Crybaby [Ch. 5]
pairing: namjoon x f. reader
genre: f2l, fluff, best friend’s brother au, smut [18+]
summary: Sometimes your emotions overwhelmed you, sometimes they made you cry, but your friends were there to comfort you all the time. Crybaby, a sweet nickname bestowed upon you by said friends, but when Kim Namjoon says it, it's more of a tease.
wc: 5.5k
warnings: shy!oc, oc is babied a lot, self-conscious oc, cry baby!oc, alcohol use/mention, joon puts oc on his lap, big body!joon, dirty thoughts, vmin mischief, oc is scared of thunderstorms
date: May 11, 2022
After that night, you find it easier to confide in Namjoon, to seek him for comfort. It astonishes your friends, not really understanding what shifted that night you and Namjoon left the bar without them.
Of course, your soulmate had asked for a relay of that night from you and his brother, repeating it verbatim to the rest of your friends later on. They all seemed to be at a loss but Hoseok and Seokjin took it as a win, fully welcoming Namjoon to the group.
For the most part, you hung out with most of your friends present, a buffer of sorts but you had the option to hang out with Namjoon in short bursts, whether it be trips to the ice cream shop, runs to the local burger joint, or simply grocery shopping.
It was obvious to you -and everyone else- that Joon was insanely attractive, especially as of late when he’d picked up working out a few times a week. You noticed the changes almost immediately, feeling how much his arms had grown as time passed. You also got a glimpse of his social media, where he posted pictures and videos of his workouts with Jungkook and Taehyung. Sometimes you’d join them, dragging along Jimin, who had more interest in dancing with Hoseok and Seokjin.
Anyway, you weren’t the only one noticing these physical changes in Namjoon. Everywhere you went, someone stared. It had been pretty easy to ignore at first, minding your business as you placed items in the shopping cart Namjoon was pushing, but it seemed like everyone you passed stared. The stockers, the customers, and the cashiers. Some even did a double-take!
However, Namjoon never noticed the attention. He was always just watching you, admiring the little crease between your brows as you picked fruits and vegetables, deciding if they were good enough to take home. Sometimes you’d stick your tongue out if you were really concentrating, mumbling to yourself before handing the perishable to him to make the final decision. Namjoon knew fuck all about picking food, but after the first shopping trip, he learned.
His eyes never strayed from you, oblivious to the men and women who would start to head in his direction, only to see him smile adoringly, dimples and all, and lose the minuscule amount of courage they had.
Namjoon was ethereal, and you knew it, the world knew it, but did he? No.
Even if he did, you know it wouldn’t go to his head, and that’s what you liked most about him.
You were used to people staring in your direction any time you went out with your friends. They were all gorgeous and sometimes you wondered if you stuck out like a sore thumb? Despite their reassurances, that thought always gnawed at you, easily making you spiral into a world of doubt and self-hatred.
Namjoon’s been working on positive affirmations for you, correcting you every time you try to speak down on yourself and it seems to be working. You still get overwhelmed by your emotions and you still cry at the drop of a hat, but you’ve also been kinder to yourself, and that’s a win in his book.
“Do we have everything, Baby?” Namjoon asks as you cross off something from your list. You scoot to the side to look over every item, double-checking as you go before nodding.
“Everything for movie night is here,” you grin, proud of yourself as you fold your list into four and tuck it into your purse. Namjoon smiles. You’re adorable.
It’s odd to see someone handwrite a grocery list, much less remember to take it to the store with them, but you surprised him from the very first shopping trip. He tried to make his own list but found he couldn’t read his own handwriting, so he decided to email you his list for you to write on your paper. Apparently, lists are one of your things. He finds it endearing.
“Lead the way, Crybaby.” Namjoon motions for you to go first, heading for the self-checkout. The least human interaction you have, the better.
Namjoon easily unloads the cart while you scan and bag everything, paying for the items before Joon puts them into the cart to push to the parking lot.
“Get inside, Baby. I’ve got it.” Joon states firmly when you try to help him load the groceries into the trunk.
“But I wanna help,” you respond.
“I know, Baby, but it looks like rain and I don’t want you getting wet. Do you want your drink?” Namjoon holds out your lemonade and you thank him before you get into the passenger’s side, waiting for him to load everything and put the cart away.
When he gets into the car, he hands you his phone and you put your playlist on as you fill the silence with small conversation.
Later that evening, Seokjin and Hoseok are roughhousing on the living room floor, fighting for the remote in order to choose what to watch first. Jimin and Taehyung sit at the kitchen counter, snacking on chips while Jungkook sips his beer.
Namjoon is in his bedroom, freshly showered and changed into a pair of gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt that hugs his biceps deliciously, not that you looked.
Yoongi stands by the stove, checking the soup he’s making, knowing you’ll all eat a bowl before stuffing yourselves full of snacks and drinks. He doesn’t care, loves the smiles you give him when you take the first bite and that’s enough for him to keep cooking every time you’re all around.
“Crybaby,” Seokjin sings, calling for you to join him in the living room. He’s taken over the recliner, gripping a blanket over his lap while Hoseok glares from his spot on the loveseat.
“Cheater!” He mutters.
“What was that?” Seokjin asks with a sickeningly sweet tone.
“Nothing,” Hoseok bites back with a grin as you join them, giggling when Seokjin tugs you into the spot beside him.
“My little Crybaby!” Seokjin exclaims, kissing your cheek repeatedly, spurred by your giggles. The sound fills all your friends’ hearts with warmth, all of them pausing their activities to listen.
“I missed you! It’s been such a long week! You need to stop by for lunch now and again,” Seokjin sighs sleepily, but he refuses to fall asleep just yet.
“I can stop by next week,” you offer, and Seokjin grins widely.
“You sure know how to make your best friend happy!” He smiles smugly, ignoring the protests from the other six men in the house.
“That is my soulmate. Thank you very much!” Jungkook huffs, playfully sticking his tongue out at the eldest.
“Were. You were her soulmate,” Seokjin aggravates Jungkook, who scoffs and rolls his eyes.
“Hold my beer, babe,” he says, handing his beer off to Yoongi.
“No fighting on my recliner!” Namjoon sighs, his hand running over his face before Taehyung is crossing the room to scoop Jungkook up over his shoulder, depositing him on the counter.
“You two are something else,” is all Taehyung says as he hands Jungkook his beer, and everyone moves on as if nothing happened.
Tonight, Hoseok has decided to be the big spoon, claiming the loveseat with Jimin’s back against his chest and Taehyung nestled between Jimin’s legs. You giggle at the sight, more so as Jimin’s small frame cuddles Taehyung’s broad one.
That leaves you sandwiched between Namjoon, who takes the right arm of the couch, and Yoongi, who takes the left arm of the couch and sits his boyfriend on his lap. You know at some point in the evening, Jungkook will end up sprawled across your lap, but that’s a small price to pay if it means nobody has to sit on the floor.
After the first hour, Jungkook ends up sitting beside you, his feet tucked into your thigh, which only pushes you closer to his brother. Namjoon is firm and lean against your side, warmth radiating off him like a furnace when you press against him. He smiles down at you, kissing your forehead before he turns his attention to the movie, but inside you’re screaming. Being so close to Namjoon is overwhelming at times, intoxicating to the point where you don’t think you can breathe on your own but he still provides you with comfort, a sense of calmness when you manage to shut your brain off. Those are the moments you live for, when it’s just you two.
“Ow, Kook,” you whine when his foot digs into your thigh and he apologizes as he scoots to Yoongi. You tickle his foot and he whines, getting the attention of your other friends.
“Be nice, Baby,” Seokjin grins, winking when he wiggles his fingers. You laugh, tickling Jungkook again and he wiggles as he tries to get out of your reach until Namjoon’s coming to his brother’s rescue, pulling you onto his lap.
You’re left speechless as he takes both your hands in one of his. “Crybaby.”
Jungkook smirks, stretching out further as he gets comfortable with his head in Yoongi’s lap. Nobody says anything as heat rushes to your face, refusing to meet Namjoon’s gaze. He sighs and releases your hands but presses a kiss to your temple.
You’re not sure if you should slide off his lap and onto the floor. Perhaps you can join Hobi, Tae, and Jimin’s cuddle puddle, but the loveseat seems to be at its limit with Taehyung’s broad frame.
Before you can decide, Joon’s arms wrap around your waist to hold you in place. You gulp, ignoring the frantic beat of your heart. Wow! This was not a development you were expecting…
You bite your lip to hide the giddy smile that threatens to appear on your lips. You fit perfectly in his arms. Was that a coincidence? Namjoon’s touch is different from all your friends. He elicits a response in you that you’ve never felt before with your friends and you know it’s because you don’t see him as just a friend. Ooh, please don’t stress-sweat! This isn’t the time to get sweaty… What if his hands slip off? No, no, can’t stress-sweat.
Hoseok catches your gaze, quirking his head to the side in question, silently asking if you’re okay. You know if you don’t answer him, he’ll go into protective mode and pull you to him instead.
“I’m fine,” you mouthed and his stare lingers for a moment before he’s giving you a thumbs up. You wait until he turns around, his hands massaging Jimin’s shoulders, clearly distracted once again.
“Everything okay?” Namjoon whispers, his breath brushing against your neck. Lewd thoughts fill your head almost immediately. Joon panting your name into your skin as he covers your body with his, sweat on his brow as he grabs your body, holding you in place as he fills you to the brim.
Clearing your throat, you nod, not trusting your voice to answer without fumbling over your words.
“Excuse me,” you rush as you get off his lap, mindful not to step on his feet as you scurry to the safety of the kitchen.
Away from the living room, you can finally catch your breath. You inhale deeply, gripping the counter to hold you steady, turning the faucet on to fill your palms with cool water to rub on your face.
“Fuck me,” you mutter as you pat your face dry, turning to open the fridge and grab an ice cube to rub over the hot skin of your neck, moaning softly at the coolness. Fuck Namjoon for being so hot. How are you supposed to sit on his lap for the rest of the night?
Maybe Jin will share his recliner if you ask nicely? Doubt it.
“Baby girl?” Jimin asks as he walks into the kitchen, hoping he doesn’t startle you by calling out. Smiling weakly, you lock eyes with him as he crosses the distance between you. He doesn’t hesitate to wrap you in a hug that you reciprocate, making him shiver when your cold hands wrap around his slim waist.
“Ice?” he’s puzzled as he takes your hand, taking the ice out to toss in the sink with a clank. “Why?”
“Too hot,” you mutter as you press your face to his chest. Jimin nods, kissing your head as he holds you close, rubbing your back gently. He can feel the warmth on your skin, almost too hot on his own skin, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he waits for you to provide an explanation, but as the seconds pass, he knows he won’t be getting one unless he presses for answers.
“Baby?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m gonna ask you something. Can you answer honestly?” Jimin asks softly, words murmured against your hair.
“I can try,” And Jimin knows that’s the best he’s going to get out of you, so he decides to proceed anyway. He looks over his shoulder, making sure nobody else is within hearing distance before he unravels himself from your embrace.
“You said it was too hot,” Jimin starts, wetting his lips with his tongue as he tries to keep from teasing you. You nod.
“Was it too hot or was Namjoon too hot?” Jimin notes the way you freeze, taking a step back, frowning when your back meets the counter. With a smirk, Jimin steps forward, his arms on the counter on either side of you to cage you in.
He’s so pretty, so ethereal and he steals your breath away as he leans in closer. Jimin’s nose pressed against yours, “Tell me Crybaby. You said you’d try for me.”
Swallowing thickly, you ignore the embarrassment that bubbles up inside you.
“He’s too hot. Too fucking hot, Minnie,” you admit and it feels like a weight’s lifted from your chest, able to breathe again as Jimin steps back, a smirk on his pretty full lips.
“I knew it,” he teases, kissing your cheek as he gives you some more room by stepping back further. “You’re so easy to read, Baby.”
Panic crosses your face, eyes wide as tears pool in your eyes. Your ears burn hot, your hands covering them as humiliation builds inside you.
Fuck, Jimin curses.
“Correction, Crybaby. You’re easy to read because you’re my best friend. My best girl,” Jimin is in your space again, hugging you as he feels a few stray tears soak his shirt. “Shh, baby. I promise, he’s not as good as I am. He doesn’t know. Doesn’t see it, Baby.”
“Really?” you clear your throat, wet eyes meeting Jimin’s.
“Would I lie to you?” Jimin hums, kissing your forehead. He uses his thumbs to rub the last of your tears away.
“Never,” you answer automatically.
Jimin grins, kissing each of your cheeks. Your smile has him brightening further, kissing the tip of your nose as he hugs you, squeezing you until you gasp and he laughs.
“Do you want to go back in there or do you want to stay in here for a bit? Nobody will mind,” Jimin assures you as he grabs a bottle of water from the fridge, opening it before handing it to you.
Thanking him, you take a sip.
“I need to calm down and cool down,” you bite your lip, giggling.
“Whatever you need, Baby. It was hurting my back being stuffed into the loveseat like a sardine,” he chuckles as he rolls his head from side to side until his neck pops and he moans.
“I didn’t know the party had moved in here,” Taehyung smiles as he makes his way to you, arms around you in an instant.
“Tae!” you squeal when he kisses your cheek wetly. He giggles as he apologizes, sitting on the counter behind you as he takes a shot from the glass bottle beside him.
“We’re just hanging out in here for a bit,” Jimin shrugs nonchalantly and Tae nods, not asking any further questions when he notes the dried tears that linger on your cheeks.
“Cool, it’s a little stuffy on that couch,” Taehyung barks a laugh as he fans himself.
“Right?” Jimin agrees as he makes Taehyung scoot so he can climb onto the counter beside him, his perfect ass resting on the hard surface. Jimin pats his thigh to get you to come to him. You do so.
“So obedient,” Taehyung teases, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Such a good girl,” Jimin praises, smirking, and you know they’re up to no good, but you love when they’re in their playful moods. It offers a distraction from your thoughts.
“Come,” Taehyung’s deep voice commands, and you do so. You stand in front of Jimin and Taehyung takes another shot, groaning when he swallows.
Jimin spreads his legs, taking your hand to pull you in between them.
“Hi,” you chirp, smiling at them.
“Hi,” Jimin chirps, mimicking your tone as he looks down at you. The back of his hand caresses your cheek gently, knuckles brushing against your lips when he changes his course and grips your chin with his thumb and index finger.
“Do you want a shot?” Jimin asks with his cheeky smile that denotes he’s up to no good, but you trust him and you were in search of a distraction after all.
“Yes,” you answer clearly and confidently. Jimin exchanges a look with his soulmate, a silent exchange between them.
“You heard our Crybaby, Tae.”
Taehyung nods, smiling at you. “Open up for us, Baby.”
You do so immediately. His tone makes your head spin and Jimin opens your mouth wider, praising you for being a good girl.
The alcohol fills your mouth and you swallow, wincing as it goes down your throat.
“What kind of debauchery are you two getting up to with my Crybaby?” Seokjin asks as he leans against the doorway. You smile when you see him, waving as Jimin moves you to the side so he can hop off the counter.
“Nothing now,” he winked, grabbing your hand and leading you out of the kitchen. Seokjin doesn’t bother to follow you, moving toward Taehyung to take a swig from the bottle, knowing well enough that he’s lost his seat.
Jimin leads you to the recliner, sitting in it first before pulling you beside him and covering your bodies with a blanket. Nobody says a word as the movie goes on, but you can feel the heat of Namjoon’s stare on you the rest of the night.
Falling in love with Namjoon scares you but only because he’s become just as special as your friends, if not more. You’re no longer afraid to spend time with him with no one to act as a buffer. In fact, you prefer spending time alone with him whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Today it’s just the two of you. You’d been cooped up all day in his house, watching movies and eating snacks.
It had been Namjoon’s idea to head to the park near his house for some air and you had agreed when you rose from the couch and your muscles felt stiff.
Okay, perhaps Namjoon also bribed you with ice cream after your walk.
“There’s a little creek right over there,” Namjoon points to a small bridge not too far from the both of you. The park isn’t as busy as usual, and you bet it has something to do with the dark clouds that have slowly blocked out any trace of sunlight.
“Do you think it’ll rain on us?” you ask as you follow Namjoon to the little bridge, looking into the creek when you get there. Namjoon hums in acknowledgement but is too busy taking pictures of the creek and a little squirrel that has come out of one of the trees that surround the area.
“Probably,” he finally answers as he looks up at the sky, only to feel a raindrop to hit him in the face.
It’s only a second later that you’re pelted with a few more raindrops and a crash of thunder.
“Fuck, let’s go!” Namjoon shouts, taking your hand in his as he leads you off the bridge and down the pathway that leads to the entrance of the park.
“We’re not gonna make it, Joon!” you laugh as you walk faster to try to keep up with his long strides.
“We might get a bit wet but we can shower when we get home,” Namjoon says easily but another crash of thunder hits and you jump. You weren’t a fan of thunderstorms, much less when you were caught outside.
“Joon!” you tremble as you squeeze his hand.
“We’re almost there, Baby. Just hold on a little longer, okay?” he asks softly and as you round a corner. Namjoon can see his home at the end of the block.
“You’re walking too fast,” you pout as you try to keep up and he slows his pace to not leave you behind.
A sheepish smile appears on his lips. “Sorry, Crybaby.”
You nod, swallowing thickly as you look up to the sky and see it’s gone dark, almost as if it were nighttime instead of mid-afternoon. You hate it; you hate it; you hate it!
Unfortunately, before you can reach Namjoon’s house, the rain picks up and soaks you both to the bone.
“Shit,” Namjoon curses. “Sorry, Crybaby. I should have checked the weather before we headed out.”
“It’s okay, just get me out of it,” you tell him as you pick up your pace, ignoring the slight ache in your calves. Namjoon easily keeps up with your new pace, thankful when you’re just a few houses down from his.
“You can shower first,” he promises as he unlocks the front gate, holding it open for you to pass through. You make your way to the front door, using your own house key to unlock it while Namjoon locks the gate and jogs to the porch to meet you.
“Finally,” you grumble as you kick off your wet shoes. Namjoon walks in after you, tripping over your shoes as he takes his off and shuts the front door.
“Well, that was a bust,” Namjoon chuckles as he runs a glistening wet hand through his wet hair. You smile softly at his words, nodding.
Even soaking wet, Namjoon still looks as hot as ever, perhaps even hotter. Namjoon shakes his hair. A few droplets land on your face and you whine, glaring at him.
“Whoops!”
“Whoops!” you mock when you grab your t-shirt and wring it over Namjoon’s feet.
A snort escaped Namjoon, cheeks pink when he covers his mouth as he laughs. His pretty eyes turn into crescents as he shakes his head. How far the two of you have come. He doesn’t think you would have dared doing anything like that just a few months ago, and yet, now he’s captivated by all these new sides of you. You’re like a blooming flower, slowly opening up to him more and more, and you’re incredibly beautiful.
“Let’s get you washed up, Crybaby. Go start the shower and I’ll get you some clothes.” Namjoon pushes you toward the bathroom, leaving you to your own devices as he heads to his bedroom.
There’s a drawer in his room with a few of your belongings. He picks out a pair of leggings and socks for you to wear before he heads to his closet to grab one of his oversized hoodies for you. He hopes the lights won’t go out during the storm. He’d hate for you to be cold.
“Crybaby?” Namjoon calls as he knocks on the bathroom door. The shower is running, and he hopes you haven’t gotten in yet.
A moment later, the door opens and you stick your hand out to take the clothes from him.
“Thanks, Joon!”
“I’ll bring you a warm towel in five minutes. I’ll set it on the counter,” he informs you before you shut the door and thank him again.
Namjoon heads to the linen closet, taking two towels and throwing them in the dryer for a few minutes. He stops in front of the washer to throw his soaked shirt into it. He unbuttons his pants, almost taking them off before he grabs a towel off the shelf and dries off as best as he can as the dryer goes off.
Quickly, he folds the two towels meant for you and takes them to the bathroom, gently knocking and waiting for your permission before he enters.
Namjoon sets the towels on the counter before he heads back to his bedroom, grabbing a few extra blankets to set on his bed for after your shower.
Jungkook will be at work until later, and Yoongi will probably come over to make dinner. The two of you had planned to laze around until their return. Maybe you can squeeze in a nap or a movie in between.
While you shower, Namjoon goes to the kitchen to make some hot chocolate, putting an even amount of mini marshmallows on top.
When you’re done with your shower and getting dressed, you join Namjoon in the kitchen, thanking him for making you a drink after you blatantly check him out. His back is so broad and muscular, his golden skin is still wet from the rain as a few droplets cling onto him for dear life. You’ve never been jealous of a raindrop before… hmm.
“Sure thing, Baby,” he grins, kissing your cheek as he goes to walk past you. He doesn’t notice the way you hide your smile in your favorite mug, cheeks flushed with heat.
Once your drink is gone, and your mug washed and dried, you head to Namjoon’s bedroom. You crawl under the blankets, tugging them up to your chest as you wait for him to join you. The lights flicker once and you hold your breath, silently praying they don’t go out.
“Sorry,” Joon smiles, embarrassed, as he steps into his bedroom. He’s shirtless with a towel draped over his shoulder, one hand ruffling his wet hair in a poor attempt to dry it.
“I forgot to grab a shirt,” he says as you stare up at the ceiling, refusing to ogle his muscular figure. You daydream enough about him, seeing him in person will just make you combust. You’re already warm enough from the hoodie and the blankets, you can’t have your arousal making your temperature spike and cause concern.
However, Namjoon smirks, noting the way you try to sneak a peek from the corner of your eye, squealing when you get caught.
Moments later, Namjoon joins you on the bed. He frowns when the lights flicker again and he turns the bedside lamp on. He can’t do anything if the lights go out, but for now, he can have a bit of light in the bedroom until you fall asleep.
“Anything you wanna watch, baby?” Namjoon asks as he turns his TV on, selects an app, and opens the search bar.
“Whatever you want is fine,” you answer as you scoot closer to him, trying to read the titles on the screen. Namjoon leans over to the bedside table, grabbing his glasses so he can see better.
Namjoon selects a show he knows you’ve binged before, putting it on for some background noise as another roll of thunder fills the air. You try not to get scared, but you fidget closer to Namjoon. He wraps an arm around you, rubbing your back in soothing circles as you do your best to focus on the TV.
“I’ve got you,” Namjoon whispers as he holds you in his arms. You tremble at another crash of thunder, making the TV inaudible. You loathe thunderstorms and absolutely despise them and any loud noises.
Namjoon hates the way there’s nothing he can do to comfort you besides hold you. He’s tried a variety of things to ease you through the storms and it’s usually Jungkook and Yoongi you seek for comfort. They’re both working and can’t leave for this storm and Namjoon wishes he could help, but he’s at a loss.
Jungkook sits in his office, gnawing on his bottom lip as he looks out the window. The sky has rapidly gone dark, and he knows you’ll be terrified when the storm hits if it hasn’t already.
Yoongi texts him, asking if he’s doing okay. Jungkook responds immediately, assuring his boyfriend that he’s fine before hiding his phone between his thighs, not wanting to get caught texting minutes before he’s due to clock out.
Worry fills his belly as rain begins to pelt the windowpanes and he sighs. He’s sent multiple texts to you and Namjoon, but all have gone unanswered. Are you okay? Do you need him? Is Namjoon with you? Are you alone? Is anyone else with you?
Jungkook doesn’t know, and not knowing is what’s sending him up the wall. He’s been unable to focus on anything else since the dark clouds took over the sky, drowning every bit of sunshine. The temperature has also dropped, according to his weather app, and he’s not looking forward to going outside and getting soaked before he can reach his car in the parking lot.
Annoyed, Jungkook stares at the clock on his computer until his shift ends and he’s startling his coworkers when he stands upright without a second thought. He grabs his belongings and heads to the small clock out machine. He sticks his thumb on the reader and waits for the confirmation to show on the screen before he heads out, his phone glued to his ear.
“Come on, Crybaby. Answer your phone,” he pleads as his brows furrowed with worry. He bites his lip as he steps aside, waiting under the awning as the phone heads to voicemail.
His next phone call is to his brother, but the line rings and rings before it goes to voicemail as well. With a petulant frown, Jungkook shoves his phone in his pocket before running to his car, unlocking it quickly so he can get inside.
Opening the group chat, Jungkook asks if anyone is with you. All his friends respond with a negative before he hopes that Joon’s lack of response is due to him being with you as thunder bellows in the sky.
Back home, Namjoon wakes to the sound of you crying. You’re trying to hide your face under the blanket to muffle your sounds, but Namjoon just pulls you closer.
“I’m right here, baby. I’ve got you. I won’t let anything happen to you, I swear.” His words comfort you, his warmth drawing you in as you sniffle and wipe your tears away. Namjoon kisses your forehead, planting a kiss on each of your cheeks after. He only hesitates for a second before he’s kissing the corner of your mouth and all your fears are thrown to the back of your mind as your eyes widen and a smile graces your face for the first time since the storm began.
“Sleep some more, baby. I’ll be right here,” Namjoon says softly, his hand gently caressing your face as you nod and wrap yourself up in him, inhaling his subtle scent and shutting your eyes.
Namjoon knows he’s in deep. He’s always found you beautiful, but getting to know you and learning about you has skyrocketed him headfirst into love. His tiny crush on you has grown into a simmer of love that threatens to overfill his heart.
He’s not sure how much longer he can keep his feelings to himself and despite his brother’s encouragement, he’s too scared to say something.
What if he’s wrong?
What if you don’t see him as anything more than a friend?
Would you shut him out?
Namjoon’s not sure if he’s willing to risk it all…
With those dark thoughts in his head, Namjoon struggles to fall asleep, but eventually his eyes grow too heavy and he’s sleeping soundly.
Jungkook is a ball of nerves when he steps onto his front porch, shaking off his coat as he opens the door.
Silence greets him, and it does little to soothe his worries as he kicks his shoes off. He notes how yours sits beside his brother’s and he has hope as he walks down the hallway.
Jungkook sticks his head in his bedroom, surprised to see that it’s empty before he turns on his heel and barrels toward Namjoon’s. He pauses at the door, frozen in his spot as he sees you curled into Namjoon’s chest.
The storm has passed since Jungkook headed home, the brunt of it being in your area, and he knows you must have been scared. He’s grateful that his brother was around to comfort you and his heart melts at the sight of you two. It’s been a long time coming, and he knew the two of you fit together like two puzzle pieces.
With a smile, Jungkook is taking his phone out to take a picture of the two of you. He’ll send it to his group chat later to coo about the two of you. For now, he steps back into the hallway as quietly as possible, not wanting to disturb you.
Perhaps this was the start of something amazing.
thank you for reading! ♡ if you liked it, please let me know! 💌
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Crescent: chapter 4 ☾⋆⁺₊✧
Passage to Reynyr
2022 words
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🎶 September instrumental
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You both slowly bring your hands up in a show of submission and then freeze. You can feel your heart trying to explode from your ribcage, all of this was for nothing. You're doing to die anyway.
You force your racing thoughts to into silence to attempt to figure a way out of this precarious situation, Hongjoong beats you to the punch though.
"We mean no harm, we are not threats." he states clearly, in a tone indicating ultimate submission of power in the situation.
The archer facing Hongjoong arches a questioning brow at him. He has blonde hair reaching his shoulders with half tied delicately at the back of his head. His features are nothing short of ethereal. He almost doesn't seem human, as if on cue you spot the slight point in his ears and subtly shining vine tattoos reaching out of his collar up his neck. Elf. Makes sense considering how they snuck up on you and a bandit of all people.
"It is hard to put any belief in those words considering your poorly hidden intentions to steal from us." he points out, hands on his bow not so much as twitching.
You decide to risk speaking next, looking between the long haired elf and his partner, who is equally if not more mesmerising. They appear rather similar except he is slightly shorter and his own hair stops at the nape of his neck in a slight mullet. Possibly brothers? His features are softer than his partner's, his eyes exude a degree of kindness- or more so the capacity for such a thing considering how his arrow has not left its target.
"We truly apologise, it was a foolish and selfish suggestion to take the rabbit, before that point we had merely been observing the mechanics of the trap so we could create our own. We were simply unsure of when we would eat properly again, the temptation became too great and formed a suggestion, for which I sincerely apologise."
The slight flicker of understanding in the eyes of the elf opposite you all but confirm your suspicions of him being a kind soul behind his defences. He exhibits feelings of pure warmth despite his raised bow. You decide that your best bet would be to address him as much as possible without appearing rude to his partner.
"State your business in our territory." the more intimidating of the two practically spits.
Hongjoong takes a moment to assess the best course of action before replying calmly, "we were not aware of this being anyones territory, for that we also sincerely apologise. We fled Igoras last night, for personal reasons. Considering the kingdom's fear of the northwest we assumed it would be the safest route, we're simply passing through." he concludes.
The kinder elf speaks now, and his voice practically melts you, it is utterly mellifluous.
"That is understandable, however we cannot in good conscience allow you to pass through without knowledge of why you fled, personal or not. It is too great of a risk for our people."
Yep, definitely a kind soul. You exchange a questioning look with Hongjoong, it is not your place to answer this for him. He offers you a reassuring smile and replies carefully.
"Understood, Igoras is a barbaric kingdom as you may know. My upbringing was far from acceptable in their eyes and though I turned from that life long ago, my previous partner had no trouble turning me in. I was due for execution but I escaped, I found refuge with Arla. I hadn't considered the position it would put her in so she'd seen coming with me as the safest option. Her other reasons are not my place to discuss and are irrelevant details for your understanding." He finishes with an edge of finality in his tone, of which you are grateful for.
The two elves exchange a quick glance, unspoken words filling the air for a moment before lowering their bows. The kinder of the two speaks.
"That could be a true account, and though I don't personally doubt your words, we cannot risk letting you past without first consulting our people. You will come with us. You will not be harmed, that is not our way. You will either be sent on your way, or accompanied to the edge of our borders and have your memories altered in order to protect our people if you bring about any form of suspicion. Our weapons are purely defensive, we will need you both to hand over your own for the time being." their postures are still defensive but more open than before.
You reply as calmly as you can considering the wave of relief crashing over you. "Thank you, that will be perfectly fine."
Hongjoong also offers his thanks and the two of you hand over your daggers before he asks, "may we have your names please?"
The elves once again glance at each other and nod, the taller of the two speaking. "My name is Hyunjin, my partner is Felix, We know your friend to be Arla but what of you?"
"My name is Hongjoong, pleasure to make your acquaintance."
The formality in his tone catches you slightly of guard, if this were a less nerve wracking time you might've had to suppress a laugh. Instead you offer a timid "likewise." towards the two, to which they return passive nods.
~~~ 🎶
The walk to the elven kingdom is like something out of a fever dream, it's utterly beautiful. You'd passed through a short cave system and emerged into a part of the forest which was surely enchanted. The colours are bright but not jarring, soft yet vibrant. The butterflies you'd seen previously clearly reside here considering their sudden abundance. Waterfalls and streams litter the area, with all manner of wildlife visible through the foliage if you observe long enough.
A stag is drinking from a stream to your left, he raises his head and gives you an almost human look of curiosity. To your shock, he doesn't startle, in fact he comes closer to you. You halt and tug lightly on Hongjoong's sleeve, pointing out the incredible sight, his features match your own wonder.
Felix spots this and closes the distance to you both, "They do not fear us, we give them no reason to. Every animal in Reynyr borders is under the elves protection."
You nod with understanding yet are quickly confused as you remember the trap, Felix must pick up on the inconsistency of his words as he continues,
"The animal in the trap you came across is not for us, we have an alliance within our borders which we cannot disclose until you're trusted more, they require meat so we supply it for them so they do not accidentally harm the animals in this area."
You nod with affirmation, you cannot bring yourself to form words as the stag is now inches from you, delicately smelling your hand. With the other hand, you tentatively reach out and as gently as you can, stroke the coarse coat between his eyes. He closes them and basks in the soft feeling before nudging you slightly and walking away, back to his spot at the stream. You let out a soft "wow." under your breath.
Hyunjin lets out a curt yet slightly teasing laugh. "You've seen nothing yet."
You can't imagine you'll disagree with him.
As the four of you continue walking you realise that there are many other elves above you, delicately perched or silently running across the branches. Observing this, that must be how Felix and Hyunjin snuck up on you so easily. They each move with unmatched grace and precision, one suddenly leaps from a particularly high branch causing your breath to catch in your throat. To your utter shock, wings suddenly sprout from her shoulder blades and carry her through the air over and past your heads . The gust of air the powerful movements expel hits you all, fanning your hair for a moment before she is no longer visible in your vision. The only evidence she was ever there is the look of wonder plastered on Hongjoong's face once more.
The markings decorating Hyunjin and Felix's necks are now practically glowing and you can't help but gaze at them. The once dull vines now standing out beautifully against their skin, they twist in a beautiful pattern and you wonder what the full markings look like. Their eyes are brighter here, you wonder if being in this part of the forest amplifies their magic. Felix catches you staring with a playful smirk and you look away, a faint blush dusting your features which he can't help but find endearing.
You all finally reach a clearing in the forest and you can't help but gasp. There are staircases winding up trees which seem larger than life, lanterns faintly glowing in the now fading day light illuminating the paths to the treetop balconies and buildings. From what you can see, it's an incredibly open space, with vine covered railings and few walls to keep out the elements. It is truly gorgeous, seemingly the very embodiment of serenity.
As you walk up the staircase, the reality dawns on you suddenly and you feel a spike of anxiety towards the situation. Felix said they would not harm you but you cannot help but feel on edge. Hongjoong seems to catch onto your sudden withdrawal from excitedly looking around at anything and everything and runs a comforting hand up and down your back for a moment. The movement catches you completely off guard effectively silencing your worries as you process the action. You don't know how to feel about the physical touch but a part of you resists the urge to smile.
Felix turns slightly to you before speaking in a hushed tone, "we're going to see our leader, Fraija. He will decide where we go from here. Watch your words and tone with him, being in his presence demands your respect."
You swallow the forming lump in your throat at his words, the feelings of anxiety resurfacing.
When you reach the top of the stairs you are greeted by a pair of untrusting, sharp green eyes. The pair of elves in front of you bow with an arm to their chest, you exchange a glance with Hongjoong before both replicating the show of respect. The elf which must be none other than Fraija turns and walks to the centre of the space you're now in, so gracefully that it is as if he's floating rather than walking.
"Who are these humans and why have you brought them to me?" He questions, the authority thick in his voice.
Hyunjin answers, clearly the more confident in front of the intimating figure considering Felix's rather tense form.
"We found them within our territory near the passage to Reynyr. Their names are Hongjoong and Arla, they claim to not be threats to us. They say they're passing through the northwest with the aim of escaping Igoras. We thought the best course of action would be for you to asses their level of threat. Should we have been inaccurate in our judgement, the cost would be too great for the risk to do anything otherwise." he concludes, the tension in your form easing slightly at his subtle admission that he believed you.
The elven leader nods, slightly distant eyes displaying him to be deep in thought before he replies. "Then you were right to do so." he turns to Hongjoong, "Tell me, what are your intentions once you cross our borders."
Hongjoong hesitates slightly, "Truthfully we do not have any as of yet, our goal at the present time is to simply evade any igorian search parties."
Fraija nods in acknowledgment at this, and turns back to Hyunjin and Felix with an unreadable expression. "Then they may be of use to us. Until I decide exactly how, they will be your responsibilities considering you brought them here. I will keep you both informed when necessary as to how our plans will be adapted."
<-chapter 3 ~ chapter 5->
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