#hey i heard you wanted a big pile of fluff so here you go

[louloulemons-posts]

Hi! I love how much fluff is in your fics 💜 So comforting

Can I request Eddie and reader having Halloween date at home?

A lot of cuddles, pizza, classic horror movies and themed food? 🥺

Have a nice day!

Hi! Thank you so much for the request, I hope this fulfils what you were hoping for 🤍

Spooky Date Night

Eddie Munson X Reader

Summary : Eddie plans a date for him and his girlfriend.

Word Count : 1.5k

Warnings : Pure fluff, mentions of horror movies, swearing, knives (pumpkin carving), use of Y/N, pet names, not proofread.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You couldn’t wait, Eddie had invited you over to the trailer for a date. One that he had not let you know anything about whatsoever. All he said was dress comfy, pack an overnight bag and come over at 6:30.

All of those things were done, dressed in some sweatpants and a long sleeve tee with a jumper and jacket over top, you tried to hide from the chilly October air.

Pulling up to the trailer and parking next to Eddies van. Grabbing your bag from the seat beside you you climbed out and knocked on his door.

You heard his voice, “Coming!” Soon enough the door was pulled open and there stood Eddie Munson, a grin on his face. “Hey Angel! Come on in.”

You did so, sliding off your beat up shoes and leaving them next to Eddies favourites. Looking up the trailer looked a lot different to how it normally did.

There were fake cobwebs everywhere, candles lit, the room was dark but cosy. There were pumpkins on the counter, pizza and Halloween candy on the table. A high pile of videos to watch.

“What do you think?” He asked, stepping from one foot to the other nervously. “It looks great! You did all this?” You asked him. He nodded, “Yeah thought we could have a spooky night, as we’re going to that party on Halloween night.”

“You’re something else Munson, just the sweetest guy,” you smiled, wrapping your arms around his neck and kissing him. “I’m glad you like it. Why don’t you go put your stuff in our room I’ll get us some drinks and plates for food.”

You nodded and went to drop your bag off in his room, you did have spare clothes at Eddies, even then you borrowed his. It was very likely that by the end of the night you’d end up in the worn Black Sabbath shirt he was wearing currently.

You went back to join him on his couch, as he put a couple slices of pizza on your plate.

“It’s so cozy in here, should convince Wayne to keep it like this.”

“It was hard enough to convince him to let me do this,” you both laughed at that.

“So what movies have we got?”

“I got a selection, classics, Halloween, Jaws, Nightmare on Elmstreet and The Shining. Some less scary ones cause I want you to get some sleep, so Rocky Horror.”

You hummed, there were a couple more in the pile too, you assumed that’s why he asked you over so early. “Got us some pumpkins to carve too, cause you know, best part of Halloween.”

You could only smile at him, he thought of all of this. You both loved Halloween, that was one of the things you bonded over when you first met. People freaking out over Christmas when you were already waiting for the Spooky Season to roll back around.

So the pair of you tucked into your pizza, chatting away and giggling ready to start your spooky evening.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

After you’d cleared up your plates and Pizza boxes, Eddie and you grabbed some knives, pens and a big bowl for your pumpkin carving. Rolling up your sleeves, you pulled the orange veggie towards you.

“Damn getting serious babe,” Eddie laughed. “You know it, want me to tie your hair back?” You asked him, he nodded, and held out his wrist. A hair tie sat there, it was for either you or him, depending on the situation.

Pulling his curls out of his face, you tied them in a low pony that sat at the base of his neck. Kissing the top of his head you sat back next to him. “Thanks Angel.”

Picking up a pen you began to draw your design on your pumpkin. Planning on doing a some what traditional one, triangle eyes and nose and a toothy grin.

You could tell Eddie was going the opposite route, assuming something with a fearsome face, that could potentially scare trick or treaters away.

Once you were both happy with your designs, you picked up your knives and began to cut off the top. Making lid for the little guys, pulling it off you smiled, proud of how even it was.

“Nice work babe,” Eddie smiled, soon pulling his own off. “Thanks, you too.” Placing it down you stood up. “Where you off too?” He asked. “To get spoons, we forgot them.”

“We don’t need spoons!” Eddie said before shoving his hand in the pumpkin. It came out covered in seeds and stringy insides. “Gross pumpkin guts!” You exclaimed.

“Dare you to try some.”

“No way!”

“Why not? It’s just pumpkin.”

“It’s grim Eds, look at it!” He grinned at you. “Don’t you dare.” You took a step back and Eddie stood up.

“Stay away!” He lunged for you and you squealed, running through the kitchen, the boy cackling as he chased you. “Edward Munson go away!”

You could feel him behind you, grabbing your waist and pulling you to him, you screamed. He rubbed his sticky hand on your face slightly.

“Get off!” You shouted. He laughed again, dropping his head to your shoulder, his body shaking with laughter. “You’re a terrible boyfriend, did you know that?” You asked,turning to face him.

He couldn’t help out laugh, that was until you got your hand and wiped some of the pumpkin off your face and onto his lips. He spluttered, “Ew gross!” He exclaimed, wiping his mouth.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Your jack o lanterns now sat on the side with candles in. “Can’t believe I knocked his tooth out, he’s all gappy now!” You whined, dropping your head on to Eddie.

“I think he’s cute Angel. We got a cute one and a scary one, it’s like me and you.”

“You calling me gappy Edward Munson?”

“Who said you’re the cute one?” He cocked a brow.

You went to retaliate but he pecked your lips, “Pick a movie, I’m going to the bathroom.” He stood from the couch and walked away.

Looking through them, you decided that Halloween was the best one to start with.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

It was almost 12pm and you were now watching Nightmare on Elmstreet, pushing yourself closer to Eddie. “You okay?” He asked.

“Mhm, he’s just creepy,” you said. The boy wrapped his arms around you, letting you rest your head on his chest and his own on top of yours. He pressed a kiss to you and smiled.

Freddie Kruger popped up on screen making you jump and hide your face in Eddies chest, squealing as you did so. “Oh sweet girl it’s okay,” he spoke softly, rubbing your arm.

“Want me to turn it off?” You shook you head, no. “Okay but after this, Rocky Horror okay?”

“‘Mkay.” Pecking the top of your head once more, you moved your eyes to the screen once more.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

You were about half way through Rocky Horror when your eyes grew heavy. It was nearing 1am, and you hadn’t moved from your position, snuggled in Eddies chest.

Relaxing fully, you let your eyes fall close, comfy and calm. No fear of Freddie Kruger or Michael Myers or even a giant Shark coming to get you.

Soon enough you were asleep in Eddies arms. Huffing a laugh, he gave you a light squeeze, allowing himself to relax too.

He was nervous this date wouldn’t be something you liked, he just wanted to make you happy. He knew he’d done that, from your laughter, to the play fighting to now, you snoozing in his arms softly.

Eddies became drowsy himself, he’d been up early to clean and decorate the trailer to make everything perfect for you. He didn’t mind, he’d do anything for you.

The boy soon followed your actions and drifted off himself, the sound of Tim Curry’s voice lulling you both.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

A firm hand shook Eddies shoulder, making him jump awake. He met the eyes of his uncle Wayne. “Oh hey,” he said voice thick with sleep.

“Hey, sorry to wake you, but you’re in my bed,” he motioned to the couch.

“Shit sorry Wayne.” Eddie slowly slid you off him, resting you softly on the cushions.

Back cracking lightly as he stretched, he reached down for you, pulling your sleeping figure into his arms. “We’ll get out of your way, and I’ll clean up in the morning.”

“It’s 5am it’s morning. Just keep it down okay, it’s been a long shift.”

“Sure, do you need anything?” The boy asked his uncle.

“Just some sleep, you get yourself and Y/N to bed Son. So get outta my room.”

“Night Wayne.” He grunted back at Eddie, turning off the TV, that had a static screen, and grabbed his blanket from the back.

Eddie held you close to his chest as he wandered to the bedroom, keeping you as comfy as he could. Laying you down gently, you whined lightly.

“It’s okay Sweet Girl go back to sleep, ,” he hushed, stroking your hair. Laying down next to you, he pulled the blanket over both of your figures.

Soon enough the room was full of your snores, reaching for one another even in your sleepy state. It had been a great night.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

#eddie munson #eddie munson fluff #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x yn #joe quinn #joe quinn imagine #eddie stranger things #eddie x fem!reader #eddie x you #eddie x y/n #eddie x reader #joseph quinn #stranger things #stranger things imagine #fluff #imagine #oneshot #louloulemons

[huenyang]

pairing: kang taehyun x gn reader / genre: fluff, meet-cute, college au / word count: 1.8k / notes: yet again we are in self-indulgence city smiles

summary: the headache that was previously a nuisance leads you into forming a new friendship - or something more, even.

You don’t remember how long you’ve been laying on the floor of your dark room for. You can’t bring yourself to care, either, thankful that at least like this, your day-long migraine is finally starting to die down.

As your head starts to hurt less and less, your thoughts come easier and easier. Finally, you can think back on the day and try to rationalize how you’re going to make up for an entire day of lost classes.

Fuck. You really didn’t want to think about that, though.

It’s not like you were a stickler for school, but you still preferred to keep your grades up like any normal person. You were in college for a reason, and as much as you weren’t going to destroy yourself studying, you’d like to have good grades, at the very least.

Usually, a single day of missing classes wouldn’t be too bad, but you had already missed quite a few other days, and the work was starting to pile up.

The white ceiling seems to mockingly stare back at you as you run back your day, brows furrowed in concentration as you try to remember any important details or things you should make a note of.

There’s probably not that much I’ve missed today.

Just as you conclude today wouldn’t make much of a difference on your already big pile of missed work, your phone dings repeatedly from across the room, the screen lighting up and begging for your attention in the darkness.

With a groan, you lift yourself off the floor and towards the noisy beast that was your phone. The brightness almost blinds you in contrast with the rest of the room, and you curse yourself for not turning it down before. But most importantly, the reason your phone lit up in the first place: a message.

And the one part of your day you’d mostly forgotten about.

From: Taehyun hey! this is taehyun from class earlier you gave me your number for the project but i didn’t want to message you right away no pressure to respond tho i hope your head feels better

The message’s contents threaten to make your headache come back, but you can’t bring yourself to feel upset. Taehyun had approached you, in your headache-induced misery, and offered to do a group assignment with you so you didn’t go grade-less.

A sweet action, but you can’t help but want to kick your past self in the shin. You had kind of hoped nobody would have to interact with you while you were in that state.

You barely knew him, really. Had heard his name here and there; smart guy with good grades, gym rat, campus heartthrob, even.

Taehyun was known for hanging out with a pretty interesting group. People who talked to him and his friends would often say they had no idea how all five of them even got along, with how different they were. Individually, they all seemed like stark opposites, but if you saw them together you would, without a shadow of a doubt, understand they were close.

Friends aside, people knew Taehyun as a smart guy who always seemed eager to learn no matter the subject. It was no secret that his grades were pretty high most of the time, or at least that’s what the rumors that traveled north to south told you.

So, if anything, at least you’d ended up with someone who knew what he was doing for this.

The next time you meet with him, it’s at the library. You had planned to meet up and start working on the project a couple of days later, the library being the natural first choice.

Your palms feel slightly clammy, still, though. You had never properly talked to this man, and if it weren’t for the unfortunate timing of your headache, you probably wouldn’t ever have. You just weren’t really the kind of person to talk to strangers so freely, much less someone with a reputation already above their head.

To add to all of it, you end up being late. A mixture of exhaustion and staying up late makes you oversleep past your alarm, and consequently, not be as punctual as you had hoped.

Blame it on your own brain, but It’s hard not to see him when you arrive at the library.

In fact, he looks like he fits perfectly around his surroundings. The hood of his jacket is pulled up over his head, the glasses on his nose reflecting his phone screen at you. You’d say he almost looks like a cliche straight out of a y/n story, the rows upon rows of books that stretch around him acting like the claws of a storybook trapping its main character inside it’s story.

But even from this distance, you can finally understand why people say what they say about him.

Taehyun is, indeed, insanely handsome. It’s a little strange, even, the way he fits into the descriptors of smart, handsome, with eyes that reflect the glow of the world itself — like someone had taken his very essence and put it into a couple of words.

Obviously, you know that those words are not nearly enough to describe anyone — much less him. But you allow yourself to live your fantasy, even if for just a second.

Unfortunately, you’re not here to drift off into daydream.

Swallowing your heart that threatens to beat right out of your throat, you walk towards him, the sound of your shoes against the faux wood flooring too loud in your ears.

“Hey,” he greets easily, putting his phone away as he sees you approach. “how do you feel?”

You kind of want to grimace and scream and sink into the floor all at once. You’ve been here for a total of five whole seconds, and even though this is basic decency, the nice words coming out of Taehyun’s lips entangle themselves around your heart and squeeze it like an old sponge. 

“Better now.” You nod, sitting down next to him and pulling your laptop into the table. “Sorry for being late, I uh… Woke up, late.” 

Taehyun offers you a smile. A small one, but you still feel like it could brighten up the whole world if he wanted it to. He waves your concern off, saying it’s no big deal, and that it happens.

The shift from small, awkward talk into schoolwork is quick. That’s what you’re here to do. But as time goes on, you find that Taehyun is easy to talk to. His voice smooth as he explains a bit you didn’t quite understand, smile infectious as he cracks a bad joke that has you mirroring his happiness with your own.

By the time you decide to call it quits for the day, you’ve made a lot more progress than you thought you would. It’s also been a few hours longer than you thought it’d been, being so engrossed in your work and work partner.

You shut your laptop with a deep sigh. Next to you, Taehyun leans back on his chair and stretches his arms behind his head, making a noise that you frankly can’t describe as anything but a cat trill.

A noise that makes you feel like you’ve been punched in the stomach. Like cupid has completely missed his target and instead used boxing gloves to deliver his curse.

“Jesus…” He exhales, relaxing and letting his arms fall to his sides. “That was good. I didn’t expect to get this much done.”

“Yeah, we really did a lot.” You hum in agreement. “That’s all thanks to you though, I can’t believe you understood half of that! I swear, that professor only knows how to explain things one way.”

He turns his head, bashfully, at that. “It’s nothing. I’m happy to help, either way! And it’s not like you’re stupid, either. You helped me with the parts I didn’t fully understand.”

“No, but really! You’re really smart, I can’t believe you didn’t just — I don’t know, get excused to just do this by yourself! You’d be perfectly fine!”

Maybe your voice came out a little louder than you intended it to, because from the corner of your eye you can see people nearby turn their heads toward you. Some of them scoff or roll their eyes slightly, and you make a face. Oops.

If Taehyun notices, he doesn’t show it. Instead, his full attention seems focused solely on you. Like you’re the only person in the room right now, like you’re not in a public library, surrounded by students cramming for their exams and pretending to work on their own projects.

It’s gone as quick as it appears, however, because he grins so big his eyes smile too, replacing that look of pure devotion with unbridled joy.

You feel insane, maybe. The screws in your head are falling out as we speak, kind of crazy. 

This is absolutely ridiculous, the way this man has you feeling like you could outrun an olympic track runner. Everything he does kind of makes you want to sink into the floor and also maybe give him a kiss. Just maybe. A little bit.

God, this is hopeless. I’m hopeless.

While your brain is busy with your own situation, you don’t notice how Taehyun’s ears seem to be just a shade redder than they had been before. How he seems to divert his gaze ever so slightly. How his smile dips into something a touch too affectionate.

He chuckles, breaking you out of your stupor.

“Okay, okay.” Is his answer, if anything, just to get you to stop talking like that about him. “I’ll accept it, but on one condition.”

Oh? Curiosity ignites in you, anticipation and nervousness mixing into a concoction that laps at your feet like a treacherous ocean’s waves.

Nothing could have prepared you for his next words. Somewhere in the back of your head, the little voice in your brain high fives itself, but the normal part of your consciousness feels the anxiety gathering in your hands in the form of sudden, excessive sweating.

“Let’s meet up again,” he breathes, and you can almost hear the tremble in his voice. “Not for school. As friends.”

It feels like your soul has left your body entirely. Like you’ve been physically and mentally cut out from reality in a pathetic puff of smoke. He cannot be serious. This is not real.

“Um.” Great start, idiot. “I… I mean, okay.” Despite how terribly your sentence comes out, Taehyun smiles. That smile of his that has been plaguing you all day, beaming so bright it could permanently erase every shadow from the world.

You’re no stranger to the tiredness that weighs down your bones and glues your eyelids shut for a second too long when you blink. No stranger to the faint headache that you drown out with over the counter medicine as you make your way to class.

But when it comes to Taehyun, you feel as if you could get through anything.

#txt x reader #txt fluff #txt imagines #taehyun x reader #taehyun x gn reader #taehyun soft hours #taehyun soft thoughts #taehyun fluff #writing tag

[yelenasdiary]

For flufftober could you please use prompt8 for a natasha x reader (romantic) with y/n looking after natasha when shes sick with a cold for the first time in years?

Oh, How The Tables Have Turned

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Summary: On the super rare occasion that your girlfriend falls ill, you take care of her.

Warnings: None, all Fluff! | 0.9K

Translations: Dorogoy (sweetheart), Detka (baby),

AC: I wasn’t sure if you meant prompt #8 from my prompt list so I just went without a prompt. I hope you enjoy! x

October Special Masterlist

The harsh coughing coming from the bathroom alerted you that Natasha was home from her mission, waking you up with every cough that she couldn't control. You rubbed the sleep from your eyes and looked over at your phone to read the time, "8:43am". "Natty?" you questioned as you slipped out of bed, sliding your feet into your fluffy slippers to keep them from getting cold on the tiles in the bathroom. You walked down the hall and saw Nat with her hair wrapped in a towel, she turned to you and smiled, "Hey dorogoy"

"Are you okay?" you asked with a raised brow. Natasha's nose was as red as Rudolph the red nose reindeer and her tone was stuffy. "I'm fine" she replied before another cough ripped through her chest. "Yeah, you sound it" you shook your head as you walked into the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the jar of vaporub, "here, rub this on your chest and on the bridge of your nose" you handed it to the red head. 

"Oh, no, love, I don't need that" Natasha placed the jar on the sink's countertop, ignoring the fact she was in fact under the weather with the common cold. You shrugged at her stubbornness, "okay baby, if you say so" you playfully rolled your eyes before leaving the bathroom to make some tea. 

Natasha spent the day in bed to catch up on the sleep she had missed while away, every now and then you could hear her sneezing, coughing and groaning at her blocked nose. It was only a matter of time before the tough assassin would call out your name. You were doing some work from home in your home office, sipping tea while you worked through the pile of paperwork that was emailed to you over the weekend. You had just finished typing out an email when you heard Nat calling out for you. 

"Yes Natty?" you smiled softly at your partner who was losing the fight with the bug. 

"Could you please make me one of them teas you drink when you're sick?" she asked, sitting up to blow her nose. She broke and you couldn't help but tell her so, "Does my big, tough assassin have the cold? My poor baby" you jokingly teased, "I'll make you some tea, do you want the VapoRub now?" you added. Natasha nodded, "yes please" she replied as she sent you a playful glare. 

You grabbed the VapoRub and made Natasha a hot mug of lemon and honey tea before returning to the shared bedroom to give them to her. "I'm going to run to the store and get some things to make you soup" you placed a kiss on her forehead, she groaned and pulled you onto her lap making you giggle, "please don't go, stay" she begged, "we could cuddle and I'm sure I'll be fine by the morning" she added. 

"Baby, when was the last time you were sick?" You asked her. She shrugged, "I don't know, like 5 years ago or so" she replied while racking her brain to remember. "And when I get sick, am I usually okay by the next day?" you asked the following question, Natasha shook her head, "no, you're usually worse"

"Exactly" you sat up, sliding off her lap, "get comfy and put on your favourite movie, I'll be back in no time" you placed another kiss on her forehead before handing her the remote to the bedroom TV. 

When you returned from the store, you placed the groceries on the kitchen island and went to check on Nat who was fast asleep with a used tissue still in the palm of her hand. Gently, you took the used tissue and threw it into the small bin that Nat had beside the bed and made sure to tuck her in before taking her temperature with the back of your hand. She stirred slightly, "detka?" she mumbled. 

"Shh baby, go back to sleep" you replied before turning the TV off and leaving the room to make a large pot of chicken and corn noodle soup. 

You knew when Natasha was awake again, her coughing was her giveaway. Lucky for her, you brought everything she needed to help fight the nasty bug. You dished up two bowls of soup, made Nat a fresh lemon and honey tea and grabbed the box of cold & flu tablets you brought, placing it all on a large tray to take to her in bed. 

"Hi sleepy head" you smiled softly as you entered the bedroom, Natasha quickly sat up, her eyes a reddish color and her nose still as red as it was this morning. "You're enjoying this too much" Nath shook her head as you placed the tray over her lap, "maybe just a little" you replied before taking your bowl of soup and walked around to your side of the bed. 

"You should probably sleep in the guest room detka, I don't want you getting what I have" Natasha looked over at you and watched as you got into bed, "are you kidding me? I'm usually the one who gets sick! If you think I am going to miss the chance to take care of you, you're dreaming" you replied with a chuckle. Natasha just shook her head at your stubbornness and filled her mouth with the goodness of homemade soup. 

After dinner, Natasha snuggled up to you as you both watched a movie, your fingers rang through her hair as she began to drift into another slumber. You didn't care if you would catch her bug, you just wanted her to know that you would always look after her and not just when she was sick. She might be the world's famous Black Widow but to you, she's Natasha Romanoff, the woman you love.

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#yelenasdiary asks #anon #fanfiction #natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #marvel #flufftober #black widow

[ryxiez]

Too Much Work

Lucifer x gn!Reader

Fluff

1.6k words

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

Lucifer has been seemingly more distant than usual as you barely ever see him around the house anymore. It also worried you that Mammon’s name was yelled through the halls lesser than usual and it was hard to believe that Mammon was actually behaving himself.

After a few days of this, you figured that perhaps something was wrong, possibly Diavlo managed to dump another huge pile of student council work on the poor demon.

You figured that was the case due to the amount of meetings the council has been holding lately. There was probably a lot going on now that it's almost “summer break” break time and they have to plan events. (even though there really is no summer in Devildom).

On the other hand, Lucifer has slowly begun to skip more and more meals. This meant you were always bringing him anything you could save from the grasps of the other brothers. Especially Beel. He even enjoyed your human world cooking the most so it was odd to see him miss out on the delicacies you provided.

However, this time you managed to save a decent amount of food by giving Beel some Grimm to get desserts at Madam Screams with his twin brother, who you also had to pay to go. He was so overjoyed that he started drooling a bit and ran off with a sleepy in Belphie in tow.

You shook your head with a smile and started to make your way up the stairs, each step felt painfully long and loud with the lightly creaky floor boards. However, you still tried to be as quite as possible because running into another one of the 4 brothers would be a big obstacle that you didn’t want to deal with.

When you arrived at the secret passage in the library, with no strings attached, a sigh of relief left your lungs. One of your hands was full with a dinner plate so with your other you knocked three times. (my memory is fuzzy and can't really remember how you get into his secret office thing so just bare with me on this one)

"Hey Lucifer, it's me, MC!" You slightly raised your voice so he could hear you through the door, "uhhh, it was my turn to make dinner tonight so I managed to save you some!"

Of course you would always knocked on Lucifer's door. You knew better once you saw what happened to the other brothers multiple times when they tried to sneak into Lucifer's room.

After letting the demon become aware of your presence outside, an audible sigh was heard from the inside and then,

"Come in." The voice you knew all too well called from inside.

One that note, you managed to open the door without dropping the plate, balancing it in your other hand. You then made your way to his desk as a slight smile was shown on your face.

Lucifer's posture was not the best as he had a pair of reading glasses on the bridge of his nose with a pen in his hand. A bunch of papers scattered across large desk.

"My apologies, you know I don’t mean to seem rude by missing out on your dinner. I hope you know that you truly are my favorite chef in this entire house, but Diavolo needs all these papers read through and signed by tomorrow’s council meeting." He explained.

"Don't worry, I already know you weren't trying to be rude. I figured that paperwork must have been the issue anyway, so now I am here to save the day." You inquired as a playful small flashed across your face.

You took the papers in the middle of the desk and brushed them aside making space for the warm dinner plate still in your hand. You tried not to mess his work up too much but you didn't want anything to spill off the plate as it was kind of packed to the brim with food.

"MC, what are you doing?" The blacked hair demon questioned and slightly raised his eyebrow at you in response.

"Making sure you eat, that's all. And while you do that I'll be working on whatever needs to be done so it's almost like you didn't take a break at all!" You explained as you reached over and took Lucifer's reading glasses off his head, resting them upon your nose instead. Lucifer seemed ticked off at first but he knew he couldn't get mad, you were only being playful and trying to help.

A soft but yet deep chuckle left his lips as he shook his head at you, yet he still picked up the utensils and began to eat the food you prepared anyway.

You were standing next to the side of his desk trying to read the papers that were in English, but many of them happened to be in the language the demons seemed to use regularly, so you couldn't understand much.

A sigh escaped your lips, "I'm sorry Lucifer but I don't understand even half these documents.." you said as you looked defeated. Lucifer finished this plate of food quickly and set it aside, now ready to get back to work yet again.

"Don't worry, I didn't expect you to. However, it was amusing to watch you try to read them in confusion." He chuckled again as he stole his reading glasses back, "Why don't you take a seat, you've been standing this whole time."

You looked around his study but the only seat happened to be the one he was sitting in.

Confused you asked, "Um.. where do you want me to sit? I mean I could just sit on the floor if that's ok?" Your response came out more like a question than you intended.

"You humans are so clueless sometimes." Lucifer said as he shook his head in amusement.

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean!" You wined a bit at his snarky comment.

The demon patted the spot on his lap signaling that he wanted you to sit... there. Your face heated up a tad as your mouth made an "oh", realizing what he meant all along.

"A-.. Are you sure? I mean I don't want to disturb you..." You stuttered a bit, making you even more embarrassed by the situation.

"You said you wanted to help me right? I'm not saying you have to do anything, but having you near me would be beneficial." Lucifer explained with a smirk across his face.

"Fine." Was all you said as you climbed into the demons lap. You straddled his waist and rested your head on his shoulder as your hands gently rested on his sides, wrapping around him. After you were situated he wrapped one arm around your waist as well, his dominant hand then picking up the previously dropped pen and began working again.

You could've sworn you felt him leave a small kiss on your head, but maybe you were imagining things. You were tired after all.

Breathing in his cologne made you feel more relaxed than ever. You let out a soft sigh as your eyelids left heavy and your breathing started to slow down and even out. After just a few minutes you were out like a light in a peaceful sleep. Lucifer didn't notice until after some time. His hand cramped up a bit so he took a second to place the pen down, but when he looked down at you, his eyes softened.

He checked the time on his watch and realized that it was later than he thought it was. Picking you up with you still against his chest, he brought you down the hall to where your own room was located. Opening the door strategically with you still in his arms, he made his way over to your comfy bed and set you down as gently as possible.

Once you were laid down nicely, he softly brushed stray hair from your face. It was no doubt that you happened to be a descendent of Lilith, you definitely had the most angelic features Lucifer had ever laid eyes upon.

Just as he was about to leave your side and head back to his study, you stirred in your sleep, noticing the warmth he provided you was gone.

"Please... please stay." Was all you managed to mumble out as you slightly reached your tired hand out him. He took a second to think about your offer.

"Fine but only this once." He said, too exhausted to fight back.

He removed his suit coat and hung it on the edge of the bed frame and placed his other articles of clothing at the foot of the bed. By the time he was done he was left in his button down dress shirt and boxers. He was a bit embarrassed to sleep with you in this minimal amount of clothing, but he wouldn't be able to ever get comfortable and sleep in a suit and dress pants.

Once he laid down next to your figure, you instinctively cuddled close to his chest missing his warmth already. Lucifer smiled as he looked down at you as he pressed a kiss to your forehead. With a heavy sigh, he relaxed as well and wrapped both his arms around your waist, bringing you even closer than before. He knew that he never wanted to let you go.

≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪

#obey me lucifer #obey me x y/n #obey me x reader #obey me x mc #fluffy #tooth rotting fluff #in a cuddly mood #obey me comfort #obey me fluff #x reader comfort #obey me #lucifer #lucifer x gender neutral reader #lucifer x you #lucifer x reader #lucifer x mc #fanfic #x y/n #x reader #x mc #ryxiez

[xmasterofmunsonx]

Got Your Number

Summary: You’re Steve Harrington’s older sister and after a rough and tumultuous breakup, you’re back in Hawkins, Indiana. 🌶️

Pairing: harrington!reader x Eddie Munson

Author’s notes: yooooo thank you for sticking it out with me. I’ve been very sick for the last few weeks and have had no energy to do anything except exist so here’s a nice little chapter for you all!!!!

Warnings: 18+ (Minors DNI!!), language, drinking, weed, mentions of past abusive relationship, mention of body image issues, SMUT, fluff and lmk if I ever leave anything out!!

Word count: 7K+

IV.

Friday morning came too soon for your liking. Eddie was at work at the music store and your mom had begged you again to come help decorate. Charlie’s mom was busy on the other end of the banquet room as you were making the flower arrangements for the centerpieces.

“Need help?” Steve’s voice caught you off guard.

“No, just keep her away from me.” You motioned with your head towards your ex-future mother in law. “She’s been glaring at me since I got here.”

“Might have a bigger problem than her here soon. He’s here early.” Your stomach sank as Steve told you what you were dreading the most.

You heard a heavy door open and shut, and in walked Charlie… and Grace. Perfect. Maybe they could occupy each other. “I’m not leaving your side.” Steve assured you as he fiddled with some random flowers nervously.

“Fuck them.” You muttered underneath your breath. You looked up and checked out Charlie- he looked better than the last time you’d seen him. Of course, the last time you’d seen him he was shit faced drunk, high off cocaine, and at his lowest, so anything would look better than that. His jeans seemed to fit him better and- you shook your head, what the fuck were you doing staring at him?

“You okay?” Steve seemed to notice your staring as he nudged you with his shoulder.

“Yeah, fine. Just… weird.”

“I get it. First time I saw Nancy with Jonathan after was… uncomfortable.” You felt embarrassed for looking at him, someone who’d been so wrong to you in every way possible when you had someone so much better now. “Eddie said he’s coming by at 3, just so you know.”

You looked at the clock and it was almost lunch time.

“I’m gonna head out and grab lunch, you wanna come with me?” You brushed the leaf clippings that were sticking to your sweaty palms against your jeans and put the scissors down on the table.

“Nah, I’ll stick around here if you’ll bring me something back.” Steve handed you some cash and you took it and left.

Surprising Eddie at work had not been on your list of things to do since Steve had told you he was coming around 3, but it sounded much better than lunch by yourself and you wanted to waste as much time out as possible.

“Hey baby!” Eddie said, dropping the pile of records he was holding carefully onto the table beside him. “What are you doing here?”

“Hmmm, didn’t know if you could take a lunch with me. I’m all tuckered out from making floral arrangements for the high society members of Hawkins.” You joked as wrapped your arms around him and pecked him on the lips, not caring about the few customers in the shop.

“You do smell like flowers.” He took a big whiff of your hair as he kissed your head and hugged you back.

“And you smell like Eddie.” You nuzzled into his chest, breathing in his scent of weed, cigarettes, and just… him.

“Is that good or bad?” He asked you, smiling as he looked down.

“It’s good. Really good.” You watched as his smile widened and reached the crinkles in his eyes.

“Let me go tell Jeff I’m taking lunch for once, the van is out back. I’ll drive us.” You gave him a thumbs up and exited the store, immediately finding his car. “So what’s up?” He asked as he hopped into the drivers seat, “why are you really here? Couldn’t resist my looks, missed me so much?” He winked as he backed out of the parking spot.

“I mean all of that, but I also just wanted to get out of that banquet hall. Charlie and Grace showed up. I know their moms are all on the committee with my mom too, so I left Steve there, and I wanted to waste as much time as I could.”

Eddie gasped and clutched his chest, “Just waste some time with me?!”

“No, that’s not what I-”

“Baby, I know you didn’t mean that.” Your stomach flipped at the nickname again. “I’m sorry he’s there. Did he speak to you? Do I need to go… what did Grace say? Snap his bones?”

“Remember, we’re supposed to be the well behaved ones.” You eyed him and watched his grip tighten on the wheel. “But no, as soon as they got there I left. It should be easier to avoid them tonight with more people there, and we can leave early too.”

Eddie nodded quietly to himself as his music played in the background. The song ended and he turned it down before he started to talk, “I just can’t believe that piece of shit could treat you so bad and have the fucking nerve to come to this stupid ass benefit, sorry, all the way from goddamn Chicago? After you got the cops involved there? As if that meant nothing. He’s just gonna prance around Hawkins untouched. I really hope he doesn’t cross me because I don’t know that I can trust myself.”

“Then you can’t come tonight, Eddie.” You said, putting your hand on his knee. He looked down at it, then back at the road.

“So you really don’t want to be seen with me, do you?”

“No, I-“

“No. I’ll stay home. You go have fun with all your friends.” You two pulled up at the restaurant to eat lunch, but you both sat there not moving, noticing the tense air between you two at Eddie’s quick mood change. “All your stupid old rich little high school friends you ‘hated.’ Dating me is probably part of a-”

You interrupted him, “Eddie Munson. Shut up. I want to be seen with you. I want you to go with me- you just cannot get into a fight at this dumb benefit, okay? That’s all I’m asking. No matter who’s there.”

“Sorry.” He looked like a hurt puppy apologizing to you. “I’m just nervous about tonight.”

“Steve and I set up the seating chart for the tables. It’s you, me, Robin, him, Hopper, Joyce, Nancy and Jonathan at ours. We’re gonna be fine. They’re on the opposite side of the hall and Hopper is seated to where he can keep his eyes on him at all times, okay?”

Eddie swallowed and nodded, “Can you stay with me the rest of the day? I don’t want you going back there without me.”

“I told Steve that I’d bring him lunch. We can do that together and then I’ll tell them I have to go home?” Your mom had to understand the seriousness of the situation.

Lunch went by quick, you ended up getting Eddie to lighten up and crack a few jokes eventually, and then you boxed up some pizza to take back to Steve. You both walked into the banquet hall together, Eddie clutching your hand as soon as you saw Charlie’s car was still there.

“Hey, here’s your pizza. Where’s mom?” You asked after quickly finding your brother.

“Hallway.” He said through a bite of pizza. Eddie stayed back to talk to Steve, spotting Charlie busy in the corner helping his mom and Grace with something.

“Hey mom. I’m really not comfortable being here with so few people and Charlie. Is it okay if I go home? I brought some leftover pizza if you need some food, Steve’s got it.”

You could see the judgement in her eyes over your lunch choice and she just smiled, “That’s fine. You’ve done enough. The flower arrangements look beautiful.” You smiled sweetly at her, then made your way back to the big room. You picked up your pace at the sound of yelling voices- all three you recognized. Except it was Eddie yelling your brother’s name.

Steve was on top of Charlie and Eddie was pulling him off as you walked in the door. Grace stood in horror as Charlie’s mom rushed up behind them.

“Maybe if your son would keep his mouth shut he wouldn’t get a broken nose!” Steve yelled as Eddie backed him away from Charlie who was clutching his bloody face.

“Maybe if your sister wasn’t the town whore with the freak then-”

“Town whore, Charlie? You sure that’s not Grace that you’re with?” You went to go lunge at Charlie, but felt two hands pulling you back. It was both your brother and Eddie. “What, he gets to punch him, but I can’t? He sure used to punch me.”

Charlie’s mom gasped behind him, “Don’t you dare spread lies about my son!”

“Lies? I’m so sorry. What verbiage would you prefer I use for how he hit me in Chicago? Would you like the copy of the police reports, or the pictures I had to take? Which ones would suit you better, because I can get both of them easily for you.” By now your mom had made it into the hall and was standing with her arms crossed.

“What did I-”

“It was him!” All 3 of you pointed to Charlie and backed away. Charlie’s mom and your mom stood speechless staring at one another as if they were waiting for the other to speak up.

“He called her-” Steve started but Eddie interrupted him.

“He doesn’t need to be here, or be around her. He’s not safe, and it’s not fair that he’s here.” Eddie stood firm, stepping in front of you and standing up to your mom.

“Not safe?” Charlie spoke up through his bloodied mouth and nose, “You’re one to talk, you fucking murderer.”

You watched in slow motion as Eddie lunged at Charlie, you saw Steve try to pull him back but Eddie pushed him away. Eddie grabbed Charlie by the collar of his shirt and spit in his face.

“You’re really original for that one, man. What else you gonna call me? The freak? Get the fuck out of here and take your girl with you.” He shoved him backwards with force and you watched as Charlie stumbled away, with Grace and his mom by his side.

Eddie huffed as he walked the opposite way to the doors leading to outside and you followed him, hearing Steve and your mom arguing already.

“Hey, you didn’t have to do all that.”

“What, defend you? Yes, I did.”

“You could’ve gotten in a lot of trouble.”

“I want you to put a restraining order against him here in Hawkins so he can’t come near you.” Eddie lit a cigarette and took a huge hit off of it. “Hopper will take care of it. I don’t know how you put up with his bullshit for so long.”

“Me neither but I didn’t really have a choice, Eddie.” You kicked at a rock, watching it skip down the walkway.

“Uh, yeah you did. You could’ve fucking left.”

“It’s not that easy.” You shook your head at his lack of understanding.

“Sure was easy for you to leave me behind. And then leave town to go to Chicago.” He had you there. You had abandoned him once, and completely skipped town without missing a beat once you graduated high school. You watched as he continued to smoke his cigarette down to the filter, stubbing it out against the brick wall.

“Take me home.” You said, crossing your arms.

“No way am I letting you out of my sight.” He shook his head at you, his curls loosely flying awry.

“Eddie Munson, I want to go home. I’m not going tonight.”

“No, you’re coming with me and we’ll get ready at my house. Your dress is there.”

“I’m not going. I’ll go get Steve to take me home, then.” You were fuming as you turned on your feet and marched back into the building. Eddie had no idea what you’d been through- despite you telling him everything you could already, he clearly still had no idea how scary Charlie could be and why you couldn’t “just leave” him. You didn’t want to go tonight- Charlie attending or not, you were done with the whole fucking benefit. You were remembering why it was so easy to leave Hawkins in the first place.

Steve and your mom were going at it in the banquet hall- Steve’s hip was cocked to the side and he was running his hand through his hair constantly as he talked with his other hand- it was something you both did when you were deep in a conversation or argument.

“Can you take me home?” You interrupted them, not caring what your mom had to say.

“Gladly, let’s go.” Steve whipped his keys from his pocket as you both stormed out. Eddie tried stopping you on the way to your brother's car.

“Hey, where are you taking her?”

“Home. We’re both going home.” Steve answered for you as you tried to hold back angry tears.

“Oh, so you’re really not going tonight?”

“No man, leave her alone. It’s been a bad enough day as it is, just leave it be.” Steve held his hand up at Eddie’s chest as he tried to get closer to you. You turned and got in the passenger seat, focusing on the seatbelt as Steve rounded the car to get in the driver's seat. You looked up just in time to see Eddie getting in his van and speeding off almost as soon as his door slammed shut.

“Sorry.” You said, unsure of what you were sorry for. But you felt like it was all your fault. Hot tears started streaming down your face, you were quick to wipe them before they could fall any further.

“Nothing to be sorry about. He’s gotta simmer down on his own, and Charlie is a piece of shit. You should probably get a restraining order against him though in Hawkins, that was enough today to warrant one I’d say.”

“Yeah, Eddie said the same thing.” You sniffed, and felt Steve’s hand on your arm.

“He’ll be fine. Eddie’s been through a lot, we all have, and he doesn’t know how to manage his anger sometimes. It’s best if he just keeps to himself. I wouldn’t want him to say anything to you he’d regret later.” You silently nodded and wiped more tears away on the ride home, looking out the window to avoid looking at your brother.

A few hours went by and your mom came home to get ready for the event. She found you laid in your bed, you’d been crying on and off all day waiting for Eddie to at least maybe call, but after the second hour you’d given up on that.

“You don’t look very ready to go tonight.”

“I’m not going.”

“Yes you are.” She stood firm in your doorway, looking the most dressed up you’d seen her in a while.

“No, I’m not. I’m a grown woman who can make my own decisions.”

“Then I’ll have to tell your date who’s waiting on you downstairs that you’re standing him up.” You lifted your head up to get a better look at your mom- she had your dress in her hands and was offering it to you. “He got here a little bit ago with Robin. Jim took care of Charlie, and you have 20 minutes to get yourself together.” You nodded at her and she placed the dress on your bed. You quietly thanked her and as she walked out of the room.

You were quick to wash your face, it was puffy from crying but you were able to fix it up with some cold water, and hide the redness with some makeup.

“Hey Robin! Can you come help me zip my dress?” You poked your head out of your room as you held your dress up on your body and waited. You heard footsteps coming up the stairs and turned around to show your back to her, but the hands that grabbed at your zipper weren’t Robin’s. They were Eddie’s, you could feel the warmth of his rings against your back, and the tremble his hands had as he nervously zipped the back of the dress up on you, pushing a few stray hairs out of the way.

You turned to face him, and he looked at you with sad, puppy dog eyes.

“I’m really sorry for earlier today.” His hands reached out to your shoulders as he ran his thumbs in a calming manner over your soft skin. “I didn't want to-”

“Yeah, Steve told me.” You crossed your arms and brushed his hands away from you, “Let’s go before we’re late.” You tried walking out of your room, but Eddie tugged you back in.

“Heyyy.” He tried smiling at you, and you didn’t have one to return to him. “I mean it. I got extremely jealous of seeing Charlie and I let the worst of me get to me. What he said about you pissed me off. I got really mad and I say stupid shit when I’m really mad sometimes, and didn’t want to say something to you that would hurt you, okay?” You nodded, and he put his thumb on your chin to make you look at him. “I wanna have fun with you tonight, as stupid as this thing is, alright?”

“Thanks for apologizing.” You leaned forward and pecked him on the lips, but that wasn’t enough for him.

Eddie pulled you close to him with his hands on either side of your face, and you wrapped your arms around your neck, pushing your body weight against his and backing him up towards your bedroom door, causing it to slam shut. He flipped you two around so your back was to the door, and he planted his hands beside you, pinning you against it.

“Thought you didn’t wanna be late, baby?” His voice was thick with lust, a slow drawl that you rarely heard coming from his lips. “Steve left with Robin and your parents a few minutes ago anyway, we got the house to ourselves now.” You let out a whimper at the way Eddie was staring you down. “You’re so easy, you know that?”

You blushed as you tucked a piece of hair behind your ear. “No I’m not.” You faked confidence as you raised an eyebrow at him.

“You practically just whined at me.” His thumb traced the outline of your jaw, “and you’re leaning into my touch. I can feel how badly you want me.” He leaned against you more, forcing his thigh between your legs and you moaned at the friction. You two lunged back at each other hungrily, messily kissing each other and grabbing at each other wherever you could. You caught your hips looking for some more friction and you felt the smirk forming on his face as you could also feel him growing harder in his pants.

“Told you that you were easy. Let’s go before we’re late.” He reached behind you, withdrew his leg, and twisted the door handle to leave your bedroom. “We can finish later tonight, yeah?” He placed a hot kiss below your earlobe, nipping at your neck, and you whined at the loss of contact.

The benefit was as boring as you imagined, but the free wine and beer were enough to keep all of you there for a few hours. Jonathan and Nancy had a stomach bug so they were missing from your table.

Your mom showed you off to some of her friends, and you had to introduce Eddie yourself to them- you knew most of them knew who he was, but you were proud of him and wanted to make sure they knew you two were there together. After you and Robin returned from a bathroom break full of drunk giggles, you sat down in the seat beside Eddie.

“Hi.” You looked at him with a grin.

“Hi, my sweet girl.” He gazed back at you, matching your grin. He wasn’t drinking tonight, but you knew he’d been sneaking out to smoke some by the glaze in his eyes.

“Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?” You smoothed down a flyaway curl away from around his face and he blushed at your comment.

“You have, and you look beautiful tonight, my dear.” He leaned in to peck you on the lips.

“We gotta stay through my parents' speech, then we can leave.” You told him, this was always the part you hated the most because you and Steve always had to go stand on stage with them. When you were younger you used to always get fussed at on the way home for the way you “misbehaved” on stage, but it was always Steve who was the one poking you or pulling your hair making you two get into a cat fight.

You were shocked at how the night had stayed uneventful- Charlie’s mom kept to herself at her table with empty seats around her since her son and Grace were absent, but you didn’t miss the glances she was shooting at you constantly. Anytime she would, you would just scoot a little closer to Eddie and hold his hand, or peck him on the cheek. Sure, you were putting on a little bit of a show, but the wine was partly to blame for that- it turned you into way more of a flirt than you usually were.

You watched as your dad approached your table, motioning for you and Steve to get up to follow him.

“Here we go, former Hawkins Queen.” He said in a sing-song voice and you rolled your eyes.

“After you, King Steve.” You joked back at him as you were both letting the laughter fly between the two of you.

Your mom started the speech off the same, welcoming everyone and thanking them for their generosity to the community especially after having to rebuild the town this year. You glanced around at all of the made up faces and fake smiles and found one of the only genuine ones in the room- Eddie’s. He was beaming at you with his chin resting on his hand, and he waved at you with a wiggle of his fingers- to which you waved right back. Steve elbowed you in the ribs and you dramatically said “Ow!”

“Sh!” Your dad spoke back at the two of you.

You pinched Steve’s arm, to which he hissed back. Neither of you were paying attention to your parents, but it was fun to act like kids again knowing that you were still rebelling against their wishes for your behavior.

“Bar right after this?” Steve leaned into you with his eyebrows raised, and you nodded quickly.

“Sounds like way more fun than being stuck here with all of these boring losers.” You said a little too loud, and your mom turned back to look at you with a scowl on her face. You quietly apologized and looked out to see Eddie, Robin, Joyce and Hopper all holding back laughter- they must’ve heard you over the microphone.

Five minutes later and your mom was done talking, and you and Steve raced down the stage stairs to get back to your table. Your parents were much more pretentious in the way they exited the stage, waving and stopping to talk to folks as they made their way back to their table.

“C’mon, we’re going out.” You grabbed Eddie’s arm and pulled him up out of his seat as you chugged the rest of your wine glass, and Steve and Robin followed you two out. Once the breeze of fresh air hit your face you felt better immediately. You hated the uncomfortable atmosphere of the benefit, and you couldn’t get out of there quick enough. Eddie led you three back to his van where you all piled in and drove to a different dive bar on the edge of Hawkins.

You four stood out like a sore thumb in your attire, despite both boys ditching their ties. Eddie had unbuttoned a few of his buttons on his shirt to reveal his necklaces, and passed his jacket on to you because the night had gotten rather chilly.

“You seem to have a bad habit of forgetting your jackets.” He commented as you sat down at a booth.

“You seem to not have a problem letting me always wear your jackets.” You winked as you tugged it tightly to your body. His heavy hand fell to your thigh where he gave it a squeeze, and let it rest there as the four of you picked up conversation about how boring tonight was.

“I’d rather it be boring than the alternative of what we were anticipating happening.” Steve spoke over his beer glass across the table from you.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Robin had switched to beer too, the sketchy bar not offering any wine. “But how great would it have been for Charlie to have gotten arrested tonight? In front of all of those people.”

“I don’t even want to talk about him. I’m having too much fun.” You fretted, and she apologized for bringing him up.

Eddie quickly changed the subject, “You guys coming to the show tomorrow night?”

Steve and Robin shook their heads, “No, we’re both on closing shift for being off tonight.” Steve answered for both of them and you didn’t miss the way Eddie’s face flashed disappointment before he donned a small smile saying it was okay.

You sat there looking at the three of them interacting, never thinking that you’d be here of all places a few years after graduation, with Eddie’s hand on your leg. You never thought your brother would be best friends with Robin Buckley, or even slightly friends with Eddie Munson- much less how close the two of them were. You wanted to hear more about their stories of the Upside Down, because whatever had happened had bonded them so deeply that even though their conversation was unrelated to it, you felt a little out of place listening in by the way they were all getting along so well.

You sipped your drink and got into your thoughts about tonight and how differently it could’ve gone, how different things would’ve been a year ago. You would’ve maybe been back with Charlie, had to go back to his parents house after where he would pass out from drinking too much, or forced you into doing something you didn’t want to do. And now you were here with your brother, his best friend, and your old best friend who was now your boyfriend. All in the matter of a few weeks. Hawkins was your home after all, and tonight made it feel a little more like normal.

“You good?” You noticed Robin and Steve had gotten up, and left you and Eddie at the booth by yourselves. “You’re being awfully quiet, Harrington.”

“Yeah, just a little bit drunk and thinking a little too much.” Your eyelids batted at Eddie who was endearingly searching your face for any sign of any other thought.

“Whatchya thinkin’ about?” He propped his head on his hand as he turned to look at you.

“Just… how close the three of you are, and how I feel a little left out. And how weird it is to be back here, with you, and how quick it all seems.”

“We don’t have to move fast.”

“I don’t think we are, I just feel like I’m intruding on something. You three are fine talking amongst yourselves, I just was… admiring the friendships you have. How… unexpected…? they are.”

Eddie narrowed his eyes at you, “You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, Eddie.” You placed your hand on his leg and squeezed it, his hand falling over top of yours and guiding it higher up his thigh to where you could feel his dick getting hard.

“I’m high, and horny, and the way you’ve been staring at me for the last five minutes has me ready to take you in the bathroom right here and now. So unless you want me to go rub one out in the bathroom myself- which, I wouldn’t mind- then please come join me while your brother and Robin are getting more drinks and are hitting on the bartenders.” You glanced over his shoulder to where, sure enough, the two were distracted by the girls working behind the bar. You pushed Eddie out of the booth and all but ran to the hallway of single stall bathrooms. You picked the last one on the hall, and said a quiet thank you that there was a working lock on the door.

“Your tits look amazing in this dress, I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you all night.” Eddie’s greedy hands grabbed at your side as he worked his way up to your chest, massaging your breasts through the satin material. You couldn’t wear a bra with the straps of the dress so you had opted to go without, and his thumbs rubbed over your nipples, making them go hard against the cool, silky fabric. Your body arched into his as he was kissing across the expanse of your throat, you were sure he’d be leaving marks that would appear in the morning, but you didn’t care about that right now because everything felt so good.

You tugged him into you so you could feel more of his body against yours, and you kissed him hard the second he took his mouth off of your neck. The kiss was sloppy- you were drunk, and he was high, and the two of you wanted each other so badly that neither of you cared about the messiness of the kiss- you just knew you needed him right now.

“What do you want, sweetheart?” He asked you in that low voice again as he pushed your foreheads together, both of you panting, “Or do you not know again?” He mocked, you knew he didn’t mean it, and his confidence was getting you going even more.

“What do you want?” You turned the question on him and watched as his head flew back as you grabbed at his hard length through his black pants. “You want that, yeah? You want me on my knees for you?”

His hands left your body as he ran his fingers over his face, and through his hair, and desperately panted out, “Fuck yes, baby.”

You undid his belt with his dark eyes on you, and he guided you down with his hand on top of your head as you sunk to the floor of the bathroom. He was pumping his thick cock with his other hand as you were at eye level with it, it’s size intimidating you, but you weren’t going to let that get to you. His hand pushed your head forward and you opened your mouth with your tongue splayed out and he let out a moan of pleasure as your tongue made contact with the underside of his cock.

“Oh, that feels so good.” He said as you bobbed your head on his cock, adding a hand to pump him into your mouth as the other hand dug into his thigh to help steady yourself. “Fuck, you wanted this all night too, didn’t you? I wanted to see you on your knees in that bathroom at the dumb fucking banquet but this is so much better.” You looked up at him through your lashes and realized what a goner he was for you.

You moaned as his tip hit the back of your throat, and you popped yourself off of him and kept pumping him with your hand, “Town freak with the town slut? What a pair we would’ve been.” You felt his hands back in your hair as he pushed your mouth back down onto his cock, and he pulled you off sloppily, drool stringing from your mouth to his tip.

“Get up before I blow this load into your mouth, I don’t wanna waste it.” He slowly pumped his dick as he watched you stand up, his head tilted in a cocky manner, “turn around and stick your ass out, Harrington.” He guided you to the tile of the bathroom wall where you obeyed. His hands were quick to pull your dress up over your hips, and he slid your thong to the side, “So fucking wet and I haven’t even touched you. I bet this is the shit you love, isn’t it?” You didn’t know what to say as you felt his fingers feel your wet cunt, you were practically dripping already from excitement. “Hawkins High School queen, getting fucked by me in the bathroom of a bar.” With no warning, the tip of his dick replaced his fingers as he shoved himself into your pussy.

“Fuck, Eddie!” You hissed, it almost hurt because he was so wide, and you were so tight. He stilled for a second.

“Sorry, baby, I got a little eager, you okay?” He pulled your sweaty hair back and tucked it behind your ear again. “Tell me when.” He kissed your cheek as he rocked slowly to let you adjust to his size.

“I-I’m good.”

“You sure?” His hands gripped onto your hips as he stayed at a slow pace. “You don’t sound good.”

“I’m too good, you feel so good.” Your forehead met the cold tile as you closed your eyes in bliss at the feeling of being so full.

“There’s my girl.” He said into your ear as he thrusted up into you, your moaning and panting matching each others. His hand snaked around the front of you and started rubbing circles into your clit, “want you to cum on my cock, baby, okay?” You nodded because it was all you could do with how good you felt. Your knees started to feel weak as he picked up the pace of his thrusts into you, and you quickly came undone as he went faster and faster, eventually spilling into you with a few final fucks. His teeth sunk into your shoulder as he stayed inside of you, “Fuck. Are you kidding me?”

“What?” Your head shot back to look at him.

“I can’t believe we missed out on years of this. You felt so good, was everything okay?” He nuzzled into your back as he slowly pulled out of you and you jumped a little at how overly sensitive you were feeling.

“Yeah, it was perfect.” You readjusted your underwear and turned to face him. “You were perfect.”

You kissed him on the lips and he kissed back softly, “Sorry I get a little uh, chatty.” His cheeks were blushing pink and you leaned in and kissed one of them.

“I expected nothing different.” You giggled as you fixed his hair, the post sex-bliss fading away quickly as you realized what you had just done, and where you had done it. “I’ve uh, never… done anything like that before.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Eddie buckled up his belt and helped you smooth your hair and dress down, “but I wouldn’t mind doing that again sometime.”

You grabbed his hand after you checked yourselves out in the mirror and headed back to the table where Robin and Steve had just sat down.

“We don’t need to know.” Robin held her hands up.

“Sorry, I got sick from all the wine. I was going to grab you, but I didn’t wanna take you away from a potential date.”

“Damnit, I lost my money!” Robin slid a $10 bill over to Steve.

“Told you, she can’t hold her wine. I had too many wine calls from Chicago that ended in her throwing up to think differently. Plus, those bathrooms are disgusting.” Steve spoke and slid you a glass of water, with which you hid your blushed cheeks behind while Eddie pulled you into his side with a squeeze.

You all finished a round of water before piling back into Eddie’s van, and he drove Steve and Robin back to her house. You leaned your head on Eddie as he drove the way back to his house, and took a deep sigh.

“You okay? A little worried you might actually get sick now, sweetheart.”

“I’m perfectly fine now. Really good actually. Just tired and ready for bed.”

“Really? ‘Cause I’m ready for round two.” Eddie had his eyebrows raised and you shook your head.

“No way, I’m exhausted. And don’t you have work in the morning?”

“Yes, moooom. I’m just kidding by the way. Unless you wanted to, ‘cause that was really good.”

You rolled your eyes at your boyfriend and closed your eyes as the rumbling of the van relaxed you the rest of the way back.

“I’m gonna stay out and smoke one before heading in. You can pick whatever you want to wear to bed from my drawer.” Eddie lit a cigarette and you scurried inside, but not before you asked him to unzip the back of his dress where his fingers lingered a little too long.

You picked one of his old Hellfire shirts and a pair of boxers, and took them to the bathroom to get changed. After washing your face and brushing your teeth, you climbed into his empty bed and waited for him. It must have been a long time, because next thing you knew he was sneaking into the bed with you with just his boxers on, you had already fallen asleep.

“What took you so long?” You groaned out as your hangover was already starting.

“Had to finish writing something. Didn’t wanna wake you up so I went to the living room.”

“What time is it?” You scratched your head and looked around for a clock.

“Uh, like, four in the morning.”

“Eddie, you need sleep.”

“That’s why I’m here.” He said as he pulled the covers over you two and tucked you into his side. “Goodnight, my girl.”

“‘Night.” You muttered as you yawned and drifted back off to sleep.

-

“Eddie, wake up. Wake up!” You shook a sleeping Eddie who was drenched in sweat and yelling out in his sleep.

“What?!” He sat up abruptly and looked around his room. “Fuck.” He put his head in his hands and pulled at the roots of his hair, “fuck, fuck, FUCK! Shit!”

“Hey, what’s wrong?” You placed a hand on his back, and rubbed it to comfort him but he hissed at the contact and leaned away. “Eddie?” You reached out again with a more gentle touch and felt the scars that lined his back. “You okay?”

He shook his head no, and you sat up, pulling him into a hug. He let you, and collapsed into your arms into the hug.

“Bad dream. Bad fucking nightmare.” He muttered to himself and you couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“What?”

“I said, I had a really shitty dream and I haven’t had one in a long time. I need to go smoke.” He pushed off the bed and stormed out of his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. You sat there, stunned at his sudden mood change again. You waited a few minutes before you got out of bed and crept into the living room. You saw the telephone cord stretched out to the back porch from the kitchen, and saw Eddie propped against the railing talking on the phone and… laughing?

“Eddie, are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Well I’m gonna go. Thanks for talking with me. Buh-bye.” He hung the phone up and finished his cigarette, and embraced you in a hug. You carefully put your arms around him and he let you this time, and you soothingly rubbed his back.

“I’m worried about you and your mood swings, Eddie.”

“Sorry. I just had this dream that you were in the upside down with us, and I couldn’t get you away from vecna, and you were caught-”

“Who?” You quirked your eyebrow at him, hoping for some sort of explanation. “Like, vecna from-”

“Yeah, except way worse. And real. Like really fucking real. And my scars hurt everytime I have these nightmares and they fuck me up for days at a time, and I have to call Steve or someone and-” he stopped his rambling as soon as he realized he was telling you about the past. “Sorry I didn’t mean to talk about it too much.”

“Hey, I’m here for you.” You pulled out of the hug and placed your hands on his soft cheeks that were scattered with patches of facial hair. “You can talk to me too. I know Steve was there, but I’m here now.”

“But you weren’t there.”

“But I’m here now. And I’m not going anywhere, Eddie. I mean it.” You kissed his forehead and watched as he melted into another hug of yours. This time it felt like you were holding him. “Eddie, are you- are you popping a boner right now?” You pulled back from the hug and saw his underwear starting to tent up.

“Sorry, but you’re a beautiful woman hugging me braless in one of my Hellfire shirts. Yes, you’re making me hard.” He blushed at his answer before he squeezed your ass. “Now get inside before I bend you over the porch, it’s time for round two.”

TAGLIST: @secretdryrose @adequate-superstar @briasnow-blog @tinyminxie @boomhauer @corrodedcoffincumslut @dylanmunson @kimmi-kat @rhirojo @prestinalove @kellyxo1 @sweeter-innocence-fics

#eddie munson #stranger things #eddie munson x reader #eddie munson writing #eddie munson x harrington!reader #eddie munson smut #stranger things 4 #eddie munson x you #eddie munson fanfic #eddie x fem!reader #eddie munson x fem!reader smut #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson x female character #eddie munson x fem!reader

[ventingfanfics]

an angsty to fluff fic where shuri is a known player in the royal family but the reader is a sweetheart and then shuri falls for her and tried to win her over but reader cannot believe it or is flabbergasted?? happy ending tho pls <3

First of all, many of you are so cute with your little requests. So many of you are creative! Okay, this one is LONG. I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to leave comments. It probably will have a second part.

Don't Wanna be a Player No More

The meeting at the palace finished, but M’Baku stuck around, joining Shuri for lunch. Together they walked into the cafe. 

In time, they had grown closer with the Jabari leader taking on the role of a big brother. He would never replace T’Challa nor was he trying to. He simply cared about Shuri and felt she’d been dealt extremely cruel hands. He wanted to be of support to her. Plus, they found that they enjoyed the other’s company. 

“Bast, I’m starving,” Shuri said, approaching the food court.

“I could eat multiple feasts right now,” M’Baku agreed.

“That’s you on the daily.”

“And what about it? A king has to eat. Do you see my stature? I can’t afford to play small.” Just as he said that, his eyes landed on one of the servers. He offered his best smile. “See, Hadiza here knows just what I’m talking about.”

“Why must you bring Hadiza into it? She’s here to feed your belly not your ego.” Shuri cracked a smile at the pretty worker who softly laughed. 

“I come in peace,” Hadiza said, piling food onto their plates and earning laughter from them. 

“Ah, here’s Riri. Someone with respect,” M’Baku called, seeing the science genius enter the premises. She was not alone. Another woman accompanied her.    You. 

Shuri, who sat her plate down at a table, followed M’Baku’s gaze. 

“Goodness, could you stare any harder?” He said rather than asked Shuri, who nodded in greeting at Riri. 

“For your information, she looks familiar.” As Shuri watched you taking your turn to get your food, she tried to place you, but to no avail. 

“She also looks like your next victim,” M’Baku said, amused by his own joke. 

Shuri threw a crumb at him. “Hush up. I’m a single woman.”

You walked with Riri over to them, feeling a little nervous about meeting Wakanda’s new Queen. You knew this day would come considering your opportunity.

“Hey y’all.” Riri smiled. “Shuri, I’m sure you know Y/N. M’Baku, this is Y/N.”

You wanted to shake Shuri’s hand but it seemed like bad timing with it being lunch and all.

“How are you?” M’Baku cordially greeted you, slyly taking you in. 

“He’s the leader of the Jabari tribe,” Riri explained to you. 

You laughed a bit and nodded because you were well aware. “And this must be Queen Shuri,” You said, successfully making the others laugh. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” You bowed.

Riri’s smile faded as she sat down. She had told you it was unnecessary to do that yet it did in fact feel necessary. First impressions were everything and you were raised to respect people and if bowing was a royal custom, so be it.

There was a mysterious small groan that could be heard. 

“You don’t have to do that,” Shuri said, to which M’Baku agreed.

“Told you,” Riri muttered before eating her baked potatoes.

“I’m sorry,” You said, feeling your skin heat up.

Shuri waved it off with a smile. “All good. Just promise me that’ll be the first and last time you do that. Deal?”

“Deal.”

You were relieved that things were going well so far on your first day at the palace. 

“So Y/N, do you work with Riri?” M’Baku asked, making conversation.

“I do, only for two hours, though. I’m mainly here to do outreach work.” You ignored the fact that Shuri was staring at you. Of course she’d be interested in this conversation. It was her business.

“Ah, that’s how I know you,” the Queen said, holding her fork. “Nakia referred you.”

You smiled. “Yes.”

“That’s impressive ‘cause Nakia wouldn’t just send over anyone.”

“Duh,” Riri said, making M’Baku laugh. She grinned at the look Shuri gave her. “Nah, but I just have a good feeling about Y/N being here. She’s dope.”

“Aww, thank you! The feeling is mutual. It’s an honor to be surrounded by greatness,” You said, looking at the three of them. 

“You belong here,” Shuri said to you.

You repeated the statement to yourself, knowing you’d never forget it.

~

You were focused on your data work. It consisted of the different organizations you’d been in contact with. In just your first week, you’d connected with hundreds of individuals. The doors opened, but you remained focused. 

“Hey,” You heard Shuri say, causing you to acknowledge her. “Where’s Riri?”

“I think she’s at the cafe with Kenya,” You answered, referring to the genius scientist’s girlfriend. 

Shuri nodded. “Are you coming with us tonight?”

Some of the team was having an outing this evening. Of course you’d been invited and didn’t mind the idea of attending. You liked your colleagues thus far and wanted to make another good impression by showing up.

“Yep, even though I don’t drink…” 

“Neither do I. And I still know how to have fun.” She shrugged a shoulder and came closer, observing your screen. “I really hope you have fun tonight, you deserve it.”

You smiled. “I’m sure I will. You all seem like a good time.”

“What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Are you a good time?” 

You chuckled at her sheer curiosity, tilting your head to the side thoughtfully. “I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m the life of the party, but I vibe off good energy.” 

Shuri smiled, her beauty on constant display. “I know just what you mean.” She rested her hand on your desk. “I promise I have good energy.” She was staring at you while you were entranced by her tattoo.

“Cool tat.”

She laughed softly. “Thank you! Do you have any tattoos?”

Before you could answer, you both heard Riri come in, declaring, “Alright, we out!”

“Hold on,” Shuri called, turning back to you. “Y/N, are you good to go straight there? Or did you need to stop home first?”

“I think I’m good, I have everything I need.”

“But a ride,” Riri said. “C’mon, Kenya’s waiting.”

“Can she at least use the bathroom first?” Shuri said back, pulling a face at you, as if to say “can you believe this girl?”

“You didn't go already? Never mind, it’s cool. I’ll wait.”

“Or you can ride with me,” Shuri mentioned to you.

Riri smirked at the Queen. 

You lifted your hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I do need to go to the bathroom, but I won’t be long. Riri, I don’t want to keep you and Kenya waiting, though.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Let me go with you.” She waited for you to grab your stuff. 

Unbeknownst to you, Shuri admired the view of you as you walked towards Riri. 

“Thanks for offering though, I appreciate it,” You called over your shoulder, smiling at Shuri, who quickly brought her eyes back to your face and matched your expression.

Shuri did her nightly check-in of the lab before leaving. When she went to the bathroom, you were exiting it. You held the door open for her with your usual kind smile. 

“Thank you, usana,” the royal said. “That’s a nice dress, by the way.”

~

After debating, Okoye got involved in this heated exchange that consisted of a female letting Shuri have it. “Excuse me, what seems to be the trouble here?” 

The girl’s eyes widened before she glowered and pointed at Shuri. “So you do have a girlfriend!”

Okoye rolled her eyes to the high heavens. 

“Yes, this is my girlfriend,” Shuri deadpanned, and shooting Okoye a look that said “just go with it.” 

Okoye had other plans. “I am the general, thank you very much.” 

“You’re fucking your general?” 

“For Bast’s sake,” Okoye said as Shuri stifled a laugh.

“Walk away,” Shuri said, steering Okoye away from the infuriated young woman. Okoye of course stayed behind to make sure the stranger left. 

Shuri finally released her laugh as Okoye wore the ultimate look of disgust. 

“You have got to be more selective, your highness.”

“Hey, what’d I say about formality after hours?”

Okoye shook her head. “I thought I was going to have to hurt her, but she’s just an idiot. Why can’t you get involved with one girl? Preferably a decent one with a working brain.” 

Shuri smirked as she eyed you across the room. “Funny you say that because I know someone.”

Okoye followed her vision. “Is that the new girl Y/N?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Maybe I should retract my statement. She seems too good for you.”

“I’m sorry, how did you say you know her again?” Shuri narrowed her eyes at her. 

Okoye smirked. “You know I’m right.”

Shuri tuned Okoye out as you and her made eye contact. You both smiled. Shuri made her way towards you as you finished your plastic cup of soda. 

“The vibes must be off,” said Shuri, speaking down into your ear so you could hear her. She could have sworn she saw you shiver. “Are you cold?” She pulled away and unzipped her royal green Adidas Ivy Park tracksuit. 

“Oh, no, no, you don’t have to do that,” You replied, though the royal was now clad in just a tank top that showed off her fit form. You forced your eyes on her face.

“You sure? It’s not a problem, Y/N.”

“I don’t want you to be cold.”

She chuckled inwardly. “You’re so cute. Tell you what, if I do get cold, you can help warm me up.” She studied your reaction, only getting a little laugh. You were very oblivious.

“Is that your way of saying you want to dance?” You asked her.

“Actually, yeah. I’d like that.” She took your hand, leading you to the dance floor. 

It just so happened they were playing one of your new favorite songs. When that song came on, you didn’t care who was around. 

Shuri and others gassed you up as you moved. But when it was all over, you suddenly turned shy. You looked around and saw two chicks staring you down—but bitterly. 

“Well, damn, what did I do?” You thought aloud.

“Hmm?” Shuri looked at you, listening attentively as you cupped your hand around her ear, informing her of the two strange women. Shuri found the culprits and glared daggers at them until they averted their gazes.

“Do you know them?” You asked. “‘Cause I don’t. Never seen ‘em a day in my life.”

“Don’t pay them no mind, they’re just jealous,” Shuri said, pulling your back against her front. She felt warm, soft, and firm all at once. And she smelled divine. She must have wanted to comfort you because she was stroking your arms. 

Clearly you weren’t the only sweet one.

You leaned into her, which made her smile yet again. “Can we keep dancing? You’re so good at it,” she asked. You laughed and nodded, feeling boosted by her compliment. The next grind-inducing song came on causing you to whine your hips. Fueled by the music, you even dropped it low, backing it up against Shuri, who gripped your hips and moved with you. 

“Damn, Y/N! Okay!” You heard Riri say. “She said I’m not a wallflower no more!”

You and Shuri had a good laugh.

The royal noticed you seemed slightly out of it; she deduced it to her jacket and all the dancing and excitement. She gently removed the jacket from you and held it. “Let’s get you some water, party girl.”

She held your hand and you felt protected as you trekked to the bar. 

“I’m getting ready to head out,” Shuri said. She never liked to stay out too long. 

“Oh, okay,” You looked at her nodding. You weren’t quite ready to leave yourself but if Shuri was leaving, you didn’t care to stay either.

“I can give you a ride,” She offered, to which you accepted. 

Shortly after, you said goodbye to everyone. Kenya was the designated driver for Riri. 

“Bye girl, see you Monday!” Riri hugged you. “Bye, Shuri.” The Queen gave her a side-hug and nodded at Kenya before resting her hand on the small of your back, escorting you out of the club with Okoye and Aneka in tow.

Shuri programmed your address into her car. It smelled as good as she did. 

“I hope you don’t mind, but Okoye and Aneka are gonna follow us,” she mentioned to you before starting the car.

“No, I know. It’s cool. That’s their job.” You got comfy in the chair, leaning back.

“Oh, you’re going to sleep on me?” Shuri asked, starting the car. She jokingly sucked her teeth. “Damn, Y/N.”

“Noo, I’mma keep you company.”

She chuckled and turned on her music at a comfortable volume. “Nah, it’s okay. I’ll wake you up when we’re there.” Although you were close to dozing off, you fought to stay up with Shuri. You felt bad about sleeping when she was giving you a ride. 

She was a little worried that you might fall out, so she walked you to your door. 

“Thank you, Shuri. I had fun tonight,” You spoke as you used your keys.

Your words lit her up. “My pleasure, and you most definitely are a good time.”

You could only yawn in response.

Shuri chuckled. “Have a good sleep, okay?”

You gave her a hug and she gladly accepted, squeezing you. “You too. Get home safe.”

“I will, babe.”

Whenever she called you a pet name, it made you feel gooey inside, but you always pushed it out of your head believing it meant little if anything at all. 

All you could think that besides the ones your grandmother gave, that was one of the best hugs you ever had. 

Shuri waited until you were inside with the door shut before taking her leave. You were surprised when you awoke in the morning to see a text from her: Made it home safely. Enjoy your weekend! x

~

“You texting somebody?” 

Shuri’s smile faded. She was responding to your reply about her making it home safely. You had wished her a happy, restful weekend. “Yes, Imani. Why?”

“Just trying to figure out who with that Kool-aid smile. They gave you good news or something?” 

Shuri stared at her and the woman stared back, arching an eyebrow.

“How’s your food?” Shuri changed the subject. She had taken one of her lady friends out for breakfast.

“It’s good,” her companion admitted, flipping her locs over her shoulder. “I’m not done either.”

“I said you could have whatever you want,” Shuri dryly reminded her. 

“I know. Excuse me, waiter? Yes, I would like try your international omelette next.”

“Okay, and for you, miss?” He addressed Shuri.

“I’m good, thank you.” 

After breakfast, Shuri took Imani to the mall. She was losing patience because unlike herself, Imani was no fast shopper. To say she was taking her precious time was an understatement. Shuri knew it was intentional. Imani felt like she was entitled to get under her skin. 

She was about to just tell Imani to call her when she was done and she’d pick her up. Until she saw you. You were looking at dresses. And just like that, Shuri’s irritation melted away. 

She snuck up behind you, covering your eyes. “You didn’t tell me you were coming to the mall.”

A puff of surprise left your throat. “Shuri?” 

“The one and only.”

You turned around, revealing your bright smile. “You didn’t tell me either, miss thang.”

Shuri motioned to the clothes. “I see you’re looking at dresses, what’s the occasion?”

Her eyes bored into you as you shared that you were buying some work attire.

“Ah, I see…you sure none of these are for a date?” 

You chuckled. “I mean, I guess they could be…” The two of you kept your smiles. “So, what brings you here?”

Shuri’s visage dulled. “I’m here with a friend.”

“Oh, that’s cool.”

“What are you doing after this?”

“Well, actually, I was planning to get a tattoo. Remember you asked me if I had any? This will be my first one.”

Shuri was so interested, firing off questions about what and where and when you planned to get the ink. And then someone shouted her name.

You, Shuri, and other patrons whipped their heads to look at Imani.

“I’m ready,” she announced.

“What did I tell you about screaming my name like that?” Shuri asked after a beat.

“You don’t mind it any other time,” Imani shot back. 

You could feel the tension. But what mainly captivated you was the fact that this chick looked awfully familiar. She looked exactly like one of those women who seemed like they wanted to shank you at the club the other night. 

“It’s rude to stare,” Imani said to you.

“That’s funny, weren’t you staring last night?” You blurted. 

Imani pursed her lips smugly but you just walked alway. You didn't want any trouble. And now it was making sense as to why she’d had a problem with you. 

“Looks like your little girlfriend is upset,” Imani commented to Shuri sarcastically.

~

M’Baku watched as you entered the cafe and took your plate before leaving. 

“The first time I see her all week and she disappears,” he said. “Do I even need to ask what happened?” 

“She probably just doesn’t like you,” Shuri said.

He was unamused. “Ha-ha-ha. Shuri, did you do something to that girl?”

“Her name is Y/N, and, no, but I know you love to think that.” She took a long sip from her water jug

“Then why doesn’t she come around anymore? Even with Riri being out sick today, you would think she would feel welcomed to sit with us.”

“She’s been eating as she works.”

The silence was deafening.

Shuri sighed and looked at M’Baku’s knowing expression. “Ever since she found out about Imani, she’s been keeping a distance,” she quietly relayed. 

His eyebrows went up and he nodded. “And why do you think that is?”

Shuri was exasperated. “I don’t know, maybe she liked me?”

“So, you didn’t lead her on?”

“No!” 

M’Baku took Shuri in, but without judgement this time. “Okay, sis.”

Shuri stabbed at her food. “It shouldn’t matter anyway. She’s my employee for Bast’s sake.”

After lunch, Shuri returned to the lab. A week ago you’d worked in pure silence, but now you had taken her invitation to listen to music. It sounded like a movie score that you were listening to. She watched you bob your head as you worked with concentration etched onto your side profile. 

You sensed someone watching you so you turned your back to find the gaze belonged to Shuri. You offered the weakest smile she’d ever seen and redirected your attention to your device. 

Shuri decided to let you be for now. About forty-five minutes later, The Griot alerted there was a visitor on the premises named Zen-daya. Shuri pulled a face in confusion as she saw her information. “I have no idea who this is—“

“It’s for me,” You clarified. 

Shuri noticeably calmed down. “Oh. Who is she?”

You chuckled. “Don’t worry, she’s safe. I told her to meet me here.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

“If you must know, she’s my date.”

The room fell silent and thick once more. You packed your things and used the Kimoyo beads you’d been given to confirm with Zen-daya that you were on your way outside. 

As you proceeded to leave, you looked at Shuri—really looked at her for the first time in a week. Although most probably wouldn’t have noticed it, you could tell something was bothering her. You didn’t need to know her long to know she was possibly affected by your obvious detachment. You had gone from warm and engaging to polite and short with her. Although you were doing it for the right reasons, you sympathized with her. 

“Have a good weekend, Shuri,” You said, holding your bag over your shoulder.

She turned her head to eye you. “Y/N.”

You slowed down and faced her with a questioning gaze.

She looked serious. “It won’t take long. I wanted to check-in with you.” You nodded and she continued. 

“If you want to keep things strictly professional between us, I understand. I just hope I haven’t made you uncomfortable.”

You thought of what to say. “You haven’t made me uncomfortable.”

She stood up. “Then why the sudden change? Why don’t you speak anymore?”

“I say good morn—“

“That’s all you say. You stay in here for lunch, avoiding me—even M’Baku has been asking about you. What’s going on? Is everything okay?” 

You were right. She was absolutely affected.

“Is this about Imani—the girl you saw me with at the mall that day?”

A look and feeling of revulsion washed over you at the reminder. The truth was, you’d developed a crush on Shuri following your time at the club together. And you felt foolish when you realized she was involved with someone else—someone she had pretended not to know. Furthermore, Riri had warned you to watch out for Shuri because “she had heartbreaker tendencies.” Overall, keeping things professional seemed for the best.

“No, it’s about me doing what I feel is best.” You mentally high-fived yourself for the mature response. 

Shuri’s frown deepened. She reluctantly nodded and turned away. 

All you could think about was how sad she looked and how you wanted to give her a big hug. But you didn’t dare. 

~

Riri had enough. She pulled Shuri out of the lab. Shuri looked puzzled at Riri’s shrewd countenance. “Yes?”

“Cutting the formalities, you’ve been acting like an ass this whole week, what’s up?” Riri confronted using her hands as she spoke. 

Shuri scoffed.

“No, you have been, ask everyone!” Riri then looked around and lowered her tone, “We can all feel and see how snappy you are.”

Deep down, Shuri knew that for Riri to pull her aside, it was serious. 

“Thank you,” she said, just as earnest. 

Riri softened a tad. “You welcome. Now tell me what’s wrong.”

“Just some personal stuff, it was inappropriate of me to bring it into work. I will apologize.” Without another word, Shuri returned to the lab. She clasped her hands, looking around and soon getting her staff’s attention. “Everyone, a word. This week I’m sure you all noticed a change in my behavior, and for that I sincerely apologize. I have been dealing with some personal matters, but that is not an excuse to mistreat my team. I hope you can forgive me.”

“We know you’re still grieving,” someone called. 

It was time for your shift in the lab. You saw Riri standing just outside the doors, watching what was happening inside. You greeted each other, though you could immediately tell something was off.

“Shuri just apologized to the team,” She filled you in.

“Oh, really? That’s good.”

Riri didn’t react. She looked contemplative. Almost reluctantly, she moved towards you. “Why do I get the feeling some shit went down between you?” She whispered. 

“What do you mean?”

“She hasn’t been the only one acting off. You’ve been strange, too, acting distant.”

“Distant or professional?” You defended. 

Riri  heaved a sigh. “Y/N, just answer the question.”

You checked your surroundings and whispered defensively. “For my own sanity, I had to fall back—you even told me to!” 

Riri just listened. 

“Nothing happened beyond what you saw at the club,” You added. “We didn’t kiss, sleep together, none of that…” 

Suddenly the doors parted, making room for Shuri, and silencing you and Riri. 

“Y’all need to talk,” Riri insisted, eyes darting between you and Shuri. “Let me get back to work.”

“I have to work, too,” You said, shaking your head. “Did you want to talk to me?” You looked at Shuri searchingly, who wore a stoic expression. 

She looked at you for a moment. Then, she shook her head. “No, you can go in.”

~

To make up for her moodiness, Shuri treated her team out that same night. She mingled with her staff—except for you. Though beneath her shades, she kept a watchful eye on you. There was something about you that warranted her protection. She knew how the club and how people could be. 

She was surprised to see you drinking. Though, your reaction to the liquor was comical. You spit it out just as fast as you’d sipped it. This caused you to stain your clothes. Riri was hysterical. Fortunately, as Shuri presumed, Riri accompanied you to the bathroom.

Suddenly, a manicured hand reached for Shuri’s tapered cut but was intercepted by Okoye. 

“Sorry, general, I just wanted to dance with the Queen, is that okay?” The woman responded mildly exasperated. Okoye looked at Shuri, who nodded. Okoye moved back to her position on the side but kept her eye on the woman. 

Shuri’s shielded eyes traveled up the woman’s curvaceous frame. She allowed the woman to wrap her arms around her neck. The intensity of the woman’s perfume practically burned Shuri’s nose. Shuri turned her face, wincing, and gently holding the woman’s waist. 

“I’m sorry,” Shuri told the woman before excusing herself. Okoye and Aneka following her. 

Shuri went to the ladies’ room where you and Riri still were.

“Just take it to the cleaner’s, it’ll be alright,” Riri was saying as you furiously attempted to rid the purple stain from your cream-colored number.

“Hey Shuri,” Riri said in between a chortle. “Do you see this?”

Shuri gave a half-smile. “I don’t know why you were drinking to begin with.”

You looked at her through the mirror. “Because I can.”

Shuri just smirked and you watched as she splashed some cold water on her face.

“Don’t ask,” she said, knowing she had yours and Riri’s attention.

“Oooh, they’re playing my song!” Riri exclaimed. “I’m sorry, Y/N, Shuri is gonna have to take over, I’ve been in here long enough.” She rushed out the door.

“I might as well just suck it up,” You sighed, defeated. 

Shuri removed her leather jacket and held it out to you. Looking at it and then her, you softly declined. 

“Suit yourself,” she said, sniffing into a paper towel.

“What happened to you?” 

Shuri finished with the paper towel, her nose reddening. “This woman, her perfume was overpowering.”

You burst into giggles.

“You’re laughing, but it made my nose hurt,” Shuri said, smiling small. You laughed harder when she started sneezing. 

“Okay, that’s enough,” she said, rolling her eyes playfully after wiping her nose once more. 

“Yeah, you better keep your jacket, girl.”

“Hush.” 

“Make me.” You then chuckled. Shuri cornered you and you quickly grabbed her hands. You held up her tattooed hand and admired it again. “I was supposed to get mine.”

“Oh, you didn’t get it?” You shook your head. “I can take you.”

Shuri was amused and moved by you analyzing and tracing her tattoo. She also secretly enjoyed your touch. “You’re just trying to get out of being tickled,” she said. 

You tightened your hold on her hands even more making her cackle. 

“I love your hands,” You blurted.

For the first time you saw her blush. “Yeah? What do you love about them?”

“They’re strong yet delicate. Just like you.” You smiled. 

“You’re so corny, Y/N.” 

“Yeah, whatever, I told no lies.” You turned away from her. 

Shuri backed you against the counter, making you yelp. She learned it was because you got some water on you. Her mouth was covered by her own hand in shock. You pushed her away from you.

“I am so sorry!”

You grumbled and went towards the door, Shuri fast on your tail. 

“Come on, I have clothes in my car,” she said. 

“Y/N, what happened now?” Riri questioned when Shuri announced that you were leaving. 

“This one got me wet,” You said, sternly pointing at Shuri. 

“In what way?” Riri wriggled her eyebrows.

“Riri, don’t start, I’m embarrassed as it is,” You retorted. “Shuri, let’s go.”

Riri smiled. “I’m just glad to see y’all like this again.”

“How are you getting home?” Shuri asked her. “You should come with us.”

“Kenya is meeting me here.”

“Let’s just wait until she gets here,” Shuri suggested to you, to which you readily agreed. You both went outside and she fetched a pair of basketball shorts and a sports bra for you to change into in the backseat. Shuri, Okoye, and Aneka waited outside.

When you’d already finished, moments later, Shuri opened the car door.  “I just met Kenya at the door. We’re good to go.” She looked you and up and down and smiled. “Don’t you look cute.”

Shuri took you home, but didn’t let you get out of the car just yet. Instead of discussing what she wanted to with you during the ride, she chose to bring it up now. 

“I’m just gonna come right out and say it…I’ve fallen for you. I know it’s only been going on three weeks, but not a day goes by that I don’t think of you and wish I could be right there. It was torture when you pulled back, then to top it off, you were dating that Zen-daya girl. I was miserable, angry, and confused, and taking it out on my team, which wasn’t cool. I never expected to fall for you let alone anyone. Not so fast, not like this. But here I am…not wanting or thinking about anyone but you.” 

Your mouth was ajar. This time you’d gasped albeit quietly. 

“True story,” Shuri confirmed. 

“…I was not expecting that!”

“Hmm.” She smiled to herself. 

You were truly flabbergasted. You had heard that Shuri was a player, plus you were her employee—you didn’t imagine she only wanted you and all to herself.

As if reading your mind, she continued, “I know you’ve heard…bad things about me when it comes to my dating life, and I want you to know I will prove to you that none of this is a game to me.” Her eyes held yours in earnest. After a beat, she laughed some, grasping your chin. “You should really close your mouth before something goes in it.”

“I’m truly flabbergasted…”

Shuri nodded. “This is a lot to take in, so I’ll give you as much time as you need. I promise I’ll be patient.” She leaned over the console and pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Let’s get you inside, yeah?”

Part 2

#reader imagine #reader request #shuri x reader #shuri x you #shuri imagine #princess shuri #queen shuri #marvel fanfic club #shuri x y/n #shuri x fem!reader #shuri x f!reader #shuri x fanfic #shuri fluff

[totesnothere04]

Unexpected Turn of Events Pt.6

Tonowari x Fem!Reader

Disclaimer: I don't own the fanart, screenshots, or gifs used with my stories.

Warnings: Fluffy. Straight-up fluff. It's short. Really short in my opinion.

Pt.5 here.

You were watching Jake's kids play with your sons. Tonowari appeared at your side and placed a gentle hand on your growing belly.

"I can't believe you got me pregnant again." You chuckled and he nuzzled your cheek.

"I like seeing you carrying my children." Tonowari says as he starts placing kisses on your neck and cheek. "Ma beautiful muntxate." Tonowari says and you chuckle.

"Ma Wari we cannot right now. We are watching the children for Neytiri and Jake to have a date." You say and he huffs against your neck.

"But you smell so sweet. Almost like when you're in heat." Wari says and you look at him surprised.

"Maybe later we can ask Tsireya to watch the boys, and we can slip away for time to ourselves." You offer and he nods.

"Alright." He agrees and you both sit in the sand and looked back at the kids. Kiri still hadn't let Tsu'tey out of her grasp because she said he was her favorite. Mostly because Ateyo had hit her in the eye and now she didn't trust holding him. You all stopped moving when you heard a loud 'oof' and a thud. You look over to see Lyle sprawled on the ground with a net tangled around his tail and feet. You sigh in exasperation and try to hold back the laugh.

"Having troubles Lyle?" You ask him and he stays laying down, but shows you a thumbs up.

"I'm great." He says breathlessly. Mansk tumbles out of the tree line with an angry-looking Miles following behind him. They had all allowed their hair to grow out in the time they've been on Awa'atlu.

"I told you I need my damn net so I can fish." Miles says and stomps over to Lyle. You get up and so does Tonowari, so you can intervene when necessary.

"Hey Miles. How's it going with courting Na'jem?" You ask him and he blushes.

"It would be going smoother if these assholes would leave my shit alone." He says grumpily and you sigh. You start untangling Lyle from his net prison.

"Lyle, Mansk... Be nice to him. Na'jem is an impeccable woman and probably the only one I know that's able to handle this man." You tell them.

"Ma'am I was trying to keep Lyle from being stupid, then I was trying to keep Miles from killing him." Mansk says and you nod. You hand Miles his net and shoo them to go about their daily business.

"They are odd." Tonowari says as you both turn back to the kids.

"They are, but they are happy and comfortable. That's all that matters." You say. Jake and Neytiri join you on the beach. Jake looks at you then Neytiri and gives her the puppy dog eyes.

"Please?" He asks and she looks at you.

"What?" You ask them and Neytiri rolls her eyes.

"Ma Jake wants to have another baby." She says. "Seeing you pregnant again makes him want another baby."

"Well I thought we had enough children, but Tonowari has a heart big enough to love every child he has and more. I do not mind." You say and Jake looks at Tonowari.

"I love seeing ma muntxate carrying my children." Tonowari says and the children come back. Kiri deposited Tsu'tey into your arms, and Neteyam handed Ateyo over to Tonowari. Jake and Neytiri sat down and all of their kids laid down on them.

"Auntie, why don't you join us?" Neteyam asks.

"Because I've got my own family I can have cuddle piles with now." You say.

"Come on (Y/n) why don't all of you join?" Jake asks and you look at Tonowari.

"I don't want to intrude on your family Jake." You tell him and he groans and rolls his eyes.

"You are a part of my family. So join us. All of you." Jake says. Tsireya and Ao'nung didn't need to be told twice. You and Tonowari sat down and almost immediately you were both absorbed into the pile. You were snuggled into Tonowari's side, while Jake and Neytiri acted as pillows for you and Wari. Neteyam sprawled over you and Jake(who was your pillow), Tsu'tey and Ateyo were held by you and Wari. Kiri and Tuk settled with Jake and Neytiri, Lo'ak and Tsireya spread over you and Wari, and Ao'nung snuggled into Tonowari's side.

"Jake I swear if you fart I will fight you." You said after everyone got comfortable and you all bubbled into laughter. Neteyam moved his face a little away from his dad.

"Good call Auntie. His gas is toxic." Neteyam mumbles into your shoulder.

"Hey... I don't fart in snuggle piles." Jake protests. Everyone in his family stops and stares at him in disbelief. "Okay only when someone is laying on my stomach though." He grumbled, and you laughed as you snuggled into Tonowari and your children. Neteyam tightened his grip around your shoulders and Jake's thigh. You rested a comforting hand on Neteyams arm knowing he had been suffering from night terrors. You wanted him to get as good of a nap as he could get and you knew he felt safest between you and Jake. Tonowari watched you with a fond smile and then rested his hand on your baby bump. Kiri started to idly run her fingers through your hair and you felt yourself start to grow tired.

"Kiri I'm gonna fall asleep if you keep that up." You told her, but she didn't relent and you fell asleep a few moments later. As you, Neytiri, and the kids napped peacefully Jake and Tonowari decided on having a conversation.

"Why don't you take her back to your marui so she can get some actual sleep? I know she's been spreading herself thin with Tsahík duties, Tsu'tey and Ateyo, and training Ja to be a healer." Jake suggests but Tonowari shakes his head.

"No. She would skin me if I carried her through the village. She wants to be a strong beacon for the people... But it's taking a toll on her." Both men freeze as Ateyo whines in his sleep, only to be soothed gently by your sleeping hand. When Ateyo stays asleep and you do as well both men continue their conversation.

"(Y/n) has always been headstrong and overflowing with love for those around her. She got that from her mother." Jake says and Tonowari's eyes snap up to him.

"What was she like?" He asks Jake who gains a sad look in his eyes.

"She was headstrong, rough around the edges, but caring and loving. She loved Pandora, mostly through the eyes of science, but when she died she told me that Eywa was real. That she was with her. The love that (Y/n) is capable of is astounding. Especially because the man who killed her mother lives among us now." Jake tells him.

"It's Miles. I know." Tonowari says and Jake is surprised.

"How did you know?" Jake asks.

"He told me about the man his memories come from. I have been debating taking him to the Cove of Ancestors to ask Eywa to relieve him of the stress, but that is not my job." Tonowari says.

"It's (Y/n)'s. She's Tsahík so spiritual healing falls into her category." Jake says and Tonowari nods while his eyes slide back to you and your sons.

"He would need to approach her for that." Tonowari says and he slides closer to press his forehead and nose against yours. You sigh in your sleep and pull him closer by tucking his head into your chest allowing him to rest on your arm. Your sons tucked safely between the two of you with your hand resting on their chests, and Tonowari's hand on your belly. Tonowari starts to quietly sing your songcord as he starts to feel tired as well.

"Through Eywa I was blessed"

"Oh Eywa"

"To be one of the people"

"I was seen by Tonowari"

"My love"

"We mated before Eywa"

"Through him, I gained two children"

"Ma Ao'nung and Tsireya"

"With Ma'Tonowari, I experienced two more"

"Ma Tsu'tey and Ateyo"

"Oh Eywa, I thank you, oh Eywa"

As he finished the last verse he made a mental note to remind you to add another bead to your songcord for the new baby. Though he had a feeling you were waiting to see its gender before adding about them. In your sleep, you place a soft kiss on his head and Neteyam's arm.

#tonowari #tonowari x reader #avatar twow

[dellalyra]

Bursting Bubbles

Technically part of Family Formation but can be read as a standalone. The lyrics included are from Something In The Orange by Zack Bryan, which kinda inspired the whole piece.

Gojo Satoru x Reader

Summary: You and your love Satoru, and best friend Shoko learn and cope with the fallout of Suguru's actions. CW: ANGST, lots of it, swearing, mentions of vomiting, hints at panic attacks - it's just heartbreaking, talks of what happened in the village, just fucking sad. A/N: This is kinda gonna be part of the Family Formation series, because I want the series to reflect all aspects of the family Gojo and Y/N have created including the past inclusion of Geto when they were young. Next one is pure fluff I promise

Your phone began buzzing incessantly in your pocket as you impaled the curse you had been sent to fight on a large branch summoned using your cursed technique, with it shrieking and shriveling into a pile of dust. You grabbed your phone out of your pocket, and seeing Shoko's caller ID you smiled and answered, shoving your dagger back in your sheath and walking out of the abandoned warehouse with a smile on your face.

"Hey Shoko, I've just finished up with the mission, are we still on for -" You were cut off mid-sentence by Shoko saying your name, voice cracking halfway through. You froze on the spot, in the four years you and Shoko had been friends, you had never once heard anything but determination and surety in her voice. Blood running cold through your veins, you listen as she begins.

"You need to get back here. I just - I can't do this on the phone, you need to come here, Y/N, now." Her voice was shaking, and you immediately ask.

"Satoru? Is he alive? Please Shoko, just tell me he's safe." Your first thought had been flashbacks to a spear through the throat of the boy you loved.

"He's alive but just, please, you just need to get here now. He needs you." You hung up, stomach halfway up your through as you sprint to the car and ask your driver to hurry as you fight to calm your breathing, whatever happened, you know you'll need a level mind for it.

Pulling barely through the school gates you jump out of the barely parked car and sprint through to Shoko's office on campus.

Inside, you find her and Yaga. Neither speaking a word, as Shoko puffs a cigarette as if it's giving her oxygen and Yaga stares at the floor. You burst through the door.

"What's going on? Where's Satoru? Where's Suguru?" You're met with pale faces.

"Gojo, he's okay, he's - it's not Gojo, Y/N. It's Geto." Yaga places a hand on your shoulder to steady you.

"What? His mission? What happened with the village?" You turn to Shoko.

"Y/N, we got word an hour ago that there was a massacre in the village that Geto was in. 112 people are dead, and the two young girls are missing." There's a twitch in Yaga's face, and you know that's not everything.

"Fuck, what? Where's Geto? Is he... is he one of the 112? Please, tell me he's okay, Jesus, he can't be dead."

"Y/N, not long after the news from the village reached us, we got word that..." He pauses, as if gathering himself and you steel yourself to hear that your best friend was dead.

"Geto's parents were found dead at their home, Y/N. Mutilated." Yaga finishes.

You freeze. Your stomach flipped as your brain began to realise what they were about to say, in a last ditch effort to hear that he was on his way back here safe and all four of you were still going for drinks tonight. While you and Shoko were best friends, and so were the boys, there had always been something special, something different between Satoru, you, and Suguru. Suguru was your big brother, in all but blood, to the point where'd he had even given Satoru the shovel talk when you both finally started dating and once punched him after Satoru and you had a stupid fight and you had cried. But he and Satoru, were twin flames. Two sides of one chaotic coin. A one a millennia kind of bond.

"What? But where is Suguru?"

Shoko turns to you.

"It was him, Y/N. Suguru killed them. He did it." Her voice was devoid of anything. Her eyes looked like a corpse's. This is a look you had never seen from Shoko, you'd coaxed her through many heartbreaks and losses, but the look on her face said all you needed. You knew this was the truth, snippets of the last few months come back through your head - tiny words and lingering concerns and worries you had had for Suguru, as he opened up to you about his worries about sorcery and the bitter taste the murder of Riko had left in his previously smiling mouth, sitting under trees as Gojo and Shoko swam in a lake one summer night.

These things eat at your bones and drive your young mind crazy

Parts of what Geto had spoken of had rang true, the governing of sorcery was poisonous and should be changed, something you and Satoru had spoken of changing together at length.

Extremism was never part of your conversations, and neither was the genocide of innocents.

Your legs nearly gave way beneath you, as you caught yourself on Shoko's desk.

"He called me. Told me where he was, and I met him, he told me to tell you that he loved you, and thank you for being his sister, told me he was going to kill all non-sorcerers. I told Gojo, he was the only one who could have stopped him. Then I rang you. There's an execution order out for him. Gojo, he's... gone to see him now. He's been ordered to kill him."

Without words - you slam the door open and begin to walk out of the building. Shoko and Yaga didn't try to stop you. They knew you were going to them.

But you wouldn't get there.

Running through the building, passing all of your dorms, a figure appears at the end of the hallway. A cursed energy you could never miss.

Satoru stood, motionless, at the entrance and you locked eyes.

Your name was whispered in a cracking voice.

You sprint towards him and grab him around the waist just in time as he crumples under the weight of losing a part of him.

"Y/N, Suguru - he, I couldn't - he was -" your arms were wrapped around his shaking form as you both knelt on the floor, his head in the crook of your neck, breaths coming ragged.

"I know, 'Toru. I know. I'm here." You assured him through the tears falling down your face into his hair as you curled his form into your body and just held him, both of you shaking.

To you, I'm just a man, to me, you're all I am Where the hell am I supposed to go? I poisoned myself again, somethin' in the orange Tells me you're never comin' home

You knew Satoru wouldn't kill Suguru. He couldn't. Your anger bubbled as you realized the elders had ordered this boy in front of you to execute his best friend. The weight of how he was born was especially evident on Satoru's shaking shoulders, pressed into your chest. There's nothing that can be said at the moment to take away any of the pain. You wish that you could hold some of the burdens for him, even through your grief, a new thought runs clear, and you're furious. Fury at the elders, for how they've shaped the world of Jujutsu Sorcery, for their cold-hearted treatment of the world which lead to Suguru's disillusionment, and fury at Suguru for doing this, for hurting you, for hurting Shoko, for ringing her, for killing his parents, for killing the village and for putting more burden on Satoru's shoulders.

If you leave today, I'll just stare at the way The orange touches all things around The grass, trees, and dew, how I just hate you

"I couldn't do it. I - he was right there, he said he wouldn't fight me and I couldn't do it, Y/N. He's gone, he left - he just -" Satoru rambles almost incoherently as he begins to retch through his panic and grief and realization at what his best friend had done.

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't 'Cause if I say I miss you, I know that you won't

You haul him by the shoulders, one arm over you, and as your begin to move him to your dorm, you realise you had both been sitting on the floor outside of Suguru's dorm - ironic, you think.

You manage to get Satoru into the bathroom and he hurls into the toilet and you sit with him - sobs wracking through your body as you begin to fully comprehend everything that you had learned in the last 10 minutes. You wipe Satoru's face as he looks into your eyes and wipes your tears off your cheeks.

No platitudes will help now, no comforting words - there's nothing that can be said that will help.

You lean into him and you both collapse, tangled in a heap beside your bathtub. You kiss his head, and he pulls you closer both whispering that you love each other and you're safe.

The door swings open, and a body joins you both on the floor, curling into both of you as the smell of cigarettes permeates the air, and Shoko lets out a shaky breath as you both lock eyes and see pure loss reflected.

There's orange dancin' in your eyes from bulb light Your voice only trembles when you try to speak Take me back to us dancin', this wood used to creak

There are three of you now. You suppose loss is part of sorcery, you just didn't expect the betrayal.

You all know how this has to end. You know this isn't finished - Satoru is the only one who can take down Geto, and even if he's not the Suguru who used to let you braid his hair, or shared boxes of smokes with Shoko and one of the only people Gojo trusted to understand the burden he carried, Geto is headstrong and always has been. If he wants to do something, he will try. This can only end in bloodshed and heartbreak.

But I miss you in the mornings when I see the sun Somethin' in the orange tells me we're not done

#geto suguru #getou suguru #gojo satoru x reader #gojo angst #jjk x reader #shoko ieiri #gojo satoru #satoru gojo #jjk angst #anime

[myfavouritelunatic]

Covered in Colours

Here's my offering for day one of Hellbrand and Ghouladriel Week aka Hellghoul Week!

I chose the day one prompt, 'Leaves'.

I hope you enjoy the following 900 words of domestic Halloween/Autumn/Fall fluff! With a tiny sprinkling of angst of course!

❤️🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃❤️

They were the colours she always loved, autumn leaves covering the earth, a neverending sunset. She watched content from the second story window as the life she made worked and played happily beneath her. Two pairs of feet, of man and child, disturbing the leaves as they walked over them.

Halbrand in his flannel, sleeves rolled up, raking up the brittle streams of gold, red, and brown. Celebrían doing everything in her power to make sure her father’s work lasted all afternoon. Galadriel sipped her hot chocolate, soothed by its warmth as well as the warmth from below.

Her daughter loved playing hide and seek. She wasn’t sure why. Celebrían wasn’t old enough yet to understand what it meant to be lost and found. But there was something that twinkled in her eye, her smile and how it lit up her face, every time Halbrand discovered her. It brought Galadriel back to that same feeling of wonder that encompassed her when Halbrand came into her life. Rescuing her as if she was drowning in a sea of sorrow, pulling her onto a raft, his raft, the safety of his embrace.

Celebrían wasn’t old enough yet to know Halbrand wasn’t her real father.

She would, in time, and Galadriel suspected it wouldn’t change much. It wouldn’t change the way her little girl looked at him, as if he hung the moon and stars. However, It would change the way she looked at her mother.

Casting aside thoughts of the past and of a future that had not yet come to pass, Galadriel laughed as she saw Celebrían jump into Halbrand’s very large pile of fallen leaves. He went along with it of course, playing his role to perfection, pretending like he hadn’t heard the very loud whoosh and crunch sounds of a little girl covering herself with autumn. That neverending sunset. Celebrían playing a game to ensure this afternoon with her father would go on and on.

Halbrand caught Galadriel watching them from above, that smile of his flying straight into her heart. Along with the kiss he sent into the air, before her husband went back to trying to find the ‘missing’ girl. Galadriel opened the window wanting to hear the whole thing fully.

“That’s odd… I swear I saw Celebrían not a minute ago…” Halbrand was so good at this, acting confused, feigning a distraught state. She knew he was good, because she could see the leaves of the pile moving, like shoulders shaking from laughter. Halbrand was good at this but Celebrían… not so much.

“Where could she have gone? Not behind the bushes? Not behind the shed? In the shed?” He checked. He didn’t have to check, but he checked. “Hey Mummy? You see a tiny silver haired girl? About–” Halbrand gestured her size, “This big?” Galadriel couldn’t help but laugh as she saw her five year old daughter pop her head out of the pile, a tiny digit pressed to her lips asking Mummy to be quiet. “No Daddy, sorry! My eyes see all! And they do not see her.” Galadriel bellowed down, before taking another sip from her mug, nearly spitting it everywhere as she watched Celebrían desperately try to hide beneath the leaves again.

“Oh no…” Halbrand began, sounding ‘scared’, “If Daddy can’t find her… and Mummy can’t see her… I guess that means we’ll be going trick or treating all alone…” “No!” The little girl cried out, bursting out of the pile, sending flashes of orange and brown everywhere. “Got you!” Halbrand yelled, making Celebrían squeal in delight. Then she couldn’t help but to toss some leaves in his direction. Her throw wasn’t strong enough, but the wind helped her out.

Halbrand copped a face full of nature.

Galadriel burst into laughter, the wind helping her out, carrying it right to his ears. “Oi!” He chuckled. “That’s not very nice! Let’s see how you like this then!” He picked up some leaves of his own and poured them over Celebrían’s head. “No, Daddy!” She protested, poorly, her giggles telling him how much she was enjoying this.

Then Galadriel watched from her window, as her husband threw himself into the pile and tackled their daughter, rolling them around in a fit of laughter and screams, spreading the leaves back across the lawn. All of Halbrand’s work undone in less than ten seconds. But she knew he wouldn’t mind.

He would also happily see this afternoon go on and on.

When finally they got to their feet, Galadriel had her phone out, snapping pictures of her two favourite people, wanting to remember this day she knew would eventually end. Like the sunset. Like autumn. Like all things.

Halbrand picked Celebrían off the ground and pointed up to where Galadriel was perched. The tiny silver haired child couldn’t help but wave. The two of them were covered in leaves, twigs, and dirt. “How about we go pay Mummy a visit, hmm?” “No!” Came Galadriel’s cry, genuinely protesting. “You know she likes autumn leaves as much as you do, Celly.” “No, you clean up first!” “You don’t want her to miss out, do you now?”

Celebrían shook her head with a cheeky grin. A grin that matched Halbrand’s. Blood didn’t matter. She really was his daughter. And they both howled up at her as they ran indoors, Galadriel hearing their thumping footfalls and their giggles coming up the stairs.

She resigned herself to her messy fate. It was a good thing she loved leaves.

❤️🎃🍁🍂🍁🎃❤️

Tagging: @hellghoulweek @pursuitseternal @heronamedhawks @gil-galadhwen @theriverwild @scriberated @thrillofhope @youwearfinethingswellwriter @klynnvakarian @tmwillson3 @coraleethroughthelookingglass @somebirdortheother @ichabodjane @hazelmaines @rebelrebelwrites @hikarielizabethbloom @marimosalad @jhalya

#hellghoul week #hellghoul week 2023 #haladriel #halbrand #galadriel #celebrian #the rings of power #trop #trop fanfic #halloween #autumn

[running-with-kn1ves]

A Different Scent

Male! Werewolf X GN! Reader

A/N: sorry for the hiatuses-- it's exam season and I'm trying to survive. This was inspired by a manga I've been reading and werewolf ASMR-- strange but hey it created this pile of soft (?) angst!

Synopsis: your werewolf boyfriend comes home to find another mans smell on you, leading him to become quite the insecure and suspicious lover.

TW: LOADS of angst, cheating accusations, jealousy, fluff, reverse comfort

"I'm home!" 

A booming voice traveled down the hall accompanied by even louder footsteps. 

"Where are you? Sweetheart?" 

"In here!" You called from down the basement. 

You heard his sigh of relief as he walked down the basement steps. 

"What're you doing down there?" He bent down to avoid hitting the wooden beam near the door. 

Wiping sweat from your forehead, you looked at your hard work. 

"Oh just... spring cleaning." 

There were piles of items ranging from old photo albums to unused car parts, thanks to the man across from you. He liked to store a variety of things down in the basement if he thought he would use them someday. He never did. 

The basement had looked like a hoarder's home until you came into the picture. 

"Cal, how did you let your house get this bad?" You stared in disbelief at your boyfriend. 

He shrugged, throwing down his gym bag on the dusty floor. 

"Dunno. Anyway, aren't you gonna say hi to me?" 

"Hi." You deadpanned, returning back to the accumulation of items on the floor. 

He pouted at the response. 

"Awe that's no way to treat the man who you love." 

"Are you sure about that? Maybe you deserve a bit of reprimanding for all this stashed trash." 

Cal let out a playful grunt and pulled you into his arms. Lifting you off the ground he moved back toward the stairs. 

"Wait! I'm not done in here-" 

"And?" He hoisted you over his shoulder. "Aren't I more important than some junk?" 

"That's not the point let me down!" You beat against his back but Cal kept walking. You could see his tail wagging from behind, excited you were in his grasp. He was so ready to squeeze something soft and warm after such a long day. 

Sometimes, it was a real hassle having a werewolf as a boyfriend. 

His ears twitched with excitement as he headed up the stairs to the couch. You grumbled, failing to get out of his grip. 

"C'mon let me go!" 

"Never." Cal muffled into your side as he kissed your abdomen. He tossed you onto the couch as you let out an "oomph!"

"I've been waiting all day for this." He grinned, looking down at you as you laid at his mercy. 

He was often affectionate, but tonight was a whole other level. Without warning, he jumped on top of you as you cried out. 

"No, I'm all sweaty! And I need to finish--" 

He cut you off as he smothered you with kisses. "So am I-- but you don't see me making a big deal out of it." He inhaled your smell, traveling down to your neck. "m'just got back from the gym too. Don't cha wanna see how hard I worked?" 

You covered your face, embarrassed at how he was slowly inching his shirt up. You pulled his hands back down and looked away. 

"You're so embarrassing..." 

"You're right," he pulls your hands towards his and entwines them with his own. "I want to smell you first before I go there.." 

"No!" You cried out, embarrassed even more than before. But Cal didn't listen. 

"Calhaun," you warned, using his full name to show your seriousness.

But he mischievously smiled, not listening to a word you said. Before you could stop him he pinned your hands next to you and buried his face into your chest. 

You squirmed as he inhale your scent. 

"Don't," you whined. "I've been cleaning all day I don't--" 

He mumbled against your chest as you squirmed around. 

"M’smell so good..." Cal removed his hands from yours and ran them down your body. "I've been waiting all day for this." 

You tried once more to get up, but his weight was too much. He laughed against you and crept a hand up your shirt. 

Sighing out of defeat, you looked down at him with a heated face. 

"Don't try anything mister." 

"Oh ye, of little faith."

He laughed and traveled down your abdomen, smelling each inch of you. 

"Your smell... is so sweet.." he massaged your flesh and dug his face under your shirt. "But...what's this...?" 

"What? What is it?" You feared for the worst, knowing all of Cal's senses were far sharper than yours. 

"It's..." he lifted your shirt up further, his nose pressed against your stomach. "Something different, it's not your smell." 

You looked at him with a perplexed expression. 

"It smells like...another man." 

"Huh?" 

"Someone else's scent... it's musky. Barely there but I can smell it. " 

Cal’s voice dropped in pitch as he began to grip tighter onto you. 

"Why... Do you smell like that?" All playfulness in his voice left. "I thought you said you were home all day." 

He climbed up from your stomach and moved to stare into your eyes. His expression was dark, giving you a thin frown and drooped ears. 

"I was!" 

"So why do you smell different, You were here with another man alone?"

"No-- I, I just had some friends over to help..." 

"Male friends. Of which are always trying to get into your pants." 

"They aren't like that.." you mumbled. Cal stared you down. 

"They arent like that, really? Then tell me who came." 

"Just.. the guys you met last week." 

"Right."

Cal grit his teeth, his body tensing up."So the ones who were all over you. Touching you and talking about your ass all night."

You gripped Cal's hand that held pressure in your own. The dark look that washed over his eyes made you nervous. 

"That's not true." You frowned. 

"Yeah? Cause I saw them gawking at you the entire time. I heard the words come straight out of their mouths." 

"They just came to help out!" 

"You're too nice for your own good you know that!? theyll take advantage of you any second they get!" Cal shouted back. 

You went silent, unable to make eye contact with him. His words had some semblance of truth. Some of your friends had tried to make a move on you, but you always thought it was a joke or just a friendly gesture. 

"If you dont love me than just say it." He mumbled. 

You stared in shock at him.

"What… why would you say that…" 

"Forget it." Cal pouted, moving off of you. 

"I mean if you were gonna cheat at least get that scent off before you see me." He said barely above a whisper. 

"That's-- how could you say such a thing?!" 

Cal looked guilty, uncrossing his arms. 

"I'm sorry I didn't mean that…" 

"Do you not trust me? Do you really think I'd hurt you like that!?" 

"No I do trust you," Cal grabbed your hands desperately at seeing your bewilderment. "But I don't trust them. I'm..." 

"What?" 

"I'm-- gosh I don't want to say it!'' Cal lowered his voice. "I'm… intimidated by them..." 

"...intimidated?" You could hardly stifle a laugh. 

Cal? Intimidated? Your 200 pounds of muscle werewolf boyfriend was scared of your friends' intentions? 

"I promise you there's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to them." You brought his face into your hands. 

"Yeah I know I know," He fidgeted and looked away. "But I can't help it when everytime you smell like them, it makes me so... ugh." 

"Awe..." you couldn't resist. He looked so cute pouting. "I dont think I've ever seen you jealous before." You teased. 

"I'm..I'm not jealous!" 

"You looked at him with your eyebrows raised and an emotionless stare. 

"Okay, maybe i'm a little jealous. But so what! I'm allowed to be jealous." 

You laughed and kissed his cheek. 

Cal smiled into your hand and pressed his lips against your palm. Despite his small grin, the worry from his eyes didn't leave. 

"That's not all, is it?" 

"No," He muffled into your hand. "But it's fine." 

Cal kissed your fingertips, moving down to your wrist then to the rest of your arm. His soft, wolf-like ears flattened against the side of his head.

"No, you can't just avoid the question like that," 

You tried to pull your hand away but Cal kept his grip. Your struggle made the werewolf take matters into his own hands, pinning your hands behind you as he pulled you into his lap. 

"Let me go." You faced him defiantly. 

"And why should I?" 

Cal looked smug, pressing his chest up to touch yours. 

But despite his cheekiness, an idea brewed in your head. 

"Alright, fine. But if I have to stay here, you're going to tell me why you're still upset." You gave him a deep grin. 

Cal rolled his eyes letting out a dramatic sigh. 

"It's not all that important!" He looked conflicted, deciding whether or not to answer you. "It's just.. sometimes I think, maybe you'd want someone normal," He stares at the ceiling, holding onto your waist limply. "Yknow, someone who won't slobber all over you when he kisses you." He laughs sadly but it turns into a frown. "Someone who doesn't crush you everytime he tries to give you a hug, or is afraid of scratching you. " 

Cal suddenly looked uncomfortable at the thought of touching you. 

"Oh Cal," you say with pity in your voice. 

"Don't do that." He puts a hand over his eyes. "You know as well as I do. You never stopped to think for a moment of how our future would be? What you're going to have to face?" 

"Of course but I-" you swallowed thickly.  "I never thought of it that way. It has never been a chore for me or a fear to be with you. I think of us with... excitement." You were desperate for him to look at you. "Cal, listen, I don't want anyone else. Look at me."

 You cupped his cheeks and pressed your nose against his. "No one else. I don't care if you're messy sometimes or a bit too strong, I love those things about you." 

Cal stared back, hanging onto every word, waiting for a 'but,' or a look of deceit. But neither came. 

"Are you sure…?" He said in a low whisper.

"Positive." You ruffled his hair and looked into his eyes. "I love you, and nothing will ever change that." 

Your sincere voice was like music to his ears. Cal smiled against you, grabbing your waist to secure his hold. 

"Say that again?" He asked. 

"I said--" you looked back down at him to see a triumphant grin on his full lips. "Nevermind." 

"No no! Say it again, what was that?" 

"Now you're just teasing me--!" 

Your face grew hot with cal kissing your neck and pleading for you to repeat yourself. 

It was the first time you ever spoke the words 'I love you' to him. His soft, animalistic ears flicked against your chin as he ran his lips down your body. Suffocating you with a hug, Cal's large tail flicked from behind, swishing back and forth like a happy dog. 

"NOW you're gonna crush me--" you managed to choke out between his sloppy kisses and the squeezing fingers gripping you. 

Cal's nails were dangerously close to cutting the dip of your back; his hold on you decreased as he whispered next to your ear. His hot breath fanned over face, lips threatening to consume you. 

"I love you too."

#Kn1ves rants #X reader #werewolf x reader #reader insert #x reader #self insert #writing #romance #gender neutral reader #gn reader #one shot #fluff #Angst #Fluff angst #angst warning #Werewolf x reader #kn1ves rants #Male werewolf #male x reader #monster #Monster x reader #Exophilia #exophilia #exophilia writing #monster boyfriend #Monster bf #monster bf

[iikkeee]

Hot Cocoa || t. galpin

Tyler Galpin x reader fluff!

Summary: When Y/n goes into the cafe she meets a boy who she immediately falls for

Warnings: none, just pure fluff <3

A/n- I decided to write this based on my other post, hopefully you guys like it. I had a lot of fun writing it, alright bye love you guys <3

_________________________________________________

You blew hot air into your frozen cold hands, adjusting your headphones to hide you ears from the snow falling in front of you. You looked around and tried to hide yourself away from the looks of Jericho's residents, as they looked at you in disgust from your blue uniform that resided on your body.

You sighed before walking through the different shops, looking to the side to see a fairly empty coffee shop with a sign that said ''The Weathervane''. You could definitely go for some hot chocolate you thought to yourself and hurriedly reached for the doors blue handle and peaked inside.

There were only a couple people inside, with the majority of them waiting at the front to grab their pickup or sitting in the corner by themselves and reading books. Your eyes shifted before you walked inside, quietly letting the door shut behind you, you walked to the empty counter, saying small ''excuse me''s to the people standing around.

You bounced you finger's on the cold counter as you flipped through the music on your phone, mindlessly enjoying yourself as you waited.

"Hey, sorry for the wait'' a young man said nervously as he slipped behind the counter, leaning on it as he came in front of you. He had brown fluffy hair and golden brown eyes, a small smile was on his lips as he looked at you.

"Oh, it's fine'' you smiled as you laid your headphones on your shoulders and placed your phone in your pocket, you were sure your face was flushed as you looked at his handsome features that seemed to warm your body from the cold outside.

You quickly skimmed through the menu before saying ''Um, could I get a hot chocolate?''

"Of course'' He said as he gave you finger gun before going to the machines and filling the coffee cup, you quickly pulled out your wallet and grabbed 5 dollars as you watched him. He skillfully worked the machines and filled cups up, giving them to the people patiently waiting. Soon the shop was mostly empty with only a few people still around.

You waited and looked around, seeing that the snow was getting worse, you sighed as you thought of having a soggy uniform as soon as you got out.

''Oh I forgot to ask...do you want whip cream with that?" He asked peeking behind the counter

''oh yeah!" you replied almost forgetting yourself from how much you were admiring him.

"Oh yeah here's the money'' you said putting the bill on the counter.

''Um, no need.. consider it on the house'' He said giving you a smile, which almost made you burst at the seams.

'Thank you, I'll be over there then'' you smiled and picked it up, before pointing to a table closet to the counter, which he nodded before opening a can of whip cream.

You sat down, looking outside of the window as you rested your head on your hands. Your hand moving to scroll through you phone aimlessly, you heard the slide of a glass and looked up to see a cup that smelled deliciously of a rich chocolate, A pile of whip cream on top, with a chocolate drizzle coating it.

Your eyes widened as you looked at it, quickly turning to laughter. “Here you go” He said chuckling as he sat in the opposite side of the booth. “I love it just from the way it looks” you smiled as you grabbed the hot cup in your hands and sipped it “thought you might like it” he smiled as he saw your reaction, it tasted smooth and like the best thing you have ever tasted in your life

“Holy shit, this is so good” You said to him as you took another big sip, enjoying the burning of it in your throat that retaliated against the cold air.

“I’m sure it’s not that good” he said sheepishly as he chuckled

“no seriously, this might be the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had” You reassured him.

“I’m surprised your treating me this well” you scoffed as you looked outside

“why is that?” He asked leaning back as he crossed his arms

“it’s just that, since I’m from nevermore…well people don’t treat me that well” you sighed looking into you half empty cup.

“I don’t think the kids from nevermore are any different from us, sure you guys might be other creatures but your more alike us then we think” He said giving you a reassuring smile as he squeezed your hand.

“And just because your from nevermore doesn’t mean that I can’t give a free drink to a beautiful girl” He smirked while looking into your eyes, you blushed at his compliment and quickly hid your face in the coffee cup. Gulping it down as you couldn’t handle the embarrassment of what he had told you.

“Ah well I have to go” you said quickly putting the cup down and grabbing all your belongings from the table, be waving and semi-running outside of the building into the snowy outside.

Your cheeks were flushed as you thought of your interactions with the boy, he was so handsome and sweet you thought to yourself as you plugged in your headphones and headed for the cab which would take you back to you dorm.

Once you got back you immediately plopped onto your bed and hugged a pillow, kicking your feet as you thought of the boy from the coffee shop. You only stopped when you heard the door open to reveal Enid

“oh y/n, I knew you would be here!” She said as she closed the door behind her and jumped into your bed, you hid behind your pillow but sat up.

“Hey what’s wrong with you?” She pouted as she tried to grab the pillow from your face “nothing…” you mumbled as you tried to control your embarrassment

“Omg…is this what I think it is?” She said grabbing your hands in hers and squeezing them tightly

“I don’t know what you think it is but it’s probably not-“ you blurred out as you thought of the possibilities of Enids wild mind

“You have a crush, who is it???” She replied practically jumping up and down, you peeked your head from behind the pillow and looked at her excited features.

“Xaiver….Eugene??? Wait maybe Ajax or um Wednesday!” She said blurting out random names, which you shook your head to.

“Then who is it tell me” she pouted as she pounced on you and brought you to your back on the bed

“The guy from the weathervane” you mumbled as you looked off at the ceiling

“No way! Him? Wow…I guess he is pretty cute” She said getting up and putting her finger on her chin as she thought about him

“Wait how did you even know that I had a crush” you said out loud as you processed her reaction

“I just have a knack to things like this” She giggled while winking.

“Well, now that we’ve established that…what are you going to do about it???” She asked quickly sitting up and grabbing your hands

“What?” You replied in confusion

“What’s you game plan?” She replied rolling her eyes

“Well the plan was to act like it never happened” you replied, bringing your knees to your chest as you sighed

“Are you kidding me?? You at least have to go for it” she said righting her grip on your hands, that could for sure make you lose circulation

“Let’s see…did he at least flirt with you?”

“I don’t know…I mean he did say a was beautiful” you mumbled, your cheeks turning pink at the thought

“Good then he’s into you!” She snapped her fingers

“Well then you have to try, I’ll tell you what…how about you go this weekend and try to talk to him more…maybe like a date!” She said thinking to herself out loud

“Are you kidding?? I don’t even know his name” you sighed as you looked off into the distance

“Doesn’t matter!!” She smiled

Throughout the next few days you sat at your normal seat and drank the same thing, from time to time sharing snarky comments with the boy who worked there. You would usually either be listening to your music or “studying” whatever homework you had for that day, you knew that the boy probably knew that you didn’t become a regular because of the hot chocolate but because of him, and he didn’t mind the extra attention at all.

When the weekend came you didn’t know what to expect, you brushed yourself off as you tried to feel comfortably in the clothes you borrowed from Enid, thankfully she gave you the ones that were as colorful as her others. You breathed deeply before opening the door to the coffee shop and walking to counter to be greeted by a familiar face.

“Hey stranger” He said as he smiled at you

“Hey” You said flustered as you stared into his golden eyes

“You can sit down, I got you” He smiled once again before gesturing to the same booth you sat at previously with him.

You composed yourself and walked over, sitting down as you fidgeted with you hands. Soon a familiar drink was placed in front of you, only this time a small pastry sat next to it.

“Oh what’s this?” You asked him as you picked it up

“Lemon tart, thought you might like it” He said pointing to it as he sat down.

“Thank you” you smiled as you played with the wrapper of it

“I never quite got your name” He said leaning closer to you

“Oh it’s Y/n…Y/n L/n” you smiled moving your hands to pick up the coffee cup and sip the chocolate goodness that resided inside of it.

“you have a beautiful name” He complimented

“Thanks, and what would yours be?” you laughed nervously as you tried to contain your excitement and blush.

“Tyler Galpin” He smirked as he looked at you flustered complexion

“Oh the sheriff’s son then..?” Your eyes widened as you thought of his father who never liked any of the nevermore kids.

“Yeah…” he sighed while looked down at the floor and shifted uncomfortably.

“Your dad must not like the fact that your talking to me…” you mumbled as you hid your face in the hot chocolate

“What he doesn’t know won’t kill him” He laughed as he shifted his eyes at you.

“So….”

“So.”

“Tyler would you like to….” You said, getting cut off as you noticed him lean in closer to you. His lips halfway to meet yours, your eyes shifted from his to his lips.

He pressed his lips on yours delicately, his hand moving to caress your cheek as you set down your drink and wrapped your arms around his neck. He pulled away, your foreheads touching as you both breathed heavily.

“Your dad is going to kill me…” you said as you thought of the consequences of your actions

“Who cares…” He whispered before kissing you again, you melted into his arms and ran your fingers through his hair.

He didn’t break you kiss as he got up from the other side of the booth and came to sit next you, his arms snaking across your waist. You both pulled away to get some air, staring at each other deeply as you held each other close.

“I like you Tyler…” you whispered as you held yourself close to his lips

“I like you too” He smirked before giving you a kiss.

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#fandom #fanfiction #y/n #x reader #fluff #cute fanfic #the addams family #the addams family fanfiction #wednesday ajax #wednesday x y/n #wednesday fluff #wednesday netflix #wednesday x reader #wednesday smut #wednesday fanfic #wednesday fandom #wednesday fanfiction #wednesday tyler #tyler galpin #tyler galpin x y/n #Wednesday tyler Galpin

[little-svt]

GENDER-NEUTRAL | FLUFF | + JIHOON

Wc: 1.2k+

Taglist: @pastel-princess-please @kiki-woo @fishsquishh

Oh My!

“I’m not sure but he’s definitely deep today. His breakfast seemed to land everywhere but his mouth so he’s in the bath now.”, phone pressed to your cheek, you peaked through the door again at your little Soonyoung who was in the process of piling all the bubbles in the tub together in front of him with a bubbly, toothy grin to match.

“I’ll be over to pick him up in fifteen.”, Jihoon ended the call leaving you to dress the baby Tiger.

“Okay! Time to get dressed. Jihoon is on his way to get you.”

“Wooahae”, Soonyoung giggled to himself until he realized getting dressed meant bathtime was over, his smile quickly being replaced by a pout.

“But I wanna play more!”, he fussed, poking his bottom lip out as he scooped up a handful of bubbles and blew them at you.

“Ack! Stop that.”, you sputtered, blowing the bubbles away with a short laugh until they popped on the floor, “You get five more minutes while I go pick out your clothes.”

“Yay!!!!”, he splashed giddily in the water.

“Hey! Play nicely.”, you pointed at him before walking back down the hall to your room.

By the time you’d returned the little tiger had already realized picking out his clothes meant no tiger onesie and no tiger onesie meant he had to go to work with the big people today. But he had a plan.

As soon as you opened the bathroom door, you realized something was amiss. The curtain was drawn the the bath water was silent, no swishing around to signal signs of life. Snatching the curtain, you yanked it aside, finding the tub empty and the water already drained.

“Soonie..?”, you called, poking your head out the door, peering down the hall, “I swear-“

Following the sounds of giggling and the damp footprints in the carpet that could only belong to your little tiger to the living room, you spotted his wet hair spiked over the back of the sofa.

“Soonyoung. What do you think you’re doing?”, you walked over to the sofa, kneeling on it so you could peek over.

“Hiding.”, he sat his very much naked bottom on the floor and smiled up at you.

“We have to get you dressed, baby. Jihoon will be here soon, so no more hiding.”, you sighed, reaching out to fix his messy hair.

“But I’m not hiding anymore.”, he insisted, adjusting himself so he was kneeling,”Now I’m running!”

Squealing he crawled across the floor before you could grab him, and bolted under the dining room table.

“Why are you running??”, you complained, dragging yourself from the sofa. You knew better than to try to keep up with his playful stamina by now, opting to wait it out as long as possible.

“Can I wear my tiger?”, he asked with a grumpy pout, already knowing the unfortunate answer.

“Then I’m running and hiding!”, he showed his teeth again, eyeing his next hiding spot when the two of you heard a knock on the door.

“Thank god.”, you groaned as you stood up again, walking to the door to let Jihoon in, ”I’ve been bested by a four-year-old. He’s hiding in the kitchen now.”

Without a word, he let himself in, only taking a moment to remove his shoes before crossing your apartment and finding the baby tiger trying to crawl inside a cupboard.

“Oh my god, you’re naked!”, Jihoon’s face scrunched up in disgust as he pulled Soonyoung from the cupboard, he instincts acting before his eyes did. Giggling once he was face to face with Jihoon, Soonyoung scrambled back to the living room to squeeze behind the love seat. Watching the scene unfold, you sent Jihoon a silent ‘sorry’, but he was also used to this by now.

Retrieving something from his pocket as he crossed the room, Jihoon dangled a orange striped keychain, a cartoon baby tiger on a key ring between the gap Soonie had squeezed through.

“Oooh!”, Soonyoung awed at it, reaching out to get a closer look.

“Ah!”, Jihoon pulled it back, replacing the keychain with his face, sporting an unamused expression, ”Want it?”

“Uh-huh!”, Soonyoung nodded eagerly.

“Alright. You have to get dressed for it though. In big boy clothes.”, Jihoon would not be budging regardless of the adorable frown now on Soonyoung’s pouty lips. But the little one would always press his luck, pouting even further. Staying at home in his tiger onesie WITH a new dangly tiger friend to play with? The deal had just been doubled.

“Horanghae?”, he gave his best aegyo, holding out his little “paws” and all, but no ‘Wooahae’ was returned.

“Okaayyyy”, smiling bashfully in defeat, Soonyoung stood and let Jihoon help him from behind the chair. Though he usually didn’t care for the path of least resistance, this was a battle he wouldn’t win. Looking away for a moment, Jihoon sighed, little Soonyoung still being very much butt-naked.

“I want you to go get dressed, then come in here and apologize. Do you understand?”, he turned his attention back to the little tiger who was finally ready to listen to direction. He was a good boy after all, but he wouldn’t be Soonyoung if he didn’t give his favorite people a hassle first, would he?

“Thanks, Jihoon. I’m not sure why he woke up regressed today. You sure you can handle him today?”, you smirked. Your little one was a task for anyone to handle, but you loved him and his rowdiness just the same.

Without a word, Jihoon simply shot you a look with all the makings of a light-hearted eye roll and a ’really?‘, considering how many years he’d been “handling” it. Thankfully he’d pumped enough caffeine into his veins to kill a horse this morning, taming a tiger would be a breeze.

Doing as he was told, Soonyoung returned in slightly wrinkled clothes, ready to leave with his “Hyungie” after a heartfelt apology to you.

“Eheh sorry… I really wanted to wear my tiger.”, he lowered his head to you before wedging himself in your arms.

“I love you but you are still very much a brat.”, you squeezed him, pressing a kiss to his head before he’d be off for the day.

“Horanghae?”, he held his “paw” up again to you and then Jihoon who this time happily returned a short, “Wooahae”, before guiding the little tiger out the door.

“Have a good day, Y/n”, Jihoon smiled, closing the door behind them. Sometimes you didn’t know what you’d do without him there to help you with Soonyoung. But you were reminded soon after the door closed by the playful shouting and giggles right outside that he very much had his hands full when it came to your little tiger, maybe even more so than you.

Settling in the car, Jihoon leaned over, making sure Soonyoung’s seatbelt was tightened properly before pulling out of the parking lot.

“Your (caregiver name) must love you a lot to handle a brat like you every day.”, Jihoon shook his head glancing at the pouty baby tiger who was lured into the car in his adult clothes and on his way to do some adulting. Now on top of that Hoonie was calling him a brat. It was true, of course, but it still hurt.

“Yah.”, Jihoon’s tone grew softer as they halted at the stoplight,”I’ll take you out for Japanese food after work, so behave.”

“Okay!!”, Soonyoung happily kicked his feet, as he wiggled comfortably in his seat. Jihoon certainly knew the best ways to deal with a baby tiger. Now he’d just have to brief the guys.

🧸End Note: honestly think that Hoshi doesn't come without Woozi. They're a matching pair I'll write little!hoshi on his own in the future but this was just something thought up. I love SoonHoon 🫶 + Hoshi is so baby ㅠ ㅠ wahhh this song though you do not understand how much I love it ~ 🐶🐰💖

🧸Masterlist🧸

#littlesvt 🐶🐰🍓 admin #svt imagines #sfw agere #svt fluff #agere community #svt agere #svt fic #seventeen soft hours #seventeen hoshi #seventeen woozi #svt hoshi #hoshi fluff #hoshi fic #little!hoshi #little!seventeen #little!svt #caregiver!woozi #seventeen soonyoung #soonyoung drabble #lee jihoon #svt jihoon #sfw svt #sfw littlespace #sfw little blog #sfw regression #hoshi x reader #hoshi x y/n #hoshi x you #soonyoung x you #soonyoung x reader

[heyhilana]

The Parent Trap (Marcus Moreno)

Summary: Your daughter Venus wants you to go to the annual valentine's day family dance. But as you get there, you see that one of her friends has a father that is hard to not dance with.

A/N: Hi lovelies! I finally got around to watching Marcus' scenes and well, I think a man as sweet as that deserves a cute fluffy story. So enjoy this as it is one big pile of fluff and a little meddling with the two girls (:

Paring: Marcus Moreno x gn! Reader

Warnings: None. Seriously one of the rare fics without any warnings so enjoy!

Word Count: 1.8k

Masterlist

Your daughter Venus was sitting at lunch when a new girl came by. She looked to be new yet alone so Venus called out for her.

“Hey! Are you looking for a place to sit?” The girl looked at her and nodded. “Well, you can sit here.” She smiled and the new girl sat with her, relieved that she wouldn’t have to find a place anymore.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is Missy. What’s yours?”

“My name is Veronica but everyone calls me Venus since that’s my favorite planet.” Missy laughed at the nickname.

“I like it a lot. Also, thank you for letting me sit here. It’s my first day here.”

“My parent always told me that you should be kind to everyone since there’s no reason not to be.”

“They sound like my dad. He told me to try to make friends with someone today so I could settle in.” Venus’ ears perked up when Missy mentioned her dad. She was already thinking about setting you up with someone because she wanted you to be happy, and the idea of a parent similar to you seemed perfect. Plus, she liked Missy already which made it more perfect.

“Well, consider us friends then because I’m going to help you out.” Venus flashed Missy a smile and soon enough as they talked about everything that popped up in their head, the bell rang and they went back to their respective classes. At the end of the day Venus and Missy walked out of the doors and Missy was greeted by her dad. Her dad looked at Venus and smiled.

“Is this a new friend?” Missy nodded and he hugged her, telling her that he was proud of her for making a new friend.

“Hi. I’m Venus. Missy told me about you.”

“I’m Marcus and I suppose it was all good things I hope,” Both girls were giggling.

“All good things! But I’ll see you tomorrow Missy! Bye Marcus!” Venus saw your car pulling up in the car lane and she ran to see you. Missy saw a glimpse of you getting out of the car to hug Venus and she saw that you were right up Marcus’ alley. She wanted her dad to move on especially with the move, and seeing you made her think of all the possibilities.

-

The next day Venus was waiting for Missy to get her lunch. When she sat down Venus pulled out a piece of paper that had her plan written out. Without saying anything Missy smiled, seeing that they were seeing eye to eye on their parent trap.

“How are we going to get them to meet?” Missy asked as she bit into her sandwich.

“You heard about the family Valentine’s day dance? It’s in two weeks.” Missy eyes lit up as she heard about the dance.

“I didn’t hear about it, but I think it’s the perfect place to get them to meet! Did you ask your parent to go?”

“Not yet, but I’m going to ask her today when she picks me up from school. Are you going to ask your dad today?”

“Yep. I’m sure he’ll say yes. What should I tell him?”

“Tell him that you want him to meet my parent so we can hang out.” The two girls smiled over their plan to hitch you two together and thought about what they could wear to make you all stand out. As the end of the day came, Missy ran to Marcus and Venus ran to you, and you gave her a big hug.

“How was your day at school today? I missed you,” You gave her a kiss on the forehead.

“It was good and I missed you too! But I have a question.” Venus was climbing into the back of the car and you took her backpack and put it on the other seat.

“What’s your question?” You began to buckle her seatbelt in.

“There’s a family dance next week. Can you come, pretty please? I want you to meet my new friend Missy and her dad.” She gave you her infamous big eyes when she really wanted you to do something, and based on how you wanted to be there for her more you couldn’t say no.

“What day is it? I can make it.” She cheered as you said that you could make it and had a huge smile on her face.

“It’s next Friday. You have to wear red.” You closed her door when she was strapped in and then you went to the driver’s seat.

“Oh I have to wear red now. Why’s that?”

“Because it’s a Valentine’s day dance as well. Pretty please you’ll wear red?” You saw in your mirror that she was giving you the eyes and you sighed before giving in.

“I’ll wear whatever I have that’s red, but I’m not looking like a tomato,” You put the car in drive as Venus smiled with her plan working just as she wanted to.

Missy was in the car with Marcus as he was driving them back home. She saw that he was a little stressed.

“Are you okay dad?”

“Yeah. Just a long day with adjusting at the new office. How was your day though honey?”

“It was great, but I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“I know you’re busy, but can you please take a day to go to the dance next week? I want you to meet Venus’ parent so we can hang out.” Marcus knew that his schedule was tight considering that he still had to adjust at the new space but seeing that he wanted to help his daughter hang out with her new friend, he figured he couldn’t fail her.

“Next week when?” Missy lit up when she heard him ask that.

“Next week Friday! And you have to wear pink so we can match.” He laughed at her instance on wearing pink.

“Anything for you.” He gave her a high five and continued driving back to their new home, seeing that some father daughter time could make the transition easier on them both.

-

The night of the dance was in action and Venus dragged you along in the hallway of her school. Just as she asked, you were in almost everything red and so was she, and you saw that almost every other parent straggling along with you was duped into doing the same colors.

“We’re almost there!” Your daughter was happily skipping along and wanting to see all her friends.

“Am I still going to meet your friend today, Venus?” You heard about the girl she met at recess a few weeks ago, but to this day you hadn’t met her.

“Yes! I made her come just so you could meet her because you’ll love her!” She opened the door and you gave the two tickets to the chaperone. Inside you saw that they made it a love wonderland. Little clouds that were on the celling, red and pink lights, and everyone was on the gym floor enjoying themselves. Venus dragged you along to the gym floor and she turned to another girl and her dad. When you saw them turn around, you realized that you had to start coming to more events.

The man that turned around was breathtaking. His glasses gave him a soft nature, almost like he was very soft spoken and could make your heart melt with just a few words. He wore a pink shirt to match his daughter’s outfit, and the warm smile he gave you made you feel the heat rise to your cheeks. You hadn’t felt a blush coming along since high school, and here you were at your daughter’s dance acting like this was your first school crush.

“Marcus, I assume your Venus’ parent?” He put his hand out and you took it, seeing that Venus and her friend were hugging already.

“Yes I am. I’m Y/N. I see that you matched with Missy? Love the Cupid look you guys have.” He laughed and nodded.

“Yeah. She wanted to match and she picked it out for me so how could I say no. I see Venus did the same with you?” He was right since Venus wanted you to wear red and if she could have it her way, have you dye your hair for this dance.

“Yep. She wanted me to wear head to toe red but I didn’t want to look like a tomato. That’s only for certain days,” You joked.

“I think a tomato would be the perfect look for you, and maybe anything else.” He flashed you a smile and you could help but smile back, him putting you at ease with everything. But before you could respond Misty chimed in.

“Hi! I’m Missy. Me and Venus are going to dance with our friends since they’re right over there.” Venus was already pulling Missy’s  hand to go to their friends.

“Have fun but stay close!” You told the girls and they smiled at you. They wandered to their friends which left you and him alone, and the way he looked in the pink and red lights was something that made you want to dance with him.

“Well didn’t they get away from us pretty quickly,”

“They grow up so fast. Seems like yesterday we were taking them to their first day of school,” You smiled at the thought of taking Venus to school, already seeing that time was flying right before your eyes and you wanted to hold on to every moment possible.

“It does. But since time flies, I think we should all get together and hang out, for the girls obviously.” It was something in the way he said that last part that made you think he meant more than just for the girls.

“Of course. I think they should hang out more outside of school and we can get to know each other.” You were playing along but with the way he was looking at you, you knew that there was something on the tip of his tongue.

“I would love that. After all, I think the parents should get along just as much as the kids.” He got a little closer to you, and the smell of his light cologne hitting your nostrils fit him perfectly.

“Oh yes, strictly for the kids. But, may I ask you to dance Y/N?” He put out his hand and you took it happily, seeing that there would likely be something more between you and him than what you expected. From a distance, Misty and Venus were watching you and they high fived each other.

 “Yes! It worked. I couldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for you.” Missy was so happy, seeing her dad move on and find another form of happiness.

“I can see a good pair anywhere.” The girls giggled and finally went to dance with their friends, seeing that their parent trap was successful against all odds.

#pedropascal #pedro pascal fanfiction #pedro pascal #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal fluff #marcus moreno #marcus moreno x you #marcus moreno fanfiction #marcus moreno x reader #marcus moreno fluff #we can be heroes #lana writes #pedro pascal fandom #pedro pascal character fanfic #pedro pascal fanfic #pedro pascal fic #marcus moreno fic

[thegettingbyp2]

Hi! Can we have some Aaron Tveit angst n fluff? Maybe reader is a big shot movie star? Idk Haha

I Didn't Mean It

You were rushing around your house, trying to make sure that you had everything packed at the last minute. You were heading to London in the morning to begin filming for the new series of Bridgerton and to say you were excited was an understatement after spending the last couple of months having severe doubts about your career, but you wanted to make sure that you had everything packed so you could spend the evening with your boyfriend before you left.

Because you were so busy racing around, you didn’t realise your front door had opened and closed, letting your boyfriend, Aaron, in. You only noticed that he was there when he made you jump as you glanced at the clock on top of the doorway.

‘Fuck!’ You exclaimed, holding your hand to your chest. ‘You made me jump, what are you doing here so early? I thought you were coming round at 5?’

‘I thought I’d come round earlier so I could help you pack,’ Aaron said, lightly shrugging his shoulders as he pushed himself off the doorframe, heading over to you and pressing a gentle kiss to your lips.

‘In that case, you can help me find the last couple of scripts,’ you said, grinning as you gestured to the pile of scripts, one for each episode of the season. Aaron laughed and pressed a kiss to your forehead before heading upstairs, knowing that you had most likely misplaced them somewhere in your room.

As the day went on, you noticed that Aaron was getting quieter and quieter, something you put down to being down that you were having to leave again. A little later in the afternoon, you heard Aaron sigh heavily and throw himself down onto your sofa, one of your scripts in his hand. ‘What are you doing,’ you asked, amused as he looked up at you with a grin and held his arm out to you.

‘Come and sit down with me for a bit,’ he said, grabbing your wrist as soon as you were within reach and yanking you down next to him. You moved your body into a more comfortable position with your head resting in his lap so you were looking up at his face. ‘Alright there?’ he asked, smirking lightly.

‘Just admiring the view,’ you said casually which only made him laugh, throwing his head backwards. ‘Why have you got one of the scripts anyway?’

‘I thought I’d give it a read,’ he said, mocking your casual tone which in turn made you laugh. ‘Do you have to go?’ he asked, bringing his hand to rest on the top of your head, brushing his fingers through as he looked down at you.

‘You know I do. We can’t all be on Broadway you know,’ you replied, bringing your finger up to lightly poke his cheek, making him turn his head in an attempt to bite your finger. ‘Some of us have to travel for work.’

‘Well maybe if you do a really bad job this time, they won’t want you back for the next season and then you never have to leave me again,’ he said in a teasing tone. Even though you knew that he was joking and he was the first person to push you to accept a job, believing 100% that you would be amazing, you couldn’t help the nag in the back of your mind that told you he was being serious.

You sat up, pulling away for him and got back up, moving around your living room once more, carrying on with your packing. An uncomfortable silence fell upon the room and the sign you heard from Aaron confirmed that he hadn’t seen the problem in what he had just said.

‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, standing up and moving closer to you. When he realised that you weren’t going to reply to him or stop, his hands came out to gently grab the tops of your arms, forcing you to stop what you were doing but you still didn’t meet his gaze. ‘Hey, (Y/N), what happened?’ he asked again, moving his head until it was in your line of sight.

‘Why would you say something like that?’

‘Say something like what?’ he replied, a frown working its way onto his face until realisation dawned on him and you watched his mouth shape into an “o”. ‘Come on, you know I didn’t mean it like that, I was joking!’

‘I know,’ you said lightly, moving out of his grasp and continuing to pack until he stopped you again, making you look at him once more.

‘(Y/N), I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said it. I know that you’ve been having a hard time recently and I didn’t think. You know I think you’re amazing and talented and you’re going to crush it when you go and film! Just ignore me and we can have a nice evening before you have to go tomorrow, yeah?’

As soon as you looked into his eyes, you knew that you weren’t going to be able to stay made at him. You put the pile of clothes back on top of your suitcase and moved to stand in Aaron’s waiting arms, sighing when you felt his arms wrap around your body as he walked you both back over to the sofa.

‘Sorry,’ you muttered into his chest, ‘I know you wouldn’t mean it like that, I’m just wound up so tight at the moment because I want to make a good first impression when I get there.’

‘You’re going to make an amazing first impression baby,’ Aaron said fondly, kissing the top of your head before pushing you down so you were laying on the sofa with him hovering over you, ‘though how about we wind you back down before you go,’ he said lowly, lowering his head to your neck.

#aaron tveit #aaron tveit x reader #aaron tveit imagine

[ghoulsister1]

🎃SpookTober 31 Days Prompts🎃:

Day 8: Leaves🍂

Dante Sparda x GN!Reader. Fluff. Cosy Autumn Vibes. Raking up the leaves. Leaf pile. Sweet moments with Dante. SpookTober Prompt: Leaves🍂

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☆●~War Of The Leaves~●☆

It's Fall at Devil May Cry and as you are raking up the leaves, Dante decides to have some fun with the neatly piled leaf pile!

October was here! Fall in full bloom and the leaves were falling from the trees in colours of red, yellow and brown in every shade. You loved the leaves and their beautiful Fall colours, the perfect palette for the season.

You saw some of the leaves out on your lawn and decided it's time to rake some of them up. You grabbed your rake and headed out to begin your chore.

Dante called you as your were busy raking. He was at Devil May Cry, keeping an ear out for jobs with Vergil and Nero.

"Hey babe! How are you? Where are you?" Asked Dante, leaning back in his comfy chair at his desk. You chuckled and rolled your eyes playfully.

"I'm at home silly, raking up the leaves" You Replied giggling.

"Raking up the leaves? Why? Come over and I'll order pizza!" Suggested Dante grinning.

"Dante, that money is for the bills" You heard Vergil say in the background through the phone, making you chuckle.

"Vergil, the bills are fine! They can wait!" Groaned Dante with a sigh. You smiled to yourself as you heard the two Sparda brothers go back and forth.

"Tell you what Dante, how about you come over and help me rake the leaves, then we'll order pizza this evening? Sound good?" You Suggested.

"I'll be right over!" Cried Dante with joy.

"But Dante, the phone..." Vergil Began.

"Vergil you're in charge for today!" Declared Dante as you heard movement through the phone.

"Dante!..." Shouted Vergil.

"Nero make sure your Dad doesn't scare off any customer!" Shouted Dante before the call ended. You laughed to yourself at how goofy your scruffy half-demon could be and returned to raking the leaves, waiting for the arrival of your boyfriend.

It wasn't long till you heard the sound of a motorbike tearing up your street and you looked up to see Dante arriving on his motorbike, parking it outside and sauntering over to you as you smirked at him.

"Hey Dante!" You Greeted your scruffy Devil hunter as he made his way over to you. Dante smiled warmly at you.

"Hey babe!" Greeted Dante as he wrapped you in his arms and hugged you. You hugged him back and it was then you noticed his clothing. He was wearing his usual red leather jacket but instead of a shirt, he it was a black turtleneck jumper he wore. It smelled of fabric comforter and you nuzzled your face into his clothed chest.

"Nice jumper" You Remarked and Dante looked at you with a chuckle and the two of you broke away to look at each other.

"Got it yesterday. Thought why not?" Shrugged Dante smiling. You returned the smile and handed him the second rake.

"Well then, let's get to work!" You Smiled and Dante took the rake from your hand.

The two of you raked the leaves together, raking them up into a neat pile in the corner of the lawn. Dante groaned a bit at the chore, making you laugh as he protested at any chance he got.

"Why rake the leaves? Just leave them, the wind will blow them away anyway. Besides, more leaves will fall onto the lawn again!" Groaned Dante as he raked a couple of leaves into the pile. You laughed.

"Come on Dante, I asked you if you wanted to rake the leaves with me and you said yes! So here we are, raking the leaves" You Stated.

"I know I know!" Groaned Dante, stopping to look at the big leaf pile that had formed.

"Hey babe, wanna have some fun?" Asked Dante.

"What kind of fun?" You Asked, raking.

"This" Replied Dante and without warning he just spread his arms out wide and he jumped into the neat leaf pile, sending leaves up in the air and scattering.

"Dante! We just raked those leaves!" You Cried but Dante got up from the pile and grinned.

"Come on, live on the wild side!" Cried Dante and he threw a bunch of leaves at you.

"Dante!" You Cried.

"Aw, what are you gonna do about it?" Teased Dante. You narrowed your eyes and dropped your rake.

"Are you challenging me?" You Asked, smirking.

Dante smirked back.

"Maybe, if you have the guts!" Teased Dante.

You smirked and picked up a bunch of leaves. Then you threw them at Dante, some were wet and stuck to his face.

"Yuck!" Cried Dante and you laughed. Dante and you then engaged in an all out leaf fight. Leaves were thrown here and there, Dante at one point started play fighting with you and you tackled each other with tickles and leaves, eventually both of you landed in the leaf pile with laughter.

"Got you!" Cried Dante, tickling you in the leaf pile.

"No I got you!" You Cried, tickling him back.

"Okay! Okay! Let's call it a draw!" Cried Dante, laughing.

"Alright deal! Deal!" You Cried with laughter.

You both stopped your tickling and you lay together, laughing and panting softly covered in leaves and wet with some damp off the leaves.

"Okay, that was a fun idea Dante" You Spoke, out of breath and smiling. Dante chuckled.

"Told you so" Dante Replied, out of breath but still laughing softly.

Dante looked at the scattered leaves all strewn across the lawn.

"Wanna rake these up?" Asked Dante.

You looked around at all the leaves, but smiled.

"Nah, let's head inside and order that pizza" You Suggested, smiling. Dante's eyes lit up at the mention of "pizza" and grinned.

"For real?" Asked Dante.

"Yeah!" You Answered and the two of you helped each other up outta the leaves and headed back indoors to warm up.

You ordered some pizza and changed into comfy lounge wear and made some delicious orange hot chocolate as you and Dante waited for the pizza to arrive to your door, snuggling up together on the couch and rewatching episodes of Family Guy on the TV.

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#spooktober #spooktober 31 days prompts #spooktober prompts #october #october prompts #writing prompts #writing prompt #31 days of halloween #31 days prompts #dante sparda #devil may cry 5 #prompt 8 leaves

[luvjjongtae]

I'm a Monster

Pairing: Choi Minho x Lee Taemin.

AU info: College AU. Vampire / Werewolf AU.

Genre: Fluff and Angst

Other tags and warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, Attempted Rape / Non-con, Minor character deaths, Blood and violence, Happy ending, Vampire!Taemin, Werewolf!Minho, the rest you'll find out :D

Summary: Taemin struggles with juggling being a college student and a vampire, all while falling for his roommate, Minho who also has a secret of his own.

Word Count: 18.5k

Author's Note: I wanted to wait to upload this on Halloween but got too excited. This was partly inspired by the Netflix show First Kill, but it's a different made-up world I created. Also please be aware of the warnings and tags and don't read this if any of that makes you uncomfortable!

The room smelled like dog.

Although it was faint, Taemin still caught a good whiff of it in the living area of his new suite-style dorm and scrunched up his nose in annoyance. It didn’t stink that bad – it just mildly bothered him – but Taesun beside him was waving his arms around and protesting loudly with a grimace.

“Oh my God, did the last students here own ten dogs?” Taesun picked up the cardboard box of clothes at his feet and beelined towards Taemin’s new bedroom, pushing the door open with his foot. “Hopefully, your room isn’t so bad, for your own sake.”

Taemin followed him in with his own heavy stack of cardboard boxes piled on his arms as if they were weightless but stopped when he heard the front door of the dorm click open. He craned back to meet who he figured was his new roommate. “Hey, there.”

“Hey!” The guy at the door shuffled his shoes off and looked back at Taemin. He had really big eyes, Taemin noticed. “Are you Taemin?”

“That’s me,” Taemin said. “And you’re Minho hyung?”

“Yup!” he said cheerily, walking now towards Taemin who got another good whiff of that dog smell, lips pursing with slight annoyance. Minho looked between Taemin and his large pile of boxes with some concern and offered, “Do you want me to help? I already moved in.”

“Taemin-ah,” Taesun hissed at him, poking his head out the door to his bedroom. “I don’t have all day.”

“Ah, no, it’s fine,” Taemin responded to Minho sheepishly, heading towards his bedroom. Minho’s brow furrowed in concern and Taemin rushed to explain. “My brother’s here to help me. See you.”

“Yeah, see you,” Minho said with a small wave, watching Taemin as he disappeared into his bedroom and Taesun shut the door behind him.

“That’s your roommate?” Taesun jutted his head at the door, one brow raised suspiciously at Taemin.

“Yeah, why?” Minho seemed friendly enough, and their brief conversations on Instagram lead him to believe that Minho wasn’t a total weirdo.

Taesun shrugged. “Just gave me bad vibes. Be careful around him, okay?” Before Taemin could ask how he had gotten “bad vibes” from a two-second interaction where they didn’t even talk, Taesun breathed in deeply, looking around the room. “It smells a thousand times better here, thank God.” Then he smiled at Taemin and patted him on his shoulder before moving past him to touch the bed frame. “Now. Ready to move into college?”

After a couple of hours of unpacking and organizing and Taemin yelling at Taesun no, this goes here, Taemin dropped down heavily to sit on his just-made bed beside Taesun. He sighed and leaned his side into Taesun’s, searching for the big brother leaning support he always could count on. Taesun gave it to him, of course, staying still while Taemin rested his head on his shoulder.

“Thanks for helping, hyung. It would’ve taken me ages.”

“You would still be unpacking by the second week into classes,” Taesun laughed, Taemin’s head bouncing up with his shoulders. When the sound of his laughter died away, his voice turned gentle. “But are you sure you want to do this?”

Taemin got up from his shoulder, exhaling loudly with an eye roll. “You know my answer to that.”

“You don’t have to go to college. You can be like me, work in the family business. Or just not work at all,” Taesun said to him in a rush. “Think about it,” he wrapped his arm about Taemin’s shoulders. “Private planes every weekend, hm?”

Taemin shrugged him off. “Even you didn’t want to do that. You work. I just–” He huffed before continuing. “I just want to do something for a few years before I end up working for hundreds more.”

“It’s not hundreds of years,” Taesun laughed. “More like ninety, if we’re being honest. Vamps are so lazy these days, retiring so early.”

“You act like you’re five hundred years old and not literally twenty,” Taemin scoffed. “Just let me live a little before I gotta slave away doing paperwork.”

Taesun sighed in resignation. “Fine, that’s your choice. Your diet, however…” He shot him a look.

Taemin knew what was coming. He’d had the same conversation with his parents for years. “Is also my choice,” Taemin finished for him quickly. “Did Mom and Dad set you up to this?”

“Look, all I’m saying is that you’re going to be around a lot of humans and you’re still developing as a vampire.” Taesun stood up, pacing around the room as if he was lecturing him. Taemin just gave him an exhausted look, but Taesun carried on without a care, “Just– if you have to, feed. For real, and not that stupid animal stuff you’re keeping in your mini-fridge.” He gestured lamely at the stainless steel fridge by his nightstand, humming away.

“The ‘stupid animal stuff’ works just fine,” Taemin said.

“It won’t forever,” Taesun said, his voice rising. But he caught himself and lowered it to a hiss. “Just do it before you lose control and fuck up again, okay?” Taemin froze, staring daggers at Taesun who just laughed dryly, his voice ragged and rough in his throat, the kind that said it wasn’t funny.

Taemin had messed up his first time. Okay, sure. He had messed up really fucking bad, but that didn’t mean it would happen again. It couldn’t.

But Taesun kept talking. “Keeping that off the Council’s radar was hard enough, but Mom and Dad too? You’re lucky they don’t know or you would be off this diet by now for sure.”

Taemin clenched his fists on his lap. “It won’t happen again,” he said through gritted teeth. “You know it won’t.”

“I don’t think a double dose of suppressors is going to help.”

“The doctor said it would. So it will,” Taemin said with a sense of finality.

Something cracked in his brother’s expression, and he ran a hand through his hair messily. “Taemin-ah, you know I’m only looking out for you. Just promise me you’ll stay safe. And that means feeding and doing it right.” With a final frustrated exhale, he looked at the door and said, “I’m gonna get going. Got plans tonight.”

Taemin nodded stiffly, watching his brother leave him alone now in his new bedroom. His phone buzzed with his reminder alarm and he pulled out a container of pills from his pocket, popping two of them in his mouth and swallowing with a quick swig of his water bottle. They were meant to lessen his hunger, dull his senses, minimize his strength – all things supposed to keep him safe from being hunted. They were meant to lighten this burden, no matter how much his family told him it was a gift.

But now the container of pills he’d been carrying around his whole life felt like a million pounds when he slid it back into his pocket.

. . .

Minho’s new roommate was weird.

For one, he was a freshman. Or granted, the age of a freshman. Technically speaking, he was a sophomore, though this was his first year in college. When he told Minho over Instagram DM’s that he had gotten enough credits in high school to skip a whole year, Minho realized this kid was no joke. And also probably loaded as fuck to afford the number of tutors he had told him about.

Taemin was also extremely pale. And delicate-looking. Or maybe that was just the finicky dorm lighting, but he looked almost sick when they met, which is why Minho offered to help him with his boxes. Taemin’s brother was straight up just kind of rude, not even saying hello to him through the door. At least he wouldn’t be interacting with him.

The final thing was something Minho noticed as he made his way into their small living space. Passing Taemin’s door, the pungent smell of animal blood hit him all at once, making him stumble back. No, that wasn’t possible. Could Taemin be like him?

Minho sniffed Taemin’s door one more time and caught nothing. He shook the thoughts away and collapsed onto the couch, shutting his eyes tight. It was just his imagination. He had made it up. The chances of Taemin being a werewolf were statistically tiny if the government’s “Monster Census” was anything to go by, which Minho knew was not due to underreporting, but whatever. Was storing animal blood and meats even a thing that werewolves did? Should he be doing that? He made a mental note to ask Jonghyun the next time he saw him.

Or called him. Minho felt his phone start vibrating in his hand and stood up quickly to greet Jonghyun on the other end. “Hey, hyung. Thanks for calling.”

“Finally moved in? How’s the city?” Jonghyun’s voice sounded small and tinny in his ear, and Minho rushed back into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him to respond in private.

“Yeah, today. And it’s okay, different from the farm, you know. Noisy.” He adjusted the phone against his ear and got to the point. “Listen, so this weekend–”

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. You just show up before the moon rises, so check your phone to see when that happens. You have the address, right? Don’t wanna get there late,” Jonghyun laughed.

“Yeah,” Minho said, relaxing his shoulders a bit. But he still hesitated. “I’m just worried, I’ve never…done this before.”

“Yeah, you have. In even more dangerous conditions,” Jonghyun reminded him. “In the sanctuary, you’ll be safe when you turn and you’ll have people keeping an eye on you.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “Plus you get to hang out with me,” he added in a cheerful tone.

“That’s true,” Minho said, still obviously worried. “But can I get there early? Just to make sure?”

Jonghyun chuckled again, the sound vibrating in his ear. “Of course. We always have some food lying around too.”

“Okay, okay,” Minho said, breathing out. “Thanks, hyung. Seriously. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“No problem, Minho-yah. Just tell your parents I say hi when you talk to them and let’s plan to meet up sometime not during the full moon now that you’ve moved here. It’s not only about the sanctuary, it’s about exploring, right?” Minho was just about to cut in with actually, no, it’s only about the sanctuary when Jonghyun spoke again, some yelling audible in the background. “Aish, now I gotta go. They’re fighting over leftovers again. I’ll text you, okay?”

“Okay,” Minho said softly as he hung up, turning his phone down and staring up at the ceiling. His first full moon away from home… He knew he’d be safer at the sanctuary, technically. But a part of him couldn’t help but keep worrying about this entirely new environment, especially since he was so new to the whole thing and his family didn’t know and–

A knock at the door startled him out of his thoughts. “Come in!” he called. Taemin opened the door but hesitated before stepping inside. He seemed relieved for a split second when he took a step in before scrunching his nose and grimacing slightly. He jumped back out of the room quickly. Weird. But Minho let it slide, smiling at him kindly and saying, “What’s up?”

Taemin seemed to remember Minho was there, snapping his head up to look at him. Nervously, he said, “So, I think there’s an event in the common room with the entire floor tonight. If you wanted to come?”

Minho pushed himself off his bed, meeting Taemin at the door to leave together. “Sounds fun! I just can’t stay out too late since I wake up early to run.” Taemin’s eyes flickered down to the rest of this body, before shooting back up to Minho’s face and widening in some form of understanding. Minho pretended not to notice again.

“Do you play any sports?” Taemin asked him after a few moments as they walked down the hall towards the sounds of chatter and music, shoes clicking against the tile floor.

“Yeah, a lot actually,” Minho replied. “It's cross country season now, which is why I’ve gotta stay on top of running.”

Taemin nodded beside him just as they reached the common area of their floor, fellow college students sprawled out on the couches or chatting against the walls. The smell of quesadillas and Coca-Cola filled Minho’s nose, making him suddenly hungry. He scanned the table littered with junk food against the wall for any meat, a smile breaking out on his face when he saw a salami platter. He had to get his hands on that.

“Hey, I’m gonna get some food, okay?” he said to Taemin beside him, who was still looking around the room apprehensively, taking it all in. “Do you want anything?”

Taemin blinked at Minho. “Ah, no. I’m fine, don’t worry. I don’t like…cheese,” he said after a pause.

Minho shrugged. “As long as the salami’s mine.” He turned towards his beloved salami platter when someone blocked him.

“Hi there, nice to meet you!”

Minho bowed quickly to greet the guy standing in front of him, looking just a few years older than him. He was probably Jonghyun’s age, Minho reasoned. He snuck an irritated glance at the table of food blocked by the guy. His stomach would just have to wait a bit longer. “Nice to meet you, too,” Minho said politely. “I’m Minho.”

“Choi Minho, right,” the guy said, nodding in understanding. “The star athlete on this floor, hm?”

“Uh, yeah, I guess,” Minho said apprehensively. Before he could ask how he already knew about him, he felt a tug on the sleeve of his shirt and looked back to see Taemin.

“Hey, where do you wanna sit– Oh, hello,” Taemin said, bowing to greet the guy in front of them.

The guy bowed in response, shooting them both warm smiles. “I’m Lee Jinki. Well, technically Professor Lee but you can just call me Jinki or Professor Jinki while we’re here. I’m the resident professor on this floor, which is how I know all your names, Lee Taemin.” Minho felt Taemin jump slightly in surprise beside him. But Jinki smiled at them widely again, putting him at ease. “Have you tried the quesadillas? I made them myself. It’s a monthly tradition in this hall.”

“But you look so young,” Taemin blurted out. He seemed to catch his mistake and cowered next to Minho, staring down at his shoes. But he was right. Minho didn’t think he looked much older than Jonghyun who was just twenty-one, and even that was stretching it. How could this guy be a professor? “My apologies, I didn’t mean–”

“No, it’s fine,” Jinki said with a lighthearted laugh as if he was used to it. “I get that all the time. Plus, it’s a compliment.” He took one final look at them and said, “If you two need anything during the year, please don’t hesitate to see me or the RA. We’re here to help you, okay? Especially since I know it’s your first year.” He directed that last bit meaningfully at Taemin.

“I– yeah,” Taemin said. He hesitated, searching for the right words before settling on something safe, “Thank you, gyosunim.”

“Thank you,” Minho added quickly as well.

Jinki left them to go talk to some other students and Minho resumed his quest for the salami, eyeing it from across the room. Taemin could make do on his own, his stomach told him. “I’m starving,” he muttered to himself, taking quick strides to the table and leaving Taemin behind him.

The sharp scent of fermented meat made his mouth water as he got closer. He loved meat, even before he was bitten, and this curse of his just seemed to make it stronger. After piling a satisfactory amount of slices onto his small plate, he looked around the crowded room to find Taemin again. But his eyes snagged first on the television, playing a live basketball game. Oh, this he couldn’t miss.

Eyes glued to the game, his legs automatically guided him to the couch, where he numbly sat on the arm. He stuffed his mouth with salami slices, chewing them over as he watched one of the teams score a three-pointer. The students on the couch cheered in excitement, and Minho joined in. Maybe he should befriend some of these guys.

The person sitting closest to him let out a loud scoff. Minho glared at him, catching him in time to see him rolling his eyes.

“If you hate the game so much, why are you even watching?” Minho snapped.

The guy glared back. “There’s not much else to do, is there?” Crossing his arms and settling deeper into the couch, he added, “So I might as well hate-watch.”

Anger flared up inside of Minho. He was taking up a perfectly good couch spot from a perfectly good sports fan - ahem, Minho - just so that he could scoff and roll his eyes the entire time. “Or you could just leave.”

“You’d like that, huh.” Then the guy laughed, amused. He stuck out his hand at Minho, a smile crinkling up the corners of his eyes. “Name’s Kibum.”

“Minho.” He shook his hand, surprised at the sudden mood shift. Kibum then scooched over on the couch and patted the spot next to him, inviting Minho to squish in with him.

“It’ll be interesting to piss you off more as the game goes on.”

His words were harsh but his tone was sarcastic and light. Minho couldn’t help but smile, popping the last slice of salami into his mouth. He and Kibum bantered for the next hour, learning about each other’s majors and hometowns. When Minho let him know that he had transferred this year from a rural school, Kibum let out a low whistle.

“A country boy, hm? I’m from Daegu originally. The transition last year was interesting.” He frowned, remembering his freshman year. “But how’s Seoul treating you?”

“Well, I just moved in today,” Minho said, slightly embarrassed. “I’ve really only met you. Oh, and my roommate.”

“Who’s that?” Kibum asked.

Minho tore his eyes away from the television - it was a commercial break anyway - and searched the room for Taemin’s familiar face. He noticed him making conversation with a group of people, nodding along and laughing at whatever joke they had cracked. Minho gestured towards him for Kibum’s sake. “The youngest-looking one. Lee Taemin.”

Kibum twisted on the couch to look at Taemin, eyes softening. “Aw, he looks so cute. His face is like a baby’s.” Then he paused, remembering something. “Wait, he’s the one that’s eighteen right? Skipped a year?”

Minho nodded but asked, “How do you know?”

Kibum shrugged nonchalantly. “Heard some people talking about it. Wow, he really does look young. Like a delicate flower boy,” he laughed, turning back towards the television. “Better take good care of the kid.”

“He’s not helpless,” Minho said, remembering how he carried that stack of heavy-looking cardboard boxes easily earlier, even though he looked sick. Other than being a little nervous at times, Taemin seemed totally fine.

He smiled as he gazed at Taemin for a few more moments. He really did look dainty and delicate from here, as if he was made of china glass. His careless, gummy smile lit up his face again at another joke and the guy beside him patted him on the back in laughter, making him stumble forward a bit, his face still smiling. It didn’t seem like he needed Minho’s help adjusting - and, hell, Minho wasn’t even sure he was in the position to help anyone with his situation - but he could be a good roommate and friend at least.

When the welcome party died down, Minho left Kibum to find Taemin and let him know he was going to sleep.

“Now?” Taemin looked at him quizzically, his eyes still bright and awake. Minho’s felt like they were drooping.

“Yeah, it’s later than my usual bedtime.” Minho checked the time on his phone with a yawn. “Past midnight. How are you not tired? Unpacking exhausted me.”

“Oh, no, I am tired,” Taemin said quickly. After waving goodbye to the people he was chatting with, he joined Minho on the way back to their dorm. “I guess I just have a later bedtime,” he said after a moment.

“Just don’t wake me up at 2 AM or something crazy,” Minho said lightheartedly, bumping his shoulder into Taemin’s as they walked. “Some of us still have sleep schedules.”

“Right,” Taemin smiled shyly. Minho realized that he hadn’t seen Taemin smile at something he had said until just then and his heart swelled with pride. He liked making Taemin smile.

“Goodnight, Taemin,” Minho said once they were inside their dorm. “I’ll be quiet tomorrow morning so you can sleep in.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I can, uh, sleep through anything.” Minho just smiled, sensing that Taemin was just trying to be accommodating but decided to be as quiet as possible the next morning anyway. “And goodnight. Thanks for coming with me tonight.”

As Minho drifted into blissful sleep, he wondered what Taemin was dreaming about and whether he was sleeping well.

. . .

“Oh, no.”

It was Minho’s voice. Taemin excitedly spun around to greet him, a spoon in his hand from scooping up the remaining bits of rice in the cooker. “You’re back! How was your exam?”

Minho groaned, throwing his backpack down and kicking off his shoes before collapsing onto the couch face first. “It went.”

“I cooked!” Taemin finished off the two bowls of rice, grabbed the steaming mandoo, and placed them on the low table in front of the television. “As congratulations for getting through the test.”

“I could tell.”

Minho’s voice was muffled by the cushions but Taemin could tell that he wasn’t exactly over the moon about Taemin’s gift. Using his whiniest voice, Taemin said, “I made this for you. The least you could do is try it.”

“Last time you tried cooking, you almost burned down the entire hall,” Minho deadpanned. “Not to mention it tasted horrible.”

“Okay, that was an accident and almost a month ago,” Taemin scoffed. “And that’s why I stuck to rice this time. Something even I can’t mess up.” When Minho didn’t move, he added quickly in a quiet tone, “The mandoo was pre-made.”

Minho perked up, moving to sit on the floor with Taemin and finding his chopsticks. “Now that I will gladly eat.” He looked tired but still as handsome as ever, and Taemin’s heart fluttered when their knees touched. He beamed, passing him the plate of mandoo and smiling even bigger when Minho tried the rice and nodded in approval. “Not awful, Taemin-ah.”

“Thanks, hyung,” Taemin said through a mouthful of rice that (Minho was right) didn’t taste awful. It did nothing to calm his stomach or alleviate nausea plaguing him the entire afternoon but he swallowed it anyway, keeping up appearances with Minho. Human food did nothing for him, but he could pretend to eat it. But maybe buying the mandoo was a mistake too. It smelled way too strong. He’d have to take some extra suppressors tonight before he passed out or something.

Or worse, his brain told him. Taemin didn’t want to think about it.

He changed the subject from food. “Hyung, I heard about a party next week. Someone’s house a few blocks away. Do you wanna go?” Minho always agreed to these things. Now that they were roommates, they had also become each other’s de facto “social event friend,” and it brought them even closer with every party or getty they decided to show up at. Or so Taemin hoped.

Minho hesitated, chopsticks halfway up to his mouth. “I can’t. I have a thing.”

“Another party?” Taemin blinked at him, surprised. They both had the same group of friends or at least ran in the same social circles. What event could Minho be talking about that Taemin didn’t know?

“No, it’s a, uh– a family thing.” Minho stuffed his face with some mandoo, avoiding Taemin’s eyes before swallowing and sighing deeply. “I’m sorry, Taemin. I really can’t miss it.” His voice was sincere.

Taemin tried to hide his disappointment and nausea that his rice seemed to stir up even more. He stopped eating it, knowing it would do nothing good for him anyway. “It’s fine, hyung. I’ll go by myself or figure something out. We don’t have to go to every event together.” He tried laughing, but it came out dry and strained.

“I really wish I could go,” Minho said after a pause. “It’s fun going to these things with you. Even if you always want to stay ‘till 3 AM.”

“You just get tired way too quickly.”

“I’m human, Taemin-ah,” Minho scolded playfully. But after saying those words, something in his expression fell and he returned to eating his rice. “We’ll go to the next party,” he said after a few long moments.

“Right.” Taemin didn’t have the energy to press Minho about that strange reaction because his head began pounding and colors started blurring together. He blinked rapidly a few times, trying to clear his vision.

Minho seemed to notice. He looked up and panic flew across his face as he asked, “Taemin? Taemin-ah? Where are your pills?”

Taemin shut his eyes tightly, willing the pounding to stop just for one second. He reached down into his pocket and pulled out the small container, dropping it clumsily onto the table.

“How many?” Minho asked, his voice distant compared to thumping in his ears.

“Two– three,” Taemin corrected himself.

He heard Minho rattling three pills out of the container, pressing them into Taemin’s palm. “Water,” he said, passing him a water bottle as well. Taemin swallowed the pills quickly, waiting for the familiar relief to wash over him.

It took a few seconds, but the pounding finally stopped and nausea let up if only a little at first. He blinked at Minho and exhaled slowly. “Thanks, hyung.”

Minho still looked concerned, his hand pressing down on Taemin’s shoulder comfortingly. But Taemin didn’t have the energy to feel excited like he usually did at these tiny touches. He didn’t even feel nervous when Minho grabbed his chin and forced him to look him in the eyes. That now-familiar dog smell hit Taemin all at once, but after a month of living with him, the smell wasn’t unpleasant. It was kind of…sweet, somehow. Which didn’t make any sense, but whatever. He didn’t have the energy to decipher that either.

And now that sweet smell was just too much all at once for Taemin, who felt weakened and tired. Minho was talking. “Those migraines keep getting worse. I think you should see a doctor,” he said for the millionth time. He didn’t seem to care how much Taemin told him that he couldn’t see a doctor, that his parents were against it and would murder him if they found out. Minho still insisted.

Taemin shrugged Minho’s hands off him and stood up on wobbly legs. “I think I just need to go to my room.”

Hurt flashed in Minho’s eyes for a split second before concern overtook it again. “Taemin-ah.”

“What?” He was exhausted. He just needed some blood from his fridge, but he couldn’t exactly whip that out in the living room with Minho right there. No matter how inconspicuous the labels on the cans of blood tried to be, reading things like Extra Red Punch Energy Drink!, Minho had a strangely good sense of smell and would pick up that it wasn’t a normal soda or energy drink can. “I’m tired.”

Minho’s face softened, probably because Taemin never said he was tired. Minho was so easy to read: If he’s saying it now, it must be really bad. “Call me if you need anything, okay? I’ll clean up here.”

Taemin nodded stiffly and stumbled back into his room, sighing in relief when he downed an entire can of goat’s blood in one breath. He smeared it off his lips, not bothering to wash his hands right now. He just needed to close his eyes for a bit, even if sleep would never reach him, no matter much he tried, for the rest of eternity. But all he needed was a minute. Just a minute…

Which was all he got before his phone started buzzing with a call from his mom. Great, just what he needed. He debated not picking up but gave in, knowing she’d flip out and call the police or something. “Hey, Mom.”

“Taemin-ah,” she said, smiling into his ear. “How have classes gone today?”

“No different from yesterday. Or the day before. Or the day before that, when you also called.” Taemin knew he was being snippy but couldn’t help it. Not when the swimming nauseous feeling still bothered him.

But his mom didn’t get angry. Her voice sounded in his ear, laced with concern, “What’s wrong, Taemin-ah?”

“Nothing,” he said quickly, turning around in his bed and gritting his teeth.

“You get like this when you’re hungry. The animal blood isn’t enough, is it?”

“That’s not it,” he forced out. God, it was so hard to lie to her.

She kept pressing. “How many of those suppressors are you taking?”

“Enough. I’m fine.”

“Taemin, we don’t know how toxic those– those drugs are yet.” Her voice was rising in pitch, a tell that she was getting angry. Taemin swallowed back dread. “You’re poisoning and starving yourself. Do you realize how dangerous that is?”

Taemin had run out of things to say, energy sapped from his body from his episode. “I– I’m doing fine, Mom. Please believe me.”

He heard his mom take a deep breath on the other end of the line. “Taemin, I’m only pressuring you because it’s what’s natural. It’s what’s best for you. If you feel it’s getting too much, just remember what we’ve taught you and you’ll be fine, okay?” She paused and Taemin could tell she was trying to smile on the other end, to ease his worries or her own, he couldn’t tell. “It’s not normal for a vampire to go this long after their first feeding, especially in our family–”

At the stinging reminder of his first time, Taemin snapped back, “How many times do I have to tell you I’m fine, Mom? The human cops aren’t actively persecuting me if that’s what you’re worried about.” He inhaled shakily. “Just let me focus on my classes.”

“Okay.” Her voice sounded small and weak now, and guilt stabbed through him. “Study hard, Taemin-ah.”

“Yeah. Will do, Mom.” He hung up and stared up at the ceiling, wishing not for the first time that he was human. Or at least from a less “established, respected, and old vampire family,” in his family’s words. Even being a regular old vampire would be fine compared to this. He didn’t want the speed or the strength or the glamour or any of it. It all just came with pain.

His mom’s reminder of his first time kept stinging, ever-present in his mind if he thought about it too much. Which is what he was doing now, shit. He shut his eyes tight, trying to block out the memory, but it came anyway. Flashes of bright red, a faceless human…the sounds of agonizing screams, cracking bones…his fangs aching and aching with the need to feed and feed now. A snapped neck. Teeth and razor-sharp nails tearing through flesh, reaching a bloody heart–

Taemin gasped, eyes snapping wide open. He would never let that happen again, especially not now with how many human friends he had made in the dorm. He froze, feeling a chill run up his body as he thought about hurting Minho, feeding on Minho. No, no, no no no–

That wasn’t him. He would never turn into that monster again, least of all to hurt Minho, the boy who quietly got ready to run just in case it would wake him up, or would ruffle up his hair whenever he saw him in between classes or would smile at him from across the room at a party just to make sure he was still okay. No, the very idea of his fangs anywhere near Minho was absurd. The animal blood and suppressors were enough to prevent it and if the price to pay was suffering a few bad headaches and nausea every once in a while, then so be it.

It would be his penance for the monster he had turned into that night.

. . .

“Just fucking admit that you have a crush on him!”

Minho lay sprawled on the bright green grass of the soccer field, the sun setting over the horizon. Practice was over, but Minho had kept playing into the late afternoon, kicking the ball into the goal by himself time and time again until his body gave out and he collapsed onto the ground. Kibum, who preferred studying outside “for inspiration from nature,” sometimes joined him at this time, knowing Minho would either be kicking the ball around aimlessly or panting on the grass.

“I don’t,” Minho was panting on the grass this time, “have a crush on him.”

Kibum t’sked and rolled over onto the grass beside Minho, his papers and textbooks forgotten nearby, pages flipping dangerously in the wind. “Then why’d you bring him up?”

Minho hesitated. He had kind of brought up Taemin randomly. They were just talking about their math classes and Minho had piped up that Taemin always needed help with his math homework, so Minho was getting in some extra practice by tutoring him. It made sense to bring him up. “We were talking about math.”

“That has nothing to do with him.”

“Now it does,” Minho huffed.

Kibum sighed and rolled over to face Minho, propping his head up on his hand, elbow digging into the grass. “Look, Minho. He’s all you fucking talk about.”

“How could you know? You only talk about yourself when we hang out,” Minho said, laughing at the slap he received on his arm.

“If I could notice, then it’s really bad. You can’t go one conversation without ‘Taemin, this’ or ‘Taemin, that,’ or ‘Taeminnie would love this flavor of chips,’ or–”

“Yah,” Minho cut him off, sitting up. “I don’t talk like that.”

Kibum seemed to give up, collapsing back onto the ground with a dramatic sigh. He pulled his sunglasses over his eyes, blocking out his expression. “Idiot,” he muttered. “Don’t come crying when Taemin gets a girlfriend or boyfriend and you get all jealous.”

Minho joined Kibum, laying back onto the ground as well and staring up at the sky. Taemin with a partner? The thought bothered Minho, his lips unwittingly forming a thin line. But it could just be him being overprotective over Taemin, the soft kid Minho went to parties with and helped with math homework. Taemin deserved someone perfect, no less. Minho would make sure of it.

Taemin deserved him.

The thought just popped into his head, and his heart raced at the realization that fuck, maybe Kibum was right about something for once. But before he could begin to understand his feelings and seemingly random thoughts, his phone began ringing, the sound carrying over in the wind from the bleachers. The ringtone sound reserved for Jonghyun.

Minho pushed himself up, telling Kibum, “I gotta take that.” He grabbed his phone and sat down on the first bleacher step, worried about whatever Jonghyun was calling about. The last full moon had gone surprisingly smoothly. Minho hunted in the sanctuary and when he and Jonghyun filled their stomachs with what felt like a lifetime’s worth of food, they lounged around the large forest that made up the sanctuary, enjoying the way the moonlight filtered through the leaves and how the moon seemed to smile down at them. It was peaceful, and afterwards, Minho had said his thank you’s to the centaurs on guard and the fellow werewolves who generously ran the place and returned to his life as a human university student. It was easy. He could get used to this lifestyle, he remembered thinking to himself.

But why was Jonghyun calling now? The next full moon wasn’t for another week. Minho worriedly bit his lip, anticipating Jonghyun’s voice which cheerfully spoke in his ear, “Minho-yah! What’s up with you?”

“Not much. School’s a lot of work but other than that I’m doing well.” He lowered his voice, conscious of Kibum still sun tanning a few feet away on the field. “What’s this about?”

“I can’t call up an old family friend randomly?” Jonghyun laughed. “No, it’s nothing serious. You just forgot some of your stuff here. We only just noticed today as we were cleaning up. Some clothes, I think.”

Minho relaxed. So that’s where his favorite t-shirt had gone. “Can I pick it up next time?”

“Sure, no problem. I’ll keep it safe for you,” Jonghyun said, some shuffling around audible in the background, probably some paperwork or whatever new songs Jonghyun was working on. “Are you excited for next time? Less nervous I hope.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say excited.” Minho had never asked to be bitten, it just happened one night during his freshman year at his old university coming home from some party. He didn’t even remember who it was or how it happened from drinking too much earlier that night, just that when he woke up the next morning, he had bite marks along his bicep and suddenly craved some steak for breakfast. Him showing the marks to Jonghyun who had been visiting was the only reason he didn’t transform the next full moon with no idea of what he even had become. “But definitely not as nervous as before.”

“Good,” Jonghyun smiled into his ear. “I was born like this, and honestly, Minho, it’s not that bad. You’re human all the time until you’re not. You can live a normal life, so stop viewing it as this huge burden you have to deal with alone because you’re not alone either.”

Jonghyun was the only reason Minho knew anything about being a werewolf. He was the only reason he knew that storing animal blood was definitely not a normal thing for werewolves to do. (He had looked at him weirdly when Minho asked, pressing him about the strange habits of his new roommate before Minho snapped at him that he barely knew him.) He was the only reason he had moved to the city, and he was the only person he felt close enough to confide in.

“How’d you know that’s how I felt?”

“Let’s just say you’re not the first werewolf I’ve had to play therapist for,” Jonghyun chuckled. “Alright, so see you next week?”

“I’ll be there.”

. . .

Where the fuck were his pills?

Taemin’s room looked like a hurricane had passed through it, clothes strewn all over the floor and empty drawers open. His reminder alarm had passed now thirty minutes ago and panic was settling. He wasn’t sure if the headache creeping up was his imagination or anxiety or the lack of suppressors. Was he supposed to feel things this quickly after missing a dose? The doctor did say it was important to take them exactly every six hours, fuck fuck fuck–

Taemin aggressively wrenched open the top drawer of his dresser. Too aggressively. It broke off the furniture and dangled helplessly in his hand, clothes spilling onto the floor. Fuck, it was starting. He needed to find them fast. Where could they have gone? He always kept them on his nightstand or in his pockets.

Pockets. He had been wearing Minho’s jacket that morning. It was a particularly chilly spring morning but despite Taemin’s protests that he didn’t get cold, Minho insisted on draping his favorite jean jacket over Taemin’s shoulders, his sweet smell enveloping him and making him sway happily at the door. These little gestures did nothing but fuel his crush on his roommate, a human, but Taemin didn’t care. He could love him from afar and be content. As long as Minho was laughing that high-pitched cackle of his and healthy playing his favorite sports and just happy. Or at least that’s what Taemin told himself.

A loud bang burst through the room when he dropped the drawer on the floor, piercing through his skull. He pressed both hands over his ears, trying to block out the sudden onslaught of sounds. Someone’s Netflix show in the next room over, a couple making out downstairs, a laptop overheating.

He needed those suppressors now.

He fumbled his way to Minho’s bedroom door, remembering how he had accidentally slipped the pill container back into the jacket pocket instead of his pants and returned the jacket that afternoon. But he hesitated. Minho had technically allowed him entry into his room as a vampire that first night, but could he really barge into his room to look through his stuff while he was at that family event?

The pounding at the back of his head told him that he had no choice. He threw open the door, stumbling back at the sudden barrage of smells hitting him all at once. Fuck, his sense of smell was heightened now too. He didn’t have much time. He tried to cover his nose but couldn’t get past the door frame without falling to his knees from how strong and overwhelming Minho’s scent was. It was everywhere, making Taemin’s head spin.

He tried again. Carefully standing on shaky legs, he held his breath which he didn’t even need in the first place. He just breathed out of habit but holding it seemed to dull the smell a little, which was all Taemin needed to super-speed through Minho’s closet and drawers, searching desperately for that jacket. Oh no, his speed was back too.

And he couldn’t find the jacket or the pills. Minho must have taken them with him, Taemin thought despondently. Now that his sense of smell was heightened, he could try tracking him, and he’d probably catch him in time with his speed. But the growing headache made it hard to think straight, that horrible nauseous feeling now catching up to him as well and making him stumble with every step back to his room.

Blood. Animal blood. That’s what he needed right now. He raided his mini-fridge, but he had stupidly forgotten to restock and there was barely anything left. He inhaled two cans of goat’s blood and a gallon of cow’s blood, but it only relieved his nausea, which he knew would come back tenfold if he didn’t do something else about it now.

He knew what he needed to do. He hurried out of his dorm, careful to only use his speed when there was no one around. He consciously ignored the lure of human blood, telling himself that it was just a craving that would pass. He made an effort to stand as far away from fellow students as he could when he passed them down the stairs of his hall, holding the breath he didn’t need so that the smell of blood wouldn’t make his craving even stronger and cause him to lose control.

He felt no relief from his now growing nausea when he burst through the dorm hall’s doors, the crisp night air hitting his face. He shut his eyes tightly and tried to remember where the closest vampire convenience shop was in the city. Two blocks over, Taemin repeated to himself as he trudged through the campus at night to reach the main street. Just two more blocks.

A woman’s shriek shot through the night, freezing him in place. Taemin could tell that the source of the scream wasn’t too far, maybe he should investigate–

He clutched his head in agony from the insistent pounding. No, he had no time to waste and so he forced his feet forward, ignoring the nagging sense that something was deeply wrong with that scream.

Another scream, this one longer and more desperate. Then a cry for help, for anyone nearby to do something. Taemin gritted his teeth and kept walking away from it. He couldn’t do anything, not in this state.

The screams died away, and if Taemin wasn’t desperate for suppressors, that would’ve been the end of it. But his heightened sense of hearing meant he heard the sob coming from the source of the scream. Quiet, insistent sobs that meant the woman had given up hope.

Taemin couldn’t stand it anymore.

He sped towards where he heard the scream, cutting across the entire campus in less than two seconds. It was pitch-black in this secluded part of the campus, with no lights from any streetlamps or neighboring buildings. But now he had night-vision too, great. He pushed the thought about his abilities returning and the desperation for his suppressors away when he saw two men pinning a woman to the ground, a piece of cloth tied tightly around her face that stopped her from screaming. Tears streamed down her face as they roughly manhandled her, cursing and hitting her when she kept trying to resist.

She hadn’t seen Taemin a few feet away. But when one of the men started lifting up the woman’s skirt, Taemin moved quickly, punching the offender hard in the stomach. He stumbled back, coughing and looking up in shock. To them, Taemin was just a shadowy, faceless figure trying to get in their way.

“Get out of here, punk. This isn’t your business,” the other man said. He was kneeling, arms still pressing the woman into the pavement.

“Make me.” Taemin swung and hit the man over the woman with another hard punch, feeling his skull crack against his knuckles. He collapsed onto the ground with a soft thud. Taemin dusted his palms off and reached for the woman, helping her stand. “Get out of here, somewhere well lit with people,” he whispered to her. She nodded quickly and sprinted away as Taemin stared down the remaining man. “You’re next,” he growled.

The man said nothing but moved into a fighting stance, one Taemin recognized from all his martial arts lessons as a kid. But Taemin didn’t have time for a sparring session, not with his head still pounding, his vision reddening, and adrenaline pumping through his veins. This is what happened before his first time, before he–

The man kicked Taemin in the side, clearly hoping to send him sideways and onto the ground. But Taemin barely moved, he barely even felt it. He glanced at the guy’s leg by his side and then smirked at his stupid, shocked expression.

“My turn.”

Taemin struck him across the jaw, some of the man’s teeth spilling onto the floor with a soft clatter that only Taemin could hear. He examined his knuckles casually, not even a bruise on them, while the man before him crumpled over, screaming and clutching his mouth in agony, blood running down his chin.

Blood. The smell rammed into Taemin all at once, nostrils flaring with how good, how delicious, it smelled. He could practically taste it running over his tongue, his teeth, spilling down his chin. Red edged his vision as he approached the man again, smirking heinously at the choked sob he let out. He kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying and skidding back on the pavement. His fangs were aching with want, with need. Taemin stalked towards the man once more, eyes narrowing as any control he had over his body unraveled when he released his fangs with a hiss. The man struggled to get up and coughed up blood, staining the pavement.

Taemin’s pupils dilated, and everything went black when he lunged.

He felt bloated the next morning. No, afternoon, Taemin groaned as he checked his phone on his nightstand that read 3 PM. He squinted, the light pouring in through his window too bright for him, the colors of his clothes strewn across the floor too vibrant. He inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of quesadillas which he somehow knew were being cooked two floors below. His senses were still heightened, but without the insistent pounding at the back of his head, he could focus on each detail flooding his mind, dissecting them and analyzing their value.

Taemin groaned again as he rolled over on his bed, feeling stuffed and full and gross. He had never felt this full in his entire life, not even after his first feeding.

His first feeding. His eyes snapped open in panic, and he frantically ran his tongue over his teeth, dreading the moment they caught on his fangs and sighing in relief when they didn’t. He rubbed his hands down his face, breathing deeply.

But when he pulled them away, he saw faint red rubbed off and stained on them, the clear remnants of dried blood.

. . .

The sanctuary’s lounge was relatively empty today. Minho observed a couple of kids playing video games in one corner and a woman cleaning up the leftovers of some baby back ribs on the table.

“Minho-yah!” Jonghyun enveloped Minho in a tight hug, patting him affectionately on the back. “Early as usual, huh.”

Minho stuffed his backpack into one of the cubbies. “Is that why no one’s here?”

“The sun sets in three hours, of course no one else is here,” Jonghyun laughed. He handed Minho a bag. “And by the way, here are your things from before. Don’t leave stuff again or we’ll confiscate it.”

“Actually?”

“No, silly,” Jonghyun said with a playful slap. “My mom would never enforce such a rule.”

“Where is your mom, by the way? I want to thank her for everything.”

“Sobam noona!” Jonghyun yelled loudly. A kid looked up from the video in curiosity before quickly returning to spamming his remote. “Where’s Mom?”

A young woman peered in through the doorframe. “Talking to Heechul outside. Why?”

“Minho-yah wants to see her,” Jonghyun smiled, pushing Minho forward.

He bowed politely to greet Jonghyun’s older sister, “Hi, Sodam-ssi.”

“Aish, Minho.” She pulled him into a tight hug just like Jonghyun had. “No need to be so formal, I’ve known you since you were in diapers, hm?” She ruffled up his hair kindly. “How are your parents?”

“They’re doing fine. Things are boring without me, is what they keep telling me,” Minho chuckled.

“I’m sure they are without your handsome face brightening things up,” she said, playfully pinching his cheeks and stretching out his face.

“Stop flirting with him, noona,” Jonghyun’s annoyed voice sounded from behind.

“Yah, I’m just stating the facts.” After a moment, she let go and patted his cheek softly. Voice gentle, she asked, “And I take it they don’t know…?”

Minho shook his head. “No one but Jonghyun and the others here know.” He tried to keep his voice level, not betraying how much it hurt to think about the big secret he was keeping from everyone he cared about.

But Sodam noticed anyway. She frowned and pulled Minho in for another tight hug, rubbing her hand along his back comfortingly. “We’re your family here, Minho. Everyone here is, don’t you forget that, okay?”

“Like a pack.”

“Not the time for jokes, Jonghyun-ah,” Sodam scolded. She let Minho go, observing his face. He hoped he didn’t look like he was about to cry. “These nights can be fun too, you know? Me and Jonghyunnie have come up with some games to pass the time. The kids love them.”

“That sounds great,” Minho said, cheering up when one of the kids playing video games rushed over to Sodam and tugged on the fabric of her pants insistently.

“What is it, Yoogeun-ah?” Sodam asked.

“Can we play duck-duck-goose tonight?”

Sodam hummed playfully, leaning down to squish Yoogeun’s face. “I don’t know… I didn’t hear the magic word.”

Jonghyun explained softly behind Minho. “Their parents are human. They drop them off here so that they can turn safely.”

Minho looked at Yoogeun, a kid probably barely six years old, cursed with turning into a beast with every full moon. He couldn’t imagine dealing with that at such a young age. He could barely deal with it now as a twenty-year-old.

“Pretty please?” Yoogeun pleaded with Sodam in a high-pitched voice.

“How can I say no to that?” Sodam booped his nose cutely. “Remind me later and we’ll play, okay?”

Yoogeun nodded and scurried back to the video game in the corner of the room. Sodam sighed, standing up straight now. “I know you wanted to see Mom tonight, but she’s really busy running this place with the inspection stuff and all. The city’s giving us a hard time again.”

“But I thought we passed fine last time?” Jonghyun asked.

“That was last time. They added a bunch of stupid rules and–” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’ll let her know that you were looking for her tonight, Minho. Maybe you’ll see her in the forest. It’s not the same as the family brunches we used to have but…”

“That sounds fine, noona,” Minho assured her, giving her his best smile.

Turns out he did see Jonghyun’s mother later that night in the forest. Granted, it was definitely strange meeting someone he hadn’t seen for a few years while both of them were wolves, but as the night progressed, Minho felt himself naturally embracing his form. They couldn’t speak telepathically – that was reserved for family members and those in an official pack, of which Minho was not still a part – but conversing as a wolf was somehow easy and natural.

He and Jonghyun hunted together for the first part of the night after meeting his mother, making games of their animal prey and feasting hungrily whenever they caught something. Once they were full, Jonghyun grunted to Minho to follow him. Together, they emerged from the forest, meeting the centaurs guarding the edge, their stoic figures illuminated in the moonlight.

Ever since he was a kid and learned about the different monsters that lived in the world in hiding, Minho had always felt bad for centaurs. They couldn’t disguise themselves as human, putting them inevitably at the most risk of all monsters. But only when Minho had turned into one himself, and Jonghyun had confided in him about also being a werewolf, did Jonghyun explain to him that sanctuaries like this around the world were not only for werewolves, but for centaurs and those who had no other option, or else be persecuted by humans. The centaurs provided guard while the werewolves hunted, making sure none of the wolves escaped into the city, and in return, they had a place to live and stay safe.

Minho knew all these things. But he had yet to meet a centaur, and though Minho was a large wolf, the centaur before him towered over him, looking down at him with a stern gaze. If Minho wasn’t a super-powered wolf right now, he would’ve started sweating with nerves.

“Heechul hyung,” Jonghyun grunted, bowing his head, light brown fur catching the moonlight. The first time Minho had transformed in the sanctuary, he was surprised at how the grunts and barks from the other wolves sounded just like words to him. And how he could easily speak as well.

“Jonghyun-ah, have you eaten yet?” Heechul asked in Korean, some worry in his voice.

“Of course I did. I wouldn’t have come to see you otherwise,” Jonghyun said, annoyed.

“You can understand us?” Minho barked out, surprised.

Heechul spared him a glance. “We study thousands of languages.”

Before Minho could ask how barks and howls possibly constituted a language, Jonghyun spoke beside him. “Was Mom really worried about these inspections?”

Heechul sighed, eyes gazing up to the sky, the full moon smiling down at them with her cool light. “The inspectors are nervous about vampires and taking it out on us.”

“Vampires?” Minho asked.

Heechul continued as if he hadn’t heard Minho. “There have been an increase in vampire attacks in the city. They’re obviously vampires by the way the humans have died so I don’t understand why they’re blaming us or you all but,” his front hoof struck the ground with a soft thud, “it’s gonna take some convincing to get them to believe us.”

“Those damned vampires,” Jonghyun cursed. “They only care about themselves.” Looking back up at Heechul, he asked helplessly, “Don’t the inspectors realize that if they close us down, it’s more dangerous for humans?”

“They don’t care about that. They don’t care about us, you know this, Jonghyun-ah.” Heechul’s stoic expression hardened. “It’s just the way the world works, and they’ll always get their way.”

A distant howl cut through the quiet of the night, and Jonghyun sighed and stepped back, looking at Minho. “It’s Sodam noona. She wants us to play with the kids.”

Minho had understood that from the howl. Heechul also seemed to understand, already walking away and leaving them alone in the night. If Minho were born a centaur, he’d also harbor the same hatred for humans, he reasoned.

But as it stood, Minho was not a centaur. He had been human for almost his entire life, and he was still practically human for the majority of it, like Jonghyun had said. You’re human all the time until you’re not.

And Minho was in love with a human. There, he had admitted it to himself, although he would probably never admit it to Kibum. He had completely and utterly fallen for Taemin with his soft, giggly disposition. Taemin, with his adorable gummy smile and hiccupy laugh. Taemin, with his bright eyes that looked up at Minho whenever they stood near each other, if only Minho could lean down and kiss him.

He couldn’t possibly harbor so much hatred towards humans because he was stupidly in love with one and would do everything in his power to protect him.

“Minho-yah,” Jonghyun called, jerking his head in the direction of the forest again. “The kids.”

“Coming.” Minho lept into the forest after Jonghyun, a howl ripping through his throat to let the pack know he was on his way.

Minho trudged up his dorm hall’s steep flight of stairs, cursing the engineer that refused to install an elevator. He always felt exhausted after the full moon, sometimes sleeping through the entire next day, but he had two classes to attend in the morning and barely got through them after rushing back from the sanctuary late, even as he had a smile on his face from how liberating and fun the last night had been after talking to Heechul. He and Jonghyun had played with Sodam and the kids for most of the night, jumping and running around the forest until they were out of breath and panting in a moonlit flower field Jonghyun had discovered years before.

But he hadn’t even been back to his room the entire day, and he could practically hear his bed beckoning him from a few floors up. He threw open the heavy stairwell door, jumping when he heard it thump against someone.

“Yah, watch where you’re going,” Kibum muttered, rubbing his head as he walked away. He didn’t look at Minho, and it seemed like he was in a rush, but Minho couldn’t help it.

“You’ve got eyes too.”

Kibum spun around on his heel, a glare set on his face before he realized it was Minho. His features softened into a knowing smirk and he drawled out, “Hello, Choi Minho. Late night?” He glanced knowingly at the mesh bag of clothes slung around his shoulder. Minho’s face reddened, but before he could say anything, Kibum placed his hands on his hips. “Let me guess, Taemin? Hm, but that doesn’t make any sense, you live together…” he mused teasingly, eyes narrowing at Minho.

“No, that’s not–” Minho started before Kibum waved his hand at him dismissively.

“I don’t have time for your denial,” he said impatiently. He lowered his voice to a whisper and stepped closer to Minho, eyes darting around the hallway. “I was rushing over to tell my roommate, but did you hear about the attack last night?”

“Attack?”

“Yeah, I accidentally overheard Professor Jinki and some cop talking about it. Two guys dead in the north end, pretty brutally killed apparently.”

Minho’s eyes widened. “Killed? How do they know?”

“Pretty sure if they had alcohol poisoning they wouldn’t be so hush-hush about it,” Kibum rolled his eyes. “But no, get this. One guy’s heart was excised.”

Minho gaped. “As in– torn out?”

“Yeah, that’s all I heard before I had to go. Crazy shit, right?” Kibum shook his head, stepping back and glancing down the hall towards his dorm. “I don’t know why they haven’t made an announcement or something, though. If there’s some manic serial killer running around campus who tears out his victims’ hearts in the dead of night, then I’d like to know.”

Minho nodded mutely, murmuring a quick goodbye to Kibum before he rushed off to his dorm, leaving Minho standing in the quiet hallway. An excised heart? Brutally murdered? Was this what Heechul was talking about, the vampire attacks? Minho took a shuddering breath in and headed towards his dorm, trying to block out the mental image of two torn up bodies lying across campus, shimmering with wet blood.

The dorm was a disaster. The cushions on the couch were upturned, the drawers in their tiny kitchen halfway open, and utensils on the floor.

What happened?

Minho carefully stepped into the dorm, clicking the door shut behind him and sliding off his shoes. Was this Taemin’s doing? Was Taemin even home? He hesitantly made his way towards Taemin’s bedroom door, hesitating before knocking.

What if Taemin had thrown some sort of party last night and had gotten so wasted he was still asleep in the afternoon? Or what if he wasn’t asleep? What if he was making out with some guest from the party right this minute?

He was jumping to conclusions. Jealous conclusions. Shaking the thoughts away, he prepared to knock before hearing a soft, choked sob from inside the room. He pressed his ear against the door, worry drawn all over his face as the sobs continued, hiccupy and desperate. He forgot about knocking and burst through Taemin’s door loudly. “Taemin-ah, what’s wrong?”

Taemin sat in a huddled ball on his floor, t-shirts and underwear littered all over the floor. One drawer from his dresser lay detached from the piece of furniture on the floor. There were crushed cans thrown near his mini-fridge, along with a gallon jug. The only normal thing was his bed, which was wrinkled but still made, indicating that someone had just lain on top of it.

“Hyung?”

Minho looked down at Taemin, a shaking pile of limps on the floor, small and delicate and hurt. He was a mess, snot, and tears running down his face from who knows how long he had been crying. When Taemin noticed Minho studying him, he rubbed his hands aggressively over his face, wiping it all off. Then he sat on his hands and stared at the floor, a small whimper escaping from his throat.

“Taemin, what happened?” Minho asked, hoping his voice conveyed all the concern he felt. What could have happened to Taemin to leave him like this? Who had done this to him? Minho’s blood boiled at the thought that someone had hurt Taemin this badly. He navigated his way through the maze of litter in the bedroom, sinking down onto the floor beside Taemin, their backs against his bed frame and knees slightly touching. He ignored the urge to pull Taemin into a tight hug. When Taemin still didn’t speak, Minho carefully said, “Taemin-ah, you can tell me.”

Taemin whimpered again, another tear falling from his chin. Minho couldn’t take it anymore and wrapped Taemin up with his strong arms, patting his back comfortingly as more sobs ripped through Taemin’s throat. They stayed like that for a few minutes, waiting as Taemin’s cries softened to some heavy breathing and finally stopped. Minho rubbed his back through it all, heart hurting with the way he felt the fabric of his shirt getting wet with Taemin’s tears.

His jaw clenched. Whoever did this to Taemin would pay.

When Taemin finally pulled away, he stood up on shaky legs and pulled some tissues out of the box, blowing his nose loudly. They both said nothing as Taemin exhausted his nostrils and cleaned up his face before sitting by Minho on the floor again.

“Are you okay?” Minho asked quietly.

Taemin sniffled and gave him a small nod, eyes trained on the floor. “I’m a little better.”

Minho tried again. “What happened?”

“I…I can’t tell you.”

Minho leaned forward to look Taemin in the eyes. “You can tell me anything, Taemin-ah. Nothing will scare me away.” He meant it.

“No, this is bad,” Taemin said helplessly. “You won’t ever see me the same way again.”

“Trashing the apartment isn’t the end of the world, Taemin,” Minh tried. “You just have to let me know next time you decide to throw a party–”

“No,” Taemin cut him off. “No, it’s not like that. It’s worse.” He let his head hang between his knees. “A thousand times worse.”

Minho took Taemin’s hand in his, sensing him tense with his touch. Was he making it worse? He brushed the thought away, focused on telling Taemin as lovingly as he could, “You can tell me anything. Tell me who did this to you.”

“It was me,” Taemin cried, looking up at Minho with panicked eyes. “Me. I did it.”

“I told you, the mess isn’t that big of a deal, we can just cl–”

Taemin tried pulling his hand away but Minho held on. “You shouldn’t even be near me,” ripped out of Taemin, another choked sob following.

“Taemin, what’s wrong? What are you saying?” Minho turned Taemin’s hand over in his, ready to rub his thumb soothingly over his palm. “What happened to your hands?” His palms were stained slightly red, some dried blood visible underneath his nails.

Taemin snatched his hand away, not looking Minho in the eye. “I can’t tell you.”

“Taemin, if you don’t tell me, I can’t help you,” Minho pleaded.

“You can’t help me either way.”

“Let me try,” Minho cried. “It’s killing me to see you like this, you know? Sobbing on the floor for a reason you won’t tell me.”

Taemin bit back another sob, shutting his eyes tightly. “I can’t do this anymore,” he said through gritted teeth. “I can’t, I can’t.”

“Do what?”

“It’s too much, I can’t,” he repeated like a mantra.

“What’s too much?” Minho pressed.

“I’m a vampire, okay?” Taemin snapped, staring at Minho. He took a shaky breath in. “There, I said it. I…I’m a vampire.”

Minho didn’t speak for a moment, opening and closing his mouth pointlessly as he struggled to say something and Taemin continued staring at him. “A vampire? You?” he finally managed, his voice hoarse. Taemin nodded solemnly.

“So the blood…the attack… That– that was you?”

Taemin tensed but remained silent, confirming Minho’s suspicion. “I didn’t mean it,” he whispered after a few moments. “I didn’t want any of this, I didn’t mean it.”

Minho’s stomach twisted in on itself. He felt betrayed, lied to. Taemin? The sweet kid who cooked bad rice for him and needed math help was a vampire? The most dangerous monster, capable of brutal deaths and mutilations, feeding on human beings and damned for eternity. It just didn’t make any sense.

Taemin had murdered two men.

And now he was sitting cross-legged next to him in his bedroom. Minho shifted so that their knees were no longer touching, burying his face in his hands.

“A vampire,” he said finally.

It wasn’t a question, just a statement. Minho knew Taemin wasn’t joking, and it all started adding up in a rush in his mind: the pungent smell of animal blood from his room that first day, why he was never tired, his paleness, why he barely ate. The realization, the lies, the coverups were all too much for Minho.

“Hyung?”

Minho lifted his head with some difficulty, blinking at Taemin numbly. He still had the same tear-stained, adorable face that Minho had wanted to kiss hundreds of times before and just minutes ago wanted to hug and comfort. But now Minho noticed his teeth and wondered what he would look like with his fangs out, hissing and ravenous for blood. It scared him, and it scared him that he didn’t seem to know this side of Taemin at all. It was like meeting a completely different person he entirely disliked, one he knew was evil, but learning they were one in the same with someone he loved. It was too much all at once.

He stood up rapidly. “I need to go.”

“Hyung, wait–”

“Wait for what?” Minho turned away from Taemin, unable to look him in the eyes. “Wait for you to attack me or something? And what if I had been here last night?” He paused, breathing quickly. He shut his eyes tightly as he forced out, “It would’ve been me, right?”

Taemin pleaded, voice cracking, “No, no, hyung I’d never–”

“Taemin, I can’t do this right now. I need some time,” Minho said bruskly, pushing his way out of his bedroom and into the hall, running down the stairs and across the campus, towards the one place he knew he’d be safe.

“Jonghyun hyung,” Minho panted when he reached the sanctuary after Jonghyun had helped him walk inside. “I found the vampire.”

. . .

Taemin stared at his door, slowly swinging back into place after Minho had roughly pushed it open and stormed out. There was no sound, except the quiet ticking of the clock down the hall Taemin could hear if he focused.

Which he couldn’t because Minho had left him. Minho had left him. Minho had looked at him with pure fear, wide eyes trained on his mouth, no doubt examining his hidden fangs. He had completely shattered whatever idea he had of Taemin, leaving a shell of a person – no, not even a person. A monster.

Minho had reacted the exact way Taemin would have if he were in his place, he couldn’t even blame him.

Taemin blinked back the tears burning behind his eyes. He’d done enough crying already with Minho.

Stop thinking about Minho!

He had lost Minho. And he just had to accept that.

He inhaled deeply, staggering to his feet. He had to think logically now, no matter how much his heart hurt. His life was more at stake with every passing moment, the human cops no doubt putting two and two together pretty soon. Taemin could call his brother since he had been the one to help him last time this happened. Or his parents, Taemin remembered with a cringe.

But one quick glance at the mirror and seeing his disheveled, bloody, and cried-out self staring back at him with a blank expression told him that he was in no position to deal with his overbearing family even if they could help him. At least not right now. He needed to compose himself first, maybe find someone else to talk to. As he cleaned up in the bathroom, looking somewhat presentable again, he ran over his options again. Besides his parents and family friends from out of town, he didn’t know any other vampires.

Which is how he ended up sitting outside the nearest vampire convenience store, sipping on an apple-juice carton that actually contained goat’s blood, the receipt crumpled on the table. He figured he might as well buy his favorite flavor. Maybe he’d feel better.

Once he finished his drink, he leaned back in his chair, people-watching those passing by on the sidewalk. They didn’t spare the convenience store a glance, very easily disguised as a normal human one. But there was a secret back area open only to vampires, making it perfect for those who needed to restock on suppressors or a quick fix of animal blood. Taemin cringed when he remembered how close he was last night to the store, on the brink before losing control.

But he didn’t regret saving the woman, even if he killed two evil men in the process. He just couldn’t find it in himself to feel that sorry.

Until Minho’s shocked face flashed again in his mind.

Taemin ran a frustrated hand through his hair, focusing on calming down his breathing. He was here to find another vampire, that was the whole point. He refocused on the plan, taking note of anyone who walked into the store and if they went into the secret back area. He thought about talking to the cashier but the glare she sent him when he tried to make small talk as he bought his goat’s blood sent a shiver down his spine and scared him off. He’d have to resort to a passerby.

“Taemin?”

Taemin blinked up at the voice and was surprised to see Professor Jinki standing before him, dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. “Professor,” Taemin said, hurriedly getting to his feet to greet him with a bow.

Jinki smiled at him warmly. “Will you be here for a while? I’d like to chat.”

Talk with him here? Was he in trouble? “Sure,” Taemin stammered out. “I’m staying for a while.”

“Great.” Jinki glanced towards the convenience store. “I’ll be right back. The stuff I need to buy is in the back,” he said before winking at Taemin and leaving him flabbergasted alone at the table.

Jinki couldn’t be a vampire too, could he? Taemin watched through the window with his heart in his throat as Jinki approached the cashier and she nodded and led him through to the secret vampire section.

Jinki was a vampire.

A vampire who clearly knew about Taemin, what with that wink he gave him earlier. How did he find out? Was Taemin that obvious? He had kept it from Minho for this long, and Minho was the person he had spent the most time with.

But his thoughts were interrupted when Jinki returned, two cans of cow’s blood in his hands. He sat down across from Taemin, sliding one of the cans over to him. Taemin took it hesitantly, eyeing Jinki the entire time, the can cracking open with a soft hiss.

“I didn’t know what flavor you liked, so I went with a classic,” Jinki started casually. “I’m sure you’re feeling full enough as it is.”

Taemin froze, placing the can back onto the table. “What?”

“The two men. That was you, wasn’t it?”

Taemin stared at Jinki incredulously, sputtering out, “Professor, I don’t know–”

Jinki chuckled softly, sipping on his cow’s blood. “Relax, I’m here to help you. I don’t want to see you get hauled in by the Council.”

“What?”

Help him? There had been too many surprises today, and Taemin didn’t know what to believe. His parents had taught him that it was every vampire for themself and that he could trust no one but his family. Who even was this Jinki? How old was he? What family did he come from? Did he even come from one? There was just too much Taemin didn’t know.

“Why? You don’t even know me.”

Jinki sighed, placing the now empty can onto the table. “I know your parents, Taemin. Known them for years actually, which is how I recognized you before.”

“My parents? They’ve never mentioned you,” Taemin thought out loud.

“We had a bit of a falling out,” Jinki frowned at the memory. “Different philosophies.”

They fell silent for a moment, hearing the occasional car woosh by them on the street.

“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you?” Taemin asked.

“436.” At Taemin’s surprised expression, Jinki laughed and said, “What? It’s your parents’ ages too.”

“That’s true,” Taemin nodded. “I just can’t get over how young you look.”

Jinki preened, flipping his hair dramatically. “One of our special abilities, as I’m sure you know.”

At the reminder of his abilities, Taemin grimaced and looked down at the table, avoiding Jinki’s eyes. “Yeah, I do.”

“Listen, Taemin-ah.” Jinki leaned forward on his elbows, voice low. “Your family raised you to hunt humans, which is why this happened. I know it was an accident, and I know you don’t want this to keep happening.”

“How do you know? It could’ve been on purpose,” Taemin snapped, looking back at Jinki and hoping he sounded intimidating and not at all terrified by his actions and the consequences he might face in the future.

“For one, you wouldn’t have left such a mess on purpose, I’m sure your parents taught you how to clean up well,” Jinki stated matter-of-factly. Then, eyes not leaving Taemin’s face, he said sincerely, “And you care. You care, or you wouldn’t be in university now.” He leaned back into his seat and added, “You wouldn’t have saved that woman last night.”

“How–”

“Cameras, Taemin-ah.” At Taemin’s panicked expression, Jinki waved his hand dismissively. “They didn’t catch your face in the footage, don’t worry.”

Taemin gave him a small nod, hands playing with the zipper of his jacket nervously. “So no one knows it’s me?”

“Not yet.” Jinki paused, studying Taemin. “I can make sure it stays that way.”

“You’d do that?” A small flicker of hope burned in his chest at the idea of a second – or third, technically – chance.

“Yes, if you agree to train with me.” Taemin squinted at Jinki in confusion and he explained, “Train with me to control your hunger.” At Taemin’s still confused expression, he looked around as if searching for the words to clarify. Finally he settled on, “What do you know about vampire families?”

Taemin furrowed his brow in question but answered anyway, reciting what his parents had told him since he was young. “There are some extremely old and powerful families whose legacies still survive today. They’re different from vampires that are turned as humans, being born from two vampire parents. They require…” Taemin hesitated, and Jinki motioned for Taemin to continue. “They require human blood as opposed to animal blood to maintain control over their superior powers.”

Jinki nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly. Your parents, and by extension you and your brother, are legacies in this way. So am I.”

Taemin’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Jinki nodded again. “When the Council outlawed human hunting centuries ago to protect us from humans and keep us hidden, some legacy families were…not happy, you could say.” Jinki smiled wryly after finding the right words, eyes distant as he recalled the events he was probably there for. “Your family being one of them.”

“And you were fine with it?”

“I was for it. Hence the falling out,” Jinki said. “For years before, I had been developing techniques and practices to stay off human blood and tried to make it more widespread among legacy families. Your parents weren’t happy with that either.” He sighed before leveling Taemin with a look. “But with my methods, you can stay off the suppressors and control your hunger and powers.”

Taemin perked up, curious. “Really? How does that work?”

“I can train you,” Jinki smiled. “It’s not easy, but in my experience, it’s worth it.”

“So,” Taemin gestured at the empty cans scattered on the table, “you only drink animal blood? And you don’t get hungry?”

“Yup,” Jinki said cheerfully. “And without suppressors, you’ll be able to use your powers as well. Wisely, of course,” he added carefully.

“Right, right,” Taemin agreed quickly. He paused, remembering his parents' words and lessons to him as a child, engrained in his mind: Human blood is the only thing that sustains us. Feeding is a matter of survival.

He nervously glanced up at Jinki. “How can I trust you? How do I know this works?”

Jinki sighed deeply again and said, “You don’t. Your parents could handle the Council if you told them what happened with no problem, though they’d probably pull you out of school to keep an eye on you.” Taemin’s stomach twisted at the thought of leaving his new home, but Jinki continued. “This is a leap of faith, and I understand your hesitation. But Taemin-ah.” Jinki leaned forward again, voice strong when he said, “I see myself in you. This life is tearing you apart, like it did to me and I don’t want to see you go down the paths I did. I can help you.”

Taemin swallowed back a lump that had formed in his throat. Voice catching, he said without looking Jinki in the eye, “You don’t know me.”

“I’ve seen how you act around your friends, especially that Choi Minho.” Taemin’s heart jumped at his name, and Jinki smiled warmly at him. “Taemin, you care. You aren’t a monster.”

“But…what I did…” Taemin let out a choked sob, covering his mouth with his hand to keep Jinki from seeing, which of course he did anyway. Jinki rushed over to Taemin’s side, pulling him into a hug. Taemin let the tears fall again.

Shaking in Jinki’s arms, Taemin heard him say softly over his head, “Now, you can make it right.”

Taemin walked back to his dorm alone, the almost-full moon looming over him in the sky. After crying again and later composing himself, Jinki told Taemin to meet him the next morning in his office to start their training. He said it was mostly mental exercises and meditations to start, which Taemin had no clue how that would help, but he was in no position to argue, not when Jinki held the key to the life Taemin wanted in his hand.

Not having to feed on human blood would be a game-changer for Taemin. Jinki had told him that his previous method of brute force and ignoring the symptoms until they became unbearable was avoiding the problem and eventually making it worse. Human blood was like a drug, an addiction. And the more Taemin fed on it, the more the hunger would control him. He needed to break the cycle.

But for now, he was still full, his senses sharp, his strength sizzling at his fingertips. He had bought a few more suppressors at the convenience store for later, which Jinki had agreed was a good back-up as he began his training. They rattled loudly in his pocket as he trudged up the stairs, not looking forward to the mess he’d have to clean up in the dorm.

Taemin pushed open the heavy stairwell door at his floor and was met with a bang and some cussing.

“What the fuck– this is the second time,” Kibum mumbled as he rubbed his head, shooting Taemin a death glare before softening slightly when he recognized him. “Ah, Taemin-ah.” Then it hardened again when he noticed his messy clothes and hair, eyes scanning him up and down. Taemin must’ve not done a good job washing up earlier. “What are you doing out so late?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” Taemin was pretty sure it was past 3 AM and it was a Thursday. There had to be a reason Minho’s loud human friend from across the hall was up at this time.

“I asked first.”

Taemin rolled his eyes, brushing past him to get to his dorm. He used his practiced excuse. “Studying.”

“Yeah, sure,” Kibum drawled sarcastically.

Taemin stopped to turn and look at Kibum, who had one brow raised at him suspiciously. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If you’re seeing someone else, you should just tell Minho.”

“What?”

Kibum stepped closer to him. “Don’t play dumb. If you’re seeing someone else, then yeah, that’s fine. But don’t play with Minho’s heart and tell it to him straight.”

Taemin gaped at him before stammering out, “I’m not seeing anyone else.”

Kibum scoffed, gesturing at Taemin’s get-up. “Say whatever you want. Just don’t lead Minho on anymore. It’s exhausting to hear about it all the time.”

“How am I leading h–”

“Please, don’t you realize how much he likes you?” At Taemin’s shocked expression, Kibum laughed dryly, the sound echoing in the empty hall. “Even my roommate’s noticed and he never talks to Minho.”

“But Minho…” Taemin remembered how Minho had stormed out earlier, how he had looked at him with pure fear in his eyes. If there was something there before, it was surely extinguished now. “We had a fight,” Taemin said quietly. “If he liked me before, I’m sure he doesn’t like me now.”

“Oh,” Kibum stepped back, voice softening. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize.” He paused, searching for the right words in the awkward silence that stretched between them. “I’m sure you two will figure it out.”

“If I were him, I wouldn’t even try,” Taemin mumbled, walking towards his dorm and slamming the door behind him.

. . .

“The vampire? Minho-yah, you realize there’s not just one vampire,” Jonghyun said after helping an exhausted Minho into a seat at the lounge dining table, taking the seat beside him for himself. “There are probably dozens in Seoul alone.”

Minho struggled to respond, still catching his breath from running the entire way here. “My…roommate,” he managed to say between breaths.

Jonghyun froze. “Your roommate’s a vampire?” Minho gave him a small nod, surprised when Jonghyun then clapped him cheerily on the back and said, “That’s great! You have another monster you can bond with!”

“What?”

“I mean, vampires aren’t my favorites, it’d be better if he were a merman or fae or even better, another werewolf,” Jonghyun rambled to himself. Then he shook his head with a smile. “But we’ll take what we can get, right?”

“Huh– hyung, he’s a vampire.”.

“So? He has to live in hiding like the rest of us. If you’re worried about yourself, they don’t like werewolf blood. And human hunting was banned internally years ago.” Jonghyun yawned, totally at ease with Minho’s revelation and probably exhausted from the night before. Minho was even starting to feel sleep deprivation settling into his body.

He shook it away and took a deep breath. “This one,” Minho struggled to say, “killed two people.”

Jonghyun’s eyes widened in understanding and he stayed quiet for a moment. Now Minho could notice the prominent bags under his eyes.

“This roommate, he’s the one you’ve talked about before, right?”

Minho tensed, shooting Jonghyun a questioning look. He might have mentioned to Jonghyun some things here and there about Taemin, how cute he looked when focused on his studies or when eating cereal. But all that felt foreign to him now, like the memories of a different person. “Yeah, it’s him.”

“You really care about him.”

“What– no, he’s a murderer,” Minho said immediately, ignoring how his stomach twisted in on itself tighter and tighter, coiling in his body. He spat out as viciously as he could, “He means nothing to me.”

It sounded like a pathetic lie to his own ears.

Jonghyun caught on, sighing deeply. “Minho, he trusted you with a very important part of himself. He clearly cares about you too. Did you even hear him out? Vampires usually don’t attack humans anymore, especially not those in university.”

A pang of guilt stabbed through Minho. He hadn’t heard Taemin’s side of the story, only the scraps from Kibum and what he pulled together with Taemin’s silence and his own imagination. He remembered how small and hurt Taemin had looked in his room, huddled in on himself and sobs racking through him, tears staining Minho’s shirt. He clenched his fists on the table, suddenly angry with himself for how he handled the situation, storming out after Taemin told him he was a vampire.

Minho imagined himself in Taemin’s shoes. If he had told Taemin that he was a werewolf and Taemin stormed out and yelled at him, how would he feel?

Destroyed. That was the only word that came to Minho’s mind at the thought. If Taemin rejected such an integral part of him, a part of himself he had come to enjoy in a strange way, making friends in the sanctuary and escaping every 28 days, he would feel completely and utterly destroyed. He loved Taemin and he had learned to love this part of himself.

But Taemin didn’t seem to love being a vampire, if his crying and hesitation to tell Minho was any indication. And Minho had just made it worse, treating him like an entirely different person and storming out. Where even was Taemin now? Still huddled in his room, by himself in the dark? Or maybe stumbling around aimlessly in the city, looking for someone to talk to? It should’ve been Minho with him.

He buried his face in his hands. “What have I done?” he whispered.

Jonghyun placed a comforting arm around his shoulders. “My advice, Minho-yah, is to have compassion. You’ll come to realize you have more in common than you think in this world.”

Minho stayed quiet, even as Jonghyun sighed and stood up, telling him that they both had to sleep and that he was welcome to stay the night if he wanted. Minho sat at the table, watching all the sanctuary lights shut off one by one down the hall, thinking about Taemin. His hand rested over the phone hidden in his pocket, burning a hole through the fabric. He should just text Taemin, apologize, and tell him that they needed to talk.

He fished his phone out, ready to swipe into Taemin’s contact name, but it was dead. Minho gripped his phone tightly, resisting the urge to smash it into the table. He ran his hands through his hair, knotting his fingers on it and tugging on whatever he found until it hurt. He leaned over the table, blinking back the tears that now threatened to spill out. He had to fix this, he had to.

But exhaustion started overtaking him. The longer Minho stayed at the table with the lights off trying to think of how to make things right, the more the darkness and urge to sleep tempted him, until he fell asleep on the table, dead phone in his open palm.

Minho stood before his hall’s front doors, neck craning upwards as he looked at the floors until his eyes landed on the fifth one: his and Taemin’s. Minho had stayed the entire day at the sanctuary, tidying himself up and helping Jonghyun with spring cleaning chores to get his mind off Taemin, which was impossible. Every time Taemin flashed in his mind, it was the broken and crying one in his room, probably hurt beyond that because of Minho’s actions.

He had cleaned every corner of the sanctuary today.

But after a while, Jonghyun basically kicked him out. You can’t avoid him forever, Minho-yah. And now, the sun recently set and dusk creating a hazy glow around everything, Minho stood before his dorm’s building, hand on the door handle, ready to pull. But he couldn’t. He didn’t even know what he was going to say to Taemin. That he forgave him for murdering two people? That he didn’t care that he was a vampire? That he was also a monster?

That he loved him.

Minho wrenched his hand away from the door, shaking his head and deciding to stroll around campus a bit before figuring it out. He needed to clear his mind.

He walked like that for an hour or so, watching the dusk turn to night and listening to the crickets chirping, until he had looped around and ended up right in the same spot as before, his hall’s building looming before him. He still hadn’t exactly figured out what he was going to say when he saw Taemin but he knew he couldn’t put it off anymore.

Just as he made for the door, a soft whimper from behind caused him to spin around. There was a medium-sized dog hiding underneath the nearby bench, barely noticeable in the soft glow of the streetlight. It whimpered and whined insistently as Minho approached the dog slowly, crouching to his knees in front of it and holding out his palm for the dog to sniff.

“Hey there, buddy,” Minho said quietly to not startle it. “What’s wrong?” The dog just whined again, pushing its snout into Minho’s hand and looking up at him with big eyes. Minho chuckled, somehow knowing what it wanted. “Hungry, hm?”

The dog wagged its tail excitedly as Minho reached into his pocket for the organic granola bar he always carried around, the crinkling sound as he ripped open the packaging making the dog bark happily. Minho broke off part of it and placed it on the floor for the dog to eat. It gobbled it up quickly and looked up at Minho for more. He laughed and broke up the rest of the bar to leave it on the floor for the dog, dusting his hands off when he finished. He watched with satisfaction as the dog munched on the bar hungrily, humming lightly at how relaxed he felt now.

He made up his mind then. He had to tell Taemin the truth – about everything. About how he wanted to hear his side, about how he was a werewolf, and about how he loved him. It was the only way to truly make things right between them. No more secrets.

Determined, Minho pet the dog softly, scratching it behind its ears. “Come back if you’re hungry again, okay?” With that, he stood up and opened the door that he couldn’t before, trudging up the familiar, annoying stairs, to get to his dorm’s front door. He took a deep breath and unlocked it, tentatively stepping inside.

The dorm was spotless. The tiny kitchen counter gleamed at him, the floor sparkled, and everything smelled like cleaning supplies. Minho slipped off his shoes quietly, wondering if he should call for Taemin or knock on his door or just wait for him to approach him.

But just then, Taemin appeared from the bathroom with a bottle of Windex and a rag in his hands, jumping when he noticed Minho standing there. “Hi, hyung,” he said nervously.

“Taemin-ah.” Minho wanted nothing more than to rush up to Taemin and squeeze him into a tight hug, never letting him go ever again. He looked adorable in an oversized sweatshirt, fluffy hair covering his forehead and his eyes. He never listened when Minho had told him to cut it. Minho took a step forward, ready to say something when Taemin cut him off.

“I…I understand if you don’t want to be roommates anymore.”

What?

Minho stepped forward again, confusion drawn on his face, before he froze in place when he noticed Taemin tense, gripping the Windex bottle tighter.

“I understand if you feel unsafe with me as your roommate and…” Taemin hesitated. “And if you don’t even want to be friends anymore.” His voice shook and Minho’s heart cracked.

“Taemin-ah,” Minho started.

But Taemin blindly continued, staring down at the floor, eyes unblinking, “I cleaned up today and I’ll go through all the trouble of changing rooms so you don’t have to do anything and I’ll leave you alo–”

Minho had him wrapped up in a hug, Windex and rag hitting the floor with a soft thud. Taemin’s breath caught in his throat and he felt tense in Minho’s arms for a few moments before he relaxed, melting into the hug and tentatively wrapping his small arms around Minho’s back. Minho squeezed him tighter.

“I still want to be roommates,” Minho assured him, breath whispering into Taemin’s hair. “And your friend.”

“But I’m a monster,” Taemin said quietly into Minho’s chest.

Minho pulled away, searching Taemin’s eyes. In them he found apprehension, worry, guilt, regret swimming around in a confused mess, breaking Taemin from the inside. “I know you’re not actually a monster, even if you’re a vampire.”

“I killed two men.” Taemin blinked up at Minho, eyes watering. “And someone else…before.”

“Tell me the story.”

And so Minho sat beside Taemin on their couch as Taemin explained how he had lost control both times, not meaning to go so far and not meaning to kill anyone either. The only reason he had lost control was that he was so determined to not kill anyone in the first place. He told him about the woman that night, hopefully somewhere safe now. And he told him about how he had found a better way for the future, a way to avoid killing and losing control altogether. The entire time, Minho found himself drawn closer to Taemin, their sides pressed comfortably together.

“I’d never hurt you, hyung,” Taemin said after he finished. He looked up at Minho, eyes pleading. “Not on purpose. The idea of me losing control on you makes me want to die.”

“Don’t say that Taemin-ah,” Minho said quickly, grabbing his hand in his and squeezing it. He barely even realized what he was doing, but it didn’t matter. He held on as he said as sincerely as he could, “I know you don’t want to hurt anyone. And I’m sorry for reacting the way I did.”

“It’s okay, I would’ve reacted the same way to learning my roommate’s a blood-sucking vampire,” Taemin laughed dryly. He paused, looking down at their hands intertwined shyly before saying, “You know, I’d always hated being a vampire. It didn’t matter as a kid growing up because I was never hungry and didn’t go out much so I could super-speed wherever I wanted or use my strength, but now…even if I end up controlling my hunger, I’ll still have to hide.”

“Hiding is the worst part,” Minho nodded in understanding.

“You say that as if you know,” Taemin chuckled. At Minho’s silence, Taemin’s eyes widened. “Wait, do you?”

“Taemin, I have to tell you something now.” Minho still held Taemin’s hand and wasn’t about to let go. He took a deep breath. “I’m actually a werewolf.”

Silence stretched out between them, making Minho’s heart beat faster, unsure what Taemin’s wide eyes and parted mouth meant.

After endless moments, Taemin finally said, “So that’s why you smell like dog.”

Minho laughed, a free, unbridled cackle that shocked Taemin before he cracked a smile in response.

“That’s what you say to that?”

“Sorry,” Taemin blushed, a smile pulling at his lips from Minho’s contagious laugh. “It’s just, you’ve always smelled like dog to me. Your room too.”

Minho laughed again, leaning his head onto Taemin’s shoulder for support. “Oh my God, at least tell me the smell is tolerable.”

“Somewhat.” At Minho’s playful slap, Taemin smiled and said, “It went from kinda annoying to…sweet somehow.”

“Sweet? Okay, I can work with that.” Minho had his head against Taemin’s shoulder, feeling his every shallow breath. They were so close. And they were still holding hands.

“My parents hate werewolves.”

Minho sat up straight, playfully grimacing at Taemin’s words. “This is werewolf-phobic.”

Taemin laughed, bright and hiccupy and perfect. Minho looked at their hands tangled together still, deciding how he would say the next bit. But instead of some long cheesy speech he had imagined in his head, what slipped out was, “You’re so cute.”

Taemin rolled his eyes, used to Minho saying this. “A cute vampire, huh? That’s an interesting combo.”

“No, you’re–” Minho struggled to come up with the words, his plan already ruined in his head. “You’re cute cute.”

“Hyung, you’re making no sense,” he laughed. “I know I’m cute, you tell me all the time–”

“I like you, Taemin-ah,” Minho said in a flustered mess. Taemin’s stopped laughing, looking at Minho intently. But they were still holding hands. That was a good sign, right?

“I like you, too, hyung.”

Minho’s heart lept up to his throat, and he blinked at Taemin stupidly a few times, registering what he just said. “You do?”

Taemin hesitated, and Minho was worried that he’d take it back or say it was a mistake or something, but instead, Taemin leaned forward and kissed Minho on the lips, quick and chaste, just a simple peck, but it sent Minho’s head spinning and his heart pounding.

When Taemin pulled away, Minho couldn’t stop looking at his lips. They moved as he said rather breathlessly, “Yes.”

That was all Minho needed to pull Taemin towards him, kissing him again, more deeply this time. He squeezed his hand as they found a rhythm, and after a few moments, he let go, trailing his hands up Taemin’s sides, one resting on his shoulder and the other on his waist, pulling him closer and closer to him on the couch. Minho went white-hot when Taemin moaned into his mouth after Minho nibbled on his bottom lip, roughly pulling him closer and adjusting so that Taemin was straddling him. Taemin’s hands tangled in his hair, pulling and making Minho dizzy with want.

Minho pulled away breathless. He admired Taemin’s flushed face, beautiful lips parted for him, quick breaths tickling his nose. “Are you sure you want this?” Minho asked, voice hoarse.

“Yes,” Taemin nodded, pulling Minho in by the nape of his neck to kiss him again, body melting into Minho’s. He whispered into the kiss, “I want you.”

That was all Minho needed to kiss Taemin, never letting him go again.

. . .

“Hyung, seriously? The dog too?” Taemin asked with a knowing smile, dragging his suitcase out of the hall, bright afternoon sunlight beaming down on him and making him squint. He basked in its warmth, remembering with satisfaction that he had put on extra sunscreen this morning. He always needed to layer it in the summer.

Minho was crouched on the ground, attaching a bright pink color he had just bought on the stray dog he had befriended (and practically adopted at this rate). He called her Sera, short for Seraphina, which he had told Taemin meant “fiery and ardent.” Taemin had laughed and teased him in between kisses that he just wanted this dog to be stubborn and competitive like him. Minho hadn’t denied it, just blushed and kissed Taemin again.

“You know we can’t leave her,” Minho called back, scratching Sera behind her ears and mumbling baby talk to her. “She’s part of the family. And who would feed her while we’re gone?”

Taemin rolled his eyes, taking Minho’s suitcase for him while he fiddled with the leash on Sera’s collar. “You know perfectly well that she’s capable of handling herself.”

“C’mon,” Minho whined at Taemin, stomping his foot adorably on the ground. “She’d love Yeosu, you know she would.” He reached for Taemin’s arm and pulled him into his body, whispering, “And I’ll make sure she gives us our alone time.”

Taemin went hot and blinked up at Minho. Even though they had been dating for over a month now and had even planned a summer vacation to the countryside together, Minho’s boldness around Taemin still left him flustered. He kissed Minho quickly on the cheek, disentangling his body before muttering, “Of course, she can come, I was just teasing.”

Minho laughed and Taemin smiled as they walked towards the edge of campus where their ride was to pick them up. Taemin’s parents knew that he had a boyfriend and were more than willing to make accommodations for them to stay for a few weeks in their summer home in Yeosu, arranging fancy transportation and meals that, when Taemin told him, had Minho’s eyes bulging out of his head with Yah, Taemin-ah, we don’t need all this bougie stuff. But his parents insisted and Minho caved. Taemin had conveniently left out the fact that Minho was a werewolf, but he’d cross that bridge later.

A few hours later, after falling asleep on Minho’s lap in the car and Sera happily sniffing out the window, they arrived at the medium-sized house. Sera bounced happily behind them as they dragged their suitcases inside, Minho whistling at the sleek, modern decor inside, a view of the ocean sparkling back at them.

“Your parents are no joke,” he said in awe.

“Well, they had centuries to make money,” Taemin stated matter-of-factly. He looked up the stairs and said, “So our bedroom is upstairs, but we can take the stuff up later and–”

“We’re sharing a room?” Minho glanced at Taemin with a smirk.

Taemin went red. “I– I mean, we don’t have to, but I figured–”

“You figured right,” Minho said, closing the distance between them to brush some of Taemin’s hair behind his ear. “I just like seeing you flustered. You’re adorable.”

Taemin turned away, not sure if he could control himself with Minho so close. And they had business tonight anyway. “How are you feeling, by the way? The sun sets soon.”

Minho sighed, pulling away from Taemin and shaking out his limbs. “I don’t know. The same as usual.”

“Have you ever seen what you look like as a wolf?”

“No,” Minho responded sheepishly. “Probably not as pretty as Jonghyun hyung, though.”

“I beg to differ,” Taemin scoffed. “I can take a picture for you tonight if you’d like.” At Minho’s small, grateful smile, Taemin had to resist the urge to kiss him again. Luckily, Sera barked excitedly at their feet, a distraction. “I think she’s hungry,” Taemin laughed.

“She always is,” Minho said, disappearing into the kitchen. Taemin knew he had opened the pantry when he heard Minho exclaim loudly through the walls, “Woah, your parents seriously stocked up here, my God!”

They busied themselves with unpacking and settling in, barely noticing the time pass until Minho’s alarm rang, five minutes before the full moon rose. Together, Taemin and Minho made sure Sera was secure in the house and ventured to the large, enclosed backyard, a few dozens of acres large with a forest complete with natural wildlife inside. This is why Taemin had suggested this summer home (one of many). It was perfect for Minho during the full moon, safe away from the sanctuary.

“Ready?” Taemin asked Minho, observing his face. He seemed at ease, relaxed as he took in the dusk and nature surrounding him. He looked at home.

“As I've ever been.” They waited a few more moments, Taemin’s eyes trained on the edge of the forest so as to not stare at Minho beside him and make him uncomfortable. He was curious about the transformation but didn’t want to prod or make Minho feel weird.

Suddenly, a large force felt like it blew past his side and Taemin looked. Beside him was a large wolf, white paws contrasting the green grass below him, light grey fur darkening over the top of his head and edges of his ears, his face and snout still colored white. He moved his large head to look down at Taemin, and those same dark, big eyes of Minho’s blinked back at him. Taemin was speechless.

Minho the wolf sniffed Taemin’s face and he laughed, feeling his wet nose against his cheeks and forehead. “Want me to take the picture now?” Taemin asked between laughs.

Minho grunted, walking over to the field. He stood up straight, throwing his head back dramatically, as if he was posing. Taemin laughed again, pulling out his phone and taking pictures, forgetting with his night vision that he had to turn on the flash.

“You’re a beautiful wolf, hyung.”

Minho looked at Taemin, an unreadable expression in his eyes. Taemin sighed internally, knowing that his extremely basic werewolf language lessons from the (very reluctant) centaurus in the sanctuary were not enough to help him understand Minho completely tonight. Either way, he was happy to be with him, just them two.

Taemin jumped when a howl ripped through Minho, loud and echoing in the otherwise quiet night. Oh, right. He was probably hungry and Taemin was stalling. Taemin stepped forward to pet Minho, soft fur glistening in the moonlight. “Ready to hunt?” he asked.

They sped off together into the forest, Taemin having no problem keeping up with the wolf thanks to his speed. His training with Professor Jinki had been going well, Jinki letting Taemin know that he was catching on surprisingly quickly and would be able to maintain an animal blood diet sustainably in just a few more months. For now, he thought a summer trip with his werewolf boyfriend was a great idea, as long as he mostly stayed away from humans, drank animal blood regularly, kept up with the exercises Jinki had sent him, and stored some suppressor nearby just in case.

And so with Jinki’s blessing, Taemin had brought up hunting together to Minho. He seemed thrilled about the idea, telling him it would be fun to hunt without Jonghyun for once. Jonghyun had been in the room at the time, now with Taemin spending a lot of time in the sanctuary with Minho and helping out, and had scoffed playfully when he heard Minho say that.

Taemin kept his verbal communication with Minho minimal, relying on hand signals and almost imperceptible nods. They caught plenty of food, and by their third deer, Taemin felt full. He dropped onto the soft forest ground, watching the sky through the flickering leaves above him slowly transition into the morning.

He felt a large weight lay on the ground beside him, big eyes imploring him for something. Taemin sat up, scratching Minho underneath his neck and smiling at how cute he looked when he closed his eyes and let out a satisfied grunt.

“Full?” he asked. Minho grunted again in response, resting his head between his paws before him and shutting his eyes. “Me too,” Taemin sighed, patting his stomach through the clothes and laying back on the leaves.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, hearing the crickets chirp and the leaves rustle overhead with the passing seabreeze. Taemin observed the sky change colors, from a dark, hazy blue to a light grey-blue. He waited for the sun to rise completely, excited to see Minho transform into a human again and be able to properly talk to him.

And in the next moment, he was wrapped up in Minho’s large arms - his human arms. Taemin blinked at Minho squeezing him tightly, face in his hair. “Oh man, I missed it.”

Minho laughed into Taemin’s hair, reaching up with one hand to pet it and ruffle it up. “Am I really a pretty wolf?”

“The prettiest.” Taemin was rewarded with multiple kisses all over his face from a smiling but exhausted Minho.

“Thanks for doing that with me, Taemin-ah. I had a lot of fun.”

“Me too.”

“But…” Minho gave him a tired smile.

“But,” Taemin prodded him to continue.

“I’m afraid today is going to be a cuddling kind of day.”

Taemin pressed his body closer to Minho, leaves crunching underneath his weight. He placed his head against his heart, listening to it beat steadily and enjoying the sound. “How could I be mad about that?”

Minho smiled and held Taemin closer. “I love you, Taemin.”

Taemin breathed in Minho’s scent, sweet and dizzying but in the best way. He never wanted to leave this. “I love you, too.”

--END--

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