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#jaebum fanfiction
eureka-its-zico · 1 year
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Winterfall
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Synopsis: When you thought of your life, Glenview Psychiatric Hospital was the last place you thought you’d end up. What could be weirder than calling a place like this home? Finding people who remind you that, sometimes, the messiest parts of who we are can be the best parts of us too.
Pairings: Christian Yu x Reader x Jay B x Reader (It’s a love triangle, y’all) 
Series: ongoing 
Word Count: 5186
Warnings: mentions of self-harm, mental health issues, mental disorders, slight violence, sexual themes
A/N: This is a hard one to post. I’ve had this in my WIPs for over seven years. I’ve rewritten it multiple times. Consider if this was a series, I was willing to share. As someone who suffers from BPD II and PTSD, it felt strange to dive into mental health. In a way, I felt like I needed a safe place to get it out. To share. This fic isn’t meant to be sad. It’s meant to be about growth. The journey of mental health can be a messy one, but it doesn’t have to hinder our own growth. Our sadness does not define us. If I ever miss anything in the warnings for chapters, please let me know and I’ll fix it ASAP! This fic is loosely based off of one of my favorite films, Girl, Interrupted. And remember, if you you ever need to talk: Im here.
Shout out to my bestie @deadneverlander for always being the better half in our clownery. I wouldn't be able to do half of this without you.
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There was something about the bleakness of winter that seemed to make countless people’s bones ache for the warmth of summer. Their loneliness is somehow made more apparent by rain clouds and negative degrees, turning thoughts into reminiscent scenes of a doomsday film. 
You’d always claimed that fall was your favorite season because the vast spectrum of your sadness didn't match the heat of summer. Sure, you loved the possibilities of hot cocoa, warm fires, ridiculous horror, Christmas films, and the first sight of snow. Somewhere along the way, however, came the anxiety of holiday dinners. Where the comfort you’d found in overcast skies turned sinister with repeated looks that reminded you that you were the black sheep; the odd man out with another year of nothing to show.
Fall no longer meant binges on shows and breaks from the endless routine that was work and school. It meant laying in the snow until your body heat forced it to melt underneath you, seeping into the fabric of your clothes to leave your nerves numb and transparent like ice. Your mind silently hoped it would be enough to extinguish the agony that blossomed in your chest. 
Jackets were no longer marked for warmth, but strictly to hide your struggle to feel anything past the chasm that’d grown in the past couple of months: to bleed out the parts of you that didn't belong. It wasn't a surprise it's what landed you a one-way ticket to the cozy room inside a psychiatric hospital. Maybe that's just what happens when you're found unresponsive with a belly housing a fifth of rum. The marks on your skin lay like a map to follow on how you got there; only being found like a frantic afterthought. 
Glenview Psychiatric Hospital, or GSH that was strategically labeled in bright crimson above the pocket of your prison-inspired sweatshirt, had been home for three months now. It was meant to be a place of healing, among the basic mood stabilizing and therapy sessions everyone held in a day. You felt further away from that concept with every group activity the doctors forced you to take part in. Your social anxiety becoming apparent each time it lands on you to speak, either to close the circle, or to be a part of the ridiculous game activities. The last time you played volleyball your face saw more action with the pleather ball than your arms ever did. 
It was currently 12:47 p.m. The clock giving you a false sense of hope that the time wouldn’t just creep by to leave you stranded the last thirteen minutes until you’d earned your freedom. There was, however, the off chance if Dr. Thompson wasn't hearing what he wanted; the hour-long group activity would be extended. 
You scanned the other six faces that made up your group: the huddled mess of piled sweaters and huddled blanket of Soomi a fleeting moment of comfort. It only took your eyes adjusting on her figure to know she didn’t have one. Her tiny body composed of thick layers of clothes to portray a false sense of shape. Her anorexia becoming so severe her family had no other option but to put her here, or watch her die. Jason’s endless finger taps on every surface he could touch the only giveaway to his OCD until he removed himself from his chair. Sejun with his alcoholism and Yuna with her acidic imagination that the wind whispered her deepest secrets out into the world. 
All this ending with your gaze narrowed on the statuesque figure of Jaebum who comically sat opposite of your current position. The two suicidal inmates that shared in the anxiousness of sadness but little else, and the usual reason why your group never seemed to end on time. 
You couldn't say it was a shame to be stuck sitting dead center of someone so attractive; as shallow of an observation as it was there was no denying how ungodly true that statement was. He held a silent attractiveness that resonated in the solitude he kept around himself, and Jaebum was indeed a solitary creature.
He preferred books over people. Usually moving away from anyone who got close to his latest reading perch without ever glancing up from his current book. Jaebum’s favorite place he’d reserved to get lost inside his fiction the seal of the window that looked out the expanse of the institute’s backyard. The entire estate currently covered in the dead burgundy and gold of a forest of oak tree leaves. 
It wasn't like you were laying avid amounts of your attention on him or anything. You didn't pay attention to how broad his shoulders looked in his old man sweaters that you could've bet money smells like mothballs. How his features seemed sharpened to match the fierceness that lived inside his eyes. The only thing that exposed his softness was the speck of a mole that dusted itself on his left eyelid. 
Jaebum just held a presence that demanded to be noticed. Whether he himself liked it or not. 
“Jaebum: do you have anything you’d like to add to the session?”
Dr. Thompson’s question made the both of you jolt in your seats. Youwere too busy staring down at your nails while you plucked away at the cuticles. Jaebum's head turned, unbeknownst to you, from looking at you to the good doctor. It was enough to make your cheeks flush hot. 
His crossed arms gave a soft shrug, and you hated how your eyes stayed captivated by the movement. You were willing to blame it on the charcoal-worn cable knit sweater he favored. It really did smell like moth balls and age making you willing to bet it wasn't his to begin with. 
“We talked about this guys. Shrugging is not an adequate substitute for an answer.”
His tone showing his frustration more than anger at his need to repeatedly inform the group. Dr. Thompson looked at each of you individually until he stopped on Jaebum, who didn’t seem the least bit moved. 
“I have nothing to say.”
A sigh escaped from Dr. Thompson’s lips as his head shook softly. His eyes averted down to the tin clipboard momentarily before they resumed their previous position. 
“And what is it exactly you would like me to add, huh?” You felt your body tense against the chair. Your hands grasping at its edges like it would be the only thing to keep you stable against the oncoming rage that was Jaebum’s agitation. “We do these pointless sessions over and over: again and again. For what? Do you think it “saves” anyone?”
Your eyes diverted from the safety of your knees; counting every frayed piece of cloth on your jeans that hung loose from torn holes. No part of you needed to acknowledge that he was standing. The room did that well enough with the tension his power caused. The room itself swelling with anxiety that made fidgety Sera begin to rock violently against the back of her chair. Her head shaking hair into her face, like a curtain to hide what she feared was coming her way like the abusive hands of her father. 
The orderlies were already beginning to circle his chair, but Dr. Thompson held up a hand of warding. He reminded you too much of an irresponsible ring handler at a circus. Unwilling to recognize his own tiger was about to maim him. 
“No, no that’s fair enough. I see you have an issue with the way we try and help our patients.”
“Help?!” Jaebum snarled. “Is that what you call it? Like you helped Simon remember all the things he wanted to forget! Is that what you call endless therapies until he killed himself! You consider being helpful with the way you handled Ian?”
Dr. Thompson regarded Jaebum quietly, but his eyes were focused and searching the young man’s face. You watched in helpless awe as one stood like a calm in a blazing storm, while the other raged so furiously you thought the walls would come down. No longer was his voice a strong current, but now thunderous words that hurled like lightning bolts were being directed at the man before him. 
Jaebum was right. Sometimes, the doctors picked and picked a part at you until you were left bare and raw. And if their words didn’t do it their physical methods picked up where they lacked. His anger was justified, because deep down so were you. But you didn’t have the towering strength like he did to stand up to anyone. Your fear of the seclusion rooms kept you prisoner: locked in your chair as a simple flick of Dr. Thompson’s hand sent the orderlies rushing to Jaebum’s side. 
“I think that’s enough for today’s session.” 
In the back of your mind you knew that Jaebum was right. In part. Who were counselors and psychologists to tell the broken mirrors of people how to put their pieces back together? Only to end up with more blood on their hands from struggling to put sharp pieces in place. They studied people like you, Jaebum...people like Ian who were features in their college books. They themselves barely ever one to experience it themselves. 
Healing, even if unconventional, was still healing in the end. There was no right or wrong way to get there, but here, with people like Dr. Thompson, their textbook solutions were the only solutions. Maybe that’s why it backfired so terribly with Ian. 
So for once, you wanted to stand up with Jaebum. To call out the injustices of treatments forced on patients, like Ian. Treatments they’d placed on patients that only wanted to forget, because no one wants to remember traumas and everything that makes them feel like failures. 
You knew, however, if you took that chance to be brave for once you would end up like Jaebum. Uselessly struggling against orderlies who came prepared with syringes to make you complacent and an endless day being locked for god knew how long inside seclusion. 
It was cowardice that kept your mouth shut. All of you stayed quiet as an orderly you aptly nicknamed, “The Bull,” grabbed at the neck of Jaebum’s sweater. That was all it took for him to react violently. Jaebum’s elbow flew back with such force it dislodged The Bull’s grip, which only seemed to make it worse. 
“Jaebum, please do not struggle.” Dr. Thompson’s voice didn’t sound as soothing as he probably imagined. Obvious agitation outlined every word; the struggle forcing all of you up from your chairs and away from the fighting. “Everyone out. Now.” 
A part of you hated listening. For not firmly digging your feet in to stand for something you agreed wasn’t right. It was an odd thought. Since Ian was the usual instigator of the chaos of how these ended. Never Jaebum. Maybe he just felt like in Ian’s absence he needed to take over for him. 
“You play god with everyone’s emotions and leave them to drown alone in the aftermath. You are the reason Christian keeps escaping and Hyujin is gone! It’s you! It’s all of you!”
Jaebum’s rage became more apparent with each sentence and broke as his throat formed the words of his former friend. Former because he’d found himself as one of Dr. Thompson’s experimental new treatments. A treatment that brought back too much Hyujin couldn’t cope with - was forced to confront - before he was ready. 
The ward still felt hollow - missing in the sound of Hyujin’s laugh. 
You would’ve been impressed with the way Jaebum was laying into the doctor. He was holding his own against the orderly at his arms until the Bull snuck behind him and brought him falling down to the cold concrete floor. 
That was the last you saw of Jaebum as you were ushered outside the doors. You faced them for a long time. No one questioned why you stood at the entrance as Jaebum’s yelling dulled to nothing. It was too late for you to run back and play the role of knight in shining armor and standing in front of the door would only make the staff assume you were waiting to cause a scene. 
Turning on your heel you headed towards the living area. Your mind racing heavily with indecision and not paying attention to the overcrowded chairs and couches. You bypassed them all to head to your favorite window seat. It was opposite to the one everyone knew as Jaebum’s; reading a new book every week during free time. It was so engrained to the fabric of the facility that no one tried to take it from him. Not even Ian. 
You folded into yourself as soon as you sat down on the window seat. Your chin pressed into your shoulder so you could get a better look outside. The vibrant colors of changing leaves reminding you that fall was coming. Maybe they would let you work outside if you were good? You were tired of doing bathroom and kitchen duties, but because of Ian’s latest stunt no one was allowed outside. Not until the fences were made higher with wire curled along the top. 
If thoughts could be breathed into existence, you were positive you alone would be deemed responsible for Ian walking, right then and there, through the facility's double doors. Of course, Ian could never simply enter a room quietly.
Christian entered every room like a force. Wild and unpredictable. Mother Nature couldn’t compete with his massive hurricane personality. No one could come close, because underneath all that unhinged nature was a magmatism that far outreached just good looks. 
Was Christian good looking? Devilishly so. It was his way with words, however, that left many people reeling. Not just fellow patients, but staff as well. He was painfully charming and, if you weren’t prepared for his wide-set smile directed in your direction, you were going to find yourself in trouble. Deep, deep Christian-flavored trouble. The staff had even labeled him with a warning of “verbal jujitsu” - you had to stay miles ahead of the conversation or you’d find yourself like the recently fired psych tech who’d handed over the ward keys without a second thought.
Seriously. That’s how Christian escaped this time. All the other times, well, the man could be considered the second coming of Houdini. 
“How have you been, Bob? Are your feet still giving you grief, Margo?”
It was impressive how he acted like it wasn’t a big deal he’d magically reappeared. The guard and orderlies awkwardly keep watch over the double doors he’d come through like he’d disappear back into thin air. 
You hated how happy you became hearing the richness of his voice. The way his accent reminded you of the battle of wills on what was the proper way to say, “water,” and the teasing you gave him about constantly saying, “Naurr”. 
“It’s Margaret, jackass,” the older psych tech mumbled in reply. She didn’t even bother to look up from putting a new bandage on Bob’s hands.
“Missed you too, babe.” 
You watched his reflection in the safety of the glass of the window. You didn’t want to show how eager you were to see him - or to find out that every time he left the ward became almost too much to bear alone. 
In the safety of the window, you could pretend the call to freedom was what kept your eyes hypnotized. Not the sleeveless tee he’d tucked inside the waist of skinny jeans that hugged to the muscles like paint or the layers of tattoos that covered honey skin. He wasn’t tan when he’d left. Where had Ian’s adventures taken him this time? 
You would get the chance to ask him yourself. 
When his eyes caught sight of your huddled frame curled in the window seat his trajectory changed completely. He didn’t think you’d noticed him yet, but it didn’t stop his infamous megawatt smile from brightening up his features and the butterflies he’d left trapped in your gut instantly springing back to life. 
The only downside? You were more than positive Ian saw you only as a sister. If he’d thought of you in the past as anything else you would’ve definitely known by now. As much as Ian was known for his charisma and whirlwind energy, he was also known for slipping into the janitor’s closet with more than a few now-fired staff members. 
In a matter of seconds, he left the mirage of the window to become real beside you. The smell of cigarettes and his preferred cologne enveloped you, instantly turning the space intimate. You tried your best to ignore him. Ian would receive nothing but the side eye from you after the latest shit he’d pulled. 
He let out a heavy sigh as a finger playfully poked into your side. He wiggled the digit in a weak attempt to tickle you thinking it would be enough for you to finally look at him. Fat chance. Using your elbow, you pushed down with just enough force to dislodge him from your side. The act forced a heavy sigh to flare his nostrils as he leaned back against the window. 
“Come on, ‘Roo. You can’t be that mad at me?”
Of course, he would use your nickname. The nickname you earned one night when he’d tried to tickle you until you couldn’t breathe. To be honest, he thinks you’d kicked him accidentally in the chest because you might wet yourself. The truth? Ian had gotten dangerously close. A few times it felt like his lips were just a few sharp breaths away from landing on yours, and that night you’d felt hollow. So hollow. All you wanted was to burn and Ian…he was so full of fire and life and for once you wanted to know what it felt like to be filled with something other than emptiness. 
You wanted to catch fire too. 
So you’d kicked out at him in panic. Hence how you became his Kangaroo. His ‘Roo. 
“Actually,” you began, biting out the world with each syllable. “I can be upset with you and I most definitely am.”
“Don’t be like that, ‘Roo. I know you missed me.”
“No, I didn’t. It was rather peaceful while you were off on whatever antics you decided to get into.”
A tsk sent his bottom lip into a pout as he crossed his arms. His shoulders lean further down the window and slightly into your view. 
God, why did he have to be so heartbreakingly handsome? 
You refused to make eye contact with him. Don’t do it. It’s a trick. You knew it was a trick. A sneaky ploy and yet…you looked. One look was all it took and Ian knew he had you.
“I missed you.” His voice caressed your skin like velvet causing it to erupt in goosebumps. “So, I know if I missed you that can only mean that you missed me.”
A snort of disbelief left you as you finally gave him what he’d been asking: your full and undivided attention.  
“Is that how it works, Ian?”
“Ah!” He beamed. “She finally looks at me.” 
You couldn’t keep your eyes from rolling as you tried to face away from him, but Ian wasn’t having it. 
“I shouldn’t even do that.”
“Where is all this hostility coming from?” He pouted. “Did you experience another one of Dr. Thompson’s riveting group circles?”
“It’s not funny, Ian. You always leave.” You hated how your voice betrayed you. The way it cracked before you could glue it back together. “You go and leave me here, without you, all the time. One of these days you may not come back.”
All the playfulness slowly drained from his features. The sly smile wilted to a grimace as deep brown eyes scanned over your face. Calculating your words with the body language of guarded arms and saddened eyes. His hands gently grabbed at your elbows to loosen your arms before turning you to him. His head dipped down just a bit to make sure he had you at eye level. 
“Hey, ‘Roo. I’m sorry. I come back for you, you know that right?” You knew he was lying, but try telling that to the butterflies fluttering around like crazy in your gut. “These assholes could never catch me if I didn’t turn myself in, and I only turned myself in to get back to you.” 
You didn’t know what you would’ve said at that moment. Maybe something he wanted to hear or maybe - finally - you’d have the guts to call him out on his bullshit. Luckily for you, the muffled sound of Jaebum’s screaming slowly grew louder until his struggling body was brought through the double doors from therapy. 
“Let me go, you assholes!”
You’d never seen Jaebum fight so fiercely before. The way he flailed his arms to find a way to get them released along with his legs kicking out like a madman. They practically dragged him down the hall towards seclusion. For a split second, in his struggle, his eyes landed on you. His gaze held yours for what felt like a lifetime until the spell was broken. It felt like slow motion as his face turned to see Ian on your right and all the fight drained from his body. 
Did he think he was fighting for Ian? Himself? Jaebum was never much for acting out. That was usually Ian who created trouble. Maybe that was why he looked so shocked seeing Jaebum being dragged down to seclusion. 
“Oi! What the fuck is this?”
Ian was up off the window seat in seconds. A couple of orderlies were already coming out from behind the nursing station to meet him halfway. Whatever they were saying, you weren’t all too sure. Ian was doing his usual of screaming and shoving causing the orderlies to prepare for a fight. The patients closest to all the commotion desperately trying to get out of the way. 
It was all chaos. All classic Ian. The only non-classic thing was Jaebum looking at you in a way you’d never noticed before. It created a row of questions that sat heavily on your tongue and ones you weren’t sure he would ever be willing to answer. 
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It wasn’t until everything had settled down again that you snuck inside the room that held group therapy. Your eyes instantly homing in on Jaebum’s chair and underneath it one of his grandfather’s books. 
Before you dared to push all the way through into the room you gave one last cautious glance to the recreation room and slipped inside. You made sure to hold the door so it didn’t click into place. There was no denying if you were caught sneaking in somewhere you weren’t meant to be you’d be joining Jaebum in your own seclusion room. 
The sterile room with its egg-white walls was most definitely not your favorite. The only way to add your own source of color to its walls was to display your thoughts - projecting them out like a fucked up home movie that you’d rather forget. 
You made sure to cut across the room silently. Your legs bending at the knee to swoop down to grab the worn-down cover and secure it to your chest. 
You couldn’t explain why as you made your way out of the room towards the upper floor that held the seclusion rooms what made you want to do this for him. It’s not like he would thank you, but you weren’t looking for that. 
It wasn’t hard to notice the way Jaebum cared for his late grandfather's things. From the sweater he wore daily that was meticulously cleaned and laundered to the few books Jaebum was able to keep from his collection. He coveted them the way others valued trophies but it wasn’t praise that Jaebum found secluded inside their pages: it was peace. 
You didn’t know much about him. Jaebum wasn’t much of a sharer. He was reserved. The only way to know him was by the pages you held close to your chest. So, you weren’t terribly sure why you were doing this for him except for the fact you believed no one should go without something that they loved. 
Just as you were about to round the last corner to the hallway that held seclusion rooms 1 through 3, you caught a flash of an orderly speaking to a nurse. From the brief moment you’d caught before you found the safety of the opposite wall, they were more than likely flirting. 
Ted. That was the name written on his uniform. He’d called Ian a “Psycho,” a handful of times. You wondered if Ted knew the nurse he worshiped spent the same handful of nights sneaking inside Ian’s dorm. 
“Do you maybe want to go get breakfast in the morning?” 
Breakfast?! You mouthed to yourself before you snuck another peek around the corner. 
“Oh, I don’t know, Ted. I might have plans later.”
If your eyes could roll back any harder you would’ve seen brain cells. You knew exactly what her supposed plans were. You could already hear the moans that echoed down the halls like a haunting. The only thing haunted here would be you. 
You didn’t have to see Ted’s expression to know he was defeated. He was probably wondering how someone could refuse breakfast or maybe he was finally growing tired of being told no. The mystery of the unknown in this love triangle would sadly (not really) remain a mystery. You didn’t really care if they had breakfast together or hunted Easter eggs. You just wanted them to finish their awkward conversation and leave the damn hallway. 
A few more strangled pieces of conversation later and you could hear the shuffling of feet. Quickly, you moved inside a linen closet and quietly shut the door. Your ears straining - waiting - to hear a pair of feet move past your location so you could finish what you came to do. 
Every second you were out here and not inside your own dorm waiting for the nurses to come in and check you were there was one second too many in a chance at punishment. After a few more minutes went by and the coast sounded relatively clear, you creeped out from the linen closet and dashed towards the seclusion rooms. 
“Jaebum!?” You half whispered half yelled. “Jay!”
“What the hell are you doing over here?”
Ah, there was that condescending voice you’d grown accustomed to. Following the sound of his voice, and with the help of his fingers hanging out of the small seclusion window, you darted towards the back of the hall. Your arms still securely held onto his grandfather’s book and only began to loosen as you got closer to the door. 
“I wanted to bring you something before they placed it in lost and found.” 
With another cautious glance down the hall, your fingers wrapped around the edges of the book's spine. You offered it up to him and gently started to push it through the small window. Jaebum hadn’t spoken since he noticed what you held in your hands. His fingers overlapped yours as he took it from you. His arms immediately brought it inside with him with the sound of pages flipping while he made sure each page was still accounted for. 
“How did you-“ he began, but his words quickly died out. 
“Can you believe it ladies and gentlemen? For once, he was too stunned to speak,” you teased. 
Jaebum’s eyes narrowed in on your face. His hands wagged the book as if he was going to hit you over the head with it. Who knows, he might have if there wasn’t a 30-pound door stationed between you. 
“I’m serious. You came all this way to give me this?”
You shrugged his words off like what you’d done wasn’t a big deal. Both of you knew it was. So many factors that could lead you to where he was, or worse, if they believed you were trying to steal someone else’s property. Which, they one hundred percent would even though kleptomania wasn’t part of your conga line list of disorders. 
“I remember how much his things matter to you. I didn’t want Bull or Kojak The Great Dick to get a hold of it. I know they wouldn’t have respected it after today.”
You’d expected a lot of things to come out of this exchange. The main one? At least a thank you. All you were getting now felt like the cold shoulder that featured a very unnerving stare. With every second you were feeling more self-conscious and it took everything in you not to shout, “Boo!” in an attempt to get him to blink. 
You couldn’t take the awkwardness of the exchange any longer. Your feet were already backpedaling as your arms swung, thumb extended out, to indicate your exit before you spoke. 
“Great well, this was a fun chat-“
“He lies to you, you know.”
Jaebum’s words took you by surprise. You were sure that was the point. His face was set in deep lines of determination as if what he needed to say was something you needed to adhere to like the gospel from the Bible. 
“Okay, Jay I’ll bite: who is he?”
“You know who I’m talking about. Ian. It’s who he is. He doesn’t know how to tell the truth, and you always set yourself up for failure with him.”
Maybe Jaebum thought he was being helpful - calling to light all things you were aware of but couldn’t bring yourself to say out loud. You must have seemed too weak - gullible - in his eyes for him to believe he needed to say these things. 
You eyed him coolly through the window. Your tongue rolled around inside your cheek trying to decide what exactly you should say at this moment. Did he want recognition that you knew you were an idiot? What did it matter to him if you knew Ian didn’t give two fucks about you. 
So, the only thing you could settle on was the beginning of a long sigh before you spoke: “I know I might look like a love-sick puppy to you, Jay, but I know my place.”
He tried saying your name to stop you. You just ignored him as you shook your head and allowed yourself to begin to move back down the hall towards the safety of your own dorm. 
“It’s alright, Jay I get it. Take care of your grandfather’s things better, okay?”
You didn’t wait to finish your sentence before you were already turning to head down the hallway. The bottom of your feet itching for you to sprint in the opposite direction. Your mind raced over Jaebum’s words and matched them with the growing chasm in your chest.
So lost in your head, you barely caught the sound of his parting, “Thank you,” as you bolted around the corner. 
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yiensaintlaurent · 1 year
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00 | the other side - mark tuan
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pairing: mark tuan x reader
genre: angst, smut, idol! got7, idol! reader
warnings: cursing, explicit sex, takes place in present time with minor flashbacks
summary: mark knew it was game over the minute he saw you. despite being apart from each other for so long, no amount of practice in front of the mirror would've prepared him for the way his heart dropped the moment he saw you walk in. he'd forgotten about the hold you had on him, you; the love of his life, the one that got away.
character preface
mark tuan :
male
age: 29
birthday: september 4, 1993
currently living in arcadia, la county, california, u.s.a
y/n:
female
age: 25
birthday: september 15, 1997
currently living in seoul, south korea
originally from new york city; part time in los angeles
all got7 member info is in present time.
let me know if i should post ch. 01 :)
______________________________________________________________
disclaimer:
slight or recurring mentions of other idols, groups, familiar names.
despite it taking place in present time, with real time events, this story the plot and scenarios are 100% made up
208 notes · View notes
vad-hander · 2 years
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GOT7
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NO NAME
pairing: idol!Jaebeom x reader
others: idol!Youngjae
genre: one-shot, smut, fluff, established relationships, domestic
warnings: dom!Jaebeom sub!reader switched positions, teasing, orgasm denial, unprotected sex
READ HERE
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JAEBEOM, THE GUY FROM THE BAR
pairing: Jaebeom x reader
others: Jeno
genre: series, fluff, angst, strangers to lovers
warnings: break up (with Jeno), drinking, slowburn
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7 | PART 8
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NO NAME
pairing: Jinyoung x reader
others: NCT Johnny
genre: series, smut, fluff, angst
warnings: abuse, depression, toxic friendship, established relationships, lovers to strangers, mentions of self harm, messed up everything (you'll get it as you read it)
PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7
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dontbekoifish · 2 years
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The Sky Prince (1/3)
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Pairing: Duffi!Jaebeom x f!reader (future chapters), slight Muska!Jinyoung x f!reader
Genre: Angst, some fluff
Warnings: Mentions of bullying, death, violence, mentions of murder, injuries, toxic relationships (chapter specific)
Word count: 3684 (chapter specific)
Summary: Maybe Jinyoung was a little mean to you, but you think it gives him personality. You kind of like it. But he leaves you all alone. Until one fateful day, where your whole life turns upside down.
Movie: Castle in the Sky
Fandom: GOT7
This was written for the 2021 Ghibli Collab by @toikiii​. It’s a long time overdue, so I’m sorry about that. But this will be finished by October, in a three-parter. I hope you enjoy the first part. :)
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Jinyoung insisted he’s some sort of prince. You would’ve found it annoying if it was any other kid in the village, but you didn’t mind it from him. He had dreams and aspirations, and who were you to judge him? You would sit with him under the big oak tree in the orphanage’s yard and listen to his stories and tales. The other kids would call you both weird, but you didn’t mind. It wasn’t like they were any more mature.
As the oldest two of the orphans, Jinyoung being only a few months older than you, you and he often had a lot more free time. Honestly, you didn’t know why you both had to stay. Well, kind of. You weren’t able to leave until someone offered to marry you, as you were a young woman with no family. Such was how the village worked. But Jinyoung, you didn’t know what was stopping him.
Deep inside you wished he was waiting until he was old enough to marry at twenty and then he would engage you, but you know it wasn’t that. He didn’t really like you. He only put up with you because you believed his tall tales. You could see it in his eyes. When you two were stuck doing chores any other day, he would look at you with such animosity. But when you sat at the tree, he smiled at you.
That was why you would listen. Any sort of appreciation he looked at you with, you relished. Even if it was only thankfulness at your willingness to hear his stories.
But one day, when you were waiting at the tree, Jinyoung was slow. A lot slower than usual. Usually, he was right behind you, eager to tell tales.
“Jinyoungie,” you called out, watching his head lift, “why so slow today?” You ran back down the hill to meet him halfway.
Jinyoung looked at you, eyes dead, and your brows furrowed. “(Y/N).”
“Jinyoungie? What’s wrong?” You reached out, hands fisting in his cotton shirt sleeve. “Why do you look so mad?”
“I have a family.” What? “I have family,” Jinyoung repeated as if he read the look on your face. 
Your lips pulled down into a frown, feeling a burn behind your eyeballs. You don’t want to cry, but you might. Having family means he would leave, and you’d be stuck here by yourself. “But I don’t want you to go,” you whined, the words coming out more choked than you’d like.
Jinyoung rolled his eyes. “Well, I have a family. I want to find them. They’re the key to reclaiming my position as prince. You remember, you have to. All those things I told you. And the gift, remember it?”
You nodded, letting go of him and shoving your hand in your pocket and bringing out the book he gave you. It was an odd show of affection, but it had been your fourteenth birthday and Jinyoung had found you crying in the closet because the other kids had pulled your hair and called you names. It was filled with drawings and notes upon drawings and notes of these bodies Jinyoung called robots. It was a little weird but you still loved it.
“Well, it’s important. And you gotta keep it safe.” Jinyoung assured you, and you nodded again. “Look, I’m being serious.” He had such a look of determination on his face for an eighteen-year-old, you suddenly felt small in comparison.
You sighed heavily. There would be no stopping him. Jinyoung took your silence as assent and he turned around to leave. “Wait, Jinyoung,” you said again, and Jinyoung turned back. “You know, I like you a lot.”
Jinyoung smiled slightly, a rare occurrence. “I know.” His hand lifted and planted itself on the top of your hair. “Thanks for listening to me.” He leaned in and your breath hitched as his full lips planted itself on your cheek.
You couldn’t move, not even when Jinyoung pulled back and offered you a wide grin before heading back down the hill. You stayed up on the hill ‘til evening when the mistress of the orphanage called for you, and when you headed to bed without even having dinner, the other kids laughed at you. But you didn’t care.
He kissed you. Even if it was just on the cheek, and you’re probably never going to see him again, he kissed you. He likes you back. Maybe he’ll come back and marry you when the time comes. You clutched the little book close as you fell asleep. Jinyoung will return, you could feel it. You knew it.
And he did return, just not in the way you expected.
You had just turned twenty-one and from in the closet of where you hid, you could hear shouts and cries. This was not how you had wanted your birthday to go. When the morning of had come you were waiting anxiously in the early morning at the gates of the orphanage as you had done for the past two years on your birthday, hoping Jinyoung would come.
But strange men in suits had come instead, telling you to go fetch the mistress, and you had gone to her. You had thought maybe they had come to get one of the boys, so you waited inside for them to leave so that you could come to the gates again. They talked with the mistress and it seemed they had reached a conclusion, so you thought they might leave. But they didn’t leave.
They pulled out a gun and shot the mistress right in the face.
The kids watching at the door and outside screamed, but you couldn’t go out and save them. You didn’t have time before more men swarmed the courtyard, grabbing the kids and shoving them down before pulling out their guns. You couldn’t look.
The kids inside were still here and you needed to help them. The mistress would be angry if you didn’t.
You shoved the children inside closets, under cupboards, in wardrobes, anywhere they would fit. Only then when they were all hidden and you could see the big oak door entrance start to shake violently did you run.
You found yourself in the boy’s side of the orphanage, in Jinyoung’s old room. What a sick irony. But you had no time to wait, the clamor was getting closer. You shoved your way inside his wardrobe, thick shirts from the kids who replaced him over and over getting in your way. But it was dark and it felt safer than under the bed.
It wasn’t safe enough, though. The closet door opened and you were yanked out so hard you thought your bone might pop out of your shoulder. The men had found you.
“We found another one!” One of the three men in the room poked his head out the door and called to someone. “It might be the one you’re looking for, sir! She looks like it!”
You struggled, but it’s no use. The men are too strong and one of them backhanded you, the gun he held slamming into your jaw. You cried out from the sharp pain, but they just hit you again. “Shut up,” the man gripping you hissed, “you’re only making this harder on yourself, little girl.”
You clenched your eyes shut, waiting, waiting for pain or death, when footsteps entered the room and a familiar voice was heard. “(Y/N).”
Your eyes flitted open. “Jinyoung?” you ask in a hoarse, broken voice. “What– what are you doing here?”
Jinyoung, now twenty-one, smiles at you but there is nothing positive in his eyes. Just cold, hard, greed. “(Y/N),” he repeats, “you’ve grown up well. Happy birthday.”
Your eyes welled up, unsure whether to be happy he remembered or disgusted he did this. This was not the determined eighteen-year-old boy you knew all those years ago. “Jinyoung?” you repeated again, voice cracking. Jinyoung smiled a little wider, taking a step closer. “Why are you here?”
“(Y/N),” he tsked, “don’t be so sad. This orphanage never did anyone any good. They keep you here to be married off, and when they don’t get you married off, they keep you for free labor. Tell me, how long have you been here? Six years? More? So why haven’t you left? You had all the chances you could.”
You didn’t even know how to respond, only weakly saying his name once more. Jinyoung rolled his eyes and sneered. “Stop calling me like a child who just learnt their parents’ names. Look, I’ll just cut to the chase. Give me the notebook.”
You blinked up at him. “Notebook?” Jinyoung hissed through his teeth, stepping closer and grabbing your jaw with his hand. He wrenches your chin up and you can feel your neck strain as you’re forced to meet his eyes.
“The damn notebook, (Y/N). God, you’re so fucking stupid. The notebook. I entrusted. To you.” Your eyes shook looking up at Jinyoung. He was unhinged, so, so angry, and you hated him.
“It’s in my room,” you croaked out, and Jinyoung slipped into an easygoing smile with a bat of an eye.
“Good girl,” he crooned, and you felt sick. “Now, take us to it and I’ll let you go.”
You stood shakily, legs weak. How did this happen? You wanted to cry but you were so damn scared. When you stepped out in the hallway, you almost collapsed again. Bodies of the employees and the children here littered the hallway and it was only the grip of one of the men that kept you upright.
Jinyoung tsked again, hand moving to your shoulder where he dug his fingers in uncomfortably. “Stand up straight, (Y/N). Hasn’t the orphanage taught you anything? I could just kill you right now and find the notebook myself.”
You couldn’t respond, eyes trained on the wall in front of you. You could not look down. You must not. If you looked, you fear you would kill yourself. You lead them silently through the hallways until you stop at your room next to the headmistress’s. You unlocked the door with shaking hands, and you could feel your heart cry at the sight before you.
The children who were hiding under your bed were strewn across the floor, blank, dead eyes looking up at the ceiling. You could barely move, and Jinyoung sighed at your almost-catatonic state. “Go on, (Y/N),” he said with barely concealed impatience. “Go get me the notebook.”
It’s only when the other man shoved you did you stumble toward your pillow, feet heavy and tripping over the bodies strewn across the floor. The notebook– it was inside your pillowcase and you drew it out quietly.
When you turned around with the small, worn notebook in your hands, Jinyoung’s eyes lit up. He leaned forward and basically grabbed it, flipping through it fervently with a sick, twisted smile on his face. “Finally,” he breathed, “finally.”
He stood there for an almost uncomfortably long amount of time, flipping through before landing and staring at a page. With a sinking feeling in your gut, you knew which part it was. After a few minutes, Jinyoung finally turned to the men standing right at the door. “Leave us,” he commanded, and despite their obvious uncomfortableness with the command, they left you two in the room alone.
Jinyoung stared at you for a moment before thrusting the notebook at you, opening to the page you had dreaded. “Read,” he commanded again.
“Why?” you asked, but Jinyoung shook his head and you cleared your throat slightly before reading aloud what you had written. The journal entries you added once a year on your birthday until today. “Entry one. Jinyoung is gone, am I happy about it? No, but maybe he’ll come back.” The words were choked, and Jinyoung tsked again.
“Clearer.” You coughed lightly, eyes quavering with unshed tears.
“I want him to return and marry me. I want to smile at his side. I miss Jinyoung. It’s only been a few hours but I want to hear his stories again. He’s a sky prince. Will he return? I must believe he shall, for if he won’t I know that butcher from the village will ask me to be his. I don’t like him that much, he gets mad when I’m dreaming about things that are out of my reach”—the first tear slipped down your face and you quickly scrubbed it away with your palm—“but I’m sure Jinyoung will return.
“He has to,” you continued with your resolve weakening and more tears falling down your face, “because I love him. In all those children’s books, they say love trumps all. I want Jinyoung to come and yell at the kids teasing me like he used to. I just want him back.”
Jinyoung sighed, hands coming out and cupping your face in his big hands. You flinched but Jinyoung paid no mind, thumbs gently brushing the tears away. How could he? How could he come here and kill all the people you cared for and then just treat you so softly? “Continue,” he ordered once more, but his voice was a lot quieter.
“Entry two. Jinyoung isn’t back, but I’ll wait until next year. I’ll be old enough to marry then, and he’ll come and take me away. The butcher is getting impatient. He keeps coming to talk to the headmistress about me, and I’m never allowed to listen in. Where is Jinyoung? Even though he was a little mean to me, he still made sure I was all right. After all, I was the only one who listened to him. Why can’t he come to visit?
“Entry three.” Jinyoung’s hands were still on your face and you refused to lift your eyes from the book. You don’t think you could look at him after what he had done. “The butcher asked me to marry him. I said no and he hit me.” You could feel Jinyoung tense, fingers pressing into the hollows of your cheeks slightly. “The headmistress was angry with him, but he still waits at the gates sometimes to look for me. I try not to go out anymore. Where’s Jiny-”
“Stop,” Jinyoung hissed, hands dropping from your face and grabbing the book back. “Don’t read it anymore. Instead, tell me.” His voice shakes almost imperceptibly as if he’s trying not to become the eighteen-year-old he once was. “Why did you write in it?”
Your lips tightened, you still refused to lift your head to look at Jinyoung. “I missed you. I was young, lonely, and I loved you.” Jinyoung’s hand grabbed your jaw again, forcing you to meet his eyes. They still didn’t show any affection for you, but you’re rather glad about that. If he looked at you with love you might have forgiven him.
“Do you still?” The question made your lips quirk up. How could he ask you this now? Your eyes shifted to the side; you could hardly stand to look at his cold eyes.
“Maybe under different circumstances, I would.” The answer was enough for Jinyoung and he dropped his hand once more. He turns away, but you can’t help but ask him one more question. “Why didn’t you kill me?”
Jinyoung looked back at you, something akin to pity flashing across his stony face, and he stepped closer again, leaning closer. You flinch back but his hands dart out again, holding you still as he presses his lips to yours. Unlike the first kiss you had received from him, your heart didn’t beat in excitement, only in fear and disgust. There was no feeling as if Jinyoung was only trying to see if he would feel any different.
He lets you go after a moment, pulling back with an unreadable expression on his face. “Maybe if I stayed here, I would’ve married you. But I had left and I only knew you as the girl for whom I owed a favor. I suppose it was some sort of wishful thinking. Never will happen again, probably.” Your heart dropped.
If he stayed, this never would’ve happened. He would have been yours. But he’s unrecognizable now. Greedy, evil, you hate him. Jinyoung laughed at the expression on your face. “Don’t look like that, (Y/N). Be glad I kept you alive. And don’t worry about the butcher anymore.”
You didn’t move, almost in a sort of parody from when he first told you he was leaving. You didn’t move until long after he left the room and the sun was rising to its position in the middle of the sky. Only then did you have the courage to move. The bodies were still strewn across the grounds and you couldn’t help but cry for each and every one of them.
Fifteen kids, you remembered the count. Fifteen kids and all of them dead. Fifteen children and their mistress, the workers, all dead. Only you were alive and you didn’t want it. The village was just as quiet, when you had left the gates of the orphanage no one came out.
But when you approached the center, one lone woman came out, eyes burning with hatred and tears. It was the butcher’s sister. “You killed him,” she cried shakily, a finger pointing at you accusingly. “You sent that man to kill him.”
You can barely hear her, your own heartbeat thrumming in your ears. But the words struck you. “He– Jinyoung? He killed–” She nodded angrily once more.
“He came, saying he was doing a favor for you, and shot him point blank. You told him to,” she screeched, and you flinched. She took an angry step towards you, and you took one back.
“I didn’t– No, of course I–” you pleaded, “I didn’t know– He didn’t tell me, I told him nothing.” The sister shrieks, in fury or anguish, you don’t know, and lunges at you. She doesn’t get far when someone else runs out and holds her back. You recognize him too, the son of the village elder. His name escaped you at the moment, and it would only be years later, when you tell the story to your grandchildren, that his name was Jackson.
He sighed, shaking his head at you. “I don’t think you caused this,” he started to say slowly, “but I don’t think the village will believe you. I cannot save you from their wrath. You need to leave now. I can give you time until sundown, but leave.” His face tightened at your expression; you didn’t know what face you’re making.
You didn’t even have time to register when he pulled the sister back inside and left you standing out there in the open. Only then did you realize that while the town yard was empty, eyes were staring at you through the windows and the doors. He was right, they blamed you. Who else, when all the others in the orphanage were dead? Maybe Jinyoung thought he was doing you a favor in some twisted way, but his life wasn’t the one upended, it was yours.
You ran all the way back home in a fit of panic, pulling out the lone suitcase you had and shoving everything you can into it. Maybe if you had paused for a moment, you would have changed your mind because you certainly wanted to die after seeing what you saw. But this wasn’t the way you wanted to go. Maybe you didn’t deserve it, but you wanted to live.
Walking out of the town after spending almost all of your life in it was strange. You didn’t know how to feel about it. On one hand, you were happy you were gone from this hellhole, but on the other, you hated yourself for causing the death of someone. Why would Jinyoung do this? That was the lone question on your mind. Did he cause all this just for the damn notebook?
Your heart ran cold thinking about Jinyoung. What happened to him? Sure, when he still lived at the orphanage was cold-hearted and often just flat-out mean, but he still had some sense of morality. But not he just went on a rampage, killing every child in the orphanage because of what reason? It couldn’t have been spite.
What changed him? You shivered, remembering his cold eyes as they looked at you like you were just another person in his way. And maybe you were. But then, why would he kill the butcher? A favor? In return for keeping care of his notebook?
You shivered again, not up and down your spine, but from the cold. It was November, not quite winter yet but it certainly felt like it. The orphanage was always warm in the winter so you hadn’t the need for coats, but now you regretted it. With only a worn shawl around your shoulders, you were uncomfortable in the bitter wind.
If you died from the cold now, you wouldn’t be opposed. You had been walking for hours; night had settled over the trees and the temperature dropped by the minute. Death seemed like a good option, and maybe it would give you peace of mind about Jinyoung.
You may not be given peace of mind, but your brain did stop thinking about Jinyoung when your ankle rolled and you started falling down the steep hill you had been so carefully walking along the edge of. Sharp rocks bruised and scraped your body as you tumbled down what seems to be everlasting.
Only when you slammed into the side of what seems to be a stone wall did you come to a halt. You could hardly move, aching all over and your eyes fluttered shut. Everything hurt and you just wanted to die. You could hear a lantern jangle but you didn’t even have the energy to call out for who it was. You only feebly curled into yourself and let the pain overcome you and turn everything muddy, and then to black.
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seawitch62 · 2 years
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The Collector
(Just for fun 😀 Word count 161)
Jay Park
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Management and staff groan inwardly, he posted what?
'Officially collecting bras all over the world, Jay Park aka Mr Won Soju aka The Bra collector.
#newsuperheroname.'
Repercussions! Time to get out the battle gear!
Fuck!
Word spread like wildfire, the fans squealed and giggled, the haters and trolls began their March.
Environmental groups demanded, "Do you donate these bras? Or do you throw them in the trash?!".
Women's rights groups are up in arms, "sexist" "chauvinist".
Other Women's groups support  the bra throwing craze sweeping the globe.
"He has sexualized himself therefore women are in their rights to throw their lingerie if they so wish!".
Groups of Mothers were not impressed  with their daughters wasting their money in such a  way.
"Perv" "creep" these words were tossed around like yesterday's salad.
Protesters swarm AOMG, marching and chanting. 
Total chaos ensues.
Jay Park monitors the mayhem.
"What the fuck! Why are they on my case? I'm just the collector".
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thejjpjedijaney · 1 year
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That trope where a character is so desperate to protect the person they love, they lose themselves in it and need to get “awoken” by someone else telling them it’s okay now.
One of my favorite tropes as used in Heart of a Jedi.
Jaebeom passed out against the landing platform. Jinyoung stood over him, protective, his eyes blazing as he faced down his enemies. Anger filled him, like an easy pulse of access to the force.
The dark tempting, drew at the heart of him. He held the force around himself strong and around Jaebeom, shielding but that shield could become a weapon. He could feel the pull of the dark as he fought to hold himself together The edge was right before him. He breathed heavy at the strain of holding the shield and wanting to fight back. He didn’t know what happened to Jaebeom but he had a need in his heart to protect the other. He wanted to protect him with everything, even so close to the edge of darkness again.
He breathed deep at the strain of all he’d gone through and holding the shield up. The force around them was protective, the essence of what it meant to be a Jedi. Jinyoung knew he had to remain the defender, not attacker. He could fight back with the force, he knew what it was like but he held himself back. It hurt but he held up his shield with strength as his heart pounded. If he dropped it to fight back he'd leave Jaebeom exposed. He couldn't do that. With all he was he knew he couldn't do that.
It was Jaebeom who was next to him. He'd come for Jinyoung, and Jinyoung couldn't let him down. Jinyoung held his hands out. He cried out from the strain as so many of the bounty hunters fired. Guns and blasters were going off in quick succession as if to kill them. He could feel heat through his body, the living force becoming more and more attuned with every cell of his being. He didn't know how much further he could go, how much longer he could hold.
He heard more gunshots and heard shouts but he could barely see what was happening. He could barely feel anything but the force flowing through his veins to protect.
"Jinyoung!" he heard someone calling his name but he stayed still, no matter how much it hurt he held his hands high.
"Jinyoung it's okay!" Someone shouted at him but he didn't recognize anything. The haze was too much to see through. He had to get out, to pull out just enough to see, to understand why someone was calling him. But enough to still protect Jaebeom. He breathed deep as he tried. He tried to pull back and suddenly he lost it entirely. It became too much.
He breathed heavy as he collapsed and fell to the ground. He caught himself with his hands, his head was dizzy. He was next to Jaebeom. He reached out to cover the other's body with his own. A last resort to shield Jaebeom from their enemies.
"Jinyoung!" Hands touched him. He looked back ready to fight and saw that it was Youngjae. Jinyoung shook as he glanced around and saw his clones had flooded the platform. They were safe, they’d been saved. He was shaking as he tried to turn about to see what had happened.
"We got them to run," Youngjae explained, "it's okay now." He still felt on edge despite seeing that Youngjae was correct. They’d attacked on Kamino and almost had gotten away with it.
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oshbluepacific · 3 years
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10 Minutes Break (M)
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Type: Fluff/Smut
Character: Im Jaebeom x Reader
Words Counted: 2K2+
questions and request are available / masterlist
You sat there with your laptop on your lap, and your legs stretched on the couch. With frustration, you closed my laptop, placing it on the coffee table before covering your face with your hands.
           “Hey, you okay?” You heard your boyfriend’s voice, asking you.
           You removed your hands to see him all showered before he could lift your legs up so he could sit on the couch beside you and plopped them on his lap.
           “Just tired… I don’t get how my boss work sometimes, he gave me all these numbers and documents that I know nothing about, and he told me the deadline is in two days.” You complained.
           Jaebum chuckled before he could run his hands on your legs, giving them light massages.
           “Do you want to go out and get some food first?” Jaebum offered. You looked at the clock that was sitting beside the TV and it was showing 5.47 PM in the afternoon.
           “Yeah, we should probably get something to eat since I’m not in the mood to cook myself.” You grumbled getting up from the couch to go over to Jaebum’s bedroom. You just grab his jacket that was hooked on the chair before you went back out to see Jaebum with carkeys in his hands.
           “Let’s go.”
Once you both got into the car, Jaebum asked you what you wanted to eat but you were not sure and you let him choose.
           “Come on, we’re not going to have a debate on what we’re eating for dinner. I’m letting you choose because, you’re having a bad day today.” He said, placing his warm hand on your thigh.
           You let out a breath shaking your head. “I don’t know what I want to eat, I can think—” Your words were cut by the sound of your phone ringing. As you picked your phone, you turn to Jaebum, putting your finger in front of your lips, telling him to keep quiet and Jaebum did shut his lips, focusing on the road.
           “Yes, Mr. Lee ?”
           “(Y/N), I’m sending you documents and files that is due tomorrow, I hope you’re not too busy.” Your boss suddenly said, making you raised your eyebrow.
           “I’m sorry sir, but I have a lot on my plate today, you just sent me numbers and documents last night, that I don’t know about, and I haven’t even finished on that yet, that one still have a long way to go.” You explained to him.
           “No, no,  no, I need you to work on those right now too! I’m sure you can handle all of them.” He said, with a laugh.
           “I can’t! Can I just pass it on to Carter?” You asked, feeling the tears burning in your eyes.
           “No! I want you to work on it! You can handle data like this better than anyone else, so I’m expecting all of them clear by tomorrow noon.” He demands.
           You leaned back on your seat trying to negotiate with your boss.
           “Can I have them all done by 2 days? Please, that’s all I’m asking.” You pleaded.
           You could hear him exhaling, unhappy about what you asked for, but he finally gave in.
           “Fine, I’ll be expecting ALL OF THEM—done by Thursday.” He said.
           “Great… thanks.” You quickly hung up the phone, dropping it between your legs before covering your face with your hands.
           “Everything okay?” Jaebum asked you.
           “I’m sorry Jae, can we just grab something fast and eat back at your place? My boss just gave me another thing that I need to work on.” You moaned, trying your best not to cry.
           “It’s okay, I understand, let’s just get something from the grocery and some other stuff you need—and I’ll cook… sounds like a plan?” He asked you.
           You looked to him giving him a weak smile before kissing his cheek and rest your head on his shoulder.
           “Sounds like plan to me.” You breathed.
You and Jaebum practically bought a lot of food. Ramen packs, meats, sauces, rice, and even some little snacks and other necessary things that you needed. Bottle drinks, canned drink—you both are stocking the fridge and the cabinets in his place.
           When you got back, Jaebum told you to just get to your work and he’ll handle the rest. You insisted on helping him but he didn’t let you. You finally gave up and walked towards the bedroom where some of the papers were placed. You brought it to the coffee table sitting on the floor before you could open your laptop and continue on your work.
           Jaebum put away all the stuff that you both bought into their places. Since he knows you’re already hungry, in advance, he made you a cup ramen. Bringing it over to you with a glss of iced water.
           “Thank you baby.” You thanked Jaebum, holding onto his arm before he could lean down to kiss your forehead.
           “Don’t work too hard on yourself.” He said, before walking back to the kitchen.
           The more you looked at the numbers at the screen the crazier you feel. You looked up to the clock on your laptop screen and you feel like that’s the ticking time bomb of your life.
           “(Y/N)…” You heard Jaebum’s voice calling you.
           “Yeah?” You turn to him, who was moving plates of food onto the table.
           “Come on, dinner’s ready.” He said before he could walk towards you.
           “I’m in the middle of something, can you wait for 5 minutes?” You asked him.
           Jaebum let out a sigh before he could sit right behind you on the couch, placing his lips on your shoulder.
           “Jae…”
           “What?” He asked, his voice sounded gruff.
           “Stop.” You told him.
           “I’m not doing anything, I’m just kissing your shoulder.” He said, before he could trail his lips towards your neck.
           You took a deep breath, feeling his warm lips slowly exploring your neck.
           “If agree on dinner now, will you stop?” You sighed, your hand holding onto the side of his head.
           “Yes…” He answered, looking up to your eyes.
           “Fine, let’s eat then.” You said, giving in, before you could give him a peck on the lips and closed your laptop.
Both of you walked towards the table and your ere surprised on how much he cooked.
           “They look so good!” You complimented, taking a seat on the chair.
           Jaebum opened the fridge taking out a can of coke. “Do you want one?” He asked.
           You nodded your head. “Yes please.” You answered him.
           Jaebum watched you as you gobbled your meal, and that he was actually sad to see stressed like this. He didn’t like that your boss had to make you work on yoru day off all of the sudden and giving you much, more, extra work again just a few moments ago.
           “Jae, you okay?” You asked, taking a drink of your coke.
           “Yeah, I’m okay, I’m just a bit irritated that your boss is giving you so much work.” He confessed, before taking a spoonful of rice.
           “I know… I hate it as much as you do, but I’ll try my best to be done by 9 okay?” you told him
           “Okay.” He smiled warmly extending his hand on the table and you took it. He brought it up to his lips to give it a gentle kiss before you both could enjoy your meal together.
Jaebum cleaned all the dishes while he told you to get back to your work, so you could finish early. You sat back down on the floor in front of the coffee table while Jaebum continued to his office to get into a meeting with his crew. Jaebum finished up his meeting at 9.30 PM as he walked out the room, he saw you still focusing on your laptop, typing something down.
           He let out a sigh before he walk closer to you and sat beside you.
           “Are you done?” He asked you.
           “No… not yet…” You sighed. “If you want to go to bed, it’s fine, you can go ahead.” You told him.
           “No, I’m not sleeping without you.” He pointed, wrapping his arms around your stomach. “Just take a break, leave it for tomorrow.” He whispered on your shoulder.
           “I wish I can, but I don’t know…” You whined, turning to him.
           “Fine, let’s just take a break then, for a while… you can do that right?” He asked and he watched you looking blankly at your laptop screen before you could nod your head.
           “You right, a 10 minute break won’t be so bad right?” You said, closing your laptop before the both of you could move up to the couch.
           You lay your head on his chest as he held you tight in his arms.
           “This feels nice…” You said, closing your eyes as you wrap your arms around him.
           “Yeah, you’ve been on that laptop for a whole day, you deserve a break.” Jaebum told you, and you nodded in agreement.
           “I know what else that can make you feel better.” Jaebum said, a hint of confidence was in his voice.
           “What?” You let out a light giggle, as you shift your position so that you can face him.
           He then slowly leaned his face closer to you, pressing his lips against yours. His kiss was gentle, but deep. You could feel his hand on the side of your hips, tugging your closer before you could move your position so you were straddling on his lap.
           You parted your lips from his lips, catching your breath.
           “Screw my deadlines, I want you for now.” You told him, connecting your lips back with his. Jaebum smiled and he wasted no time changing his position. He placed his hands on your ass before he could stand up, carrying you in his hands.
           “Do you want to move to bed, or should we stay here?” He asked, moving his lips to the corner of your lips then working his way down to your jawline. Your hands traveled up onto his head, getting a grip of him, as you felt his teeth biting your shoulder.
           “Bedroom—I don’t want to love you with my work being its witness.” You grumbled, wrapping your arms around his neck, burying your face on his shoulder.
           He then proceeds to walk towards the bedroom. He kicked the door closed behind him before he could place you slowly on the bed, He hovers on top of you while his lips didn’t part from yours. He lifedt the hem of the t-shirt you were wearing before you could part your lips from his and raise your body slightly so it was easier for him to strip it off of you. You then pushed him lightly, sitting up on the bed, pulling his shirt over his head before he could continue to crash his lips on yours. You let out pleasure moans as he sucked the sweet skin of your neck. His hand moved down between your legs, slipping under the fabric of your shorts and underwear.
           You felt your whole body just became alive as warmth spread throughout your veins.
           “Spread your legs for me baby.” He whispered into your ear, biting your ear lightly.          
           You did what he told you, and once you felt his finger inside you, you let out a whimper, digging your nails onto Jaebum’s back. You felt his finger moving slowly against you. Jaebum then slowly moved his hands away and pulled your pants down before he could pulled his down on his own.
           He connected his lips back onto you but you pulled your lips away, gasping for air. You felt the tip of it against you, before he slowly pushed himself inside you.
           “Jae…”
           “Hold still baby…” He whispered . You nodded your head as you closed your eyes, feeling him inside you.
           At first he moved slowly against you, you then pulled him close to you, moaning. You hid your face on his shoulder before your could feel Jaebum’s movement getting faster against you.
           “Jaebum, don’t stop, please don’t stop.” You moaned against his ear, only to make him move faster. Once he finished, he lets it out outside before he could collapsed on the bed next to you. You try to catch your breath as he tried to catch his. You turn to look at him before you could move yourself to snuggle into him.
           Jaebum let you rest your head onto his chest as he wraps his arms around you. He kissed the top of your head before he could let out a long breath.
           “Well that was a hell of a 10 minute break.” Jaebum commented and you giggled on his chest before you could move yourself so that you were facing him.
           “You didn’t even let me breathe!” You told him and he chuckled.
           “But it was a good break right?” He asked, tucking strands of hair behind your ear.
           “Better than I expected… just wasn’t a break at all.” You rolled your eyes. You looked over to the door, before you could push your hair back with your hand.
           “What?” You want to go back to work?” Jaebum asked, there was a hint of disappointment in his voice.
           You shook your head, giving him a sheepish smile. “Nope, I can’t think straight anymore, all I want is to be in this bed with you right now.” You told him, with a low voice, leaning down to kiss him.
           “Well in that case…” Jaebum suddenly grabbed your hands with his before he could shift his body from the bed, spinning so that he was hovering on top of you as you giggled.
           “Are you up for round 2?” 
JAEBUM IMAGINE HAS DEBUTED! Hope you guys liked it! Who do you think i should write about next?
107 notes · View notes
ahgaseda · 4 years
Text
pray | two
you are more than my existence, please listen to my prayer, hold me, tell me about myself, call my name so I can know who I am...
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summary : everyone knows of the unspeakable evil that lives on the mountain, but you willingly sacrifice yourself to the demon named Jaebeom, as long as he takes you far away from the monster waiting for you at home.
warnings : strong profanity, explicit dialogue, instances of blood and violence, graphic sexual content, black magic themes, potentially triggering elements that involve mentions of past child abuse, mental health, etc.
miniseries chapters : one / two / three / four / five / six / seven
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For the first few days, you returned to the border without fail. Waiting, but mostly hoping and praying that an entrance was made for you. It went without saying you navigated the edge of the forest, searching for the slightest break in the trees and thorns for you to slip inside. You were ready to endure any injury to be back where you belonged.
Of one thing you were certain - you hated Jaebeom. How he had taken everything from you. It was selfish and cruel, and you would never forgive him for it as long as you lived.
After weeks passed and the woods remained silent as the grave, wholly impenetrable, you finally surrendered. The last time you stood before the forest, you bid her a tender farewell.
You would give anything to know Jaebeom felt your pain, that he longed for you in his heart as much as you did for him. The woods must have been lonely.
Did you cross his mind at all? Even for just a moment?
A voice came from behind you, jeering, “And here she is again, staring at a wall of trees.”
“Hello, Gale,” you droned with disinterest.
A more arrogant and disdainful boy never existed than Gale. As a child, he often led the charge of children throwing rocks as you passed by. He always shouted the loudest when it came to how alone and pitiful you were.
But in more recent years, as you developed into a young woman, his gaze became less scornful and more filled with something worse.
He came to stand beside you, though his presence was unwanted, and spoke mischievously, “I can think of much better ways to occupy your time.”
“I’m sure you could,” you spoke, monotonous and uninterested.
Neither your body language or tone could dissuade him. “Everyone has advised me against my attraction to you,” he continued, moving even closer to your side.
You avoided his eyes and retorted, “For that I am eternally grateful.”
Gale ignored your response altogether and said, “They say you’re wild, untamed, and that you would not be a good, dutiful wife.”
Music to my ears, you mused, fighting back a grin. “They are absolutely right.”
Gale crept closer, until you could smell him, until you could feel his hot breath on the top of your shoulder. Your entire body bristled, wary.
“I spent a lot of time with horses, the kind we use for war, and I can assure you,” he whispered coldly. “Even the wildest of them can be broken into submission.”
You rounded on him, refusing to show him even the slightest of fear, and countered, “I’m not a horse. I’m a woman. And I would defy you with every breath in my body until the day I died.”
Gale’s lips broke into a broad smile and he cooed, “And that is what I desire about you.”
You rolled your eyes, parting from the border with a rush to your step. Gale was unnerving. There was malice in his eyes. He didn’t see you as a human, he made that abundantly clear. To him you were an animal, a trophy; something to own and mount on the wall.
He followed you closely, losing what little patience he had. “I would rather you accept my proposal willingly.”
You snorted and kept walking, exclaiming, “That was a proposal?”
“Yes,” he replied, puffing out his chest. “I want you for my wife.”
The mere thought set a bad taste on your tongue. You frowned, wrinkling your nose, and said, “I have no interest in having you as my husband.”
Angered, Gale grabbed your arm roughly and yanked you back, nearly knocking you off of your feet if not for how solidly he gripped you. “And do you think you will ever find better than me?” he shouted, leering over you.
You stared up at him in defiance and said, “I already found better than you and I loved him. And I can still taste his kisses.”
Gale blinked rapidly, shock fading into jealousy. “Is that so? Then, where is he? I do hope I’m invited to the wedding,” he sneered, mocking.
You bit your lip, eyes filling with tears at the memory of Jaebeom casting you out of the forest.
“You are an insane little thing,” Gale muttered, tightening his grip on your arms until you whimpered. “If not for how beautiful you are, I would never waste my time on you.”
At that, Gale released you harshly and skulked away, leaving you with your tears.
You turned a little, gazing solemnly at the forest in the distance. It was time to let go, time to move on. You would have to focus on self-preservation for the foreseeable future. And so you stopped visiting the border, forcing yourself to keep from looking in the woods’ direction.
On the morning of your eighteenth birthday, you wanted nothing more than to stay in bed. It had been a year since you last saw Jaebeom.
Despite your sadness, your father would never allow you to spend a day in your room and you continued on as if it were any other Thursday. You sat at the table and picked at your breakfast.
Your father did little to hide his eagerness at the offers he received for your hand in marriage. He planned to build his small fortune on your back.
However, the current war waged between men had put a delay on the arranged marriage. And your father’s temper had never been worse.
He reached sharply across the table and grabbed your wrist, growling, “You had better make this man happy. I will hear nothing of you resisting his advances. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, father,” you spoke submissively. You knew nothing of the man he mentioned, only that he would soon own you.
There used to be more fire in you, but it had burned out. Every day felt as cold as the forest had been when she was taken from you.
Your father continued to rant, but his voice faded into the background. All you could think about was the kiss with Jaebeom on your last birthday. Your first kiss. And you shared it with a demon in the canopy of the forest, watching the sun go down.
There was nothing that could compare, nothing that could ease the pain of having lost your only friend on the same day you realized you were in love with him.
Commotion outside tore you from your melancholy thoughts.
Your father glanced through the window, brows stitching, and huffed irritably, “Damn kids harassing something again.”
That piqued your attention. You excused yourself and gathered your heavy skirt in your hands, hurrying outside to see what the rowdy neighborhood boys had found this time. Once you rescued a nest of eggs from their clutches. On another occasion you saved a fawn with an injured leg from their amusement.
This time, the boys were chasing a little black shadow and cornered it along the fence by the chicken coop. Only when you squinted and looked closer did you realize it was a baby panther.
“What is wrong with you?” you exclaimed, snatching a stick from one of the boys’ hands and slapping him over the head with it. “It’s just a baby, you brat!”
“Give it to me,” jeered another boy. “My father can make a little rug from its pelt.”
“I will skin you first if you touch it,” you threatened with a snarl, approaching the small beast delicately.
She seemed to sense your intentions and did not attempt to bite when you hoisted her up by the scruff. You cradled her in your arms, seeing she was female, and spoke soothingly to her.
The little cub wailed, starving for food.
The door to the nearby house burst open and a man wielding a knife yelled, “That little beast killed two of my chickens!”
Your eyes widened at the weapon he brandished and you knew the cub was about to suffer a brutal fate. You couldn’t stomach the thought and so you did what you had always done.
You ran.
The boys shouted with disappointment and called for their fathers. The man preparing to butcher the cub warned of punishment you would endure for blatantly defying him. Another voice, belonging to your father, broke through them all, demanding you stop dead in your tracks.
You listened to none, thinking only of the innocent beast in your arms. She gave no struggle, only gazed up at you with warm yellow eyes. For an animal, she seemed well-aware of the dire situation.
You ran until the border came in sight. Months had passed since you saw its thorns. They had not moved even an inch since the day you were barred from entry, but you had to try.
“You have to let me in,” you yelled with conviction. “I won’t let them kill her!”
The little cub mewled in your arms.
For a moment, you were met with only silence and your heart sank. Someone or something had weighed the scales and did not find in your favor. Tears filled your eyes and you whimpered, desperate.
Then, the forest groaned. It knew your voice, even after all this time.
The boughs shifted and the thorns parted. You were given the smallest of entries, enough space for one person as if you were a highly kept secret. You knew, thought it went unsaid, that the forest would certainly seal itself again in your wake, trapping you inside forever.
This was it.
You contemplated setting the cub at the edge and ushering her inside, but there was no one to feed or protect her. Then, you looked down at the cub and chuckled at your own hesitation. Your heart belonged in the forest and now you could finally return home.
You pressed inside, vanishing into the darkness.
After only a few steps, the thorns came alive again. No one would be able to follow you.
You cradled the cub close to your chest protectively and walked. You had no idea where to go, no thought of where you should go. You merely walked among the trees, breathing in the icy air that tickled your skin.
The forest had darkened. Light struggled to seep through the canopy. You could hardly see ahead and your breath appeared like smoke from your mouth. The cub noticed too and burrowed against your breasts for warmth.
“Don’t worry,” you cooed, exhaling heavily so your breath was manifest. “I’m a dragon.”
The joke may have amused you, but it was lost on the cub’s ears. She whined and hid her face in your arms with a mewl.
You pressed on, reaching the small clearing that once made your heart soar. The ground was brittle, the grass had died. A howl echoed amidst the darkness.
The forest had remained bound in winter for an entire year.
Rustling tickled your ears. The air chilled even more. Ice nearly formed on your lips and lashes. You shivered in place, hands turning numb. But you stood firm, knowing he had come.
Jaebeom descended from the shadows above and your heart jumped wildly in your ribcage. His feet touched the ground and his wings swept gracefully around him, coming to perch over his head.
“I told you,” Jaebeom warned through clenched jaws. “Never to come back here.”
You glared vehemently at him, how he could treat you with such frigid judgment. But you were quick to notice the year had not treated him kindly either. Darkness marred his beautiful, piercing eyes. Even more ink seemed to be branded across his chest. Despite the anger coursing through you, you wanted nothing more than to kiss him and melt the ice.
“I didn’t know where else to go,” you murmured shakily, glancing down at the beast you had smuggled inside. “They wanted to slaughter this little cub.”
Jaebeom took a step closer, peering down at the ebony creature in your arms. She turned and with one look at him, hissed in defiance. You fought a grin, pleased at her reaction.
That was why the forest let you in, Jaebeom mulled with a frown. Your willingness to protect nature. The wood heeded his wishes, but he was also required to heed hers. It was a mutual, symbiotic relationship.
Though he cursed the forest in his mind for letting you inside, he knew she would hear no argument of sending you back.
Jaebeom moved closer, wings dragging the ground behind him. “Are you afraid, cheonsa?” he asked lowly, almost in intimidation.
You hardened your gaze and replied, “No.”
Jaebeom tilted his head and persisted, “But you know I’m a monster.”
You eyed the great horns on his head and scoffed. “You are no monster compared to them.”
Jaebeom came even nearer and you could hardly breathe. Winter had taken residence in his chest and was freezing everything around him. He reached out and stroked a thumb over your cheek. You sucked in a breath. Despite his cold, he carried the scent of a raging wildfire, destroying all in its path.
“If I steal you away, you will be my bride,” Jaebeom reminded, his voice almost like a song. “Can you fathom that - being the demon’s bride?”
You countered, “You can’t steal what is already yours.”
Jaebeom’s eyes flickered and he was tempted to smile. A year for you had been an eternity for him. It still perplexed him how he had been able to survive for so long without you. His wings arched, flaring out in display.
“You broke my heart, Jaebeom,” you whispered morosely. “You chose my life for me.”
Jaebeom nodded, apologetic though he dared not apologize. “Fate had other plans,” he replied gruffly.
“If not for the war, I would be married by now,” you told him with a foul taste in your mouth, then snorted. “It’s been a year. I would undoubtedly have a child as well.”
Jaebeom stuttered, imagining the great swell of your belly or the sight of a dark-haired newborn nursing at your breast. He could barely force out the question, “Do you… want children?”
For the past year, you had been forced to give the notion plenty of thought. Swallowing the lump in your throat, you replied softly, “If I have a child I want them to be from a place of love and passion. Not convenience or obligation.”
“I understand,” said Jaebeom with a nod, glancing down at the cub once more. The little thing promptly gave a high-pitched growl at him.
You looked up at him with wide eyes, surprised. “Do you?”
“Yes.”
Your cheeks flushed as you asked, “Is that what you want from me?”
“What?” Jaebeom exclaimed. “No.”
You searched his face in confusion and pressed, “Then, why do you have to take a bride?”
Jaebeom pursed his lips and spoke dryly, “The Master commands it.”
You shuddered when you realized who he was referring to and said, “He’s not here. Why do it?”
“As we age our magic grows,” Jaebeom explained, surprisingly patient. “That’s why the forest is saturated in black magic.”
You waited.
“We have to find someone, someone we can bond our souls with, or the magic will become too much. It will kill us.”
Your eyes widened. “You mean, I will bear magic?”
He gave a single nod. “Yes.”
Your imagination ran wild and you asked, “Will I grow horns or wings?”
“No, you will stay as you are, but the sun will not smile upon you any longer.”
You sighed, softening a little, “I will be doomed to live in the darkness. Just like you. That’s why you pushed me away.”
Jaebeom’s eyes shone with unshed tears and he reached to cup your cheek, desperate to feel your skin beneath his fingertips again. He pulled you close, lips mere inches from yours, and whispered, “I saw you in the sun. I could never bring myself to take that away from you.”
You set your jaw and replied, “They can keep the sun, but you stole away my light for a year. For what I thought would be the rest of my life.”
Jaebeom winced, hearing that pained him though he already knew it deeply. “I promise, I will spend every day until my last making it up to you.”
You fought a smile, lowering your head to hide the corners of your mouth lifting.
Jaebeom slipped his hand beneath your chin, tilting up until your eyes were on him again. “Well?”
You sang quietly, “The demon comes to take her away. On a bed of stars they will lay.”
Jaebeom smirked before finishing, “And never again will she see the light of day.”
You giggled. It should have come as no surprise he knew the songs your people sang of his kind.
A scream sharply pierced the forest, making your blood run cold. You whirled around, shuffling backwards in horror. Jaebeom wrapped his arms around your waist and steered you behind him.
“What is that?” you gasped. The cub in your arms stirred restlessly, terrified.
“The forest is wounded,” he told you angrily, charging forward. His great wings fanned out, bristling with aggression.
Gale stepped with purpose inside, sword glistening with the dew of trees and vines. He had cut and sliced an opening for himself in pursuit of you.
The moment Jaebeom came into view, Gale gripped the hilt with both hands and held it before himself, shouting, “Stay back, demon!”
Jaebeom was livid and snarled, “You dare bring steel inside this place?”
You molded yourself to his back, a hand on Jaebeom’s arm, and called incredulously, “Gale, what are you doing?”
Gale felt his blood boiling at the sight of you in a demon’s clutches and said, “I saw you run here. I know you’ve been entering the forbidden woods all along.”
Jaebeom snapped, “Be gone from here.”
“Like hell I will,” Gale retorted. “Do you think you can steal my fiancee?”
Jaebeom scowled, seething.
“Your what?” you blurted in disbelief. “Gale, I said I will never marry you!”
“Your father agreed.”
You stood there dumbfounded. It was your worst nightmare come true.
Jaebeom’s wings rustled, a testament to his fury - and his restraint.
Gale held out his hand and called your name. “Come. He won’t take you while I have a sword.”
Jaebeom grimaced, eyeing the weapon with nothing short of loathing.
You let your hand slip down Jaebeom’s arm, moving past him until he was behind you. Jaebeom didn’t stop you. He knew the choice was yours and he would have to live with whatever you decided.
“You said I was insane,” you told Gale, gazing down at the cub against your chest. “Maybe I am. But not nearly insane enough to marry the likes of you.”
Gale recoiled and his face tensed with rage. “You little bitch, come with me now. I bought you fair and square!”
You met his eyes and felt only sympathy. And after a pause, you said, “I am where I belong.”
Jaebeom moved faster than you thought possible, sweeping you in his arms and taking to the air with a forceful beat of his great wings.
Gale’s shouts and threats faded into the rushing of wind.
You gripped Jaebeom tightly, gasping for air and lost for words. The demon soared through the forest, branches moving from his path and birds singing his arrival. When he broke through the canopy, you gasped at the thick fog around you, the same clouds you remembered surrounding the mountain.
Jaebeom flew higher and higher. Your ears began to ring. Your breaths were labored. You had never been at such an altitude. The cub in your arms screamed its confusion.
With you in his arms, the demon burst through the clouds, alighting on a precipice of stone. You looked around curiously, gasping at the sight of a looming castle before you.
For a moment, you held Jaebeom tightly, peering over the crest of his shoulder. He rather liked the heat of your rapid panting on his neck and made no moves to set you down.
“Where are we?”
“Home,” Jaebeom replied softly.
“This is your home?” you asked, voice trembling from the flight as you gawked at the many turrets and towers.
“Our home,” Jaebeom whispered in your ear, nuzzling his face in your hair. The scent of you was overwhelming.
“And what about this little shadow?” you asked, leaning down to kiss the brow of your baby panther. She closed her eyes contentedly at your affection though her fur still stood on end from defying gravity.
Jaebeom lowered you to the ground, an arm wrapped around your waist until you found your balance. “She’s all yours,” he droned. “I’ll have no part in raising her.”
“Shadow,” you mulled to yourself, meeting the yellow eyes of your new companion. “I quite like that name.”
You placed the cub on the ground and she danced at your feet, following you dutifully as you walked with Jaebeom into the castle. The demon pushed open the double doors and you stepped into the endless stone foyer, the pitter-patter of your bare feet echoing down the walls.
“It’s massive,” you said, gazing up at the ceiling and spinning in a circle.
“Mostly unused,” Jaebeom told you blithely. “I tend to keep myself between the bedroom and the kitchen.”
You chuckled, twirling again. Little Shadow refused to part from your feet.
Jaebeom watched you with delight, but you would have never known given the lack of expression on his face. “That… human in the forest,” he began.
“Gale.”
Jaebeom clearly wanted more explanation than that and pressed, “He was your betrothed?”
You laughed. “No. Definitely not.”
Jaebeom still wasn’t satisfied. “He seemed to think so.”
You finally faced him and quipped, “Then, he is much crazier than he ever said I was.”
Jaebeom tilted his head, smiling slightly. “Do your people consider you insane?”
You beamed with pride. “Very much so.”
The demon chuckled.
You studied him, approaching him with purpose in your step, and began, “All of my betrothals fell through. Men were ready to pay for ownership of me. Did you have something to do with their failures?”
Jaebeom shrugged and replied, “Men are preoccupied with the war between realms.”
You cocked a brow. “And how would you know that?”
“I have prayed every day since you left that the war would never end,” Jaebeom told you solemnly.
Folding your arms, you shot back, “I didn’t leave. I was cast out.”
Jaebeom felt his heart clench and hardened his gaze. He reached out and took your hand, bringing it to his lips for a chaste kiss. “And how long are you going to hold that against me?”
You smiled up at him and smarted, “For as long as it pleases me.”
Jaebeom wanted to chuckle. His heart was spinning, dancing in circles. Every moment you stood there before him he found it harder and harder to breathe.
When he woke up this morning, he had no idea you would be with him.
But here you were, the brightest of smiles on your lips, traveling up to your glistening eyes. Jaebeom was hopelessly drowning in his feelings for you.
You blushed when he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you flush against him. His bare chest was hot beneath your fingertips and you wanted to trace the pattern of one of his many tattoos.
“Do you accept me as your husband?”
You stared up at him, the grin making your cheeks hurt, and replied with a single nod, “I do.”
Jaebeom ran his thumb over your bottom lip, studying you intently. “Come with me then,” he beckoned with a low voice.
“Where?”
“To bed,” he replied bluntly, taking your hand and leading you beside him.
Your eyes widened and you asked curiously, “Are you trying to bed me without a wedding?”
He looked over his shoulder. “When I said make you my bride…”
“Oh, I see,” you said, planting your feet and letting your hand slip from his grasp. “I want something more binding.”
Jaebeom stopped, pivoting on his heels to face you, and his wings shuddered with excitement. “There is nothing more binding than me claiming you as my own.”
You found your resolve and reminded him, “Once upon a time, I offered myself to you.”
Jaebeom paused, heart heavy, and murmured, “I remember.”
Your lip trembled. “You made me feel unworthy.”
Jaebeom asserted, “I was the one that wasn’t worthy.”
You sighed. There you stood in the castle of a demon, about to become his bride for all eternity. You had prayed and wished for freedom and protection all your life, and he would forever be your lighthouse in the storm.
One day you would let go of your anger.
“I fully intend to surrender my virtue to you, Jaebeom,” you told him. “But first, I want marriage.”
Jaebeom wrinkled his nose. “Hmph.”
“And a wedding,” you added, at this point resorting to humor to relieve the tension you caused.
“Fine,” he said shortly.
“It can be just us,” you continued, slipping back into his embrace and wrapping your arms around his waist. “And someone obviously to perform the ceremony. Whatever you desire.”
Jaebeom roamed his hands to rest on your hips and his great wings moved instinctively around you, shielding you from invisible dangers. “My only desire is you…,” he finally revealed. “And whatever makes you happy.”
You batted your lashes. “I would not be opposed to a white dress, if you happen to have one.”
Jaebeom exhaled loudly, searching his thoughts for where in hell’s name he could find one. “I need to send a few letters.”
At that, his hands slipped free of your body and he began striding down the hall.
You followed him eagerly, hot on his heels, and asked with excitement, “Does this mean we will fly again?”
Jaebeom turned, brows furrowed. “No,” he replied flatly, pushing a door open and pointing inside. “Stairs.”
“How boring,” you whined, proceeding forward.
The two of you appeared in one of the higher towers, a turret with glassless windows. Ravens congregating inside squawked at your sudden arrival, but quieted at the sight of their fellow winged creature.
Jaebeom took small rolls of paper on the nearby table and began scribbling with a narrow piece of charcoal. You watched in silence as he prepared six brief letters, tucking each into the ankle band of a crow and sending it out into the sky.
“Ravens,” you thought aloud. “We use doves.”
“Doves have very small attention spans and even smaller brains,” Jaebeom deadpanned.
You giggled.
Returning to the main hallway from the tower, Jaebeom said, “Come along. I will show you to your room.”
“My room?” you questioned in pleasant surprise.
Jaebeom held out his arm and you looped yours in the crook of his elbow. “Assuming you won’t come to bed with me until we’re married, it would be poor manners to put you in my room.”
You chuckled. “I see.”
He escorted you to a door and explained, “This is the only spare bedroom that gets any use. My fellow demons sometimes stay here when they come to this side of the forest.”
You nodded to let him know you understood.
Jaebeom pushed the door open and ushered you inside.
“Oh,” you gasped, eyes widening at the scale of your room. Massive windows graced the far wall, curtains blowing lightly in the breeze. The bed lay in the center, on a raised platform, and a canopy of white gossamer material gathered overhead, tied to each of the bedposts.
Your vision darted to the desk along the wall, littered in writing materials. Then, you looked to the bookshelf and quaint reading nook, wanting to throw yourself on the velvet chaise and feel its warmth.
Shadow bolted inside, nearly colliding into your legs, and began to survey the room for herself. You giggled at her joy, following after the baby panther and plopping down on the side of the bed.
Jaebeom struggled to hide his smile more than ever, but his pale face stayed constant. He proceeded to say his goodbyes, allowing you to get settled with privacy.
“Jaebeom,” you called, before he could shut the door.
Jaebeom stuck his head back in and asked, “Yes?”
You gripped the side of the bed, your legs hanging and unable to touch the floor, and hoped he would sate your curiosity. “Do demons really steal away only the most beautiful of mortal women for their brides?”
Jaebeom bobbed his head. “Those of us doomed to live among mortals have no other choice. The Master keeps all she-demons in Hell with him.”
You blinked. “Oh.”
Jaebeom shifted his weight, his wings curling to his back almost in embarrassment as he continued, “We aren’t like your kind. No demon forces a woman into bed with him.”
You had tried to veil the question, but clearly he had realized what you were after and his answer put you at ease.
“We mate for life. Whoever we give ourselves to is our mate until we die. We need them to want us.”
You stood, approaching him somberly. “Am I free to leave? If there ever came a time…”
Though you had accepted him, Jaebeom understood you would want reassurance that you weren’t a prisoner in his castle. “I could not stop you,” he said, tender.
“Even if I am your mate?”
“Then, I would go the rest of my life with half of me missing.”
That’s right, you remembered. He said you would bear magic. “It sounds intense,” you told him. “So final.”
Jaebeom snorted. “We demons tend to live in extremes. Very dramatic, the lot of us.”
Heat flushed your cheeks when you asked shyly, “Would you prefer to have a demoness as your mate?”
Jaebeom shrugged. “I’ve never laid eyes on one.”
You looked down bashfully, tucking hair behind your ear, and mumbled, “I’m sure they’re far more beautiful than I am.”
Jaebeom felt his hands twitching with the urge to take you in his arms again as he whispered, “Nothing in this world or beneath it is more beautiful than you are.”
You lifted your head, gazing up at him while your heart fluttered.
“I’ve said too much,” Jaebeom huffed, gliding back to the door. “Rest now, cheonsa.”
“Why do you call me that?”
He paused, then teased, “It means… clumsy one, in my mother tongue.”
Somehow, you knew that wasn’t true.
Turning back to your room, you grinned and danced on your toes. It was a far cry from your little cot in the attic of your father’s house. Shadow whined at you, curling comfortably on the bed.
But you couldn’t sleep. Excitement raced violently through your veins. You smiled until you covered your face with your hands. Despite having no wings on your back, you swore you could fly.
Here you were, stepping into a new life; one you had always dreamt of, but could never reach.
As you lay on your back in bed, comforted by the crisp night air slipping past your curtains and into your sheets, you thought of Jaebeom. Your mind was consumed with memories of him.
You licked your lips, thinking of his broad chest and muscled arms. He had felt so strong when he carried you through the forest, as if you had been weightless. You imagined it must take endless restraint to keep from breaking you.
Your pulse quickened as you thought of your kiss beneath the trees, how carefully he had laid you on a bed of grass. How gentle his caresses and touches had been.
You tossed and turned a last time before giving up. Such a fool, you thought. As much as you had longed for Jaebeom, every moment of every day for the past year, to be sleeping in the room across the hall from him.
Smirking, you sat up in bed, looking to the baby panther asleep on one of the pillows. You gave her chin a scratch and sang, “Stay here, little Shadow.”
The door to Jaebeom’s room creaked no matter how slowly you pushed it open and you winced. To your relief, the figure in bed did not stir. Tiptoeing closer, you marveled his wings and how they tucked to his body like armor whilst he slept.
You pushed aside the wisp of curtains hanging from his bedframe and climbed onto the mattress, propping yourself over him. How beautiful he was, you thought. You were green with envy at the length of his lashes.
Leaning in, you pressed your lips to his with the most innocent of kisses.
His eyes slowly opened. Clearly he had not been asleep.
“Why are you…” Jaebeom began.
“I changed my mind,” you interjected.
He cocked a brow. “About?”
You straddled his hips and pulled the nightgown over your head, revealing your naked body for the first time.
Jaebeom swallowed the lump in his throat, eyes on your breasts before returning to your face. “No wedding?” he asked, more so for your benefit.
“Yes, wedding and the white dress,” you said levelly. “Tomorrow.”
Jaebeom brought his hands to your thighs, caressing his way to your hips and waist. Then, he confessed like a solemn vow, “All I’ve thought about is you. Every waking moment is you. Every dream I dream is of you.”
You felt tears in your eyes and whispered, “Kiss me, Jaebeom.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. Jaebeom sat up, ensnaring your body in his arms and molding his lips to yours. You held his face in your hands, kissing him back with desire before raking your fingers through his dark hair.
Jaebeom rose with you in his arms, guiding your legs to lock around his waist. His massive wings were daunting as they shrouded protectively over you. They shuddered and rustled with arousal, restless.
You slipped your hands through his locks and gripped his horns, feeling their ridges from base to tip. They were sharp, no surprise there, but Jaebeom seemed to feel nothing.
His wings were entirely different. The moment you touched where they connected to his shoulders, the wings came alive, fluttering. You danced your fingertips through his feathers, pleased at the way Jaebeom’s breaths staggered out as you kissed and touched him.
When you had your fill, you took his hand, fingers covered in black script, and brought it to your mouth, pressing kiss after kiss to his knuckles.
Jaebeom returned your affection, lingering his lips on the curve of your neck, trailing kisses to your collarbone and the swell of your breast. His hand slipped from your grasp and his palms roamed your body, drawn to the softness of your skin. You let out a small whimper when his thumbs rolled over your nipples.
Finally, he tightened his arms around you and asked, “Are you sure?”
You gave him a nod. “Yes.”
Jaebeom pressed his lips to your chest, squarely over your heart. The brands appeared, flesh-colored. Not stark black like his. The markings blended in with your skin.
You clenched your teeth and hissed. The burn of his branding was not painful, but the searing heat took you by surprise. You relaxed when you realized you were in no discomfort.
Then, you tipped your head back and moaned softly. Magic was coursing through your veins, from the tips of your fingers to the soles of your feet. White hot fire pulsed from your heart, like you were consumed in flames.
Jaebeom pulled back, gazing down at his handiwork. The script was in his mother tongue, which one day he hoped you would speak fluently with him. The magic would seep into your bones, living inside you until you both returned to the earth.
“The first of many,” Jaebeom growled, eager to see more brands spread from the anchor across your heart.
You smiled down at him, reaching for his naked chest to trace your fingertips over winding letters that lined his muscles.
Jaebeom cradled your face, running a thumb over your cheek affectionately. You couldn’t part your gaze from his eyes for even a moment.
“Please be gentle,” you whispered shyly.
Jaebeom tugged you down, kissing your lips. Then, his hand parted from your face and landed on your naked breast. “You will never know pain from me, my love,” he growled, kneading your mound. “Only pleasure.”
You swallowed thickly, desperate to kiss him again.
Jaebeom gathered you in his arms and turned, laying you softly on your back and making a place for himself between your thighs. His great wings arched and splayed, hiding you within.
His wings shuddered as he made love to you, like the ecstasy of your body unhinged them. You would never forget how it felt to be one with him, how he not only filled you, but made you overflow. And Jaebeom would never forget how you cried out his name when he found release in you.
Never had you been more satisfied. Every ache in your body was gone, never to return. The longing in your soul had dissipated. You were completely whole. All of your life you had been running and searching.
Finally, you were home.
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kokobop-fire · 3 years
Text
Birth {Im Jaebum}
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Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the gifts that I use, also English is not my first language so sorry for any grammar mistakes.
Jaebum tried to wipe the tears from his face, but more kept coming out of his eyes. In the distance, he could hear your grandmother's screams of pain and Jessica's voice trying to calm her down.
Everything had happened so fast, your whole pregnancy had been high risk, but he never thought it was going to end in your dead when he answered Jessica's call saying that they had to take you from the emergency room to the hospital.
Jessica had been sleeping with you the night before since at any moment you could go into labor; she never thought that she would wake up in the middle of the night and find you in a type of coma and the middle of a pool of blood.
Jinyoung had to rush him to the hospital, arriving just in time to be able to enter the emergency cesarean section; he did not care if there was a fan in the emergency room or if someone recognized him; he was thinking about you and the baby.
You wanted a natural birth; you went to classes with your grandmother when he could not accompany you; when he entered the room where you were going to have the c-section, it seemed chaos; your vital signs were going down, the nurses ran from one side to the other Carrying bags of blood.
Jaebum felt like he was in a movie as if he were on automatic pilot; the baby had to be taken out as quickly as possible; they were afraid that the baby would suffer some damage due to lack of oxygen, as soon as the head of their baby came out of your abdomen. Her first screams were heard, Jaebum tried to smile, but the smile was gone when the monitor that carried his vital signs began to sound, indicating how your pressure was rising at high speed before after marking any type indications of life.
For half an hour, the doctors tried to get your heart to beat again, but you had developed a condition called eclampsia, which had left you in a coma and caused your extreme bleeding.
He hadn't noticed he was crying silently until one of the doctors pronounced you dead was when he let out a sob. When he left the operating room, he found Jinyoung talking to one of the doctors while a nurse, along with Jessica, was trying to calm your grandmother.
Ironically, you died the same way your mother did, in labor, due to the same condition that your mother had developed; your poor grandmother had already lost her daughter and now her granddaughter in the same way.
Jinyoung tried to talk to him, but he ignored him, he was looking for the room where they put the newborns, he had not seen his little girl, when one of the nurses came to the room she helped him look for the baby.
It was not until when he held her in his arms, it was when reality hit him, the baby had lost her mother, and he did not know anything about babies; it was something to have you by his side and another to raise the baby alone, he felt without hope.
Was he qualified for that? Would he be a good father? How would he talk about you with the baby?
"It is beautiful, right?" Jaebum was scared when he heard Jessica's breathy voice, which looked like a walking disaster, her pajamas stained a little with blood and her face red and swollen from crying. "We will be fine, Jaebum; you will not be alone; Mrs. Hee Jeen and I are going to be with you for whatever you need."
He nodded slightly without taking his eyes off her little girl, her face had a pink shadow, her big round cheeks, and her big eyes, "I don't even know what name to call it."
"(Y / N) had a name, Sun Heen, it was the name of her mother."
"Im Sun Hee, I like it."
He had a long road ahead of him, but one thing he was sure of was that he was never going to leave his little girl alone. He was going to be in charge of giving value to her name Happiness and Goodness.
Im Sun Hee {임선희} Born on 01/10
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daemour · 4 years
Text
Chronicles of a Cat (I prefer the term feline) - Chapter 2
Im Jaebum x fem!Reader
Summary: You are a witch, cursed by your brother, BamBam. The curse is for you to be an up-and-coming sorcerer, Jaebeom’s familiar. You can’t let Jaebeom know, but you’re only cursed for a year. It would sound easy, but he has scary instincts.
Chapter warnings: Mild cursing
Genre: Fluff
Chapter word count: 1272 words
Chapter 2: nice place, too bad i’m poor
The answer is yes. You are going to have to kill BamBam. And you're going to burn his body so he can't even be buried. You'll get his inheritance too. You're unbelievably mad at Bam.
The dumbass you no longer claim as your brother did actually curse you. You don't know why it took so long to take hold, but now, you're currently the feline familiar of Im Jaebum, an up-and-coming sorcerer who just moved into your town.
"Oh, hey, pretty kitty," Jaebum smiles down at you. You squawk in indignation, but it only comes out as a meow. Jaebum laughs. "You're the one that chose to be my familiar, cutie. Why are you so offended? Is it because I called you a pretty kitty?"
You roll your eyes. "Yes, you dumb shit." It only comes out as a hiss.
"Aw, I'm sorry." Jaebum crouches down, and you glare at him. "Don't give me that look, please. What's your name?"
Dumbass. Doesn't he know the rules of having a familiar? He names the familiar. Yes, the familiar has it's own name, but it is almost never used by the companion. You roll your eyes. Jaebum notices and sighs. "Pick a name for me!" You growl out, and Jaebum raises his eyebrows.
"Oh, you're that kind of familiar." Well, duh. You're a witch before a familiar. If you give Jaebum your name, that would definitely be a problem.
It's not the same matter as a demon's name, however, witches' names do hold some type of power in them. The main problem is that you can't exactly avoid whatever name Jaebum picks. You don't want to have some dumb name. You sweat you'll kill him yourself if you're named Pewter or something.
"I'll name you Sesame! It's a cute name." Oh, god. Well, he's named you now. You can't separate until a year, as familiars must stay with their companion until a year has passed. Then they chose to either stay or go. You don't even know how long it will last, and you can't ask Bam, but you assume it will last a year. If not, at least you'll get to leave.
Oh, BamBam. You want to smack him. How dare he curse you. You don't know what you're going to do about work. You work for a spellbinding store, where you help customers understand what spells they would want to cast or get rid of, and help them find a way to do that. As BamBam says, it's like insurance but magic.
Your boss, a fairy named Mark, is kind enough, but you're worried as to how he and his part-time employee, Jinyoung, will handle the store.
Jinyoung, as an elf, has always been good at the working of spells. He is definitely more in touch with dark magic, but he does have connection to all types of magic. It's not that you're worried about. It's his prickly personality. You've known him for long enough that he's friendly, but if a customer is making his patience run thin...well, lets just say he's quite known among your town for his "impeccable" customer service.
Wait.
Mark.
He's a fairy. He can speak to any animal and familiar. Well, familiars can be understood, but there are still communication barriers. Anyways, Mark would understand your dilemma. Maybe he'd be able to help you. The only problem is Jaebum.
"Why are you so quiet, cutie?" In the middle of your thoughts, Jaebum had scooped you up and is carrying you to his home. You want to roll your eyes but decide against it. It would be in your best interests to act like a familiar. Just imagine if Jaebeom found out.
Not that you don't trust him. It's just that...well, you don't. You don't know him at all. You don't like to assume, but you also don't want to lose your reputation of being the strongest witch in your family line since your great great grandmother was born. If word got out that your brother, a glamour witch managed to curse you, you would be the laughingstock of the town.
It would just affect you either. BamBam hates the old magic-wielders of this town; the ones who run the town council. Unfortunately, you are part of the council and if they even have an inkling that you got cursed by your brother, they'd kick you off and replace you with your brother. Those misogynist dumbfucks would ruin BamBam.
And Mark. He'd be clowned for hiring you. He can't afford that; he's saving up to buy an apartment instead of just living in his shop. He's wanted that for years, and you're not about to put his dream into jeopardy. You're not worried about Jinyoung, though. He handles everything easily.
So now you need to lie low and look for an opening to find Mark. It seems like you won't be going anytime soon, though. You're in a part of town you don't know well. This is where the elite live. You, while you had the chance to when you joined the council, don't live here. Everything was too grand for you. Instead, you live in an apartment on the other side of town.
Looms like Jaebum is into this lifestyle, though. When he carries you into his apartment you almost screech at how big it is. The apartment itself could fit you, BamBam, and Yugyeom easily. You bet even Jaebum would be able to live with the three of you easily.
"Alright, now, lets go find you a bed. We'll also have to find some food. What do you eat?"
"Everything?"
"That doesn't sound like a sure answer," Jaebum grins. You just kind of want to scratch him, but hold back. You can deal with him later, once you figure out how the curse works. Instead, you opt to ignore him.
Jaebum chuckles, not put off by your cold attitude. "You know, you remind me of a good friend of mine. He's a fairy too, and while he seems like he'd be a nice guy, which he is don't get me wrong, he's so savage sometimes."
You nod, but your eye catches on a really, really, soft looking pillow. What you would give to just sleep on it. Jaebum seems to see what you're thinking about and laughs. "I'm gonna go to sleep since it's about time for my nap, so if you want to explore or sleep, be my guest."
This is your chance! You agree happily, and Jaebum moves the pillow to lie flat. "Knock yourself out," he laughs, and leaves for what you presume to be his room. Once you thinks he's gone, you immediately head off the couch to find an open window.
There's one in the bathroom, and you vaguely think to yourself that Jaebum doesn't really worry about his safety. Oh well, it works out in your favor. You get out of the window, silently thanking the feline body that you were able to squeeze out, and try to get your bearings.
You're on the wrong side of town from Mark's store, so you first try to find the road and make your way to the other end. You don't get far before you're lost, though. It's not your fault everything is so huge now and you can't see any signs.
You wander for a while until you see something that looks familiar. It's the bus stop you take to go to council meetings. Now that you have your bearings, you can find your way around and not get lost this time. Mark's shop is only three blocks away.
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taexual · 4 years
Text
HOLIC - 50 | jb x reader
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pairing: Im Jaebum x Reader
genre: enemies to lovers au | roommate au
warnings: fluff
words: 3.1k
disclaimer: i do not own the gif, please let me know if it belongs to you, so i can give proper credit
the final chapter is up, let’s get it!
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To say that it was raining cats and dogs would have been akin to saying nothing at all because the precipitation that night resembled a whole downpour of whales much more accurately. You have, of course, experienced rain before and you never really appreciated it much, but as you exited the car outside of the building, you welcomed every drop with a smile on your face. It seemed as though there used to be so many things in life that you’d hated, but tonight, as you texted Jaebum, announcing your arrival at the party, each of those silent moments of hatred seemed to lose all meaning.
The waiter took your coat after you entered the empty loft that you and Jackson had picked out for tonight’s event. Giving him a grateful nod and brushing the wet hair away from your face, you grabbed a glass of champagne by the door and headed for the party. With each step that you took inside of the packed venue – full of people, waiting to hear and to congratulate Jaebum on his debut EP – you watched the white walls of the building come alive with the pictures you’ve taken of Jaebum in Jackson’s studio that very first time you were there.
You wanted to take partial credit for the planning of this event, but really, it had been Jackson’s idea. As soon as you and him started to work together, he didn’t see a point to host your exhibition on a separate night from Jaebum’s release party because the two instances were connected so closely to one another. Jaebum had used you for inspiration when he worked on the songs he’ll be putting out for the world to hear and, similarly, the only pictures you wanted to exhibit for all to see were the ones that featured Jaebum.
Now, smiling as your eyes searched for the live-version of the man in the pictures on the walls, you welcomed the warm memories of all the days leading up to this moment. All the fights and the make-ups. All the kisses and inside jokes. All your shared friends – who were all here, eager to congratulate you and Jaebum both – and all of your shared nights.
The title piece for both, your exhibition and Jaebum’s EP, greeted you in the center of the room, reading in bold letters, “HOLIC. indicating a person’s abnormal desire for something.” Another memory sparked in your mind – you’ve only settled on the title a few nights ago, lying awake next to Jaebum who was tracing symbols on the sensitive skin of your neck—symbols, that were only visible to him—with the tip of his finger.
“I’ve never needed anyone this much before,” he had whispered to you then, “so much that it feels like an illness without a cure.”
You had responded to him with endless confessions of love, lasting all throughout the night and well into the morning, and all was decided.
Admittedly, out of all the memories that the pictures on the walls brought back, the memories of the last few nights before this party were your most favorite ones. Even if thinking about them made you much dizzier – and hotter – than the champagne that was being served here.
“Hey!” Jackson’s shrill voice distracted you and you turned your head to see him and a group of executives you thought you’ve seen around his studio a few times before. “Where’s the boyfriend? We should get some pictures taken of you two together.”
“Oh,” you looked around again. “I thought you were with him. Isn’t he in the back?”
“I don’t know,” Jackson glanced towards the hallway at the end of the room – it lead to a storage room that Jaebum had planned to use to rehearse, “he was waiting for you to arrive.”
“I’ll go find him,” you said and, with a quick nod at the people in Jackson’s entourage, excused yourself.
You didn’t even reach the hallway before you saw the door open at the far end as Jaebum stepped out of the storage room, his shoulders hunched and chest heavy with anxiety. He closed the door, stopping short as soon as he saw you.
“You’re here,” he said and, even though it was too dark to see him, you could hear the smile in his voice. “You look beautiful. Maybe you shouldn’t come closer or else we might miss the entire event.”
You laughed, crossing the hallway anyway, because you haven’t seen him today yet – he’d left early for a soundcheck and refused to bring you along with him, not wanting you to hear his songs early – and that was too long of a time. Jaebum, feeling exactly the same way, had his arms wrapped around you as soon as you stopped close enough for him to reach.
Every kiss you’ve shared since reuniting that night in the lounge room felt so important and special that you both refused to pull away first as if this was the last kiss you’d ever share and neither of you wanted to be responsible for its ending. You didn’t mind losing yourself in him completely whenever your lips touched but, this time, you two were about to start the biggest night of your lives to date and, despite everything, you had to pull away.
“Jackson is looking for us,” you said, reluctantly breaking the kiss—and then regretting it right away because of how alluring he looked from up close. “He said something about getting our picture taken.”
“Ah, that’s right,” Jaebum groaned. He’d already talked about how little wish he had to participate in the promotional aspect of making music – he just wanted to create and to sing – but he knew he wouldn’t get out of it. “Let’s go.”
“Don’t look so sad,” you said, taking his hand into yours as the two of you headed towards the party. “It’s your big night.”
“It’s our big night,” he corrected, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to your cheek just as the two of you emerged from the hallway. The few photographers Jackson had hired for tonight immediately found the two of you, their flashes going off so suddenly and with such vehemence that nearly everyone at the party turned to look. “God, I feel awkward.”
Smiling, you turned to look at him and – not daring to kiss him now that there were cameras on you – chose to fix his tie for him instead. “Don’t. You look great.”
Jaebum watched you as you tightened his tie, his eyes providing the much-needed warmth on this rainy day – the photographers were having a field day and they didn’t even have to try – and then leaned in to whisper into your ear, “I’m so grateful to have you next to me tonight.”
“I love you,” you replied, his hand clutching yours tighter. “I never thought we’d make it this far.”
“I love you,” he echoed, “I never had doubts about this.”
Thankfully, Jackson proved to be not just a great friend and a talented artist – or perhaps a producer? A photographer? A model? The man clearly hated labels – but also a fantastic party host. Another few moments later, when you and Jaebum were already risking permanent eye damage from the camera flashes, Jackson shuffled closer to you, waving his hand around in a manner so authoritative, the photographers ceased their rapid flash fire immediately.
“Let’s get started, yeah?” Jackson asked and, after getting affirmative nods from both of you, he proceeded to walk Jaebum to the platform in the far corner of the room.
A microphone and a stool was already prepared for Jaebum on the platform, the audio engineers giving him a thumbs-up from across the room. Slowly, the background music that had played through the speakers since the party started faded out, and the room prepared to finally hear what they’d come here to hear.
“Thank you for coming,” Jaebum said into the microphone as soon as he climbed on the platform. His voice sounded so sheepish, you could tell that the few elderly ladies behind you had started to giggle because they were falling in love with him, too. “It’s a very special night tonight and I’m happy to get to share it with all of you.”
You wished for nothing more than to stand silently in the opposite corner of the room where you could hear Jaebum’s clear voice but, as soon as he finished his thank-you speech and introduced the first song, you learned that that was absolutely not going to happen.
Your friends were the first ones who approached you, trying to keep their excitement to a minimum but still distracting you from Jaebum’s music. You didn’t mind – it felt so touching to hear their words of support – and you didn’t really mind the people from Jaebum’s agency who approached you next, either, because, for one, you felt like you had to leave a good impression on them, but also, they were unexpectedly supportive as well. Apparently, this was the first acoustic-showcase-turned-photography-exhibition for any artist signed with their label and that was, according to them, a great start for any career.
You got to hear Jaebum finish the first song – and saw how lost in the music he seemed to be on that platform; he looked like he was exploring a different world, far away from the party and the people here – and applauded as loud as every other person in the room before, just as he started to introduce the next song, you were forced to return to the position of co-host and carry on with your own performance.
Apparently, the people who had come tonight weren’t just friends and acquaintances, but complete strangers as well. They had simply gotten curious about an event in their neighborhood and decided to show up. You learned of this when Jaebum’s second song of the night unleashed a chain of people you’ve never met – all of them were curious about purchasing the artwork. Your artwork.
Truthfully, you hadn’t even planned on selling any of your pictures, so, flushed and disheveled, you left them waiting while you scanned the party for Jackson.
“I got this,” he reassured you as soon as you found him – he was chatting up the three elderly ladies from before – and explained the situation. “You go to the front, yeah? He needs to see you.”
“Y-yeah,” you nodded, overwhelmed by so many things happening at the same time. “Thank you!”
Jackson nodded and headed in the direction you had pointed in, while you made your way closer to Jaebum’s platform. For the first few moments, you couldn’t concentrate on the sound of his voice for too long. You kept turning around to check on Jackson who was showing your pictures and bargaining with anyone who was interested. But, before long, Jaebum’s songs ended up captivating you after all. It was simply impossible not to feel yourself wander into the realms he’d created with his soulful music.
Watching him was an all-consuming experience. Jaebum kept his eyes closed for most of the songs but whenever he did allow himself to look at the audience, his eyes always found you by default. That alone was enough to make your heart race but every time he smiled when he looked at you – as if he wasn’t expecting to see you standing at the front, completely transfixed by him – sent you right into a dizzy spell and you were worried you’d conclude this night by passing out before hearing his entire set.
“The last song,” Jaebum announced right when your cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so much, “is easily the most meaningful one in the EP. It’s about someone who’s really important to me. The most important, actually. Uh, we met under unusual circumstances, to be honest. I caused a lot of damage in this person’s life – I broke furniture, even,” he had to pause until the audience stopped laughing, “I was generally a very big asshole. But this person and I went through a lot a-and I hope we go through a lot more together.”
When Jaebum looked at you before the first chords started to play, you were afraid you looked like a deer caught in the headlights. Your heart was struggling to keep beating as the time around you seemed to come to a stop.
“You and I, who met by accident,” he started the song, the richness of his voice so much more prominent when he was singing live than it was on the record, “you never even thought about us, but my head is completely filled with thoughts of you. I think about you every moment of the day.”
You tried to focus on your breathing because focusing on the words he was singing – the words he might have written about you – was making your hands shake and your eyes water. This could have been the very song Jackson had mentioned when he confronted you at the exhibition you’d attended with Jiho.
“Without missing a single day, no matter where I am, I want to be with you,” he sang and you perked up, recognizing the last line. This was the same song—the same melody, the similar lyrics!—that you’d overheard Jaebum sing to himself in the shower at the motel all of those weeks ago. “I don’t want to be apart, not for one moment. Let’s make a promise, the two of us.”
You’d have promised him anything in that moment—and any moment that followed—as you listened to him sing, your entire body coming alive with each chord. You could feel your pulse throb in your veins, your temples, and your throat all at the same time.
“Each gesture of yours is picturesque. Even when you wake up in the morning, you sparkle,” Jaebum’s voice continued, his eyes catching yours in a loving—and absolutely unyielding—gaze. “It wouldn’t matter if you were shabby, you’re already inside of my heart. Even if someone else comes along, no one compares to you.”
Your throat was dry but your eyes were the complete opposite. You felt the first tears slip out of your control and slide down your cheeks -- just like the raindrops had, outside of the loft -- as soon as Jaebum gripped the mic stand tighter, starting the chorus of the song.
“I can’t stop thinking ‘bout you,” he harmonised, his eyes closing but his heart remaining open as words spilled out from the deepest cavities of his chest, “I am spiraling out of control. All I wanna do is love you, the spot next to me naturally belongs to you.”
You flinched, startled by an unexpected hand that had landed on your shoulder just as the chorus drew to a close. Tearing your eyes away from Jaebum, you saw Jackson next to you – a proud, almost fatherly, smile on his face. He didn’t say anything but the nod of his head confirmed what little doubts you may have had left – this was the song for you. The song about you.
“When I think about it now, it still makes no sense,” Jaebum continued, the feeling of you finally hearing these words so relieving, he couldn’t help the small smile that had crept up to his lips as he asked, “how did I fall for you in such a short time? Even when I close my eyes, I’m thinking about you. I can’t fall asleep, what’s the matter?”
You knew you were going through the most powerful whirlpool of emotions of your life as you felt the tears on your cheeks but couldn’t resist mirroring Jaebum’s smile.
“I don’t know if I’m me, sometimes I get surprised. My image, even if it’s the same, is a little awkward,” he sang, each and every word full of the feelings he’d grasped and pulled out of his heart to put them into the song. “But I think it’s okay – this isn’t so bad, either. As long as I’m next to you, whoever I am, it’s all good.”
You felt so much love for him, you thought you were going to explode. And, in spite of finding the song simply mesmerizing and utterly unforgettable, you suddenly couldn’t wait for it to end because even though he was singing it on a platform a mere few feet away from you, he still felt too far.
“I can’t stop thinking ‘bout you,” he admitted again in the second chorus. When asked later, you’d never be able to tell if he was singing this song at his release party in front of dozens of people, or if he had pulled you away from the crowd to sing to you about all the things he’d insisted he was so bad at saying out loud.
Bowing to deafening applause when the song ended, Jaebum thanked everyone once again, his speech directed at those who came and those who didn’t. He thanked his friends individually. He thanked his label and everyone involved in the creation process. He thanked his family. And he thanked you – but you were already crying too much to make sense of anything he was saying.
As soon as he was finished, he wasted no time before climbing off the platform and, with a smile brighter than the brightest star in the night sky, he made his way towards you. The people were still applauding him when he reached you but he was now focused on something else entirely.
“You didn’t like the song?” he asked with a smile as his hands carefully wiped the tears away from your face.
You laughed at the absurd question, wrapping your arms around him and leaning your head against his shoulder as you whispered, “I loved it. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” he said and the room erupted into a yet another round of applause as he hugged you back, laughing in the same ethereal way that made your heart dance and the rain outside stop, so the whole world could listen.
With the people around you still on a high brought on by Jaebum’s music and with the applause still ringing in your ears, Jaebum took you back into the world he’d created for you and him only -- a world that seemed to be miles away from anyone else and lightyears away from real life. No one wanted to approach you and interrupt. No one dared.
Kissing your temple, Jaebum pulled away slightly to push a stray strand of your hair away from your face and ask, “do you still have doubts if we’ll make it?”
“No,” you answered, your eyes glittering with life and with love. “I think we’ve already made it.”
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soybeantree · 4 years
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purr, purr, purr
pairing: cat dad!im jaebum x (reader) genre/warning: FLUFF word count: -- description: a little something for our lovely friend @vitaminmj​ for her birthday! who doesn’t love jaebum and cats? i mean come on. happy birthday love!! we hope you had a spectacular day and that all your wishes came true. xx 
Your brother stands head down, with shoulders all the way up to his ears which are as red as his hair. Circumstances withstanding, you would find the sight of such a tall man shrunken so small amusing, but currently, you are reigning in the lecture which churns within. He peaks up at you and just as quickly glances down again.
When you left on your work trip a week ago leaving your cat in your brothers care, you had thought the worst thing that could happen was he would over feed her. When you came home, you found your brother sitting on your couch his hands shaking. A cold weight settled in your stomach. He stood, his shoulders hunching and stuttered through the story.
Yesterday, during his visit, he had left the door open. It wasn't intentional. Your cat had knocked a plant off your counter. When he saw it, he rushed in to clean it up and assess the damage. He had been so one track minded that he didn't realize he'd left the door open. After he finished cleaning, he saw the door. He searched the whole house and brought out the treats and the wet food, but your cat was nowhere to be found.
You want to release the barrage burning in your throat, but his guilt is a better reprimand than anything you could say. And words won't find your cat. Breathing through the anger, you focus yourself. "You and I are going to-" A knock interrupts your planning. You eye your brother, letting him know you will continue when you come back. He retreats even further into himself.
A glimpse through the peep hole wipes every thought from your head and sends your heart racing. Jaebum, your hot, cute, reclusive, slightly emo, across the hallway neighbor, is standing on the other side of your door. Your interactions with him usually consist of you nodding to him as you unlock your front door and him smiling back at you. He knocks again.
Smoothing your hair and clearing your throat, you open the door. Whatever greeting you had prepared flies away. "Y/C/N!" You cry as you reach out and pull your cat from his arms and snuggle her against your chest. As your relief abates, the reality of the situation returns. Settling your cat in your arms, you return your attention to Jaebum. With all hope of presenting a calm and sophisticated front obliterated, you greet him with, "Thank you." And continue on asking, "Where did you find her?"
"I came home from work yesterday and she was pawing at my door. I tried to return her yesterday, but you didn't answer when I knocked."
"I was out of town all week."
He nods. "I wondered since I hadn't seen you, so I just let her stay with me. She got along really well with my cat Nora. If you ever go out of town again and need somebody to watch her, you can always drop her off with me."
Your head bobs in time with his words, and when he stops you blink as you try to form words of your own. "Thank you. I will let you know."
He smiles and offers a small wave before heading back to his apartment. As you close your door, your cat wiggles out of your arms and runs off into your apartment. You stand staring at the door as your mind processes what just happened.
"Am I forgiven?"
Glancing over your shoulder, you find your brother straight backed and head high his mouth quirking up into a smile. "What?"
"Because of me you got to talk to your hot neighbor. I think you should thank me." His smile broadens briefly, but as you turn to face him fully, it withers and dies.
"You lost my cat and you think I should thank you?" He swallows hard. "You're lucky Jaebum found her and that he smiled because otherwise I would not be forgiving you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" He calls as you head into your bedroom.
"Yes, tomorrow."
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jjpmoans · 5 years
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"Because I told God that you are a perfect wife I ever want" + Jaebum
Character: Jaebum x oc
Genre : angst
Word count : 1490
Warnings : heavy topic on cheating (not Jaebum don't worry), more descriptive rather than conversation-- I don't know how to describe but the amount of heart dropping vibe is huge here.
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The car drive is silent as we entered the highway. Jaebum had his left hand gripping the wheel, his right hand on my lap, resting it there. Jaebum's youngest sister at the back is singing to an old song which I had no idea what she is singing about.
We are on our way to Jaebum's father's house. Truth to be told, it's a taboo to say Jaebum's father have another wife, but it is what it is. Maybe not married officially on a certificate, however we put it, they have been living together for quite long and even have three kids. Jaebum's mom knew about it since the beginning.
Being a mom she is, she put aside her heartache and sadness in order to bring Jaebum and his sisters up without having any financial issues, so she stood alone and not filing any divorce in order to give her children their best education.
When I first found this, I was angry and asked Jaebum how could he be so calm. If I were him, I would go ballistic and probably not even going to accept him anymore. What he said shut me up entirely.
"So if I do get angry, what would that change? His love? His decision? So he would leave his other wife and children, come back to us? Breaking another family?" He sighed. Of course, he did get angry. When he found out about his father, he was only twelve.
But the only thing he saw was his mother. How she fought alone in order to get his father pay for their education. How she took care of them alone, sending Jaebum to school when his sister was six and the youngest was probably months years old. Jaebum's father was almost never home. His father would came home once in two months or worst, once in four months.
Then he grew up, he found no reason to get angry anymore. All he knew was his mother worked hard to take care of them so he did his best to take care of her and his sisters. At the age of twelve, Jaebum has taken over a father responsibilities. He is almost a father to his youngest sister and he did everything he could to protect his family.
The worst part was, their mom never knew. She never knew that all three of them knew about their father but they played it off and acted like everything was normal. None of them brought it up, until the day it happened.
His father's wife died of cancer earlier that year. That was the reason we are heading to his father's house. His mom was anxious and pitied the kids so she took a huge step to go to them.
"I was angry. But I don't think that's what mom wants. I do get angry. But no matter what happens, it's her husband. She loves him. I couldn't break her heart by being a rude son to his father." Jaebum pulled me into his chest, he found comfort while hugging me tight. "All I want is mom to be happy. If this lie makes her happy, then I'll do nothing about it. As long as she is happy." He said when I asked him why no one ever brought this issue up.
Jaebum squeezes my hand, bringing to back to the road. I was probably zoned out and went so silent, that's why he squeezed me.
"What's wrong baby?" Eyes on the road, but worried tone layers his voice. Jaebum can read me like an open book, he knows when I get overthinking, I get insecure or when I have anxiety. When I got too silent, it's either one of the three.
Jaebum and I got married four years ago, dated for twelve years before sealing the deal. As much as I love him, his father's act really gets me jittery. What if one day, he decides that he no longer loves me?
"Jaebum." His hand tensed at my voice as if he can sense something is coming his way.
"What if one day, you decide that you don't love me anymore?" I can see his face changes and his eyes become harden. "Would you find someone like your father did?"
I want to see him struggling with answers. That way I could see if he hasn't think about this at all. However I am thrown offguard, he did think about this way before me.
"Baby." He takes my hand to his lap, lifting it to place a kiss on the back of my hand. "It would be insane if I say I would decide that I don't love you anymore."
"I would never," he turns to me swiftly before pinning it on the road. "- never leave you."
"But I can't predict the future sweetheart. That-- I am incapable of. I don't know what kind of people I would change in the future." He stops and my heart twitches painfully. He did think of leaving me.
"I had never once thought of leaving you, if that is what on your mind." Jaebum's sister has inches herself to rest her elbows on the seat, allowing herself to listen to our conversation.
"But I always prepare you for the worst case. The house, the car, the bank accounts. All of them." He pauses to change lane and continues, "I put it under your name. There's a reason why I keep our saving in your account. If I ever-- I hope not but if I ever did something like this to you," his eyes meet mine, "then leave me."
"Take everything with you, our home, our car, our kids-- everything. Leave me behind and don't look back." Tears starts to well, I never thought he could think this far.
"Don't forgive me. Because if I'm capable of doing that once, I'm capable of doing it again."
"Everyday baby. Everyday I pray I don't want to be like my father." I can see his grip on the wheel tightened and his knuckles turn white. "Every single day I pray I would never be like him. I loathe him for doing that to mom. I hate him for ignoring me and my sisters. I despise him for taking this route."
I'm already crying, sobbing softly while Jaebum pulls me to lean to his chest.
"But people changes, sweetheart. I could pray for everything but god will stray me from whatever I prayed for."
"But believe me. When you got married to me, I set up a strong foundation for you to live well in the future. My mom, my sisters, they all love you as much as I do." His sister nods at his word but I don't need confirmation. How they treated me has long proved that they love me like he does.
"If I ever did this to you, the first person who would throw me away-- is my mom. No matter how much she loves me." Jaebum is the only son, her only root when she was so fragile. She loves him so much, everyone can see her bias towards him. "No matter this Jaebummie is her favourite. I assure you, she won't hesitate to cut off our blood relation if I ever did anything like this to you. She'll take you in and she'll kick me out. No other woman would understand you but her." He pats my head and press it closer to his chest. I turn to hide my face in his chest, ruining his black shirt with my tears.
"Yes. Don't mind others, I'd kick him and probably wrestle him limping until he gets his mind back. Not in million years he's getting off if he finds another woman." His sister says. I don't doubt. She have a black belt in taekwondo. And his other sister who is driving in another car with mom would do the same too.
"I know this is hard for you. I'm sorry for taking you into my family with these problems. I'm sorry that you had to be insecure when you thought about my father." He presses a kiss on my temple.
"But I love you sweetheart. I really really do. The day I find someone else is the day you would leave me because I'm no longer the Jaebum you know."
"Until then, I'm not going anywhere and I love you will all my might. I pray to the heaven and stars, I would never put you into something like this. I hope you pray for it too because I think they would consider if it is you."
"Why?" My voice is muffled in his chest but he can still hear me clearly.
"Because I told God that you are the most perfect wife I ever want and I told Him to grant whatever you prayed for because it it makes you happy, then I have nothing to pray anymore."
A/N
I'm sorry this is a heavy one. I just wrote this out of my experience where I heard my brother talk about this to his wife. Then I know, Jaebum would be like this if his wife ever ask something like this.
And for this, I'm tagging @prettywordsyouleft and @pepiygs for advices and improvements.
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criologoexisto · 5 years
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inyournightmares97 · 6 years
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The Innocent Criminal (Pt. 1/3)
Part 2   Part 3
Im Jaebum, the infamous leader of GotSeven has committed murder, stolen money, tortured people and broken all sorts of laws. But most importantly, he destroyed your heart. You once decided never to become a criminal lawyer if it meant defending men like him. 
But years later, when it appears that Jaebum is going to be locked away for the one crime he didn’t actually commit, you’re forced to make a decision. Where does one draw the line between innocent and guilty? 
Warnings: Strong language, mafia!au, violence
Word Count: 4.6k+
The Mafia (Masterlist)
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“Im Jaebum has been arrested.”
There were few things in this world that fazed Mark Tuan. He’d seen a lot, and he’d handled plenty of difficult situations. He’d escaped direct threats to his life, rescued people who needed rescuing and killed people who deserved to die. But this was one of the rare moments when Mark Tuan felt his heart drop into his stomach. When he answered the phone and heard the familiar female voice over the line after months, he certainly hadn’t expected to hear this.
“What?” Mark blurted out, confused.
The female voice on the other side was speaking in a hushed tone, and she sounded urgent. “Listen to me. They’ve just brought him into custody. We’ve got solid evidence that he’s running a human trafficking ring, Mark.”
Mark tried to compose himself, tried to think rationally in the face of news that their leader had been arrested without a single one of them knowing. He took a deep breath and spoke. ”That’s not us. You know that’s not us. We don’t deal in the human trafficking ring, we draw the line when it comes to selling people.”
The woman on the line sounded exasperated and her voice was quieter, as though she didn’t want to be overheard. “I know that. That’s why I’m risking my job to tell you this. You need to get over here, and you need to come with the best lawyer you can pay for with your dirty money. Otherwise the other detectives are going to keep him here all night and torture a confession out of him. This is high-profile, Mark. We’ve got our best interrogators on him. He’s going to crack and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”
Mark took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll handle it.”
--
It was 1 am when your phone rang.
You blinked drowsily, wondering if you should just ignore it. You had a terrible feeling that it would be your boss, maybe calling you into work to handle some documents in the last minute. These corporate tax lawyers had no qualms about hijacking their employees’ personal lives. You were exhausted from being in the stuffy office all day and you had no plans to go back and do anything until you’d gotten some sleep. But the phone kept ringing persistently and you took a deep breath.
“Hello?” you answered groggily, rolling over.
The voice on the other end of the line was familiar, yet strange.
“This is Park Jinyoung speaking. I need your help.”
You shot upright, heartbeat thudding. Park Jinyoung? You hadn’t heard that name in a long time. It sent an unpleasant shiver down your spine and you blinked a few times to clear your head. Part of you wondered if you had been hallucinating because of the stress of your job, but that wasn’t the case. You could hear Jinyoung breathing down the line, still waiting for you to respond.
“How did you get my number?” was all you could think to blurt out.
Jinyoung’s voice was tight. “Getting a phone number isn’t exactly difficult these days. I know it’s late, and I’m going to get straight to the point. Jaebum has been arrested. We need a lawyer.”
“And you called me, of all people?” you demanded incredulously.
“You know these are sensitive matters. We can’t just bring a stranger into this stuff and risk exposing everything. I’ll make it worth your while. We don’t just want any lawyer, we want a lawyer that we can trust.”
“You have a lot of nerve calling me up at this time of night and expecting me to rescue your fucking leader, Park Jinyoung,” you snapped. Your stomach was swirling with anger and you clenched your fists tightly. “I’m not a criminal defense lawyer anymore. I don’t do this sort of shit and you know better than anyone why I stopped doing it. I’m definitely not coming there to bail Jaebum out of whatever horrible things he’s done because he deserves to go to-“
“But he’s not guilty this time.”
You froze.
“He’s being framed. He needs your help. Please.”
-----
You strutted into the police station as though you owned it.
Your heartbeat was thudding, your palms were sweaty and you wanted to die. But if there was one thing you’d learnt from your years at law school and your practice in the field, it was how to keep a straight face. They’d nicknamed you poker face back in college, and there was a running bet about how you wouldn’t bat an eyelid even if someone put a gun to your head. Some idiot brought a toy gun to class to try it once. You’d twisted his arm and he’d worn a cast for two weeks.
Your voice was firm and cold as you announced your presence. “I’m Im Jaebum’s lawyer. All questioning stops now. I need a personal interview with him.”
The police officer sitting closest to you looked up at you with a white face. He tried to stay calm, but you saw the flicker of confusion in his eyes. He cleared his throat and stood up. “We don’t have anyone here with that name-“
“Are you positive?” you snapped, eyebrows raised coolly. “Are you one hundred percent certain that you do not have a man named Im Jaebum, accused of running a human trafficking ring in your custody? May I record you making that statement, please?”
The police officer hesitated. “No, I mean…”
“So you do have him in your custody. He just hasn’t been allowed to make any phone calls, or call for a lawyer. Isn’t that right? How about you take me to see him right now before you make your situation worse by further violating his rights?” you demanded, arms folded across your chest. The police officer was still hesitating and you leaned forward, banging your hand on his desk and glaring at him. “You will stop his interrogation immediately and inform him that his lawyer has arrived and wishes to speak with him. Trust me, buddy. I don’t care what evidence you have on this guy, I can get your entire case thrown out and his confession invalidated if I prove that you violated his rights as an accused. Don’t fuck this up for yourself further.”
The man picked up his phone and walked a short distance away from you, clearly speaking to his superior. He came back after a few moments and nodded at you.
“Follow me.”
You followed the officer down a long corridor of interrogation rooms. He asked you to wait outside and you did, tapping your foot nervously against the floor. Your heart was racing at a million miles per second. It had been exactly four years since you’d seen Im Jaebum, and now you were about to come face to face with him in a police interrogation room. You took a deep breath and tried to calm yourself, before the man came out with another detective.
“You’re his lawyer?” the detective spat, raising an eyebrow at you in disgust. He’d clearly expected to have more time with his prisoner and you took the irritation on his face as a good sign. Hopefully it meant that Jaebum hadn’t confessed anything particularly incriminating yet. The detective continued to eye you, his eyes scanning up and down your body. “You seem a little young to be doing this. And I’ve never seen you in this precinct before.”
You raised an eyebrow at the man. “No questioning will take place unless I am present,” you informed him calmly, ignoring his rudeness. “As for now, I think the accused has the right to consult with me in private. There better not be any cameras switched on in that room.”
The detective scoffed. “Go ahead. We have solid evidence. Nothing you do can stop this now.”
You raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see about that.”
You pushed past him and entered the interrogation room. The lights were dim, and you had to wonder if the lack of lighting was some sort of tactic to make the accused feel more miserable. The door closed behind you and you took a deep breath, letting your eyes fall on the lone figure sitting in the middle of the room.
Im Jaebum was on the other side of the table, his elbows resting on the surface and his chin resting on his folded hands. The outline of his broad shoulders and his familiar silhouette made your knees feel weak. God. Why am I here? What am I doing? Part of you wanted to turn around and run away, leave the interrogation room and tell the officers that you weren’t really Jaebum’s lawyer. But Jaebum had already noticed you. His sharp eyes widened in recognition, and his jaw clenched tightly when you stepped into the light.
“Why are you here?” he asked quietly. It had been three years since you’d heard that deep voice and it sent a shiver down your spine. Jaebum’s mere presence had always been enough to unravel you. He continued to speak when you didn’t answer him. “I didn’t call for a lawyer. They didn’t even let me make any phone calls after they arrested me.”
“That was a mistake. We’ll use it against them if this goes to trial,” you promised, walking into the middle of the room and taking a seat opposite him. The chair wasn’t very comfortable and it brought you eye to eye with Jaebum. His angular face, the way his lips were pressed together tightly and his dark eyes… they were all inches away from you. Jaebum’s tongue darted out and licked his lips as drank in the sight of you.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“Apparently you’ve got some cops on your side. Somebody tipped off the gang about your arrest. I got a call from Park Jinyoung.”
Jaebum leaned back in his seat, letting his head tilt backwards with a groan. He looked exhausted and you had to wonder how long he’d been locked up here. His eyes were pained as he finally straightened up and turned to look at you. “Fuck. Jinyoung’s a fucking idiot. You don’t have to be here. He’ll get me another lawyer. You had better leave. Just scare them into letting me make a phone call or two, and I’ll manage.”
You clenched your fists in irritation. “Shouldn’t you be a little more grateful that I drove down here in the middle of the night?”
Jaebum raised an eyebrow. “What’s the use in expressing pointless gratitude? We both know you hate me, you’re here because Jinyoung offered you a lot of money. Forget it. We don’t have to deal with this. I know what you think of me and I know that you’re not even a defense attorney anymore. Just go. I’ll pay you for tonight.”
You wanted to slap him. “You think I came here for your fucking money?”
“Then why did you come here?”
“I came here because Jinyoung says you didn’t do it.” Jaebum looked startled. You took a deep breath, leaning forward and looking into his eyes. They stared back at you, hard, firm and yet with a hint of fear that only you could recognize. There was weakness there. There was always weakness there when it came to you.
Jaebum finally broke your gaze and looked down at the table. “Did he say that?” he mumbled.
“Tell me if it’s true. I heard about the human trafficking ring. Did you sell those girls, Im Jaebum? Did you keep them locked up in a basement before selling them to black market traders in the Middle East? Did you have them forcefully sterilized so that men could rape them without the fear of getting them pregnant?” you asked him.
“Would you believe anything I said?” he challenged, glaring at you.
“Try me.”
“Then no. I didn’t do it. I’m innocent.”
You scoffed, leaning back in your seat. Your hands were trembling but you kept them still on the table so that Jaebum wouldn’t notice. Your tone was acidic. “I would hardly describe you as innocent, Im Jaebum. You’re about as guilty as it’s possible for a single man to get. But if you say that you didn’t sell these girls then maybe you didn’t. I don’t know. The last time I believed you I came off looking like a pretty big fucking idiot.”
He stared at you. “I don’t expect you to trust me.”
“I don’t.”
“Then why are you here?”
Why were you here? You didn’t know. Im Jaebum had done nothing but lie to you. He’d betrayed your trust, had broken every single part of you that was intact and had finally left you to abandon the profession you’d spent your entire life preparing for. No single person had ever done as much damage to your sanity as Jaebum had. He’d left you broken three years ago and it had taken you forever to pick up the shattered pieces and put yourself back together.
“Because I want to believe that you didn’t do it,” you whispered.
Jaebum leaned back and looked at you, his expression softening. He could see the fear in your eyes, could see the girl he’d fallen in love with all those years ago. He wanted to push away the table separating the both of you, to take you into his arms and tell you that he loved you more than anything in the world and that he would do anything to change the past.
But Jaebum only stretched his hands across the table, his handcuffed wrists reaching towards yours. You felt a shiver down your spine as his large, warm hands covered yours and he closed his eyes before he bowed his head.
“I didn’t do it. I don’t deal in that line of work. You want to know why?”
“Why?”
Jaebum’s eyes shot open and you felt your heart drop into your stomach as you stared back at him.
“Because I can’t look a scared woman in the eye without thinking about what I put you through.”
--
You giggled, wrapping your arms around him tightly. “Don’t answer that. I won’t let you.”
Jaebum raised an eyebrow at you, while trying to wriggle out of your grasp. You knew that he was strong enough to push you away in a second if he really wanted to, but he only struggled weakly and then fell back against you, his bare torso almost squishing you against the pillows. You squealed as he flopped his weight on top of you.
“Stop it! You’re squishing me!” you squealed, slapping his broad back.
He chuckled. “You’re the one who won’t let go.”
“Because if I let go then you’ll answer your phone, and it’ll be that stupid business partner of yours and he’ll call you into work for some bloody emergency that he could probably handle himself,” you pouted miserably. You were tired of Jinyoung’s phone calls interrupting your evenings with Jaebum. You let Jaebum turn to face you, but you kept your arms around him and pressed your lips to his bare shoulders. “You promised tonight was just us. I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Jaebum looked down at you gently, letting you snuggle your face into his neck. “Is that my fault? You’re the one who never lets me anywhere near you during your exams.”
You whined. “Yes, it’s your fault. You’re too distracting.”
He chuckled. “But baby, it could really be something important.”
You gave him a playful glare and pushed him away. “Fine, go answer it. If you answered MY calls that religiously, we’d see each other more often.”  
Jaebum leaned forward and pressed his lips to yours gently, before grabbing his phone and walking over to the balcony to answer the call. You slumped back against the pillows and watched his silhouette in the dark room. Jaebum’s broad shoulders and bare back were highlighted by the dim light streaming in through the balcony, and you had to take a deep breath at how attractive your boyfriend was. You still wondered why Jaebum adored you so much. You were difficult, and headstrong and liked having things your own way. But somehow he loved every part of you.
Jaebum finally ended the call and came back over to you, crawling onto the bed and letting you snuggle back against him.
“Was it Jinyoung again?” you asked lightly.
He nodded and wrapped his arms around you. “Yeah. He just wanted to clarify something about the accounts. We have a couple of new clients so things are messy these days.”
You giggled and rested your head on his chest. “I still can’t understand what exactly it is you do, Jaebum.”
He looked down at you with a small smile. “I told you. We’re business and marketing consultants.”
“Sounds kind of shady to me,” you teased lightly. You knew that Jinyoung was a business major, and that both he and Jaebum had opened up a start-up company recently. He claimed that they were consultants, and that they gave marketing advice but you’d honestly never understood the work they did. Jaebum never talked about it either, always jokingly telling you to keep your head in your legal books and leave the commercial stuff to him. You let your hand trail up Jaebum’s chest lightly. “It sounds kind of like the shady start-up business somebody would use as a front to run their illegal activities behind. Are you sure you guys aren’t like, smuggling some diamonds in from Africa or something?” you teased.
Jaebum raised an eyebrow and squeezed you playfully. “Oh shit, babe, how did you know? We were just talking about the latest cocaine that we’re getting from Mexico.”
You giggled. “Diamonds sound classier.”
Jaebum laughed and leaned his head back against the pillow. There was a few moments of silence and his breathing evened out. You wondered if he was asleep but when you lifted your head to check, he was staring down at you with his eyes wide open, watching you. “What?” you asked.
“What if I was doing something illegal? Would you still want to be with me?” Jaebum asked, a tinge of seriousness to his tone.
You blinked and sat up. “What kind of a question is that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. You’re the one who wants to become a criminal defense attorney. You talk about how important it is to defend people accused of crimes in court, and give them a chance to get their stories out. I’m just wondering if you’d ever actually be with a criminal. Maybe sometimes, it’s okay to ignore the law.”
You sighed and leaned back. “The law isn’t perfect,” you admitted.
“Agreed.”
“But the point of being a defense attorney isn’t to support criminals, Jaebum. The legal system is adversarial by nature. That means the entire system depends on the concept of two sides fighting against each other in order to bring out the truth. The principle is that when two equally strong forces go up against each other, then the one with truth on their side will win. But if nobody wants to fight for the accused then their side becomes weak and they lose.”
Jaebum bit his lip. “But what if you end up getting criminals off and set them back on the streets?”
You sighed and shrugged. “Mistakes might happen. I’m not saying it doesn’t. Nobody can make miracles happen, nobody can read minds to tell who is lying and who isn’t. Discovering the truth is difficult. All we can do is accept that we’re part of the system. We need to perform our roles the best we can, and trust that the opposite side will do their best and that justice will come out of it. That’s all we can do. Play our part in a system that’s bigger than us. If a criminal gets back loose then that’s a failure of the system, not the fault of a single overzealous criminal lawyer.”
“I can’t understand you sometimes,” he admitted quietly.
You looked up at Jaebum and then back down at your lap. His arm around you was tight and you inhaled his familiar scent, before quietly admitting something you’d never told anyone before. “My father was arrested for something he didn’t do,” you mumbled softly. “He was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and a powerful gang framed him for their crimes. I spent most of my childhood without a father because criminal lawyers were incompetent and the system failed to get an innocent man off.”
Jaebum looked down at you, his eyes wide. “You never told me that before.”
You bit your lip and smiled at him forcefully. “I’ve never told anyone that before.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“I’m not. That’s why I want to become a defense attorney. I’m not letting any more innocent men go to jail. Not like my father.”
He nodded and pressed his lips to the top of your head. “I understand. I love you so much, baby.”
“I love you too,” you whispered, before looking up at him with narrowed eyes. “But I swear to god, Jaebum, if you and Jinyoung are trying to evade taxes or something in that shady business of yours, then you’d better think twice. I don’t want to have to defend my boyfriend in court.”
He forced a smile. “For tax evasion? Hardly.”
--
“So? What happened?”
You slumped back against the couch, tired. It was 4 am and you’d had to drive down to GotSeven’s headquarters once you were done dealing with the police officers because Jinyoung wouldn’t stop calling you.  An unfamiliar man had greeted you at the entrance to the business consultancy office and led you into the larger, more ominous building right behind it. There was nothing particularly incriminating here either... it looked like a regular office but you tried not to look around too much. Instead, you looked straight up at Jinyoung with red eyes, feeling a headache coming on as you gathered the energy to speak.
“They have eye-witnesses linking Jaebum to the human trafficking racket,” you explained, placing your files on the table in front of you. The police had been extremely uncooperative and you understood why. They were very close to nabbing a huge gang leader and they didn’t want you to mess things up for them. “From what I can tell, that’s the only major evidence they have on him. Also, he had an unlicensed gun on him when they arrested him, so that’s not helping matters.”
Jinyoung bit his lip and looked at you nervously. “But the gun doesn’t prove anything, right?”
You rubbed your fingers across your forehead, trying to soothe the ache. There were six large men standing in front of you and every single one of them looked helpless. It struck you that Jaebum had been the one holding this entire fort together. Without him, the gang couldn’t function. There was nobody to issue orders, nobody they could trust to stay cool and handle everything. Even Park Jinyoung looked like he was going to fall apart.
“Carrying that gun is a minor crime in itself, but it’s nothing too bad unless they can prove that he’s used it. Luckily, it was fully loaded when they found it so there’s nothing to suggest he’s ever fired any of the bullets. But that’s not what you should be worried about. The cops are going to get search warrants the moment they can get hold of a judge. That could be in a couple of hours. They’re definitely going to search this place, and they might just get into any other hideouts you guys have.”
Jinyoung glanced around at the others and exchanged glances with them before turning to you. “We cleaned this place up already. They won’t find anything here. Only Mark and Jackson have guns, and they both have licenses to carry them.”
You nodded. “Okay. The bail hearing is on Thursday. If you want your leader to get out of police custody then you need to make sure they don’t find anything else before I can get him out.”
“But what about afterwards?” Jackson demanded. He had his arms folded across his chest and you could see that he was nervous. “I mean, we can hide our tracks and all our other activities but the fact remains that Jaebum is still under arrest for human trafficking. We’re being framed. Probably by BTS. They’re the ones who sent the fake witnesses, right? Bambam, Yugyeom, you guys know more about this than we do.”
Yugyeom piped up nervously. “Hyung is right. Jaebum-hyung is being framed. We know a guy on the inside in BTS, we spent some time with them a few years ago. Jungkook told us that they sent in fake witnesses to identify Jaebum as the ring leader. They promised to let those girls go if they told the police the stories they prepared and directed the cops to Jaebum-hyung.”
You stared at them in disbelief. “For fuck’s sake, what kind of shit do you all get up to?”
There was silence across the room and you instantly shut your files, standing up. What am I doing? Why am I standing in here in a room full of criminals, trying to help them hide the terrible things they get up to? You felt a burst of disgust towards yourself and you started to sling your bag over your shoulder while the other men watched you in silence. “Listen, I don’t care why Jaebum being framed or whether he did all this. In fact, the less you tell me about your operations, the better. I’m only going to handle this until I can get Jaebum out on bail. The actual trial could take months, and I’m no criminal lawyer.”
Jinyoung looked up at you desperately. “But you studied to become one. Please help us. I don’t know who else to ask-“
“Well, you sure as fuck shouldn’t have asked me,” you hissed. These men had a lot of nerve, acting all innocent and scared when they were the bad guys. You refused to be manipulated again. “I’m not a criminal like you. It took me an entire year of therapy to get back to normal after what happened three years ago, so if you think that I have any intention of getting involved with your shit, you’re wrong.”
“I know we were careless back then,” Jackson began, but you cut him off.
“No, I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want to know anything. I’m just going to help you get Jaebum out on bail, and for that I need you all to do two things. One, co-operate with the police whenever they show up with a warrant and for fuck’s sake, hide your other operations properly. If the police find smuggled goods or weapons or anything, the entire case is shot. Co-operate with them, but don’t tell them anything they don’t already know.” you ordered. The men were listening to you intently and you took a deep breath before continuing carefully.
“Two, we need to prove to a judge on Thursday that Jaebum won’t run if they let him out on bail. I’ll be back tomorrow evening so in the meantime, one of you prepare his employment records, his educational background, bring me anything you have to show that he’s a decent person and make his sister sit in the front row and shed a few tears for the judge. That’s it. I’m leaving.”
You stood up and started to walk out, but Jinyoung called after you, making you stop in your tracks.
“Is that all? Do you need us to do anything else?” he asked.
You turned around and glared at them all. “Yeah. Find yourself another lawyer by Thursday.”
--
857 notes · View notes
kpopchangedme · 5 years
Text
Starboy II: Out of your League
#TB to your first mistake; the night you met Jaebum and asked him to take you home, way back in September.
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Mini-Masterlist  M A S T E R L I ST
Protagonists: Im Jaebum & You
Word Count: 3k
Genre: SFW –  University!au – Baseball!Au – Romance – *Hook Ups* – *Socially offensive language* – Mini-Series
Lysandre’s note: FRET NOT! IT’S HERE ANON! 💗
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You nod along to whatever the man-with-the-man-bun is saying; he’s hot but obnoxious. Feeling the buzz of the alcohol through your veins, you let your eyes survey the crowd of prospects at the welcoming Sport’s Dep party. Makayla and your other friends all disappeared one by one with dates, you wish at least one was still there to coach you on men.
Do and do not.
You’re certain your interlocutor is a definite do not. He’s handsome, but the fact that he’s been pestering you with Rick and Morty references is a major turn off. He’s a Frat boy, the type to start calling his dick pickle Rick as soon as his pants are off and that’d be a huge – or small, let’s be realistic – let down. You take a sip of the beer you brought over, amused by your train of thoughts.
Feeling observed, you search the crowd for familiar faces. That’s when you spot them: three members of the baseball team. They’re standing in a corner of the living room, across the dance floor, in deep conversation. One is named Choi Youngjae, the middle one is a stranger and the last one is Kim Yugyeom. You kind of recognize them since the school’s med clinic you work at has a tight relationship with the teams. Also, they’re always wearing their team’s jacket, probably just to show off and get girls.
It’s quite ironical, since baseball is probably the least sexy sport ever. Still, sportsmen are perfect for a casual one-night stand, perfect for a commitment-phobic like you. This is what you’re out looking for tonight a hook-up. You let your friends convinced you this was a good idea because you needed a quick fix. Now, you just need to choose one of those baseball guys, they’d be perfect since you don’t even want a callback...
You start with studying Yugyeom as a potential; the youngest addition to the team. Totally ignoring the Rick and Morty guy still trying to bore you to bed, you detail the man-boy with an expert gaze; sharp eyes, long legs, strong hands. Not bad, he could do just fine. He is quite handsome up close, you know because you’re his rehabilitation practitioner. He injured his wrist at practice last week. It looks like you’ll have to cover for Dr. Tran at the clinic again this year, but you don’t mind if his patients are as cute as this.
You gave the young player exercises to fortify his wrist and you’re supposed to meet weekly as a medical follow-up for a few months. Realizing this you blush heavily, you aren’t a Doctor though; there isn’t technically anything inappropriate about a kinesiologist relationship with a patient. You hold no real authority over Yugyeom, still, you cringe remembering he’s only twenty-one years old.
You need good sex – a guy more your age would probably be a safer bet.
Moving your evaluating gaze to the two other men next to him, a giggle escapes you. There is something ever so fulfilling in the idea of being the hunter tonight. Your friends were right, you should stop asking yourself too many questions and just go for it. You haven’t had sex in over a year and no mid-twenties commitment-phobic should fear one night stands.
No strings, no questions, no small talk.
Those were Makayla’s rules. Just pure filthy sex.
“Everything a’ight?” The man next to you stops his monologue, startled by your impromptu giggle. Thankfully, a simple nod is enough to start him again and you’re glad to resume your analysis of the jocks at the other side of the room.
The second player to be considered, you only know by name; Choi Youngjae.
He was the cute guy in your Human Visceral Anatomy class last year. He was memorable; he threw up when the class dissected a human dead body. You still remember how he changed colours when the teacher began to cut the hard skin of the torso with the scalpel. People teased him after that, but he didn’t drop out, ranking second-best in the class – after you – at the end of the semester. Right, determination and a certain love of challenge are probably useful qualities in a lover.
That’s it – he’d do – Let’s have meaningless sex, Choi Youngjae. Downing your beer, you fish for a new one in your purse and open it right away.
No strings. No questions. No small talk.
You start to walk towards the baseball trio with fake confidence, heartlessly leaving the Rick and Morty fan hanging in a middle of a sentence.
You can do it, y/n! You can have sex with strangers too… A stranger…  Not strangerS. Oh my god, sex with one guy at a time! It’s enough for a first one-night stand experience, right? It’s a proposition between two consenting adults, there’s nothing to be ashamed of... You can do it! Fighting your own anxiety, you continue to walk forward with an almost convincing determination.
Just as you are getting close enough to capture the attention of the players, a petite silhouette appears out of nowhere, wraps her arms around your target’s waist and walks away with him.
Abort mission, girlfriend alert. ABORT.
You stop dead in your tracks but halfway through turning around, Yugyeom calls you out since you’re in the middle of the place and were obviously heading towards them. “Hey! Miss y/n!”
Wincing, you face him with a bright fake smile. “Hiiiii, Yugyeom! Please, call me y/n, just like everyone else.”
“Jaebum, this is y/n, she’s studying Kinesiology, she helps me with my wrist! That’s Jaebum, he’s on the baseball team too.” Obviously.
The young man smiles, vaguely gesturing the man standing next to him – the third one you haven’t taken the time to consider as a potential lover and...
Holy shit.
That guy is drop-dead gorgeous. Way out of your league. Since you spend several seconds staring, he raises an eyebrow, entertained.
“Hi, y/n”, your name rolls off his tongue like he knows you, so wrongly it feels right, “thanks for taking good care of our youngest.” He nods, holding your gaze too intensely.
“Hi-i, it’s nothing – H-How’s the wrist?” Highly intimidated, you turn your attention back to Yuygeom, looking at his hands only to find them wrapped around a red cup. “Are you drinking?” You shake your head, disapproving. “Athletes shouldn’t get drunk!”
The man-boy drops his eyes, blushing at your scolding, but his teammate only bursts out laughing. “Did you actually bring your own beer to a Uni party?” He asks, and you turn to face him, surprised by his playful tone.
Everything about that Jaebum’s face is knifelike; his eyes, nose, chin. You would’ve assumed his personality to be as intimidating as his features. When you don’t answer, he taps the glass of the beer in your right hand to illustrate his point, offering you a dangerously perfect smile. He’s enjoying this random interaction a little too much, as though he’s interested in an actual answer.
Oh my god, is that guy flirting with me?
“Y-yes, it’s safer”, you gulp, mind turning to Jell-o and forgetting all about your sexy plans. You sound so dumb and boring, exposing that a party like this isn’t your crowd at all. You need to change the subject asap. “Anyway guys, you shouldn't drink. Don’t you have a game in two days?”
“Yes, we’re on water actually!” Yugyeom pouts cutely, sorry about it as he shows you what’s in his cup. “Besides, let’s be real, I probably won’t even get to pla–”
“Gyeom?” His teammate cuts him off, leaning against the wall behind him nonchalantly. You’re hyper-conscious his eyes haven’t left your face yet and he doesn’t even look to Yugyeom as he speaks. You feel seen. You’re sure the room wasn’t that warm 2 minutes prior.
“Yes, JB?”
“You said you wanted to dance, go have fun. Remember, the curfew?”
You watch in awe as the younger player agrees and obeys his friend. He promises to see you at his next appointment and says goodbye, disappearing in the crowd in the blink of an eye. Did Jaebum get rid of him to be left alone with you? Is it as easy as this for athletes to get girls? – Oh right, you’re here to hook up too. You study the man in front of you anew while drinking your beer slowly, he probably has meaningless sex very often. He looks way too relaxed about this smooth and flirty leave us alone move.
“So, are you coming to our game on Sunday?” When you shake your head, he lets out a low chuckle and rubs his nape. “All that talk about drinking and you’re not even coming to see me play?”
See him play. You stare, blinking dumbly as he bites his lower lip, hopeful. He is flirting – the way out of your league guy is flirting – Holy shit, no one prepared you for that.
“W-what’s your favourite position?” Shit shit shit, too forward, too raw. Why are you so shitty at this? Why can’t you be normal with guys for once? No wonder your last relationship was forever ago and was so damn messy.
God, you hate yourself. You wish the ground would open and swallow you whole. The baseball player frowns confused as you’re filled with instant regrets and dread. That’s probably not how people insinuate to strangers that they want to have sex with them. Even animals have more complicated mating rituals. You’re about to run away or slap yourself across the face when he answers your horrible pun attempt.
“Favourite? I only have one, clearly, you’re not following our team.”
Before you can feel embarrassed about being called out on that, Jaebum laughs, flashing perfectly white teeth, the sound weirdly endearing. You’re not sure if he didn’t get your appalling sexual innuendo or if he’s mercifully choosing to ignore it.
“I’m the pitcher.”
“Oh! I know about baseball pitchers… T-Throwing and stuff…” He chuckles cutely at your awkwardness and you wash your shame down with another gulp of beer. “I mean, I know from a medical point of view. It’s straining...” You raise your closed fist, not noticing how Jaebum becomes more uncomfortable every time you enumerate common injury with a finger: “An overused arm can often cause a labral tear; rotator cuff injury; shoulder instability; thrower’s elbow; UCL sprai–”
“Okay, stop! I get it.” He stops you, raising both hands to lower yours in short panic. “I’d rather we don’t talk about that... It’s bad luck!”
“S-Sorry...” You falter, watching his hands disappear as soon as you shut up. Shit, you always forget about how superstitious athletes can be.
“It’s fine...” He grins at your guilty expression, trying to ease you. “So, you know about pitching injuries, but nothing about me? I’m deeply hurt.” When he pauses, it’s to stare at you again, gaze heavy, and your cheeks burn even more. You suddenly feel like you should know everything about that guy, like you’re supposed to know him.
“Sorry. Despite my work, I don’t really follow any Uni’ teams.” It’s true, you only knew about their baseball game in two days because your co-worker at the clinic is a fanatic. You’re too busy with your studies and although you wouldn’t say that to Jaebum’s face, there’s virtually no sport quite as boring as baseball to you.
“It’s alright, Gyeom said you’re in kinesiology?” He nods pensively, but you barely hear, lost because you’re gawking at him. Suddenly, you’re remembering you came to this party for one peculiar reason and just thinking about it makes you even more anxious. And that guy...
There’s something freakish about how symmetrical he is, no human should look this perfect. You gulp, either you make a move right now or find another – easier – target already. It isn’t late yet, but you planned on working early at the clinic tomorrow.
“It’s odd, I really thought you were in literature or something from the Art Dep!” Since you still haven’t said anything back, Jaebum fills the growing awkward silence between you two.
His words take you by surprise once more. Litterature, why? Do you look like a bookworm tonight? Surely not, you wore one of Makayla’s outfit. You don’t take upon yourself to ask for his reasons aloud, distracted again, by the way, his pink tongue darts through his parted lips. You must look so damn stupid, you need to say something, anything.
Make a move or move on.
Jaebum speaks again, apparently not appalled by your mutism. “It’s just… I hadn’t seen you on this side of campus before tonight. Except for Baseball, my Minor actually is–”
“Let’s go elsewhere.” You cut him off, finally opening your mouth. You need to act before you change your mind and end up going back home alone. “Don’t you want to get out of here with me?” Jaebum pushes himself off the wall, startled you got your voice back.
Less to no small talk was one of the hookups golden rules when the girls coached you earlier. You’re not here to make friends and learn about that guy, that’d be dangerous.
“Hum – Sure, is it because of that soccer douche?” Jaebum turns to the crowd of drunk students stumbling across the living room, eyes stopping on the Rick and Morty dude who’s glaring at you two. Apparently, he spotted you talking with him earlier. “Do you wanna talk outside?”
“N-No, I meant els–” “AH, STARBOY! That’s you, ain’t it?!” Before you can explain what exactly you were proposing, a tall stranger appears out of nowhere, slapping Jaebum’s right shoulder. The pitcher winces at the hit, offering you a somewhat embarrassed look as you stare, bewildered. “Wanna play beer pong? HEY EVERYBODY! STARBOY IS GONNA THROW FOR ME NEXT RO-”
“No thanks!” Interrupting, Jaebum naturally grabs your hand, pulling you behind him towards the exit and your heart rate accelerates. “We were going to get some fresh air!” He yells back at the man above his shoulders, ignoring the fact the small crowd around was already cheering at the announcement.
When you’re outside he stops on the house’ porch to face you.
“Jeez, that was a close call, I suck at beer pong!” You laugh, and Jaebum chuckles. dropping his head to stare at his feet, strangely flustered.
“Who’s Starboy?”
“Don’t call me that – It sounds weird coming from your mouth.” He pulls a face, finally releasing your hand and you wish he didn’t. “See? everyone knows me but you! You’re lucky I’m not offended...” He leans in closer, chest grazing yours, as if about to kiss you. The passing coyness completely disappeared from his eyes.
“R-Right, University sports stars and their gigantic egos. Your reputation precedes you!”
You shiver in the night breeze, looking up at him, it has more to do with his proximity than September’s cool weather. Still, Jaebum shrugs off his baseball jacket instinctively, wrapping it around you. He only chuckles at your attempted teasing, not even bothering to defend his kind. Your hook-up resolution wavers for a second, even if he seems close to making a move on you himself. Even though he’s a Baseball player, Jaebum seems too sweet for this kind of thing.
“Sorry”, you apologize for the umpteenth time, softening, “I’m just–”
“It’s alright, there’s Jaebum and their Starboy, ya know… They’re like… Very, very different guys, but we ‘sports stars’ are used to the reputation – Listen, I know you wanted to get out, but this isn’t a better spot if you’re freezing.”
His hands find your arms to rub some warmth to them through the fabric. Your whole body is afire at his touch, but he seems oblivious to that.
“We should probably go back inside, I can keep the soccer douche away if he’s annoying you.”
“When I said we should go elsewhere, I didn’t mean outside…” You take a deep breath, finding some courage in the fresh air.
Makayla said no man would ever refuse your proposition; you can do this. Even if he’s intimidatingly handsome and kinda caring, Jaebum’s still a player and you know too well how athletes are with women.
Didn’t he just admit to his own reputation?
“I meant somewhere more private...”
It takes a few seconds for him to register what you’re asking. You don’t doubt he’s used to girls throwing themselves at him but then again, they probably aren’t as straightforward. Perhaps they flirt until he decides to bed them, not the other way around. At first, his expression turns blank, then to surprise and finally, incredibility.
“Like – private private?”, his lips part in disbelief, “Us. N-Now?” But what he probably really means is – already.
Your mouth dries, and your stomach drops from embarrassment, you need to get laid, but maybe not at the price of your dignity.
“You don’t want to... Then nevermind.”
Oh my God. You have misread him, he isn’t interested at all. He just made polite conversation most probably since you were all alone and Yugyeom wanted to dance. You bite your cheek, turning around to go die somewhere in a ditch. There’s probably still an easier target inside, but you don’t want to go through all that again.
“Wait!” You freeze, staring down in awe at his hand wrapped around your forearm. You don’t move since you’re too nervous to meet his eyes. “I didn’t say I didn’t want to! You’re a very curious girl, that’s all.” You look up, shocked. Curious, is that good? Does that mean yes?
“Oh–”, you clear your throat, “Ugh, I mean good... Uuuum, your place or mine?”
Jaebum laughs so you don’t notice how uneasy he is, eyes creasing and disappearing. He pauses to rub the back of his nape before taking your hand in his again.
“My bedroom is at the sports dorm, no one will be back before the midnight curfew...”
You smile, heart pounding. “Let’s go then…”
Makayla was right, getting a guy to bed is easier than you thought, even someone that’s way out of your league. 
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Mini-Masterlist  M A S T E R L I ST
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