera returned to Kyungsoo, he couldn't help but smile widely, his admiration evident in his expression.
Little did Kyungsoo know that you had noticed his charming reaction during your performance. As you stepped off the stage, a radiant smile graced your lips knowing that your performance had left an impact on him.
Later that evening, Kyungsoo sought you out during the after-party. He made sure to wait for the right moment to strike up a conversation with you in a setting where the both of you can talk comfortably without any distractions.
He approached you with a warm smile, his heart still fluttering from the memory of your performance.
"Hi, I hope I'm not interrupting anything but I just wanted to say that you were incredible tonight," Kyungsoo said, his voice tinged with admiration. "You owe me a new jaw because mine is still on the floor."
You laughed at his witty comment and then blushed once his words sunk in, a genuine compliment about you. "Thank you, D.O.-sshi. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
Kyungsoo chuckled, his eyes shining with sincerity. "You can just call me Kyungsoo," he offers, his heart-shaped smile making its appearance.
As he leaned in slightly, his voice was low and teasing. "You know, you have a way of leaving people speechless with your talent and charm. I must say, it's a dangerous combination."
You laughed, playfully nudging his shoulder. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Kyungsoo."
"Oh, I certainly hope so." He winked, enjoying the flirtatious banter.
"But that means a lot coming from you. I'm actually a big fan of your group," you shyly admit.
As you continued to chat, your conversation flowed effortlessly completely engrossed in each other's company that you even found yourself exchanging stories, laughter, and even a few silly dance moves.
With the party beginning to wind down, Kyungsoo suggested taking a stroll outside to get some fresh air and continue your conversation in a quieter setting.
"Would you like to take a walk with me? The sky looks beautiful tonight." His gaze was warm and inviting despite the cool night breeze. As you looked into his eyes, you couldn't help but feel a magnetic pull, an unspoken connection that transcended words.
Trusting your gut, you accept his proposal with an equally warm smile of your own. "I'd love that."
You walked together side by side enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, the faint sound of the party acting as your background noise. It was a comfortable silence with just the both of you enjoying each other's presence.
Your hands would occasionally brush against each other on accident and you would feel jolts of electricity whenever your hand or fingers come into contact with his skin. You try to distract yourself by rubbing your hands together but Kyungsoo simply interprets this as you feeling cold.
So without a word, he would place the blazer that he was wearing on your shoulders shaking his head when you were about to take it off to give it back to him.
Now standing face to face with you, he opens his mouth to speak.
"I must admit, I was a bit nervous about approaching you tonight but I'm really glad I did. You're so fascinating that I can't help but want to know more about you and what goes on in that pretty head of yours." Kyungsoo softly chuckles to himself, scratching his neck suddenly shy.
You feel the heat rise up to the apples of your cheeks. Kyungsoo has been complimenting you all night that you're slowly starting to worry that you'd turn into a tomato soon with how much he's been making you blush.
He has such a way with words that pairing that with those expressive eyes of his, you might as well start going crazy and just smash your lips on his soft, plump ones.
Caught up in your thoughts, you didn't quite catch Kyungsoo's question for you.
"Sorry?"
"I like you. I'd like to see you again if you'd allow me."
You nod, a soft smile playing on your lips. "Guess I'll have to return your jacket next time then."
And with that, you walk towards the calls of your manager from the distance and look back at Kyungsoo one last time before flashing him a wide grin.
"See you at our date, Kyungsoo!"
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peachysooxo · 3 months
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The Kingdom of Us
Chapter 2
pairing: kyungsoo x OFC genre: Royal!AU, nonidol!soo, crownprince!kyungsoo, romance, drama
theme: arranged marriage, modern royalty, enemies to lovers, war, betrayal, eventual smut word count: 3,197 description: Kyungsoo fights his feelings at the engagement dinner being held for himself and Alina. Part of Alina’s past is revealed, Kyungsoo questions his own motives
warnings: mature themes, mentions of sex, mentions of anxiety, minors DNI
Author’s Notes: hi! Thank you so much for your support. We are getting a little deeper into this world, I hope I don’t make you hate Kyungsoo with this story! No significant warnings this time. Photos are not mine. Happy reading (:
KYUNGSOO
I stand at the end of the foyer with Chanyeol and Baekhyun on either side of me. I glance up the stairs every so often, waiting for Princess Alina to join us for our dinner. This entire night was for her, it was merely advertised as being for us. It was another formality I had to pretend to be excited about. I had merely been a guest at these engagement dinners before, now the entire family was elated that it was my turn, it meant improvements and promotions for everyone. Though our engagement wasn’t official, it felt like it. I listen to the chatter from my aunts, mother and cousins, the anticipation of the Princess coming down the stairs was unbearable.
Ah, Princess Alina.
Alina gave me a headache and I barely knew her for five hours. Her push back earlier today was a big surprise to me, she isn’t exactly known for having an opinion. Valencia was embarrassingly behind in their treatment of women, unfortunately all anyone can focus on is Alina’s beauty. Too bad all of said beauty goes to ruin the second she opens her mouth. All I know is that she better go along about our agreement, or I will make every single day of her life a living hell. She’s just another thing thrown in my face because she’s a “good decision”, the “right girl to grow the dynasty”. It never occurred to anyone that I didn’t want any of this. Though I didn’t have another woman in mind, it didn’t mean that I couldn’t find a wife on my own.
“Hey, pay attention.” Baekhyun nudges me. Unlike the rest of the family, I allowed Baekhyun, Chanyeol and Yixing to speak informally to me. I don’t have any brothers and they were the closest I could get to siblings. They were the three men I trusted the most in the court.
“I am paying attention. See? I’m waiting for my prison sentence to grace us with her presence.” I nudge him back, a slight growl in my voice.
“That was harsh.” Chanyeol mutters.
“Excuse me?” I look up at my cousin, his cheeks are red and his eyes are downcast. “Do you want her? You can have her.”
“I didn’t say that.” Chanyeol snaps. “I just think you should be nicer to her. She’s young and scared, I know you don’t want this but don’t take it out on her.”
My eyebrows raise and an unfamiliar burn tingles in my head. My ears ring and suddenly Chanyeol is a threat to me. Never have I felt this toward him, alarm bells sound in my head. This is more reason to not go through with this. What makes angry is Chanyeol trying to tell me what to do with my fiancé. Whether I like it or not, she’s my headache and none of his damn business.
“Is it not a fact, Chanyeol? I was assigned a wife; hand chosen by my parents. It is a life sentence I have to serve. I’m being as nice as I can be. It’s not my fault my parents didn’t think when they chose her.” I explain with shrugged shoulders, clasping my hand over my wrist. The hustle and bustle of the family gathering and talking to one another is almost deafening, I didn’t enjoy these formal gatherings, never have. They felt so superficial, so showy and obnoxious. Half of this family hated each other anyway. The other half were social climbing leeches that wanted nothing else from me but status and support for whatever they do. Most of them are only here out of curiosity. They want to meet the People’s Princess, or so everyone calls her.
A figure at the top of the stairs catches my eye. I wait to see if it’s my forever headache announcing her presence, and sure enough it is. Princess Alina’s shy smile charmed the entire room to go silent and watch her descend the stairs. She didn’t have to say anything at all, it was her presence that was magnetic. The moment she came into my vision, time stopped. I take in every bit of her, studying her for any flaws. It aggravated me that she was naturally so… Lovely.
She was the only genuine person in this room, her smile was honest. Truthfully, I didn’t know much about the Princess. The only thing I did know is when her smile was fake and when it was real. I wasn’t stupid, I did my research. I watched Princess Alina from afar for some time and learned quickly that she wore her emotions on her sleeve. At the many charity events the Princess attended, she’d have that wide smile that showed off her dimples. If she wasn’t pleased, she wouldn’t show her teeth and would narrow her gaze. Tonight, I saw her full smile, dimples and all.
Princess Alina was glowing in a white form fitting dress that flowed just below her calves, a square neckline showing just a small bit of her deeply tan skin. Yellow gold jewelry in the shape of hearts adorned her neck and ear. Every small bit of her was perfectly put together as if she was crafted by hand. Her hair was styled to fall down her back in a braid with small flowers placed strategically intertwined from the crown of her head down into the braid. It was a traditional Valencian hairstyle, she always had her hair in traditional styles for these types of events. I grew annoyed that she was wearing makeup for the simple fact that it accentuated her beauty.
Up until her arrival, I received a photo of the Princess every year and never gave it a second thought or more than a quick glance. Every princess had their photos edited to look much prettier than they really were. It wouldn’t be unfair to imagine that Alina was any different. Now I see her in front of me and she looked exactly like her photos. When we met earlier in the day, I bullshitted that “your photos don’t do you justice” comment. Now, I see that was wrong to do. I should’ve paid more attention. Everyone in the room gathered and lined the walkway to the dining room, watching and whispering compliments as she greets each member of the Doh Royal Family. She certainly didn’t have to waste her time, but she took the time that none of these people deserved. A small part of me disagreed with each sentiment that was spoken because they weren’t enough to describe what I saw in front of me. It’s becoming very difficult to hate someone who’s so…
So…
I couldn’t even find the proper words for her. She took them from my mind and my mouth. Princess Alina was ethereal, there was something about her that made my heart flutter and it angered me. I stop and compose myself, bringing my head back down to earth. I had to focus on the task at hand. I couldn’t let her beauty get to me.
“She is stunning. Your son and the Princess will have beautiful children.” Aunt Micha coos to Mother behind me.
“We’ll see about that.” Mother grumbles under her breath. I roll my eyes and turn to Princess Alina as she stops in front of me, her respectful bow takes me by surprise. She plays her role exceptionally well; I couldn’t ask for more. She offers a soft nod, her lips curving into a smile with emotionless eyes. It’s a relief that she’s devoid of emotions in her eyes. I fear that she would make me retract my stipulations if I saw the true emotions in her gaze. I offer my hand and she gracefully accepts it. I link her arm with mine and escort her to the dining room. Along the way I put my hand over hers and smile down at her.
“My darling, you are so beautiful.” I say lowly. The Princess’ eyes gaze into mine, discomfort at my sweet name for her caused them to well up with tears. Her smile gives her a deceitful glow that can fool anyone into believing she was happy. Were all of her smiles fake? She’s holding back tears. She hates this as much as I do. Everyone in this room believes we instantly fell in love, how wrong they were. We kept our eyes forward and Alina made it a point to greet everyone, it boggled my brain. Why did she have to acknowledge everyone? Princess Alina stops for a moment, stepping in front of me. “What is it?”
She tries to suppress a giggle and adjusts my tie with soft hands. She pats my chest and bows her head. “Your tie, Your Grace. The knot was coming loose.”
“Thank you, Princess.” I lower my head in thanks. A gentle smile comes and goes as fast as I blink my eyes. We bow to Mother and Father, two Royal Guards approach them with customary gifts from Valencia. Princess Alina’s home country offered a gold necklace to the Mother and a gold watch to Father. One of Valencia’s biggest imports was gold, it was customary for a Valencian Royal to gift their future in laws gold jewelry. Of course, Mother and Father delighted in the gifts. King Ignacio and Queen Evelina could’ve just given it to them on their last visit, but I digress. Formalities are everything.
I guide Princess Alina to her place at the table and pull her chair out. She sits, I take the seat next to her and the family all collectively gather around the large dining table. The conversation is light at first, the duchesses ask the Princess what life was like in Valencia. Between the first and second courses of dinner, I thoroughly studied Alina’s every move. I was filled with so much fascination that someone could mistake it for love. Alina does the same whenever I turn away from her, I catch her in my peripheral vision. How curious is it that I want to look at her constantly? Our gazes catch each other’s, and we hold the contact for a few seconds. Alina turns away with red cheeks, her attention focused on anyone else but me.
“So, Princess Alina, how is the alliance your father made with the Azteco Nation? Still strong?” Boram, my cousin by marriage, smirks, leaning forward on the table. Alina’s demeanor never changes, she never shows her cards.
“It is only faring well considering Azteco’s Queen is my sister.” Princess Alina laughs softly. “I fear the only alliance Azteco’s King has with Valencia’s King is that they are in-laws.”
“How wonderful! How is Queen Maria doing? We were made aware that the birth of Princess Daniela was quite traumatic.”
“Boram,” I warn softly. Alina pats my knee under the table and nods to my cousin.
“Queen Maria has recovered well. Thank you for asking,” Alina beams. Murmurs spark down the table at how “well trained” Princess Alina is, how nothing can unnerve her. Mother pays close attention to how Alina reacts, she had been ever so curious if the Princess will crack under pressure. I didn’t understand why Mother was suddenly so displeased with Alina, it was her that chose Alina as my betrothed. Perhaps her own guilt is being projected onto the Princess, but that can just be me overanalyzing this situation we found ourselves in.
“And your relationship with King Daniel? Is there any truth to the rumors?” Boram pries deeper, not satisfied with Alina’s answer. What is she talking about? Princess Alina’s smile fades and her eyes lock with Mother. Mother’s brow furrows and a sly grin appears on her face, her attention turning to Boram.
“Boram, what is this you speak of?” Queen Hyunae questions. “Princess Alina, care to explain?”
I can see the anxiety and stress strangling Alina. She was a deer in the headlights, panic rising on her face. What is it that’s making her so nervous? Disappointing me? A secret being revealed and the possibly consequences? Oh, this is going to get good. The entire room falls silent, not even a pin drop could be heard. She turns her attention to me, begging me with her eyes to stop this from getting out of control. Confusion riddles my mind, obviously it’s something that shouldn’t be revealed at dinner such as this. I shake my head and turn my attention to my troublemaking cousin.
“Alright, enough! Boram, you need to put an end to the gossip that you spread. You’re making Princess Alina uncomfortable. I expect better treatment toward her.” I demand, my acting is so good that everyone believes me.
“My many apologies, Princess.” Father adds, glaring at his niece. “This behavior will not happen again.” The silence brings awkwardness to the dinner table. I decide that enough is enough and I change the subject for now. Regardless, I will find out what it is that Alina is hiding from me.
“Princess. Are you prepared for our rehearsals? Our engagement ball is coming up.” I offer. Alina looks into my eyes and nods.
“It will be delightful, Crown Prince.”
After the disastrous dinner, I suggest that we take a stroll in the palace garden, a place Alina had not been before. We leave together, changing the tune of the family. The Princess takes in the beauty of the garden, something in her calms and changes into serenity. She looks up to the sky and locates the moon, I look in the direction of her gaze and see the crescent in the sky.
She is the moonlight. She must have hung the moon and stars herself, there is no comparison to this beauty she possesses. Stop while you’re ahead, Kyungsoo.
“So,” I break the silence. “You hooked up with King Daniel?”
She stops walking and shakes her head vehemently. “I could never do that to my sister or to you, Your Highness! How disgusting are you?!”
This whole, “hurt you before you can hurt me” thing is only backfiring. I stand speechless, unsure of what to say. The only thing I can think of doing is to drop to my knees and bow, aware that eyes are on us. Confused, Alina sinks down and touches my face out of concern. “Princess, my deepest apologies for insulting you.”
“Never do this again, Your Grace.” Alina replies, a smile on her face to cover her agitation. “It is clear how you truly feel about me.”
What happened between Alina and Daniel? I never got along with Azteco’s king, every rumor I heard about him wasn’t too far from the truth. The puzzling part was how Alina fit in to this, did I not pay enough attention to what she was doing while waiting to be brought to Seoul? I surmised long ago that anyone is capable of hurting the people around them for selfish reasons; I’ve known it, I’ve felt it.
I also understood my circles were much different than the ones the women in this family were in. I take Alina’s hands and we stand together, my arm resting on her upper back. “Princess, everyone has a past. Everyone pretends to wait for their betrothed, but we all know that is never the case. It’s okay if you had a relationship before me. I had relationships before you.”
Alina’s eyes water, pain written all over her face. Slowly, she starts to back away and I can’t help but feel satisfied that I managed to keep her at a distance. “Crown Prince… I didn’t know you did that. It is becoming abundantly clear that this is not going to work. Here I was, the only one being true to our betrothal. I… I…”
“Stop crying, darling. There are eyes everywhere.” I caress my betrothed’s face, pulling her close to me. Alina stiffens to my surprise.
“Please… You don’t need to do this.”
“I wanted to kiss you, Princess. Are you pretending to be shy with me?” I peer closer, feeling her muscles tense in my hold. Alina holds back a sob and looks away, what am I doing? Am I a monster? I quickly loosen my grip on her and kiss her hand, smiling. “A tease, hm?”
“I thought you were much different than this, Crown Prince.” Alina starts. “Why do you hate me? Am I not what you want? Please don’t torture me and let me go. I will accept my punishment, anything is better than what lies ahead if we keep going.”
I stare at my betrothed, shocked at her plea. She was in agreement when she arrived and suddenly that changes? Obviously, something happened between Daniel and Alina, she just didn’t want to admit it. Not yet at least. I refuse to be made a fool with a wife such as her, keeping secrets and lying to my face. I shrug my shoulders and wipe her tears out of annoyance of seeing them. They’re probably not real anyway, just enough to get her out of this conversation.
“No, you’re staying. I will walk you back to your chambers, Princess.” I give up for now and walk the Princess back to her chambers, continuing the silence between us. She slips in her door and locks it, allowing no room for me to follow her. I walk back to my chambers and slide my phone out of my pocket, sending a message to Princess Alina. I might not want this marriage, but I’m not a heartless man. That look in Alina’s eyes said it all: she really took all of this seriously (as much as I didn’t want to believe it) and I betrayed that by dating despite the laws a betrothal held, or how she might feel about it when she found out.
Kyungsoo Princess, I am sorry for my words. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me.
Darling Wife Okay.
I acknowledge her message and proceed to search forDaniel and Alina rumors on the internet. To say the least, I was bothered by what I saw.
King Daniel weighs options of breaking betrothal of Crown Prince Kyungsoo of Seoul and Princess Alina of Mariposa
Princess Alina of Mariposa Absent from Wedding of now-Queen Maria of Azteco and King Daniel due to Illness
Princess Alina Enlists for Medical Military Service, to get closer to King Daniel or Crown Prince Kyungsoo?
Valencia’s Crown Disputes Rumors of Princess Alina Carrying a Secret Relationship with Brother In Law King Daniel
Fellow Military Nurse discloses the truth: “Princess Alina pines and cries over betrothed Crown Prince Kyungsoo as he gets closer to enemy lines.”
I remember hearing of her presence at my base, but I never wanted to see her. How much truth is in these headlines? Are these rumors? Do gossip websites really need that much attention, why not focus on celebrities? Not one word about Alina had been this controversial, in fact tonight was the first time I heard of any of this.
Kyungsoo Princess, I would like to see you
Darling Wife Why, your Highness…?
Kyungsoo I would like to speak with you
Darling Wife No. Goodnight Crown Prince.
24 notes · View notes
mymoodwriting · 6 months
Text
Beyond The Stars
F!Reader x EXO
Genre: Amnesia AU, EXO Universe/Planet
Warning: Amnesia, Manipulation, Lies, Interdimensional Travel, Betrayal
Words: 4.8K
Chapter Seventeen
(Prev//Next)
Prompt: You’re the most important thing to EXO, you’ve been with them for years, and when you wind up missing, it greatly upsets them. Their journey to find you and bring you home starts a chain of events that leads to facing their own greatest fears, making unlikely allies, traveling to other worlds again and finally gathering the strength to take down their greatest enemy. Along the way you get to see their true colors and fall in love all over again, although you might come to realize you don’t like what you see in the mirror.
@suhappysuho @starillusion13
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“Destiny? What do you mean?”
“This is a safe haven.” Suho explained. “I’ll show you, but you all have to be calm.”
“You’re not exactly making me feel any better here.” Taeyong commented.
“Just follow me.”
Others were hesitant to follow, but they did so. Lay took your hand and led you along with the group. You looked around, realizing this was some kind of ship, and that brought up so many more questions. At least now it made sense what Suho had said earlier, the ship’s name was Destiny. You came to some steps, although Suho told everyone to give him a moment and went up.
“Captain!”
From below you heard some happy cheers, followed by running. Soon enough you saw someone with Suho and then they noticed you.
“Wow… that’s a lot of stowaways.”
“It’s a long story, but the new faces won’t be staying. They just needed a safe place to stop, hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. You wouldn’t bring enemies on my ship. Welcome aboard everyone.”
You went up onto the main deck, taking in your surroundings again and being amazed. You weren’t out on the ocean where you would find such a ship, but sailing through the sky. You ran over to the edge to look overboard.
“This is amazing.”
“Careful now, don’t want to lose anyone.”
Xiumin came over and pulled you back, reminding you to behave yourself. You apologized and promised to stay close. You were brought over back to the crowd and over to the gentleman you had seen talking with Suho before.
“We should probably introduce you. Y/n, this is the captain of the ship.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” The gentleman bowed. “I’m Hongjoong, captain of the Ateez crew, and this is our lovely ship Destiny.”
“It’s wonderful.”
You got to meet the rest of the crew as well and struck up a conversation as the leaders stepped away to talk among themselves.
“I’m Taeyong, leader of NCT. Thanks for allowing us to remain on your ship.”
“A friend of Suho’s is a friend of mine.”
“I want to ask though… how did you meet Suho?”
“He helped us long ago to save our world, and thanks to them we now roam free, always ready to help others. Destiny is our safe place, and for you as well. You’re always welcomed on my ship.”
“Thank you for your hospitality. I hope we cross paths again under better circumstances.”
“I’m sure we will.”
“Do you think you and your people are good to travel?” Suho asked. “Or do you need to rest. I’m sure-”
“No, no, we’re alright.” Taeyong assured. “We should return home and fully rest.”
“Okay then.”
You all gathered to see the Neos off, and you hoped to see them again some time in the future. With the third party gone there was a shift in the atmosphere. 
“So what really brought you by?” Hongjoong asked. “You are not one to show up unannounced.” 
“I’m here to collect on the favor we’ve asked of you.”
“Ah, I see.”
“Wait.” You asked. “What favor?”
You didn’t answer, but a look was exchanged between Hongjoong and Wooyoung. The other boy went off to the captain’s quarters and returned with an hourglass moments later.
“What is that? It looks so cool.”
“It’s called the Cromer.” Wooyoung explained, handing it over to you. “We don’t use it as much anymore, but it serves another purpose now.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see.”
You only pondered on that for a moment before the Cromer floated up into the air and away from you. DO had stepped away from the group, and the Cromer flew over to him. In the blink of an eye the hourglass had shattered, but all the pieces remained in the air. All the glass was separated and you could tell DO was focused on it. One moment there was glass and then it turned to sand. You had no idea what was going on, let alone as Kai stepped forward and allowed the sand to pour down onto his hand.
“What are you doing…” You mumbled. 
“Remembering something long forgotten.”
“Why are you going there?” Hongjoong asked.
“We can’t keep running.” Suho stated. “We have to face our enemies head on.”
“What does that mean?” You questioned.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” Chen assured. “Promise.”
“Kai?” Suho said.
“I got it.”
You didn’t know what that meant, but you watched as DO put the Cromer back together as if nothing had ever happened. It returned to your hands and you looked it over in awe.
“You could stay a while.” Hongjoong suggested. “Get some rest and prepare.”
“Can’t keep pushing things off.” Lay said. “But thank you.”
“If you guys need any help, you know where to find us.”
It was sad to be saying goodbye to new friends so soon, but you went wherever EXO went without hesitation. You hoped to see them again and get to know them more when the time comes. You gave the Cromer back to Yeosang, and they all wished you well. Sehun and Chanyeol took your hands, and you all said one last goodbye before you closed your eyes, ready for the next adventure. The quiet and calm of the open sky faded into the sounds of nature, and you opened your eyes to find yourself surrounded by trees.
“Woah… where are we…”
“Some place we never thought we’d return to.” Baekhyun mumbled. “Come on, we have some place to go.”
“You guys really need to stop being so cryptic.”
“I know, sorry. We’re still processing everything too.”
You followed the boys through the words, quite intrigued by the fact they knew exactly where they were going. After a while you came to this cabin. It seemed abandoned with nature having taken it back, but it all retreated as Lay waved his hand. You went with the boys inside, seeing all the dust that’s been collecting. Sehun was quick to blow that all away, but a silent stillness remained.
“So… what is this place?”
“An old home.” Xiumin said.
“Are we staying?”
“For the foreseeable future, yes.”
“Then we should start cleaning up.”
Your bright spirit was a bit of a contrast with the rest of the atmosphere, but the others agreed with you. The others helped you clean up, making this place feel more like a home. While cleaning you found an interesting picture. It was a group photo of the boys with a handful of unfamiliar faces. There was something strange about this whole place you couldn’t quite put your finger on, and this picture added to that uneasiness. Before you could dwell on it more you heard Lay calling out to you, and you made your way to the back of the cabin, finding a greenhouse. You stepped into a garden you had never seen before, amazed by its beauty.
“Wow…”
“This is an old garden of mine, and you can see the plants have taken very good care of each other.”
“They must have missed you.”
“I missed them too.”
“What happened here? I saw a picture of you and some other people. Was this home before you met me?”
“For a long time it was, but we had to flee.”
“So why are you back now?”
“Cause we need to fix things.”
“Fix things?” You thought for a moment. “Is RF the reason you left this world?”
“Yes. This place was home, and then we wound up being held captive. When we escaped, we left this world in their hands. We have to correct that mistake.”
“That’s dangerous… facing RF head on… especially if the two of you have history here.” “I know, but it has to be done. For starters we need to check in with old friends.”
“Old friends?”
“You can meet them later.” Kai said as he entered the garden. “We have to find them first.”
“And how are you gonna do that?”
“A lot of remembering.”
Kai stepped forward, going into the garden and sitting himself down. Some vines crept over, wrapping around his arms and waist. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, making you wonder what he was doing. You had never seen Kai in the garden like this before.
“Are you picking anything up?”
“I can sense them… but it’s faint…”
“It’s been years at this point. Will that be enough or should I look for them?”
“No. This should be enough.”
After a while longer Kai opened his eyes, the vines moving away and releasing him. He gave you a big smile and came over to press a kiss to your cheek.
“Suho, Sehun, and I will be going out for a bit. We’ll be back as soon as we can.”
“What? Can’t I go?”
“This place is unknown, and it’s best if you stay here where it’s safe.”
“Then why not bring our house here?”
“We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. Besides this place was the blueprint of the home we have now. Stay and be good.”
“Alright… don’t be gone too long.”
“Hopefully we won’t.”
The trio went off, and you focused on making this old place feel new. Kai scouted ahead first to make sure no one would get hurt and that they could lay low. Alleys always worked in their favor.
“Where are we?” Sehun asked.
“No idea.” Kai admitted. “Since the frequency is so faint I can’t get an exact location, but they have to be around here somewhere.”
“So like a needle in a haystack.”
“At least I narrowed down the search, didn’t I?”
“Don’t fight.” Suho reminded. “We have no idea what they’re like anymore after all this time. We might not be welcomed. Just lay low and don’t draw attention.”
The area they were in wasn’t that popular, but there were still plenty of people around going about their day. They seamlessly blended in, walking down the street and looking around. Nothing much had seemed to change about the world, but that wasn’t entirely a good thing. While walking Sehun had gotten a strange feeling, stopping before a building.
“Sehun?”
“There’s something about this place.”
“What place? A dojo?”
“I can’t explain it.”
“Wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.”
The three went inside, seeing that the place was empty, except for one gentleman. They were cleaning the weapons rack. They began their welcome speech and turned around, only to cut themselves short.
“Suho… Kai… Sehun… is that really you?”
“Surprised to see us. Shownu?”
“I thought I’d never see you again.”
Shownu ran over to embrace the three in a hug, still processing that they were really there. So much had happened since they last spoke. There was a lot to catch up on, but something else was more important.
“What are you doing here? I didn’t think you’d return.”
“We have to right our wrongs.” Suho explained. “We’re sorry we took so long.”
“It’s just incredible to see you now.”
“What about the others?” Kai asked. “How are they?”
“I’m not so sure. We don’t keep in touch. It was better if we remained separate. Although for a while I was in contact with Wonho, but he hasn’t been around in months. I’m worried something happened to him but I have no way of finding out.”
“That’s alright. We plan to reunite everyone. If you don’t have any pressing business, we could go now.”
“Absolutely. It’d be so good to see everyone’s face again.”
Once again Kai relied on a faded feeling, going ahead to make sure everything was safe before returning for the others. Shownu did need a moment to recover from the nauseating feeling of teleportation before they could continue. It was another small town, but nothing vastly unfamiliar to Shownu. Neither of them knew where to look so it was back to walking the streets. Although this time around they had someone with a slightly better eye than them.
“Have you been avoiding me?”
“Huh… Shownu!”
Wonho ran over to hug his hyung, embracing them tightly with disbelief clear on his face. This seemed like a dream, more so when he realized his friend was not alone.
“You… is it really you?”
“Long time no see, right?”
“I can’t believe this.” Wonho stated. “What’s going on?”
“We’ll explain later, right now we’re just trying to find everyone.” Suho said. “Did you keep in touch with anyone?”
“No. Only Shownu, but that didn’t last long.”
“How did you find me anyway?”
“It’s a bit complicated… I received a watch in the mail with some instructions and a location… I was hesitant to use it but when I did, I found my way to you.”
“That must be what I sensed.” Sehun said. “The energy from you traveling back and forth. Without it we might not have found Shownu so easily.”
“I’m glad I could help.” Wonho teased. “So who are we looking for next?”
“No idea.” Suho admitted. “We’re just going to the nearest signal.”
“Got it. Ready when you are.”
“You’re very eager.”
“It’s been a long time.”
“I know.”
The five of them made the journey to their next location. Another town, and another needle in a haystack. Still, the more of them they found, the better they all felt. This time around everyone was surprised to find Minhyuk with Changkyun in a cafe. The reunion there was far bigger than the last.
“Have you two been in touch this whole time?” Wonho asked.
“Not consistently.” Minhyuk admitted. “Changkyun would stop by once in a while to check up on me, nothing more.”
“I have incredible timing don’t you think?” Changkyun teased. “I’m so happy to see you all, but also surprised.”
“When we get back to the cabin we can talk.”
“That place is still standing? I would have thought for sure RF would have destroyed it or something.”
“They’d never be able to get close.”
It was great to see each other, but they still had others to find. With the next jump some had gotten used to the nausea, and others not so much.
“Gosh, that always feels weird.” Changkyun commented. “So, who’s here?”
“We don’t know.” Kai said. “Just following a feeling.”
The group walked around for a while. They weren’t sure who to be looking for but once again Sehun had a strange feeling. He led the group inside a building, finding Jooheon behind a glass in the middle of work.
“Jooheon.”
“Hm?” The boy got up. “You… oh my gosh.”
Jooheon rushed out to embrace his brothers, tears stinging his eyes. Suho and the others let them have their reunion, aware they hadn’t seen much of each other in a long time too.
“What’s the reason behind all this?” Jooheon asked. “I thought we’d never see each other again.”
“It’s a long story.” Kai said. “But we’ll get to it. We just need to find the others first.”
“About that…”
“What?”
“I… I wish I could have told you all this sooner… but Kihyun… he was in a car accident…  he’s…”
“I’m so sorry.” Suho mentioned. 
The news took everyone by surprise, although Sehun had been looking around. Once again he felt something was off, except it was different this time around. He stepped away from the group, and Kai noticed, following him.
“Sehun, what is it?”
“I’m not sure… but I feel like someone else is here…”
“Someone else?”
Kai wasn’t sure what Sehun meant, but he had his own way of figuring things out. He closed his eyes and took a moment, then disappeared. Moments later he returned and threw someone to the ground. This person had a visor covering their eyes like some VR headset, and seemed to be wearing some kind of armor.  The others had noticed this as well.
“What the heck?”
“This person’s been spying on us. Any ideas?”
“RF let us go.” Minhyuk said. 
“That doesn’t mean they wouldn’t keep an eye on you.”
“They weren’t following us.” Sehun added. “So they must have been here keeping an eye on Jooheon.”
“Me?”
That’s when the spy decided to move, making an attempt to run but Kai was quick to follow. The two engaged in some quick combat. This person was skilled, but Kai’s powers gave him an advantage. He managed to land a hard kick to the face, causing the other to slam to the ground. There was the audible crack of the visor and then all movement ceased. Shownu and Suho flipped over the spy, realizing a familiar face was under the mask.
“Kihyun…”
Everyone was confused and shocked. The news they had just been told suddenly became a lie, and this brought up so many questions. They all agreed that they couldn’t stay here for much longer so Suho made the call to go back home, taking everyone with them.
“Clear the table.”
Shownu called out orders as he carried Kihyun inside, Jooheon quickly wiped everything off the nearest table. Everyone gathered around as Kihyun was laid out on the table, helping to get the gear off of him. Others that had heard the commotion came to see what was going on, although there were no time for greetings. Things were taken off Kihyun to make him more comfortable, but the visor wouldn’t come off. 
“So…” Minhyuck spoke. “How do we get that off him? Seems attached to his face and I don’t wanna… what if I hurt him?”
“You won’t.”
Another voice caught everyone’s attention. They all looked over at the door, seeing a tall figure hidden under an umbrella walk in. Once the group had gotten to the old house Suho made it rain to cover their tracks and it was pretty bad outside. This person seemed pretty clean, barely a drop of water on their umbrella, and not a speck of mud on them despite the surrounding woods. The umbrella was lowered, Hyungwon revealing his face.
“There’s a button on the left side of the visor. Press it and it will come off without issue.”
No one moved but Minhyuck, feeling around and finding the button. When he got the visor off he tossed it to Chen. Kihyun didn’t react, the other boy starting to shake him.
“Kihyun… Kihyun, wake up.”
“He won’t.” Hyungwon said. “And I suggest you don’t fry the visor.”
“What do you mean he won’t wak-” Shownu said but was cut off.
“It was supposed to be me!” 
Jooheon yelled, storming over to Hyungwon. The older boy didn’t move, not at all afraid of the other. It was clear Jooheon wanted to fight, but Wonho was quick to run over and step in front of Hyungwon, holding his arm out. Shownu and Changkyun had moved as well, grabbing Jooheon and pulling him back despite his protests.
“It was supposed to be me!”
“Jooheon, what are you talking about?” Changkyun asked. “You’re not making any sense.”
“I was supposed to be in the accident! Not Kihyun! I saw you there, Hyungwon, I saw you there at the crash site!”
“What?” Shownu’s grip got tighter. “Jooheon, stop this and explain yourself.”
Jooheon kept glaring at Hyungwon, wanting to punch him, but he stopped fighting when Shownu asked. The two holding him waited a moment, making sure he was calm before letting him go. Wonho stayed with Hyungwon, but wasn’t sure what was going on.
“I’ve always felt that something was off about the accident.” Jooheon began. “I’ve had dreams of it, where I’m the one in the driver’s seat, it felt so real, too real, to just be a dream. I remember seeing you there when the ambulance took Kihyun, and then you disappeared. It was supposed to be me right? You changed that somehow. Why? It should be me on that table!”
“I couldn’t let RF get to you, I’m sorry.”
“Wait, you’re saying that Jooheon’s dreams are real?” Minhyuk asked.
“Those aren’t dreams, but memories of another timeline. I’m surprised you retain fragments of the accident.”
“So this…” Changkyun was mumbling. “This was what you needed to change?”
“What?” Shownu questioned. “What are you talking about?”
“Hyungwon came to me once, long before the accident, he asked me for a favor, said it was important. He needed to change something in the timeline, told me when and where Minhyuck would be, asked me to look after him, keep him safe for as long as possible.”
“Wait, you’ve been in contact with Hyungwon this whole time?”
“Yes… yes, I have.”
“So, that’s how you found me? I found that watch, a customer left it. I was just messing with it, I didn’t know it…” Minhyuk trailed off as he came to a realization, looking at Hyungwon. “You left that for me! You wanted me to use it!”
“Yes. It’s why I left one at Wonho’s place too.”
“It was you? You… you set us up?” Wonho seemed hurt. “Why? WHY!?”
“I needed a distraction. You’re all on RF’s radar, if you were found to be time traveling they’d focus on you since you were messing with the timeline.”
“You gave one to Kihyun too!” Jooheon questioned. “Didn’t you! You knew he would feel guilty over what happened and would want to change it! Why didn’t you just stop the accident!”
“You don’t think I tried to stop it, despite knowing better. There are things that are fated to happen, that accident was one of them. It was going to happen, one way or the other, if not at that moment, then later. Every attempt I made to change it ended the same, Jooheon was severely hurt and taken by RF. I couldn’t stop it, but I could change who was taken.”
“Why! WHY!”
“What did you do?” Changkyun growled. “Kihyun didn’t just get into the driver’s seat…”
“I did what I just did here. I showed him the truth, the accident can’t be stopped, and I gave him the opportunity to save Jooheon.”
“No you manipulated him!” Jooheon spat. “I see no reason why it shouldn’t be me on the table.”
“It’s because of me.” Lay spoke up. “Isn’t?”
“Yes.” Hyungwon nodded. “I’m sorry.”
“Wait, what? What does Lay have to do with this.”
“Everything.” Xiumin added. “Jooheon, you know more about Lay’s plants than any of your friends. If RF got to you, they would learn that and… well I suppose Hyungwon knows what the outcome of that is.”
“You’re seriously defending him? He’s the one who betrayed us, who turned Baekhyun in, when you asked us to look after him.”
“We did.” Sehun got up. “But not Tao, right Hyungwon?”
“Yes. Tao asked me to bring Baekhyun in, he knew it wouldn’t end well if he was kept from the group any longer. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Shownu asked.
“Cause he told me not to.”
“So you just betrayed us?” Wonho said. “You picked him over us?”
“That’s not it.”
“That’s exactly what you did!” Minhyuk yelled. “You betrayed us! And stayed with RF when they gave us an out!”
“He made a promise.” Kai added. “Isn’t that right? Tao could see the future if he focused with Luhan at his side. He knew what would happen if Baekhyun stayed away from us. He knew what would happen to him, to the others, and that we’d escape, but he knew we’d be back too. So, he needed someone to look after this world in our absence.”
“Yes.” Hyungwon admitted. “I made a promise, and that meant gaining RF’s trust, even if it meant losing you guys. I’m-”
“Don’t.” Wonho interrupted. “I don’t want to hear it, just wake Kihyun up and go.”
“I… I can’t… he’s comatose.”
“What!”
“The visor… it controls him, he’s lifeless without it.”
“So that’s what my fate was.” Jooheon said. “Comatose.”
“No… no it wasn’t. Messing with the timeline has a price, even when you find a loophole.”
“You… you killed him!” Changkyun shouted. “You killed Kihyun!”
“I’m sorry.”
Changkyun charged at Hyungwon, but he disappeared before he was grabbed. The boy fell to his knees distraught. He felt partially guilty for having helped Hyungwon in his plan, not knowing what the outcome would be. Shownu went over to comfort him, Wonho screaming as well and punching the wall. Minhyuk had fallen to his knees as well, holding Kihyun’s hand, his own silent tears falling.
“Fix this.” Jooheon looked at Lay. “You can heal him.”
“The mind is a far more complex thing to heal.”
“But you can do it.”
“I… I don’t know.”
“No, the answer is yes, you can fix him!”
“Jooheon, I don’t-”
“Don’t give me that crap, you can!”
“I don-”
“Maybe we can.” Baekhyun interrupted. “When Haechan and the others were stuck in the inbetween they were pretty much comatose. You woke them up, so you could-”
“We knew where their minds were, knew where to go and get them out. We have no idea where Kihyun is, he could be brain dead for all we know.”
“Then take him there.” Shownu spoke.
“What?”
“Take Kihyun’s mind to the inbetween, if he’s truly alive then you’ll find him there, right? And you can bring him back.”
“Do it.” Jooheon said. “Whatever that is, do it.”
“We can’t just do that.” Suho said. “The inbetween isn’t our place. We didn’t wake the others up, we helped one of their own go in and get them out. We can’t-”
“Then call your friends! Get them to do this!”
“Jooheon-”
“What do we have to lose?” Minhyuk added. “We didn’t know what had become of  Kihyun until now, but this isn’t living.”
“The inbetween becomes a personal hell if you stay there.” DO said. “It’s not-”
“Kihyun put himself in a car accident.” Wonho cut in. “He knew the consequences then, he’d understand them now. So whoever you need to call, call them and try to save him, that’s all we’re asking.”
It got quiet. Suho looked around at everyone, the decision had fallen to him. He took a breath then looked at Lay, nodding his head.
“Lay, DO, with me. Xiumin, you and Chen know what to make, the garden here is like the one back home, so you should have what you need. The rest of you look after y/n.”
You had heard the commotions from before, but Baekhyun had you stay hidden just to be safe. Nothing that was spoken made sense to you, not until the end and talking about the inbetween. You peeked your head around the corner, seeing this person unconscious on the table. Everyone seemed busy with things so you carefully approached them. You looked at them for a while before someone else approached. They looked you over and then pulled you into a hug.
“Y/n!”
You didn't react, confused as to who was hugging you and why. He had such a huge smile on his face, but it faltered when he saw your confusion.
“Y/n, it’s me, Wonho, we grew up together, remember?”
“What?”
“We went to elementary and high school together. You disappeared a few years ago, we thought you were dead.”
“Wait, what? You’re saying we know each other?”
“Yes.” Wonho pulled up a picture of you and him together. “What happened to you?”
You were quiet, staring at the picture, then you looked over at Chanyeol who was in the room. The sad look on their face told you everything you needed to know.
“I’m... I’m from here, this world is my home… why don’t I remember that! Why don’t I remember my past!”
You started to panic, drawing a blank on your childhood, on everything before knowing them. Cahnyeol took a step towards you but you backed away.
“No… what’s going on… why don’t I-”
“A lot happened when we met.” Suho added, having overheard things and coming over. “We met by chance and you helped us but RF caught up to us, we couldn’t just leave you for them to do who knows what so we took you with us. We never planned to come back here and we couldn’t return you either. We didn’t want you to feel home sick… so we made you forget your past…” 
“I…” 
You had tears in your eyes, the lack of memories making you feel so lost. Your past had always been a fuzzy thing, and when you thought back on it something else always came up to distract you. This wasn’t how you thought you’d get answers. Even if you did know Wonho you felt nothing familiar about him.
“It’s our fault. We got you involved, we never meant to, I swear, but we had to keep you safe.”
“Did you?” You spat, eyes flashing black for a moment. “What you did… was it really for my own good… or for yours.”
You stormed out, not wanting to hear anything anymore, having some new information to deal with. Once you were gone the others looked at each other, then Wonho.
“You knew y/n?” Suho questioned.
“Yes, and I thought I knew you too.”
16 notes · View notes
wolveswithblackpearls · 2 months
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Angel!Au - Kyungsoo as your guardian angel
“Who are you?” you asked, mystified.
Folding his arms across his chest, his frown deepened. “I’m… your guardian angel.”
You snorted. “Yeah, okay. Sure you are.”
The so-called “angel” rolled his eyes. “Do you think I would go around in all white if I wasn’t?”
That was… a partially convincing argument. “Prove it.”
Based on lovely @marshmallow-phd ‘s Accidental Miracle ^~^
~ Admin S
Original date of publishing: June 2nd, 2019
5 notes · View notes
oohfluffy · 1 year
Text
SY Ch. 4 | DKS
Group: EXO
Member: Do Kyungsoo
Theme: Angst | Fluff | Neighbor!AU
Word Count: 4,500
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chapter 4
Okay, but when will that be?
The constant clicking of keys was your background music as your mind wandered to another dimension. It was only halfway through the day, but you feel like you're already floating away from work. 
You've never seen Kyungsoo in the cafe for the past few days, and you wondered when you will see him again. Will you even see him again? If not, then why did he say that you should tell him about yourself next time? When is that next time?
"I don't think scrolling across the excel file for 10 minutes will do the work, noona."
You snapped out of your reverie when you heard your hoobae tell you that. You pitifully smiled at him, meeting his teasing expression. Being caught while being absent-minded at work by a junior is so humbling.
"Thanks for the reminder, hoobae." 
"A penny for your thoughts?" Hanbin raised his eyebrow at you as he leaned back on his chair. You just shook your head as you faced the computer again. Wonho wasn't around for a meeting, which left just you and Hanbin on the same side of the cubicles. "A guy problem, huh? Is it this cafe guy?"
"Shush." You shut him up as he laughed.
"You've got a crush on him."
"I don't."
"I've met a lot of girls, and your expression says otherwise. I know that face." He smiled smugly, his chair almost completely facing you. "My girlfriend also told me before that she didn't like me, but look at her now, so in love with me as I am with her."
"No need to flex right on my face, young one." You rolled your eyes at him while shaking your head. He leaned on his palm as he looked at you with a teasing smile. "I was just wondering if…" You fiddled with your mouse, fingers slowing down on the surface of the keyboard. "I'll be seeing him around the neighborhood."
"Hmm, maybe? You said the old lady at your laundry knows him, right? He must be living nearby then." 
Hanbin has a point, but you still haven't seen him around even when you were taking walks on the weekend.
Let's drown ourselves with work then. I need him out of my mind. Let's go, go, go.
You had lunch as quick as you can, too preoccupied with the work you had pending for today. Your friends just shrugged your rush as they watched you walk away with a glint of determination in your eyes. As soon as you sat back on your chair, you pulled up the tabs of excel as you took out the papers by your drawer. 
You don't have any deadlines for today, but you felt like you could do the work due the next day. 
Mind full of numbers, data, and analyses, you didn't even realize that it was already time to go home. You were still motivated to finish everything, not wanting to cut the momentum. Your eyebrows furrowed as you stared at the screen of your computer, fingers not stopping their movements as you input data within the sheet.
"It's past 5pm already, Ms. Nam. I think that could wait for another day." 
You almost cursed as you typed the wrong number. You looked up at the guy who disturbed you. He was smiling as you felt the ache on your wrists. It was indeed a long time since you looked around. There were only two other people in the office excluding the two of you.
"I'm almost finished, Wonho. You can go ahead." You said before glancing at your watch.
"I don't know why you're pushing yourself harder today, but if you're just doing this to keep your mind off of a problem, it's going to be temporary. You'll just think about it again at home, and you won't get enough sleep." Wonho leaned his arm on your cubicle divider. You just sighed as you thought he was right. "Let's just go home, man."
You hesitated as you looked back at your screen. You clicked your tongue before saving all your progress, rolling your eyes as you heard Wonho say yes. As soon as you turned off your computer, you took off your coat from the chair and grabbed your bag. Wonho said goodbye to your remaining co-workers being the office's congenial man. 
"Coffee?" He said as you stepped outside the building. Your mind instantly wandered to the possibility that Kyungsoo might be there. Wonho chuckled as he saw your eyes going in the direction where the cafe was. "Okay then. You look like you really wanted to see that guy, huh?"
"I-I haven't even said anything!" Your cheeks flushed as you looked away from the cafe, but Wonho was already walking towards it. "Y-Yah, Wonho-ah!" 
"Come on, Eunjoo. I think I can see the guy from here." 
Let's just say that your feet led you to the cafe without you knowing.
As soon as you entered the cafe, you were in another dimension. The door closed behind you, muting the sounds from the busy street. The smell of coffee and bread with the lovely classical music softly caressing your ears were a delight to your exhausted self from work. 
"That him?" You heard Wonho whisper as you both walked to the counter. Your eyes met with Kyungsoo's as you got near. He was talking to this woman, who was obviously chatting her way as she ordered, while he tapped on the screen in front of him. You were about to wave at him when he looked away and glanced at the woman instead. You lowered your hand, ears reddening in embarrassment.
That would have been really embarrassing, Eunjoo!
"What do you want?" You blinked several times before looking at Wonho. He was raising his eyebrows at you, quite concerned about your mental state. You didn't even notice that it was already your turn to order. "Eunjoo-ah?"
"U-Uh, I'll get whatever you ordered then." You glanced at Kyungsoo, who was intently looking at you. You instantly looked back at Wonho, not finding enough courage to stare back at the man behind the counter. 
"Then two of those, please." Wonho smiled at Kyungsoo.
"Alright, sir." Kyungsoo replied with his gentle voice, making you turn to him again. It felt like a long time since you heard him. What luck should you have to be able to hear him everyday talk in your ears? His eyes darted to you all of a sudden as if hearing your thoughts. 
This time, you didn't look away.
You almost missed how his eyes squinted and how his lips curved. You were ready to drop dead—
"Eunjoo?"
You were brought back to reality when Wonho tugged your arm. You didn't even know that he was already done ordering! You mumbled an apology to the next customer before walking in haste with Wonho behind you, who was obviously trying not to laugh. You chose the usual spot where you sit, taking the seat that faces away from the counter. 
"He's probably thinking that I'm crazy about him now." You said as Wonho took a seat in front of you, grinning at the sight of you blushing like a teenage girl. "Oh gosh, I can't go back here now!"
"Stop it. It's normal for people to be absent-minded at times, you know? Maybe you were just too tired from work that your senses weren't working well already—"
"I was obviously staring at him!"
"It's like your recharging yourself with a wonderful sight—"
"You're not helping!" You laughed at his excuse, making you feel a bit better. Wonho smiled as he noticed your shoulders loosening up. "Well, I-I don't think he noticed at all. He stares at a lot of people here, even the woman before us. It's not that obvious if I did that to him as well, right?"
"Uhuh."
"Your orders, sir." You almost bit your tongue when you heard his voice right behind you. Wonho was just politely smiling at Kyungsoo as he received the plates with cheesecakes. "Eunjoo-ssi."
"Oh, you know Eunjoo?" Wonho played innocent as he took a sip of his iced americano. Kyungsoo placed the familiar bowl with cookies beside your plate, instantly bringing a smile to your face. Wonho's eyebrows raised as he saw that, lips twitching to tease you. 
Your disappointment of not seeing him for days and your embarrassment from earlier were wiped out just with a bowl of cookies.  
"She's regular here, and…" Kyungsoo looked at you. His eyes are so beautiful that you would not get tired looking into them. "...we're friends."
"Y-Yeah, we are!" You suddenly blurted as you saw Wonho nodding as if nonchalant, but you can see his mind going elsewhere. "T-Thanks for these freebies again, Kyungsoo-ssi. I'd eat them well." 
"Do enjoy." He smiled at you before turning back and walking to the counter again. You breathed out with a satisfied smile before taking a cookie from the bowl. You took a bite and your eyes closed at the right sweetness and saltiness of the snack. 
"Wah, you're really enjoying just as he said."
"Ugh shut up." You rolled your eyes at your friend.
"He seems nice. He has this aura that will make you feel comfortable and warm inside." Wonho gestured his hands around before forking on his cheesecake. You nodded enthusiastically as you munched on your cookie. "The customers also seem to be fond of him."
"Well, not only is his personality swoonable, but he's obviously handsome. I get why people are fond of him." You shrugged as you took a bite of the cheesecake. 
"Hmm, I think this guy likes you." 
You coughed as you looked back at Wonho, who was nodding to himself as he stared somewhere. You glanced at where he was looking and saw Kyungsoo behind the counter, not as the cashier but as the barista this time. 
"W-Why? What made you say that? I know we are friends, but lying to me for the sake of—"
"He delivered our orders." He answered as if it was the obvious answer. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"He always does that with others like the older customers and children. I don't see why…" Your voice lowered as your lips pouted a bit, thinking that you might be more special than you thought. You slightly curved your lips as you sipped on your iced coffee.
"Oh, oh look at this woman." Wonho chuckled at the sight of you suddenly getting shy. "He might be doing the serving all the time for the people he likes. He got back behind the counter as soon as he served our orders. Well, it's bad to keep your hopes up, maybe not?"
"You really just cheered me up just to bring me down, huh?" You tsked at your friend as he shrugged at you while munching on his cheesecake. "I'll figure it out somehow when we get to talk again, but he's always working and I haven't seen him at the laundry shop again." You mumbled as you took another cookie from the bowl. 
You were about to take the cookie into your mouth when you saw a little pink paper further inside the bowl. Your eyes widened as you instantly ate the cookie before getting the paper. Wonho was texting at the moment, his eyes squinting in concentration, so he didn't notice you reading the little paper in your hand.
I've been all around working, so I haven't seen you. I'd like to invite you to dinner. My shift ends in a bit. I know the perfect place for this cold weather. My treat, of course. - Kyungsoo (010-XXX-XXX)
You quickly took the note inside your pocket and glanced at the counter as casually as possible. Kyungsoo was busy cleaning up the counter, focusing on the smallest dirt that he could find on the corners. His lips were slightly pouting as his eyes were full in concentration. 
So hardworking.
"I got a message from my uncle. I'm needed at the meeting he's having with the partner company. I was gonna go home, ah shit." Wonho said with a frown before emptying his plate. 
"You can go. I can go home by myself." 
"I know you can." He nodded as he looked at his watch. "Let's finish up then, so it won't get too late."
"Uhm, I'd like to stay for a while. You can go ahead." You smiled. He looked at you with a questioning gaze before glancing at the counter. "Yeah, I won't stay long outside so don't worry."
"Hmm okay. Just message me when you get home."
It was a few minutes before 6 in the evening.
You went to the bathroom to freshen up and check your emails. Your eyebrows furrowed when you saw a message from your sister. She doesn't really text or call you unless she wants something. At first, you were really looking forward to her messages because you feel lonely sometimes being away from your family, but then it gets a bit tiring hearing just requests and demands from her. 
I want we-miss-you and take-care messages too.
You didn't click on the message and decided to open it once you got home. After washing your hands and checking your face, you left the bathroom to go back to your seat. You saw Kyungsoo already talking to his coworker before leaving the counter and going to the back door.
"Maybe he's done already." You mumbled as you decided to wait outside. You already saved his number on your phone, so you texted him that you would be waiting outside. Walking to the door, you realized that you would be really meeting with Kyungsoo outside of work hours and not just coincidentally.
When you got outside, the city lights were dazzling to see along with the buzzing of people and the night sky. It was chilly, making you grip your coat closer to you. You watched as the cars passed by you, people conversing as they walked on the sidewalk, the smoke coming from some vendor stalls right across the street, and—
"Eunjoo-ssi. Sorry for making you wait."
You looked at the casual dressed man right beside you. His hair was a bit messy while his shirt was a bit crumpled as if he was rushing to get ready and out of work. 
He still looks cute though.
"N-No, it's fine. I enjoyed the freebies anyway." You chuckled as you tapped on your stomach. "So, where's this perfect place you were talking about?"
He brightly grinned as you mentioned it. He gestured for you to follow him.
"You won't regret coming with me, Eunjoo-ssi. It's nearby, let's go." He said as he moved to the side of the pathwalk where the road was.
You walked side by side, arms touching a bit from time to time as you admired his side view. The silence between the two of you was a bit awkward, but nothing felt more comfortable being beside him. He really exudes that aura that makes you feel warm and safe. In contrast to your observant and alert self, you didn't even realize that you've arrived at your destination.
"We're here, Eunjoo-ssi." Kyungsoo said as he looked at you, who just got to see where he brought you. "I don't know if this is the kind of place that you were expecting, but the food here is like no other."
"It looks really homey here, I like it." You said as he led you inside the cabin-like restaurant. It wasn't that big, only a few tables and a counter near the kitchen, which can be seen from the entrance. Although small, there were a lot of happy people talking with sizzling food on their table. There was music in the background, but it was not too loud to overpower the conversations in between people. 
The decor was not extravagant and just minimal, while their lights were warm but energizing in the eyes. Traditional patterns were also on the walls, so they must be serving local food here.
Must have warm soup, kimchi, mandu, and—
"Oh, Soo-ah! You're here!" The old man with an apron came out from the kitchen, smiling big as soon as he saw Kyungsoo. He welcomed him with a pat on his shoulder before looking at you. "Wohoho, you brought a girl with you this time, huh? Finally found the one?"
"Ahjussi, stop that. She's a friend of mine. I'm shamelessly advertising your restaurant here, please." Kyungsoo waved off the old man's teasing while your ears reddenned. You just smiled at him as you bowed a bit in greeting. 
"Hehehe, please do take a seat. I'll serve you the best of our menu, oh, but that will be everything on the menu though?" The old man laughed as he gestured to the empty two-seater table nearby. You chuckled while Kyungsoo pulled the chair for you.
"Then let's get small portions of each on the menu. That okay, Eunjoo-ssi?" Kyungsoo smiled at you as you sat down. You were surprised that you'll get everything as the uncle said. 
"Would that be okay? I mean, wouldn't that be too many for us? And that will cost you a lot too." You panicked as you looked at the prices on the menu. The prices were reasonable enough, but addinh everything here is a bit costly. 
Isn't he having trouble making ends meet? Isn't that why he takes so many part time jobs? I don't think I should make him pay after all!
"I-I'll just take the kimbap and mandu, please." You saw Kyungsoo glance at the cook, who just nodded at him. "A bottled water will do too."
"Okay then. You heard her, ahjussi. Thank you." He said before taking a seat in front of you. He placed his bag under the table, getting comfortable on his seat.
"I see that you're a regular here, Kyungsoo-ssi." You looked around the place and observed the interior more. "I didn't even know it was near the business street. I guess I didn't really explore that much around the district."
"Well, I started working at the cafe just half a year ago. I was always all over the place when I moved to the city." He narrated while placing the utensils near you and the seasonings as if it was a habit. "I had a really tiring day, and I wanted to treat myself for doing a good job for the day. But everything was expensive in the business street and I was trying hard to save up, so I walked all around the place and…" He gestured his hand to the entrance. "I found this place. They were having a buy one take one promo on that day, and it was the last day. I could smell the beef and tteokbokki from the outside. The cost was also worth it, I didn't go home disappointed."
You were smiling as he was showing different expressions as he told his story. You couldn't have imagined that he could make those faces. The Kyungsoo that you have just seen was a smiling and polite one, but this one, you really didn't regret coming with him tonight.
"B-But I didn't invite you here because I'm trying to save money! I was just thrilled to let you experience and taste the food here. The food is not only good, but it's not that expensive so it's a win-win thing." He said in haste while you giggled at how he was struggling to say the words. "And…" His voice lowered a bit, making you calm down before your heart pounded faster again.
"I don't just bring strangers over, okay? I was happy to invite you and share this place with you."
"Here are your orders, Eunjoo-ssi, Kyungsoo-ah." The old man served the bowls of kimbap and kimchi with a smile on his face. You didn't get to talk as Kyungsoo instantly helped him bring the tray over to your table. Your cheeks would have fallen off with how huge your smile was.
"It smells really good, ahjussi. Thank you." You commented as you looked at your bowl. You thought that he was done serving your table when he took another tray full of other small portions of each in the menu. "Oh, I don't think we ordered—"
"Thank you, ahjussi. They look amazing as usual." Kyungsoo cut you off as he helped the old man place the bowls and plates on your small table. "We'll eat them well!"
"You better." The old man smiled at him before looking at you. "Enjoy the food, Eunjoo-ssi. I made them with all my heart! Finish everything, okay?"
You glanced at Kyungsoo who was preparing the utensils from the container that you'll be using, wiping them with tissue before placing them on the side of your bowl. 
"I'll eat them with all my heart as well, ahjussi."
"We'll eat well." Kyungsoo said before looking up at you, his gentle eyes sparkling under the warm light. "I hope you like it, Eunjoo-ssi. This one is really my favorite."
 I don't think it's a bad idea to fall and keep my hopes up, Wonho-ah. Ah, I'm getting in trouble.
"It's really warm." You smiled as you put your hands together. Kyungsoo hummed while placing side dishes in your bowl without a word. 
Somehow, it felt like you could get used to this. 
The buzzing you felt on your pocket pulled you out of your thoughts. You glanced at Kyungsoo who was enjoying his meal, and hesitated to touch your phone in your pocket. It was on silent, but it kept buzzing.
"Kyungsoo-ssi, is there a bathroom here? I think I need to go."
"Oh, right that way." His eyes looked over beside the kitchen where a hallway was at. "Just take a turn and you'll see the door sign."
You quickly stood up and said excuse to go to the bathroom. He looked a bit concerned with your uncomfortable expression, but didn't ask. As soon as you got inside the bathroom, you took out your phone and saw your sister calling. You answered the call before you even get to think about the reason why she is calling.
Probably going to ask me to buy her a new dress for an event.
"Eunae-ah." You greeted her.
"Unnie! I've been calling you for hours! We're at the hospital, mom's in the emergency room! We need money! I-I don't know what else to do. D-Dad's not around." Eunae's trembling voice rang through your ears, surprising you with a panicked voice and not the usual demanding one.
"H-Hospital? What-what happened to mom?" Your legs almost gave up, but your other hand gripped on the sink. You could hear your younger sister's sobs while explaining what happened.
"I just got home from school when I heard dad and mom fighting. T-There's something about having another woman and-and mom was freaking out, and then I heard a thud from upstairs. I was scared to even go up, and I didn't want to see them fight." Eunae's voice was unstable, stuttering. Your eyes teared up as you imagined how hard it was for her to witness such a thing. "I just found mom struggling to stand up when dad left. I figured that d-dad might have hit her. She just passed out right after."
You let out a frustrated breath as you looked up at the ceiling. You thought that your parents' relationship got better when you left home, but you didn't expect that they would do this with their daughter around. Eunae didn't deserve that. You wiped your cheeks which were stained with tears.
"Eunae-ah, calm down, okay? Your sister will solve this. I want you to stay focused on getting mom feel better, and be strong. I know it might be hard after that, but you don't have any choice but to do so." You swallowed the lump on your throat. "I'd be sending money later, don't worry. I trust that you'll help mom manage the funds. Comfort mom, okay? Tell her that you're with her all the time, and that you'll help her around the house. D-Don't order her around."
"I-I understand, unnie. I will do that." You could hear her sigh in relief.
"Did she have many bruises? What's her state now?" You were nervous as you asked her the details. You love your mom although most of the time she was very demanding and selfish, but you know that it was rooted somewhere within her experiences. You just love her without judging her, the same with your sister and father.
"She's stable. The doctor said she must have been under so much stress and exhaustion. Her arms got a bit of bruises, and her cheeks were swollen. I didn't even notice that…" Eunae cried.
"I-It's a relief she's stable now…"
Before you could even speak more, a knock interrupted you. 
"Eunjoo-ssi, you okay there? You've been inside for a bit." You heard Kyungsoo's worried voice behind the door. You instantly pulled yourself together before replying.
"I-I'm okay, I'll be out in a second. Sorry." 
"Okay." He said in a hesitant voice before you heard him walk away. You sighed before going back to your call.
"Eunae-ah, I'll go back home this weekend. Hold on a bit, okay? It's going to be fine."
Going back home was a delight for you before, but now, you don't know what to feel anymore. After a bit more of reassuring and comforting your sister, you said your goodbye before Kyungsoo got more concerned. You got out of the bathroom and saw him almost standing up again. When he saw you, he sat back again.
"I'm sorry for worrying you, Kyungsoo-ssi. I got a call from my younger sister, so it took a while." You forced a smile at him when you sat back down, trying to make it a light matter. But Kyungsoo must be a mind reader as he looked into your eyes.
"I understand. Everything fine with her?"
"W-Well, I suppose it's fine for now. I'll be going back home for a while. I need to check up on them." You nodded to yourself, avoiding sharing unnecessary personal issues. "I miss my family too, you know." 
Kyungsoo just hummed in reply, but his gestures were comforting already. He placed a warmed up soup beside your bowl, and placed the freshly cooked mandu near you. You wouldn't have thought that deeply about it, but being in a very emotional state, you noticed how much he was being considerate to you tonight. You smiled.
"Thank you, Kyungsoo-ah."
His eyes widened at your tone. Your voice was so soft that he might have not heard it if he wasn't focused on you enough. His eyes stared into your tearing up ones, breath almost stopping with your sad eyes.
Once again, you made his chest tighten as if you had his heart in your hands.
— ☘ —
A/N:
As promised, I'm updating a day earlier (supposed to be updating on Friday) because I had a break for this day and my mind was in its creative state to write! Striking the iron while it's hot! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I'll be back for more soon too. Please do wait patiently for this author! 😭❤️
I miss you all, and I hope you are in good health always! :>
☘ Ch.5
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rancidtae · 9 months
Text
ARCADIA’S LULLABY | CHAPTER 3
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Genre: Mafia AU. Vigilante AU. Sci-fi (AI). Warnings: Graphic violence, Strong language Pairing: exo & Original Female Character (Jung Jiah/Kang Rina) - Kim Minseok/Original Female Character - Zhang Yixing/Original Female Character Word count: 7k+ chapter summary: the rain pours relentlessly, but a different storm is just starting. Jiah meets Jongin at a birthday party, it's all harmless fun and magnetic sparks until it isn't, and he calls her the wrong name.
masterlist meet the characters
You wanna disappear in a crowd Just a stranger in a room Wanna change your colors just for the night With no word of it following you home
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081222 - 5:43 pm
She’s been doing this all week, jumping pathetically at the sound of her phone ringing, like a lovesick teenager waiting for a text back. As much as she’s been waiting for her silent blocked caller, they never contacted her again.
It’s not that she’s expecting something or someone specific, it’s the fact that nothing has happened so far.
The days have passed without any eventualities, and the combination of boredom and restlessness has kept her on edge. Enough calm. Let the storm hit already, for god’s sake. 
Yixing thought it was hilarious and texted her a screenshot of the weather app this morning. 90% chance of rain for the next three days.
It looks like Kuraokami answered your prayers.
He’d laugh at her if he saw her now, standing in the middle of the sidewalk, struggling with her umbrella and trying to get her buzzing phone from the inside of her bag, only to see the name on the screen and sneer down at it.
“What.” 
A chuckle spills through the line. “Still sensitive about our last conversation, I see.”
“No, don’t even have the time to think about it” she bites, hating that she can hear that sinister smile “What do you want?”
“I heard you paid someone a visit last night. I wanted to hear it from you, though.”
She scoffs up at the sky through her see-through umbrella.
"What? You want me to say I’m... what? Shaking in my boots? So that you can rub one out to the sound of it?”
“Language, sunshine. Let’s keep things professional.”
She gives her surroundings a careful look, focusing on a taxi driver cursing at someone parked in the middle of the street. 
“I tried to be professional, didn’t I? I even gave you a heads-up for old times’ sake, but then you got pissy and decided to make things personal. So now I’m thinking that I should’ve kept my mouth shut and left it as a surprise.” 
“Ah, there we go again with that. Why do you insist on calling it personal?”
“Why don’t you suck my dick, Namjoon?”
He waits a bit before answering. Maybe he’s waiting for her to hang up, knowing perfectly that she won’t do that. His way to get a point across.
“You got yourself in that situation. You walked into that room yourself. How is it fair to blame me for the consequences of your actions?”
He thoroughly enjoyed it, he’s enjoying it even now, she can tell. He denied any involvement in her encounter with a certain pair of recently debuted syndicate members even though she could see his hands all over that stunt. It was the same night she showed up to let him know she had info on his candidate’s son.
Things may or may not have escalated to a shattered wine glass and a deep burgundy stain on Jin's favorite artwork hanging on the wall.
 “Can you get to the point? Some of us can’t afford to spend the day scheming. I have things to do.” she says, her impatience seeping into her tone.
“I was hoping you were bluffing.” she laughs at that. “My hopes weren’t for us.”
There it is. 
So that’s what he meant by the consequences of her actions. 
As grim as it is, it’s like a weight taken off her chest. Her surroundings come back into focus, the narrow street, The Seoul’s Chronicle building behind her, and the stream of people walking past, trying to get out of the rain as soon as possible. A woman brushing her shoulder speaking in a foreign language. The delivery car driving past. A German shepherd with a yellow raincoat and little rubber boots, its nose against the side of a phone booth. 
“I see.” 
“Just now?” he has the gall to sound disappointed. “I imagined you already knew when you went to Yoongi looking for a 22. I guess you're not that good at seeing things beforehand anymore, not even when you initiate them.”
If she were to describe it, she’d say it’s a lot like starting a game of hide and seek with the kids from her street. Terrifying and exciting at the same time.
“Come to the hotel,” he suddenly says “Stay here, at least until things settle down.”
And if she had to sum Kim Namjoon up, this would be it. No one but him could give an invitation and a threat at the same time with such ease. Come, or else.
“Nah, I think I'll stay outside, see what comes out of it.”
“Mmh” he sighs heavily. “Have it your way, then. You have your fun Jiah, make sure to enjoy it.”
She hits the red button and finds that the cute dog that caught her attention is nowhere to be seen, as if it vanished off the street with its owner. 
She gets stopped by at least 13 different people before reaching Kim Kibum’s office. Even though her name wasn't credited, her co-workers knew what it meant when she disappeared for weeks. They are well aware of the kind of stories she chases. Plus, the investigative vultures who weren't bragging about it gave it away.
“I thought I told you to work from home until further notice,” he says right as he closes the door behind him.
“What? I deliver the story of probably the year, and you don’t want to see my face around anymore?”
"Don’t get cocky with me, I’ve had a long day” he huffs, pulling the blinds down. His office seems less cluttered than she remembers. Has it been that long since she last visited? “You know there’s a reason why I asked you not to come here until things settled down.”
She drops her body on the chair across from him and grabs a heavy, fancy pen from his desk.
“Things have settled down. It’s like naptime at the daycare center. Lee Chungjae is living his best life in France pretending to care about free education. He’s out there taking pics with Rihanna.”
He leans over, snatches the pen from her hands, and points it at her. “And what were you expecting? That they locked him up as soon as the story came out? We do our part and the rest is up to the world. We’re a newspaper, not the Avengers.”
Earlier today she told Haneul the same thing just to calm him down, now she knows how he felt.
“It’s been a week already”
“No, it’s barely been a week” he corrects her, moving a storage box under his desk and sighing like he just can’t wait for retirement  “You know how this is, Jiah.”
Yeah, she knows. It's shitty. Working your ass off, dealing with red tape and censorship, putting everything on a plate only for the world to keep moving on, people not give a shit, and those who are supposed to do something turn a blind eye while filling their pockets.
“Why is your stuff inside a box? you even took down the fake Basquiat, are you quitting?”
“I’m moving to a new office,” he takes a deep breath “Jongsuk was fired today”
She freezes, making a double take at him to make sure he’s not joking.
“He turned in his resignation letter. Talk about freedom of the press, huh?” he laughs bitterly, tapping his temple and shaking his head.
In terms of bad news, this is the kind that makes you very aware of the last meal you had. The Chronicle’s had the same chief editor for almost twelve years now and it’s supposed to be one of the country’s most respected newspapers, the fact that someone with enough power moved the right strings to get the man, the myth, the fucking legend fired just as means of revenge sets a chill down her spine.
It’s a petty but very clear act of revenge. A shame, considering he was damn good at his job and how much he cared about his staff.
She sucks on her teeth “What’s he gonna do?”
“No idea. He showed up earlier today and left as soon as he gave a speech. They just let me know they want me to step in immediately, so it even took me by surprise” He pauses, squinting at her “Why do you look like you haven’t showered? Finals?”
“Done, I’m a free woman” she breathes out, her mind still on Chief Editor Jongsuk, how he was always like the cool stepdad that didn’t have to be too nice or too mean to get your respect.
“Shouldn’t you be getting some sleep or I don’t know… getting drunk with your friends?”
Her hand silently slips inside her backpack “If you’d answered my calls, I wouldn’t have to be here.”
“Are you—” he locks the door before lowering his voice to a hiss “What the– Jesus, fuck, are you– have you lost your mind? How did you get through security?”
“I told you to be more careful and this is what being careful looks like, take it,” she says, placing the gun on the desk and sliding it towards him. It barely brushes the side of his keyboard.
“Are you crazy? Do not— ” he opens a drawer and pushes it inside like it’s in flames, shutting and leaning his body away, pressing one hand to his forehead, voice going a pitch higher “Jiah, this is illegal”
“I’m the best investigative journalist you have, I hate to break it to you but flirting with the illegal here and there is part of my job” 
“This isn’t flirting with the illegal. This is raw dogging it, Jiah. This is an office. We’re a–”
“Im Haneul is about to get into witness protection, that’s why I’m giving you something to protect yourself with. Thank you, Jiah. You’re welcome, boss”
He bites his lip, looking at the closed drawer with resentment before setting his eyes on her, dead serious.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
She shrugs “It’s always better to be prepared. You know what they say about peace and quiet.”
“I don’t,” he deadpans “Is that some kind of gang lingo?”
She scoffs “Just what has Minho been feeding you exactly? I should pay him a little visit to his cubicle—”
“You’re not going anywhere near my staff.”
“Your staff? I’m your staff. He’s a sports reporter, you can walk into a sports bar anywhere in Itaewon and find a dozen of replacements.”
He pinches the bridge of his nose, not denying it. “Did something happen?”
“I heard something. From a good source.”
“A good source.”
“Yeah, sometimes those are what we call confidential. So—” he fixes her with a look that makes her fear that his eyeballs will pop out of their sockets. “Fine, it was Kim Namjoon.”
He blinks at her, takes a deep breath, and shakes his head. “Ok. That’s funny. If this doesn’t work for you, you can always pursue comedy. Now get the hell out of my office, I have to move my stuff to the other side of the floor.”
She stands up stretching her arms, giving him a once over “I’ve been working hard, you should be nicer to me.”
“Yeah, maybe that’s our issue here, you work really hard sometimes. You do– a lot.” he agrees pointedly “And I am nice, I didn’t call security on you. Now go take a bath, get drunk, do drugs, get laid. You’re an undergrad student, not Chelsea Manning. Live a little.”
“I prefer Lisbeth Salander” he openly laughs at her. “…but thanks for the unsolicited life advice.”
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081222 - 06:55 pm
Something about the bleach fumes welcoming the moment she enters Lady’s Room is just– homely, and Seungwan’s threatening glare from behind the reception counter makes up for the stern mother figure she didn’t have growing up. 
“Don’t even think about it, boots off.”
She toes off her muddy boots, struggling not to spill anything on the heavy takeout bags, making her way to the back. “How come he gets to keep them on?”
Taemin is seated on the third chair with a black cape covering his body and his hair all foiled up, Seulgi hovering over him with the cutest concentrated frown.
“Clean shoes privilege,” he taunts. 
It’s hard to take him seriously with the cape and the foil on, she has no choice but to pull her phone out to get evidence for future use while he's distracted explaining how he read somewhere that hair takes bleach better when you're stress-free and that there was no better time to do it than at the end of the semester.
“And of course, you believed that because it makes total sense”
“No, it’s true,” Seulgi says “It’s also better when you’re in a good mood. That’s why I don’t like to take people right after they went through a breakup, the chemicals get all messed up.”
“Oh, he doesn’t need to worry about that,” she says off-handedly.
He doesn’t like her tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, you kind of need to have a relationship to go through a breakup. That’s usually how it works” Seungwan answers before she can.
“Ha-ha, that’s hilarious. For all you know, I’ve got secondhand PTSD from you guys. I’m like one ride home with an angry couple away from giving up on monogamy” 
“And you tried so hard. We’ve totally left you no choice. Which is it, then? Blue?”
“Silver,”
He shows her a picture on his phone of a male idol with wet-styled, gray strands of hair.
“Not too light, I don’t think that’d work well with my complexion.”
She inspects his face in the mirror, trying to imagine the final result on him, and hums “Nonsense, you’d look good in anything, buttercup.”
“Yeah?” he smiles, always a slut for some validation.
“Of course. You gonna cut it, too?”
"I’ll let Seulgi decide, depending on the damage. You coming to Sana’s party with us, right?”
She groans, plopping down on the chair next to his.
“Dude, come on, it’s the last party of the semester, the last party before I graduate.”
She’s not swayed by his abuse of the last something before I graduate card.
“I’m out of social battery for the rest of the month.”
“C’mon, we’ll just pregame at my place and you’ll be good to go.”
“I can’t be bothered to go home and get changed.”
“You left the strappy shirt, the one you didn’t know you were wearing backward, and that leather skirt at my place, I threw them in the washing machine just for an occasion like this.”
“Ugh, I don’t know,” she groans “I’m seriously not feeling the vibe today.”
“Who cares, you attract people when you’re sulking, it’s a good look on you” he shrugs “Plus that’s the skirt you were wearing when you pulled that Romanian guy. We get freebies every time you have your leg meat out.”
Seulgi slaps the side of his neck with her glove-covered hand. “Don’t pimp her out.”
“This is what I meant when I suggested a ladies-only policy, everyone” Jiah counters. 
“Interesting that you assume you fall in that category, but go on.” Taemin says, she gasps in mock indignation “And isn’t that reverse sexism?”
“Please, it’s not like men are rushing to get in,” she mutters as Joohyun emerges from the back, holding her laptop in her arms, walking past them with her all work and no fucking around face on. 
“Oh, actually, we had a male customer a few days ago and he was very happy with our services,” Seulgi says. Taemin and Jiah let out synchronized snorts.
“You two are like teenagers, seriously” Joohyun scolds them from the front.
Seulgi catches on, making a little noise of disgust and rolling her eyes.
“Kidding, Seulgi,” Jiah says.
“Yeah. So what did he want? A massage?”
Joohyun again. “Taemin.”
“He wanted a full-on transformation, so we went with silver,” she says, ignoring the quip, inspecting one of the wrapped strands, poking it around with the pointy edge of her brush “It looked pretty good on him, suited his vibe”
Taemin coos "His vibe? Is that a crush I smell?"
"No" Seulgi shrugs "I'm just saying he had a nice personality, he was easy to talk to”
“Well, if anyone can pull it off, it’s our Taemin, and if he doesn’t at least it’ll fool people into thinking he’s got a personality.”
He sticks his tongue at her “And to think I was going to introduce you to someone tonight…”
“I’m heartbroken.” She yawns “I wasn’t planning on going anyway”
“You should go.” Joohyun chimes in. “You could use some relaxing.”
“What is it with people treating me like I’m some boring little bitch lately?”
“Have you considered that you’ve been a boring little bitch lately? We barely get to see you, you were supposed to help us look for a new place” Seungwan says, plopping on the other chair next to Taemin’s and spinning in her direction. "And you missed the anniversary party"
 Nothing for her to do but take the shots. Seulgi steps in for her "Cut her some slack, she brought food. You know that’s sorry in Jiah language”
"Alright, yeah.” Seungwan agrees way too easily "And for the record, there's nothing wrong with being boring, Yerim can always use a boring figure in her life"
“I’m not going to a party to be on Yeri Sitting Duty.”
Taemin squints at her as Seulgi orders him to stand up and move to the washing station. “But you’re coming.”
To be fair, she does feel bad about ghosting them for weeks. “If you ditch me for one of your Instagram famous friends, I swear to god–”
She gets her answer in the form of Taemin’s cries for help as he stomps on the ground. Seulgi giggles away, like a sweet summer child discovering the joys of waterboarding.
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081222 - 11:25 pm
One would assume that the only child of the owner of a massive architecture firm, who also happens to own several clubs in the city, can afford to throw a party with decent alcohol.
Her annoyance should be directed at Taemin for talking her into coming and proceeding to do exactly what she asked him not to do. Now he’s nowhere to be seen, and Party Yerim is at her peak, hands thrown in the air, dancing between a bunch of freshman girls with their phones out, the red light beams bouncing off her glittery top. 
“Not a dancer, or just not in the mood?” a voice interrupts.
She felt his presence before he even approached her table. Some people are just hard to ignore, and with his simple silky shirt with a few buttons undone, pushed-back hair, and a strand hanging in front of his forehead, he has a crowd of curious women and men alike following him with their eyes everywhere he goes.
“The second one,”
His lips quirk up a little at the edges—a smile only someone who enjoys seeing others affected by their looks could muster.
She didn't hate him as much as she should have for having better lips than her when Taemin introduced him earlier. At that time, she was too busy listening to Mina talk about her internship in Spain. Sitting at levels of handsomeness that don't even require a personality, the man immediately bored her without even opening his mouth.
But she'd be lying if she said she didn't enjoy looking at pretty things.
“Less water,” she answers, tilting her cup. Before she can think too much about it, she finds herself putting effort into having a conversation. “So, how come we haven’t met before?”
“I don’t know, you tell me. According to Taemin, you’re hard to track. Jiah, right?”
“And you’re Jongin, one of the dancing friends.” 
A guy approaches Yerim’s group, disgustingly scanning each girl like he’s deciding on who’ll have the lowest standards. 
“Not a big fan of us?”
She considers her answer, watching the girls shrug him off before he can get too comfortable. “I've learned to coexist. It comes with the Taemin package.”
His little laugh surprises her, he keeps looking at her face like he can't spare any bit of attention to their surroundings “To answer your question, I think Taemin might’ve been keeping you to himself for a bit there. But I’ve heard a lot about you. You’d be surprised.”
Being stared down makes her feel a lot shorter than she is. Jiah holds his gaze, trying to get a read on him. She can’t help but indulge in the view. He’s all caramel skin, glowy under the strobe lights, painted red like a forbidden object of desire. Not just pretty, but handsome indeed.
Nice jaw, soft nose, and slightly arched eyebrows. 
“Good things, I hope,”
“Only good things.” He smiles. The switch from predatory to sweet is too fast for her liking. “So, journalism. What’s that like?”
She gives him the generic answer she keeps for occasions like this; lots of reading, being on the phone, doing more with less. No one is ever satisfied. Neither the readers nor the editors nor yourself.
The conversation flows easily. Turns out the guy is good at listening and talking about his own thing when she asks him. He owns a dance studio and teaches from time to time, but mostly one on one lessons. He’s very nonchalant about covering various styles, but he’s more interested in R&B these days. 
“Your day-to-day sounds like a lot of sitting behind a desk,” he comments, being someone that works with his body, the idea must haunt him.
She chuckles. “Oh, god, no– I always feel like I’ll throw myself from the window if I spend too much time at the office. I’m on the investigation team, so I’m almost always out on the streets, harassing government office workers and stuff.” 
“That sound fun.”
“Riveting” she assures “But it’s not bad. You go through the boring stuff and then when you get a good story, you remember why you do it, and… it’s a good feeling.”
“You know, usually when someone mentions journalism I think of people with thinning hair and marital issues.” 
“Are you– calling me old?” she quips.
He chuckles. “No, I was going to say that you just shattered a stereotype for me.” he pauses, pouting and looking up like he’s considering something “But you do give off an old soul vibe, standing by the corner thing, sulking like you’re here against your own will and ready to decimate anyone who dares come near you.”
She blinks at him, he’s holding back a smile, she can tell. “Wow, so you’re just gonna call me a hag like that?”
He looks mildly surprised, worried, and amused all at the same time. “That’s not–”
“And if I look that scary, how come you’re here at my table?”
“Because you’re very attractive. It balances out the scary.”
She hums into her glass. “Is that so?”
“And I’m very charming, I knew you’d be harmless.”
“Right.” He’s not entirely wrong. She’s always been suspicious of extremely charming people, and alarms are going off in her head even though she’s acting unaffected
“This is me hitting on you, off the record.” he continues, undeterred. She blinks at him “And I say that because, as I’m sure you know, Taemin is possessive.”
She can't help the laugh that bubbles up her throat, shaking her head and rolling her eyes. “Like a kid who doesn’t like to share his toys.”
Which reminds her, where’s that silver-haired menace?
“So we’ll have to ease him into it,”
“This is flattering and all, I guess, but I’m married so–”
“Oh, that’s fine. I don’t get jealous” he shrugs, very serious about it. “I’m not gonna try to compete with your career.”
His eyes stay fixed on her, but for a moment, he seems… distant. There’s a quick, almost untraceable absence there.
Then he snaps back, fully present “Hey, you wanna get out for a bit? Get some fresh air? Looks like your friend’s gonna be busy for a while.”
Yerim’s was off her radar for a bit there, and now she’s got her arm threaded with the birthday girl herself. They’re moving away from the crowd, talking into each other's ears like they haven’t debriefed in months, probably headed to the bathroom. Now that he mentions it, some fresh air sounds nice. 
“Promise I’m all out of lines,” he adds.
It’s humid out on the street, but the wind is nice. She pulls out a brand new pack of cigarettes and they get fire from a girl hanging around with her friends next to a motorcycle. Her kohl-stained eyes scan Jongin greedily while he leans over, hands covering the flame from the wind.
She suddenly turns to look at Jiah, right when Jongin leans back and thanks her, and winks at her.
If Jongin notices, he’s unbothered by this, moving around her to stand on the side of the street. He goes on a coughing fit with the first drag, bending over under her slightly concerned and amused gaze. She offers to grab him a drink, her intention honest, and he waves her off, swallowing hard one, two, or three times.
“These are the kind that my grandfather used to smoke,” he says.
“You could’ve said no.” she counters, patting his back. They’re strong, she didn’t warn him because she showed him the package.
“I was a victim of peer pressure.” he jokes after clearing his throat. “I was doing well, wasn’t I?”
“It’s ok. Choking on smoke like a high schooler makes you human.” she offers him. The coughing fit messed up his hair. he looks younger now, less of a threat. Maybe it’s just the fresh air, the relief of getting out of the crowd, and the nicotine easing her up. 
He asks her if she smokes often, sounding like he doesn’t want to intrude, but a part of him will judge her if she says yes. Truthfully, she hadn’t smoked in months, but it always hits a spot after a while, and people assume she’s too into it. 
“Work’s stressing you out?”
“That’s what work is supposed to do, isn’t it?” 
He looks like he wants to disagree, but he can’t.
“Not to a level where you have to smoke old man nicotine.”
She grins at him sideways, the man who introduced her to this particular brand would have a few things to say about that sentence. “I can deal with the stress, I only smoke when I get frustrated.”
“And does that happen often?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, I guess. My boss tells me I’m too much of a control freak. He's a jerk, but sometimes it feels like he might be right.”
“Not great at teamwork, then?” he teases.
“No, I mean– I’m not, but it’s not that.” she pauses, noticing that he’s paying close attention, waiting for her to elaborate  “I just wish I could do more sometimes, and not just document things from the sidelines. Does that make sense?”
“It does” he assures, and he sounds like he means it. She believes him, much to her surprise. “And I think I know what you mean.”
“I tried it, recently” she goes on, and she doesn’t know why she’s opening up to this guy. She’s not trying to turn him into her therapist, and she’s not even sure she wants to take him home at all. There’s too much going on in her mind at the moment, she wouldn’t be fully present anyway. It'd be a waste.
“And how did that go?”
“It was alright at the beginning. I helped someone– a friend who gonna get into a bad situation. He’s a good guy.” she explains, taking one last drag and inspecting the cig like it holds mysteries beyond her comprehension. “But then things went south, and the worst part is that it had nothing to do with it. Just personal baggage. I guess it was bound to happen.” 
They both go quiet, just watching people stroll by, going in and out of the club. She flicks her cigarette, tosses it in the trash. There's a thoughtful look on his face. He's lost in his own little world.
“If it’s any help, I’m sure your friend is grateful to you. You did well helping him.” he says “And whatever happened after, I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think.”
She shrugs. “It is what it is, right?” 
He grins suddenly, pointing a finger at her “That’s something my grandfather would say.”
“So, you ran out of lines and now you’re back to calling me old?”
“I only said that because I didn’t want to overwhelm you, but if you insist.” He’s back on charming again, hands in the air like she’s just giving him no choice. A waste, really. A month ago she might’ve taken this guy home, played with him a little.
“I’m not insisting, I just asked you a question.”
He pays no mind to her. “Bet you 5000 won I can kiss you without using my lips.”
It’s stupid. She doesn’t buy it for a second. But he’s got a certain look in his eyes, the girl with the fire behind him keeps looking at them over her shoulder, and without the meaningless rumble of the crowd to distract her, his voice turned out to be quite lovely.
So she tilts her chin at him. 
He takes two purposeful steps. She just refuses to back up against the wall. He gets close enough that he has to bend his head down to keep eye contact, and in a surprisingly smooth move, he places a short, harmless kiss right on her lips. 
Then he backs up with a single step and pulls out a bill from his pocket.
“A great investment if you ask me.” he declares.
She laughs despite herself. Not in the coy, being flirted up way, but a full, honest laugh.
The silver-haired menace appears with a cowboy hat on his head, and both thumbs hooked on his jeans. He’s eyeing them with narrowed eyes and a scowl on his lipstick-stained lips, focusing on the way Jiah bends over, hand on her tummy and all.
“What are you doing with my friend? I’m asking both of you, by the way.” he demands.
“Where did you get that?” she asks him, fully recovered, flicking the hat.
Taemin grabs the bill from Jongin’s hand before he can put it away. Jongin raises his eyebrows at him, already anticipating his complaints about what he just witnessed.
 “Not that I don’t respect the hustle, but I think you’re underselling yourself, sweetie. A peck from our Jiah is easily worth 10000,” he comments.
“Deal,” Jongin shrugs, reaching for his back pocket again.
“Alright, we get it, she gets it,” Taemin interrupts, slapping one hand against his shoulder and rubbing the other palm against his chest, giving the street a once over. “And I thought you were on Yerim Sitting Duty tonight.”
“I’m not her bodyguard, she’s a big girl” She wipes some blurred-out red stain under his jaw with her thumb, much to Jongin's amusement. "Your fly, you harlot."
"Finally. I keep telling you all, you baby her too much" he complains, moving his head to the side to make it easier for her to clean the spot while he zips himself up with a light tug. "Someday you'll have to set her free and let her make some mistakes of her own. They build character, you know?"
“Nice tattoo, by the way.” She tells Jongin. She caught a glimpse when he got closer, she thought it looked familiar when he backed off.  Then Taemin moved the fabric of his shirt enough for her to get another look. “It’s the helm of awe, right?”
Jongin looks pleasantly surprised, genuine shock taking over his features. Not many people know about runes or recognize them.
Taemin tilts his head to the side, eyeing her curiously “You know about those things?”
“I knew someone who had one on the back of her neck. Hers was red though. Looked great when she put her hair up.”
Taemin detaches himself from Jongin, taking off his hat and putting it on her head. Jongin smiles slightly at his antics, fixing his shirt on his shoulders.
Taemin's presence seemed to have quieted him down.
"Before I forget, I think I saw Minho in there. You wanna piss him off?"
That’s great. That’s just great. Super cool. “What’s that grown man doing here?”
“You know he likes to hang around the youth and make people guess his age. So, you in?”
“Leave me out of it.” 
"Hear me out. I was thinking you and Jongin could walk around. Let him see you together, put on a little show. You know how his ears get red and his eyes bulge out when he's angry?” he grins down at her, trying to contain his laugh like he’s imagining it. “I’ll buy you dinner, both of you. I’m serious.”
That’s her cue for a bathroom break. She puts the hat on Jongin’s head, not deterred by the way his eyes follow her quietly as she makes her way back inside.
A sigh escapes her lips as the cold water runs over her hands. She smiles at a group of girls walking out of the door, their drunken giggles reminding her of the task at hand—finding Yerim and making sure she's not too drunk to make semi-rational decisions. Maybe she’ll try to talk her into leaving and grabbing something to eat.
The possibility of running into her ex at any point tonight kind of makes her want to bolt. Not out of lingering feelings, she just doesn’t think she could stomach seeing him right now. 
There’s a limit to the number of things out of her control that she can tolerate.
The bathroom door opens, followed by a click that signals its closure, and something shifts in the air. It's that unsettling feeling of realizing she's not alone. She glances up at the mirror and catches a glimpse of him in the reflection.
Reacting on instinct, her hand snatches one of the decorative vases from the sink and hurls it at him. The man covers his face, not before grabbing her forearm and slamming her against the sink.
She opens both palms in front of her before she hits the mirror face first. He’s grabbing her bag, throwing the metal chain strap over her and tugs.  Her body bends back, chain closed around her neck, something firm pressed against her lower back.
Either she’ll run out of breath or he’ll snap her in half with his knee.
She refuses to be overpowered in a club bathroom and clenches her fist around the chain, attempting to relieve some of the pressure. Her vision blurs on the ceiling, her brain starved of oxygen and ideas for escape. Her eyes well up with tears, the muffled music from outside barely reaches her ears.
There's a distant slam, a loud thump. Finally, release. 
She catches her weight on the sink, gasps for air, almost crashes against the mirror again. There’s not enough oxygen in the room for her lungs to fill up as fast as she needs them to, but she turns around on wobbly legs and faces two bodies intertwined and struggling on the floor.
Her attacker’s dressed all black, mask included, buzzcut, well built. Another figure has their thighs wrapped around the attacker's head, a determined look on his features. A blue-grey silk shirt clings to his broad shoulders, and thin black lines mark his skin above his heart.
The helm of awe.
She had her suspicions about him, and now they’re justified.
She makes a run for the door. He grabs her arm before she can get away, bends over as her knee hits his crotch. She makes sure to slam the door back against his face. 
But she hears it.
"Wait, Rina– please wait."
Everything shuts down—her legs, the muffled sound of the music. Instead of running away and putting as much distance as possible between them, she stalks toward him. He's still recovering, face contorted in pain.
Four letters, one word, a slap to the face.
“What did you just call me?” she demands, her face inches away from his.
He grabs the chain around his neck just as she lunges at him, pulling it up for her to see.
"I know them. I know Yixing. You’re in danger, I’m here to help you."  he tells her.
The silver band morphs into two bony hands that hold a mint-colored ball. A ring worn as a necklace. Recognition’s clear on her face. She got that ring at some fair in Busan, about eleven years ago.
“We have to get you somewhere safe. He didn’t come alone."
It makes sense. Jiah exhales, relaxes her limbs and nods at him. He nods back, eyes reassured, relieved.
Then she runs as if her life depends on it. And it just might. She bumps into people, pushing them aside, desperately seeking a way out she vaguely remembers from past situations that shouldn't be crossing her mind right now. It's either that or raw instinct guiding her into the deserted alley.
God, whatever version of it is out there, is not letting her get away with this so easily. 
The years have granted him an extra couple of inches, not that he ever needed them. Perhaps it's the thick soles of his boots scraping against the loose gravel on the concrete floor that echoes loudly as he stops, mirroring her shock for a brief moment.
She grabs the nearest thing she can use as means of protection; a rusty, long, and thin metal thing that's heavy enough to give her some confidence. He’s staring at her, no traces left of the awe she saw before. His gun is pointed at her face.
"Drop it" he barks "Hands up, turn around and try not to be so damn difficult. In that order."
Frustration surges within her, and she snarls at herself, her jaw tightening until it hurts, before throwing the stick to the ground. She turns around, facing the mold-infested wall. The last thing she sees is a torn-off poster of an underground rap collective, the name unreadable. 
His forearm presses against the back of her neck with no mercy. She averts her face just in time to prevent it from crashing into the wall. He searches for a weapon she isn't carrying.
"That's for being so fucking stupid. Do you realize what you got yourself into?" he snaps, not giving her a chance to answer before he pulls her back from the back of her shirt and pushes her against the wall once again.
"Ow– What the fuck, dude?" she complains at the rough surface scratching the side of her face, uselessly kicking her feet against the ground. "I wasn’t even– the fuck was that for?"
"That's for making mom worry about you, idiot."    
The door opens once again, and from the corner of her eye, she sees Jongin—the impostor—emerge. He looks at him as though he's lost his mind.
"Hyung, we have to move."
She turns around just when Jongin pulls him off of her.
"We don't have time for–"
Whatever Jongin is about to say is left unspoken. Their expressions and stances shift abruptly before her eyes. He raises his gun at her once again, this time with clear intent.
It'd be ugly, she imagines, being shot this up close. Her brains will end up not only scattered behind her but also his clothes, shoes, and maybe even his face. It’s funny. The Park Chanyeol she knew could be an asshole sometimes, but he didn't have it in him to step on an ant or kill a spider even if his mother ordered him to, let alone shoot someone.
The inevitable fact is that they are now strangers to each other. She doesn't know who the time has turned him into, just like she’s no longer someone that he knows.
"Go ahead, big guy," she defiantly lifts her chin and rolls her shoulders. She might as well be made of cellophane with the way he’s looking at her.
“Yeah,” she nods slightly to herself “Didn’t think so.”
Someone takes the ground from under her. She tries but hitting the ground is inevitable. Someone grabs her. Her hand looks for the source, when she looks down at it, it’s stained red.
Did he just–
No. It can’t be. It feels as though someone has thrown an ice cube at her with enough force to send her to the ground.
"H– hey–”
It all happens too quickly. There's a hissing sound. An uncomfortable pull coming from somewhere on her shoulder. The impostor presses his hand down on her. They’re talking.
"Get her out of here, I'll go after him."
Was her heartbeat always this loud? And did she really just get shot?
"Eyes open" The impostor orders, taking her somewhere she has no awareness of. There's no escape with the world narrowed down to two walls. They’re closing in on her. 
They keep talking, telling her that it’s alright. Her heartbeat is drumming inside her head, she knows it’s now supposed to do that, and that she shouldn’t feel this cold in August. A chill settles in her bones like she’s been running barefoot through deep snow in the woods, wearing nothing but a flimsy hospital gown.
Okay. Maybe she did get shot. And now they’re taking her away. But she can’t go down like this. Joohyun and the girls will wonder where she is, Yerim’s gonna burn the place down looking for her, Taemin’s too sensitive to deal with something like this, and Chanyeol–
Chanyeol just shot her.
And they keep calling her the wrong name.
"Rina, you have to...” 
thump 
“...be there...” 
thump 
“...right? C’mon...”
thump.
And then they kill the lights.
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EXO as Mafia
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because the brain rot was so bad and the content so dry that I had to do it myself so...
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Suho: The Kingpin Name: Kim Junmyeon
The Kim family has always had dealings in the criminal underground. When Junmyeon was passed over to inherit the Kim business in favor of his older brother, he decided to start his own crime syndicate, which overthrew his families overnight. Now, the sole survivor of his family’s unfortunate “accident”, there’s nothing getting in his way, and he’ll make sure it stays that way – no matter the cost. EXO – his valued inner circle who helped him to achieve this goal – are his new family, and as long as they are loyal, he will do anything for them. While being “the boss”, those in his inner circle were more his equals than anything else; very rarely did he have to pull rank, and he preferred it that way. It almost ensured their loyalty to him and kept things running much more smoothly than his more “traditional” upbringing.
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Xiumin: The Underboss/Treasurer Name: Kim Minseok
Xiumin had been around for Suho longer than anyone else – longer than either could really bother to recount. Their bond was one thicker than blood, and there was no doubts between them when it came to trust. It’s for that reason he was named as the right-hand man, and he wasn’t one to take advantage of a position like that. As they grew in renown and wealth, he took up the position of managing the funds for the mafia as well – meaning if you pissed him off, he'd make sure you were cut off until you learned your lesson. He has learned to get along with the other inner-circle members but isn’t as touchy feely or “found-family” as Suho is. As long as they get the job done, and don’t cause him any headaches, he’s good.
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Lay: The Ambassador Name: Zhang Yixing
Yixing was possibly the most valuable addition to the criminal organization. Being fluent in Chinese, Korean, and English, Lay slid into the position of being an Ambassador for the group – spreading out their allies, and their wealth. Lay single handedly ran the Chinese operations for the group – anything Suho wanted, he got done, and he got it done efficiently. It was a kind of security that other gangs (save for some…) didn’t have, and it increased their influence on a scale that was unheard of. Lay finds the almost symbiotic relationship between the inner circle as being incredibly soothing. He spends most of his time in Korea, only traveling to China if he has to. He prefers the company of his group, to the loneliness of his penthouse in Beijing.
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Baekhyun: The Assassin/Hitman Name: Byun Baekhyun
Baekhyun is an odd guy. In this line of work, most hitmen, or assassins carry themselves in a certain manner – silent, or big & tough, or preferring to go unnoticed… Baekhyun seemed to have missed whatever the memo was on that. His carefree, flippant, and often mischievous attitude really caught Suho’s eyes when he was first introduced to the young man who had been quickly making a name for himself in the underground; using his own name at that – something very rare, and almost naïve for an assassin. But it just impressed Suho even more, because it proved his skills. He was welcomed into EXO, and quickly into the inner circle, and he’s been the resident prankster of the group ever since. 
Don’t let the puppy eyes fool you – this man has seen more bloodshed than most of the population and caused the majority of it. His innocent act just helps him to better blend in with the crowd. The other’s won’t admit it, but the thought of being on his bad side has definitely cost them some sleep in the past.
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Chen: The Frontman/Informant Name: Kim Jongdae
Kim Jongdae is a businessman – end of discussion. He knows all the tricks of the trade – how to best charm people, wrap them around his finger, and extort them for all they are. His silver tongue is a talent that Suho refused to pass up when he was assembling his team and met the young man. Because of his easily approachable nature, sharp wit, and impeccable communication skills, Chen was perfect for being the groups Frontman. Anyone that wants anything from EXO – weapons, assassinations, drugs, loans, a business proposal – no matter what, the first person you’re going to see is Chen. If he thinks your proposal is good, then he’ll pass your name on. Being the Frontman, seeing as many people as he did, he also falls into the role of informant. Nothing gets by him, and he’s stopped a lot of trouble for the gang before it can happen. Chen, being a typical businessman, keeps his home and work life separate. He fulfills his duties for the group during business hours and won’t be bothered when he is at home with his wife and kids. This arrangement is concrete, and Suho respects it, making everything work smoothly like a well-tuned clock.
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Chanyeol: The Dealer/Weapons Expert Name: Park Chanyeol
Park Chanyeol was actually a recruit that Chen managed to sniff out. This boy was making a good name for himself as being able to get anything you needed, no questions asked. So, Suho took it upon himself to test this out, putting out a line for some rather rare, foreign weapons, and a very tight deadline. When Chanyeol delivered, he offered (insisted) the man work for him, and he’d make it worth his while. Seeing this as an opportunity to get some of the stress of working alone off his back, and increase his outreach, Chanyeol took the offer, and the rest is history.
Much like Baekhyun, Chanyeol is a laidback person, until he’s on a job. Dealing with Park Chanyeol is one of the most tense interactions you’ll have in your whole life. It’s not even that he loses the joking personality – sure, sometimes he does, but, more than anything, it’s the rage that breaks over him in waves; promising unimaginable consequences if you cross him. Chanyeol can be ruthless, especially if he knows the person he’s dealing with has a chance of causing problems for him. Best to avoid doing deals with him – because he’ll collect what he thinks he’s due, no matter the circumstances.
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D.O.: The Interrogator Name: Doh Kyungsoo
Kyungsoo is the ideal kind of man you would want for this line of work. He’s silent, straight to the point, unmerciful, and would get a job done without getting side-tracked. His promising results in squeezing information out of his victims, by whatever means, was what made Suho decide to hire him once the Kim family went under – which is where D.O. had learned to perfect his craft. Junmyeon knew that his father had a habit of undervaluing D.O.’s importance to the operations, and so, when he decided to form EXO, he approached the younger man (who was then a few years younger than him and still in his teens) with his proposal to join right away. And Suho would never forget his answer: “I deal in results. Show me yours first, and then come talk to me.” When Suho successfully proved himself capable of overthrowing the Kim syndicate, D.O. joined without question, and had been a trusted member of the inner circle since.
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Kai: The Driver/Bodyguard Name: Kim Jongin
Kai was a classic case of working his way through the ranks, eventually coming to land in the inner circle after many missions as a lower-tiered gang member. He actually was suggested to Junmyeon by Yixing, when a deal had gone south, leading to a police chase in which Kai had managed to impress the ambassador with his insanely precise evasion skills, losing the police all without getting a scratch on the car. It had been horrifying for Lay – sitting in the passenger seat while this young bodyguard drove up onto sidewalks, whipped them into reverse going 90 miles an hour, and even driving under a semi, but it was also impressive as shit. Now, Kai was the designated driver for all their big jobs and acted as extra muscle when they knew that there was a chance a deal could go sour. Kai is one of the youngest members in the circle, so some of the older one’s had some trouble at the beginning but have now warmed up to him. Each of them trust him with their life, and while they don’t really need a bodyguard (being part of an inner circle in the most feared mafia group in the world), having him by their side definitely makes them more at ease during dodgy jobs. 
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Sehun: The Hacker Name: Oh Sehun
The final of the 9, and the youngest. Oh Sehun made his name when he was very, very young as being a technical genius. Anything to do with a computer, he could figure out. He even hacked into a military system when he was in middle school and was put into several government sponsored summer-camps to help grow his intellect – an oversight on the governments part. He is the only member of the 9 to actually seek EXO out first, and in a big way – by contacting Suho directly, with a proposition. The police were starting to close in on him – his youth having blocked his judgement a little and making him less careful than he should have been. He offered the mob boss, who at the time had been just starting to get his forces together, his technical expertise in exchange for safety in the ranks. Suho probably would have had him eliminated as a threat, however, with his proposition came a file, containing all the broken-down backroom movements of his family, which he had not had access to having not been the heir to the empire. Using this, he could break down the pillars of his families alliances, so, once he checked the authenticity of the information, Sehun’s offer was quickly accepted. Working with EXO, there isn’t anyone, or anything, that can be hidden from Oh Sehun with enough time. Security cameras, bank accounts, personal documents – if Suho wants it, Sehun can get it. This makes him indispensable to the group and gives him the security to play as he likes in his free time.
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A Thousand Lives Lived
Exology
Pairing: EXO OT11 x Fem!Reader
Genre: Adventure, Angst, Drama, Fantasy, Power!AU, Sci-Fi
Word Count: ~400
Warnings: N/A
Masterlist || Next>>
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In the beginning, there was nothing. From the nothing grew the roots of the Tree of Life- and the Tree of Life itself from that. Its roots stretched and wrapped around itself to create the EXO Planet. From there, life was born.
For peace, balance and protection, the Tree of Life produced eleven forces--eleven Legends. Each one created from a single drop of sap, each Legend was given an elemental or cardinal power to aid in the protection of Tree of Life.
To help and aid the protection of EXO Planet, the Legends created the Elyxion. Hand-picked by the Legends themselves, the Elyxion’s sole purpose was to record and guide the people of EXO Planet-- to keep them on the path of peace and balance. For many years, life lived in bliss.
From the depths of the darkness of the nothing came the red force. Sweltering with hate and festering with greed, the Red Force created the Evil. Plundering the EXO Planet, turning lush fields into dry and barren wastelands, pitting brother against brother, the Evil Red Force made its way towards the Tree of Life.
To protect the Tree of Life, the Legends divided the heart of the Tree in half. Time was overturned and space turned askew. The Legends left the care of EXO Planet in the hands of the Elyxion, before fleeing with the two halves. The eleven Legends split into two and traveled apart to two worlds that seemed alike.
Before the Legends left EXO Planet, they left the Elyxion with this: The two halves of the Tree of Life are equal and opposite to each other. One cannot exist without the other, for their hearts beat in unison. They keep balance in this world and the next. It is only when the End of the End is nigh that the Tree may be reunited and reborn into one perfect root.
With the Legends and the Tree of Life far from EXO Planet, the Evil Red Force left to pursue. To uphold their ancient oath, they attempted to cleanse the influence of the Evil Red Force from the people of EXO Planet, but the damage was immeasurable. To keep the future of the Elyxion safe and free from the negative influence, they kept to their own bloodlines and created the Exoluxion, severing all ties with the outside world.
Many years passed, and the Elyxion stood strong. They taught and cherished two ideals: strength and intelligence. Young Elyxions were taught hand-to-hand combat, strategic planning, weapon manufacturing, and advanced medical knowledge and practice. The Elyxion lived in peace and balance, as long as they remained in the Exoluxion, safe from the Evil Red Force.
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chvrrycola · 1 year
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hunger games! au x do kyungsoo
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you had been pretty worried for kyungsoo in training. he wasn’t from your district, but he seemed so out of his depth that you almost couldn’t watch without going over and offering to help him out. he accepted gratefully, but he never seemed to grasp any of the knife techniques you had been trying to teach him. 
you say seemed, because there you were, lying on the ground having been tripped by a career who began approaching rapidly. then, right before he got to you, the light left his eyes and his body crumpled on the ground. 
you heard a cannon shot in the distance, sure that yours would be following shortly. but instead, kyungsoo walked towards you, reaching out a hand to pull you back up. you stared at him, totally dumb-founded by his newfound tenacity. 
‘sorry, i hope i didn’t scare you, are you hurt?’
you felt around your torso, hand coming back bloody as you winced from the pressure.
‘come on then, let’s get you fixed up.’
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butterflybam · 2 years
Text
Monster
Warnings: Brief mentions of disappearance. Future magic use. Fem reader
Part one
Setting the cup down on the table, Y/n let the words set in. Sitting across from her were two of the royal guards, and the highest-ranking ones at that. She tried to grasp the situation, but it just didn't seem possible. 
"How could the prince just go missing?" Sehun was the one to speak up on their behalf. Everyone turned their attention to him. "I mean, he has so many guards that it couldn't be possible." 
They were all seated in the kitchen now. After they arrived, Y/N escorted them upstairs for more privacy. That's when they dropped a bombshell on her: Prince Kai was indeed missing. 
"That's the thing. We don't know. There was no evidence of forced entry or anything." Kyungsoo shared. "It's like he vanished into thin air." He trailed off. His focus was off somewhere else now.
Y/n could sense the sadness radiating from the man. She knew he must feel dejected for not being able to solve this immediately. It was high stakes, after all.
"That's why we came here." Chanyeol spoke. "Miss L/N was the one to help me when I needed help with that mysterious potion, so I know she is very qualified for this." He added
Y/N felt a bit flustered at the praise. She was just doing what she was raised to do, so she never expected anything in return. She just wanted to help people. 
"Oh yeah, that was the time you drank that potion and grew a tail." Baekhyun laughed. The memory caused Chanyeol to turn red from embarrassment, only to have Baekhyun and now Sehun laugh.
Sehun composed himself when he noticed that Suho was glaring at him. "It was funny though," he muttered. 
"I'm just thankful that Baekhyun knew Y/n and she was willing to help me."
The young woman waved it off, "I am just glad I was able to help you." She stated, "but now we should go back to the main topic at hand." 
Everyone nodded in agreement to the topic change. It was nice to share a laugh, but there were more important things to discuss. 
"I'm sorry to ask this, but it's important for the investigation. Suho said. He waited until he got approval from Kyungsoo to continue. "Forgive me, but do you think that the prince could have just run away? I'm sure the stress of ruling a kingdom could get to you after awhile, and he could have panicked with his coronation coming up." He stopped. "I don't know, it's just an idea."
The man felt a squeezing of his hand. He glanced down to see that it was Y/N. She gave him an encouraging smile before letting go. 
"That's our first thought." Chanyeol said. "But we interviewed everyone, and they all said he didn't give off any indication that he wanted to run away. "
"Because of the case, we had to go through his journals to see if he said anything, but he was actually in good spirits. He couldn't wait to step up and take the responsibility of being king." Kyungsoo shared. 
Every new detail makes the case even more confusing. "No wonder Kyungsoo is stressed." She thought to herself. There was no reason for him to run away, and there was absolutely no evidence for them to say he was kidnapped. It was highly unusual, and she knew that this was going to be difficult to help solve. 
Taking in a deep breath, she knew not to show any signs of worry. Don't worry, I'll get to work. I know for a fact that there is something in this place to help find him.
Her confidence perked up the others and there was a slight smile on the head of the guards' faces. 
"Well then let us excuse ourselves so we can all get to work." Kyungsoo said. He stood up, and Chanyeol was right behind him. Y/n followed suit. "We can show ourselves out." He said it, but he knew it was in vain. 
Instead, the three of them walked out of the room and down the stairs in silence. Y/n could tell they were looking around the shop at the various items on display.
Wasn't your shop targeted by the robbers?" Chanyeol asked, breaking the silence. 
Y/N sighed and nodded. "Unfortunately, it was... I will say I am thankful that nothing appeared to be stolen or damaged." She shared it with them. "I am even more grateful no one was in the shop during it. I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt. "
Chanyeol was about to speak when he was cut off. Isn't it odd that the robberies took place and then the prince went missing? " Kyungsoo said. "Especially since your place was one of the shops too?"
"Wait, do you think this is all connected? " 
Kyungsoo shrugged, "At this point, anything is possible." Silence fell again, but instead of lingering there anymore, Kyungsoo cleared his throat. "Please excuse us. Also let us know if you need anything or hear anything. " He added
Walking to the door, he opened it but stopped when he noticed Chanyeol wasn't following. "I'll be out in a minute." He said. With that, Kyungsoo walked out, leaving the two alone in the shop. 
"Everything alright?" Y/n asked, noticing Chanyeol was looking at her now. 
The man got a bit flustered. "Um...I..wanted to ask if you thought about what I asked you before." 
It took a moment to realize what he was referring to, and once she realized, she got a bit embarrassed. 
"Oh, that." She said, and she noticed the look he was giving her; he looked so hopeful. "To be honest..not yet."
The look of hope was whipped off of his face. "I shouldn't have asked. Especially with everything going on. I'm sorry." He began rambling.
She took a step forward and placed a hand on his arm. "Don't apologize. It's completely natural that you would ask. But let's wait until we get this all solved. " She explained while trying to calm his nerves.
Chanyeol relaxed a bit, "Right. Then I'll get going. " He gave her a smile before turning on his heels and walking to the door. He gave her a quick wave before leaving. 
Once he was gone, Y/N let out a breath. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to avoid answering his question. She just wasn't ready yet, and she was sure she would never be either. Though a pang of guilt rushed through her, she did feel bad for not telling him the truth. She vowed to tell him this when this was all over.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't hear the foot steps coming up behind her. It wasn't until a hand came up on her shoulder that she became aware of the other presence in the room. 
"Baekhyun!" She jumped a bit from being startled. Placing a hand over her heart, she tried to regain her composure. "You shouldn't scare people like that." She lightly swatted at him, only for her to dodge the hit.
"I did not mean to do that." 
"Then why are you being all sneaky?"
Baekhyun thought for a second before remembering why he came in the first place. Once remembering, he snapped his fingers, "I think I might know some people who can help with the prince's disappearance." He explained.
"Oh, who?" Y/N asked. 
"You don't know them, and I would have to go by myself."
This made her freeze. Sure, it was very important for them to find the prince, but she wasn't so sure they should split up. 
He could tell she was hesitant. "Don't worry, I know the forest like the back of my hand. " He said he was trying to comfort her, but he could tell it wasn't working. 
Y/N shook her head, "No. Listen, I know you're from the forest, but do you remember why you left? " 
Baekhyun frowned at this. He knew she was right, but he really wanted to help. 
"Those guys were looking for me, but they didn't find me, and it's been years, so they probably already forgot about me." 
They both knew this was a lie. Fae hunters were ruthless. Once they had a target, they would never give up. That's why he went on the run and left his home behind. Thankfully, he had met Y/N, and she was willing to take him in. It also helped that in the kingdom of Marnia, it gave him immediate sanctuary. He was safe as long as he stayed in the kingdom, but as soon as he stepped foot outside, nothing was guaranteed. 
Baekhyun was about to argue, but he stopped when he saw the look on her face. She looked scared. It definitely wasn't an expression he saw too often from her. He knew where she was coming from, and he wondered what he would do if the roles were reversed. 
"Fine, I won't go." He said, with a sigh of defeat. 
She could feel herself unwinding. "I know you want to help, but I also want to make sure you're safe too." 
He stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. "I know," he said softly. "Just know I'm going to be by your side, helping you with whatever you need.
This made her laugh a bit. Pulling back, she smiled. "Well, we've got a lot of work ahead of us. So we might need some extra hands. " She said 
"Don't worry, I'll tell Suho and Sehun. They'll help run the store. Also, when Xiumin wakes up, I'll explain everything to him as well. " 
Settling at her desk, she gave him a quick thumbs-up. She started rummaging through her books, expecting Baekhyun to have already been gone, but she felt eyes on her. Looking up, she found him staring at her. "Everything okay?" She asked.
"I just had a question." He said this, and as soon as he got the go-ahead from her, a mischievous grin appeared on his face. "What did Chanyeol ask you?" 
This caused her to throw something at him but once again he was able to move out of the way.
"I'll find out sooner or later." He called out as he rushed up the stairs.
This caused her to roll her eyes before going back to work. It was going to be a long day.
Tagging: @burningnightballoon @wrestling-fangirl93
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gyudior · 7 months
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Hey can i get relationship habits with Kyungsoo?
Thanku🥰
Habits of the Heart (Kyungsoo Ver.)
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⤑ pairing: d.o. / doh kyungsoo x gn!reader ⤑ genre: fluff, established relationship ⤑ summary: what it is like being in a relationship with kyungsoo ⤑ warnings: none ⤑ word count: 1.2k
a/n: i'm not sure if this is what you meant anon but thank you for requesting~ also trying another writing style ><
Kyungsoo, as a lover, has a heartwarming approach when it comes to his partner. With his genuine and caring nature, he creates a space where his partner feels cherished and valued at every moment.
Despite being reserved and private in nature, Kyungsoo shows his love and appreciation through small yet thoughtful gestures. He's not really one to do grand, over-the-top gestures, rather, he's the type to remember trivial little things about his partner that were said in passing. Like the book they mentioned wanting to read, how they prefer the sugar level of their coffee is, or that one time they suddenly remembered a snack they had as a child and wanting to eat it again for old time's sake. His surprises are truly genuine and heartwarming.
Moreover, he would leave surprise notes or simple yet thoughtful gifts for his partner, whether it's a simple "good morning" or "i made you lunch" messages, or a handpicked bouquet of your favorite flowers. His partner would love these gestures because even with their simplicity, they would still manage to touch their heart in the most meaningful way.
When Kyungsoo does choose to share about his relationship in public, they are through very subtle ways. He might drop subtle hints or mentions about his partner during interviews which could be a reference to a shared interest, an anecdote from their time together, or a simple acknowledgement of his partner's support, all done without giving too much away.
While he's not one to constantly post or share personal details online, there might be moments where Kyungsoo would post a photo or a thoughtful message that subtly alludes to their relationship. It could be a photo of the food him and his partner ate, a scenery shot from a trip his partner took, or a cryptic caption that holds special meaning for him and his partner.
Every now and then, however, he would also infuse into their relationship surprises and adventures to keep the spark alive. Kyungsoo would take the lead and plan, getting especially excited when it comes to the food part of the trip. It really is a no brainer that he is a foodie at heart. He would specifically add in the itinerary going to the restaurant or place, especially if it's something that he has never tried before or sounds odd and interesting, because he would want him and his partner to try them.
It is also no secret that Kyungsoo has a busy schedule. But for his partner, he would prioritize their quality time together. Kyungsoo enjoys spending quality time together with his partner, whether it's cooking together or for his partner, going for long drives while singing or humming along to the radio, cuddling up while watching a movie together, helping him learn his lines, going karaoke together, or simply spending a cozy evening at home. He especially cherishes the quiet, intimate moments shared with his partner, valuing these moments of closeness above all else.
However, when Kyungsoo discovers a new hobby or interest, his partner would always be the first to know because he would want to do them with his partner. Whether it be exploring new cuisines, indulging in movie marathons, or embarking on spontaneous road trips, he would be eager to create memories that are uniquely theirs.
Communication is the cornerstone of Kyungsoo's relationship habits. Although, there may be some moments of feeling a sense of jealousy wash over him, he wouldn't act on it immediately once he feels them. It would sit in his mind, but he would eventually talk about it with his partner when they are finally alone together in a safe space. He would never do it in public because he incredibly values his and his partner's privacy.
When he does talk it out with his partner, he would make sure that his emotions would not cloud his judgement and would create an open and safe space where his partner would feel comfortable discussing anything and everything. They would work together to address their misunderstandings and disputes, allowing their relationship to evolve and grow.
Having that said, Kyungsoo would be a good person to vent out and talk to especially coupled with his calming deep and full voice. He is rational yet empathic at the same time. He's an active listener so he would give comments every now and then as well as ask questions as his partner talks. He genuinely cares about his partner's thoughts, concerns, and dreams, and would share his in return as well. He would always want his partner to know that he can be someone they can turn to for support, knowing that he'll give them his full attention and provide thoughtful advice or opinion whenever needed.
In terms of sense of humor, Kyungsoo's is a delightful blend of wit, playfulness, and a touch of charming sarcasm. Conversations with him are sprinkled with witty exchanges and playful banter that keeps his partner on their toes, often finding themselves engaging in friendly wordplay. His sarcastic remarks are delivered with a charming smile and a twinkle in his eye that his partner would slowly grow to appreciate. Dry humor and clever comments of his never fail to catch his partner off guard in the most amusing way.
While he deeply values their relationship, Kyungsoo also respects his partner's independence. He would encourage his partner to pursue their passions, hobbies, friendships outside the relationship, and dreams, understanding the importance of maintaining a sense of self, making his partner not entirely dependent on him. He believes that relationships are an avenue for personal growth that they'll find themselves evolving and learning together, supporting each other's journey to becoming better individuals.
In times of joy and struggle, Kyungsoo remains a steadfast pillar of emotional support (a/n: personally, he's my emotional support kpop boy ಥ_ಥ). Given his job as an actor, besides being an idol, he is able to understand feelings a bit better through the help of studying the characters of the roles that he has done. He understands that life has its ups and downs, letting his partner know that he'll be there to offer comfort, encouragement, and reassurance, helping his partner navigate through their challenges with ease and grace.
Ultimately, Kyungsoo loves purely, boldly, and fiercely, loyal and committed to his partner. He is a compassionate and devoted lover who is unapologetically himself, not afraid to show his true self around his partner, and encourages his partner to be the same. There is a deep sense of comfort in knowing that his partner can be vulnerable and open without fear of judgement.
There's also a unique comfort in the silence Kyungsoo shares with his partner. Sometimes, they don't need words to communicate–a glance, a smile, or a touch can convey everything that Kyungsoo is feeling to his partner.
When Kyungsoo glances at his partner, his eyes are filled with warmth and gentleness. When he smiles at his partner, the best and purest of his heart-shaped smiles are reserved only for his partner's eyes to see. When he touches his partner, there is a silent reassurance that he will always be there for his partner. That's why, even if Kyungsoo may seem to sport a poker face or a deadpan expression all the time, it doesn't matter to his partner when they can enjoy all these glances, smiles, and touches that are specifically directed towards them alone. Moreover, his unwavering dedication is a source of stability and reassurance making his partner know that he's in it for the long run.
Above all, Kyungsoo sees his relationship as a partnership built on trust, respect, and mutual understanding. He's the type to not tolerate no nonsense and would set clear boundaries. He and his partner are a team, supporting each other's passions and dreams, and facing life's challenges together hand in hand.
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peachysooxo · 4 months
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The Kingdom of Us
Chapter 1
pairing: kyungsoo x OFC genre: Royal!AU, nonidol!soo, crownprince!kyungsoo, romance, drama
theme: arranged marriage, modern royalty, enemies to lovers, war, betrayal, eventual smut word count: 4,735 description: Princess Alina of Mariposa arrives in the Kingdom of Seoul to meet her betrothed, Crown Prince Kyungsoo. It doesn’t go as she suspected it would.
warnings: mature themes, mentions of sex, mentions of anxiety, minors DNI
Author’s Notes: hi! Thank you for reading the first chapter of The Kingdom of Us. I wasn’t expecting such a positive response. I also wanted to add that the photos at the headers of each chapter are not mine and all credit goes to the owners. No significant warnings this chapter, please enjoy (:
ALINA
The day had finally arrived that I had been preparing for my whole life.
Today, I would be meeting my betrothed, Crown Prince Kyungsoo the First of the Seoul Kingdom for the first time. Our betrothal had been headlining news since it was announced 15 years ago when I was 5 and the Crown Prince was 10. It rocked the world scene, two Kings promising an alliance by way of their children marrying. Not only that, I was also fifth in line for the Valencian throne, the obvious choice would be for the Crown Prince to marry one of my sisters, second and third in line which is much more desirable than me politically. As soon as I turned 20, the preparations were set and my entire life was packed up to start my life in Seoul as the wife of the Crown Prince.
That is, if he approved of me.
Well, not so much approve, but in our betrothal agreement set forth by our fathers, the Crown Prince and I were to “court” for 90 days until our wedding. It was a pure PR move to make our kingdoms seem much more progressive than they really were. Neither of us had a choice in this matter. In reality, our wedding was to take place at the end of these 90 days and the entire world was counting down the days until we met face to face. Our arrangement was the first of its kind, not once has a Valencian Royal married a Royal from the Eastern part of the world, and a Seoul Royal never married a Royal from the Western part of the world. Rumors circulated in high society’s closest circles over our betrothal, both for politics and for entertainment and gossip. Mami and my tutors told me to pay no mind, but I couldn’t help but read every single piece of gossip from the magazines and newspapers.
Bad politics for Valencia to marry off the furthest from their line to the Crown Prince of Seoul?
Is this wedding a distraction from the tensions between Seoul Kingdom and the Azteco Nation?
End of Line Princess Marrying Crown Prince? The Politics of Betrothal Alliances
The Kingdom’s Husband and the People’s Princess to be Wed in January: Is this a pure political move?
On the other side of the media, bloggers and influencers gushed at our impending marriage, bringing only our looks to the forefront. Crown Prince Kyungsoo was known as the “Kingdom’s Husband”, an ideal man because of his kindness, manners and gentle demeanor. Not only that, he was also the Chief Commander of the Seoul Military. Every woman in the world swooned over him. I admittedly did too, the idea of him seemed lovely, he was lovely. Him and I were a “perfect match”, or so the bloggers said.
The media started calling me the “People’s Princess” as soon as I signed up for Medical Military service during the Nordic Nations Conflict 4 years ago. It was not even a question, I was of age to volunteer and healing people was my way of showing I care about my people. I didn’t do it to gain the affections of the world, I did it because I wanted to do what I could to help. Before I knew it, my name was all over the news and so many outlets compared my efforts to my sisters, Maria and Ana. It wasn’t fair that they pinned them against me. Maria has long been married to King Daniel of the Azteco Nation, and Ana was just married to Prince Seth of the Nordic Nations. They lived different lives than I did, we contrasted each other in so many different ways that it was unfair for the media to persuade the public that I was better than them or that they were better than me in any way.
Maria was bold, she never took no for an answer. Once she had her mind set on something, there was no changing it. I once admired that about her, now I am unsure if she has any sense. Her marriage to King Daniel caused ripples in our alliances, and uncertainty in our family. With the entire world turning against the Azteco Nation, it’s no surprise.
Ana was blunt, outspoken and opinionated. She loved debating and seeing all sides to every situation. She excelled in law school, even though as a Royal there was no need to attend university. Her wedding was beautiful, and she got to live in the Nordic Nations, a place she grew fond of as a teenager.
As for me, I was to be obedient, demure, agreeable. I am the only daughter that was betrothed to a Crown Prince. My brothers, Crown Prince Ignacio and Prince Santiago, had wives chosen for them. That was seen as customary, almost a requirement. Majority of my life was spent with Seoul tutors that trained me on etiquette, politics and the Joseon language. It felt like I knew more about the Doh Dynasty than the Doh Dynasty knew about themselves. I was to be molded to be the perfect Crown Princess, the perfect wife and doting mother to future heirs. However, I couldn’t lose who I truly was. I had a need to be free, and that went against everything the Seoul tutors molded me into. Sometimes I wondered if I’d ever meet the marks they set for me.
I replay every memory up until this moment in my head as I watch the Seoul skyline appear from the plane window. Trying to remember years and years of training proved to be difficult when my mind was filled with anxious thoughts. My heart aches knowing my beloved Valencia is behind me, but excitement and wonder fills me as right in front of me is my new life in the Seoul Kingdom. I hope I can live up to the expectations they have for me. I take a deep breath, centering myself. You will be great. You will do good. They will love you.
They’ll love me, right?
I do my best to breathe through my anxiety. The Crown had sent this jet for me so I could be comfortable during the moving process, their hope was a seamless transition. Crown Prince Kyungsoo entered my mind, my heart skipping a beat as I pulled his latest photo from my purse. What would he be like besides the obvious, devastatingly handsome looks he possessed? He truly is a beautiful man, both outside and more importantly, inside. I’d studied his interactions from afar with Ana, it was as though Crown Prince Kyungsoo bled kindness, humility and grace. He never had a scandal, unlike the many princes across the world. The questions that sat with me were would he be pleased with me? Would he be just as kind to me as he was to the public? Some royals put on the best of shows for their subjects, I hoped it wasn’t the case with him.
"Your Highness?" a Seoul Royal Guard appeared from the back of the plane to greet me with a deep bow. "We have arrived in Seoul. The Royal Family is awaiting your arrival as promptly as possible."
"Thank you, sir. Do you happen to know if we are late?" I respond softly. The nerves were wrecking me. The negative voices were tugging at me in all directions.
"No, Your Highness. We're on time, if not early. It is the Crown Prince desiring for you to arrive, he is anxious to meet you. Please, watch your step Your Highness."
Perfect, I smile to myself. I step off of the plane and onto the runway. My eyes lifted to the thousands of people that were waiting for me. I offer a formal bow to the Royal Guards and turn my attention to the people. I smile and deeply bow to as many of them as possible, they surrounded the barricade. Camera shutters fill my senses and I am escorted to the town car waiting to take me to the palace.
This was it. There is no more preparation. I’m about to meet my husband.
We pull up to the palace and my eyes are met with the amazing, awe-striking structure. I felt small as I looked out of the window at the walls built around the patio. Marble columns support the pilaster with vibrant red and yellow paintings in beautiful shapes. The entire building was in a rectangular shape with an opening in the middle for the palace garden, I had done my research before leaving and the palace was much more beautiful in person than in pictures.
Behind the walls guarding the palace was a driveway that wrapped around a small garden fixture, a fountain made of marble sat in the middle in a large oval. Rose bushes and wild flowers sprouted from the ground in full bloom. If this is what the entrance looked like, I could only imagine what the palace garden in the courtyard looked like. That’s what I really wanted to see. The car pulls to a stop and the door opens, a Royal Guard bows his head and offers his hand to me. I take it and step out of the car, feeling the nerves once again in my chest.
"Princess Alina, welcome to our Kingdom's Royal Palace." the Royal Guard bows. I mindlessly curtsy, a sudden lapse in my cultural judgement. I quickly correct myself with crimson cheeks, mentally scolding myself for forgetting they don’t curtsy in Seoul. The Royal Guard smiles kindly. "Princess, there is no need to bow to me. I am your servant.”
“Sir, you work hard to protect the Royal Family of Seoul. Your daily sacrifice must worry your family when you come to work. Please accept my gratitude, as I give it to every servant of this kingdom and my home kingdom.” I offer happily. The Royal Guard is taken aback from my kindness, but warmly accepts it. I clasp my hands together and notice that my future in laws saw this entire interaction. I see the line of dukes, duchesses and their families awaiting me. The three highest regarded Dukes come into my vision: Dukes Chanyeol, Baekhyun and Yixing, the Crown Prince’s cousins.
"Your Highness, welcome to the Kingdom of Seoul. I am Duke Chanyeol. It is a pleasure to meet you." the tallest man smiles with a formal bow. "At my side are Duke Baekhyun and Duke Yixing. We are under the direct command of Crown Prince Kyungsoo."
"We will be at your command when you and the Crown Prince marry." Duke Yixing adds, bowing next.
"Please accept our welcome." Duke Baekhyun bows.
"Thank you for your kind and warm greetings, I hope to become further acquainted as we spend more time together." I bow to each of them individually. Duke Chanyeol’s eyes follow me as I walk away. I smile and nod at his kindness and greet the rest of the family. His eyes don’t leave me as I bow and shake hands with the Doh family. I hope that this won’t be a problem, especially with how Duke Yixing whispers in his ear and he finally looks away like a scolded child. I focus on the path ahead to the Throne Room where King Bonhwa and Queen Hyunae are waiting for my formal greeting.
"Announcing the arrival of Princess Alina the Second of Mariposa, Kingdom of Valencia." a Royal Guard bellows. I walk forward and make eye contact with King Bonhwa and Queen Hyunae. A soft smile spreads across my face and I formally greet them with a deep bow. When I meet their eyes again, I take a deep breath to try and center myself. This has to go perfectly. There’s no other option.
"Please accept the formal greetings of King Ignacio and Queen Evelina of the Kingdom of Valencia. It is my greatest honor to be in your presence, your Highnesses." I say in a warm tone, trying my hardest not to show how nervous I am. As long as the King and Queen are pleased, I did well.
"You are so rehearsed." Queen Hyunae comments. The words of the Queen take me aback, I was expecting something a bit more centered on the Kingdom alliance with Valencia or at least an extension of a proper greeting. I wasn’t prepared for this, the tutors swore up and down that the Queen approved of me, she chose me for her son after all. Now, I have no idea where she stands and I could have very well lost her favor. I can’t falter, I can’t show any weakness. I bow again and turn my attention to Queen Hyunae.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I have been eagerly awaiting the day we would meet. It has been well over 15 years.” I hope that covers it. What that enough? The Queen’s cold stare chills my spine, but I maintain my composure enough to earn a small nod.
"My Queen, mind your manners," King Bonhwa chuckles, squeezing his wife’s hand as he tries to hide is irritation. "Welcome to our kingdom, Princess Alina. We are overjoyed for this betrothal. The Crown Prince has been anxiously awaiting your arrival."
King Bonhwa gestures to his left, I turn and see the reason why I’m here in the first place.
Crown Prince Kyungsoo.
He stood at attention; his black decorated military uniform tailored to fit his body nicely. From my standpoint I can only see the Crown Prince’s side profile and it was a beautiful one. He is mine, my betrothed.
Crown Prince Kyungsoo turns on his heels and walks toward me. His beautiful, coy smile brightens everything around him. My heart pounds in my chest as the Crown Prince approaches, his presence in itself demanding. I lower my head to bow but he stops me by resting his fingers under my chin. I obey his non-verbal command to meet his eyes, my cheeks reddened at our eye contact. He places my hand on his chest and bows his head, when he comes up his lips press onto my knuckles.
"Princess Alina, we finally meet." His deep voice awakens feelings that are foreign to me. Sure, I heard him speak before on TV, but it's another thing to feel his tone reverberate in my chest, rest in my bones. I attempt to bow before my future husband politely and he allows me to. I’m growing accustomed to his hand holding mine, it felt so right to have his fingers laced with mine.
"It is an honor, Your Grace." I manage to reply.
"You really are a beautiful woman," Crown Prince Kyungsoo dreamily comments. "I had become acquainted with your face in photos, but they do you no justice."
"Thank you, Your Grace." My red cheeks deepen in color, I know it. I remember to lower my head as respectfully as I can without giggling like a schoolgirl.
“Why don’t the two of you get better acquainted? Show the Princess our lovely palace, her new home.” King Bonhwa suggests.
“Yes, your Highness,” Crown Prince Kyungsoo bows to his father. He turns his attention back to me and offers a sweet smile.
“It is an honor to be betrothed to the Crown Prince, Your Highness. I am forever indebted to Your Graces.” I bow to King Bonhwa, just as I practiced. We leave the Throne Room and the Crown Prince places his hands in his pockets. My heart threatens to burst in my chest, my betrothed is next to me and not far away or a dream.
“Welcome to your new home, Princess.” Crown Prince Kyungsoo says sweetly. I clasp my hands behind my back and fall in step with him, listening to his explanations of the history of the palace, every art piece that hangs on each wall, and a view of the massive garden from a balcony at the top floor of the palace. The architecture made it feel both modern and historic, remnants still remain of the old palace before King Bonhwa decided to remodel everything to have a more “chic” look to it. It honestly looked like he picked up a copy of Architectural Digest and went nuts on the mix of wooden and marble textures. The interior starkly contrasted what I saw around me, except for the garden area. It still had its original structures. The design suits the Crown Prince very well, it can be assumed he had something to with the minimalistic details. I felt his eyes glancing at me with a craving of approval and his eager hand reaching for mine. He takes me down the stairs and to the first level of the palace, we stop at double black metal doors.
“This is my favorite part of the palace, Princess. This is my personal library and music room. Do you enjoy reading and music?” The Crown Prince inquires as he opens the door for me. I look around and instantly fall in love. I could get lost in this library and be found in bliss. I skim the vast library, careful not to touch any of the books that are settled neatly on the shelves. The musk-woodsy smell of old books soothed me, easing the tension I’m creating in myself. Across from the bookshelves are endless shelves of vinyl records, some on display and others in a row on lower shelves. A magnificent record player sits in the corner of the room next to a sofa. I imagined the Crown Prince reclined playing a soft blues record and reading one of his many books… The thought occurs of us together in that couch, cuddled up together and reading as he listens to music. Ahh… what a dream…
“I do, Your Highness. I greatly adore poetry and music.” I softly respond. I turn to the Crown Prince and meet his eyes. We’re away from the guards, he could sneak a kiss, an embrace, but not once does he invade my space. The only thing of his that is on me is his eyes, not his hands or his lips. God, his eyes were gorgeous. Fatigue hits me like a tidal wave, I quickly cover my mouth to hide my yawn. The Crown Prince chuckles to himself, reaching for my hand. “Oh, my apologies, Crown Prince.”
“Princess, you must be tired from your travels. I will escort you to your chambers so you can rest.” At the first touch on my back, my guard goes up, discomfort halting the warm feeling flowing in my veins. I don’t want to be alone with the Crown Prince just yet. I shy away from his touch and nod, hiding my panic. Not a word is spoken, the only thing speaking is the nervous tension between us. The entire mood shifted as soon as he touched me, my body coursing with adrenaline. I make note of every exit I can find just in case I need to make a quick escape. We enter my chambers, but I grab the Crown Prince’s arm to prevent him from going any further.
“Finally, we can be alone, Your Highness.” He steps closer but I take a step back.
“Crown Prince, I want to stay here in the common area.” I blurt.
“Relax, Princess. I understand you’re nervous. I just want to talk. I am more than happy with staying here.” Kyungsoo agrees with an audible sigh. I study him and watch his smile fade into a stoic glare, replacing the once jovial glow on his face. “Alright, now we can discuss the reality of this… Situation."
"I'm sorry?" my anxiety builds in my chest. What is he talking about?
"Princess, Princess… Don’t be foolish. This is an arrangement for our countries to survive an impending war. It is purely a public declaration of our nation’s alliance in a time of uncertainty caused by your father. Not to speak ill of your father. He’s a great man, very kind, Princess." The Crown Prince mockingly grins. I stare into the eyes I just seconds ago adored, growing mistrust with each moment that passes. Was our afternoon together all an act? He chuckles to himself, crossing his arms. “Ah, did you really think I was actually interested in you? You’re so naïve, it’s pitiful. I knew marrying a girl five years younger than me wasn’t a good idea.”
I remain composed, holding back the urge to cry… Or slap his annoyingly handsome face. Irritation bubbles underneath my skin, mocking my foolish heart. I tap my heel on the ground in frustration, unwilling to let him win. “Who do you think you are to speak to me like that?”
"No, Princess, who do you think you are to speak to your Crown Prince with such disrespect?"
"If I am not mistaken, Your Grace, I am nothing but another nation’s princess to you until we are wed. You are not my Crown Prince. You disrespected your betrothed, I did nothing of the sort to you." I stare directly in his eyes, terrified of what will happen next. The man before me was just a mask. How can he stand there so unaffected? I narrow my gaze but it doesn’t work, he challenges me. He won’t look away, he won’t budge. "I deserve an apology."
"You believe that you deserve an apology? What kind of princess was I promised? You are unbelievably disrespectful. Your Highness, I don't care how you feel. In fact,” Kyungsoo turns and puts his hand gently on the side of my face, his thumb grazing my cheek as he stares deeply into her eyes. I startle at the sudden touch, my body stiffens in disgust. Is this all I’ll be good for? Treated however a man wants to treat me? Threatened, I back away and the Crown Prince scoffs. "This betrothal is only an agreement our fathers made over Soju when we were children. There are loopholes to every law and agreement."
What a sadistic creep! He’s really enjoying hitting every weak point and watching me crumble before him. I bite the inside of my lip to stop myself from crying, I can’t cry in front of him. Now, I’m angry. I take my hand, reach up and pull Kyungsoo’s hand away from my face, settling it at his side. Not even in my mind did I want to properly address him. I create space between us and take back the power in this struggle. He can’t win, I won’t let him. He must be so used to getting his way and calling the shots, but not anymore.
"I am aware of the loopholes." I nod. "And if you plan on hurting me every single day of our lives, you'll have to do much better than pick at my insecurities."
Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as I take the upper hand, to his surprise. He’s losing his edge, and I am losing my own mask in faking this confidence. "I would not waste my time on your feelings every single day, that is where you are wrong. Let me make this abundantly clear to you. The whole world is watching. As far as anyone knows, we are a match made in heaven. We are the textbook love at first sight match, the one this stupid alliance hoped for. I do not want to hear any nagging from my parents, or even worse, yours. Be a good girl and I will reward you."
"Reward me?" I scoff. He steps into my space again but does not touch me. The closeness makes my body shiver. He knows this is all a façade, he has to. I’m still stuck on how he told me to be a good girl. Why did I like that?
"Really? Come on, Princess. Think about it, I'll buy you whatever you want. All you have to do is name it and it will be yours. I will send you wherever you want to go, anywhere in the world. If there ever is a physical need, Princess, I can satisfy your body to perfection. I know you wore this lovely outfit to impress me. It would be foolish of me to deny that you possess an intoxicating beauty. It will make it all the more enjoyable for me to give in to your cravings, desires… Everything can be yours. Play along, let me do what I want, and you can have the same freedom." Kyungsoo smiles and my thoughts dizzy me. Physical need? Satisfy my body to perfection?
Suddenly, I know what this is all about.
"What is it you really want? You want other women?" I cross my arms. "Am I just going to be the image? The one that gives you heirs?"
Kyungsoo laughs and paces in front of me. “You… You are the physical manifestation of my chains that shackle me to a destiny I never wanted. I refuse to succumb to a life my parents arranged for me. We can have a beautiful, platonic relationship with the added benefits. This between us is a business transaction, nothing more, nothing less. I never wanted to be married, Princess. You’re just another addition to my annoyance."
"So, your thoughts on me are based on a choice that didn’t belong to either of us. It’s not like I asked for this, either. I figured we’d face this together, not like this. Just be honest with me and with yourself, Your Highness. You would not be the first or last Prince to… Court… Multiple women."
"That is not my purpose. Just behave, be the Princess I was told you were. Out of all your sisters, you're the most obedient and willing to please, are you not?" Kyungsoo leans in and I take another step back. I’m defeated, he won.
"Fine. This will be a loveless marriage as you wish. But I refuse to be disrespected."
Kyungsoo clicks his tongue and crosses his arms. He leans forward again, lifting my chin with his fingers. "Good girl. Of course I will respect you, you just needed to know where I stood. I will see you at dinner. And by the way, never accuse me of being an adulterer again.”
Kyungsoo turns and leaves me in my chambers. As soon as the door closes, I break. I am a fool, and I’m sure everyone knows it. How was I so blinded by him? He’s no different than anyone else in our world. Kind to his subjects, rude to everyone else in private. A business transaction? As if I’m a good that can be sold. Even worse, I know I’m just a pawn in a grand scheme plan to keep the world together. I drag myself to the bedroom, taking my dress out for the dinner tonight. If Kyungsoo wants this to be a game, I am now a willing participant. I cry myself to sleep, needing a nap from this horrible afternoon.
"A gift from the Crown Prince, your Highness."
“Thank you, sir.” I bow my head politely and takes the box from the Royal Guard, my fingers running across my name that’s handwritten on the perfectly wrapped gift. I wipe the sleep from my eyes and set the box on my bed. I rip the paper and see a cell phone lying in a box with accessories in my favorite colors. In Valencia, I wasn’t allowed to own a phone, this pleasant surprise was another freedom I never knew in her home country. A note falls out of the packaging addressed to me.
For when I need to get ahold of you. You need to answer if I call or text. My number is already programmed in your contacts. I heard you liked gold, so I got you this model. Don’t be late to dinner. – DKS
A gift? From the Crown Prince? How kind… How suspicious. I press the phone on and immediately a text filters into my message app.
Handsome Husband Let me know you got the gift, Princess.
Alina …Thank you, Your Grace. Handsome Husband?
Handsome Husband Yes, Princess. Don’t change it. I read it’s romantic.
Alina Your Highness, if I may… I would not call you that. The internet shouldn’t tell you what is romantic. Your heart should.
Handsome Husband Hm. Fair. What would you call me, Princess Alina?
Alina Crown Prince. You do not want to know. Thank you for the gift.
17 notes · View notes
kxmssblog · 2 years
Text
3.
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Il Consulente
Featuring:
Your family has worked as the mafia groups go-to financial advisors and consultants. When a hit is sent out, by a rogue mafia group, your entire family is wiped out. You are left with only your brother. The EXO take you under their protection, regardless of your protests to want to leave the mafia world behind, along with your troubled memories.
Minseok is always there, despite it all.
________________________________________
The house was the opposite of its larger than life counterpart. Quaint and elegantly styled. Your bedroom was dusted with blush tones and touches of muted pastels. The bed, dominated your room with its height and stuffed plushies littering the top.
You hoped for the tranquillity the decor had intended, and silently thank the man in charge of the renovations.
He comes by with a slice of the cake they had displayed for your homecoming, later that evening. He didn't have to knock, you already knew he was there when you walked into the living room, spotting him by the stacking doors, the curtain quietly bellowing in the mountain breeze.
"I don't want it."
"Please keep it in your fridge, or throw it away in your kitchen trash, but please take it in." He pushed it into your folded arms in your chest, "D.O and Kai worked really hard on it, don't hurt their feelings, just to hurt mine, besides he's watching us from some windows in the house."
You look over his shoulder, the said man, the one with the buzz cut, was blatantly standing near the house with his muted gaze down to your house.
"Okay." You take the slice with a bow, and you raise the plate in the looming man's direction, with that gesture he bows and a heart shaped smile warms and brightens his face.
Infected, you break into a reluctant smile. You catch the gummy smile of the man infront you, with a tut from your lips, it vanishes instantly, with a turn of your back you returned to your house too.
Unpacked and settled in, you began your work preparations, which you had opted to sort through during your holiday and begin earlier than expected from your boss and the leader in the mansion.
You needed a fastpaced and constructive distraction from all the floodgates opening in your subconscious, that is throwing your system for a loop.
The evening came by, and you a little worse for wear.
*
Night after night, he stood outside your patio. Resolute and unflinching to the elements. His eyes hard and alert to the house's surroundings. It was not like there were no men walking around, around the clock, as their sole purpose, but he stood outside your door through the night.
On your fourth night, it was blistering cold, the breeze from the mountain, tunnelling through the valley and whipping by the mansion. The towering trees, being the barriers to the force of the mountain air currents, they only added to the swirling gusts that fluttered or blew through the gardens, whipped over the waters surface like little waves.
In a dapper wool coat, he slightly shivered with his gloved hands adjusting the collar to snuggle deeper into the material. His hair pulled away by the wind, his chubby cheeks reminded you of a chipmunk chewing, he was a white as a sheet from the chill.
"Your job will start the morning I leave the property to go to work, and that will be in a few days time. Not today." You join his side, barely escaping the clutches of your late afternoon nightmarish nap, "You're not my bodyguard, until then."
"I beg to differ." He answered lowly, his eye trained ahead to the view in front of him.
You look around to the man, carefully pinning him with a searching stare.
"Why are you here Minseok?"
He shrugs his shoulders at your question, then followed your gaze to the tall hedge at the furtherest end of the garden grounds.
"Oh, and you beater keep away from there if you don't want to get lost."
With that finality, he walked away to resume his nightly patrol around your house.
The fifth night, he had parked the car close by and offloaded a few bags onto your door step, he had gone grocery shopping to stock your fridge and pantry, since you would not join them for any meals in day and always ordered in, in the evenings.
"Why are you doing this, Minseok?" You asked, but the man ignored your words with an expressionless shrug of the shoulders.
He left to park the car and returned to his post, outside your door until he left in the early hours of the morning to sleep and freshen to reappear later in the day.
The sixth night, you clawed yourself out of your sleep, just as you clawed at the sheets around, to sit up. You chest burned, and the black spots in your vision would not clear out.
The windows and blinds were still open, and the room should have been chilly but you felt stifled although your skin was cool and free from your night sweats.
Stumbling to your knees, you push up from the floor to your door. You needed a glass of water, through the darkness of the house. You had slept through the afternoon, again and missed your time for supper. You had also skipped lunch, when work had been too engrossing.
You make your way through the passage, with the kitchen ahead, but your chest would not let up. Wheezing breaths do not want to enter your lungs nor release.
Trying to turn to the house near your door, you crumble to the ground, faced with your bodyguard's emotionless glare down to you.
Feeling the intensity of his eyes, searching and reaching into you, you close your eyes to maintain your barrier of protection, that has kept you away and shielded from everyone's prying eyes.
You hear his feet stutter to your direction, and come to a halt in front of you. You cared less of what would do to you then, but focused all you will to not pass out on the floor, to not reveal just how fragile my state can become.
Without a word, hardly to your surprise, you felt his arms encircle your frame to lift you off the floor to have you straddle his lap when he settled in  the near by couch.
"Everything will work out, you'll be fine." He cooed, brushing a few strands of your matted hair from your face.
You couldn't suppress the shivers that took over under his touch, an old welcome touch, your system was familiar with.
"I-I'm... so, sorry... I w-woke you..." it was all could say, drained and withdrawn, cuddling further into his chest, as he brought the couch rug over your shoulders, with breaking his calming strokes down your back.
"Mmm" he hummed, "This is why, I am here. Stop pushing me away." He muttered under his breath, feeling his caresses, helping your eyes to grow heavier and welcome the weightless sleep, you have craved for weeks.
_______________
@suhappysuho
11 notes · View notes
mymoodwriting · 25 days
Text
Beyond The Stars
F!Reader x EXO
Genre: Amnesia AU, EXO Universe/Planet
Warning: Assault, Physical Assault, Toxic Fumes, Controlled Fires, Experiments, Mentions of Dead Bodies, Explosions, Kidnapping
Words: 3K
Chapter Nineteen
(Prev//Next)
Prompt: You’re the most important thing to EXO, you’ve been with them for years, and when you wind up missing, it greatly upsets them. Their journey to find you and bring you home starts a chain of events that leads to facing their own greatest fears, making unlikely allies, traveling to other worlds again and finally gathering the strength to take down their greatest enemy. Along the way you get to see their true colors and fall in love all over again, although you might come to realize you don’t like what you see in the mirror.
@suhappysuho @starillusion13
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“Alright, let’s go over the plan.”
Everyone was gathered around the table, including yourself and Hyungwon. A plan of attack had been formulated, but it was important to go over the details before the big day.
“Security will be shut down for twenty minutes for routine maintenance.” Suho stated. “And we need to take advantage of that time. Once the shutdown happens we’ll make our way inside. Chen will go to the security office with DO where they’ll make sure everything stays off, and they’ll remain there as our eyes and ears.”
“For safety reasons Shownu and Kihyun will stay with us while the rest of you continue with the mission.” Chen added. “With the security center in our hands the next step is to evacuate everyone.”
“Problem is, we can’t just set off the alarms.” Chankyun reminded. “Since scheduled maintenance is going on, no alert system would be taken seriously, so we need an external force. That’s where Lay, Chanyeol, and Sehun come in.”
“Jooheon and I will accompany the three to the ventilation system.” Minhyuk continued. “From there Chen can provide power as we release fumes into the facility.”
“It’s harmless.” Lay assured. “But it will definitely force people to leave. The only issue there is that we’ll draw attention to our location.”
“Which is why we need to time this precisely.” Chanyeol said. “We have about twenty minutes to set everything up before taking action and facing resistance.”
“All the plants in the lab would still recognize Lay.” Jooheon mentioned. “So we also have that advantage.”
“That’s good, as we need all the advantages we can get.” Xiumin commented. “As for the rest of us, once the other two phases are set we’ll be going to the lab area and freeing all those that have been held captive. Of course all of this relies on Kai being able to go back and forth with multiple people at a time. Will you be alright?”
“It’ll be draining, but I can manage.” Kai stated. “I have a rendezvous point for everyone while we proceed with the rescue and then our escape. The only thing will be planting the bombs.”
“While I’m in the security office with Chen I can figure out where the structural weak points are.” DO explained. “It should be easier to set them up and destroy the whole place. Just don’t forget we need to destroy the servers as well.”
“I got that covered.” Baekhyun confirmed. “There won’t be anything to recover once I’m done.”
“Then what are we doing about y/n?” Sehun asked. “Are we really going to leave her here?”
“I’m fine.” You assured. “I can wait around for you guys.”
“Why not put her in the garden?”
“No.” Suho spoke. “We don’t need to do that. Although Hyungwon isn’t coming with us.”
“Can I ask why?” Hyungwon questioned. “I understand, but doesn’t that work against you?”
“You can be on comms. The lab is basically your home turf, and I don’t want complications.”
“Wait, so we’re gonna leave y/n alone with him?” Minhyuk wondered. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea either…”
“I’ll stay back too.” Wonho volunteered. “I’ll keep an eye on both of them. Too many of us can also complicate things.”
“That should work.” Suho agreed. “Although I do want to remind everyone, despite having deep ties here, all we can do is take down RF. From there it is up to the people of this Earth to move forward and do better.”
“We know.” Shownu stated. “Getting rid of RF is a good first step.”
As much as you wanted to voice your own concerns, you knew it best not to worry them. This whole thing was important to them, and for the time being you were going to sit on the sidelines and support them. Besides, there was still much you needed to come to terms with about yourself and your future.
“Y/n, how are you feeling?”
After the meeting everyone was told to prepare and get rest. While you were sitting out in the garden Kai came over, sitting down at your side.
“I’m alright… I think… but I’m honestly not sure…”
“I’m really sorry all this… happened the way it did… we should have been better…”
“I know you’re always trying to do your best… although I have to admit… I kinda want to stay here… this is my home planet after all…”
“It is… I’m sorry we didn’t tell you the truth sooner…”
“This place holds a lot of memories for both of us, I just don’t remember.” You chuckled. “Telling me would also mean talking about what happened here with RF, and it’s something you weren’t ready to face until now.”
“We really don’t deserve you.”
“Probably not… I have to ask though… why didn’t you use me to come back to this Earth? I’m from here. Instead we found some space pirates with a magic hourglass.”
“The story with them is complicated, but, despite this Earth being your homeworld, you’ve changed on many levels. The frequency I get from you is no longer the same as this world. There are similarities still, but it’s not accurate anymore.”
“Huh… what about you though?”
“Hm?”
“Is your frequency… could it take you home?”
“I’m honestly not sure.”
“Do you have a means of getting home? If you wanted to, that is.”
“Yeah. There’s always a way back home.” Kai gave you a smile. “You should get some sleep.”
“You too.”
“Good night then.”
“Good night.”
♥♥♥♥♥
Come morning you could feel the tension in the air. It was pretty quiet except for talk of the task at hand. You couldn’t do anything besides wish them well and see them off as they embarked on this mission. The house once filled with life became quite empty as only three of you remained. Everything was set up in order to keep in contact with those who went out, which served to ease your worries, but now all you could do was hope everything went to plan. You remained in contact as the preparations were done, but once they made the move to enter the building it went silent. It was rather obvious you were worried.
“They’re gonna be fine, y/n.” Hyungwon assured. “Everything is in their favor.”
“I hope so…” You took a breath. “Can I ask… what were your lives like with EXO?”
“Interesting. They came to our world as visitors, tourists really, but this place wasn’t exactly doing well. It was hard not to interfere, especially back then. We crossed paths by chance, and they helped us. After they learned about what was happening, that’s when they began to show us their powers and what they could do to help. We all became like brothers, and were so focused on our own battles we didn’t realize RF growing in power. Not until we were ambushed.”
“Where was I… in all of this?”
“You were out on the front lines.” Wonho mentioned. “Helping those in need. We wanted to go out searching for you, but we never got the chance. We only kept in touch via messages, but then we went silent.”
“Because you got captured.”
“Yeah. It was chaos. We tried to fight them off, but it was no use. For the sake of not losing everything, Lay ended up putting Baekhyun in the garden and set up defenses around the house.”
“That didn’t last…”
“No, it did not.” Hyungwon said. “What they were doing to EXO was severe, and on top of that they were trying to get Baekhyun.”
“Which you did for them.” Wonho spat.
“I had to.”
“That’s a fucken lie.”
“Wonho, please, let him explain.” You said. “You’ve hated him for so long, but you don’t know what really happened.”
“We were all experimented on. Hyungwon was no exception, but he still turned against us.”
“I didn’t want to, but it was the only way.”
“You-”
“Who’s Tao?” You suddenly asked. “He was mentioned before…”
“… EXO used to be twelve.” Hyungwon spoke. “Some of us were closer to certain members, like Jooheon and Lay, as for me, I was close to Tao. He was worried about the others, so he asked me for a favor. Things would only get worse without Baekhyun, but it could also be a bargaining chip for the rest of us. They got us involved in these things without meaning to. The only reason me and my brothers managed to escape that night was because I told RF I’d be back with what they wanted most. It wasn’t easy to face any of them after that.”
“Then why did you do it?” Wonho questioned. “No one asked you to do this for us.”
“Tao asked me. You know he could see the future, he saw the outcome to all of this if things were left the way they were. He knew how it could get better, and that involved sacrifice, including himself.”
“What happened to him?” You wondered. “And the others? You said there were twelve.”
“The experiments RF were running… they went too far… Sehun wouldn’t have been here if not for Tao.”
“I wish I got to meet them.”
“They would have loved you, Tao was always happy to know his brothers wouldn’t be completely alone afterwards.”
♥♥♥♥♥
Suho and Shownu were at the front, keeping an eye on the building from a safe distance. They knew that when security went down certain lights would shut off, and that was their chance to move in. Hyungwon had provided recent images of their target locations, so Kai could easily get them inside. Once they got their cue they all sprung into action. Kai took the first team into the security room, taking out the guards and removing them from the building. Chen acquainted himself with the security system, making sure to keep things down.
When Kai returned to the starting point he took the second team to the ventilation area. Once again they took care of the guards around and began to set up their plan. Lay began to grow flowers around the area, knowing Chanyeol was going to have to set them ablaze to get the proper fumes. Minhyuk and Jooheon were focused on figuring out the ventilation system. Everyone was counting down the minutes, knowing the alarms were about to go off, and the evacuation would begin. It wasn’t until their twenty minutes were up that they used their comms to communicate with one another.
Right on cue Chen set off the alarms and made sure all vents were open. Chanyeol began a controlled fire and Sehun made sure the fumes went into the vents and spread throughout them. Moments later Chen confirmed that an evacuation was underway, but guards were heading to the ventilation area and security office. That prepared everyone for a fight without interrupting the overall objective. When the lab had been mostly evacuated he informed Suho that they were good to start the next phase. Kai brought everyone inside, taking advantage of their sudden appearance to take out those that had remained.
Hyungwon had informed them where the keys were and how to free the others that were being held prisoner. Of course they weren’t exactly eager to accept help from strangers, but they all showed them the best of intentions about getting them out and away from this place. Once the evacuation was complete everyone began setting the bombs, taking directions from DO as he told them where to place them. While in the lab Baekhyun had been frying all the servers and anything else electronic, but he came across a locked door. He tried to fry the lock but his power didn’t work at all. 
He asked Chen for help over the comms, but on his end the door didn’t exist. By then Baekhyun had gathered attention, having Kai bring Chen over and the others. Chen couldn’t open the door either with his own powers. From there they all knew this place was protected against them specifically. They couldn’t use their powers to open the door, but surely someone else would know. Suho called Hyungwon over the comms, mentioning the ominous door in the lab and the fact they couldn’t open it.
“Probably best to just leave it and focus on the explosives. That place will get destroyed with everything else.”
“That’s not what I was asking. What’s behind the door?”
“I don’t know.”
“I don’t believe you. Considering everything you did for RF and the years you’ve worked for them, I highly doubt you don’t know all their secrets.”
“… 007768… Suho, you won’t like what’s on the other side.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
The code was entered into the door and they all stepped through. At first it was dark and then the lights came on. At first it seemed just like any other part of the lab, but then three giant containment tubes were illuminated, revealing familiar faces.
“Tao…”
Sehun immediately ran over to his long lost brother, banging his fist against the glass as if that would change the past. Everyone else seemed stunned in disbelief.
“You knew about this… didn’t you?” Suho questioned into the comms. “Hyungwon answer me!”
“I’m sorry… you should have known that death wouldn’t stop RF from running their tests…”
“Why didn’t you mention this sooner?”
“How was I supposed to tell you this? Especially considering why you returned to this Earth? This was never a rescue mission.”
“Still.”
“I can go back.” Sehun mumbled. “I… I have his power… I can fix this…”
“Sehun, you can’t.” Chanyeol came over and pulled him back. “You know time works differently in every world, and you don’t know how to control time.”
“I can try!”
“Sehun, please.”
“We can’t leave them… not again…”
“We won’t.” Lay assured. “They’re coming home with us, where they belong.”
“The rest of you go set the last of the bombs.” Suho ordered. “Lay, Xiumin, Kai, and I will get them home.”
The atmosphere had certainly changed, but they still had to complete their mission. It would take a lot more power for Kai to teleport home from such a far away place, but he could do it for his brothers. Once all the bombs were set the others were evacuated as well. Wonho could finish up the detonation as the others had somewhere else to be. After leaving the group found themselves in a garden. It was only familiar to a few, but they all understood where they were. The bodies had been laid down and the garden itself was taking them under. Lay had three new trees grow from the ground.
“They’re home.”
“We should bring y/n to see them.” Baekhyun said. “She never had a chance to meet them before. They would have loved her.”
♥♥♥♥♥
When you heard about the bodies your heart sank. You may not have known them, but you could still feel pain.
“They never knew… that their brothers… why would RF do that?”
“To continue the experiments.” Hyungwon mentioned. “Because they still had the bodies they were able to give you some of your powers.”
“Powers? I don’t have powers. The boys each gave me a gift to look after me, but I can’t do anything with them, not really.”
“Ah… my mistake…”
You weren’t entirely sure you understood what Hyungwon had been saying. As you were thinking it over you hear some noise coming from the other side of the house. The others heard it too, but you told them you’d investigate as they still needed to detonate the bombs. You only took a few steps before an explosion threw you back. Your vision was blurry, and your ears were ringing. When you tried to move you felt the aches all over your body. You tried to look over at the others, but among the chaos you heard a gentle whisper from an unfamiliar voice.
“Hello, Angel…”
♥♥♥♥♥
The others returned to the woods surrounding their base, making their way back. Although they all quickly started to run when they saw smoke. They came upon the house up in flames, Chanyeol quick to extinguish it and everyone rushing inside to look for the others. Beneath the rubble they located Hyungwon and Wonho, but you were nowhere to be found.
“What happened!?”
“I don’t know.” Hyungwon admitted. “There was some noise, and then an explosion.”
“Where’s y/n?”
“What?”
“She’s gone!” Kai yelled. “I can’t sense her here at all.”
“How could anyone get close to the house?” Minhyuk questioned. “The defenses were up. The only way to avoid them is to be someone the plants are familiar with.”
With that said all eyes turned to Hyungwon. It took him a second to realize what everyone was silently accusing him of, but he was quick to deny it.
“I didn’t kidnap her… I’m still here, wouldn’t I have run away with her if I did? If you don’t believe me, give me a truth serum.”
“You-”
“Someone’s coming.”
Despite the commotion the defenses were still up and Lay was informed of an uninvited guest approaching. He was ready to strike, but something was telling him to hold back. A few others went with him out to the front, seeing a figure emerge from the surrounding woods.
“I come in peace.”
“Who are you?”
“A friend. I’ve been watching you all for quite some time now, and I’m quite impressed. It wasn’t an easy decision to face RF. Although this place is only the tip of the iceberg.”
“You haven’t answered me yet.” Suho hissed. “Who are you!?”
“I’m just like you. A victim of RF’s little experiments. Before those bitches got their hands on you, I was their plaything.” The stranger took a bow. “The name’s Taemin.”
“You said you’ve been watching us.” Xiumin remarked. “Do you know who took y/n?”
“Your girl? Yes, I saw who took her, and it’s quite perplexing.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“The ones that took her, well, it was you.”
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