#hopefully this will be forgotten by tomorrow and i continue to exist away from here | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

moonbaby26 · 3 years

Text

Title: The Past

Pairing: Peter Maximoff x Reader, and past references to Peter x Crystal (from The Inhumans).

Summary: Continuation from previous chapter. Set after the battle with Apocalypse, you and the others are still biding your time while waiting to get back home. After touching base with Xavier to see where everything stands, you get to spend some more alone time with Peter and learn more about his fears and his past.

Notes: Please don’t @ me Inhumans fans! 🥺 I have zero problem with Crystal. And for those that don’t follow the comics, Crystal and comics!Quicksilver were once married, even having a daughter together named Luna. But the two weren’t compatible, and things went sour. Crystal cheated on him (Pietro was shitty to her too) and their marriage was eventually annulled. She remarried later, but he never did.

Warnings: Some cursing, a bit more necking. Talk of past unhealthy relationships, mention of sex.

Chapters: Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Taglist: @drikawinchester , @n0obmaster69 , @alexloveskili , @what-a-silver-lining , @bluesprings18 , @weakmoony-stuff , @slytherinsi-mp , @wintwrsoldiwr , @tommy-braccoli , @amourtentiaa , @cringingmemeries , @bi-panicatthe-disco , @himbos-are-my-lifeblood , @simp4mcuwomen

Peter Maximoff x Reader Masterlist

—————————

“Charles!” You heard Hank’s relieved surprise from somewhere nearby, yourself immediately trying to get back out of the bunk at the commotion.

Peter had no choice but to let go of you then, albeit still somewhat reluctantly before he sat up himself, grabbing his crutches off the floor to follow you.

“Well it’s about time. We were starting to wonder if we needed to mount another rescue,” Raven chimed in, one hand on her hip as she looked Xavier over. “Rough night?”

You could see the Professor then, seated tiredly in the wheelchair they’d given him with the rest of the group now standing around as you joined them.

“It was quite a strenuous night, yes,” Xavier responded, evidently having just come into the barracks as the door still hung open behind him.

Peter chuckled oddly beside you at the Professor’s choice of words. Though not all that loud to really have been intended for the group.

You wouldn’t have thought much of it, except for the funny look that came over Xavier’s face as he chided him instantly. “Peter, that is entirely inappropriate.”

But the others, save maybe Jean, looked just as confused as you at the seemingly random exchange, before Xavier kept on.

“Yes, Peter...Moira did accompany me all night. We had a lot to catch up on, even after the officials were done with their lengthy interrogations. But she and I talked. Please do keep your mind from the gutter. The strenuous activity I was referring to was the constant mental blocking and redirecting I imposed to those doing the questioning as to spare you all from being put in a poor light, or even remembered too well as significant players in this at all to keep you out of their future investigations.”

For his own part though, Peter didn’t look too embarrassed, or put off any really from the abrupt admonishment. Even as the Professor had just given details on the lengths he’d gone through to protect everyone, Peter only smiled, raising both hands as if to feign innocence, the crutches propped under his arms. “Hey now. No judgement here, Prof. And I didn’t say it out loud, right?”

“You didn’t have to.” Xavier sighed. “When something strikes you as funny, especially something sophomoric, you transmit it like a beacon.”

Peter looked both curious and amused at that new concept, but said nothing more.

A sly look was starting to glean behind Raven’s eyes though before she interceded instead. “You know, I don’t think I fully believe you, Charles.”

“Pardon?” There was a little surprise as Xavier glanced up to her.

But she just tilted her head, smirking slightly. “For as much crap as you always gave me about staying ‘professional’ with teammates back in the day, you think I’d just offer no comment now? Don’t lie to them. You didn’t only talk. Knowing your past with her, I’m sure of it actually.”

Peter just whistled then as Hank stared in helpless silence.

“Raven...” The Professor warned, but already knowing it was likely futile. “Is this really the time?”

“These might be your new X-Men, Charles.” She motioned to you all. “After all they’ve been through in the last 48 hours, I promise you they aren’t just kids anymore. Just like we weren’t.” She glanced to Hank briefly, then back to the Professor. “Don’t make them think we all walked around like robots back then, or that we would now. I always hated when you did that.”

Xavier closed his eyes a moment, taking a breath before looking back to everyone. “Admittedly, there has been much self sacrifice recently, and I am extremely proud of you all for how you rose up to help defend one another when everything was at stake. And there is nothing shameful in forming more personal bonds, of course. Raven is correct in that regard, though her delivery and sense of timing may leave something to be desired.”

Raven still shook her head. “You use so many words to still say nothing sometimes.”

“Hank, feel free to speak up any time now really.” Xavier deadpanned.

“Um, well...” Hank stammered a bit. “Did they say anything about when we might get to leave?”

The awkwardness was lessened somewhat at that as you all perked up at the question, equally ready to move on from this ship.

“Yes in fact, thank you, Hank.” The Professor was visibly relieved to get back to a more practical subject. “We will sleep here again tonight, but tomorrow they’re taking us to Kasteli airport on the island. It’s just a single runway, but large enough for the government flight they’re chartering to come here. It will be making multiple stops to pickup as many stranded U.S. targets as possible in the European region before crossing the Atlantic to deliver us to McGuire Air Force base in New Jersey.”

“Really...Jersey?” Peter commented flippantly. “Better than nothing I guess.”

But Xavier just ignored the interruption this time, “Moira’s contacts will furnish us all with I.D.’s and passports to get back into the country. For those of us that already had one, but may have lost it in all the recent events, it will be a reprint from previous government record. For those that never had one, they will create them for you.” He looked to Ororo and Kurt particularly there.

“What about the school?” Scott asked, “And all the other students? Are they okay?”

It was true that after you’d all been taken by Stryker and his men, you couldn’t know what had happened to anyone else after. Where they’d gone now with no place to stay, and if they’d remained safe with Magneto’s previous lashing out on the world.

The Professor nodded, clearly approving of that concern. “It was very difficult to get in contact with anyone directly. But again, Moira pressured her agency for assistance there. I’m told they were finally able to reach some of the staff who had taken the students to nearby hotels while trying to inform their families of their whereabouts. The explosion has been officially deemed due to a ‘gas leak’ however.”

He looked to Scott directly then though before continuing solemnly. “Of course for your family, Scott, an agent went personally to inform them of the truth. I’m so sorry. I know there hasn’t been any time to mourn Alex yet. His sacrifice will not be forgotten. He was only trying to protect me. We will have a proper ceremony for him as soon as we are able.”

You saw Jean take a hold of Scott’s hand as he only nodded rather than reply, seemingly unwilling to talk much more on that subject right now.

Xavier understood, keeping on. “As for the school itself, it will take time to rebuild of course. For those that do have safe homes to return to with family, that will have to be where they stay for now.” Yet the look in his eyes said how surely he knew that that would not be the case for many. A very common thread in so many of your histories was rejection by your own families.

“And for those who do not have anywhere else safe to go, I’m going to see what we can rent or lease in the interim once we’re back in the states. Hopefully something a bit more comfortable than the local motels.”

“And Stryker?” Raven interjected again, a little coldness to her voice though. “Did you call your ‘interviewers’ out on that bullshit?”

The Professor ruffled slightly at the language, but did not argue with it. “They claimed ignorance on those operations entirely. Looking into their minds, they did believe those facilities existed, but it was completely above their security clearance to know anything of what went on inside them. I think Stryker had partnered more with a private firm to be honest.”

Hank sighed. “Wonderful, more secret organizations bent on using us for experimentation and weaponry.”

Xavier agreed. “Yes, that will remain an ongoing threat I’m afraid. But all the more reason for us to keep training the youth. We will not be helpless in this world as long as we continue to grow our strengths together, and protect one another.”

Raven raised her eyebrows at those words. “Hmm. That almost sounds like the need for some kind of team again, doesn’t it, Charles? Fighters instead of pacifists? Maybe you should actually listen to the things I say for once.”

He didn’t rise to her baiting though, only starting to back his chair away then. “In due time, Raven. We shall see where this all ends up. But as for the present, now that everyone is caught up on what we know, I believe several of you were wishing for some time above deck.”

“That is an understatement,” Ororo answered, looking surprisingly uncomfortable the more you actually looked at her then. “The longer we’ve been here the more it feels like a tomb.” She added.

“She has claustrophobia.” Jean replied only in your mind, likely seeing the puzzlement on your face. “But she’s been hiding it well.”

You felt a bit guilty for not having noticed regardless, immediately glad for Jean sharing so that you could end that obliviousness. That was just the basics of being friends, knowing what the others were going through, to be of help whenever you could.

“Yes, absolutely!” You spoke up too. “Will they let us walk around a while up there?” The whole Mediterranean was outside, the sky and the water. And anything would be better than this endless grey metal, bulkheads, and compartments all in artificial lighting.

“I don’t know that I’m going to give them much choice,” Xavier smiled, fully exiting back out of the doorway then. “Come along all of you. We’ll see what we can do.”

—————————

You were certain that the Professor had indeed used a good bit of mental persuasion to grant you all full access to the flight deck. But as no planes were taking off, landing, or anything at all really, it was fairly safe to wander as you pleased right now.

Scott had wanted to get a closer look at some of those jets regardless though. Himself, Jean, Kurt, and Ororo going over to check out those that were still parked near the center of the deck.

Raven and Hank had wandered off somewhere near the bow, while Moira had reappeared and you’d seen her sit down in the shade under the ship’s bridge tower with Xavier. You could see them still talking as you and Peter had walked off towards the stern.

The air did feel as good as you’d hoped. It was cool, with that distinct smell of salt, dancing both you and Peter’s hair around lightly in the breeze.

But you wished you could really be at the water’s edge, to touch it, or even swim in it. It’d been such a long time since you’d gotten to be at the ocean.

It made you wonder too though where Peter had spent his time as a child. Had his family travelled to the beach much during his summers growing up?

“So you lived near Washington D.C.?” You asked, looking upward though as you now walked under a fighter jet’s wing, many more left waiting here at the aft of the ship. You remembered his words to Magneto, about the Pentagon being so close to their home at some point. Even if Peter had never known his father had been imprisoned there all along.

“Still do.” Peter answered, reaching out to grab your hand before you walked back out of the shade from under the jet. “Want to sit down?”

You glanced back at him, already wondering if he was being purposeful in this location or not. You were now as far from the others as could be after all. And even from the bridge, the sailors wouldn’t be able to see you now beneath this jet.

He smirked, maybe knowingly even as he responded crassly. “What? These things are killing my armpits.”

You smiled, still wondering, but helped him sit down anyway as you set the crutches beside you before joining him.

“So you still live by the Capitol....” You continued, gently prodding to try and hear more about him.

“Yeah,” He snaked one arm around your waist. “Suburbs just outside of D.C. Still in my Mom’s basement, same as always.”

You did recall him joking about that on the ride to Egypt, about still living with his mother. But what kind of woman was she though? Bold enough to flee from Magneto to a whole new country to raise her children at least. “Is she...” You weren’t quite sure the polite way to ask. Or actually if you even should, but it was already out of your mouth, so you continued hesitantly. “Is she like us?”

“Nah. She’s not a mutant.” He responded easily. “But my sister is.”

You looked back to him at that. He hadn’t told you much about Wanda yet, besides the fact that they were twins and that maybe she’d had some struggles with depression. Which was so common for your kind as well as you tried to learn to accept yourselves and the world’s sometimes cruel view of you.

The reminder of him being a twin was of course fuel for your imagination too as you tried to picture what any twin sister of Peter’s could really be like.

But he was getting surprisingly good at reading your expressions it seemed as he just laughed. “No, Wanda’s not just a female version of me if that’s what you’re thinking. I doubt the world could handle that, right?”

“Probably not.” You admitted. Trying not to get distracted with the mental image of a much more feminine Peter zipping around.

When you felt him tug you closer to him, you came back to attention. His fingertips were messing with one pocket of your pants idly now.

“She’s way smarter. More powerful for sure.” He then continued after a moment, with a little more consideration. “A little scary too actually. A lot more like our Dad I guess.”

“More powerful than you?” You asked honestly. Of course his powers might not be as in your face as something like Scott’s eye beams, or Ororo’s lightning bolts and their destructive power. But he’d already impressed you, no question.

“Well yeah. I’m just a jerk that runs fast.” He replied, looking a little surprised by your sincere look. “You think that’s powerful?”

“Peter, you can practically stop time on a whim. That’s way more than just running fast.” And that was no exaggeration to you. There was no other way to explain how he’d cleared the whole mansion even faster than the explosion could take it.

“I mean it’s saved my ass a few times yeah.” He conceded. “But...” He quieted, still watching you.

That serious look had come into his eyes again, like a cloud crossing over the light. He wanted to say something more and couldn’t.

“What?” You finally asked gently. It was just the two of you now. “You can say whatever you want, Peter.”

It was so evident that he wasn’t yet used to the freedom of expression that many of the rest of you were. He hadn’t had those years worth of safety net within the school, getting to air your thoughts with one another as almost second nature after so long.

He took a breath before eventually trying though. “Well...when I first started figuring out what I could do, it was such a rush, definitely. I could skip class whenever, take anything I knew Mom couldn’t or wouldn’t buy me. The dickheads that used to try to push me around couldn’t even touch me anymore.”

Yet he shifted, some unease still building in him even as you just listened quietly. “But, eventually you realize the people who barely gave you any notice before, that then they can’t even see you at all any longer.”

He was looking in your eyes again, as if he was still waiting to see some judgement there, but he’d already said too much to stop now. He couldn’t reel it back in, even if he may have wanted to. “And when I got older, I finally started having these nightmares...that everything got stuck like that you know. More and more, that I was going to do it too long one day, too many times one day and everything was going to finally stick that way for good. That no one would ever hear or see me again. Like this super shitty purgatory, of frozen people all around, and you’re just some ghost moving through them.”

You were surprised at first, yes. But maybe not so much the more you really considered it. What he spoke of was a horrible fate to consider to be sure. But for someone you already knew could actually be very self conscious at his core, there was even another layer to it. Was it really that much of a stretch that he could also worry about feeling even more unseen? More invisible, to the point that that could be his life forever?

The flashy jackets and clothing tied in a bit more now to that overall profile you were putting together here. But it meant so much to you that he was willing to share this at all, when it clearly was something very deep for him.

“I still dream that sometimes.” He admitted. “Freaking sucks.” He raised his bare left wrist then, looking at it with some regret. “It’s normally why I always wear a watch too. If nobody’s around for me to judge what speed I’m moving at, I have to look at the second hand to make sure it’s still trying to move. Freaks me the hell out if I can’t check it.”

You knew he’d left all his other things in the jet when everyone had changed into those flight suits before heading to Egypt. And all that was gone now. “You are powerful.” You insisted softly though. “And I don’t think I’ve ever met one of us yet that didn’t fear losing control, of becoming a victim to our own abilities in the end...”

Without thinking you turned then, getting up on your knees so you could wrap your arms around him. You felt him tense only for a moment, surprised but then quickly accepting the tight hug for what it was as he relaxed into it.

You spoke into his ear as he slid his arms back around you in return. “You don’t have to hold any of these things in any longer either though. You’re with friends now.”

But when your grip eventually loosened, he just pulled you around so that you were then seated nearly in his lap before he hugged you around your waist again.

“But for how long?” He asked seriously. “You and the others will go back to New York won’t you once we’re back in the U.S.? And I’ll have to go back to D.C. to show Mom I’m not dead, I’m sure she’s tripping out right now.”

“Well...” You understood he’d certainly have to go home for at least a while. But the school would be rebuilt eventually. “Have you thought about, once the school is established again I mean, maybe joining us?”

That did get a slight chuckle from him. “I’m already a dropout, babe. I never even finished high school. Not really a good candidate for higher learning.”

But you weren’t so easily dissuaded. “It’s more than just math and science classes, Peter. The younger kids always need mentors. And there’s the chance of working with the Professor and the other staff too, learning to unlock your full potential. You don’t have to hold back there, or hide anymore.”

He caught you by the bottom of your chin then though, tilting your head back as he seemed to consider kissing you again. “You want me to come there then?”

“Yes.” You agreed, the word at least sounding confident despite your heart rate increasing again.

“And are we going to share a bunk again tonight?” He smirked, knowing full well he was now derailing a previously serious conversation.

“I guess that depends on you.” You tried to counter, but he really had too unfair of an advantage in how easily he could still fluster you. And you weren’t sure when that was ever going to fade.

You waited for him to continue the banter though. To do anything really. But for several long moments he only watched you instead.

“Well?” He finally said.

“Well what?” You answered.

“You want to make out under this fighter jet before they call off mutant recess? The bell’s probably going to ring soon to send us all back to being out of sight, out of mind on the U.S.S buzzkill.”

Sometimes you wondered if he was actually the older of you two at all. “Don’t enjoy your own jokes too much now. You know what Xavier said about you transmitting your thoughts.” You were at least able to taunt back a little.

“Ah, he’s all about that CIA chick right now. I mean, more power to him, nothing wrong with it. She seemed pretty badass. But he should have just taken the compliment earlier instead of trying to drag me about it. But not bad for an old dude you know? Especially now that he looks a little more like Mr. Clean.”

“Peter.” The Professor wasn’t even that old, but it was by and large beside the point. “You’re trying to make me kiss you again so that you’ll stop talking aren’t you?”

“Maybe.” He grinned. “But hey, I never thought I’d get this far, I’m going to enjoy this every chance we get.”

The newness hadn’t worn off at all, that much was true. But wouldn’t it eventually? And would he still think so much of you then? You couldn’t know the answer to that.

It was probably best to actually agree with his viewpoint for the time being. To just appreciate the chances given in the here and now. None of you could know what the future had in store for anyone or anything, not anymore.

You were already right in front of him as you ran your fingers along the back of his neck. You held him there briefly, then pulling him in to initiate the first kiss, before he met you eagerly with another.

One of your hands stayed in his hair, the other splayed down onto his chest. After a moment, you realized you could feel his own heartbeat through the thin t-shirt. So very fast, like everything else about him before you felt him grabbing at your hips.

He was trying to get you pulled more into his lap as he shifted his legs to make room. You let him, but there was something slightly funny as you still had to help to not knock into his broken leg when he had trouble moving it in the way he really wanted.

But he could feel your smile against his lips. He pulled back enough to respond, your foreheads touching. “You just wait until that damn thing is off. I’ll be ten times as suave then.”

“I’m not complaining.” You laughed softly. Maybe even a little glad that he did have that handicap to slow him down right now. Though you quieted again when you felt him move down to nip at your neck, before he kissed it a little more roughly.

When you tensed a little, he paused. You could hear the tease in his voice. “Don’t worry, I won’t leave any hickies. Scout’s honor.” He knew you still cared about appearances to some degree, that and the privacy to not show off all of what you’d done in front of the others. “But you ever had one?” He asked anyway.

“No.” You answered without hesitation. You didn’t feel any need to pretend with him.

He pulled back a little again at that though, enough that you could look at each other and you wondered if he was finding this hard to believe.

“But you’ve had boyfriends right?” He asked, before considering a little more. “Or maybe girlfriends? I mean, I’m cool with either just for the record. We get discriminated on enough as it is to bother being worried about what side of the fence anybody is playing on.” He smiled, rubbing his hand down your side. “If I’m going to like someone, I’m going to like them for them. Everything else is just bonus.”

You’d never really thought about it to be honest. If you were attracted to someone, you just were. But it sounded like he was of similar thinking, which was nice. “I haven’t really had anybody.” You answered. “I’ve been at the school since I was pretty young. And you just end up seeing them all as family I guess.”

His eyebrows raised and he hesitated a while, before finally speaking again a little bit carefully. “So...please don’t punch me, but um, does that mean you haven’t...you know?” He didn’t seem like he could say it. Or that maybe he was actually afraid of offending you all of the sudden. Which would be a first.

But just because you were inexperienced, that didn’t mean you were naive. And it was awkward, but not frightening. You weren’t afraid to talk to him this way. “I haven’t had sex, no.” You responded plainly, but did have a little concern on him possibly panicking as you made sure to clarify. “And I’m not a minor. This would have been my senior year and then some I guess if you compare our class levels to normal high school grades.” But Xavier’s school was still a little different. “Or maybe it’d be more like freshman year of college.”

Peter took a breath. “I mean, yeah I figured you were legal. Good to confirm, but um, you realize this means you have no idea if you should have waited for someone better or not?”

He was getting self conscious again. You’d already been through this before. Where he acted as if you were making a mistake just to choose him. You tried to turn this back around. “It doesn’t matter to me who you’ve already been with. And yes, I might be inexperienced, but you’ve got to trust me that I’m capable of choosing who I want now.”

You could still sense him wavering, but he at least didn’t lock up to the point of not answering. He was trying to fall back on a little humor, his go to. “Well it’s not like I’ve been all around either. It was really just one, but you know, a good bit of practice there.” Though as soon as he said it that way, he seemed to regret it, trying to explain further. “I mean, she didn’t give two shits about me in the end. I thought she did. But I didn’t use her, it was more the other way around. At least in my view.”

You quieted, that new spill of information you felt signaling a much deeper story under the surface. And he seemed really nervous as if he hadn’t intended to bring up this subject at all. “It’s okay.” You answered quickly. “Like I said, the past is the past. It doesn’t affect what I feel about you. But if you want to get something else off your chest right now, my time is yours.”

And he did want to talk. You could tell he did. Like this was something he never could speak of normally. He seemed surprised at his own self as the name finally did come out. “Her name was Crystal.” But he still tightened his grip on you even as he kept on. “Back when I was still in high school outside D.C., she’d started there. Her family was always moving, I don’t know why. But I guess because she was new she didn’t know the whole hierarchy shit, where I was on the bottom with the other weirdos always in detention. And she figured out I had powers, she did too. I’d never met anyone my age that did. We started hanging out, and before you know it I’d be speeding to her house and all at night. My Mom never knew. Wanda did, but I think she saw the fuck up coming and decided to let me figure it out for myself.”

You felt no jealousy to the confession. Genuinely you were only listening, knowing these details only gave you a more complete picture of him. Who he was now and why.

“I’d never gotten attention like that before you know? You start thinking it’s real and you get carried away. And I’m not saying she was manipulative or any stupid crap like that. She wasn’t. She just wanted to fool around with somebody, wanted to feel good. But it probably shouldn’t have been with me is what I mean. Not for that long anyway just to cut me off at the knees when she was ready to move on again.”

So she’d just wanted a physical relationship. While Peter had misunderstood it to be more, and had had to suffer for it when the truth finally showed. You could understand how that would be extremely painful. Especially if it was the first real intimacy he’d ever had.

He kept on though, likely something very cathartic in finally getting to let go of all this. “And we had a huge blow up in the end. When she’d started sleeping with someone else. I probably said some stuff I shouldn’t have, I mean she was never mine to be mad about I guess. But she was no pushover. She told me to fuck right off, and I never went back. I quit going to school and they moved away again eventually. So that was the end of that.”

Then that was likely the real reason he never finished school you realized, not just because of boredom with it or any lack of ability on his own part. It was sad, but you didn’t see him as anyone to be pitied. He’d survived that negative experience to still be here with you now.

And you couldn’t take those old scars away, but you could at least make sure you didn’t leave any room for miscommunication now. You could let him know exactly what he had in you, to take or leave as he wished. Because nothing could work here either unless you both were on the same page.

“Well I can tell you that you will never just be a hookup for me. I mean, yes, I might not be as satisfying I guess, not knowing all about this. But, I’m attracted to you. Not your body, not your powers, just you. I want to be together until you decide otherwise.” You smiled, calling back a bit to his words in Egypt. “Together exclusively until I annoy you or you get bored of me.”

He laughed, unable to help himself. “And I still don’t deserve it.” He insisted, but agreed anyway. “Exclusive is good, no other guys or girls. Just us annoying the hell out of each other until the end.” He then nuzzled his head back against your neck, continuing. “I’ll be slightly more behaved too I guess. Now that I know it’ll be your first time, it can’t just be in an aircraft carrier broom closet or some crap after all. I’ll try to think of something a little more romantic in the meantime.”

“Gee thanks.” You smirked, before kissing him lightly again. There was still oh so much trouble to look forward to it sounded like.

He leaned into the kiss, trying to taste you as much as you’d let him. But you thought you could still feel him smiling a little too, before another sound went off in your brains.

“All of you, they’re asking us to clear the flight deck as they have a pair of helicopters trying to come back in from patrol.” The Professor’s voice was a bit impersonal, the way it could be when he was essentially copying the same message to multiple minds one after the other.

“And that would be the bell,” Peter sighed. “Recess over.”

You were a little disappointed too, but there was still tonight after all. “There’s still the bunk later,” You reminded at that, standing up and offering him your hand.

He grabbed it, quickly pulling himself up before leaning in to kiss you one more time. “That a promise?”

“Maybe.” You answered, handing him his crutches.

“Tease.” He countered with a smirk, before you both started walking back towards the others.

It’d be one more night in close quarters, and then on to the long trip home tomorrow.

——————————

(Continued in next chapter here)

#quicksilver x oc #quicksilver x y/n #quicksilver x you #quicksilver x reader #quicksilver #peter maximoff x oc #peter maximoff x you #peter maximoff x y/n #peter maximoff x reader #peter maximoff #x men #xmen #xmen fanfiction #xmen fic

197 notes · View notes

jamiemackenziefraser · 3 years

Text

All That Was Fair

Chapter 34: Ghost of the Garden

Summary: The final chapter of Arc II

Read on AO3

Read chp 34 on tumblr below the cut

Previous, master list, next

Chapter 34: Ghost of the Garden

***

The garden reminded him of her in the best and worst way. At least going outside to the tranquility of the Scottish dreich— overcast sky and wind whipping at his face— made him feel something. The garden was supposed to be hers. Jamie was hopeless with plants; he killed nearly everything that required his care. But his lass— his sweet wife— she had known exactly how to make the plants grow and thrive with life.

Just like she’d done to him.

Only without her, the garden was as barren as Jamie himself.

Sitting down next to the depressing patch of earth, Jamie buried his hands into the dirt. He clutched at it, curling his fingers around the mud as if it were his wife herself to which he was holding on. Distantly, he felt hot tears streaking their way down his face.

He couldn’t help it when he thought of her.

Jamie couldn’t even remember why he’d come out here. Maybe it was to feel close to her. But now all he felt was that terrible longing that tore him limb from limb. He ached to hold her again. He cursed himself for squandering the time they’d had. The warmth of her body in his arms was now nothing more than a fading memory that left him closing his eyes against the sharp sting of the past.

The one thing he couldn’t bring himself to regret was marrying her. Because now, during his lowest moments, when all he had was the dirt under his fingernails to hold on to, he could say softly to himself... “my wife.”

Bringing a sleeve up to swipe at his tears, Jamie took a deep breath. Repeating “wife,” in his mind like a mantra, he picked up the spade he had brought with him.

“For my wife,” he murmured as he broke the ground.

***

Jamie worked for hours on the garden. He tore up the weeds, added potting soil, planted his seeds, and gave them water. Finally, he sat back, looking at the bare patch of ground that would hopefully one day be bursting with life.

He made a promise to himself— or to her, he wasn’t entirely certain, because it was for her that he made the promise— that he would continue on long enough to see the garden flourish. In her memory.

And if it took him the rest of his days, he would keep trying. At least he could pretend he was doing one last thing for her.

Tears were rolling down his cheeks again. It was funny, he never seemed to notice when he started crying these days. He simply became aware after the fact. His body was just so used to living in a constant state of grief that it didn’t think to notify him when the tears actually escaped instead of saying trapped inside.

He was standing. He’d meant to go inside. But at this fresh wave of tears, he sat down heavily on the ground again. Burying his face in his dirty palms, he let the sobs out. He cried until his insides hurt.

God, lass. I miss ye so much I can hardly breathe.

He found himself doing that more and more— talking to her ghost. The memory of her that would haunt him for the rest of his days.

But he’d never seen her before. Not until he looked up in the moment, through his tears, and imagined her walking toward him across the moor. Clothed in her white dress, the very one he’d sent her away in, his vision was the image of perfection. Her curls blew in the wind, whipping around her head. Although she was too far away from him to see her face, he’d imagined she was wearing a smile. Damn his fantasies for not being closer. Even so, it was probably fitting that she was that far out of reach.

Only when he blinked, she was still there. Coming closer. He shook his head and looked again. The image drew closer still.

His heart beating wildly in his chest, Jamie shot to his feet. He swayed a little, the blood rushing to his head, but he didn’t once take his eyes off the ethereal vision.

The second he was standing, the figure broke out into a run toward him.

Oh Christ.

Oh Good Lord in Heaven.

It was her.

It was really her.

Claire.

Jamie didn’t have time to feel. He didn’t have time to think. His feet were taking off, carrying him in the fastest sprint of his life.

He didn’t have time to question whether he was losing his mind. He simply knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was her, in the same way he’d known she was not human the first time he’d laid eyes on her or known they were meant to be together. He couldn’t question what he knew to be true. He simply needed to go to her. His body commanded him when his brain had completely shut down. And so he went, pumping his legs with all his might.

It was almost like awareness blinked out. He could see her running faster, coming closer, but everything in the world stopped until the very moment when she crashed into him.

Her body. Real. alive. Knocking him flat on his back.

All the air whooshed out of his lungs as he hit the ground, her body on top of him adding to the impact.

But then her mouth was covering his and the breath was knocked out of him for an entirely different reason.

Everything about her consumed him. Her lips on his, kissing as if her life depended on it. Her body spread down the length of his— soft and small and real and alive. Her gasping breaths that she took against his lips. Her soft cry of “Jamie,” into his mouth. The wetness of her tears against his face.

He couldn’t breathe let alone answer her. His hands had come up around her, holding on for dear life. He kissed her with all his soul and every ounce of life in his body.

When his brain finally caught up enough, her name fell from his lips in what was nearly a whimper. “Claire?”

She withdrew her lips for long enough to nod, gazing down on him with those whisky eyes that made him feel like he would combust.

“Yes, Jamie,” she gasped out, nodding her head earnestly.

A cry tore from Jamie’s throat and then they were kissing again, their mouths clashing in passion and longing and tenderness all at the same time.

He broke them apart just long enough to muster a bewildered— but very, very grateful— “ye’re here?”

She shook her head this time, her smile spreading over her features and warming Jamie to the very marrow of his bones.

“I’m here. I’ll explain later. Please, just kiss me.”

And so he did. He shot up to a sitting position, taking Claire with him so he could hold her astride his lap. He took her whole body in his arms, enveloping her as much as he could possibly manage, and then he kissed her for all he was worth.

He poured every ounce of heartbreak he’d experienced over the last three weeks into the kiss, finding his heart shattered still but mending with every press of her lips, every wee sound she made into his mouth, and the way her hands tugged at his curls and roamed over his body as if she couldn't get enough of touching him.

His faerie.

Home.

Nothing felt more right than holding her safe in his arms again. Buzzing with life and holding him back just as fiercely.

His breath hitched in his lungs as he tried to draw in air, his body reeling from the emotion coursing through his veins. One person probably shouldn’t have experienced this much joy following such intense grief. It shouldn’t have been possible. He felt like he was about to have a stroke; he was so deliriously happy. He felt like he was floating, disembodied yet experiencing everything so acutely.

“I love you,” tore from his throat and was caught by her mouth.

That had been the last thing he’d said to her. Those three words were the most important he could ever say. He would repeat them so long as she was there to hear him and there was breath in his lungs.

His hand was gripping tightly in her hair, and he used his hold to gently tear her away from his lips so he could lock eyes with her. Pouring out his heart, he repeated, “Christ, Claire. I’ve been dying. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” she said, a tear tracking down her cheek in a perfect line.

He shook his head doggedly and immediately brought his hand up to brush it away.

“Please, mo ghraidh. No tears. As long as ye’re in my arms, there isnae room for tears.”

“I’m crying because I’m happy, Jamie,” she whispered, a breathless laugh accompanying her watery smile.

“Oh God, Claire. I’ve never been happier.”

He kissed her again. Just like the first time she’d kissed him, her mouth made him feel grounded and uprooted all at once. He was so incredibly lost in her. The reality of her presence and her love filled his senses until nothing existed except her.

Claire broke free of his lips with a muffled “Hey. I thought you said no tears.”

Both of her hands came up to cup his cheeks and her thumbs bushed away tears he hadn’t even realized were wetting his face.

He chuckled breathlessly and reached for her face as well to wipe away the moisture there.

“Alright. Maybe that rule starts tomorrow, then.”

As the word tomorrow left his lips, fear suddenly seized his gut, making his blood run cold. He stiffened and tried to steel himself enough to force out the question that could potentially rip him from the inside out. “Ye are… ye’ll be here tomorrow… aye?” he asked, failing to keep the tremor from his voice.

“Yes, Jamie,” Claire breathed, “I’ll be here today, tomorrow, and the rest of your days. If ye’ll have me?” Her voice raised at the end in question.

Jamie wasted no time in answering, his voice heavy with reverence, “Of course I’ll have you. My wife.”

When his mind made it past the earth-shattering immediacy of her, beyond the sorrow of the past month, and finally beyond the satisfaction of calling her wife, he suddenly remembered with acute and heartbreaking clarity why he’d sent her back through the stones in the first place. Christ, how had he forgotten? The memory came crashing down on him with unbearable gravity, freezing him once again.

“Oh Christ,” he tore away from her like he’d been bitten, “oh God, Claire, ye canna be here. Ye canna stay, ye’ll die. I willna see ye wasting away again, I canna bear it. Ye have to go back. Ye—“

“Jamie,” Claire spoke his name with a serenity mixed with what was nearly a chuckle as she cut off the frantic stream of words. When he still looked at her wildly, clutching her as if she’d turn to dust, she repeated, more sternly this time, “Jamie. I figured out how I can stay on this plane.”

Jamie stopped his frantic motions where he’d been pawing at her sides like he could pull her into himself.

“What? How—“

Claire gestured to her chest, and only then did Jamie’s eyes flick down and take in the sight of a large opal resting on a golden chain. It was about the size of a newborn’s fist, pearly white with streaks of color running through it. Ethereal and otherworldly, just like Claire herself.

“It’s a long story. Please, Jamie. I— I’ve been so lonely and so heartbroken without you that I felt I must surely die. I just… I want to feel you.”

He could never say no to her before, so he never even stood a chance against the request made with such pleading from within those teary eyes. Jamie felt exactly the same— like if they stopped touching for even a moment then the reality of the situation would be ripped away.

“You can touch me now,” he breathed.

Tightening his arms around her where she sat in his lap, Jamie crushed her to his chest. He ran his hands up and down her back— caressing or simply feeling, he didn’t know— until his hands came up to frame her face. Holding her between his palms, he brought his lips slowly back to capture hers.

They sat there for a long time, alone on the moor save the presence of the wind and the strength of their love that seemed to hum around them. The world that had been so empty only minutes before was now bursting with life.

Still, a prickle of unease crawled its way into the back of his mind, interrupting his unfathomable joy. He couldn’t stand to let the perfection of her be ruined by his worries. Reluctantly, he drew back again, Claire whining and chasing his lips as he did.

“As much as I didna think I could ever refuse to kiss ye, I’m afraid I canna rest until I hear the whole story and ken ye’re safe. Will ye come inside?” The question was a bit shy, almost hesitant. As if there were some small part of him afraid she would say no.

“Yes,” she breathed, with such solemnity it was as if she was agreeing to spend her life with him. And really, she was.

His wife.

Extricating herself from him and managing to get her legs back underneath her, Claire stood from his lap. Jamie scrambled up beside her just as she was starting to turn to look in the direction of the house.

Feeling unsettled again, Jamie lowered his eyes and stepped up toward her side as his heartbeat thundered in his chest.

“Hold my hand?” he requested, fixing his beseeching gaze on her, “I think I may die if I let ye go even for a moment.”

It was true. If they weren’t touching, he felt like she’d dissolve in front of him and send him catapulting back into the hollow darkness.

“Jamie Fraser, if I had it my way, I’d never let go for even a second,” she said, her smile wide and so sweet it made Jamie’s knees go rubbery and banished the lingering disquiet in his heart. It was like a key fitting into a lock inside him to see his smile. His whole being seemed to breathe a sigh.

There was his faerie.

Even before he’d left her, she’d been too weak to be her usual self. But seeing her— playful and clingy and so endearing all at once— made him want to fall to his knees and give thanks to the Lord. He certainly would, he already was, but for now, he’d stay on his feet and take Claire inside.

She slipped her hand into his before he’d even finished thinking all this. Her wee palm slotted into his, where it fit so perfectly. Two halves of one whole. Too long had his hand been empty.

Every little thing she did felt monumental to his tortured soul.

They walked side by side toward the house, quiet as both of them came to terms with the immensity of their emotions.

But just before they reached the door, Jamie suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. He pulled Claire to a stop next to him before she could take another step.

“Wait,” he said.

Abruptly, he leaned down and scooped Claire up off her feet and into his arms. She laughed in surprise, and her arms came around his neck to hold on.

“Jamie, I’m fine,” she laughed, “I’m perfectly capable of walking—”

He looked down at her, his smile growing with every passing second.

“I ken,” he said, feeling like his heart was going to burst. “It’s jes’ a human tradition. The first time a husband and wife step foot in their home, the husband carries his bride over the threshold.”

Claire looked nearly wrecked by this as her lips turned down in a smile that was so full of emotion she couldn't even contain it.

“Oh,” she said softly, “well. Carry on, then, husband.”

Hearing that word from her lips had the power to make him drop her, only she was far too precious cargo for that. Finding his footing both physically and emotionally, Jamie managed to take the few steps forward and cross the threshold. Bringing his new wife home.

***

They laid face-to-face in bed, Jamie tracing the lines of Claire’s face. He was absolutely fixated. What had only been a dream and a painful memory to him for the last month was right there in front of him, bathed in the soft light of his lamp and smiling like her heart was in her lips. Jamie could stare at her for hours— would even, before the day was done— and he couldn’t stop touching her. He’d trace over her skin until his fingers were convinced of its reality, and then he’d do it some more.

“Alright, lass. Please, tell me the story?”

Claire, stubborn as ever, leaned in to press a peck to his lips before she settled in to explain.

“When I woke up… after…” she had to swallow barely five words into her account, “I thought I was dead. Only it was worse. I tried to get back to the stones. Jamie, I was ready to come back.”

At this moment, Jamie started to protest, feeling like his guts were being torn out, but Claire stopped him with a shake of her head. “But fate had other plans. Because even as I crawled toward the stones, I lost consciousness again. When I woke the second time, I was with another fae. He’d taken me away from that place.”

Jamie’s eyes widened, and he felt his heart start to beat faster despite the fact that she lay there next to him, safe and sound.

“I had never met him before, but somehow he seemed to know things. I must have babbled about you in my delirium, because he knew your name. He knew… he knew I loved you and lost you. He was patient but firm as I begged and pleaded for him to take me back to the stones.”

Claire took a deep breath, the pain she had been through shining in her eyes. “When I was well enough to speak, he asked me to tell him the story. So I did. I didn’t have anything left to lose, I just let it all out. When I had finished everything, he finally explained who he was.”

“His name was Ottertooth. I still don’t know why he was helping me. Best I could figure, he had a fascination with the stones, maybe even with the human plane. I think... “ she took a breath, “I think maybe I was an experiment to him. He told me that there was a way to exist in the human realm. A stone that could connect me to the energy of our plane.”

Jamie perked up at this, eyeing the stone around her neck with gratitude and budding hope.

“He took me across the land to a cave. One he called Abandawe. It was there that I would find the stone. Only… it didn’t come free.” She lowered her eyes, as if hesitating over whether she wanted to tell him the next part, so he prompted her with a gentle, “it’s alright. Tell me.”

“To come here, to the human plane, I had to be marked. I… I had to give something up.”

Jamie felt his blood turn to ice. He sat up as Claire did, but remained rooted in place and she turned around. She dropped the straps of her dress and shrugged the back lower.

He couldn’t manage to stifle the gasp that rose inside him at the sight. Her beautiful, delicate wings bore three stripes each, deep gashes that had since turned black, marring their perfection. They were like claw marks, branding her. As if drawn by some invisible force, Jamie reached out and traced just above one gash, feeling his heartbeat in his throat.

“It’s a mark, nothing more. It shows I am an outcast,” she said, voice nonchalant, “That was the sacrifice, you see. To get the stone and the ability to remain for good on the human plane, I had to renounce my own realm. Give up my place among the fair folk. But it was a small price to pay for this stone.” Her words were light, and Jamie didn’t doubt the truth of her heart, but he knew that it had not been a “small price.” Not in the least.

Claire continued on before he could say anything. “I laid in pain for days afterward, but it was nothing compared to how I felt before… before I had hope of returning to you.”

Jamie let out a whine of distress. He could imagine her, those perfect wings lying crumpled and leaving her in agony.

For him.

“And that was that. I had the stone then. As soon as I could get to my feet, I made my way back to the standing stones. I made it through, and when I woke up on the other side, I couldn’t waste any time. I started walking and walking. And, well… you know the rest.”

She turned back to him then, readjusting the straps of her dress and giving him a reassuring smile.

Jamie couldn’t find words, but his heart broke. “Christ, Claire. I’m so sorry. Yer wings… Yer people…”

A hand on his face cut him off. It was a tender touch, loving, but it left no room for his argument.

“I told you, Jamie. I paid the price happily. And I would do it a thousand times over to be with you.”

Jamie had no idea what to say. Tears beaded at his eyes, and he had to inhale sharply.

“I’m… I’m so verra grateful that ye came back, Claire,” he finally managed, his eyes shining. He knew she wasn’t looking for thanks, but in the light of her sacrifice, he couldn’t let it go unsaid.

“I’m so grateful I was given the chance,” Claire breathed in response.

Jamie leaned in close, resting his forehead against hers and letting out a sigh. He held himself back to kissing her— from losing himself again in her nearness and affection. Instead, he asked, “so, as long as ye wear this gem, ye’ll be connected to yer realm? Ye’ll draw energy from it so ye can remain here?”

Claire nodded against his forehead. “We can be together.”

Jamie swallowed, hard. But this time, it wasn’t heartache or guilt choking his airways. It was her words— paired with the sight of the dress that had been her wedding dress slung low on her body— that brought desire coursing through every vein.

He placed his hand around the back of her neck and drew her in so he could kiss her. Their lips melded together and her hands seemed to travel everywhere over his chest and back and shoulders. He sighed into her mouth before he pulled back to look her in the eyes. Her pupils were blown wide, turning the whisky color to only a thin ring. They held a dreamy look, glazed with longing.

There was one thing on both of their minds.

There scarcely could have been otherwise.

They had been deprived of a wedding night. But here they were. Lying face to face in bed. Man and wife.

“I love ye, Claire. And I meant what I told ye before I sent ye back. I love ye with all my heart and soul, and I promise I willna ever stop,” he breathed, edging closer.

“I never got to tell you…” her breath hitched as he leaned in and began to trail kisses along her jaw, “you’re my everything. I love you. Jamie, I love you more than I ever thought possible to love another. And I promise you the same. Nothing will ever change that.”

“Ye did tell me, Claire. Ye sacrificed yer people and endured so much— for me. And ye’re here.”

Their eyes met, and matching shudders overtook them. With extreme tenderness, Jamie reached down and placed both of their wrists together, twining his hand around her arm just as he had that day when they were handfast.

And all at once, it seemed the vows they had made could truly be fulfilled.

Two hearts became one.

Two lives became one.

And two forevers became one.

Words seemed to have reached an end, and they were anxious to be near each other— body and soul, close in every way possible.

They came together with tender touches and whispered words of love. All the sorrow was soothed in each other's arms. And with her, Jamie finally became whole.

As they lay together afterward, basking in the nearness of each other, Jamie couldn’t help but keep leaning forward for more gentle kisses.

“I love you. Now and forever,” he poured his heart out with the simple words.

“You are my forever, Jamie Fraser,” she breathed.

“And ye’re mine.”

All that was left was to decide what to do with the eternity they’d been granted.

***

To be continued...

A/n: IMPORTANT please read: This sounded like an ending but I promise it’s not! I want to tell you about what they decide to do with forever, so there is so much more story to come. I will be going on a hiatus for a number of weeks, but please please stick around. I’ll probably give status updates on my tumblr and my twitter @jamiemackfraser when I return, and if you’re subscribed to the story on AO3 then you won’t miss anything. (I’m guessing mid/late July I'll be back?)

After my hiatus, there will be a couple of “ficlets”, basically some scattered stories that take place between arc II and III, and then arc III will pick up. But don’t worry, it’ll all be right here in this work so it’s easy to find!

Finally, I like to post a bit of commentary after each arc. You can find it on my tumblr. It has some interesting tidbits and I hope you’ll check it out. Thank you so very much for reading, all you lovely people, and I’ll see you in a little while! <3

***

58 notes · View notes

artaefact · 4 years

Text

bakery 1995.

—wordcount: 14.7k+

—genre: angst, fluff, romance, baker!jimin, bakery cafe au, childhood friends-to-lovers au

—pairing: park jimin x f reader ft. bestfriend!jungkook

—rating: pg-15

—warnings: age gap (jimin is 4-5 years older), brief mention of physical assault, memory loss, overprotective parents, some intended grammatical mistakes, swearings, y/n is dragged into jungkook’s shenanigans

—summary: After returning from college for summer break, you got yourself a part time job to keep yourself busy. However, things go way too unexpectedly and you find yourself unraveling your forgotten past.

author’s note: this is for @btswritingcafe promptly yours event !! i tweaked the prompt a bit, so hopefully no one would get confused! happy reading ♡

Prompt: “Person A once had a major childhood crush on Person B. Fast forward to college where Person A is convinced it was nothing but temporary, that is until they return home for summer break to find Person B back after being gone for several years. Turns out, they weren’t such temporary feelings.”

It’s nice to know that no matter how judgemental the world can be, pigeons would never judge you. Despite the clear contrast between yourself and the asphalt pathway, they would not hesitate to excrete waste on either of them and can’t even be bothered by the possible consequences.

Staring at the dropping on your jacket sleeve, you exhale loudly while rummaging your pocket for a kleenex.

‘Out of all the places where their shit could have landed on, it had to be MY jacket,’ you grumble to yourself.

Reaching towards the bakery in the area, you hope they still have some cinnamon rolls you have been craving for. You can already imagine yourself humming in delight as the sweetness spreads across your taste buds and—

“You have got to be kidding me.”

The cashier attendee bows apologetically at you. “We’re so sorry, all the cinnamon rolls are sold out for today.”

Today must be the worst day to date in your entire years of existence. How on earth can a bakery run out of cinnamon rolls?

Groaning internally, you trudge out of the, now, third bakery that has sold out their cinnamon rolls.

Bad luck seems to follow you throughout the day. Is it because you went out of the house while your parents were in the middle of nagging you? For the last few days after you came back home for summer break, they have been constantly nagging you and you would kill to have an hour of peace and quiet.

Mindlessly, you whip up your phone and search up on Google while you walk to the nearby bus station, typing in the search bar — is it bad luck if a bird pooped on you?

Biting your lower lip, you press on the first link that appears on the screen.

Bird poop may be a sign of hope in disguise, you read. Snorting in incredulity, you scroll through the webpage.

It can’t be good luck.

You are not the type to believe in superstitions, however, besides getting pooped on, you dropped your phone on the pavement of the sidewalk just before you reached the first bakery, an hour ago. This resulted in the annoying crack of the screen right in the middle of it. Not only that, the sole of your right tennis shoes came off halfway which hindered you from walking properly and made you look like someone who hurt their leg.

Having had enough for today, you decide to go back home. Until a pastel pink store, right across the street, catches your attention with its aesthetic-looking door.

What’s this? A new—

A dramatic gasp escapes your lips after reading the name of the store, earning confused stares from nearby people. But you couldn’t care less.

Maybe Lady Luck does still care about you.

As soon as the pedestrian light turns green, you excitedly run, no, shuffle through the zebra-cross, reaching the newly-opened bakery.

My last hope is here. Please, let there be—

The interior of the bakery exudes a welcoming vibe, with the color of pale pink being the dominant over the whole place. Basically, it's a place where those Instagram models would kill to take their pictures at. However, it’s not the interior itself that your focus locks on. When the smell of freshly baked goods wafts into your nose, your eyes zero themselves on the various types of pastries that line the display counter, covered in glass domes. And there it is.

“Yes!” You squeal, grabbing the bakery tray to fill it as much as you’d like.

When you place the filled tray in the cash register counter, the cashier comments, “Woah, that’s a lot.”

If it is a normal day, you would have waved it off. However, unfortunately for the guy, it isn’t a normal day for you, after the constant annoying incidents that happened to you earlier. The comment snaps the last thread of patience you have for the day and sadly, targets the person in front of you. “I think you should mind your own—”

You take your thoughts back. Lady Luck is not on your side nor is the universe. They must be having fun, playing pranks on you so much today.

Your words cease immediately at his sheepish yet attractive smile.

“I-I’m sorry,” you stammer. “Just having a really bad day and I—”

“No! That’s okay.” The guy grins at you, eyes turning into crescent moons. “I’m the one who should be sorry, I just said the first thing that came up in my mind.”

“Ah...”

“I suck at starting conversations,” he says, sheepishly. “It’s a skill I’m planning to improve.”

Blinking twice, you manage to smile back at him, most probably just a cringed expression. “Well, um, good luck with that.”

As soon as he hands you the paper bag, you dash out of the bakery, not once looking back.

Your cheeks feel hot during the whole trip back home, every time you remember what happened, you would mentally kick yourself.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

Eating the warm cinnamon rolls is a blessing and a curse.

You have never tasted such heavenly flavour before, all your worries and exhaustion seem to fade away. This brings you to freeze in the realisation that you’ll want, no, need to go back to that bakery to buy those delicious rolls again. Meaning, you’ll see that cute guy whom you snapped at earlier, again.

His friendly eye-smile burns deep in your mind. But you can’t shrug off the sense of familiarity of his face and his voice…

Have I met him before?

Once you reach home, body aching and tired, you take a quick shower before digging into the rolls. Clicking your tongue, you continue to munch on the rolls in your room while your thoughts pull you in deep.

The sudden knock on your door, however, brings you back to the present. Groaning loudly, you stand up from your padded window seat.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Jungkook.”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Your mouth agape at the sudden visit from your best friend. “Didn’t you say you won’t see me at all until break is over?”

“I might have changed my mind. I was very bored at home.” He enters your room, plopping on your beanbag. “So, now I am bored as hell and— Did you buy food without telling me?”

You met him during freshman year and you both hit it off quite quickly, you might add. After constantly pairing up together in projects, college project meetups gradually turned into hangouts.

“Says the one who claims to see my face every day makes him sick.” You roll your eyes at his dramatic ass, you go back to the window seat, crossing your legs. “It wasn’t planned, okay? I just got back home like thirty minutes ago.”

“But still you nearly finished everything without leaving me much!” He bit your last half-finished roll, letting out a noise of approval. “Which bakery did you buy it from?”

“It’s a new one. I never saw it before we went to college.”

“You should bring me there soon.”

“Nu-uh,” you refuse. “You can go yourself. I am not stepping a foot inside that place any longer.”

“What? Why not?”

“I may have embarrassed myself in front of the worker there.” Then you tell him what happened earlier.

Jungkook shakes his head in pity. “My poor Y/N, how do you always embarrass yourself when I’m not around? How would you survive in this world without me?”

Snorting at his words, you lean against the pillows on your back. “You’re the lucky one to have someone like me as his best friend. Anyways, how about that job I’m looking for?”

“Oh!” Jungkook’s eyes lit up. “Right, I was about to tell you! My friend is looking for a part-timer for his cafe.”

“Hmm, that sounds…”

Jungkook answers, “Boring? I know you’re looking for something much more exciting and—”

Narrowing your stare at Jungkook’s obvious judgmental face, you cut him off. “It sounds perfect, actually.”

Sighing, Jungkook whips up his phone. “You better bring me leftovers every time you get off work. I’ll bring you to his cafe tomorrow.”

“You’re kidding me.”

“What? Why?”

“You little shit—” You smack his arm.

“Ow! Stop that, woman! I thought you said—”

“This is a fucking bakery, dumbass!” You hiss at him.

Jungkook gapes at you. “It’s a bakery cafe, what’s the difference?”

“It’s different! I can’t go back in there!” You whine in embarrassment.

“Wait— So this is the bakery where you embarrassed yourself?”

Nodding wordlessly, you exhale before catching Jungkook failing to stifle his laughter. “Shouldn’t be too big of a problem. He’s nice, Y/N.”

“But—”

“And I told him you were coming…” Jungkook scratches the back of his head.

After contemplating for a while, you decided to gather your courage and enter the sweet-smelling bakery with Jungkook.

Too late to go back now. It was either this or staying bored at home for the rest of the summer break, facing your parents’ look of disapproval at your lack of daily activities, or to be more exact productivity.

The cute guy just finished placing cakes inside the glass displays on the counter, then his gaze shifts to where you and Jungkook are standing.

“Jungkook!” The cute guy’s brown hair is slicked back as he takes off his baker’s hat, approaching your best friend.

“It’s been so long, Hyung!” Jungkook greets back with a hug, smiling from ear to ear. “And wow—” His eyes skim through the pastel-themed cafe. “You finally opened your own cafe.”

Watching them interacting is a foreign sight to you. It’s a rare right to see Jungkook, the usually shy one, so friendly and comfortable around the cute guy.

If you’re lucky enough, maybe the cute guy won’t remember you and—

“Ah! Miss Cinnamon Rolls!”

Scratch that. Of course, he still remembers you.

“I didn’t know you were looking for a job.” His eye smile lands on you finally and your throat dries up.

Jungkook fails to hold back his laughter. “Miss Cinnamon Rolls? Just how much did you buy last time?”

After sending a brief glare at your best friend, you introduce yourself to the cute guy, “Y/N.”

As soon as your name slips past your lips, the cute guy freezes momentarily, eyes widening a fraction. “Y/N?”

You nod slowly.

“Uh,” He fumbles. “Jimin. Park Jimin.”

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

“So, this is the kitchen area. We need to get the place ready by 8:30. Can you come by at 6 the latest?”

You nod at his question.

“We have a different menu each day. It will take some time for you to learn everything. But don’t worry I’ll teach everything you need to know.” He shoots you a smile, sending your heart to slightly flutter as you fiddle with your fingers.

Thank goodness Jungkook has left. Or else you’d never hear the end of his teasing or knowing smirk.

“I’m starting with bread and cakes these past few days before I open up the cafe section.”

For the rest of the day, Jimin spends his time letting you know everything about how the bakery runs whenever there are no customers. Even gracing you with two pieces of freshly-baked cinnamon rolls which made your cheeks burn in embarrassment at the memory of your first encounter.

“Go ahead, enjoy it,” Jimin shoots you a knowing grin.

Muttering a quiet ‘okay’, you take the first bite — holding a delighted groan at the sweetness that bursts through your tastebuds.

Propping his chin on his hand, he stares at you in amusement. “You must really like cinnamon rolls, huh?”

“They’re my comfort food,” you admit after swallowing down a piece. “My late grandmother used to make a lot of rolls at home.”

“I see… Well, have you ever baked before, Y/N?”

“The basic stuff like chocolate chip cookies…”

“Oh, that’s great—”

You added quickly, “But I nearly burned down Jungkook’s kitchen, though. He banned me from the kitchen ever since.”

A surprised laugh escapes the man’s lips which you don’t mind hearing more often, especially if you are the one behind it.

“At least the cookies still turned out great. It was a bit on the burnt side but still good… Crispy and crunchy.” You nervously chuckle. “But I swear, I’m not that bad if you provide a clear recipe!”

Still giggling, Jimin leans forward on his seat. “I can teach you everything you need to know. The basic stuff on baking and then there would be clear recipes I can provide you.”

Your eyes lighten up at that. “Yes! I’ll try my best.”

Arriving at the bakery at 6 am sharp, the next day — your official first day at work — Jimin can be seen moving back and forth from the small window opening connecting the kitchen and the bakery itself, already busy in the kitchen.

The smell of his work wafts through the entire bakery, indicating that he has been there for quite some time. Once you enter the kitchen, your mouth waters instinctively at the smell and sight of freshly-baked breads on the counter.

“How can I help?” From observing the finished baked goods, your eyes shift curiously at some ingredients — eggs, chocolate chips, sugar, flour — on the kitchen counter while you tighten the knot of your apron.

“You’re going to bake some chocolate chip cookies.” Jimin places a tray full of another different set of bread near the first one through the window. “So, go ahead, preheat the oven first.”

Following his instruction, you move towards one of the ovens. “Um…”

The corner of his lips quirks up at your obvious confusion before he chimes on how hot the oven should be set on.

With a brief nod, you turn on the oven. “Is this a test to see how far my baking skills go?” When you take a glimpse of the honey-haired man, he returns it with an amused grin of his own.

“Bingo.” Jimin’s smile is boyish and carefree and his eyes become crescent moons.

In other words, it made your heart race. However, you dismiss such unprofessional thoughts quickly before blood rises to your cheeks.

Clearing your throat, you move to the counter and start mixing the necessary ingredients altogether and set the dough on the baking tray. When the oven is preheated, you bring the tray towards it only to realise your mistake too late: not opening the oven first.

“Let me help,” Jimin says softly, opening the oven deftly.

“T-Thanks...” you mumble, concentrating on the task at hand.

Time passes quickly, before you know it, the oven makes a soft ‘ting’ sound. Opening it, the sweet smell wafts through the kitchen.

“I did it!” you say, excitedly placing the hot tray on the marble counter.

“But the final test is how the cookies taste.”

You watch in nervous anticipation as Jimin pops one of the cookies into his mouth. Not a moment later, he lets out a surprised sound.

“This is really good, Y/N. You do have the talent to bake.”

You beam at his words.

“Since that’s all set, I believe we still have other kinds of pastries to prepare for the day. I have all the recipes prepared for you here.” He motions to the notebook on the counter — you flip through it, astonished at all the recipes.

“Are these your own personalised recipes?”

Nodding, Jimin shoots you a grin. “I’ve always loved baking and there are some ways to make things with their own unique taste.”

The rest of the upcoming hour, you and Jimin were busy baking with Jimin instructing and giving you pointers. At some point, you even talked about anything and everything, as if you both have known each other all your life while you both work.

You have to admit, you find it really enjoyable. When the bakery closes, you sit quietly on one of the empty tables near the cashier after Jimin tells you to wait.

Mindlessly flipping through his recipe notebook, your attention soon shifts to Jimin himself with a steaming cup in his hold.

“Here.” He sets the cup in front of you.

You look at him quizzically before he motions for you to try.

“I’m opening the cafe part next week,” Jimin says. “Thought you can be the first to judge my caramel macchiato.”

“That’s a lot of caramel in one drink…” For a few moments, you observe the steaming coffee, froth decorates the top of it with drizzles of caramel in patterns of criss-cross nearly covering most of the foam itself. “Why caramel macchiato, though?”

“I thought you’d—” He clears his throat. “So many people really love caramel macchiato. So, I thought I’d go with this one for you to try first.”

Bringing the cup carefully to your lips, you take a sip of the beverage. The texture of the coffee is so smooth and the slight bitterness spreads through your taste buds and down your throat. Then you taste the caramel, letting out a delighted surprise when you find caramel bits inside the beverage.

Jimin keeps his stare on you, one hand supporting his chin and his eyes unreadable.

“What is it?” You ask, after downing the drink.

He blinks as if he was lost in his own thoughts. “Uh, how is it?”

“It’s very good.”

“Do you like coffee?” He asks.

Nodding, you tell him you loved to steal your mom’s coffee when you were younger. “There used to be a cafe near my place. I used to go there frequently during my high school years.”

Jimin briefly stills at yours words. “Do you... Still go there?”

You shake your head. “It was closed two years ago unfortunately.”

“Hmm, that’s a shame. I would’ve wanted to try the coffee there.”

Chuckling at his words, your mind takes you back to your high school days. “It was really good.”

Humming to yourself, you continue to flip through the pages of Jimin’s recipe notebook. “What’s this?” You stop at one page, pointing at a child’s drawing on his recipe notebook. “Did you draw it when you were younger?”

“It’s a shooting star.” Jimin answers. “And, no. I didn’t.”

“Oh? Sister? Brother?”

“I don’t have a sister and my brother just does not have the artistic skill to draw that,” he laughs. “It was someone from my past. Someone who is precious to me.”

“Oh…” Noticing his faraway gaze on the notebook, you sense it is a sensitive topic. “Why a shooting star though?”

“It represents hopes and wishes, according to her.” His smile turns nostalgic. “I was having a hard time back then. But this girl,” he chuckles as if in disbelief. “— just straight up grabbed my notebook and drew a shooting star on it, saying I should wish on this star since seeing a shooting star is not that common here.”

There’s something sad but warm in Jimin’s tone as he talks about this girl. You can only assume that this girl is not in his life anymore. Or even in this world.

“I see…”

“As ridiculous as it sounds, I actually did it. Very frequently in all honesty. Whenever I’m having a hard time, I’d wish upon that star.”

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

A week passes quickly and just like a normal day, you arrive back home just a quarter past eight. Tugging off your shoes near the doorway, you hear your dad calling from the living room.

“Yes?” Mindlessly, you step into the living room only to meet the stern glare from him.

“Where were you?” Your dad asks. “Do you have any idea what time it is now?”

“It’s around eight...”

“And your curfew?”

Furrowing your brows, you gape, “I thought that was back in high school.”

“That still applies until now. I expect you to come back before seven.” Then he repeats his question, “Where were you?”

“From my new part-time place.” You answer. “I thought I told you about it.”

“If you want a job, you can intern in the company for the summer,” your dad sighs. “There’s no need for part-time jobs.”

You should have known it would last just three days before you are missing your university life, or to be more specific living alone. With the constant nagging from your parents, you crave for silence for a period of time. One thing you have been missing quite badly you have to admit, which is why you took the job in the bakery. Away from the scrutinising stares of your parents.

Here it goes again.

“I don’t think I’m ready to start there, Dad,” you exhale. “I want to do other things while I can.”

The same topic, the same debate you’d try to avoid as much as possible ever since you arrived back home for the summer. That was why you’d try to find something else to do. You always wanted to try a new hobby over the holidays. Now, with the excess amount of time in your hands, you are able to try.

That is why you opt for the part time job Jungkook found — working in the bakery.

“This isn’t going to work if you get home after your curfew, Y/N. You know how dangerous it is if you come home late.”

“I’m an adult now,” you reply, exasperatedly. “I can take care—”

“Things can get unpredictable, Y/N. It’s better that you’re safe than sorry.”

“Dad, when will you stop reminding me of that?” You groan in annoyance. “I don’t even remember how the accident happened.”

“The more reason for you to be cautious!”

Exasperated, you storm up to your room and carelessly throw your bag on the side of your bed. Laying on your back, you stare at the ceiling as your thoughts muddle when you try to think of what happened.

All you remember back then is that you woke up in the hospital, met with the worried gaze of your parents as soon as you got your consciousness back. However, they never tell or fill you in on what happened.

Gradually, your eyelids grow heavier — exhausted from the day and the burst of negative emotions over the argument you had earlier. Thus, you succumb to sleep. However, your mind takes you elsewhere.

Everything is dark.

With your own ragged breathing, you struggle to keep yourself as quiet as possible, biting down a hiss from the sting of your scraped knees. Tears pool in your eyes as you wait, hidden behind one of the playground’s slides and out of sight of any possible passerby.

There are no memories of what happened beforehand. All you know is to stay there and wait.

“Y/N?”

Peeking out of your hiding place, the figure draws closer calling your name in another hushed whisper.

But you knew this voice. So, you whispered back, “Here...” As soon as you get out of your hiding place, a warm embrace envelops your small frame.

“We’re okay, everything’s okay. I’ve lost them. We’re safe now,” he whispers, stroking your head softly while your fists clench on his shirt.

Not a moment later, your tears start to fall and you sob into his shirt. He tightens his hold on you, one hand on the back of your head as he repeatedly whispers, “It’s okay, I’m here.”

“I’m here...” His voice then seems to echo and your surrounding becomes a blur.

When you open your eyes, you realise you’re back in your room yet there are stray tears in your eyes. Sitting up on your bed, you take a few deep breaths to calm yourself.

Was that a memory…?

“Have a good day.” You bid the last customer of the day farewell and once they leave, your cheeks droop into a frown. With a sigh, you walk out of the cashier register place towards the front door, turning the ‘Open’ plate to ‘Close’.

The dream you had last night still felt so vivid that you considered it was a flashback of your memory loss. You wanted to ask your parents about it. However, yesterday’s conflict was still fresh. You were sure they would dismiss it.

After cleaning up the counters of the bakery café and mopping the floors, you trudge into the break room, sitting down on one of its chairs as you wait for Jimin’s return from his “errand”.

Your mind takes you back to the dream where someone was hugging you tight.

Who was it? you wonder. In the back of your mind, somehow you never felt his warmth among your high school friends. The guy who was holding you is just different.

You are so deep in your thoughts that you didn’t realise Jimin entering until he brings something right in front of your face. “What—”

“Hot chocolate,” he answers, softly. “You seem distracted today, I thought this might cheer you up.”

Taking the steaming cup from him, you mutter your thanks before breathing in the sweet smell, blowing softly on the beverage. “That was fast.”

“Hmm?”

“Wait, did you go out to buy this?” You lift the warm cup of hot chocolate.

Jimin lets out an embarrassed chuckle. “I wanted to make you one. Until I realised that the ingredients are finished. So, I had to run out.”

“You didn’t have to, you know…”

“I know. But I wanted to anyway.”

Your eyes look down, can’t help feeling touched by his sweet gesture as you fight back to keep yourself from blushing.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He must have noticed the change of your expression before he says quickly, “Only if you’re comfortable, of course! I just thought talking about what’s on your mind can ease you. At least a bit.”

Blinking your eyes twice, a chuckle escapes your lips. “I guess so.”

“That’s your first smile today.”

You raise a brow at him.

“Your first real smile, I mean. Your cheekbones do not have much tension if you’re genuinely happy whereas if you fake a smile, it seems more like you’re cringing. Like our first encounter.” He chuckles, meaningfully.

“I’m sorry...” you mumble, eyes glancing down at the steaming hot chocolate on your lap.

“That’s fine,” he says easily. “Everyone has their bad days.”

You smile slightly at his words. “Had a fight with my parents last night.”

Jimin stays quiet, still listening to you.

“They are always so protective when it comes to me. Maybe a bit too much at times. I’m a grown adult for fuck’s sake.” Another sigh escapes your lips before taking a sip of the hot chocolate. “My dad especially. He made it sound like a big deal when I came home around eight. I’m just frustrated at this.”

“Have you talked to him about it?”

You nod in response.

“Was there something that made your dad feel that way?”

“I...” You blink. “I guess it’s because that one time I ended up in the hospital?”

“You did?”

You nod. “A few years ago, I had an accident.”

Jimin stiffens at your words. “Oh?”

“But it was nothing. I didn’t even remember what happened in all honesty.”

He stutters, “W-What?”

“I lost my memories. I had no recall of the accident at all.” Eyes training blankly on your front, focusing on nothing as you dive back into your memories. “My parents told me there is nothing to worry about and my memories would come back gradually. They never filled me in on what happened too.”

The corner of his lips soon quirks up slightly, his expression wistful. “Maybe they wouldn’t want you to be traumatised by what happened. It’s already fortunate enough for you to be able to recover from your head injury.”

“Yeah... I guess so,” you mumble.

However, since that incident you can’t deny the feeling of something missing since a chunk of your life has been cut off. No memories of the accident have returned even after years. Recovering from the head injury—

“Wait—” Head snapping to face Jimin. “How did you know I had a head injury?”

Jimin blinks repeatedly, as if your words just sink in. “Ah! I mean isn’t it a head injury? You lost your memories after all.�� An awkward laugh escapes his lips. “Usually, people who lost their memories have head injuries, right?”

“Well, yeah...”

“Anyways, finish the hot chocolate and you should head home before your parents—”

Suddenly, a wave of deja vu washes over you. Snapping your gaze from the hot chocolate in your hands, you look at Jimin as your brain starts to grow fuzzy at the familiarity of Jimin’s words.

“Jimin...” you begin.

“Huh?”

“Have we ever met before I started working here?”

“You mean the first time you came into this bakery?”

You shake your head. “No, even before that. Did we know each other?”

A surprised glint appears in his eyes before it dissipates as quick as it appears. “I don’t think so…?”

Oh.

“Maybe we’ve just ran into each other at some point in town. But I don’t think we ever knew each other.”

“I see...” Disappointment floods through you at his words.

Right, you thought to yourself. If he was a close friend he would have recognised you instantly when you came to his bakery.

“Oh, look at the time.” Jimin stands up. “You need to be home before dark, right?”

“It’s not a big deal—”

He shakes his head. “It’s alright. You’ve finished cleaning today. I just need to close up and check the supplies.”

“But—” Your words die in your throat when Jimin pats your head.

“You’ve worked hard today,” he grins at you.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

“I’m home,” you call out to no one in particular before you hear your mother from the kitchen.

Once you reach the kitchen, your mother turns her head to see you. “Help me set the table, dinner’s almost ready.”

Nodding, you follow suit. “Where’s Dad?”

“Your father is still caught in a meeting. He’ll be home late.”

“I see,” you mutter, placing the silverwares on the table.

“How’s work?” your mother asks. “You’re home earlier than usual.”

“It’s great,” you answer. “The boss lets me off early.”

And you continue to talk about your day. From helping Jimin bake cakes and bread early in the morning, serving customers coffee and desserts, cleaning up the whole place, and enjoying the hot chocolate Jimin bought you earlier.

“He sounds like a nice guy,” your mom muses when you both sit at the dinner table.

“He is.” A smile appears on your face, remembering his sweet gesture and warm presence. Then your mind shifts to the conversation you had earlier, and what has been bothering you lately. “Mom?”

“Hmm…?”

“Five years ago, how did I end up in the hospital?”

Your mother noticeably stiffens at your question, ceases digging through her plate of food.

“You and Dad never filled me in. You both kept on saying that my memories will return eventually… Until now actually.” You let out a breath. “I think I’m old enough to know what really happened.”

Letting out a deep breath herself, your mother puts down her fork. “What do you remember?”

“I was at a playground and hiding… Then there’s someone who came to find me.” Met with silence from your mother, you continue, “Was it one of my friends?”

Shaking her head, your mother answers, “It wasn’t any of your high school friends.”

“Then who…?”

“You never mentioned his name. But you’d always talk about him back then.” Your mother sighs. “Go through the attic when you’re having a day off. You’ll find some of your old stuff I hid there. Make sure your father is not home.”

Standing up, you want to go there at once. However, your mother stops you. “Y/N, listen to me. Whatever you find there, if you… If anything hurts or feels just too much, I want you to stop, alright? You’re a grown adult and I trust you’ll prioritise your own health.”

Nodding wordlessly, you finish the remaining food on your plate.

[ when you were fifteen years old: after the incident ]

When the dismissal bell rings, some students instantly scramble from their desks, some stretch lazily on their seats and have conversations with others.

“Hey, Y/N.” One of your classmates calls you, a smile etched on her face. “So glad to have you back.”

“Yeah! This sem has been a pain in the ass. You’ll get through it in a breeze!” Another classmate adds.

You respond with a grateful smile of your own before packing up your things.

It hasn’t been that long since you were released from the hospital. You have persistently insisted your parents to let you go back to school and they finally relented after you promised them that you’ll go straight back home and to not strain yourself after dismissing your parents’ idea of hiring a driver.

Today is your first day back. Your friends greeted you excitedly when you stepped into the classroom. Even those who you recall never talked much with you greeted you with a ‘Hi’.

Walking mindlessly through the streets of your neighbourhood, your legs take you to a cafe as you recognise the familiar scent of coffee.

Tilting your head in confusion, you stare at the cafe building in shades of black and brown.

What exactly are you doing here?

There were no planned meetups with your friends, yet, your body seems to find its way here. Fishing out your phone, you scan through the past messages to double check any planned hangouts.

It’s a Wednesday.

But…

With the curiosity nagging inside you, you search for Beomgyu’s contact.

[ 4:05 PM ] You: beomie, do you know the cafe near my place?

[ 4:05 PM ] Beomgyu: i guess?? Every wednesday you'd always go there for no apparent reason at all. When i wanted to tag along you’d always give me the devil eye :(

[ 4:05 PM ] You: oh… that’s… well, sorry lol. Do u wanna come here?

[ 4:06 PM ] Beomgyu: wait, r u srs ???

[ 4:06 PM ] You: i mean if u’re not busy and i think getting coffee and hanging in the cafe would be good.

[ 4:07 PM ] Beomgyu: i'd never thought this day would come :’) i’ll be there in 10.

Chuckling at your friend’s response, you place your phone back into your pocket. Exhaling, you enter the cafe and make your way towards the cashier register.

“Welcome, what would you like for today?” The person smiles at you.

“Caramel macchiato, please.”

She nods, typing in your order. “That will be four dollars.”

After exchanging your payment with a receipt, you wait at an empty table for two near the window. Something about this familiar place, however, feels off. Like there is something missing that you can’t seem to put your finger on.

Your thoughts are cut off when someone takes the seat across from you. “Why are you so deep in thought?”

Beomgyu stares at you quizzically as you blink in realisation. “Uh…”

He narrows his stare at you suspiciously before shifting his gaze around the cafe. “So, what is it that kept you going here?”

You shake your head in response. “I have no idea either. Honestly, I have this gut feeling to come here when I passed by earlier.”

“Hmm, maybe the coffee?” Beomgyu watches one of the waitresses bringing your orders, placing it on your table.

Sighing, you stare at the steaming cup with caramel drizzles on the foam for a few moments. Then you bring the cup to your lips to take a sip.

“Argh, why is this bitter?” Scrunching your nose, you motion towards the waitress for extra caramel.

“Did… Your taste buds change too? You said the caramel macchiato here is perfect.”

A snort escapes you as you drizzle more caramel into the coffee. “I got hit in the damn head, Beomie. It doesn’t change my taste buds.”

He shrugs. “Well, who knows. I never knew you like caramel that much.”

You freeze momentarily.

“Y/N? You okay?” Beomgyu waves a hand in front of your face.

“Y-yeah, I just…”

“You just…?”

Shaking your head once more, you whisper, “It’s nothing…” But your eyes scan through the busy workers in the cafe.

Deep inside, you had an inkling that the coffee here isn’t your sole reason for coming here.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

Turns out you were right.

Once when you came into the cafe on another Wednesday, you sat at your usual place after ordering your usual drink.

“Oh, my dear, you’re finally back,” someone says.

Blinking, your gaze snaps to the elder woman — maybe around her mid fifties — and you give her a small smile before asking, “Do I know you...?”

It was her turn to look confused at your words.

“I’m really sorry for not recognising!” You grow flustered at your words. “I lost my memory in an accident a few months ago...”

“Oh, that’s awful!” The lady — a regular customer, you assume — gasps. “So that’s why you don’t frequent this cafe anymore. The young man looked so heartbroken before he quit his job—”

“Young man?”

“The barista, dear,” the lady replies. “You used to come here and meet him. I had to shush the both of you every time to not disturb the other customers.”

“I... Was he from my school?”

The lady shakes her head. “I don’t think so. He never wore a uniform like yours.”

“Do you know his name?”

The lady shakes her head once more. “His name was Park. Probably that’s his last name. At least that’s what is written on his name tag.”

And you internally groan. There are thousands of people with that last name.

“Do you know where he’s gone?”

“I’m afraid no, my dear. I heard he quit the job suddenly.”

Sighing, you thanked the lady before heading out of the cafe with your shoulders dropping in defeat.

The trapdoor makes a loud creaking sound when you lift it up, indicating that it hasn’t been used for a very long time. Slipping the key back to your back pocket, you step up further on the ladder with the trap door laying on another side as you go through it while the floorboards creak underneath your weight.

It didn’t take you long to locate your old things. Scanning through the boxes, you find one doodled in various flowers and rainbows with your name written on it as well.

With a grunt, you lift up the dusty box, bringing it down to the floor with a thud which causes you to cough at the flying dust. In an attempt to swat the dust away, you wave your hand in front of you. Still coughing uncontrollably with your eyes watering. After your cough ceases, you crouch and open the box. A few notebooks can be found inside along with some old dolls from your childhood.

You vaguely remember the locked diary you liked to write in about your day and its pale pink cover which was covered in sparkling stickers you used to be obsessed with.

Digging further through the books, you finally found it — the possible answer to your lost memories — with a small key dangling on the lock.

Climbing down from the attic, you made your way to your room while fumbling with the lock and key of your old diary. After successfully unlocking it, you take a seat on your padded window sill, flipping through the yellowing pages.

The first page was clearly written by you. Your old handwriting and your name. The first entry you wrote dates back to a decade ago.

Your fingers twitch at how cringe-y most of the entries are. Yet, at the same time you find it endearing how you used to write about your day. The good, the bad, and the normal things — appreciating just to be able to experience and get through them.

The last of your entries date back to months before the incident when you were fifteen. Probably because you decided that you were too old to write diaries any longer.

Recalling how you’d always visit the cafe every Wednesday, you skim through Wednesday entries. However one particular name seems to stand out in those entries.

“Mochi?” You flip from one entry to another. Who the hell is that?

Deciding to get to the bottom of this, you search for the earliest entry that you can find — nine years ago.

I met the hot choco guy again, today. I’m feeling so happy!!! He is so nice. why can’t any of the boys in my school be like him????

Hot... Choco? Furrowing your brows, you skip to the next Wednesday entry.

i am feeling so happy that mama brought me to the cafe last last week!!! she do not let me drink the coffee drink, so Mochi give me hot choco! i think it’s the best BEST drink EVER!!!

“How the hell did hot choco guy turn into Mochi?” you mumble to yourself, flipping through your diary to the next Wednesday entry.

Mochi teached me how to do math!!! It was so fun! But when Teacher Lee teaches me, it’s always boring. How did Mochi make math fun??? I wish he go to my school instead and teach me math :(

You internally cringe at your younger self. Exhaling, you press your temple in disbelief.

This whole diary of your younger self is basically gushing over this hot-choco-turned-Mochi guy as you flip through other pages. However, you stop at a certain entry.

Today… Is a very bad day. But Mochi suddenly makes it better.

Glancing at the date — it was the day your grandmother passed away.

He promises to make me cinnamon rolls whenever i tell him to! Just like Grannie… I’m sorry, Diary. I don’t think i can write more today. I just hope tomorrow will be a better day.

“Mochi…” you mumble repeatedly with furrowing brows and the name seems to trigger your brain to relive some memories.

“I’m calling you Mochi!” You hear your own twelve-year old voice. Yelping, your diary lands on the floor with a small thud.

“No!” Another voice rings in your head — familiar and warm. “That’s a really uncool nickname.”

“But you look like a mochi! And it’s not uncool! I think it’s really cute!”

Blinking, your mind brings you back to reality. Reaching down for your diary, you freeze momentarily before clutching your head. For a moment, your heart stops when your gaze lands on your diary’s open page — a drawing of a familiar shooting star.

Mochi is… Jimin?

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

[ when you were twelve ]

When another sigh escaped his lips, you glanced up from your math workbook — his face can only be described as perturbed. With no hesitance, you quietly pushed the last cookie on your plate to him, earning his glassy stare as it shifted from his notebook that’s lying open on the table.

He blinked a few times before clearing his throat. “Why didn’t you finish that? Do you want to bring it home?”

You shook your head, heat tinging your cheeks. “It’s for you. You look like you need it.”

“It’s caramel cookies.”

Nodding, you mumbled, “You said eating it can comfort people.”

The boy stared at you for a moment longer — recalling the time when you had a bad day and he gave you that, then he chuckled. “I guess I did.”

Pursing your lips, you nodded again. “I can order hot chocolate for you too.”

He reached for the last cookie, finally a small smile you have awaited appearing on his face. “This is enough, Y/N. I really appreciate it. Thanks.”

You beamed at his words, then you extended one hand to take his notebook and draw a shooting star on the page it was opened on.

“We can’t really see shooting stars in here,” you explain, pushing his notebook back to him. “So, whenever you’re having a hard time, wish on this shooting star! It represents hopes and wishes!”

“What that’s—” He stopped himself. Letting out a sigh, he found himself nodding despite how ridiculously endearing the idea was. “Alright. I will.”

The blare of your alarm jolts you awake. Groaning, you grab your phone, turning off the alarm when you realise you have to go to work. You can’t find it in yourself to see Jimin today. Not after finding out that he was, is, part of your missing childhood memories.

Your gaze lands on the diary, laying open on your window sill. As you read more and more of your diary entries, Mochi being Jimin just makes sense. You remember how he went out of his way just to buy you hot chocolate when you were having a bad day — just like in the past.

After all this time, Jimin is actually part of, no, in most of your childhood life.

And he denied it.

Why?

You continuously drift back to that one question. Why did he deny it when you asked him? Don’t people usually love to get reacquainted with their childhood friends?

Sighing, you message Jimin listlessly, telling him you aren’t feeling well before you turn off your phone completely. You don’t think you can handle interacting more with him.

Hours passed, when someone barges in your room. “Y/N!”

Peeking out from your blanket, you glare at your best friend. “What the fuck, Kook?”

“Jimin told me you aren’t feeling well. So, I came to check up on you.”

“Okay, you did. Now, go back home.”

Without responding, he opens the curtain in your room, letting in the piercing sunlight and you let out an annoyed ‘tsk’.

Should have known your best friend isn’t going to let this go easily.

“What’s wrong with you? You’ve been off the whole weekend. You may be able to trick Jimin but you can’t trick me.”

Still burying yourself under your blanket, the bed dips on your friend’s weight as he waits for your response. But you keep your silence, trying your best to even your breathing. You’ve cried enough after all.

“Hmm?” Jungkook stands up. “What’s this? Your diary?”

Abruptly, you fling yourself off the bed and grab your diary from his clutches.

“Go home, Jungkook. I’m not in the mood to deal with this.”

“You know I won’t until you tell me what’s going on.”

“I’m just...” Your shoulders droop in defeat. “Why?”

“Why what?”

You hate crying in front of anyone. But it’s as if a dam broke, your tears do not stop falling while you babble, “Why did he pretend to not know me? Why did he deny? Why—”

Jungkook blinks repeatedly at your sudden change. “W-wait! Why are you crying? I don’t under—”

“Park Jimin!” Your sudden outburst flusters him further. “The guy who you’re friends with and who you recommended for me to work with! That’s who!”

“But—”

“He‘s Mochi.”

Jungkook looks dumbfounded for a moment before your words register inside his head. “M-Mochi?”

Like a petulant child, you climb on your bed once more and hide your diary beneath your pillow. “Leave me alone, Kook.”

With a defeated sigh, Jungkook trudges out of your room, leaving you once again drowning in your thoughts.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

Jimin has always loved mornings, especially when he is able to quietly bake on what most people would call ungodly hours. There is something enjoyable about being fully awake during this time when no sounds of passing vehicles can distract him, making him feel at ease.

He had started appreciating the little things in life when you — who once stared up at him with curious eyes, expression lightening up when he made a cup of hot chocolate for you — taught him to.

Chuckling to himself, his mind drifts back to the time you first entered his bakery. Gods, he should have known it was you. But you were so different, he could hardly comprehend how much you had grown.

Gone was your happy-go-lucky self. He was stunned when you suddenly snapped at him. Your younger self would probably respond with a smile and drone on about how much you love cinnamon rolls. For a second, his heart had hoped. Maybe you remembered him after all these years?

Yet that hope dissipated in an instant when you merely apologised and ran out. Moreover, you didn’t return to his bakery after buying the cinnamon rolls, he thought he had screwed things up by attempting to start a conversation with you. Or maybe that person wasn’t really you. Just someone who looks a lot like you. He still had his suspicions after all.

However, his suspicions were gone the moment you introduced yourself, leaving him speechless. Jimin would be lying if he said he didn’t hope — at least for a bit — that you would remember him when he mentioned his name.

That was why the moment you appeared once more to work as a part-timer, he was ecstatic. No words can explain it.

He started to look forward to work every day — coming to his own bakery to see you even when you didn’t remember him, but he would still gladly take whatever he can to be around you.

Once he sets the tray of unbaked cinnamon rolls into the oven, his phone buzzes. As soon as he reads the text, his heart drops a little.

[ 7:08 AM ] You: Sorry, I cant come to work today. Not feeling well.

He types, ‘That’s okay. get well soon, y/n :)’

But it left undelivered. Did your phone die? He wonders.

Jimin can’t help shake the weird feeling bubbling inside. So, he messages Jungkook.

[ 7:15 AM ] Jimin: y/n isn’t feeling well today. do u mind checking up on her ???

But of course, Jungkook didn’t read the message until a few hours later. That boy enjoys gaming all night.

[ 12:03 PM ] Jungkook: what?

[ 12:03 PM ] Jungkook: for real ?? since when does she get sick? that girl has a fucking high immunity. she never even once got a cold during the semester

Jimin furrowed his brows at that.

[ 12:04 PM ] Jimin: still, go check up on her pls. she’s ur friend too

[ 12:04 PM ] Jungkook: yeah, omw

It hasn’t even been an hour later when Jungkook rushes into the bakery — earning surprised and curious glances from the customers who were chattering among themselves. “Hyung—“ he catches his breath as he stands in front of the counter. “I think you need to fix—“ Huff. “—I mean go to Y/N’s house yourself.

Jimin blinks in confusion.

“You... You’re Mochi, aren’t you?”

At the mention of that name, blood drains from Jimin’s face instantly.

She remembers...?

“How did you—”

“What matters is, you need to fix it, hyung. You’re the only one who can. She’s not herself, right now. I've known her for a few years and it takes a lot for her to react like this. So, please, you should talk about it.”

“Okay,” Jimin breathes out. “Do you mind closing the cafe once the customers are all done?”

Jungkook nods. “Yeah, just go to her, hyung. I’ll handle everything here.”

[ when you were fifteen: before the accident ]

“I wish you can teach me math all the time, Mochi,” you giggle, leaning back on the cafe chair. “Everything is easier when you explain it.”

Jimin chuckles at that. “I’m pretty sure you’re the one not paying attention in class.”

Shaking your head rapidly, you deny, “Of course I paid attention! It’s just... I don’t know… It was really boring when my teacher was teaching. He just drones on and on without stopping.”

With an amused hum, Jimin stands up. “I’ll get ready to leave. I’ll walk you home.”

After a few minutes, you head out of the cafe with Jimin behind you. Shivering against the cool night air, you draw closer to the boy. Instinctively, Jimin offers you his open hand which you accepted with no hesitance.

Little did he know, every time he does this, it makes your heart beat a little faster at the way your hand fits well in his. And you savour it.

The build up of feelings has been going on for a while now. Maybe a few months. You’ve developed a crush on him. Like, how can you not? Jimin possesses charming qualities that no one else has. Not to mention how kind and warm of a person he is.

Meetings in the cafe had you wishing they were dates instead. And you had to let him know.

And tell him you did.

He blinks at first, words sinking into him. Mochi, I think I like you. Like, really, really like you.

His cheeks are pink, you weren’t sure if it's from the cold or his embarrassment.

“I’m sorry.”

Of course. What were you expecting? He only sees you as a little sister.

“No, that’s okay,” you reply quickly, but your heart drops. “It’s just… You know, I wanted to tell you know because you’re really cool, Mochi.”

“Y/N… Listen, this is not a good time—” Abruptly, he stops, catching your wrist on his. “I want you to hide in the playground.”

“What?”

“Hide, please. I will explain everything later.”

You want to run away from him. But the pleading look on his face makes you listen.

“There he is!” You hear an unfamiliar shout.

Cursing under his breath, Jimin quickly pushes you under the slide. “Wait here.”

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

[ Present time ]

Jimin reaches your house, his heart beating fast against his chest with a box of cinnamon rolls in hand.

You are home alone and Jungkook has left the door unlocked.

Letting himself in, Jimin glances around. Everything still looks the same as back then. He went to your house once to tutor you. And he still can remember that day clearly.

Climbing up the stairs, he reaches your room. With shaking hands, he knocks on the door.

Silence.

A moment or two passes then your door opens. Jimin braces for the anger you’d throw at him.

But nothing comes.

You merely stand there, eyes glassy as they lock on his.

“Y/N...” He mutters, torn between to reach out or not. But you leave the door open as you sit on your bed. Jimin enters your familiar room, still surprised at how it still looks the same. And his eyes fall on a notebook — the notebook you never let him read — on the table.

“Why are you here?” you ask, voice trembling.

“I wanted to check up on you—”

“Why?”

Jimin knows at once what you are asking.

He approaches you sitting on the edge of the bed. He kneels down, peering up with those chocolate eyes of his to meet your downcast stare — like those times when he wants to talk to you and you refuse to look at him.

“Do… Do you still remember me?” Your voice barely comes out as a whisper.

“Y/N…” The lack of surprise in his voice answers it. He still remembers you as you recall the once shocked expression on his face when you first introduce yourself. Now, it all made sense.

“W-Why didn’t you tell me?” A sob escapes your lips. “Do you not want me to remember—”

He shakes his head, denying it quickly. “No! Of course not. I just… I was ecstatic actually when it was you who came to work for me.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?” Voice cracking. “You knew me—”

Clearly in conflict, he sighs, “I don’t want you to remember your traumatic memories… Remembering me might cause you more pain.”

“But it didn’t. Those memories, from what I can remember there’s nothing—”

“That’s what your parents told me, Y/N.”

Eyes widening, you gape at him as tears cascade down your face.

“You were seriously injured back then. The doctor said it will be best for you to let your own memories come to you in their own time. And I had to leave this place... I came by after your operation and... I wanted to say goodbye but I was told it was best to not see you any longer to prevent anymore distress—”

“But you are important to me!” You cut him off. Then turning quieter, “You are important to me…” You say between sobs.

Covering your eyes with your hand, you whimper when Jimin engulfs you in a hug. “I’m sorry…” He murmurs, caressing your head. “I’m so sorry…”

His heart breaks at your current state, tightening his hold on you, who’s crying into his chest. Years of buried regret and longing resurface. He had envisioned many times on how you would remember him. But he fails to realise how much it can hurt you when your memories return. If only he can turn back time, he will take that chance to save you from the misery of your memory loss.

Yet, all he can do now is to hold you close, begging you for forgiveness and hope that you’d let him stay by your side.

“So, let me get this straight, you—” Jungkook points his straw at you. “—and Jimin hyung were childhood friends—” He pierces the plastic cover of his milk tea. “—and he used to tutor you in a cafe.”

Nodding, you purse your lips and enjoy your own drink.

You had taken a few days off after the reconciliation to collect your thoughts and confront your parents about what had happened. They have come into terms with their protectiveness of you staying out very late. And you have managed to convince them to let you stay out late as long as you let them know.

You were planning to stay in bed all day if it wasn’t for Jungkook who barged into your room like he owns the place, after he claimed that Jimin lets him off from work early — which you doubt honestly, it’s more of Jungkook escaping from work — and decided to drag you to the nearest milk tea shop.

“Is something weird?” you blurt out.

“Did you by any chance, I don’t know...” Jungkook mutters. “Have feelings for each other?”

You nearly choke on your tapioca pearl and rapidly you shake your head. “No! That’s—”

Jungkook narrows his stare at you, sipping his drink as you continue to blabber, “I mean, I knew him since I was like, what? Twelve? He never sees me that way.”

“Maybe he didn’t back then.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“I mean both of you are adults now. Aren’t things different?”

You snort at his words. “He always sees the little girl in me, Jungkook. So, please, don’t make things weird, alright? I can literally see your head gearing.”

Jungkook lets out a sigh. “Alright, if you say so. But how about you?”

Sipping your drink, you lift a brow at him.

“Do you like him?”

“Of course, I do.”

“I meant like, like him.”

“Kookie, what are you? Five?”

He snorts at your response. “Five heads taller than you—” Your glare shuts him up. “Okay, but do you see him as someone special?”

An exasperated sigh escapes your lips. “Why are we discussing this? We’re just friends. Who coincidentally are childhood friends as well.”

“You sure?”

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you sigh once more. “What are you expecting me to say?”

“What do you think of him?”

Almost at once, the words flow easily out of your mouth. “He’s a caring person and he knows how to comfort someone when they’re having a bad day.”

“You mean, he knows how to comfort you when you’re having a bad day yourself,” Jungkook chuckles.

You blink at that.

“Look, I’m not implying anything but he was worried as hell when I told him about you the other day. Even nearly left his bakery without supervision. That’s when yours truly—” He points at himself. “—came in.”

And the question that swims in the back of your mind disappears. “So, it is you, you overgrown rabbit. You told him about me—”

“Well, you can’t blame me. You should be thanking me instead. It’s because of me you both finally reconciled. Admit it, you’re happy — happier, in fact.”

And you can’t deny it. Jungkook has been one of those people who’d look out for you. Yes, even when he can be a pain in the ass sometimes, or just loves to hear the “piping hot” tea of what’s happening in your life.

Sighing in defeat, you murmur, “Even if I do like him...” You shake your head. “No, it shouldn’t even matter in the first place.”

Noticing your shuttering expression, Jungkook thankfully does not press the subject further. Nor does he question why. And you are grateful for him.

“Interesting. So, you do like him.”

Scratch that, your best friend is still a pain in the ass.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

Standing in front of the bakery cafe, you released a deep breath.

Through the glass door, Jungkook is helping out at the cashier counter, serving beverages and desserts to dine-in customers. However, Jimin is nowhere in sight.

Releasing a deep breath, the bell of the door rings which signals your entrance. Jungkook notices you at once before he points to the kitchen.

You rush inside — stopping abruptly a few steps away from him — now, regarding the man differently. He was the boy who has been your comfort for so many occasions after all.

Jimin is icing cupcakes, his eyes focusing on his task and you can’t help but smile at the sight.

With your memories — of kindness, warmth, and friendship — now fully returned, you remember how you were always enamoured watching Jimin work. You’d watch him make drinks in the cafe when you had no homework to do. You’d sit at the bar, munching on cookies-of-the-day as your eyes followed Jimin’s movements.

A few moments pass, Jimin’s gaze shifts to you briefly and double-takes. He curses under his breath, cupcake slipping from his grip — icing spilling on the marble counter. “Hey, you’re back—” He quickly grabs a cloth and wipes off the cream before he turns to face you properly, grinning from ear-to-ear. “—you didn’t tell me you’re coming in today.”

He opens his arms and your legs move of its own accord, following your instinct as you close the distance between you and him — wrapping your arms around his waist.

You weren’t surprised at how your younger self used to have a big fat crush on him. He was and always will still be your Mochi. The guy who treated you to your favourite sweets, who knows how you like your caramel macchiato the best, and who never fails to put butterflies in your stomach.

Breathing his sweet scent, you remember the time you’d ask him for hugs whenever you were down and your younger self had even claimed once that his hugs were magical as it was written in your diary. To quote it, “Mochi gives the BEST BEST hugs in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD”.

“Your hugs…” you mumble, eyes closed. “They’re still the best…”

Jimin merely tightens his hold on you. That is until a force — appearing in the form of Jeon Jungkook — shatters the serene atmosphere, bringing you back to reality. “Hyung! Oh—”

Abruptly, you both pull away from each other. Jungkook stands awkwardly, shifting his weight from one leg to another.

“What is it?” Jimin breaks the silence, composed as ever.

“Uh, need more cupcakes. The ones on the display are finished…”

“Right,” Jimin turns to you. “Y/N, can you help me ice the rest of the cupcakes?”

Nodding, you turn to the employee’s room, putting your things in the locker and grabbing an apron.

Hugging Jimin seems so natural that you fail to consider how weird it looks to the people around you. Jungkook’s awkward silence proves that.

Your thoughts are swimming in confusion. And once again those butterflies appear in your stomach. Fanning your heated cheeks with your hands, you take a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm your racing heart.

Your childhood crush is gone. You’re just happy to have Mochi back in your life. That’s all. That should be all.

One afternoon, you mindlessly clean up the kitchen. Due to the public holiday, the bakery is closing earlier, and your thoughts have drifted back to the past.

You remember the night of the incident when Jimin walked you home after he had lost those men who chased after him. He stopped you for a moment, breaking the silence. “You okay?” Warm concern lacing his tone.

Jaw clenching, you mumbled. “Just a scratch.” Reluctant to give him any longer response.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn't have shoved you harshly before.” He crouched, inspecting your knees before he peered up to meet your stare.

“It’s fine.”

When you were just a few blocks away from home, Jimin broke the silence. “Listen Y/N—” His footsteps faltered as he reached to touch your shoulder. “—about earlier, I think you shouldn’t have feelings for me, I—”

Abruptly, you pulled your hand away from his, hurt consuming you. “I shouldn’t have feelings for you?”

You wished Jimin had forgotten your spontaneous confession as he nodded, hesitantly.

“Well, I can’t control my feelings. So, just let it be. It’ll be fine.” You glanced at him before walking faster.

The rest of the trip home was tense, full of unanswered questions. Who were those men? Why did they chase after Jimin? Is it really that bad to have feelings for him? Who gave him the right to dictate your feelings?

You felt so childish back then. Recalling the memories makes you cringe at your younger self for overreacting. But you suppose it’s normal for a fifteen year-old girl. And you were able to sense that Jimin wanted to ease the tense atmosphere. But you were too hurt to even give him a chance. You needed time to process what happened that day.

However, one minute Jimin had stopped you again, desperate to appease you. And the next minute, someone ran towards him with a bat in hand. It’s as if time slowed down, you moved before a harsh impact landed on you.

Your mind brings you back to reality, and instinctively you touch the part where your head was struck with your free hand.

“Y/N? Are you done cleaning up?”

Jimin’s voice startles you and you nearly drop the mop’s handle from your grasp.

“Yes,” you manage to say. And somehow you can’t look at him in the eye.

“What’s wrong?” Out of instinct, he cups your face to look at you in the eye. And hell, your heartbeat gradually increases as you can smell the sweet scent of bread from him along with a tinge of his cinnamon scent.

Mind blanking out at the close proximity, the only intelligible response you can say is, uhhh. Your grip on the mop handle tightens as your palm grows clammy.

He’s gorgeous. That’s one thing for sure.

“Hey, why are you blushing?”

Blinking rapidly, you watch his eyes turn into those crescent moons and a giggle escapes his lips as he pulls away, grabbing the mop from your hold.

“I’ll put this back. You nearly snapped it in half, you know.”

“Yeah,” you nod, mind whirling and you blabber the first thing in your mind. “I have a pet fish.”

“Huh?”

Realising how random you sounded, you clear your throat. “I just remember I had to come home early today, since Mr. Goldy is waiting for me.”

“Ooh, that’s—”

But you’ve run for the lockers, quickly changing out of your work attire.

“Thanks for today, Mochi. See you tomorrow!” You say and run out of the bakery without sparing him another glance.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

“What are you exactly doing here?”

Unflinching, you answer your best friend monotonously, “Buying a fish.”

“You don’t have a tank at home.”

“Exactly, that’s why I’m looking for one now.”

“But why?”

“Why not?”

Jungkook lets out a sigh. “You’ve been acting weird all week, Y/N.”

You ignore his words, eyes scanning through the fishes of different colours and kinds.

“Oh! These ones are pretty.” Jungkook comments, earning your attention.

“Excuse me?” You call one of the workers there. “I was wondering if this fish is suitable for beginners.”

The worker nods, smiling. “Yes, these are what we call the Betta fish. Their scales are beautiful and they are also easy to take care of. Would you like to purchase them?”

You respond with a brief ‘yes’.

“Now, all you need is a tank,” Jungkook says.

“We provide delivery services for the tank. I’d recommend buying this one.” The worker points at one of the tanks. “In the meantime, you can purchase the fishbowl for now.”

And with that you have a new pet fish and a brand new fish bowl in hand — specifically Jungkook’s, because you gotta put those muscles into good use — and you head back home. On the way back, Jungkook suddenly clears his throat. “So… What’s up with you?”

“What?”

“Let me summarise what just happened,” he says. “I had the day off today, and suddenly you called me to meet you in a fish store, and you have been acting all weird and somehow out of all the nice shades of blue fishes in the tank, you chose the ugly yellow—”

You kick his shin in retaliation. “It’s not yellow, it’s gold, dumbass. How dare you say that in front of Lady Goldilocks.”

“Oh, wow, now it even has a name.” Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I seriously can’t believe you chose this one out of all the other colours. It reminds me of Jimin hyung—” And he gapes at you. “No way. Is it because he likes this colour?”

You blink in realisation. Jimin does like this colour.

“Okay, ‘fess up. What’s up with you?”

You let out a defeated sigh. “I like him.”

Jungkook looks unamused.

“I mean like, like him. And I need to get over him.”

Jungkook furrows his brows. “Why would Hyung want that?””

“I shouldn’t like him, Kook. He told me once and, I don’t know, I just can’t control my feelings. I don’t want to lose him again and I’m scared that he’ll be gone if he knows—”

“Wait, wait, wait—” Jungkook grasps your shoulder with his free hand. “—I can understand what you’re feeling, Y/N. How about let me prove to you that Jimin won’t be gone even when you have feelings for him?”

“I swear, Jeon Jungkook, if you utter a single word about this conversation—”

“No!” He denies repeatedly. “I won’t. Promise. I can prove it to you another way. Don’t worry.”

“Okay, then. How?”

“I have a plan. To take the title as your number one best friend once and for all—”

“Who says you are even at the top?”

“Aren’t I? You told me once.” Jungkook fishes his phone out of his jacket, taps a few times on his screen before he shows you a video of your drunk self a few months ago after exam week.

“Kookieee, I think you’re my number one best friend! So proud to have someone like you in my life—”

You try to reach for his phone, cheeks burning in embarrassment, as you shoot him the nastiest glare you can muster. However, Jungkook being Jungkook merely cackles at that. Your voice from the video still continues, “—you’re like Mochi—” Your present self tenses at that.

“Who’s Mochi?” Jungkook asked curiously in the video.

“Shhhhh… We don’t speak of that name here, m’kay? Mochi is gone. So you are best friend number one!”

Jungkook stops the video, tucking his phone back to his pocket. “I asked you once who Mochi was when you were sober. But you didn’t remember back then. So I never asked again until you mentioned the name ‘Mochi’ once more a few days ago.”

Gaping, you stop walking as the stunned silence falls over you.

“I think your subconscious had always known about him. And it shows how special he is to you.” When you’re about to deny that, Jungkook shushes you. “Don’t try to deny, Y/N. Even before you knew he was Mochi you already liked him.”

“I hate that you’re starting to look like a rooster. Were you always this cocky?”

Your best friend merely shrugs. “So, here’s the plan. As I was saying, with my ‘number one best friend’ title under threat, we’re going to demote Jimin as your boyfriend! It’s a win-win situation!”

“What? I never even asked for him to be my boyfriend but wait— Don’t you mean promote?”

“Y/N, as much as I love your dumb ass, you tend to be quite demanding with people. Hopefully, he knows how to handle your present self.”

“Jeon Jungkook, please don’t make me regret this.”

A few days after the conversation with Jungkook, the boy gets to work as fast as possible, and by work, it means work to get on Jimin’s nerves instead of actually being helpful in the cafe.

Jungkook has become noticeably clingy, or overall, just more touchy with you. It’s not like it’s anything new in all honesty. Throughout college, the relationship between the both of you is purely platonic. Your other college friends knew this and seeing the both of you cuddle wouldn’t be a strange sight. Jimin, however, isn’t one of your college friends and Jungkook seems to have taken advantage of this. Thus, he begins to work in the bakery almost every day, claiming just to see you.

At first Jimin showed no reaction since Jungkook is a good friend of his. But he has grown visibly irritated lately while Jungkook revels in pressing the older one’s buttons further.

“Jungkook…”

“Hmm?”

“Can you please stop invading my personal space?”

“But it’s not going to work if I don’t— Oof!” You shove him away before going back to your task — placing the cupcakes on the display tray — annoyance building up at Jungkook’s disruptions.

“I’m going to file a restraining order on you at this rate.”

He huffs, moving towards you once more. “Don’t you want to prove that Jimin is going to be pissed if he sees me being affectionate to you?”

You shake your head. “I just want to work in peace.”

“Hmph. You’re no fun.”

“Cuz you’re the one not working.”

“Hey, I’m helping here voluntarily.”

You ignore his words, focusing on your task while Jungkook starts whining for you to give him attention. “Kook, I fucking swear if you don’t get your hands off—”

Jimin’s voice rings “Y/N, are the cupcakes...” He trails as soon as he enters the kitchen, freezing at the sight of Jungkook wrapping his arms around your waist, snuggling his dumb head on the crook of your neck.

“He’s going to rage,” Jungkook whispers, laughing softly.

“Uh, Jungkook can I talk to you?” Jimin asks, eyes noticeably narrowing as his tone tenses.

“Finally,” Jungkook mutters under his breath, before he lets go of you and faces Jimin. “Sure, Hyung.”

You take that cue to leave, bringing the freshly iced cupcakes to the display counter, leaving Jungkook and Jimin alone in the kitchen.

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

“What’s been going on with you lately? You come here to work everyday but all I can see is you busy flirting with Y/N.” Jimin throws the younger one an unamused glare.

Jungkook answers easily, “I do my job, Hyung. And so what if I do flirt with Y/N?”

“You can’t,” Jimin blurts out, earning a questioning look from Jungkook. “You just can’t.”

“Why can’t I?”

“Do you like Y/N?”

“Of course, she’s my best friend.”

Jimin shoots Jungkook another unamused look at his answer.

“I’m going to tell her how I feel in three days,” Jungkook continues.

Jimin’s stomach drops at that statement. However, at the same time the urge to let you know how he truly feels increases. But the thought of the impending rejection after hurting you and causing your memory loss makes him think twice.

Maybe Jungkook deserves you more than him — he can protect and support you while Jimin has failed.

With a shaky breath, Jimin mutters, “Take care of her, alright?”

Obviously, his response catches Jungkook off guard. “What?”

“Take good care of Y/N, JK. I’m seriously counting on you.”

“Wait—“ Jungkook looks downright flustered at the unexpected response. “Hyung, wait.”

“What?” Now it’s Jimin’s turn to be confused.

Jungkook clears his throat. “Just give me an honest answer, hyung. No lies.”

A pause.

“Do you like Y/N? As in more than friends?”

Jimin nods without hesitance.

Jungkook mumbles something under his breath that Jimin is sure it sounds like, freaking idiots.

“Go tell her how you feel, Hyung. And tell her as soon as possible.”

“But you—”

“It’s to push you to confess to her. I don’t see Y/N that way.” Jungkook sighs. “Honestly, what would the both of you be without me?”

Jimin stands in the kitchen, speechless, as Jungkook continues to ramble how significant his role is in between your relationship and how you and Jimin owe him so much.

“So, yes, go tell her how you feel, hyung. She’ll listen to whatever you’ll say.”

With a newfound resolve, hope sparks in Jimin’s heart. “I will.”

To say that Jimin is nervous would be an understatement. He had barely slept a wink last night, thinking of all the words and how he would explain why he had left so suddenly and confess his feelings to you. Jungkook has been a supportive friend, even if he does push Jimin’s buttons along the way. However, Jimin knows that it was his own way of showing encouragement.

You are cleaning the rest of the tables of the cafe and Jimin can’t take his eyes off you, staring at you through the small window opening between the kitchen and the counter area.

“Are we done for today, Mochi?” Your voice snaps him out of his daydream.

“Yeah!” Jimin continues to wipe the kitchen counter quickly, replying almost too enthusiastically before he clears his throat. “Do you have plans tonight, Y/N?”

You enter the kitchen and once again Jimin’s heartbeat rises. “Nope. I’m going straight back home after this. Lady Goldilocks is waiting for me.”

Lady Goldilocks. Jimin chuckles at the mention of your fish’s name. He wonders if one day he’s able to see the pet fish for himself. He had asked what happened to Mr Goldy and you had become flustered at that since you didn’t know the fish was female. So, now, you have changed the fish’s name. Yet, somehow Jimin got an inkling that there is more to the story. He had asked Jungkook — to which the boy had valiantly refused to utter a word about it and had babbled, “Huh? Fish? What fish? Is that for dinner?”

Once the both of you finished closing up the bakery cafe, Jimin taps on your shoulder before you had the chance to go back home.

“May I walk you home?”

You blink, processing his words then nodding rapidly. “S-Sure.”

Jimin smiles warmly at you. It’s easy in fact. Just being in your presence always brings happiness into his heart. You had grown into an amazing person and even more attractive.

Something about you had always captivated Jimin since the first time you met him in the cafe where he used to do his part time work. Your curious eyes were always following him as he took the customers’ orders and honestly, it was very endearing.

Comfortable silence falls upon you both, walking through the asphalt pathway and naturally, Jimin opens his palms, extending it towards you.

You stare at that for a moment and clasp his hand with yours. Jimin weaves your fingers together, bringing you closer to him as you continue to walk back home.

“Do you mind if we take a little detour?”

You nod at his words.

Once Jimin reaches the destination, he can sense your eyes glance curiously at the empty hill. He pulls you up onto the top of the hill, sitting down on the grass while he pats the space next to him and you follow suit.

“Look up,” Jimin whispers, and you did.

A quiet gasp escapes your lips at the sight of twinkling stars that scatters across the dark sky.

“They’re beautiful, aren’t they?” Jimin voices out. “Someone made me realise how beautiful the stars are…” He falters. “A-And she had never left my mind all those years. One of my deepest regrets is that I wasn’t able to say goodbye when I had to leave.”

You hear his words, yet you stay silent — an encouragement for him to continue to speak what’s on his mind.

“My family was in a difficult financial position back then and my dad had done things I wasn’t proud of…” Jimin’s eyes turn glassy and faraway, even when he sets his gaze up. “And one of them is that he had made a deal with loan sharks without the guarantee of paying them back… And of course, they were angry.”

He pauses, taking a deep breath.

“I once thought that probably I could still stay here back then. Even more so when I met you. But I was wrong. Those men started to chase after me and because of that, you—” He shudders. “—got injured. And that night my parents had made plans to leave without me and my brother knowing.”

He turns to look at you. “I never got to apologise to you for causing that. I should be the one to protect you but… I failed. For that, I’m so sorry, Y/N.”

“Jimin…” You say softly. “It’s not your fault. I was the one who jumped in front of you when the man came after you. It’s my own choice because you are special to me.”

“But I could have—”

You shush him with a pointer finger in front of his lips for a few moments. “You don’t have to be sorry anymore, Mochi. It’s not your fault. And what matters now is to focus on the present and look to the future, right?”

He nods, emotions swimming inside his chocolate eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“I thought—”

“For telling you that you shouldn’t have feelings for me.”

And you lapse into silence. He remembers…?

“I hate that that has hurt you. I shouldn’t have said that. But I was happy but desperate too since my family—”

“Jimin.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“What do you see me as, now?”

He blinks. All the practiced words on how he would tell you his feelings dissipate from his mind as he blankly stares at you. “I… I like you.” His voice grows quieter. “More than friends…”

“And if I said you shouldn’t have feelings for me?”

A flash of hurt crosses his eyes briefly. But he answers, nonetheless, “I would do what you want.”

“So, you reciprocate my feelings now?”

“H-huh?”

“I like you too. More than friends. In fact, I think my feelings have grown for you ever since I found out you’re Mochi.”

It takes a few moments for Jimin to process your words. He gapes, mouth opening and closing.

“You are resembling Lady Goldilocks right now.”

“What?”

Your cheeks flush. “Lady Goldilocks is a Betta fish. She was the golden one in a tank full of her blue siblings. Jungkook tried persuading me to choose the blue ones since they were more attractive to look at. But all I could see is the gold one since it reminded me of you.”

“I like golden colours…” Jimin mumbles in realisation.

“Exactly,” you let out a sheepish laugh, eyes turning to look back up into the sky. Before Jimin can respond, your eyes brighten up. “Look! A shooting star!”

Jimin snaps his gaze up as well.

“Hurry, make a wish!” You then close your eyes, smiling from ear-to-ear. Jimin follows suit, making his own wish.

As soon as you both finish making your wishes, you turn to face him once more.

“Are you still sorry for saying that to me?”

Jimin nods, scratching the back of his head in embarrassment. Hell, he thinks he would always regret hurting you that time.

“I know how you can make it up to me then.”

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me.”

“W-What?” He splutters.

“Unless you don’t want—“ Yet, your words die on your throat as Jimin moves closer to you, eliminating the distance between you both as he cups your face just like that time in the bakery.

Without another word, he leans down, pressing his lips on yours softly while you place your hands on top of his before he presses further, brows furrowing as he kisses you fervently. For the time being, all that matters is just you and him. He caresses your cheeks and you run your hands down to wrap around his waist until you can feel his heart beating against his chest.

After pulling away — both of you catching your breaths — Jimin presses his forehead against yours, running his thumb over your lips while you were unable to open your eyes for a few moments at the burst of emotions that is coursing through you.

“I’ve imagined this moment so many times,” he admits. “My wish finally came true.” And you smile at that.

“My wish also came true because of you, Mochi...”

✧༺♡༻∞　　∞༺♡༻✧

Sitting on one of the tables, your eyes can’t take themselves off Jimin as he serves customers. Today is your day off and you decided to pay him a visit in the bakery.

“You’re drooling.”

Your gaze snaps up to your best friend who sits across you after placing a cinnamon roll on the table for you. Jungkook continues, “I swear I’m going to vomit one of these days if I see you or Jimin hyung throwing each other— what was that called? It’s an old term— Oh! Goo-goo eyes one more time.”

“Shut up, Jeon. I’m not.” You reach for the roll, taking a bite.

He rolls his eyes. “Yeah right, you basically either stare at him like he placed stars in the sky or like you want to tear off his clothes—”

You choke on the roll, quickly reaching for your glass of water before you throw your napkin at his face. Jungkook cackles at that before he resumes his act, sighing. “This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have intervened. I didn’t know you’d be like this. My best friend is so uncool now.”

“Y/N is what?” You perk up at Jimin’s voice.

“Whipped,” Jungkook mutters before he takes his cue to leave. He stands up, passing by Jimin after shooting the older one a teasing glance.

Jimin sits across from you, and he instinctively reaches for your hand on the table. “How was your day?” And you swear you can hear Jungkook making a gagging sound amidst the chatter of the customers.

“Good. I finished my chores at home earlier today. So, I thought I would come visit.”

Minutes pass by quickly as you chatter with Jimin. He had almost forgotten to go back to work until Jungkook reminded him. When it is time to close up the bakery, you watch him wash the remaining mixing bowls while perching on one of the cleaned counters of the kitchen.

“You know, I could use some help,” Jimin teases, drying his hands on his apron.

A smile curls up on the corner of your lips, eyes following his movements — drawing closer to where you are. “Well, I think you got it all handled, Mochi.”

Once he reaches you, he pulls you to wrap your legs around his waist while your arms rest on his shoulders — encircling around his neck. You both stare at each other and he pushes a strand of stray hair away from your face, tucking it behind an ear while his other hand settles on your waist.

“Sometimes, I still can’t believe that you’re really here with me,” You admit. ��Just like a sweet dream.”

Jimin shakes his head. “It’s not, Y/N...” He leans to give you a chaste kiss. “... we’ll make up for the lost time we didn’t spend together.”

“Promise?”

He softly smiles at you. “Promise.”

author’s note: this was originally intended to be posted on jimin’s birthday but well i decided to add more stuff in it. thus, i am late alskflsdda so yes, i hope you guys enjoy this fic and feedbacks are always appreciated !! thank you for reading ♡

#btswritingcafe #bangtanarmynet #magicshopnet #bangtanidx #bangtanuniversity #btsghostie #jimin fanfic #jimin fluff #jimin angst #jimin x reader #jimin x you #bts fluff #bts fanfic #bts x reader #jimin scenarios #park jimin #bangtan scenarios #promptlyyourscafe #amourville series

320 notes · View notes

makowo · 3 years

Text

Forever Deep Below Creation

This is still a work in progress, but due to my lack of posted writing in the past 3 months, I thought I'd give a sneak peek at the beginning of the fic.

Warnings: None

Characters: Naegi Makoto, Kirigiri Kyoko

Relationships: Kirigiri Kyoko/Naegi Makoto

Words: 3k

It’s another warm night in the woods. Cicadas cast their calls to the air, and while some creatures tuck into their nests and dens, others rise to greet the darkened sky. Wing and hooves and fingers and claws grazing the sky, Brushing against the stars and cupping the face of the moon.

And here Makoto is, prepping dinner in the cottage he calls a home. His home. Their home.

He pulls out a knife from the block by the counter just as he hears the front door’s lock click. He can almost feel the burst of warm night air flooding their living room, though it is little to the warmth of the stove as it works to bring water to a boil.

He blinks, dropping his focus to turn towards his wife with a grin. “Welcome home honey!”

“Honey?” Kyoko echos, placing her bag on the coffee table. She leaves her holstered gun beside it, walking into the kitchen to check on him. “It’s unusual for you to use pet names.”

“Only if I wanna tease you.” He chuckles, and she does it right back. “Unless you prefer stuff like “babe” or “sweetheart”?”

Arms wrap around his waist, Kyoko resting her chin on his shoulder. “What’s for dinner tonight?”

She avoids the question, and he saves that tidbit of info for later. Avoidance is not a no, after all. “Yakisoba.” He nudges the noodles around with a spoon, half-focused on it as he leans back against his wife. “Thought it might be good to have something quick tonight, y’know?”

Kyoko merely hums, burying her face into the crook of his neck. “Shouldn’t you turn up the AC? You’re cold.”

“Means I can cuddle up to you to stay warm tonight though.”

“As if I’ll let you do that.” She scoffs. He can feel her smile against his skin.

“Ohh?” He goes through the motions of prepping their dinner, Kyoko stumbling along with his hasty steps with a steadfast grip. “And how are you gonna stop it?” Even if they’re on opposite ends of the bed, they always wake up with one clinging to the other. Hard not to cuddle.

She takes a minute to ruminate on it, before managing an answer. “Heater. Right between us.”

Makoto laughs. “Won’t that burn?”

“If it keeps your ice hands from touching me at 2 in the morning, then ‘m fine.”

His whine of objection couldn’t be more fake. “That’s mean.” He quickly nabs the pair of bowls set aside early on, tracing the grooves of their rims with his thumbs as he sets them out side by side. “You’re mean.”

Finally, he’s released from his lavender-scented prison as Kyoko reaches for one of the bowls, unsubtly nudging him in an attempt to get him out of the way. He stays still however, nudging her right back. “It’s still hot, Kiri-san! Gotta let it sit for a bit.” He warns with a frown.

“It can sit for a bit in my bowl.” She replies deadpan, still urging him away. And he relents, because it isn’t that big of a deal anyway but he doesn’t want to watch Kyoko burn her mouth while trying to eat again. Or just forget about it while she works.

“Then eat with me in the living room.” Makoto grabs his own bowl, getting what yakisoba she leaves behind in the pan. “And after it, we go straight to bed.” He’s not risking his work going to waste, after all.

Even with these tough terms he’s set up, Kyoko lazily nods, most likely due to still suffering from sleep deprivation. Maybe she’ll decline when she’s woken up a bit, maybe she won’t. Makoto decides to settle down on the couch and put on a movie that might distract her from it anyway.

It’s more background noise than anything, though; something about an escape room? Pretty sure he put on a sequel movie too, which turns their interest only to one another. Not that he minds.

“Would you like to go on a trip sometime in the next month?”

“Mmh, yeah?” He replies through a mouthful of food, quickly swallowing it before continuing. “What case has you going out of the country this time?” It’s not odd for Kyoko to ask if he wants to travel with her if she knows it’ll take too long for Makoto to bear.

She shakes her head, taking a bite of her food before answering. “I mean as a vacation, actually?” She replies with a tone implying that she’s questioning her own words already.

“Vacation?” He can’t help but echo, because… well, Kyoko never takes vacations! He can imagine she has a lot of days saved up because of that, but it never seems like she plans to put them to use other than for emergencies. Guess he read her wrong on that part, even if this is the first time she’s planning a legitimate vacation herself in the four years she’s been working as a detective again.

“Is it a bad time?”

“No, no!” Makoto shakes his head, not daring to let this slip by. “I’d love a vacation! It’d be nice to get out of the house.” He doesn’t really have much going on anyway, since the whole school idea didn’t really pan out. He’s just a stay at home husband now, and since Kyoko still makes enough money to support them both, he’s not actively seeking a job right now. Thus, he’s perfectly free.

Kyoko smiles. “Good. I’ve made sure to go ahead and clear up a week for ourselves, but I need to know what you might want to do.” She glances at him curiously, before quickly adding on. “Preferably not something that’s outside of Japan, I’d have trouble paying for that right now.”

Well that’s a no brainer for him, but it does narrow down his options significantly, which he happens to be thankful for. “Do you have anything in mind?” For a fleeting moment, Makoto recalls his dinner, taking a bite of it before he looks away from it and thus forgets it even exists. “I’m gonna be honest, I don’t really have anything in mind…” Never been one to aspire for once-in-a-lifetime thrills, like skydiving or something. He’d be happy just lounging at home the whole week, despite his earlier comment.

“I thought we could go to a nearby city then, and go sight-seeing.” Kyoko spares a glance towards the movie playing, before interest in it is once again immediately lost “Maybe in Seoul? There’s a large cave system there as well, and they’re open to caving this time of year.”

“Hm?” Makoto tries to recall what exactly that is, but he’s drawing blanks. “What’s that?”

“Well, Seoul is-”

“I know what Seoul is.” Makoto deadpans, though completely understands why she thought that was what he was talking about. He’s not the most educated person, what with the whole memory loss thing. “”I mean caving! I’ve never, uh, heard of that.”

“Ah.” Kyoko nods, setting down her bowl on the coffee table. “Apologies. It is rather self-explanatory however; we just go and explore a cave system with a small group.” She shrugs, stifling a yawn. “I thought it might be fun to do something like that together. It’s rare for a person to do, wouldn’t be too dangerous, and we’d be together the whole time.”

That does sound pretty cool, he’ll admit. He’s never really gone into a cave before, if he excludes the ones that they’d have to hide in during… ah, well, it’d just be nice. Doing something kind of thrilling. He imagines it’s thrilling, at least.

“I think it’d be fun!” He finally chirps, leaning over to rest his head on Kyoko’s shoulder. “It’s been a while since we’ve done something together, I’m sure it’d be a good time for us both.” And he’s pretty sure they don’t have any trauma tied to caves, which is a definite plus! Unless they count claustrophobia? Neither of them have shown signs of that though, so they’ll hopefully be fine. Hopefully.

As if she were able to sense his worry (which he doesn’t doubt that she can), Kyoko places a hand on his leg, stopping its worried bouncing. He hadn’t even noticed it doing that. “Are you sure?” She asks lightly, brow furrowed with worry. “”It can be dangerous, you know. There’s only so much a tour guide can do to make naturally made caves safe to enter.”

Makoto frowns, now actually worried. “Then why would you recommend it?” He asks, very quietly.

Kyoko takes a while to respond. In fact, she doesn’t respond until she’s actually finished her dinner, as well as his. It was getting cold so he may as well let her have it. “Do some looking, and if you have a better idea, tell me.” And then she heads to bed, because that’s just. A perfectly fine way of ending a conversation.

Makoto trudges on after her after about an hour of thinking (mostly lack thereof, with the television being such a terribly convenient and easy distraction) on the couch. Unlike most nights though, where the room is pitch black, her back turned from the door so as to not catch the stray rays of lights that he’s forgotten to turn off, it’s… actually still pitch black in there. But after a moment of letting his eyes adjust, he catches Kyoko’s alarmingly bright gaze cutting through the gloom.

“Can’t sleep?” He mutters as he stumbles through the dark, going off of his recollection of the room’s layout, reduced to something of barely any use through the haze of sleepiness tugging at his being.

“I can.” She replies slowly, watching him not unlike how a cat would watch their owner. Not that she or their relationship in general compares to that; she just has that… “look”. Like she knows everything. “Was just waiting for you to come to bed.”

If he’s being honest, it’s kind of exciting. It’s the look she gives when her interest is upon him entirely, something that earns a flattered blush every time. “Thank you then.” He chirps, before crawling into bed like a lizard wriggling beneath the warm sands of a desert, except much less gracefully.

He almost expects nothing to happen, oddly enough. He should have known Kyoko was waiting for a reason.

A warmth presses up against his back, and a hum against his ear. “Don’t have to go in until noon tomorrow.” Kyoko huffs. He can just sense her smile when he shivers. “So… we could…” something presses between his legs, and teases just the right spot, “have some time to ourselves, maybe…?”

Makoto is a weak man, and especially weak for his wife. And thus, all he can do is scrounge up what remains of his energy, roll over, and let the franticness of their motions do the rest. ------------------------------------

It’s quite a hike to get to the cave they’ve been looking at. The route is safe, spacious, and short for the most part; it’s apparently a tour “good for beginners”, and while Makoto believes their caving adventures will begin and end with this one, it’s nice to know that this place doesn’t have any curveballs. Or spike-filled areas. Or tunnels one can only crawl through. Or maybe even fractures.

“Stop worrying.” Kyoko demands, his thoughts coming to a harsh stop. He manages not to be totally thrown off, following hastily after his wife as they trudge along a pebble-filled path.

He sighs when he catches up, glancing around. Just west there’s Tokyo, bustling with life, but it’s far enough only to serve as a backdrop to the hill-covered fields they’re in. They follow a path lined by thin ropes tied to sticks in the ground every other step, as despite the lack of actually dangerous areas nearby, there’s a lot of… well, area. The Tragedy changed a lot of the landscape, more so than most would believe.

Stopping his mind from wandering too far again, Makoto directs his attention ahead. They have a few other people with them, much more diverse in their body type than he assumes the average would be for much more difficult to traverse caves. They talk amongst themselves, all of them clearly going with someone they know for the trip. Ahead of them, the tour guides walk, though he can’t tell what they’re doing. He doubts it to be much at all, really.

“Are you excited?” He finally asks, careful not to speak loudly. He doesn’t want to draw much attention from their peers here, they’re lucky enough to have only garnered a few curious looks.

“Of course.” Kyoko replies, just as quiet. “I’m sorry it had to be delayed so much, cases just kept piling up.”

Makoto scoffs. “Don’t worry about it, I’m just glad you’re able to help people.” Adjusting to keep a good hold on his backpack, he reaches over to grasp Kyoko’s hand. She’s changed her gloves today. Much rougher. “Even if it’s not another year until we get a chance like this again, I’m satisfied.”

He hopes for a smile, or the most likely quirk of the lips she gives when beyond the walls of their home. He earns neither.

“I’m not.” She tightens her grip, tugging him forwards. “Come on. We’re falling behind.”

Makoto nods, silent as he follows her up the steep incline, and silent still until they come to the entrance to the cave.

He can only think of an open maw when he sees the entrance. It sits neatly above the ground, embedded into the side of the hill’s peak, moss creeping over the exposed rock. Various plants and flowers bloom from cracks in the walls he can see, reaching out towards the sunlight beyond. But as he looks upon the entrance, the teasing glimpse it shows of its surely vast depths, he can’t help but think they’re trying to escape the dark rather than gain any sunlight.

The heat must be getting to him.

“Alright everyone!” One of the guides chirps, clapping their hands to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s do a quick check to make sure everyone has what they need!”

Makoto remembers all their supplies, and part of him knows that he has everything, but anxiety urges him to check once more. Plus, he needs to actually put some of it on now. That too.

He crouches down and pulls his backpack around, trying not to focus on the cave. Instead, he mentally lists off each item as he finds it; helmet, gloves, boots, first aid kit, and a flashlight. Not much really, and he’s more than happy about that fact.

Makoto sighs, putting on each item he needs and putting away the rest. He’s careful about the gloves in particular as he puts them on; the helmet may have a light that could break if he’s not cautious, but Kyoko picked these out for him specifically before this trip. She has very strong opinions about them, and apparently these are the best pair for this sort of task that she could find. And they must be, they’re very comfortable! A perfect fit even, despite the fact that she gave them to him on the way here without any warning. He can’t imagine what they must have cost.

After checking for his caving suit and quickly realizing that he already put it on before making this trek, Makoto shoves his old shoes and socks into the back, hopping back up just as everyone else seems to be handed something.

“Now, before we head in, I want you all to get a good look at this map.” The guide says as they hand a sheet of paper to each group. “Even if this is a short trip, and we know this place like the backs of our hands, there’s a few turns here and there!”

Kyoko takes the map they’re given, Makoto peering at it from over her shoulder, having to crane his neck to get a good look. It doesn’t seem like too much, thankfully; there’s a meander or two, but none on the main path, thank the gods. He’d prefer not to have to do any crawling during this!

“It’s a straight shot, huh?” He comments absentmindedly, resting his chin on his wife’s shoulder.

She merely huffs, reaching back to thread her fingers through his hair. Despite the unsatisfying feeling of the gloves she’s wearing right now, he eagerly leans into the touch. “Yes. I’ve seen pictures of the cave as well, and it appears to not be very dangerous, unless one was actually being reckless. Should take about twenty minutes, at most.”

Makoto grins, wrapping his arms around Kyoko’s waist. She makes another sound, something like a noncommittal grunt, but doesn’t nudge him away as he expects. It’s nice. “And after this we go eat at Stellar Cafe.”

“We ate there last week.” She quickly reminds him, paying only a partial bit of attention to what those in front of them are saying. Something about the first aid kits, nothing very important.

“Too bad.” He gives her a quick peck on the cheek. “I like their food, and the service is nice.”

He can hear her stifle a laugh as she pulls away. “You like their curry. There’s perfectly good curry elsewhere.” She reaches into her own backpack, pulling out a walkie talkie. “Now get your radio out.”

“Don’t you think this is kind of overboard?” He pulls it out anyway of course, making sure his is connected to hers. “They never recommended these for caving, at least not on the sites I looked at.” Seems that most of the time people are expected to stay together anyway, if there’s more than one person at all. He’s surprised Kyoko decided to do this.

“Can’t ever be too safe.” Is all she says, before looking to the cave. “It’s time to go.”

Makoto follows her gaze, and sees the rest of the group already clambering over rocks as they enter the hole. “Ah.” He pauses, choking on nothing for a moment so fleeting he can’t even react. “Yeah.”

If he showed any hesitation, Kyoko does not acknowledge it. Instead, she walks ahead, and with heavy steps he pretends are eager, Makoto follows her into the dark.

------------------------------------

and that's it! quite a bit, and definitely not the best writing in the world, but im very proud of it so far! if you can then please rb this and give your thoughts, i do this for free but there's a reason i post my fics at all, which is validation <3 basically what keeps me going and able to continue writing at all, actually.

#danganronpa #makoto naegi #naegi makoto #kyoko kirigiri #kirigiri kyoko #naegiri #writing #fics #this has taken. a While #ofc this isnt the final product but this cuts off right before the horror parts start. which im very excited for #this fic has been a long time coming and im SO excited to do it <3 aaaaa

19 notes · View notes

raindancer2004 · 3 years

Text

Unloved and Unwanted?

Word Count: 3,395 Felix x Reader Part One. Warnings: Fluff Angst

Y/N was 17 years old when her entire life changed; her mother Molly died in a car accident and she found herself in Forks living with her father Charlie Swan, who she had never met. Charlie was shocked when he got a phone call from Child Services advising him about Y/N as he didn’t know she even existed. This made it hard for Charlie to accept her; as a result he struggled to build relationship with Y/N once she arrived in Forks. Charlie and Sue were busy working and planning their wedding; leaving little time to help Y/N settle in.

Bella had already moved out as she was married to Edward Cullen and they had a daughter Renesmee. Bella did not make an effort to meet her younger half-sister, choosing to ignore her.

Y/N didn’t make any friends at her new school either, she went almost unnoticed there. She felt truly alone and it only made her miss her mom even more, especially as they had been very close before the accident.

One Saturday morning Bella dropped Renesmee off at Charlie’s for a visit but didn’t stay herself as she had things to do. After a few hours Charlie was called into the station due to an emergency and as Y/N was home he asked her to keep an eye on Renesmee. This surprised Y/N as she had only met Renesmee briefly a few times as she was not included in ‘family time’ during Renesmee’s visits. This led to Y/N staying in her room during Renesmee’s visits as to not be in the way. In fact Y/N stayed in her room even when Renesmee wasn’t around for the same reason.

Y/N and Renesmee baked chocolate chips cookies and watched a few Disney films together, before Charlie came home with take out. Y/N had dinner with them that night but only because Renesmee asked her to join them. Charlie did not engage Y/N in conversation other than to ask about what she and Renesmee did whilst he was at work.

That night when Renesmee got home she told her family about the time she spent with Y/N; how much she liked her and that she felt sorry for her as she had lost her mom. This conversation prompted Bella to finally decide to meet Y/N; six months after she had moved to Forks.

This decision prompted Alice to have a vision;

Y/N was in Italy with the Volturi; more specifically with Felix, one of the elite guards. They didn’t look happy together either with Felix leaving Y/N alone in her room and making his way to the throne room for guard duty.

Felix spending his evenings with Demetri and Santiago playing cards or playing on his computer console with other members of the guard when not on guard duty at night.

Y/N’s room was not very big and was barely decorated and the only visitors she got other than Felix was Gianna, who bought her meals every day, Heidi and Demetri who check in on her.

Edward saw the vision as it happened and knew what he had to; for this solved a problem for everyone, Y/N would leave Forks and live in Volterra. He filled his siblings and Bella in on the plan and they all agreed. “She’ll be someone’s else’s problem soon, Charlie still isn’t warming to the idea of having another daughter around” Edward told them, having read Charlie’s mind the last time he was over there “Bella, you need to befriend Y/N and bring her over so we can inform her about Vampires; the Volturi and her mate” Bella agreed instantly.

Bella met with Y/N at Charlie’s a few days later “Hello Y/N, I’m Bella. I’m sorry for not coming over sooner to meet you” “Hi Bella, that’s ok. It’s nice to finally meet you” Y/N replied “Yeah you too. How are you settling in?” Bella asked “I’m settling in ok, thanks” Y/N lied.

They spent the afternoon talking to each other attempting to get to know one another. Y/N couldn’t help feeling suspicious of Bella; wondering why she came over to meet her and why she was being nice to her after ignoring her the last six months.

The following Friday Bella called and invited Y/N over to the Cullen house “Hello Y/N, I hope you are ok. I’m calling to invite you over tomorrow. I think it would be nice for you to meet Edwards’s siblings” “Err, ok thanks. Sounds nice, thank you” Y/N relied. The following morning Bella drove to Charlie’s and picked up Y/N and bought her back to the main house. When they arrived Bella introduced her to everyone “Y/N this is my husband Edward” She said pointing to Edward “Hello Edward, it’s nice to meet you” Y/N greeted “You too Y/N” Edward smiled “These are my siblings Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice” He continued; they all smiled and said hello to Y/N and she did the same in return. “My father Carlisle is at the hospital and my mother Esme has taken Renesmee out for the day. Hopefully you’ll meet them next time” Edward added.

Neither Carlisle nor Esme knew of Edward’s plan or the other’s involvement as they all knew that they wouldn’t agree with or support their plan.

They all sat down in the family room and explained to Y/N that they were vampires and that they feed off of animals instead of humans; hence their golden eyes. They explained that vampires have something called a ‘mate’; one person they would love, protect and spend an eternity with. They also explained that Rose and Emmett were mates; as were Jasper and Alice, Edward and Bella and lastly Carlisle and Esme. Alice explained that her, Jasper, Edward and Bella had ‘gifts’ and explained which each one was. Y/N nodded trying to take in the information so far

Emmett went onto explain about the Volturi who lived in Italy; how they were the rulers of the vampire world enforcing the laws, one of which was that humans were not allowed to know of their existence. “Why have you told me then?” Y/N asked confused. “We have told you about vampires because Alice has had a vision and it showed you with your mate; who is an elite Volturi guard” Edward answered. “What does that mean for me?” She asked “It means that you would need to go to Volterra to be with him. If they came here to check on Renesmee and found out that we knew you were the mate of one of their guards and we didn’t tell them; they would kill us and take you to Italy forcibly” Edward continued. “What is the guard I’m mated to like?” She asked. The Cullen siblings and Bella looked at each other before Rosalie answered her “He is known for being the strongest vampire in the world and has killed many vampires and humans alike” Shock flashed across Y/N’s face at hearing this “The Volturi do not like humans much; seeing them as not much more than their food source. So the news of one of their elite guards being mated to a human will not go down well” Rosalie continued. “He will likely reject you as his mate as you’re human” Bella added “I-If he is to reject me…why does he need to know about me?” Y/N asked. Noone answered her straight away, again looking at each other silently deciding who would answer her.

“As I said before, they would kill us if they found out we kept you from your mate. We can’t and won’t risk our lives for you” Edward replied rather matter of factly; Y/N said nothing. “You need to know more about your mate” Bella added and Y/N nodded, waiting for someone to continue.

“The Volturi do not usually allow newborns in the castle; however, they will make an exception for you…” “What do you mean newborns?” Y/N cut Edward off sounding confused “Newborns are what newly turned vampires are called” Bella answered her, Y/N nodded “You’ll spend your newborn years in the dungeon and provided your mate remembers you’re down there; you’ll more than likely be taken to a room in one of the towers…where you will spend your eternity once you’re no longer a newborn” Edward informed her “W-Why did you say if he remembered I was in the dungeon?” She asked a little worried “Edward means there are vampires that have been down in the dungeons for decades if not centuries. They kinda get forgotten about” Alice replied quickly “So if I am to be rejected, why would he keep me in the castle?” Y/N asked feeling confused. Jasper answered her this time “Once he meets you the mate bond will kick in and he will feel protective of you and will need to know that you are safe. If a vampire loses their mate they become heartbroken and overtime they fall into a deep depression and he won’t want that; the Volturi leaders won’t want that either as he is too valuable to them. This will still apply even after his rejection of you” “Oh” Was all Y/N could say.

“Some of the Volturi are gifted too, so you won’t be able to run and hide either as they have the world’s best tracker and they will send him after you and he will find you and drag you back to Volterra kicking and screaming if he has to. You’ll also see the cruel side of your mate too if you were to run from him” Emmett added; all of them being careful not to reveal Y/N’s mate’s name. “You leave for Volterra in three days. We have already bought you a ticket and to ensure you actually get there I will accompany you” Edward says. “So I don’t have a choice in this?” Y/N asked “No you don’t!” Bella said sharply. “Edward I don’t think going to Volterra with another human is a good idea. We have letters for her and Aro; I think it’s best if she goes alone” Alice says looking at Edward, who nods “Fine, but I’m taking her to the airport regardless. I’ll pick you up at 8pm Tuesday Y/N” Y/N just nods in response. Y/N made sure to not think about how she felt about this around Edward knowing that he may be able to read her mind.

Later that night Y/N started packing a few things for her trip and couldn’t help her thoughts ‘I find out I have a soulmate; someone who’s supposed to love me forever, only to find out that he won’t want me. He’ll just reject me and lock me away forever. I don’t know why I’m so surprised that someone else who is supposed to love me doesn’t. It’s the story of my life recently, being unwanted and unloved. It’s bad enough I have to stay here with Charlie who doesn’t want me around.’ Tears slipped down her cheeks at the thought of being unloved, unwanted and locked away forever, just to be forgotten about. She cried herself to sleep that night.

The following morning Charlie opens a letter informing him that Y/N has been accepted into an Art college in Italy and that she is due there in a few days. Alice had put the letter together as a cover story for Y/N to leave Forks. “Morning, Y/N. This came yesterday after I left for work; it’s an acceptance letter for an Art college in Italy. They need you there in a few days so you should get packing” Charlie said smiling as Y/N entered the kitchen “Oh ok, I’ll-I’ll do that” Y/N couldn’t believe the Cullens had faked a letter to get her to Italy; clearly they wanted her gone and soon.

A few days later Edward dropped Y/N off at the airport “Here this is a letter for Aro; make sure to give it to him when you arrive at the castle. This letter is for you to read on the plane, it’s basically tells you what we told you the other night. When you arrive a car will be waiting to take you Volterra. Safe flight” He gets back in the car and drives away leaving Y/N at the airport alone.

Y/N sits on the plane reading the letter addressed to her; and it’s a repeat of the information she was told a few days ago. She thought about not going to Italy but figured the Cullens will know if she doesn’t arrive or they’ll call Aro to check that she arrived so it’s probably just easier to go voluntarily rather than be chased down by the Volturi’s tracker and incur the wrath of her mate.

The plane lands and Y/N makes her way through to the airport to the waiting car “Miss Y/S/N?” The man asks “Yes, you’re taking me to Volterra?” Y/N replies “Yes miss. Get in the car please” The man says placing her case in the trunk. Y/N is dropped off just outside of the town square “The castle is just up there; you can’t miss it as there’s a huge fountain in the middle of the square” “Thank you” Y/N said taking her case from the driver.

Y/N made her way to the town square and sat down on the fountain trying to get the courage up to walk into a castle full of vampires; knowing that once she’s inside she’ll never be allowed to leave. Unknown to Y/N she is being watched by Heidi who has stepped outside of the castle to see if there are any tourists around that she can add to the ‘castle tour’ scheduled for tomorrow. With her enhanced sight Heidi notices that Y/N holding an envelope in her hands whilst looking at the castle and after about an hour Heidi makes her way over to Y/N “Are you ok?” She asks sitting beside her “I think so” Y/N replies sounding unsure. “I’m Heidi by the way, so what brings you to Volterra?” Y/N notices Heidi’s eyes are a lilac colour and her skin is pale but looks perfect, just like the Cullens “I’m Y/N. I’ve been sent here to meet my mate, not that he’s going to happy about it. In fact I’ve been told that…he won’t want me” Y/N says looking down handing Heidi her letter “It’s all explained in here”

Heidi takes the letter reading it and it explains that Y/N is mated to one of the elite guards and as soon as she reads ‘he is the strongest vampire in the world’ she knows who Y/N’s mate is. Heidi frowns as she continues to read the letter as she doesn’t like what she is reading. It is depicting Felix as cruel when he is actually kind despite him coming across as intimidating due to his physical appearance. She also knows that Felix would his love his mate whether she be human or vampire as he has been waiting a long time to meet her and would be hurt if he knew that his mate thought of him this way. “Who gave you this letter?” Heidi asks sounding a little upset “Edward Cullen handed me this letter at the airport for me to read to remind me about what awaits me upon landing here. I also have another letter for Aro” She tells Heidi “How come you showed me this letter?” Heidi asks “You are a vampire and I’m guessing you live in the castle” Y/N replies “How did you…” Y/N cuts Heidi off “You have pale skin like the Cullens and you came from the direction of the castle and you didn’t seem surprised when I mentioned the word ‘mate’ nor when you were reading the letter” “Huh, very true. Would you like me to take you inside to meet Aro?” Heidi asks “I’m not sure if I’m ready to go in just yet” Y/N replies quietly “Ok I’ll wait with you until you’re ready” “Thank you Heidi.” Y/N gives Heidi a small smile. After an hour of sitting on the fountain making small talk Heidi and Y/N make their way into the castle; Heidi taking Y/N’s hand in hers “Do not let go of my hand Y/N” “Ok” Y/N nods.

Once inside the castle Heidi heads straight to the reception desk “Hi Gianna, this is Y/N. I need you to take this to Aro for me please” Heidi says handing her a quick note asking to meet with him, Caius and Marcus and minimal guards as she has a delicate matter to discuss. Heidi and Y/N wait in reception for Gianna to return “Heidi, Y/N, Aro is ready for you and the guards have been dismissed except for Jane and Demetri” Heidi was pleased Felix wouldn’t be in the room during this conversation.

They arrive at throne room “Good afternoon masters” Heidi greets them with a smile “Heidi so good to see you and you have bought a human with you” Aro replies curious. “There is a very good reason for that. This is Y/N and she has a letter for you from the Cullens” Caius’ attention is piqued when he hears the Cullens name mentioned. “May I see the letter please my dear?” Aro asks “Of course” Y/N responds handing the letter over. Y/N and Heidi watch Aro’s facial expressions as he reads the letter and he doesn’t seem happy. “What’s in the letter brother?” Caius asks impatiently; Aro extends his arm holding out the letter for him. “Y/N my dear, when did you learn about us?” Aro asks “A few days ago, I was invited to the Cullen’s house and Edward, his siblings and Bella informed me about vampires, the Volturi and…mates” She answered “Do you know who your mate is?” Caius interjects “Not exactly. I only know that he is one of the elite guards…and is known for being the strongest vampire in the world. Also that he along with the rest of you don’t like humans much…there-therefore he won’t want me…as his mate. I’ve been told that I will be rejected and locked away” Y/N replies not looking at Caius “WHAT?!” Caius screams; Heidi and Y/N flinch at this, Heidi grips Y/N’s hand in a comforting gesture. Y/N’s comment also gains Marcus’ attention whilst Jane and Demetri look on curiously.

Caius storms down the steps to stand beside Aro “If you know you are to be rejected why did you come here?” Aro asks gently “Edward told me if you found out that they knew I was the mate of one of your guards and they didn’t tell you; you would kill them…and bring me here by force. He said they wouldn’t risk their lives for me. They also said that if I were to run and hide…you-you would send the world’s best tracker after me; who would find me and…bring me here…kicking and screaming if needed and…I would incur the wrath of my mate…who can be rather cruel. I-I figured it was just easier to come here willingly” She replied quietly looking down. Demetri felt himself get a little angry hearing that the Cullens had used him to threaten the human girl into coming to Volterra. “You mentioned being locked away, what do you mean by this?” Caius asked confusion clearly showing on his face “Edward told me that you do not usually allow newborns in the castle; however, you will make an exception for me…that I’d spend my newborn years in the dungeon and…provided my mate remembers I’m down there; he’ll come and get me… lock me away in the tower where I’ll spend eternity once I’m no longer a newborn”

A look of shock crossed the faces of the three kings as well as Jane’s and Demetri’s upon hearing this. “I want you know that I don’t intend to object to the rejection” Y/N added. “Why would you accept the rejection child?” Marcus asks curiously joining his brothers at the bottom of the steps “Not being wanted is not a new thing for me. I’m not going to make someone be with me if they don’t want to be. I have no intention of messing up his life just because I’m not wanted back home either” Y/N replied looking at Marcus, who gave her a small smile.

‘Poor beautiful, broken girl.’ Heidi thought to herself listening to this last part.

#felix volturi #demetri volturi #jane volturi #alec volturi #aro volturi #marcus volturi #caius volturi #heidi volturi #volturi #the cullens

221 notes · View notes

awanderingdeal · 3 years

Text

Chapter One of a 'Three of a Kind'. Rating: E

This fic will explore Naleyx's and O'Knutzy's relationships. There will be lots of sweet, fluffy moments and even more smut. Enjoy!

This was definitely improved in the editing process, so a massive thank you to all of my betas for your help. Of course, I did add a few tidbits afterwards because I can never resist.

These characters all belong to @lumosinlove and I am unbelievable grateful that they exist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One - Homecoming

Alex let himself into the apartment, groaning as he dropped his holdall on the floor and flopped onto the empty sofa. “I’m so fucking tired,” he announced to the room.

"Hello to you too,” Natalie quipped. She finished putting her filming equipment away before joining Alex, lifting his upper body with ease and letting his head flop into her lap when she was settled.

“Mmm, sorry, babe. Tough practice today and the drive was so tedious,” Alex apologised, looking up at his girlfriend. They’d made it official a couple of weeks ago, but the word still felt weird to him. Natalie Darcy and Kasey Winter were his partners. The idea still sent little shivers down his spine. His thoughts were interrupted by Kasey’s weight dropping onto his feet. “Dude!” he whined, trying to kick his feet up. “You are mad heavy.”

Kasey laughed, lifting himself up to let Alex scramble his feet out and place them in his lap. He handed Natalie the beer that he’d gone into the kitchen to collect.

“Thanks, Sugar.” she drawled, rolling her eyes at the boys’ antics.

“Where were you anyway?” Kasey queried, levering the cap of a second bottle and handing it to Alex. “You weren’t on planet Earth, I called you twice.”

Alex wriggled himself into a more upright position so that he could take a gulp of his drink without choking. “I was just thinking about us,” Alex answered, “Like, it’s kind of insane that I get to call you my boyfriend now.”

Natalie shoved him gently in the shoulder, “What about me?”

“You too,” Alex confirmed, “My girlfriend. It’s crazy. I’m so lucky.”

Natalie hummed softly, taking Kasey’s hand in hers absentmindedly as she spoke, “We feel the same way too, sweet cheeks. We love having you around. How long have we got you for this time? ”

Alex sighed. He loved his team, but he really would like to be closer to Kasey and Natalie. He couldn’t wait until the off-season, when hopefully they would be able to spend most of their time together. “I have to be back for training on Monday, so four days.” He smirked at Kasey’s small fist pump at the longer than usual amount. “Finn and I were making plans for one of the days? Maybe dinner?”

Nat nodded, tapping her phone a few times, “Yeah, Leo messaged me. He was thinking about tomorrow evening for dinner? That sound good?” she asked, her eyes flicking between the two boys.

“Yes, that’s good,” Kasey agreed, putting his bottle onto the coffee table. “Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, can I kiss one of you?” he said, already manoeuvring himself into Alex’s lap.

“I think Alex is too tired for any of that,” Natalie sing-songed, her smile devious.

“Oh?” Kasey cocked his head to the side, thoughtfully. “That’s a shame. Guess I’ll just have to kiss you instead.” he continued, twisting so that his face was inches away from Natalie’s. The movement brushed Alex’s cock; it immediately took an interest.

“And what if I say no?” Natalie raised an eyebrow teasingly, her fingers tapping against the fabric of the sofa.

“You would never,” Kasey gasped.

“I might.” Natalie’s expression was unwavering. Just enough to make Kasey doubt himself.

“Well...then I’d respect that, obviously.” he relented, starting to move away.

“I might. But I’m not.” Natalie reached out, tangling her fingers in Kasey’s hair and leading him towards her, pressing their lips firmly together. She took advantage of his small gasp to slip her tongue into his mouth. He hummed contentedly into the kiss, letting her lead without a fight for once.

“Hello, I am still here,” Alex whined, his arousal rocketing at the sight of his partners working their lips against one another. “And I am very much, no longer tired.”

Natalie pulled away from Kasey with a laugh. “Hmm, I thought that might happen,” she joked, brushing her fingers against Alex’s lips. Alex flicked his tongue out to meet them. She turned her head back to Kasey, “Go ahead, you wanted to kiss him.”

Kasey didn’t hesitate to fulfil the demand, leaning down to close the gap between the two men. Their kiss was greedier than the one between Kasey and Natalie had been, lips moving against one another quickly. Alex tucked his hand behind Kasey’s head, pulling them ever closer together. Their breath came rapidly, taking desperate gasps of air between exploring each other’s mouths.

Natalie curled a hand between them, undoing the zip on Kasey’s jeans. He pulled away from Alex, earning himself a swat on his ass. “Keep going. I was enjoying that,” Natalie reprimanded as she undid Alex’s zip too. She waited until they were distracted by each other’s tongues again to wrap a hand around both of them.

“Fuckkk,” Alex whined, but he knew better than to pull back from the kiss if he wanted the pleasure to continue. “Nat, please,” he begged, as she moved up and down his length, thumb flicking over the head with each stroke. She was teasing them. Each time Alex felt the heat rising in his groin and his heart rate increasing, Natalie slowed her pace, fingers dancing along the thick vein of his cock. Kasey was panting into the kiss now, Alex taking his lip between teeth and nipping softly - the slight pain pulling a whine from the goalie. The crescendo was just climbing again when Natalie stopped.

"Nat!" Kasey gasped, moving to finish himself off. His cock was dark and angry, desperate for release. He hesitated when he saw Natalie's raised eyebrow, but smiled cheekily continuing to take himself in hand.

Alex's eyes darted between the two of them, his own pleasure momentarily forgotten. He loved watching this little dance. Kasey and Natalie's eyes locked together. Kasey pretending that Natalie wasn't entirely in charge here. Natalie asserting her dominance.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Natalie said calmly. She let the words settle into the silence before continuing. "Of course, you could. But if you come now, then I'm going to tie you to bed and make you watch me fuck Alex." She glanced away as the aforementioned man made a small sound. "I'll let him play with you. Maybe even let him take you in his mouth - you know he likes that." A smirk spread across her lips and her eyes moved back to Kasey. "But you don't get to come again."

Kasey froze. Alex could see the cogs in his brain turning. Slowly, he pulled his hand away, hissing when he accidentally brushed the head.

"Good choice," Natalie hummed, tracing Kasey's jawline and kissing the tip of nose. "Let's take this to the bedroom, boys."

Kasey leaned his head against Alex's, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself down. "She drives you crazy too, right?" he mumbled, making Alex laugh.

"Yeah, but I love it."

" God, me too."

" Well, lovely as this is gentlemen, I was quite enjoying myself, so let's scoot," Natalie interrupted.

Once Kasey was out of his lap, Alex stood and followed him to the bedroom, pausing to grab his beer bottle. Natalie snorted when she saw him. "I don't think you'll be needing that "

Alex threw a look over his shoulder, slowing down so that they were in step. “Never waste alcohol, Nat. And I don’t plan on getting back out of this bed once I’m in it.”

“You sure you're not too tired for this? We’ve got all weekend,” Natalie questioned, her eyes softening. As much as she wanted Alex squirming underneath her she was also quite happy to cuddle up next to him whilst they watched a show or something.

“Oh my God, Nat. I’m so fucking horny I can’t explain. Do you know what it does to me thinking about you two here, together? When you send those photos?” Alex replied.

Natalie drew a breath to respond when Kasey shouted, “Can you hurry up please? I’m dying in here.”

Alex choked around his laughter, a few droplets of beer going down the wrong pipe. “Besides, you have Kase all worked up now.”

By the time they had pushed through the bedroom door, Kasey was lying on the bed, his clothes shed and piled on the floor.

“Somebody is eager,” Natalie teased, climbing onto the bed and straddling Kasey’s hips. She reached out a hand, her fingers playing with the outline of his nipples. “You were a very good boy out there. I suppose you deserve a reward for that. Don’t you agree, Alex?”

“Oh, definitely,” Alex agreed, placing the beer bottle on the bedside table and pulling his t-shirt over his head before joining them on the bed, kneeling between Kasey’s spread legs. He swept Natalie’s hair off her shoulder, pressing kisses across the exposed skin. “I’ve been thinking about having him in my mouth all day. Can I?” he asked, his fingers lifting the hem of Natalie’s shirt, but his eyes transfixed on Kasey.

“I don’t think that will be a problem. Hmm, sugar? Would you like that?” Natalie lifted her arms to aid Alex in the removal of her shirt, her bra quickly following.

Kasey nodded rapidly, his eyes dragging over Natalie. “Please,” he whined, his eyes crinkling at the edges in a way that drove Alex crazy as he reached out to pull Natalie to him. “I want to touch,” he whispered almost reverently, momentarily glancing down at the other man expectantly.

“Alright, alright,” Alex placated, turning onto his stomach and hooking his hands under his boyfriend’s hips. He pressed his tongue against the thin skin just behind his balls, enjoying the soft whine it elicited. “Soon Kase,” he murmured, his mouth moving to worship his inner thighs. Those thighs. His own were thick but my God, Kasey’s were unreal. He nipped the soft skin gently.

“Hey baby,” he heard Natalie coo. She was lying on her side now in a position that made it easy for her to see what Alex was doing but also for her to take Kasey’s mouth against her own, swallowing the groan that Alex coaxed out of him when he finally enveloped his cock. They kissed long and slow, Kasey's hands journeying over her bare skin - somehow both eager and gentle. She heard the hitch in his breath as Alex wrapped a hand around the stretch of dick that he couldn’t fit in his mouth.

“Alex,” Kasey panted. Alex reveled at the way his name sounded on Kasey’s lips, all throaty and breathless. He caught Natalie’s eye, making a show of hollowing his cheeks and swallowing the cock down further.

Natalie slipped her hand past the waistband of her leggings, pressing her fingers against the throbbing pulse between her legs. She kissed Kasey again, this time hot and passionate, their tongues working against one another’s until Kasey pulled away. “Let me,” he pleaded, his hand wrapping around her wrist.

“Jesus, I want your mouth,” Natalie whined, rolling onto her back, pushing her pants and underwear off her hips and down her legs. She pushed onto her knees, straddling Kasey’s head. “Hey, Alex, sweetie. Look at me,” she urged, waiting until he stilled his mouth and his honey brown eyes met hers. “I’m gonna ride Kase until he makes me come and then I’ll take care of you, alright?”

“Yes, yes, that’s good,” Alex murmured, the vibration of the sound causing Kasey to thrust his hips. Alex smacked his hip gently. “So impatient,” he scolded playfully.

“Fuck, I swear to God...” Kasey started, but his words turned into a strangled moan; Alex wrapping his lips around the head of his cock, swirling his tongue around it a few times. Then he grinned and took the length further into his mouth.

“Prêt?” Natalie asked, waiting for Kasey’s nod of affirmation before lowering herself to meet his mouth. He licked a long stripe between her folds, sucking gently when he met her clit. Natalie rocked into the sensation, moaning softly as she let her head fall backwards. He knew her well, working his tongue in the way he knew she loved; flicking and curling it into the tight heat, lapping at the wetness. Kasey’s own moans sent vibrations through her, drawing a shiver. She arched into his mouth, grinding against it, chasing the pleasure that was tingling at her extremities.

Alex let Kasey fall from his mouth, getting to his knees. He bundled the waterfall of Natalie’s blonde hair into his hands, pulling her face close to his. He felt the breathy pants and whines coming quickly from Natalie’s mouth against his skin, cupping her jaw. “You’re beautiful like this, you know?” he said softly, watching as he let the hair drop from his fingers.

“Thanks, sweetheart,” she gasped out, Kasey’s tongue getting her attention. “I can’t wait to get inside you. I missed you.”

Alex kissed her throat, careful not to mark it. She didn’t like the bruises the next day, the way Kasey did. He worked his way down, littering kisses here and there. He cupped her breasts in his hands, Natalie’s breath catching in her throat as he rubbed circles around her nipples. He leaned forward, darting his tongue out to tease the dark skin.

Natalie cried out; her hips were moving quickly now as she felt a warmth spreading through her limbs, riding Kasey’s face, but he seemed unfazed - his tongue pushing deep into her before dragging back toward her clit. He latched onto it, sucking feverishly as he helped her through the orgasm.

She climbed off of Kasey, and flopped down by his side, pulling Alex with her. Her breathing was rapid still and her hair stuck to her slightly sweaty back. “I think you get better at that every time.”

Kasey let out a small laugh. “I try.”

Natalie tangled her fingers into Alex’s where they were draped across her torso. “Right, you. Get Kase prepped and I'll grab my dick,” she told him, smirking at the yelp of happiness from Kasey. She turned to kiss him. “You’ve been very patient. I’m sure Alex will make it worth it,” she praised, hearing the bedside drawer open and shut.

Alex rolled over Natalie, causing her to grunt until he was on top of Kasey. “ Oh, you bet.” Out of his periphery, he saw Natalie slide off the bed and head over to their trunk of toys, but he concentrated on the man in front of him. He massaged a finger over Kasey’s twitching hole, gently pressing into it as he relaxed.

“Fucking finally,” Kasey groaned.

Alex chuckled, quickly adding a second. There was a slight resistance at first, but Kasey’s ass soon accepted it.

“Gimme the third,” Kasey whined, pressing into the gentle thrusts Alex was making.

He added the finger, but kept a frustratingly slow pace, stretching and preparing the hole to take him.

Kasey clenched his muscles around the fingers. “Fuck, ‘Lex. Please. I’m ready. I want you,” he begged.

“Just relax,” Alex spoke softly, the fingers of his free hand sweeping across Kasey’s hipbone, but the ring of muscle remained tight around him. “Kase, baby, relax,” he repeated, tone a little firmer this time. He heard Kasey let out a breath, and the pressure lessened allowing him to crook the fingers searchingly, Kasey’s whine letting him know when he had found the bundle of nerves that he was searching for.

“See what happens when you listen,” Alex teased.

He felt Natalie’s hands wrap around his waist, settling on the button of his jeans, the bulge now strapped to her waist hard against him. “Why are these still on?” she hummed, fingers working nimbly to undo them.

“Hey, sugar, how are you doing?” She asked, her eyes peered over Alex’s shoulder, enjoying the sight of Kasey spread on the bed, his ass stuffed with Alex’s fingers.

“Good. I’m very good,” Kasey sighed, his back arching when Alex brushed over his prostate again. “Shit. I’m going to come like this if you don’t hurry up.”

Natalie helped the jeans down his legs, palming Alex through the thin underwear. “Go on, I think he wants this, baby.”

Alex didn’t need any further encouragement. Kasey hissed at his fingers pulling out so that he could shed his underwear. “Hands and knees.” He smacked the ass in front of him with a smirk.

Kasey gave a little yelp followed by a glare and mumbled, “Asshole,” but scrambled into the position.

“You weren’t complaining when you were bent over Nat’s lap last week,” Alex jibed. He kissed the small mark his hand had left behind, pink against his pale skin.

“Oh my God, just fuck me.”

At that, Alex slipped inside Kasey, wrapping his arm around the other man’s waist and pulling him against him. “I’ve missed this,” he groaned, settling into the warm heat. He set a steady rhythm, dragging his cock in and out of Kasey slowly. He stilled when Natalie pushed two fingers, and then three fingers into him; he always opened up easily. His eyes glazed over, the dual sensations of the pulsing hole hot around him and the cold lube coating him driving him crazy.

Kasey fucked himself back onto him, his breathing fast and heavy. Words spilled from his lips, a mixture of French and English.

“Look at him, he’s so gone for you,” Natalie cooed into Alex’s ear, the dildo teasing at his ass. She held onto his hips, pushing into him. It was Alex’s favourite - thick and ribbed. “That’s it sweetheart, you take my dick so good.”

“Fuck fuck fuck fuck,” Kasey rambled, his hand reaching to stroke himself.

Alex thrust faster, hitting Kasey’s sweet spot repeatedly, leaning back into Natalie’s chest as she fucked into him. Somehow it was both too much and not enough. He never wanted it to end. The pleasure came from everywhere: his ass stretching around the length inside of him; the constant stimulation of his prostate; Kasey tight around him.

Kasey came with a cry, rutting into his hand, milking every drop from himself. Alex fucked him through the orgasm, his hips moving erratically. “Yes, yes, yes.” He didn’t need long until he was spilling into Kasey, Natalie rocking against him until he whimpered, “Too much.”

He slumped forward, chuckling softly at the small protest Kasey gave when he shifted out of him and draped his weight across his back. “Mmm, you’re so strong.” His cock stirred at the fact that his boyfriend could hold his weight even now, as relaxed and strung out as he was.

“Get comfortable. I’ll be right back.” Natalie kissed Alex and then Kasey.

Alex heard the sound of water running in the en-suite as he dragged Kasey up the bed to the mountain of pillows and curling around him.

“You’re all sticky,” Kasey grumbled, but tangled their ankles together and took Alex’s hand in his.

Alex laughed loudly, burying his face into blond locks. “Hypocrite. You are literally leaking everywhere.” His hand snaked down, dragging a finger through the mess coating Kasey’s torso and bringing it to his lips.

“Okay, you need to stop that unless you want to go for round two.” Natalie was back, washcloths in hand, an eyebrow raised.

“Hey! You’re back,” Kasey beamed, reaching out a hand for her to take.

Alex took the offered cloth so that Natalie could be pulled in by Kasey. “You alright? Did you need something else?” he asked. Despite the nub at the top of the dildo she had used, it usually wasn’t enough for her to get off. Alex, always attentive, made sure to double check.

Natalie twisted, propping herself onto her side so that she could see both of her boys. “I’m good, babe.” She brushed a stray strand of hair back off Kasey's face. “Somebody did a fantastic job.”

Kasey hummed happily as Alex used the damp, warm cloth to clean them both up.

Alex raised an eyebrow when Natalie reached for the beer bottle on the bedside table, taking a sip. "I don't think you'll be needing that, " he quipped, imitating her earlier words.

" You have good ideas every now and then," Natalie shrugged, tilting the drink at Alex's lips. His own hands were still occupied.

“ Wanna hit the court tomorrow morning? I’ve been working on my jump shot.” Alex liked this bit nearly as much as the mind-blowing orgasms that his partners gave him. Taking care of them. The vulnerability. The quiet conversations with Natalie over soft snores when Kasey inevitably fell asleep.

“I’ll still beat the both of you,” Natalie chuckled, her competitiveness showing even in during this tender moment.

She was probably right. He didn’t care. He just wanted to spend all the time in the world with them. Bruised ego and all.

#lumosinlove #o'knutzy #natalie darcy #kasey winter #alex o'hara #logan tremblay #leo knut #finn o'hara #nalexy

147 notes · View notes

ifmywishescametrue · 3 years

Text

numbers are hard

also on ao3

Steve has been acting strange all day, and for the life of him Tony can’t figure out why. It starts with sex when they first wake up, which isn’t all that weird. More tender than usual, slower and sweeter than most days, but nothing that makes him question anything right away. The only slightly abnormal part is that Steve skips his run entirely for it, but it’s happened before.

Breakfast is the first real sign that something is up, when Steve breaks out all of the stops to produce french toast dusted with powdered sugar and topped with sliced strawberries. It’s quite the step up from his everyday toast and eggs, and his grin when Tony compliments his cooking is brighter than the morning sun coming in through the wall of windows.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” Tony says, dragging a piece of french toast through a puddle of maple syrup.

Steve leans over, and the kiss he plants on Tony’s cheek is slightly sticky. “You deserve something nice today.”

Tony chews his bite slowly, processing that. Nice today, implying that today is different than other days. He checks the date on his phone as inconspicuously as possible.

There’s nothing significant that strikes him about May 10th. He has a couple weeks to go until his birthday, five more days until the anniversary of their first kiss. Another eight until the anniversary of their first real date. May 10th couldn’t be less special if it tried, really.

For now Tony shrugs it off, chalks it up to just another Steve thing. Like the way he wears socks to bed, but only in December, and drinks a different flavor of tea for every day of the week.

But then it continues throughout the morning. Steve asks him to go for a walk with him in Central Park, and he seems more affectionate than usual when they’re in public. With the Captain America mantle hanging heavy on his shoulders, Steve has typically always been more reserved around others. Their relationship has never been a secret, but Tony knows for a fact that there is exactly one paparazzi photo of them kissing in existence. There are quite a few more with hand holding, maybe the occasional shot of Steve’s arm slung around his shoulder, but never more than that.

Today, Steve kisses him on the pedestrian bridge as they lean against the railing, then again when Tony gets ice cream on his lips from the cones they buy from a street vendor.

“You’re in a very good mood today,” Tony observes on their walk back to the tower.

Steve smiles, “Why shouldn’t I be? It’s a good day.”

Tony nods in agreement, though he still isn’t sure what separates today from all the rest.

At some point it stops being strange and starts giving him anxiety. Weird turns into terror-inducing, because he has to be missing something, right? Boyfriends don’t just wake up one day and decide to be extra caring for no reason at all.

He thinks about asking, but what if he really has missed something important? He can picture the look on Steve’s face when he realizes that Tony has forgotten something that clearly matters to him. The way his eyes will widen slightly, brows turning down and shoulders slumping. Then his face will close off again, turning perfectly neutral to hide the hurt and disappointment. He’ll say it’s not a big deal, but Tony will know he’s lying.

So he stays quiet through the afternoon while he works in the lab on team upgrades and Steve sits on the couch and sketches. It’s easily the most normal part of the entire day, and Tony basks in the quiet comfort of just co-existing with the person he loves.

Steve goes upstairs after a few hours, kissing Tony’s cheek and patting the bots’ metal arms as he goes. He tells Tony to be on time for dinner, and his voice is more pointed than usual, which is why Tony heads up early to be able to shower off the grease from his hands and arms.

There’s a candle burning on the table when he walks into the dining room post-shower and a vase of flowers sitting a safe distance away from the flame. Tony freezes at the sight, but hopefully Steve doesn’t notice as he comes into the room with two plates.

He smiles softly as he sets them down and pulls out Tony’s chair for him. Tony reaches for the glass of red wine the second he sits down. He’ll need it for the night ahead of him.

The dish in front of him is some type of pasta in a creamy red sauce, and after the first bite he asks, “Did you make this pasta yourself?”

Steve nods, and even in the dim lighting Tony can see the way his ears have gone pink. “I had to practice a couple of times to get it right. Luckily Clint volunteered to taste test.”

Now Tony is downright desperate to know what he’s missing, but still unwilling to ask. So he hopes he can be vague enough in his conversation to get Steve to say it.

“I don’t know how I deserve all that work, but thank you.”

Steve’s response, while sweet enough to melt Tony’s heart, doesn’t help. “You’ve done a lot for me. It’s really the least I could do for you.”

He keeps failing all throughout dinner. Every time he vaguely talks about the significance of the day, Steve answers with something that would probably make sense if Tony was on the same page as him.

It’s in the kitchen after dinner that he finally breaks.

“I can do these,” Tony says, gesturing to the sink full of dishes. “Seeing as you cooked and all.”

Steve wraps his arms around him from behind, breath ghosting over Tony’s neck as he ducks down to kiss him there.

“Or,” Steve murmurs, “we could just leave them there for tomorrow.”

“What?” Tony asks. He twists around in Steve’s hold and presses his palm to Steve’s forehead. “I didn’t think it was possible for you to get sick anymore, but you’re clearly delirious.”

Steve laughs, “I’m not delirious, and I’m not sick either. I just want to make the most of our anniversary.”

Tony’s mind goes blank. That was the one thing he was sure he could eliminate from possibilities. He frowns, “It’s not our anniversary. Our anniversary is next week. May 15th.”

Steve’s face crinkles. “No, it’s today. May 10th.”

“On May 15th, you came down to my lab after that mission in New Jersey, and you yelled at me a whole bunch about being reckless - which you were wrong about, by the way - and then you kissed me and I asked you out.”

Steve looks at him like he’s grown a second head, and his arms drop from around Tony’s waist. “On May 10th, we came home from a mission, I rightfully told you that you were being reckless, I kissed you because you told me to make you shut up, and then I told you that I was in love with you. Nothing happened on May 15th.”

“No, no, I know it was May 15th because I thought it was ironic that we got together on the two year anniversary of when you called me an asshole for the first time, and I know what day that was because I marked it on your calendar as a joke, and then you called me an asshole for the second time.”

“It’s May 10th because we had our first date on May 13th. We went to that theater, because they were showing Friday the Thirteenth, and you said that I had to see it because everyone else has.”

“JARVIS, please tell Steve that he’s wrong.”

Steve scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest, “You’re about to be really upset when your own creation betrays you by telling you I’m right.”

JARVIS cuts off Tony’s snarky reply before it can finish forming. “According to my data, the event that you both have described occurred on May 7th of last year.”

Tony and Steve exchange a look, and it’s painfully silent until JARVIS speaks again, “I can provide the recording of this event if you would like.”

Tony waves his hand through the air to dismiss the suggestion. “No, that’s okay, J. We believe you.”

Steve rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, and his face turns pink. “So I guess we missed our anniversary.”

Tony dissolves into laughter, and Steve stays serious for all of three seconds before he’s joining in. He hooks his arms around Steve’s neck, getting on his tiptoes as he pulls Steve down to meet him in the middle. Steve’s hands cover his hips completely, warm on his skin even through his t-shirt.

“Happy one year and three days?” Tony offers.

It’s one year and two days longer than he ever thought they would make it. He expected Steve to change his mind after the first day, when Tony was such a nervous wreck that Steve had to be wondering how he ever got his reputation for a playboy in the first place. And when that didn’t happen, he expected Steve to grow tired of him. To come to the same realization that every other significant other has reached throughout the years - that he isn’t worth the effort.

But here they are 368 days later, and Steve still wants him. He would call it a miracle if he believed in that kind of thing, but the reality is that against all odds, they just work together. There’s no one else he would rather be with, and he knows that Steve feels the same.

Steve smiles, “Happy one year and three days.”

#stevetony #my fic #my writing #mcu #superhusbands

53 notes · View notes

firenze11 · 3 years

Text

A Fearun Tale Teaser

Alistair wrapped his hooded cloak tighter around himself. The brown cloak did a satisfactory job of blending in with the wooden mantle he was standing on. The fireplace beneath him filled the room with sweltering heat in this late summer evening, and it was simply a matter of placing himself in the shadows above that roaring hearth to avoid notice. If he did not move, the others in the room would not notice him. Well, the boy would not at least.

“Brandon,” The old woman croaked. “Climb up here. I want to tell you a story.”

The boy sighed, but he closed the book he had been reading by the fire’s light. He put it away on the shelf next to the bed and his chair, then obediently climbed up into the bed and leaned into his great-grandmother. Despite his young age, he was already a fearun’s height taller than the woman. It had been harder to notice before, but next to the aging woman, the boy’s unhealthy pale skin became more obvious. Many would think that the boy was sick, but the woman had told Alistair the tragic truth. The boy had death in his veins.

“You’re a good boy Brandon,” the matron whispered as she jerkily wrapped her frail arm around the boy. “Have I ever told you the story about the Fearun?”

The boy rolled his silvery white eyes, another sign of his heritage, “You’ve told me lots of stories of Grandma. I don’t remember them all.”

“I don’t think I’ve told you this story before. This one is special.”

At these words, the boy’s sleepy eyes had opened wide, and his back had straightened, but he didn’t speak.

Alistair smirked. The boy was clearly intrigued but was trying not to show it. Alistair found it difficult to estimate ages of the bigger folk, but the boy was probably somewhere between eight and twelve years old. He was old enough that he wanted to avoid appearing to be childish, but young enough that childish things still fascinated him.

“Do you want to know why it’s special?” the woman asked. She knew her great-grandson well.

The boy nodded, and Alistair’s grin only deepened. She had him right where she wanted him.

“This one is special, because it’s true,” the woman breathed.

The boy frowned, and his head jerked back a bit to look more clearly at the woman. His eyes were full doubt.

“You don’t have to believe me now,” the woman said with a knowing smile. “I just ask that you remember this one. Someday, you might believe.”

The boy’s face fell a bit, “Okay. I’ll remember, for you.” The boy’s voice cracked as he spoke.

Alistair felt for the boy. It was a hard thing to watch someone with so much life slowly fade away. The woman did not have many good days left in her. The boy likely sensed this too.

“Thank you, Brandon,” the woman smiled happily.

“I’m going to tell you about a race of people that most people have forgotten ever existed. They are a proud people, a warrior people. They call themselves, the Fearun.”

“The ferun?” The boy tried out the new word.

“Close enough. The Fearun live very long lives. Ten times as long as yours and mine. They live simple lives, hunting and farming. They are very private though and they value their solitude. They particularly don’t like humans stomping into their lives.”

The boy was listening intently, but he still held doubt darkening his face.

“But every once in a great while, they invite a human into their lives. No one’s really sure why they do this. Some people say it’s because they get bored. Others say that those people might get turned into Fearun themselves, and that that’s how they make more of themselves.”

The woman flicked her eyes at the mantle of the fireplace, and Alistair’s smile turned sad.

“However, I have it on very good authority that more than anything, the Fearun love to learn new things. They are incredibly curious you see. So, when you meet a Fearun, its usually because they want to learn from you. And because they value information, they share things about themselves with that human.”

“How come people don’t know about them?” the boy asked with a slight frown.

“For three reasons,” the woman paused to take a drink of water, and the boy fidgeted as he waited. The woman continued, “The first, is that they very rarely share their secrets with anyone. The second, is that they are exceptionally talented at hiding. And the third, is that they are very, very, small.”

“You mean they’re like fairies?”

“Even smaller than most of the fey. I’ve always thought they were more like elves personally. They even have the pointy ears.” The old woman held her fingers up to her own ears to illustrate. “But yes, they are quite small. In fact,” the woman took one of the boy’s hands in hers and held it. “One of them would easily fit into the palm of your hand.”

“Whoa,” the boy looked down at his hand in amazement. Any doubts had cleared from his eyes, and they were now filled only with the wonder of a child discovering that the world was even more amazing than he had believed.

“When a Fearun becomes friends with a human, the Fearun give them something to let other Fearun know that the human can be trusted.”

“Are you friends with a Fearun?” the boy asked.

Alistair smirked. Oh yes, the boy believed her now.

“I am,” the old woman admitted, “and my friend gave me this.”

The old woman took her hands away from the boy’s hand. In it was a bracelet of woven leather strands. The leather strands were thinner even than the threads which made up the boy’s clothing. They were woven together tighter than any human’s big clumsy fingers could ever hope to weave. Just one glance at it though, and a person knew it was hand made. No machine or magic could duplicate this artistry.

“It’s beautiful!” The boy raised the bracelet and examined it.

“Yes it is, and the Fearun make things to last. That bracelet will never wear out. Not even in your lifetime.” The boy looked away from her at this, but she drew his eyes back to her as she continued, “I want you to have it.”

The boy gasped as he looked up at his great-grandmother, “But you said the Fearun only gave these to their friends. I’ve never even met one before.”

“I did, but my friend said it would be alright if I gave this to you. I hope that one day you’ll be able to meet him.”

“I hope so too,” The boy murmured.

“Alright, times up!” A much younger woman walked into the room. She was wearing the uniform of a servant but had the bearing of someone used to be obeyed. “Brandon, it’s time to go.”

“Are you sure you want me to have this?” The boy asked, ignoring the other woman for the moment.

The older woman nodded, “I’m sure. Just promise me you’ll remember the story.”

“I’ll remember,” Brandon promised. He hugged the woman as tight as he could without hurting her, and then clambered down off the bed. “Agatha, look what Grandma Gwen gave me!” He showed the younger woman the bracelet, which he had already put on. Alistair was happy to see that there was plenty of extra bracelet left dangling. Hopefully, there would be enough so that when the boy grew up, he could still wear it comfortably.

“Yes, yes, very nice.” The boy’s nurse babbled. She took him by the shoulders and steered him out of the room, and even though he was also taller than she was, he allowed her to do so. “We’ve got to get going or we’re going to miss your step-father’s party.”

“Tell him that I’m sorry I can’t make it,” The older woman called after them.

“Don’t you worry about that at all, madam,” The younger woman turned to bow reverently. “He’s going to try and come over sometime tomorrow.”

“Well I’d love to see him.”

“And he’ll love seeing you. Alright Brandon, tell your grandmother goodbye.”

“Goodbye Grandma Gwen, I love you.”

“I love you too Brandon,” The older woman smiled.

With that the young woman and the boy left the room.

Alistair and the older woman sat in silence for a few minutes to make sure that the others were not coming back.

“Thank you, Alistair,” the old woman spoke after some time.

Alistair stood up. He took a running jump and leapt off the wooden shelf. The Fearun grabbed the edges of his cloak and hooked his boots into the buckled straps on its hem as he did so. The air caught in his cloak and he glided across the room. Anyone who did not know what they were looking at would simply think that a dead leaf was falling to the floor. Alistair landed lightly on the pillow next to the woman’s head. She turned and laid on her side so that she could see him better, as Alistair kneeled down on his knees to face her.

“I mean it,” she spoke again, much quieter this time. Alistair could see the glassy weariness in her eyes this close to her face. “This means a lot to me.”

“I know,” Alistair spoke loudly enough that she could hear him. “That is why I did it. I cannot guarantee that I or any other fearun will ever meet him again though, or that I will speak to him if I do.”

“That’s okay,” the woman’s eyes were no longer focused on Alistair. “I asked more of you than I should have, but you didn’t hesitate.”

“I am your friend,” Alistair replied with a smile. “Maybe one day I can be friends with him too.” Alistair smiled as he watched his friend’s eyes start to droop. She slept most of the time lately, and Brandon’s visit had tired her out.

“Thank you, Alistair, tell your son I said goodbye,” she whispered as she fell asleep.

“I will. Goodbye Gwen, and as always, you are welcome.”

Alistair waited until she was breathing slowly and steadily. The Fearun sighed as he stood up. He would not be making this trip again. This was his last goodbye to Gwen. Alistair had never told Gwen the main reason the Fearun avoided humans. Fearun were solitary creatures. However, when they did form friendships, they were deep and powerful. Fearun lived so much longer than humans did, that forming a friendship with a human was simply inviting pain into one’s life.

Alistair smiled through his tears as he glided down from the woman’s room in the castle tower. Sometimes that pain was worth it.

#gt #fearuntales #eilianechoes #Firenze11 #g/t #sfw g/t

3 notes · View notes

sharinluna · 4 years

Text

MLQC Chapter 20 Translation

Chapter 19 translation

19 1/2 chapter translation

I skip parts and paraphrase a lot when I translate. So that I could let the players enjoy the complete original translated text by themselves when the chapters are released. This is just to give you a small taste of what is going to happen.

I’m using Yōurán as MC’s name since it was the unofficial default name by the writers.

Trigger Warning: This chapter includes actions that reminds of real-life relationship abuse, physical violence, and police brutality.

Once you make your choice, there is no turning back.....

The sound of the underground train entering the station woke me from dreaming.

“We’ll soon be arriving in ****** station. The exit is on the left…”

It suddenly occurred to me that I had to get off and I abruptly stood up and exited the train.

Yōurán: Something’s not right…

A strange sense loss was looming in my head. Like something went away from me with the train.

I tried to remember what my dream was about but everything was foggy. Only snippets of unrecognizable memories remained.

Yōurán: Did I wake from the dream and come back to reality?

I couldn’t know for sure. I followed the crowd out of the station.

Everyone was going their own way. Underneath the gray sky, the traffic jam was flooding the city like usual. It was a different sight from the deserted city during the influenza breakout. But that was a thing of the past now.

Yōurán: I did it!

I looked around the city that turned back to normal. I really did succeed!

I wanted to go back to my daily routine immediately. I wanted to know what the others were doing. I wanted to go to my office and work again.

Passer-by: Look, it’s snowing!

I looked up. Small snowflakes were coming down the sky. I froze. Suddenly, I wasn’t so sure if this was real or a dream.

The ringing of my cellphone in my coat pocket woke me from my reverie. I didn’t recognize the caller ID

Caller: Long time no see. I suppose you want to know who I am, right?

The young man’s bragging voice was somehow familiar.

Yōurán: Excuse me but… why did you call me?

Caller: Can’t I call you without a reason?

Yōurán: Well, since it seems you don’t, I’ll just-

Caller: Everyone forgot your existence.

Yōurán: What?

I must have heard him wrong. The young man on the phone laughed at the disbelief in my voice.

Caller: You are not supposed to exist in this universe.

Yōurán: What are you talking about? That doesn’t make any sense!

I denied what he said in panic.

Caller: You can find out for yourself, then…

There was a sound of opening a can on the other side.

Caller: …at the place where everything started, for once…

He hung up.

Yōurán: This must be just a prank call!

I kept telling myself that as I grabbed my phone tightly.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

I arrived at the front of my office building. I took a deep breath and went in calmly. I was about to say hello to the security guard but stopped when he was looking at me like a stranger.

When I arrived at the office I saw familiar faces.

Yōurán: Kiki!

I called Kiki whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. Any moment now, she would see me and yell “Boss!” and run to me, and tell me all the latest gossips.

But she just looked at me with polite strangeness.

Kiki: Hello, Miss. Are you scheduled to meet someone?

Yōurán: Kiki… don’t you remember me?

I blurted out in shock. Kiki hesitated, like trying to remember something.

Kiki: Uh… have we met before?

So what he said in the phone call was true.

Yōurán: You must have… forgotten it…

I clenched my fists so hard that fingernails were biting into the flesh, but I didn’t feel any pain.

Today was not April Fool’s Day, and Kiki didn’t seem like she was pranking me either. I forced out a weak smile.

Yōurán: Never mind, I’m here to meet Anna.

Kiki: Oh, so you’re Anna’s acquaintance! Then perhaps we have met before. You do look a bit familiar but I can’t quite put a finger on it yet. But Anna is very busy today… did you make an appointment?

I was about to answer when Anna came into the office followed by Willow.

Anna: Kiki, is someone asking for me?

Yōurán: Anna! Willow!

I called out their names in delight but they just looked at me confused.

Anna: Who is this…?

Yōurán: I’m Yōurán….

My heart sank at Anna’s reaction. I told her my name without hope. What he said on the phone was true. Every single person had forgotten me.

Yōurán: I’m here to see this company’s boss.

Anna: I’m currently working as the boss’s replacement for the time being. What business do you have with her?

Yōurán: For the time being? What do you exactly mean?

Anna: The current boss is the daughter of the former boss, but she’s unavailable right now so I’m filling in her place.

Yōurán: Then can I meet her?

I asked desperately. Anna furrowed her eyebrows deep in thought. She seemed to sense that something was not quite right.

Anna: Come to think of it, she hasn’t been in touch with us for a long time. I suppose she is busy with her studying…

Willow: Anna, we have to hurry if we don’t want to be late! We have to go to LFG right away.

Anna: Sorry. We are very busy… if you have urgent business, please visit us again tomorrow.

Anna smiled at me politely.

I perked up at her words. LFG…. I had to go there right away!

Yōurán: I’m sorry, I have to go! I’ll come back tomorrow!

I heard Kiki call out after me but there was only one word in dominating my mind. Victor, I had to go see him right away!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

With breakneck speed I arrived at the LFG building only to be stopped by the reception desk.

Clerk: Hello, did you make an appointment?

Yōurán: No, but I can wait.

I knew she wouldn’t let me in, so I had no choice but to wait in the lobby for Victor to show up.

I fiddled with my phone for a long time, wondering if I should do it. Then I made up my mind and called Victor’s number. I was met with “The person you have called is unavailable at the moment…”

My delight at having returned to reality had long since evaporated. I waited for a long time, but still couldn’t meet Victor. The clerk at the desk was eyeing me suspiciously. In the end I had no choice but to go for the exit with a heavy heart.

Yōurán: Let’s go…

I didn’t find out whether Victor forgot about me as well, but maybe this was for the best. I tried to tell myself that as I recalled the last moment of my life.

I began to cross the street when the light turned green. It was just then when my phone rang.

Yōurán: It’s from Victor!

With happiness bubbling inside I stopped at once to take the call. Which turned out to be a grave mistake as I heard the sound of car screeching.

I seemed to be in this kind of predicament quite a lot, and like always, I froze unable to move. I closed my eyes but the crash never came. Someone had grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the sidewalk.

My heart started thumping. I knew who he was before I saw him.

I looked up at the familiar face and tears welled up inside.

Yōurán: Victor…! I found you at last….!

I grabbed his arms at looked at him with pure joy.

But he let go of me and took a step back and looked at me oddly.

Victor: Who are you?

He asked coldly with eyes looking at me like a stranger.

Yōurán: I…

Joy died down quickly. I opened my mouth but no sounds came. My hands, my shoulder, no my entire body started to shake. Despair filled up in my brain and erupted into headaches.

I didn’t want to admit that this was real, but Victor was standing there with no signs of recognizing me.

Yōurán: Don’t… don’t you remember me?

Victor: No, I’ve never met you before.

His answer full of conviction shattered the last of my hopes.

He glanced at his watch before addressing me again.

Victor: Be careful. Someone can’t come to your rescue every time.

He said the same words he said to me when we first met. But this time, they were destroying my last bit of courage and strength.

Standing still defenseless against the cold wind, I could only watch as Victor walked away from me.

Yōurán: Victor!

Sorrow paralyzed my reason as I ran out and grabbed at his sleeves like a drowning man clutching desperately at straws.

Victor didn’t pull his hand away. But he continued to look at me indifferently.

Victor: Are you hurt? Then go to a hospital.

Yōurán: I’m not hurt.

I mumbled trying to come up with an excuse to not let him go so soon.

Yōurán: I… just wanted to thank you for saving me…

Victor: You’re welcome. It was nothing.

He met my thanks matter-of-factly then eyed at my hand still clutching his sleeve.

Yōurán: …Sorry.

I forced myself to let go of him slowly and took a few steps back from him.

As I watched him walk away, my memories from the past life surged up. Seeing Victor with tears in the last moment of my life pained me with no end.

If Victor didn’t remember me, he would also not remember that… Maybe it would be better for him to forget that pain? Without me, he will continue to reign as the triumphant monarch of the capitalist society. He won’t have to succumb to such hurt caused by me.

Yōurán: Victor…

I called out his name to myself again.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

My phone rang again. I looked at the screen hopefully but it was just a news alert. My address book was full of familiar names and numbers, but I couldn’t contact any of them. No one had called me or texted me since the last day of my life.

I didn’t know where I should go to find Gavin. Kiro had been missing for centuries and Lucien is…

I couldn’t continue with this line of thought.

Yōurán: Let’s just go home…

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I saw a giant advertisement featuring Kiro on B.S. Entertainment building. People were stopping by to take pictures.

My mind flashed back to Kiro lying down on the sofa after shooting that advertisement.

Kiro: Uggghhhh…. Miss Chips…. Save me….! They’re starving me without a bite to eat….!!!!

Yōurán: Seriously?!

Kiro: Seriously! Come and give Kiro a hug!

I couldn’t help but smile as I remembered Kiro’s exaggerated whines.

Where was Kiro now? Lots of time had passed since the TV tower, and he still hasn’t come back. I wondered whether he succeeded in being a superhero like he said. I wondered when he could come back and be my little sun again who’s such a foodie.

With nostalgia I walked into the convenience store next to the B.S. Entertainment.

I reached out for the last chip then stopped. The other hand grabbing the chips at the same time as me didn’t appear this time.

I looked out the window as I waited for the cashier. A gust of wind shook the tree outside and snow flurried down. Among the snowflakes I caught a glimpse of a young man wearing a hood.

Yōurán: Kiro?!

Ignoring the bag of chips that I just bought I rushed out the store but couldn’t find where he went. I looked around frantically. Then I finally spotted him crossing the street among the crowds.

Kiro, is that really you?

As soon as the light turned green I ran across the street, pushing past people trying to get to him. I kept knocking into elbows and had to struggle to not be swept among the crowd, which slowed my chase after him.

I bumped hard into someone.

Yōurán: Excuse me-

Even before I finished speaking everything turned blank.

There was a loud boom that was enough to shake my body. The very ground started to quake, fiery inferno covered the sky. People were running in the opposite direction of the flames. Among the chaos there were shouts and panicked blarings of car horns. I heard a laughter in cold mockery.

“Those EVILs will all die…”

I was back in the crowded crosswalk. What I just saw…. was that an explosion of some kind? I replayed the vision in my head. Explosion, cars crashing everywhere, chaos.

I looked around and there was no sign of the person I bumped into.

Yōurán: Oh, no!

I ran forward trying to locate him but I couldn’t even figure out what direction he went. I chastised myself.

Yōurán: How could I miss him?

??: Are you looking for me?

I heard an icy voice from behind. I looked around and saw a young man with silver hair. He had the hood down.

Yōurán: Helios?!

I called out his name in surprise. The person I saw outside the convenience store, the one I was originally chasing, was him. His eyes narrowed as soon as he heard me say his name. He walked toward me menacingly.

Helios: How do you know who I am?

He had no weapon in his hands, but I was paralyzed in fear. It seemed like the Reaper of Death was walking towards me.

Helios: I’m disappointed in them for sending someone so mediocre to spy on me.

He stopped right in front of me. His sneer pierced me like a sharp knife. I quenched down the uncontrollable fear threatening to take over me.

Yōurán: I, I wasn’t spying on you!

Helios: Even your acting skills are rubbish.

His eyelashes did little to cover the murderous intent in his eyes.

Yōurán: It’s true! I’m sorry for following you. I thought you were someone I know. It was a mistake!

Helios: Really? And what other excuse did you come up with?

Yōurán: We’ve met before. You probably don’t remember it but… if you did, you would know that I’m just a nobody.

He still looked at me with doubt. I exclaimed out of exasperation.

Yōurán: Can’t you see that I’m powerless and is of no threat to you?! I don’t know what “they” you are talking about, but would they send someone plain like me as a spy?

I waited for his convict but to my shock he laughed at me, ridiculing me. He looked at me like he was looking at a very interesting specimen.

Helios: Someone plain? I suppose you don’t know yet.

Before I knew it, he took out a silver knife and aimed it at my neck. The cold blade made me rooted to the spot.

Helios: Don’t move.

His eyes flashed gold for a second and as he ordered, I couldn’t move a muscle.

Yōurán: What… what are you doing?!

Helios: Take a guess.

It was too late to regret. I couldn’t move at all no matter how hard I tried.

Yōurán: We’re in broad daylight in the middle of the city! People will see!

Helios: Do you think I’m so careless to not have that covered? You should worry about yourself now.

The cold pressure of the blade against my neck was increasing. My eyes widened in despair.

Suddenly, it seemed like time had stopped and my line of sight was bombarded with blinding white light. My soul was inside a pure-white space. In front of my eyes numerous black lines appeared forming unfathomable patterns. I reached out for those black lines. From the depths within my soul came out waves that passed from my fingertips and converted into soft lights that divided the shadows.

Yōurán: Let go…

For a fleeting moment of 1/1000 second his powers restraining me vanished. I didn’t miss the chance and managed back off and escape from the blade at my throat.

I was shivering with sweat. It was an effort standing still. I kept my eyes at him, wary of what he would do next.

Helios: Your awakening speed is pretty fast.

He took away his knife.

Helios: Do you still think you are just someone plain?

Yōurán: What just happened?

I wasn’t sure but, it seemed like my consciousness had escaped the corporate reality for a short moment. I looked down at my hands but nothing happened. The strange feeling had also vanished completely.

Yōurán: What did you do to me? Did you make me do… whatever I did?

Helios yawned.

Helios: You’re joking if you think I’d do such a charitable act.

The corner of his mouth twitched with scorn.

Helios: If you hadn’t pulled your little stunt, I would have continued where I had left off.

Hearing him say that negated all doubts I had about him and had me back on alert.

Helios: I’ll give you a piece of advice. Never appear in front of any Evolver ever again.

Yōurán: …Why?

He was already walking away. He said his last words without looking back.

Helios: otherwise you’ll be killed.

With that he got into his car and slammed the door. I stood still as I watched his car drive away, leaning against a wall to support my trembling body.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked back to where I had left off. Meeting Helios. Helios threatening me with his knife. Those bizarre black lines that appeared in a pure white space… I had no idea what happened just then.

Yōurán: Helios also doesn’t remember me at all, at least that’s for sure…

“Loveland University has announced to establish a new research institute. Renowned neuroscientist Professor Lucien has expressed his opinions about Darwinism and theories of evolution, causing the criticism of the public…”

I stopped and looked at the news screen to see a video of Lucien in a press conference.

Lucien: The advance of science is founded on continuous sacrifices. That includes the trial-and-error of injuries and deaths. All of which I think are necessary process. Survival of the fittest and the fallback of the rest is an eternal principle of life. It’s what keeps humanity going.

After all this time, he would still….

Seeing him say those words on the screen made my heart throb, reminding me of the principles I cannot forsake and the path that I should not deviate from.

Yōurán: Lucien… what are you trying to do?

Black Swan has been behind the flu epidemic from the beginning. Could Lucien also have had a hand in it?

I didn’t know what to think, but I had made my decision.

Yōurán: Whatever your role is in this scheme, Lucien, I will put a stop to it.

I changed direction and walked the familiar path to Loveland University.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

In front of Lucien’s laboratory were thousands of protesters holding pickets. Commanding that Lucien suspend his unethical research project immediately and condemning him for his justification of sacrificing the minority.

I quietly slipped in the back door that was unknown to the protesters.

I looked at the plate reading “Lucien’s Research Institute” on front of his door. Just like the first time we met, I was standing in front of this door again, but the situation was completely opposite now.

I took a deep breath and knocked. I waited but no one opened the door.

Yōurán: Is he not here?

I didn’t know whether I felt relieved or disappointed.

I turned back and there stood him on a corridor that was deserted just seconds ago.

Yōurán: Lucien…

I couldn’t help but call out his name affectionately. Lucien looked at me with puzzlement then his expression turned searching. His smile was polite but distant.

Lucien: May I help you?

That shattered my hope and reminded me of the cold, hard truth very nicely. I couldn’t help hoping against hope that he would remember the days we spent together. But it turned out to be vain. Why did I think that he would be an exception?

I took out my reporter license and introduced myself just like I had rehearsed earlier.

Yōurán: It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Lucien. I’m a reporter from YBC news. I wish to request an interview with you about the press conference you made prior.

Lucien: I’m sorry, but I don’t do interviews for the time being.

He refused right away. He glanced at my license but he seemed to have no intention of examining it closely.

Yōurán: Forgive my indulgence, but would it be so much trouble to just answer a few simple questions? What is your reason for starting this research?

I prodded on, unwilling to give up just yet.

Lucien: Do you have any more questions?

I inwardly sighed in relief that he wasn’t turning me down completely and rapid-fired the questions I wanted to ask him.

Yōurán: Professor, can you tell me when your research will reach the first stage of development? To my knowledge, you have done human experiment before that was acknowledged and legitimized. Do you plan to follow suit in this one as well?

I waited for his answer but all I heard was a quiet chuckle.

Lucien: Is that what you wanted to know by impersonating a reporter?

Yōurán: Sorry?

I was taken aback by his sudden interrogation. His poker-face unsettled me for a second, but I found my cool quickly. Right now, Lucien was just a professor and he couldn’t reveal his Black Swan persona in such a public place. And this time I was just a plain reporter with nothing special.

Yōurán: Professor, if you are doubting if I really am a reporter you can look my name up in the website.

Lucien: I’m not doubting that you’re a reporter.

He interrupted my words with a smile.

Lucien: It just so happens that I just refused YBC’s interview 15 minutes ago.

His eyes seemed to pierce through me and I couldn’t come up with an excuse to cover my act.

Lucien: It seems that I am right.

His expression turned unfeeling. The polite mask fell away to reveal his true demeanor, cold-blooded and calculating.

Lucien: Now, would Miss Yōurán kindly tell me what business she has with me…?

Hearing my name with his ice-like voice, I couldn’t hold back a shiver. It felt like he was freezing my blood with just his words. But I could not back off now.

Yōurán: Like I said before, I wanted to interview you-

Lucien: Repeating a thousand lies won’t make it true.

I instinctively stepped away from him and looked down, not saying a word.

Lucien: You won’t tell? Silence isn’t always the best answer.

My heart was pounding, but I gathered up the last of my courage and looked up at him.

Yōurán: Fine! I came here because I wanted to know why you would continue this research project! If I find any issues that compromise moral principles, I will report it to the media!

Lucien: I see. And?

Yōurán: And then… I will ensure that your project gets shut down and prove that your theory is fundamentally wrong!

Lucien: Is that it?

Lucien’s attitude was still pretty much composed. My words held no threat to him whatsoever.

Lucien: And here I am thinking that you came here because of Evol.

The corner of his mouth twitched as he came closer to me.

Yōurán: Evol?

Lucien: Didn’t somebody just warn you that you are in grave danger?

Helios’s parting advice came to my mind.

Lucien wasn’t hiding his malicious attitude at all. I understood the true meaning of fear as he threw away all pretense to reveal who he really was: a man who is ruthless, brutal and cruel beyond comparison.

Lucien: As you well know, evolution of life cannot be free from destruction and violence, and Evols are not exception to that rule. You are nothing but a “bait” now.

I didn’t understand the underlying meaning of his words, but I got the general idea. He was the hunter, I was his prey. He’d been targeting me from the very first moment.

All parts of my body were screaming “run!” I pushed him away and ran towards the stairs. But he didn’t let me escape. I felt a sharp pain on my wrist and next moment he was dragging me away with an iron grip.

Lucien: Don’t think that I would let you out of my grasp so easily.

I knew it now. He was Ares. He was not Lucien anymore. To be more precise, Lucien…. he doesn’t exist anymore. Despair and sorrow flooded my heart more than fear.

Yōurán: What are you going to do with me?

I waited for whatever he would do next. Whatever it was, I was ready to take it.

Lucien: You seem to misunderstand me. I don’t plan to do anything to you.

He suddenly let go of my wrist. His attitude was back into the typical Lucien-style warmth and gentleness. Like what I just saw was just a trick of the brain.

Lucien: A normal person would soon see that you are not a subject of protection.

With that he walked past me and opened his lab door. He looked back at me and said.

Lucien: I assume you don’t need me to see your way out.

The door closed shut in my face. As soon as it did I sagged down to the floor. It took me a long time until I could find my feet again.

As I exited the research building I did not know that a pair of eyes was looking at me hidden behind the curtains.

------------------------------------------------------------

I walked silently in the heavy snow.

I replayed the vision I saw in my head again. The person I bumped into was just a normal passerby, but his future I glimpsed into was anything but normal. Somehow, without reason, I felt that the explosion from my vision was related to me.

But there wasn’t anything I could do about it… I was forgotten by everyone, forsaken by the world, and I had no real power or strength….

Yōurán: Chin up!

I shouted to myself and slapped my face to break out of helplessness.

Yōurán: There are still things that I can do!

I whipped out my phone and called Gavin. He didn’t answer. With a little hesitation I called the Task Force but it said that the number didn’t exist. I didn’t anticipate immediate success, but I still felt a little downhearted.

Yōurán: It’s too early to give up now. Where was the exact place of the explosion…

-------------------------------------------------------------------

I arrived at the riverside square and looked around.

Yōurán: Is it here?

Nothing looked out of place and there was no sign of coming explosion. And my mind didn’t launch another vision.

Yōurán: Did I come to the right place…. or did I see it wrong?

Just then I saw a black figure hiding in the shadow of a tall building. Without thinking I stepped closer to him. Closer, and then closer. Finally I could see him clearly. Black uniform. Straight posture. Snow on his shoulder showing that he’d been standing there a long time.

I rubbed my eyes several times. I was afraid I was dreaming. But I wasn’t. He was right there. The person I have wanted to see for so long.

Yōurán: Gavin!

Unbridled joy took control of my body, but reason kept me from running into his arms. Suppressing my impulse, I hid between the crowds to move closer in his general direction.

Gavin looked thinner than before. What happened to him while I was gone? The possibility that he had forgotten me as well left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Gavin: ...All clear.

Gavin finished talking into his phone and moved out of my sight.

Wait! I yelled silently as I hurried after him. I managed to catch sight of him disappearing around a corner. It was only then that I realized that I was in a deserted alley with no one around. I placed each step carefully.

Yōurán: …Gavin?

The silence made my footsteps sound louder.

Yōurán: Gavin? Are you there?

I tentatively called out his name. Suddenly I felt a gust of wind behind.

Yōurán: Who are-

I tried to turn around but he was quicker than me. He grabbed my arm mercilessly and slammed me against the wall. I yelled out in pain. With a metal click a pair of handcuffs were slapped on my wrists.

Gavin: Freeze!

His voice was threatening and menacing. I looked directly into his fierce eyes. The familiar gentleness was gone.

It was confirmation in the cruelest possible way. Gavin had forgotten me too.

Gavin: Who are you? Why are you spying on me?! Tell me who you are!

His tone was intimidating, like he was addressing a criminal suspect. His strong grip was digging into my wrists to prevent me from escaping. It was so tight that my wrists were screaming out in pain.

Gavin: Answer me right now! Who sent you?!

He asked again when I stayed silent, his hands gripping me tighter. I actually couldn’t breathe because of the pain.

Yōurán: I’m on my own… and I wasn’t spying on you…

The physical pain alone was enough to make my eyes tear up. I couldn’t believe that Gavin of all people would subject me to such violence.

Gavin: Then why did you follow me here?

Yōurán: Why can’t you trust me…?!

Indescribable sorrow surged up and I blurted out the accusation while crying.

The raw pressure on my wrists lessened, but he didn’t let go of me. The level of suspicion in his eyes decreased just a little.

Gavin: How did you know my name?

Yōurán: I graduated Loveland high school just like you. You were my senior(先輩)…

Gavin: Loveland high school? You must have good memories then.

I didn’t know whether he believed me, but he let go of my wrists and released the handcuffs. His eyes were still cold.

Gavin: But that doesn’t explain why you were following me.

Yōurán: I’m… sorry. I didn’t mean any harm…

I looked at Gavin, unable to voice the real reason. Which made me sadder than I could handle.

Gavin: I won’t overlook this next time.

With that he made to leave.

Yōurán: Gavin!

I wasn’t ready to let him go yet, so my emotion got the better of me and I called out to him.

He looked at me with evident irritation in his eyes.

Gavin: You still have something to say?

Yōurán: Don’t you remember me at all?

Gavin: I have very few memories of my high school days. Don’t follow me again.

He walked away from me.

Yōurán: Gavin, wait…

I staggered after him but he was gone.

The winds whistling around me felt like a climax of a requiem.

-----------------------------------------------------

When I exited the alley into the open street everything was dark. The rumbling in my stomach reminded me that I hadn’t eaten anything for a whole day.

I entered into a restaurant closest to me. The snow outside reminded me of the snow-white dream I had. I forgot the contents of the dream, but I remembered it was quite beautiful.

I was staring into space when a voice whispered in my ear: Do you regret your choice? Everyone forgot you. No one remembers your sacrifice. Do you regret it?

I looked up into the gray sky. I didn’t know whether my answer was yes or no. I was too distraught to find out.

A tall man was looking down at me with a grin in his face. He waved his hand at me and walked towards me.

Yōurán: You are…?

He sat down next to me.

??: There you are.

He was familiar, but I couldn’t quite place where I’d met him before.

Yōurán: Uh…. who are you?

??: Don’t you remember me?

Yōurán: Have we met…?

I wracked my brains.

Yōurán: Oh! We met that day on the bus, right?

I finally remembered our short encounter on the bus. But then again…

Yōurán: How come you remember me then?

Right now, he was the only person who didn’t forget who I am! I didn’t really know who he was. I didn’t know whether he had any ulterior motive. But right now, he was my only hope.

The man didn’t answer right away and looked at me with a gleam in his eyes.

??: I’m the one who called you this morning.

I recognized his voice from the phone call.

Yōurán: That was you?!

??: Yes, it was me. The dream-world doesn’t affect me.

Yōurán: Then do you know what happened in the dream? And why everyone forgot me?

??: No, I don’t know what happened in your dream. I only know that the dream is caused by Evol and you’re not strong enough to block it.

He smiled in a mocking way. I found his conceited attitude very annoying but suppressed the feeling.

Yōurán: But can one person’s Evol affect everyone on this earth?

??: It’s not as simple as that. But if we get rid of that Evol then maybe people will start remembering you again.

I looked at him with suspicion. I couldn’t tell whether his words were all true, or if there were some falsehoods in there.

This man knew my number, knew where to find me, and this was the second time we met. All of this could not be coincidence.

Yōurán: Why are you telling me this?

He sensed my distrust but didn’t seem to care.

??: Just… for fun. You have no other choice but to believe me, you know.

I looked at him. It suddenly occurred to me that his careless, casual attitude was his strategy to let my guard down, hiding his true face.

??: What’s so great about this world?

With a smirk he looked out the window. I followed his gaze and looked out as well. Snow was falling and people were moving about busy with their lives. The sight of a peaceful and beautiful city.

I finally found the answer to the question that was asked of me.

Yōurán: I don’t know.

He raised his eyebrows at my honest answer.

Yōurán: I don’t know whether this world is good or not. But that’s not for me to decide alone. Even if I couldn’t find the answer, as long as there is still hope, this world is indeed beautiful and worth it.

So… No. I do not regret my choice. I answered the question that was in my head.

??: Dull.

He smiled mysteriously.

??: I hope you don’t change your thoughts. This world has already changed anyway.

He stood up and leaned towards me.

??: Remember, my name is Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao: You can have my umbrella. No need to thank me.

He opened the door and disappeared into the snow.

Yōurán: What’s up with him….

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

After I finished my meal I hesitated, but in the end took Ling Xiao’s umbrella as I went out into the snow.

This year’s winter was particularly cold. The umbrella became heavier with snow. As I was lost in my thoughts I bumped into someone. What was more embarrassing was… I lost my balance and was about to fall down.

??: Be careful.

With a slight chuckle the person I bumped into grabbed me and kept me from falling.

Yōurán: Ah, thank you.

My face turned red with embarrassment.

??: Are you okay?

A voice that was clear as a melody rang out. I looked up.

A man who was breathtakingly handsome appeared in front of my eyes. Somehow, I could imagine a field covered with ice and snow behind him.

Yōurán: I’m fine…

??: Be careful. The roads are slippery.

He let go of me with impeccable manners and took a step back to farther our distance that was too close. Then went down and picked up the umbrella that I had dropped. Every bit of his act was elegant like a gentleman. I took the umbrella, thanked him and walked away.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I walked along the riverside. The setting sun was emitting out a mild light above the bridge, coloring the snowflakes with golden hues.

Yōurán: I didn’t know that snow falling on the river could be this beautiful.

I stopped and breathed in the cold air clearing my head. My mind was peaceful like the landscape before me.

I do not regret my choice. I repeated to myself again.

I do not regret dying to save this world.

I do not regret leaving the snowy-white dream and returning to reality.

Because this choice, this path I walk on will lead me to where I want to be.

Yōurán: Yes! It’s time for me to go home!

With light footsteps I finally headed towards home.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh my god that was a long and hard work but it was worth every moment of it!

The first thing I thought when I read this chapter was: I got stabbed in the heart to save the world and this is the thanks I get?

Chapters 15-18 was a tearjerker and heartbreaking, but the shock factor was greater in chapter 19-21.

I already knew what was going to happen since Ling Xiao’s call but it still hurt so much to see the boys not remember Yōurán one by one and mistreat her. (Because let’s face it. Their actions taken out of context is similar to real life relationship abuse.)

Except Victor, he is completely indifferent and has no concerns for her at all but he is still civil to her, which speak volumes of his maturity. With or without Yōurán, Victor’s character remains pretty much the same. In contrast, Yōurán was a crucial factor in forming the other three’s personality and... well, for the lack of a better word, not being jerks.

Without meeting Yōurán, Lucien would have become 100 % Ares.

Without meeting Yōurán, Kiro would have become 100 % Helios of Black Swan.

Without Yōurán, without the Campus Date, Gavin would have grown to become like this.

If you read again, how Yōurán reunites with each of the guys is a twisted parallel of how they first met in chapter 1. Victor saving her from a car, meeting Kiro in the convenience store, meeting Lucien in his research institute, Gavin finding her first in the city.

I said in this post that the story of MLQC follows a chess motive in Through the Looking Glass. To summarize the points:

The story of MLQC follows a game of chess with characters as chess pieces.

Yōurán is a pawn on her journey to become queen. The LIs are the pieces knight, rook, bishop and king.

I want to continue with this metaphor.

When a pawn reaches the end of the chessboard it becomes a queen. Also there are pieces of the opponent. Yōurán is white pawn and the guys are other white pieces. The white pawn(Yōurán) confronted black queen in chapter 18 and went Through the Looking Glass to the enemy side of the chessboard.

In this world in the mirror(chapter 19~), on the opposite side of the chessboard she meets dark, mirror versions of the LIs(or black pieces of the chess) If the pawn doesn’t give up and walk steadily one square at a time, when it reaches the end of the board she will arise as queen.

“I do not regret dying to save this world and I will continue to do whatever I can to protect the people on this earth.”

This is Yōurán’s words in chapter 19~21 combined into one sentence. I admired her character in this batch of chapters. Her strength, her purity and her philanthropic spirit were part of what made me love this story.

But what do you think about this? How did you find the LIs in this chapter? What do you think of the two new characters, Ling Xiao and the Piano Guy? Do you agree with MC’s choice in this story?

I’m sorry for saying this all the time but brace yourself, for the winter is coming.

#mlqc #mlqc translation #mlqc analysis #mlqc spoiler #mlqc chess #mlqc mc #mlqc youran #mlqc gavin #mlqc lucien #mlqc helios #mlqc kiro #mlqc victor

158 notes · View notes

sweetwriting · 4 years

Text

TimKon Week 2020 Day 2: What was I expecting?

Category: Gen or Pre-slash

Genre: Angst/Fluff

Fandoms: DC Comics, Batverse, Teamverse

Continuity: Highschool AU - Post-Crisis/Pre-Flashpoint inspired

Summary: What was Tim expecting from his parents exactly? At this point nothing. Still he had hoped.

But friends can lift your spirits up.

Word Count: 1637

AN: Welcome to round two.

I wanted to write more but I don't have the time and honestly my wrists are hurt so I can't write much without hurting. I tried to give it a cute open ending cause I don't like Angst without fluff.

Prompt: Highschool AU - Angst

Can be read on AO3

Tim couldn’t believe it. It had happened again.

He shouldn’t be surprised. Well he wasn’t actually surprised. He had expected it, but he had still hoped it wouldn’t happen.

His parents had forgotten they were supposed to come and get him for the weekend. They were supposed to come back from…wherever it was they were supposed to be. Last he checked they were in Dubai but they could have gone around the world three times by now.

It’s just that…they had actually tried to plan this. They had planned the time they should be there after getting off the plane. Usually that’s how he knows he’s gonna actually spend the weekend with his parents. It has never been foolproof as they had cancelled even some of those plans before. But it was fairly rare.

And all the members of the Wayne family made plans because he told them his parents were definitely going to be there. Even Alfred was going to be too busy for him. Everyone else’s parents had come to get them for the Weekend as the school usually frowned upon keeping the students there at this time of the week. Tim was the only one who sometimes stayed there in cases like this. Most of the time when they said they were coming Tim planned ahead to go to Dick’s or Bruce’s, sometimes even Barbara’s or Jason’s. He had met them because once his parents had taken him to a Wayne Gala and gotten sick so he stayed with Alfred while they were being taken care of.

He had already started going to the all-boys boarding school he was currently in back then and they already had the rule about kids going home on the weekend and during the holidays. So he went back home to their Penthouse within Gotham on his own and….well he was pretty reckless and often went on his own without realizing that his clothes were basically criminal bait. Luckily for him Jason Todd had been nearby and helped him out before taking him to Wayne Manor after hearing about his parents.

Which is how he met Dick Grayson for the first time. Well 2nd time really but Dick’s memories of their meeting had mostly been overtaken by a more tragic memory. After that he was often invited to the manor and the Waynes became more his family than his on ever was.

Point was, neither of his families was available and that meant he would probably spend his weekend on his laptop or reading comic books. The only people present at school beside him were the principal and the cleaning staff so as long as he didn’t cross path with any of them he was free to do pretty much anything he wanted.

Which is why he decided to go out to the nearby skate park in order to work on some tricks.

And that’s when he saw Cassie. She was a good friend of his because his dad was a huge archeology afficionado and her mom was a fairly well-known archeologist and museum curator. They had known each other for a while but had only let their kids meet the year before but even so Cassie was probably one of his best friends nonetheless. It was pretty rare for her to be around Gotham and usually her mom and her stayed close to whichever museum Helena Sandsmark was working. So her being here was very surprising. What was even more surprising was that she was accompanied by a pretty buff and good looking guy.

He only realized he might have been interrupting something after hailing her but then he figured what was done was done and he saw her rarely anyway so he wasn’t going to waste his time.

Cassie didn’t seem that bothered even if she did glare at him for 0.2s. Hopefully she was too happy to see him to be mad. The guy next to her didn’t even try to hide his pouting though. Neither from Tim nor from Cassie herself.

When Tim arrived next to them however, the guy seemed to try and let go of his annoyance but as Cassie hugged him, it came back with a vengeance.

Cassie turned to the boy with a big smile and, Tim might be a bit petty since he had never actually been interested in Cassie romantically, but he was pretty damn happy to be responsible for that kind of smile on her face.

“Conner, meet my best guy friend, Tim. Tim, this is Conner, he’s the younger brother of Clark Kent and since he had to interview my mom nearby we left them and wandered around.”

Tim smiled slightly as Conner’s shoulders relaxed, no longer threatened by the idea of a possible rival. They shook hands and Conner suddenly started to seem slightly awkward as they exchanged “Nice to meet you”s. Tim could feel his cheeks warm a little under the other guy’s gaze.

“But Tim, your place is in Gotham so what are you doing here?”

And now Tim had a hard time looking away from that guy’s arms. He had met Clark Kent before and both had a similar build so it wasn’t that surprising. It did not make it any easier though. Still he managed to do so within a timeframe that wouldn’t be too damning.

“My school’s 5 minutes away so I came here to work on some tricks”

He showed them his skateboard to prove his point. This surprised both teenagers but Conner was the first one to address it.

“But it’s noon on a Saturday and we’re fairly far from Gotham.”

“My school’s a boarding school so it’s not an issue.”

“What is an issue, Cassie interrupted, with a suspicious look, is that I thought your school didn’t let students stay for the weekend”.

Tim startled a bit. Cassie knew how things were with his parents. She tended to be quite annoyed every time she had to speak with them because of that. No matter how many times he told her it was perfectly understandable for them to be so busy. Actually it tended to annoy her more so he didn’t bring it up if he could help it anymore.

Conner seemed to notice something was wrong with Cassie so he turned to Tim whose cheeks warmed up again.

“Does that mean that you’ve got some free time to be a tour guide?”

“I’d love to but I’m afraid I mostly know the school grounds and it’s forbidden to go there. I only knew about this ‘cause I saw it through the window of my dad’s car. But I can teach you skateboarding."

Conner was all for it and the three of them shared Tim’s skateboard for the rest of the afternoon. Before they parted ways, Conner invited him for lunch with his dad, his best friend, Cassie and her mom while she pouted because she wanted to do it. Apparently his best friend, Bart, hadn’t been able to come because he was grounded but he would join them in the morning.

So Tim went home, well…to his school which, since he had been there for the past 5 years, was pretty much his home. He ate in the kitchen with the principal which was spent chatting amicably. For all the recklessness Tim could show, he tended to listen to authority as much as he could so he wouldn’t get in trouble. He didn’t want to get negative attention from his parents and he didn’t want to be on the staff’s radar negatively or they’d just always survey him. He also just generally liked to talk to people, he liked the attention and wasn’t gonna relish it unless he was forced to. Despite his awkwardness Tim knew he could be pretty charming.

When he went back to his room he looked at his phone he had left charging. There were two missed calls from his parents not even an hour before. There was one message.

Sorry can’t make it something came up but we will next time. Love You baby.

Tim looked at hit for a good five minutes before replying.

Don’t worry Cassie was there because her mom was interviewed nearby. Met one of her acquaintances. it was fun. Love you too

Tim was tired. Seeing Cassie always reminded him that unlike Helena who had put her archeology career on hold to raise Cassie until she was old enough to handle being on her own and even then checked in with her regularly, his own parents, even if they loved him, loved traveling even more. Maybe that’s why she was always mad at them. She realized that too. Not that he’d admit it out loud. He didn’t want to focus on the negative part of his non existing relationship with his parents. He never even came out to them. Not because he feared their reactions but because they just….weren’t there enough for him to share that part of his life. And he lived in an all-boy school. It didn’t take him long to realize he was attracted to guys like he was attracted to girls and he was hardly the only one.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to go to that lunch the next day. Being faced with parents who actually take their family with them when they go somewhere wasn’t the most fun. But if he managed to get past that he would probably enjoy it. So he tried to try thinking of more positive things. Like seeing Cassie again, and seeing that really, really good looking guy.

Now that was a nice thought. Granted the guy had seemed interested in Cassie at first. Oh Well. He was still nice eye candy. Turns out he couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

------------------------------------------

AN2: Tim is 17 here. We know from his origin story he started boarding school when he was 12 but Bruce took him out and put him in a normal school when his parents were attacked by the Obeah ManFor the first time ever, Kon is the first one to hit on Cassie. He's mostly doing it 'cause he likes the attention tho. Cassie's gonna be mad at Tim for like...10s, be extremely petty, have Cissie or someone else tell her she's overexaggerating and then admit her friends are perfect for each other and hug them tight (and give the shovel talk to Kon even tho he doesn't deserve it).Kon is actually Clark's kid but he was very young and broke up with his gf before either knew about the pregnancy. She didn't tell him until Kon was like 3yo. Anyway Clark wasn't ready nor wanted the responsability so Ma and Pa said they adopted him from Clark's biological parents. Kon figured out years ago even if he didn't tell anybody. At first he wondered why Clark wouldn't want him when he's perfectly fine having Jon. He realized things weren't that simple but it's still hard.The Waynes are:

Alfred and Bruce ofc.

Dick, Jason and Cass are all adopted. They have a similar backstory but without the vigilante part.

Thalia and Bruce were actually in love but broke up before either knew she was pregnant. Damian is much more adjusted without the whole Assassins stuff. He and Tim actually get along fairly well.

Cass is still one of Tim's favorite. She's currently dating his ex gf Stephanie Brown.

#TimKon Week #Tim Drake #Conner Kent #TimKon #BrOTP: TimCassie #OTP:TimKon #angst & fluFF

4 notes · View notes

fafulous · 5 years

Text

Round Two

Pairing: Elijah Mikaelson x Reader

Summary: Reader’s family doesn’t include her in their Christmas plans for the night, leaving her in shreds of sadness until her phone rings from her favorite family of vampires to save her Christmas.

Warnings: LIL ANGSTY??? FLUFFY??? IMPLIED DITTY DO?? HOW?? DO?? YOU?? DO?? WARNINGS?? CHEESIER THAN YOUR CHEESE FRIES YOU HAD SOME WHILE BACK?? DO I MARK 18+??? IDK READ MY FRENS

A/N: AL right. Now the reason I’m writing this sad prompt is because this is what happened to me although not exactly, but the feelings are the same. @heythereelejah gets prompt credits for asking me to vent out through this prompt. ILY ALL

Christmas is the time for endless fun and sloth behavior. It is the time when you're wrapped in woolen clothes warming yourself from the freezing cold while the aromas freshly baked cookies of various assortment filled the room completely.

It is the time to rekindle old traditions and mingle with the already closest members of your home, your sweet family.

But god save you, it will never the same with your family.

While Christmas has it's beautiful merits, the only thing favoring you was the demerits of it.

Being the youngest sibling and the quiet one, you were always foreshadowed by the eldest and her happenings. Not only by her, but it seemed like you were always taken for granted by the rest of your family. But it never bothered you that much, they were family and you loved them no matter what.

And Christmas can make the most dysfunctional family functional right?

Apparently not.

"I still don't understand why Elijah didn't call her Nik."

The Mikaelsons shuffled around the table as they made their last minute preparations and adjustments here and there.

"As I said," Elijah huffed, disappoint me written all over his face, "she told me she had to spend Christmas with her family. And this was quoted by Y/N herself."

Elijah felt a pang of sadness but pushed it away quickly. All of his siblings were bringing their dates for Christmas, except for him. Thinking it was the perfect opportunity to make a move finally, he had asked you to attend the dinner. But you couldn't and he realized it too - she had to celebrate it with her family.

"But we all know how she doesn't like spending her holidays with her actual family," said Kol with a faulty tone.

"Are you accusing me of not inviting sweet Y/N?"

"Enough both of you," stormed in Rebekah as she placed the bottles of red wine on the table.

"Kol," said Freya placing a soothing arm on his shoulder, "we all know that. We also know that Elijah and none of us can go and drag her from her family festivities. Maybe this Christmas she can actually have fun with them, you'll never know."

"On the bright side, we have a table and food as long and as wide as our lives. She can join us anytime," said Klaus as he carried Hope in his arms, silently upset that his friend couldn't make it tonight.

"I have a good feeling she'll be here tonight, Elijah," reassured Rebekah

Elijah wished that too, for he wouldn't have spent half an hour preparing an infinitesimal surprise for the woman he cherished silently.

To his luck, his wish was granted.

After a while, the Mikaelsons' dates had arrived. Marcel, Davina, Caroline, and Keelin made their ways to their loved ones, carrying small packages of gifts for everyone. By the time they sat down one by one after exchanging warm wishes, they were interrupted by the sound of continuous knocks. Elijah swore he heard a familiar whimper and ragged breathing too. All the Mikaelsons' antennae turned towards the door. Before Elijah could get up knowing who it was, Klaus was already out of the dining hall.

"Don't worry brother, I've got this"

The cold outside made your teardrops colder, your cheeks feeling ice bitten by those salty splashes of water streaming down your eyes.

It happened again. Yes, you were quite used being dominated by most of your family members and being ignored by them occasionally, but this time it crossed the line.

When you came out of your steaming shower to get ready for the unplanned evening, you noticed the strange quietness that was never associated with your family.

"Mom? Dad?"

At first, you were foolish enough to think it was a prank in form of a surprise. But later, it was very obvious that your family had gone out somewhere without even telling you. You didn't need to decipher that only by reading a note handwritten by your uncle.

We've all gone to the nearby mall for some quick shopping. Will be back some time.

You clung on to the last sentence like your poor heart depended on it since you never really like being alone most of the times, especially on a holiday like this.

But an hour passed and they were nowhere to be seen. They didn't even bother calling you, which made you cry out loud so loudly thanks to the fact that no one was home.

You went up to your room, slamming yourself into the plushy cushions sobbing and decided to not do anything for the day. So much for the holidays, you wished you were actually in that dreadful college of yours.

It was now that you regretted politely declining the Mikaelson's Christmas Dinner. Elijah had personally made the effort to invite you all the way by visiting during after college hours only for it to be declined by you. How you wished you could be there right now.

But the familiar chimes rising from your phone diminished the regret.

Messages from your favorite family flooded the home screen, one from each Mikaelson.

Kol: Christmas is no fun without our lame jokes being tossed around at everyone. Come home if you can, we have a special Mikaelson kiddie chair reserved for you dwarf size darling ;)

Klaus: Y/N. As much as you know that I'm not a Christmas person, the house feels empty without you. Hope wants you to be here too, and we have a spot saved just for you. See you soon and Merry Christmas.

Rebekah: Bitch you better bring your arse down here no matter what time it is. You promised me you would burn your wishes with me and the family. Even if you don't come by midnight, I ensure that you do.

Freya: Hey come home, we all miss you. Keelin says it's been ages since she saw you, might be the perfect night to rekindle stories. Hopefully see you there tonight :)

And finally from the man who made you nervous and fidgety.

Elijah: I hope you're having a good time with your loved ones this Christmas. Although you declined the invite, it's never off the charts. I wish you were here with us. I really do miss your presence Y/N. Merry Christmas.

You just instantaneously sprang up from your bed, happy tears rolling down your cheeks. All of their messages touched your heart, especially Elijah's, realising they still saved you a seat. The fact that the family missed her, the fact that he misses her made her heart flutter with mixed emotions of happiness and anxiousness.

Rebekah was your college mate, the only one who helps you to get through the educational hell hole. Long enough, she confided in her family secrets, her vampirism and her small aim in life to start a family.

The Mikaelsons, as usual, were very very apprehensive about maintaining an acquaintance with you but this problem was long forgotten. You were able to bring a small amount of cheer within every single one, be it taking care of Hope or assisting Freya with spells or even talking to Klaus about the deepest regrets of his lifetime. All of them took her in like a sibling they've always wanted.

Except for one.

You quickly took a small piece of paper and scribbled something on the lines of:

Waited for 'some time'. Headed to the Mikaelsons for some actual Christmas Cheer. See you tomorrow and hope you have a good one without me.

And right now you stood in front of their beautiful teak wood door engraved with their Mikaelson sigil surrounded by a beautiful Christmas wreathe. Wanting to get there fast, you just slipped on black jeans with a black top, pairing it with a beautiful white woolen overcoat and some black boots.

You knocked the door twice, wiping the last set of tears from your cheeks. You didn't realize how puffy your eyes must've looked as Klaus opened the door with a smile that soon dissolved to a protective glance.

"Y/N"

"Is it too late? If it is-"

He pulled you in with his strong arms, pushing away your statement. "Poppycock. You're right on time."

"Klaus. I look horrible."

"Oh, that will never be a problem when Kol is around, love." He held you by your shoulders as he guided you to the dining. "But besides the jokes, have you looked yourself in the mirror? Cute, small-"

You playfully slapped his shoulders which earned a chuckle from his lips.

"and beautiful," he completed. You hugged him sidewards as you reached the center of attraction.

The hall was decorated beautifully, ornaments stringing the Christmas tree just like in those Christmas movies you've always seen. Presents were wrapped in colors you never knew that existed and it was then you realized as you walked into the dining,

"I didn't bring any gifts."

The table was filled with food and expensive silverware. From a variety of roasted meats to salads and pies to cakes, you were very eager to taste them all with the best company you could ask for. Your eyes scanned at everyone seated around the table, dressed in red, green and white. They finally landed on Elijah, who looked as usual - ridiculously good looking. A jet black suit with a white tie, which you had gifted him for his birthday last month. It was the first gift you had ever given to Elijah and you were glad it was acknowledged.

"As much as you hate my cheesiness, you're our gift darling," said Kol as he came up to you giving a kiss on your cheek.

Wishes and kisses were exchanged as the siblings and little Hope, who loved the woolen overcoat you were wearing and who just couldn't stop touching it.

You then went up to Elijah, awkwardly deciding whether to kiss him on the cheek or give him a hug, but finally, you decided to just wave it out. You swore you heard Kol and Rebekah sigh, for they knew how much you were attracted to him.

"Come on now, here's your kiddie chair," said Kol.

Before you could place your hand on the chair, your hands collided with Elijah's.

"Allow me Y/N,"

Ever the gentleman you wondered, as he pulled out the chair and helped you to sit. Your heart soared, even more, when he sat next to you, feeling the blood rush to your cheeks. Throats were cleared loudly to state the obvious.

Elijah glared at Marcel, Caroline and Kol, who were the culprits of the noise. Everybody knew how you both had a liking to each other, except for the parties involved. Everyone was seated next to their beloved. Klaus and Rebekah smirked at each other, while Kol whispered something into Hope's ear.

A toast was made by Klaus, out of character and emotional, thanking his siblings and guests, especially you for their tolerance and love disposed at him.

"To Family."

There was just merry and only merry in the room, as everyone ate to their hearts' pleasure. Everyone's glasses were red, except for Freya, Keelin, Davina and you for it was not blood but the best red wine caught hold of by Elijah.

Embarrassing Christmas stories were thrown onto the table as everyone ate, only pausing whenever the laugh was too hard to control. Caroline spilled the beans about Klaus' proposal while Rebekah talked about Kol's ridiculous adventures. At this moment, you smiled and laughed forgot what your actual family had done to you and never noticed the occasional needy glances Elijah gave you.

While taking a sip your eyes raked at everyone with no worry plastered on their face, their bond overflowing the conversations. If not for Elijah, you would never be out of your reverie if he hadn't placed his palm on top of yours.

"It really is great having you here Y/N," whispered Elijah, not even audible to the rest of the vampires as they all started calling Klaus as Santa, "I am absolutely uninformed as to your circumstances of you leaving your home and spending the holiday with us, but I'm really really glad you're here today."

Elijah's grip on her palm tightened as he saw another coat of tears brim up your eye, but not enough to roll.

You nodded at his statement of comfort, but then soon joined back to the table's merriment.

"Come on dad please," requested Hope as she conjured a Santa hat on top of her father's head, "It's not really Christmas if you don't say it." You smiled at Hope's magic, improving day by day for such a young girl of ten years old.

"Oh alright alright," said Klaus, "Santa Klaus is coming to town! Ho ho ho!"

The whole table erupted with laughter at Klaus, while he joined as well, laughing at himself.

The Christmas dinner proceeded with Elijah's palm never leaving yours and both of them couldn't have asked for anything else better.

After the hefty dinner, you barely couldn't even move from all the delicacies. Turns out this Christmas, it wasn't team girls but team boys who went all the way down to cook each and every item on the table.

"You favorite gingerbread and sugar cookies wee exclusively baked by Elijah himself love," grinned Rebekah, "Plus the boys wouldn't let us enter so why not?"

Soon Rebekah started to hand out pieces of parchment to everyone so that they could write it down for good luck and burn it.

You involuntarily looked up at Elijah, least bothered if anyone was looking. He turned up and looked at you as well as he held Hope in his arms. To be in his embrace in both good and bad times, to lead a life with him no matter where it takes you, to grow up with this dysfunctional yet caring family was your ultimate wish. But it seemed like a dream, a dream too far to touch, like touching the stars with your bare hands.

But nevertheless, you wrote it down feeling foolish and greedy to want to have the best things in the world.

"Gather around its time!"

After Rebekah's calling, one by one everyone burnt their wishes into the small fire built by Freya.

You sighed as you made you moved away from the gathering, up and away to the room you would always go to every time you'd come here.

In reality, it was Elijah's study. Walls covered with bookshelves with a very huge fireplace giving you the perfect warmth all the time. This was the place where most of the times Elijah and you used to bond reading books in silence and confiding in thoughts and personal matters that wouldn't be heard by any other person. It was getting cold and you might as well thought to get yourself warmed.

But when you turned on the lights, you were in for a treat.

The whole room was dimly illuminated with fairy lights strung upon every tall bookshelf that covered the rustic walls. You even saw huge socks lined up on the mantlepiece of the huge fireplace you've always adored. In place of the couch, a small bed mattress was placed on the floor with a navy blue bedspread covered with fluffy cushions - just the way you liked.

Your heart felt fuzzy, this whole room giving you so much of aesthetic warmth. What made you even curious was that no one used this room except for you both. So that must definitely mean-

"I sincerely hope you like it."

You turned around to see Elijah standing by the door frame with a mug in his hand, his thick accent giving you a small chill. As he walked towards you, you shamelessly checked him out from head to toe - how the suit hugged him perfectly making him look dapper as ever. You took in a deep breath, not being able to stand there without touching him.

"It's really gorgeous Elijah. I love what you've done with the study," you blushed.

"Well, I'm glad. This was a small surprise for you-"

"You did this for me?"

"Of course. I did have a hunch that you'd be here tonight."

You blushed even more furiously, putting your head down. This man could make you go crazy but still remain sane at the same time.

"Here I brought this for you," said Elijah as he handed over the mug to her, making his way to set up the fireplace.

"Oh you're always spoiling me, Elijah," you chuckled realizing he made you Hot Cocoa, something you've always liked to have when you're feeling cold.

"By all means, I am to do that always," he huffed as he removed his coat suit, flinging it to one of the idle chairs. He began to roll up his sleeves, all of his attention on getting this fireplace started, but yours, by all means, wasn't.

Your breath hitched, with heart skipping a few beats probably, seeing his well built muscular arms bulging out of his black inside shirt. He then bent down to place the firewood and start the warm fire, which gave you a perfect view of his backside, which made you cough so loudly because damn it was one fine-

"Are you alright?"

You cleared your throat, prodding yourself for shamelessly checking him out, "Yeah- yeah I'm good."

"Well, come be seated."

You removed your overcoat as it began to slowly get warm. Elijah's eye's lingered to you, as he saw you in the black knitted tank top, as you took your sip from the hot cocoa. You made a pleasing noise after drinking it, which unconventionally turned him on lightly. He cleared his throat just to get the ridiculous thoughts out of his head.

Keeping the mug aside you sat down, removing your boots that stuffed your legs the whole day. You stretched your legs and neck, unknowingly giving a beautiful display of your chest to Elijah, but averted his eyes being the gentlemen he was.

"This is so well put together Elijah. Thank you so much,"

Elijah nodded slightly, loosening his tie from the warmth that was growing in the room. Realizing you were looking too much, your eyes moved to the prickling fire.

"I don't want to sound persuasive, but if I may ask you?"

You cocked your head towards him sighing. It annoyed you that it hurt every time you thought about it. But it was Elijah, the one man who you could express your emotions freely.

"They left me, Elijah," you stopped, slightly getting choked from the emotion.

"What?

"They all went out without calling me."

And like this rambling teen, you went on and on about what happened just a few hours back. A few tears fell here and there while ranting every tiny detail of the evening to him and not did he for even a second lose his attention from all your words.

He wasn't even realizing what he was doing as he cupped one of your cheeks with his hand as you completed, giving a defeated whimper and sigh.

"...makes me feel so unloved all the time Elijah. How much more do I need to prove myself?"

"Shh," he whispered as he came closer to you, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, "listen to my voice, mine and mine alone. Take a deep breath."

And you did so, focussed on his voice, the only thing you wanted to hear for the entire day.

"Y/N you are so loved, so loved," he came closer you almost inches away from your lips, "I want you to know that very clearly. Do you understand?"

You nodded, your eyes closed from the proximity of Elijah's face. You could feel his hot breath fanning on your face and you were pretty sure he could feel yours as well.

"We're here for you always love," he paused and resumed, "I'm here for you."

"I know that Elijah," you whispered hoarsely, "I'm eternally grateful for you and your family."

"But I don't see you the way my family sees you."

You opened your eyes, the tension finally hitting both of you as you looked at his half-opened eyes. You looked at his soft, supple lips that made you lick yours involuntarily as you felt Elijah's grip on you cheek harden. He made his move and you decided to make yours.

"Yeah yeah that's good," you hesitated, "because neither do I, Elijah."

That one statement was enough for Elijah to slam his lips onto yours.

As both of your lips entwined he could taste the cocoa that was on your lips a few minutes ago and he loved it. You moaned into the kiss as he pulled you onto his thighs. Your palms roamed freely, tugging on to his perfectly styled hair.

In the heat of the moment, you removed your tank top revealing your strapless lace black bra you wore. It was a delight for Elijah, kissing you sensuously right in the middle of your breasts. He made his way kissing you all the way up to your neck. From the sounds, you were making he figured it out that this was your sweet spot.

He then made his move, ripping his own shirt for you to devour. You traced his torso with your finger, checking if it was really true if you were about to do it with a living sex god in front of you.

You peppered up kisses up his neck, just like he did and finally found your way to his lips. You let your tongue explore him, as you both fought for dominance. And in the heat of the moment after pulling away your tongue from his, you bit his lip, which produced a loud growl from Elijah.

Getting hot and bothered as Elijah noticed, you were grinding his hips, where you felt him bulging from his pants.

"Elijah please," you cried.

"What do you want my love?" he whispered huskily, which made you go high.

"I want you, please," she begged, as she traced down her trousers.

As his arms snaked up to unclasp your bra, exposing your breasts, he came up to your ears whispering thickly as he pressed his chest onto yours.

"And so you shall my love."

Back down there everyone was opening presents while drinking wine. There was Merry all over until after a point of time Caroline noticed something.

"Hey! Where is Y/N?"

Everyone looked around in confusion realizing they were missing a member from the festivities.

"I think Elijah has gone in search for her," said Freya as she cuddled Keelin in the living room.

"Oh oh alright that's good," she said content with the reply.

"Y/N"

"Oh, that sounded like him. I think he found her. They'll join us at any momen-"

"Oh Elijah"

Everyone just stopped, as all the vampires dropped their jaws and the gifts they had in their hand since they heard something that was something extremely inaudible to Freya, Keelin, and Davina. Rebekah gasped but secretly proud of her girl.

"What's wrong? What happened Kol?" Asked an extremely worried Davina, apprehending they must have heard something that she wouldn't have.

"Elijah. Y/N. They're um-"

Kol stopped Caroline Midway. "It's about time if you ask me. Was this the surprise Elijah was talking about? The surprise of Christmas Sex?"

Klaus hit him hard on the head on account of little Hope who was unwrapping her gifts, fortunately not paying attention to what the adults were talking.

Everyone blushed and let out small fits of laughter. They were happy that finally, those two got to know how much they actually mean to each other.

Davina whispered something and snapped her fingers, knowing that the vampires feel more silence with her magic.

"Now now let's give them privacy," smirked Davina.

"Atta girl", said Kol as he kissed her forehead, "Rebekah I think you owe me a 100 dollars for predicting Elijah’s Christmas Sex."

Klaus almost chopped his head off in a moment’s fury.

Elijah pulled out the extra navy blue sheets covering both of them. Right below his arms, you lay down covered in a thin film of sweat beads, staring into the fireplace and then looked right at him into his chocolate colored eyes.

He leaned down to give you another kiss, devouring your lips slowly as you placed your palm on his cheek.

"Talk about the best Christmas, this was way out of my league," you whispered

"It was nothing love," he said grinning as he lied down next to you, kissing your forehead and pushing away the strands from your face.

You snuggled closer into him, wrapping your arms around him, your head on his torso. "This was the Christmas gift ever. Thank you, Elijah,"

"Oh no my love, that's not all I have for you," he whispered as he got up instantly, making you follow suit as well.

Gripping the sheet to your chest, you saw Elijah reach of for something in a medium sized box green box with a red ribbon on it.

Taking it, you looked up at him smiling with curiosity and back at the box and decided to open it.

Inside it was a small silver chain with a pendant on it. It was so beautiful at a glance you were smiling so hard at Elijah without even discerning what it was.

The pendant was the Mikaelson sigil, a beautiful M calligraphed onto a coat of arms. And on the backside of the pendant was a small letter, that denoted the first letter of your name.

The emotional wreck you are made your eyes a tad bit watery.

"Elijah. Th-this is beautiful. You didn't have to."

"No," he simply said taking the chain from the box and nudging you to turn around, "it's of utmost importance that you know this truth Y/N."

He helped you put the chain onto you as he brushed your hair away gently and placed his chin on to your shoulder, whispering something you never thought you will hear.

"You will and always be family, no matter what the path takes us to. You are and will undoubtedly be the one who I cherish my life with Y/N. You must know that I-"

"I know," you turned around to him, inches away again from his lips, "I love you too Elijah."

Both of you feverishly kissed again as your hands found your way to his hair, completely forgetting about the sheet you were holding onto.

When you let go of his hair briefly your soft supple breasts were left on display for Elijah. He looked at them, his eyes going darker which you identified as lust. Without any warning he tugged you to him, feeling his well-built torso on your chest, which made you giggle incoherently.

"It's not a Mikaelson Christmas if there is no round two love," whispered Elijah as he began to do what was meant to be done.

And that's when you wondered: What more could you ask on a Christmas Day?

I warned you that it was cheesy. Your loss xD

Also, I’m taking this opportunity to wish all my lovely followers a very very Happy New Year. Hope all your wishes come true :’)

Tags: @heythereelejah @evyiione @idkhaylijah @dendrite-lover @elejah-wonderland (this is a random taglist ahahah ;___;)

#Elijah Mikaelson #the originals #elijah mikaelson imagines #elijah mikaelson x reader #klaus mikaelson #vampire diaries #tvd #the originals imagines #kol mikaelson #freya mikaelson #rebekah mikaelson #hope mikaelson #reader insert #to #daniel gillies

1K notes · View notes