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prettieparker86 · 5 years

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There’s A Woman || Part 5

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 4b

Pairing: Tommy Shelby x Reader

Warning: implied questionable consent

Gif Credit: ridget-regans, necromancersatan, drinkthevodka Thank you so much!

Tag: @theskinofmyemotions @3eyeddame@vikifirman@reyloshipper-starwars @londoncharlotte88 @megnificent07 @mafaldaz @deactivated-veen @justmehanav @i-shouldbepainting @dermittts @stylesbooze @neversleeping4am, @icebluegriffin @johhnshelby, @ subhamamu@unicorn-glitter-princess @thatsamegirl, @mafaldaz, @cafe-sabor-a-chocolate, @collegecatlady, @20th-centu-fairy-girl, @xlightning-disasterx @niiight-dreamerrrr @i-shouldbepainting @dermittts @stylesbooze @badwolf-in-the-impala @mafaldaz @athewindsofsummer @peaky50 @weeo @thelightsideoflife@s0tc @i-shouldbepainting @dermittts @stylesbooze @stupiddarkkside @feverxxdream @eiliab @solidly-indulgent @eightyninesqueen @hollabackhollagram

Note: It’s been a Really Long Time since I posted anything. I’m terribly sorry. Not even sure most of you will remember me or my stories. I’ve had alot of challenges over the past few months as many of your know. But I’m trying really hard to get back into writing. So please go easy on me. This is the first thing I’ve completed in a long time.

As always, but especially now after such a long hiatus, likes, reblogs, and comments are greatly appreciated!

This one goes out to @twistedrunes It was suppose to be for her bday, which was ages ago, so big fail, but atleast it’s here now and I know if anyone would understand, it’s her. This ones for you friend! For always having my back and supporting me. and having the privileged of being there for your as well.

Tommy’s barely spoken to you since that night and you’ve hardly had a word to share in return. He filled your world up before that, like time and space, only to suddenly disappear with the blink of an eye. And what he left behind was an empty gaping hole that hollows and aches within you in your quietest of moments, to remind you of what’s gone.

What you did together was the sort of dirty deed that swims around in murky waters. The kind of thing that fills the heart with regret, but still leaves a quiet hunger in your veins when you get too close. But you still can’t decide if you wish you never knew what it was like to have a piece of him, to know him and the magic he encompasses, or wish you would have taken any road that didn’t lead to him and spared yourself the pain.

Instead of facing each other, avoiding one another became the unspoken rule. A game you thought you were both playing and perhaps even winning, until Tommy catches alone; leaving the room you still share with Arthur, though you’re not sure for how much longer. Your eyes meet briefly as he exits his room. You move to leave as if he hadn’t been there at all when he steps in front of you path.

Those heavy iridescent blues like a net pulling you into his trap with a glance. You step back on instinct, trying to break free of the hypnotizing hold of his eyes, but he follows, and you find yourself walking right into a trap, wedged between the wall and a man you don’t want to trust. You don’t want to feel anything for. Not that the pace of your heart is listening.

You break from his stare, turning your gaze stubbornly to the peeling wallpaper off to the side and hold steadfast. But you can still feel him. You can feel the tailored ends of his jacket brush against your blouse. The heat of his body as he stands impossibly close. The distinct smell that emanates off him, whiskey and smoke like the factories that bloom overhead. The sound the steady rhythm of his breath makes. Calm – almost too calm. You can practically feel him on your skin, like the thick heavy dew that covers everything in the early morning hours. He clings to you, sinks into you… as if you could ever forget how that felt. But still you persist, avoiding his gaze you feel so heavy upon you.

He grabs at your jaw, tugging it toward him, forcing your hand. Insisting the way Tommy does so well. Reluctantly you turn to him, but your gaze holds steady on the lapels of his jacket in defiance. Until he says it. Until your name rolls off his tongue, smooth like velvet with a touch of grit at the end to bristle the hairs on the back of your neck.

You meet his gaze as if it isn’t a choice and instantly he has you. The power this man wields over you, the way he makes you feel, you don’t understand it, and that terrifies you. No one’s ever made you feel the way Tommy can and you’re undecided over whether you like that or not.

His lips are sealed as he stares down at you, but you feel his thumb drag up from your jaw and brush across your cheek. You fight the urge to lean into his touch as your heart begins to hammer in your chest. He swallows you in his gaze. Devours you, eating you alive, and you can’t break free. You can’t read his thoughts in those sea of blues. His intentions unknown, but the way he looks at you… you could almost swear he’s as dumbfounded and mesmerized by the pull between you two as you are.

You can’t feel the wall at your back anymore, the whole house seems to almost fall away as his blunt thumb drags across your skin. All that remains is his eyes, his touch, and you.

A creak on the stairs snaps you out of it. Your gaze shoots to the sound and you spot Polly standing at the top of the steps. Her gaze heavy upon you with scrutiny, sending the whole world crashing back at you with force.

“There’s work to be done, Thomas.” You tell him, pulling his hand from your face as you brush past him without a second glance. Your eyes glued on Polly’s disapproving stare as you move to her, slipping past her sheepishly on the stairs as you quickly descend.

Tommy doesn’t even need to turn around to know who awaits him. He’d know the presence of his aunt from a mile away in a pitch-black cave. A powerful woman, who fills space as readily as she commands it. And when he turns to face her, he finds the pointed gaze he knew would be waiting. She doesn’t speak as he moves for the stairs. She doesn’t need to. He can hear her.

Telling him to stay away. Telling him to leave you alone. He knows. He already knows. And that’s why he can’t meet her gaze as he moves past, trotting quickly down the stairs without a second glance. He had no intention of cornering you, of touching you… But like so many other ill thought-out moments with you, he doesn’t know what came over him.

There was a time you and Ada had been close. As girls and throughout the war. You had been thick as thieves, joined at the hip, latched at the ankle. The fire inside her drawing you in like a moth to a flame, to revel and soak in her light. Steal a spark of it to keep in a locket or ribbon close to your heart where she could always be near. But after the war things changed as they so often do with the passing of time.

Sometimes slowly, like a cool breeze settling in around you, sinking into your skin until the chill is so thick it reaches in deep to your bones and then all you can feel is the unrelenting cold. Other times it’s swift, like the slip of a blade moving too quick and suddenly the tip of your finger is gone. You’re not sure which it is with Ada, slow and undetectable or fast and unstoppable. All you’re certain of is the absence of her in your heart and a trusted friend who once shared secrets by candlelight.

No one can let the idea of Kimber and race day rest until more pressing matters arise. When Ada’s secret comes to light, you finally realize why your dear friend has been so distant. And that perhaps you’ve finally lost her for good this time. Lost her to a man who stole her heart and bound her to him with his child. All word of Kimber and his intentions for you fade to the back at the Shelby home.

Ada’s pregnancy became just the distraction you didn’t know you needed, and while it pains you to see such an ill fate befall her, it only strengths your determination to go through with your plan. When Arthur leaves and you know he will leave, you’re determined, now more than ever, to make your own way in these cruel streets, without a ring on your finger and little ones biting at your ankle. A life that would only leave you at the mercy of a man who could philander, leave, or die at any moment; leaving you destitute and helpless. No, you would not become your mother. You will make your own way. You will do this. There is no stopping you.

You slip into your finest dress. The one Arthur bought you, because you said you needed it. Because with the guilt he feels over Linda you could have asked for anything. You slip the soft fabric over your body. Let it glide down your figure like rain drops slipping over bare skin. Pull the straps carefully in place with the tips of your fingers as you relish the feel of such delicate fabric against your skin. You’ve never worn a dress this beautiful, never had the occasion, but staring at your reflection in the mirror, touches of color on your face, fine fabrics draped over your body, you look quite convincing… you feel convincing. Not a broken young woman from the filth of Small Health. Something beautiful, something to be coveting and desired.

“Tommy know what you’re up to?” A low quiet voice sounds from your back. You catch sight of John’s reflection in the mirror just before you turn to face him. Blue eyes ensnaring you as he leans against the door frame, drinking in your image.

Your face drops, unable to meet his gaze as you nod. It’s the sound of his scoff radiating through the room that sends your gaze back up on him. Watching silently as John plucks a pick and pinches it between his teeth in frustration, slowly shaking his head. You can hear the words he doesn’t says, but you know he’d never go against Tommy.

You watch him silently, watching the tension in his shoulders, the clench of his jaw, as he slowly shakes his head. A whirlwind of thoughts storming around him, none of them you can hear, and yet you can still feel them filling the space between you in the room.

He pushes off the wall with a start, tossing his pick to the floor with unnecessary force as he moves to you.

“Fuck it, let’s get outta ‘ere.” He tells you pointedly, blind determination bursting from his gaze as it holds you in its grips.

Your taken aback by the insinuation alone. It takes your mind a moment to realize he’s actually suggesting you abandon Tommy’s plan for the races. All of it. Take off together instead. You’re not sure you’ve ever heard John go against Tommy and you’re not sure what to make of it until you watch a sad softness wash over his baby blues.

He’s no fool. He knows what will happen if you go to races with Tommy. Why Kimber wanted you there. It’s that truth, the weight of it on your heart, the way it makes it beat faster, makes your veins suddenly hum with anxiousness, makes you nearly question everything, that has you pulling away from his gaze. Pulling your eyes away, trying to smother the fear building rapidly inside you.

You go to move past him, in pursuit of the door and the distance it brings, but John blocks your way, stepping in front of you, and your eyes meet before you can stop yourself.

“You look beautiful.” He tells you, the words so earnest, so genuine, they melt your defenses. As the crooked grin curled on his mouth and boyish charm dancing in his eyes disarms you.

You can’t resist the smile that forms on your face in return. You lean into him, to place a kiss upon his cheek, but John surprises you, turning to you, he captures your mouth instead. The breath strips from the lung as he kisses you painfully hard. His hand gripping tightly at your face in desperation. You’re shocked and stunned, but only for a moment before you welcome his assault, meeting him with an urgency of your own. A jolt races through your spine as your senses fill with him. Heart pounding so hard you swear he must hear it as John devours you with his kiss.

It’s only when John breaks away, shaky breath fanning against your lips as he rests his forehead against yours, that you realize how different this kiss was from any you’ve shared before. Your eyes slowly blink open to his find his gaze heavy upon you, his thumb stroking steadily at your cheek.

“He doesn’t deserve you.” He whispers, so close you swear you can feel the ghost of his lips against yours with every syllable.

You’re not sure you’ve ever wanted to stay in a moment the way you suddenly want to stay in this one. John’s never shown himself to you like this. Fear and pain, and something undefinably desperate in his eyes as he pierces through you just a heartbeat away.

“Let me get you outta ‘ere.” He tells you, but you have enough sense to realize his words spring from a ball of coiled emotion. Pulled too tight with the knowledge of what’s to happen today. What your arranged to do. What you must do. Because you can’t be saved. You won’t be. You refuse it. You can’t let John rescue you from this.

Pulling from his embrace, your mind is made up. This is something you need to do, even if it is the hardest thing you’ve ever done. Even if it costs you everything.

Unable to see what awaits you in his eyes, you look only to open door and move for it without apologies or second guesses.

Tommy pulls you close then spins you on the dance floor. You’ve never been to a place like this, where bright lights and big music surround you. This place, these people they’re unlike anything you’ve ever known and everything you seek to gain. You follow Tommy’s lead, your steps feel light, his hands strong, and for a moment your back home on Watery Lane.

Dancing to the faint flicker of candle light, when your thoughts were naïve and your ambitions twice as strong, before you decided the only path to your dreams was through a man’s heart like the pierce of a dagger. Dancing in the arms of the man who has the power to bewitch even your sharpest instincts, you could almost swear you were back there, in the safety of your home. But as you move to the center of the dance floor you can feel Kimber’s eyes on you. Sharp like the prick of a needle as it slips to quickly as you finish a stich. You feel your muscles tense as you’re sent jarringly back into reality and the weight of what your about to do envelopes you like a blanket intended to suffocate.

Your heart begins to race as everything falls into place and your fate is sealed, and every second that passes only brings you one second closer, but then you feel it, the grip of his hands as he squeezes you. Subtle and steady, so indiscernible you could almost swear it didn’t happen, but you know better. It’s Tommy reassuring you the best way he knows how, without words.

You turn to face him, taking in the sharp lines of his cheekbones, the depth of his blue eyes and the way they suck you in until you can’t look away. The intensity of his attention, you thrive under it, bask in it, feel yourself blossom under its rays. And for a moment, you’re untouchable. Nothing can hurt you. Lost in his eyes, you’re fearless, and capable of anything. Lost in his eyes you remember every moment in that cold musky room, the creak of the bed, the heat of his skin, the look of his gaze when he saw only you.

But then you remember how swiftly the winds can change. How easily he can discard you – can and will. That truth, that scar - It’s sharp and cold, and you nearly flinch when you feel it. You trusted him – the words vibrate and echo through you. Trusted him after everyone warned you. Believing he’d never intentionally hurt you. That somehow you were different, immune. Until he did. Till cut you like a knife whose blade chipped in the battle and now lies embedded in pieces in your heart. The wound festering and rotted, so you’ll never forget. Never forget what it’s like to be everything and then absolutely nothing. You can’t trust his kindness anymore then Kimber should trust his word. And in a room full of liar, you know you only have yourself to trust.

You told yourself you convinced Tommy to let you come. You’re that clever, that smart, but that isn’t what really happened. Tommy only does what he wants. Only truly out for himself. You know that now and can never forget. But staring into his eyes, you suddenly realize he needs you too. You may have lost your naivety, but with it you’ve gained insight… Tommy’s weak to you and if he has a chance of stealing everything away from Kimber without a fight, he’s needs you just as much as you need him. And with that truth, you know you’ll never be a silly little girl again.

You watch something register in those piercing blue eyes that have the power to make a fool out of you if you let them. You find yourself wondering if he can read every thought in your heart as you swiftly turn your gaze away and back over his shoulder as the trumpet fades out.

“Let’s get this business done.” You tell him through a tight jaw and forced smile, now more determined than ever to see the plan through and show Tommy just how formidable you can be

You play along, pretending as if you don’t know Tommy’s made you a part of the deal. You smile and act coy as Kimber joins you at the bar. Pretend you’re delighted at the offer to see his giant mansion tucked away in the countryside just beyond the city. Pretend you’re impressed by all he’s amassed and can introduce you to, because it’s your charm and innocence he’s after, and as long as you spoon feed it to him, he’s good as yours. He’d never imagine you’re clever and cunning, and you use it against him at every chance.

But what surprises you more than even how easily Kimber falls into your hand with every stroke at his ego, is the way Tommy keeps watching you with an air of disinterest you’re not convinced by at all. You distantly wonder what he’s up to, before he breaks from the plan completely.

Taking you and Kimber by surprise when he asks for a moment alone, pulling you away from Kimber’s side just as everything was going to plan. But there’s something piercing and undefinable in the hollows of Tommy’s cavern eyes. Pulling you below, down into their pits as you stare back at him trying to decipher the secrets of a man so locked away he swallowed the key when he buried his heart. But you can’t say no to his request, your lips seem incapable of it.

You let him lead you away as if it were a choice, as if you can control the pull between you. It’s a quiet corridor Tommy leads you to as your eyes scan briefly around the empty space, looking for anyone who might overhear, but it’s the grip of his hand upon the side of your face that draws your gaze back to his determined pair. Pulling you into his vortex.

“You don’t have to do this.” Tommy tells you suddenly, hollow blue eyes pinning you where you stand. His voice lower and more full of grit than usual. Sending the hairs on your skin standing on edge.

“It isn’t necessary. I’ll sneak you out the back to Arthur an’ I’ll tell Kimber you weren’t feeling well.” Tommy says in haste, undercurrents of panic sweeping through his veins as he stares at you.

Rattling his bones though he’d never show it. Looking at you, his heart begins to thump the way it did that day on the train station platform. The power of it pulling him to you in a way he can’t stop anymore then he can understand. He had let himself believe he could live with you going through with this. The part of him that can do what has to be done regardless of the cost. But staring into the light that shines from your eyes, the clench of his gut tells him – he can’t let you sell your soul to that devil.

The raw urgency in Tommy’s eyes, it makes your knees tremble as if you suddenly stand on unsteady ground. It’s akin to the urgency you saw in his eyes that night. It makes you weak, weak to him. You hate that almost as much as you’re drawn to it. How anyone could break your heart, make you want to lash out against them in spite, but at the first sight of their softness, the first gentle touch, everything inside you wants to give in all over again. Somedays it makes you weak to him, right now it just makes you mad that he can have such power over you when you feel you so little in return.

Smacking his hand from your face, your mouth pulls tight. “You always underestimate me. I can do this, Tommy.” You lash out at him.

You shove at his shoulder as you try to push past, but Tommy’s swift and easily drags you back against the wall. Pushing his way into your space, the heat of his breath fanning at the hair that dances around your face as he lingers just a breath away.

“Fuck him, fuck the plan. Fuck all of it. It doesn’t matter, ya understand?” Tommy whispers on a harsh determined breath, intensity blazing in his eyes. His fingers digging into your shoulders as he tries desperately to convince you.

“What I need is for you to be ok.” He says on a softer breath, his heart giving way. Revealing itself in a way it so rarely does, because staring at you as he imagines Kimber’s hands pawing at your gentle flesh, it feels like the shovels digging against the wall of his mind all over again, like a pick axe to his heart. You shouldn’t matter, he shouldn’t care about you in this way, but he does. He undeniably does.

Your heart races as you stare at Tommy, all sharp edges and dangerously handsome. Your heart melts and surrenders from the confines of your chest. Because you’re weak to him. Drawn to him inexplicably. Even at the determent of your own heart. Dancing around something intimate and real like two teenagers fumbling and groping about in the dark. You’re the same, you tell yourself, but you’re not entirely convinced it’s just that.

The way your heart races under the glow of his affection tells you it’s something far more incendiary then that. Something that could and has caused you so much more grief and heartache. It would be easy to give into him now, but even under the warmth of his affections you know you can’t trust this. You know it could change on a dime. He’ll change his mind. He always does.

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is the plan.” You whisper back to him full of resolve. The ice on your breath enough to freeze any man’s heart, even one as cold as Tommy’s.

Slipping from his grasp, you put your back to him as you move away. “Two hours, Thomas.” You remind him. Your bones trembling with an anxiousness you blindly ignore. Refusing to stare into the face of fear. As long as you don’t acknowledge it, don’t think about what your about to do, you can go through with it. Only when the moment looks you dead in the eye will you face its ugly truth. Doing what has to be done… A woman’s work. Because that’s what you do sometimes - you race toward the flames with reckless regard for your own life while everyone else runs for safety.

Kimber eyes you on approach, gaze sweeping the length of your body with lascivious pride. He’s cocky and entitled, and that’s what makes him weak, you remind yourself as you swallow the last of your champagne, letting the bubbles go to your head.

“Shall we?” You smile with your best girlish charm. The charm that makes Arthur fold and John smirk. The kind of charm that makes Tommy’s guard slip. The kind he told you was a weapon and if used probably could bring the best of men to their knees. The space between your body and heart feels so vast one could nearly swear they were separate entities entirely.

And if you prayed anymore, you’d pray for the strength to be like Tommy. The strength to do what has to be done no matter the cost, or how much it frightens you. Here in this place you won’t feel. In this space you will deny the racing of your heart, the tremble in your veins. There’s no room for feelings here, only what must be done, what will be done and everything you stand to gain from it.

The drive back from Kimber’s is bumpy. The road no different from the drive-up Tommy took to retrieve you, but every bump, and every rattle somehow feels harder, more jolting as he glances over at you from across the seat. You sit silently beside him, staring out, without a sound. No familiar light, no bursting spark… unmoving.

And while you’ve been distant and quiet with him for days now, this silence feels deafening as Tommy wraps his lips another yet another cigarette, pulling and tugging away at it with tight unease. He tries to focus on the road, but his gaze just keeps wandering over to you. The seconds tick like a clock winding up, each tick tightening the muscles in his shoulders a little more, until he can’t bare the pressure a moment longer and he has to break you out of your trance or he’ll surely combust.

Subtle as not to startle you, Tommy runs the back of his hand down the length of your arm. You don’t move and suddenly the thought races through his mind, what if you never move again, but as he reaches your wrist and his eyes glance back over from the road he finds you staring at him. Silently staring at him, lips sealed, eyes blinking, suspended. And the momentary relief that washes over Tommy to seeing you move, is quickly dashed as he stares into your eyes.

Dry and tearless, though he almost wishes they weren’t, because the emptiness in your gaze is startling. It sends Tommy’s eyes shooting back to the road. His mind racing, recalculating – what has he done? How could he let you do this? How could he agree to it? Glancing back, he finds you’re still there, there and yet miles away, somewhere he can’t see anymore then he can reach.

His heart heavy with guilt, Tommy reaches for your cheek, running his knuckles gently against the apple of it. Willing some spark to ignite back inside you. A reaction. Something. Show him a glimmer of the girl who bewitched him so effortlessly, but you only turn away – from him and his touch.

A feeling akind to war rekindles inside Tommy’s chest. The same sickening heaviness he used to feel when he’d send men out on orders he knew they’d never return from. The look in their eyes as they realized they weren’t coming back, the way they’d look at him – Sergeant Major – before charging out of the trenches to their inevitable demise. Something in your eyes harkens back to those pits of hell. Tommy’s pulled so many triggers he’s lost track, but there’s something about sending a man that trusts him to slaughter that snuffs out another piece of his soul.

You echo through him like the blast from a shell as Tommy pulls his hand back and coughs dryly, trying to loosen the tightness in this throat and chest. Trying not to be pulled under with the realization he’s betrayed you now twice, in the worst of ways.

Pulling the flask from his jacket pocket, he extends it toward you, nudging your arm faintly. He watches you from his periphery as you glance down at it without response.

“Take it,” He orders, nudging you again, before you finally move. Taking it into your hands, you unscrew the cap and draw it to your lips.

Tommy knows he can’t fix the damage he’s done, can’t mend the kind of wounds gaping in your eyes, but he can ease your suffering, like a shot of morphine to an ailing soldier on the battlefield.

What kind of person are you? What kind of person does the things you’ve done? The words float in and settle like a storm moving in from the sea, to linger unbudgingly against the raw strip of earth that makes up your current state of mind. You listen to the water shift around you as you move, listen as the fire cracks and cackles at you tauntingly from the fireplace. You stare down at your body, taking in the shape of it. The softness of your belly, the width of your hips, skimming steadily down the length of your legs, to where your toes peak out and breach the water. When did this become your body, you wonder, as if you haven’t seen it a million times before. And more importantly, why does it feel so foreign to you now?

You’ve stripped yourself of your dress, and scrubbed your flesh clean, but still the feeling persists, and you find yourself wondering if it’ll always feel this way… Like a stranger draped in your skin.

You lied to Pol about the races. You could see in her eyes, she wanted to press, but she didn’t, instead she drew you a bath. John didn’t say a word when you and Tommy returned. He took one look at you, just one, and headed straight for the door, as if the truth was blinding upon you.

The thought of John and Pol makes you sink back down in the water. Drenching your shoulders, pulling your head beneath the warm soap water. You listen to your heart beat in the ears, let it drown out the noise in your head. You focus on the sound and the distraction it brings until your lungs burn and demand for air, only then do you surface once again.

You linger low in the tub, water encircling and swaying against your lips, every exhale from your nose creating tiny ripples in the water. You’re safe here, from your family, from the world… from yourself. You almost convince yourself.

It’s the creak on the step that catches your ear. Second to the top, old and slowly rotting. You slide slowly up in the tub and spot a figure in the low light moving down the hall. Tall and lanky, there’s no need to see his face, but the sight of him alone creates a deep unwavering ache from the hollows inside you. You think he may be the only thing left in this world that could draw you out of this bath tonight.

You dry and dress quickly, your damp hair soaking into the fabric of your nightdress as it hangs down your back. The pads of your feet step light footed and swift down the hall until you reach the room you share. You slip inside, careful to close the door softly behind you. You find him already tucked in bed, eyes closed, chest even. The sight both peaceful and disheartening, because you need him, because he’s the only thing that feels safe.

Moving to the edge of the bed, you lean in to blow out the candle on the nightstand. It’s only then does he stir. His tired blue eyes flutter open, smile tugging at the corner of his mouth with the sight of you.

He pulls back the blanket as your pull off your nightdress. Heart racing, you swear you see his hand waiver in his invite, the blanket tremble in his hand before your climbing atop him. Bringing your bare fresh down upon his, wrapping yourself around his body. Still dressed in most of his cloths from the day, you feel Arthur stiffen beneath you, but his arms find their way around you just the same. A cautious tension gripping his muscles, but still he reaches for you, comforts you.

“Vera,” He whispers your name, concern tightening at his throat.

You want to tell him everything, but you can’t as you burrow against him, slipping your hands beneath his undershirt to let the heat of his skin warm you as you bury your nose in his neck.

“Let me grab your nightdress.” Arthur persists when you don’t respond, arm extending out against the floorboards. But you cling to him, unsure why you need him to touch your flesh, this flesh that feels so foreign to you now. You breathe him in deeply, old familiar musky scent filling your senses with the kind of relief nothing else has been able to give you tonight. The sense your completely safe.

“Don’t go.” You gasp out sharply, arms squeezing tighter. Arthur stops searching for your nightdress immediately, his hand slipping back beneath the blanket to hold you close with your plea.

Clutching you tightly as he rolls you both onto your side. Holding you firmly in his arms as your breath wavers against his neck.

“I can’t lose you.” You confess, the first set of tears you’ve let surface now burn at your eyes. Desperation clutching at your heart like a squeezed fist. You never once considered stopping him. Never once considered stealing the joy he finds with Linda. You wouldn’t dream of taking that away. But in this moment, as you’re riddled with so much confusion and self-doubt, you know he’s the only place that feels safe. Your first hero, your home.

His fingertips message at your scalp as he leans in close, placing a gentle kiss upon your forehead. His breath and lips lingering for a moment longer. “I’m here Little Lady.” Arthur promises. “I’m here.”

#Tommy Shelby #thomas shelby #peaky blinders imagine #John Shelby #arthur shelby

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dat-town · 5 years

Text

renaître de ses cendres

Characters: Jinhwan & You

Genre: angst

Setting: immortal au

Summary: Jinhwan has lived long but you make him want to live more.

Warning: character death

Words: 2.2k

for @lily-blue have the happiest bday my dear ♥

[original pic credit goes to bylove_951221]

Jinhwan has loved fiercely.

He has loved until death.

He has loved without meaning to, without doubts, without thinking.

Jinhwan has lived many loves. All of which he was fated to lose.

But only when he saw the light fade in your ever bright eyes did he think that the price of immortality was too high.

Jinhwan didn't like to talk about the time he was born into. He didn't like to talk about any of his previous lives. He had been around for a longer time than the Colosseum or the Great Wall of China and he had learned that he would be stuck in the past if he kept looking back. So he didn't. He always adapted to the current time he lived in and tried to make the most out of it, enjoying the small wonders of life. But sometimes he got desperate and lonely too and then he had enough of it but he couldn't die, literally couldn't. Yes, he tried, multiple times. He always came back.

It was one of those times. The ones in despair when he wanted nothing, just leave this Earth and this empty shell of him behind. He was all alone, not a soul would have cared if he just disappeared. He wished he could evaporate in the wind or dissolve in water, if he could just turn bodiless. After thousands of years he got bored of the face that looked back at him in the mirror. He started hating the very same sad eyes of his reflection staring vacantly ahead.

“Are you thinking of jumping?”

A young, curious voice startled him and his steps died on his tracks, feet stilling on the metal barrier of the bridge he was walking on. He spared one glance at the deep, dark waters of the rushing Han River under him, illuminated by the pearl white moonlight. Then he turned around gracefully, his balance not even shaking, airily like a tightrope dancer would have. Then his gaze settled on you, the pale girl standing by the fence in nothing more than a pretty flower-patterned dress, slippers thrown on the ground. You rested your elbows on the cold railing staring ahead with an inextricable look on your face. He couldn't really tell what you were thinking and what made you ask that ground-breaking question so calmly.

“Are you?” Jinhwan shot back the very same question without answering as he elegantly hopped down from the fence, casually leaning back to it after his feet hit the ground, merely a meter away from you.

You didn't seem bothered, not by the new proximity, nor the lack of answer but you hummed thoughtfully before answering.

“No but the fact that I could makes it so much easier to bear life. Because you know it gives the knowledge that I have chosen it. It almost makes me feel powerful,” you chuckled after the long and serious monologue.

You were talking so casually as if the mere thought of your mortality, the inevitability of your own death didn't scare you at all while most people would have been scared shitless. You were standing there in the middle of one of the highest bridges of your town staring down at the rampant water stirring up because of a coming storm. Jinhwan wasn't new to sudden summer downpours, he could feel it come in the air. You seem to pay no mind to it though. Eyes closed you enjoyed the weather and everything in the moment. Taking big breaths and letting out satisfied exhales like you had all the time in the world.

Jinhwan watched you in awe; it's been a while he had met such an unbothered soul.

Neither of you said anything, not until the first raindrops stirred up the silence coming fast like tears and their splash on the ground created a piano melody like nothing else. You smiled not caring about your hair and dress getting wet, not even when the water droplets slid across your body leaving goosebumps in their wake behind them. You inhaled from the humid air one last time before pushing yourself away from the fence and turning to leave.

But Jinhwan who had been staring and marvelling at you in wonder couldn't let you go just like that.

“Won't you catch cold?” he asked glancing down at your bare feet on the harsh, cold concrete. You looked down as if you were surprised by his question. Then realizing what he might have meant, you chuckled and shushed his question away with a flick of your wrist, tiny raindrops following the movement.

“It doesn't matter either way,” you shrugged with a secret smile pulling on the corners of your pretty mouth. Then grabbing your pair of slippers and with them dangling in your hand you danced away with cute little spins, humming a sad song in a way much happier tone than you were supposed to be.

You laughter was a melody in the wind that carried the lovely sound and the way wind played with your short locks and the moonlight reflected on your skin Jinhwan swore nature adored you just as his heart whispered him to.

Already when he first met you he was damn convinced you were like poetry, a moving art in pretty form, riddles behind rhymes and secrets between the lines. He couldn't wait to unravel the mystery that was you.

You met him on that bridge again.

And again and again.

You found yourself waiting for those meetings even if they made your heart soar. It felt like playing with the thought of having something that couldn't really be yours. But it didn't dishearten you, not when he made it so easy to fall.

You were in love, you knew it from the moment he took you to that observatory just to stare at the stars and talk about the meaning of life, being a sparkle of dust in the galaxy. But you knew that you were more in love with the idea of him, of someone who cares than actually with him. Because he didn't like to talk about things like his family, job or past. You had no idea who Kim Jinhwan was but you knew a man with gentle heart and the wisdom of generations. He was the most interesting phenomena you ever encountered and even when he was close he felt so far as the stars you both loved so much.

It had been weeks, months of casual meetings and you had become paler, lost weight and hair. He hadn't said anything apart from asking you to take better care of yourself but he must have known you couldn’t really help it.

“I am dying,” you blurted out after you finished slurping from your fruit smoothie and it might have been too casual to take it seriously because Jinhwan let out one of his typical, philosophical questions:

“Aren't we all?” he looked up at you with unsaid words hiding in his dark orbs: at least humans, the ones without ridiculous curses, he thought. You liked seeing secrets in his eyes even if you could never unravel them. At least you felt a little less bad for keeping yours. Like how your heart went crazy near him.

“No, I mean I know for a fact that I will die within a few months. I even have this cool hospital card because you know I'm a permanent guest there,” you chattered showing off the card to your room. You had years accepting the idea of dying, you were really ready for it. Or you thought you were until he came along.

Now that made Jinhwan dumbfounded. “What?”

You quieted down, smile fading at his sad voice and the blank look on his face.

“I'm sick, Jinhwan and no, it can't be cured. They have already tried everything.”

Suddenly it all made sense: why you were so accepting of the inevitable end. You’ve had your time to deal with it and had decided not to waste any moment, to enjoy the smallest miracles of being alive and to bring as much joy to the people around you as it was possible. But how was it fair? That life cursed him with eternal life but gave you – you of all people! - only so little? Jinhwan hated it.

“Hey,” you nudged his hand and he blinked, surprised, shaking his head to get rid of such thoughts. Your eyes were like unwritten fairytales, magical and infinite, pulling him in. You smiled almost too gently for someone who was meant to die so young, so beautiful. “I'm still the girl who danced around barefoot in the rain. Don't look at me differently. I just thought you deserved to know that you are hanging out with a dying girl before it gets worse.”

It did get worse pretty soon just as you predicted and warned him.

First you weren’t able to walk that much without sitting down for a while. Then you had hard time breathing sometimes. And once you got a seizure in the middle of laughing on something ridiculous like vines. After that they kept you in the hospital, no more free days out in the open, you were bound to machines because your organs started giving up one by one. You were saddened seeing your father's devastated face or your mother's tears, only Jinhwan treated you like nothing changed. He didn't even blink at the sight of infusion and the nasal cannula when he visited you in the hospital. He asked you if you dreamed anything nice lately and talked about the old neighbour lady's story that he heard that night. You were too tired of talking after a while, so you asked Jinhwan to speak in lieu of the two of you.

“What does it mean?” you softly asked tracing the tattoo on his forearm with your index finger a bit weakly. But he gently took your hand in his before it could fall from his arm.

“Reborn from the ashes,” he translated the French text without sparing a glance at it.

You smiled faintly hearing the words and averted your gaze from him to the darkened scenery on the other side of the window.

“That sounds nice. Starting over. I wish I could be a phoenix to do that,” you whispered, voice barely there, a little lifeless and his heart churned, breaking from the pressure, from the weight of all the confessions he didn't… couldn't tell you. Not now. It was all too late from you to hear them anyway.

“Do you want to hear a story?” he asked ever so lovingly and as it became hard to speak, you just squeezed his hand back as a sign of saying yes. So he took a deep breath and started talking.

“Once upon a time there was a young and foolish prince so arrogant that he wanted to become a god, so he searched for the key to immortality. It seemed to be a fruitless journey after years and years-long of pursuit but he still had nothing. He had bathed in virgins’ blood, read rituals and made a deal with all kind of devils, all of them turned out to be imposters… except for one. She was nothing but an old lady, he thought and he laughed when she offered him the eternal youth. She asked for nothing but a lock of the prince's hair. He was curious though, he had nothing to lose, so he cut a piece of his hair and gave it to her. The woman burnt it right in front of him while murmuring something satanic and then threw a knife at him. She was executed immediately for treason with the last words: you will live in regret burning on her tongue and only later, when his anger died down did the prince realize that the wound where the knife scratch him disappeared as if there was no wound at all.”

“What happened to him?” you breathed barely audible but listening very closely with your eyes closed.

“He has lived long and at first he found joy in his victorious life,” Jinhwan continued with the story, his steady voice slowly becoming hollow. “But soon he realized being unable to die was indeed a curse. Centuries has come and gone and he had become more and more distant. Sure he wasn't dead but he didn't feel alive either. Until one day he met a girl, a girl who showed him everything in life that was worthy of appreciation, that there's more to it than just living. She was a girl who was in love with life itself and the prince who was nowhere near a prince anymore wished he could give her more of that.”

The last of it was barely a whisper because the heart rate machine by the bed went still. Even the Moon dressed in silver mourned and the stars all around pitied him. His tears helped nobody.

Jinhwan has loved gently.

He has loved until death and even after.

He has loved truly, madly, deeply and he had lived to tell the tale because you would have wanted him to do that. To live.

To reborn from the ashes.

#ikonicshelves #ikon scenarios #ikon imagines #ikon oneshot #jinhwan scenarios #jinhwan imagines #jinhwan oneshot #immortal au #jinhwan x reader #stories

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suckitsurveys · 5 years

Text

Do you know anybody who is ambidextrous? My dad is. He writes with his left hand but does everything else right handed. Have you ever been 4-wheeling? Nope. What’s the weather been like today? It’s cloudy and in the mid 70s. What was the last exam you sat for? Uh. Will you be attending any weddings in the near future? Nope I’m not cool enough for people to invite to weddings apparently.

Do you currently have any unread text messages, and who from? My cousin sent me like 802043920803309021 messages yesterday, all paragraphs, all gibberish. I haven’t read them yet because I’m not mentally prepared to try to decipher what the fuck she’s talking about. She’d notorious for sending texts like that. Speaking of text messages, what colour is your cell phone? A metallic lavender color. Do you live anywhere near the woods? There are some forest preserves nearby. Would you ever consider a career in the tourism industry? Sure why not. Do you have any important anniversaries you celebrate? Yes. Me and Mark’s. We like to celebrate how many years we’ve been together total instead of how many years we’ve been married. We got married the same date (6 years later) that we started dating to keep that our anniversary. When was the last time you used q-tips? A couple weeks ago. How does your hair react to humid weather or rain? Ya know, I’ve never really noticed. What’s your favourite flavour of iced tea? I love jade citrus mint green tea from Starbucks. Do you understand music theory? Ugh. How many hours of sleep did you get last night? Not enough. Are you expected to act professionally at your job? Of course? Infomercials: entertaining or stupid? I haven’t watched one in foreverrrrr. What’s your favourite brand of energy drink? I don’t like energy drinks. Do you have (or have you ever had) acne? Ugh my skin is AWFUL. When was the last time you got pins-and-needles? My leg fell asleep the other day. Why did you click to take this survey? I felt like it. If you have glasses, have you ever smashed them? Not my prescription ones. Sunglasses, yes. How do you get new music? Buy or download or what? I just use Spotify. Have you ever sent someone an abusive text message? I hope any messages I’ve sent haven’t come off that way. Do you require a lot of time to do things or are you quick? Depends on what I’m doing? What will be the next concert you attend? Maybe Lizzo? If not, then Vampire Weekend IN SALT LAKE CITY hi Ellen. Turn the nearest television on, what’s on? There are no TVs here. How often do you “wake up on the wrong side of the bed”? Eh. Can you rap? Lol. What do you usually order when you’re at McDonald’s? Depends. McDonald’s is the only fast food place I like the burgers from, but in general I prefer chicken. So sometimes I get a Big Mac, sometimes a chicken sandwich, and sometimes a filet o fish. But fries. Always fries. Are there any textbooks near where you are right now? If you count instruction manuals and owners guides haha. There’s a bunch of those on my coworker’s shelves. What’s the time? 10 am. Do you know how to use a DSLR camera? Sure. How’s your body temperature right now? 98.6 or whatever it’s supposed to be, hopefully? Do you use Celsius or Fahrenheit? Fahrenheit. What was the last thing you got a really good deal on? I got two rainbow tye dye shirts for my niece’s rainbow themed bday party for my sister and I that were marked down from $25 to $9 each because they were “pride” shirts. Have you ever studied any ancient societies? Yeah. Do you like to wear long, dangling earrings? Yes, sometimes. What was the last reason you took medicine? I had a fucking terrible migraine. Do you exercise regularly? I need to start up again really bad. What is your coffee of choice? (flat white, cappuccino, etc.) Lattes. Do you pay any attention to your country’s politics? Yes and no. I know enough about it but sometimes I just can’t handle it because America is so fucking fucked up right now. Are you feeling worried about anything right now? Yeah. Are you a gossipy type of person? I’ll admit I like to gossip every once in a while. When will your next meal be, and do you know what it will consist of? I’m gunna munch on this pineapple I brought in a minute. And then for lunch I have a chicken caeser salad. Tell me about the sickest you’ve ever felt. I’m not sure. Thankfully, at least every time I remember, I’ve never gotten insanely sick. What’s your opinion on your in-laws, if you have any? I like them. Do you make excuses often, or do you just get things done? Both. Have you seen your best friend today? One of them I see every day because we live together. What can you smell right now? Myself. Any important birthdays coming up? My niece’s 6th and my 30th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fireworks: yay or nay? I love fireworks. Do you have any plans for the rest of the day? Work. Then going to the city clerk to pick up some parking passes for my tattoo artist so he can park on our permitted street (his shop is right around the corner from where my dad lives). Then dropping them off and going to the gym for a bit, or maybe swimming. Then dinner with Mark. How about tomorrow? Any plans? Work. Then a quick dinner with Mark. Then going to see Wet Hot American Summer with my sister. They are showing it at a theater and they made a drinking game out of it. Should be pretty freaking awesome. Do you know how to do your own laundry or does someone else do it? I do my own. If you could eat or drink anything right now, what would it be? That pineapple I mentioned. Brb. Okay got it. Yum. What colour are your headphones? Mint green. Think of the last long car trip you had, where did you go? Fuck. Did I explain this? Long story short, my friend lead us on a wild goose chase because she doesn’t know Chicago and their beaches and we went to like 5 different beaches before we finally settled on one. We were in the car for 3 hours and we didn’t even leave the city it was a fucking nightmare. Do you have a Twitter account that you use regularly? Yep. Have you ever seen a horseshoe crab? They’re scary, right?! No, I haven’t. What was the last movie you saw at the theatres? Detective Pikachu. Are there any new movies that you’d really like to see? I still need to go see Toy Story 4 and The Lion King. If you could play one instrument flawlessly, what would it be? Guitar. Do you overthink a lot of things? Sure. Is there anybody you miss but can’t see again? My mother. When was the last time you had a hangover? Recently.

#surveys

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sunnysidewrites · 6 years

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Be There In Spirit ➵ Seokmin

Genre: ghost!au, fluff, mainly angst whoop there goes my heart

Pairing: DK/Seokmin x Reader

Word count: 3982 yall.... i got so caught up in this.... this was only supposed to be 2k and its basically double bye

Synopsis: After years of grieving, Seokmin suddenly shows up again out of literally thin air. Second chances only come once, and you knew you couldn’t let this one go to repeat a last time.

A/N: YALL SUNNY IS BACK WITH THE ANGST MWHAHAHA I teared up SO many times writing this you dont even know yall pls someone hoLD ME IM SO SAD :’((( as expected, i always go hard on my biases,,,, THIS IS PART 1 OF SEOKMIN’S BELATED BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!! PART 2 WILL BE FLUFF DW LMAO I was told to upload the angst first so that the fluff will be there in the “healing period” so here you go!!! have fun reading this my children!!

happy belated birthday to my beloved sunshine. you radiate so much warmth to the point i could feel it as i was writing this. you’re a gem in the industry and in our lives. stay happy and healthy my love ❤️❤️❤️ (it’s ironic bc in here it’s actually YOUR bday LOL)

Warnings: mentions of death, and, if you look closely, my tears it just gets angstier as it continues i’ll be in the corner crying if you need me

The shaking of the entire apartment complex justled you out of your dreamless sleep, the loud, hard thumps upon your windowpane and the cold cotton of your pillowcase senselessly shaking you back to reality.

It didn’t take you right away for you to notice your upper body was drenched in cold sweat until the wave of shivers travelled down your spine repeatedly. Your eyes drifted to your nightstand to make out the blinking numbers in the dark that your eyes haven’t yet utterly adjusted to. 5:38, the blur of red glared. You heaved a sigh and held your head in your hands momentarily. There were still three hours left before your actual alarm went off, but there was no point of trying to get some shut-eye for the sixth time that night. You heaved yourself up and stretched for ten minutes before having the steaming water pound on your back.

What’s up with me? You furrowed your eyebrows as the droplets fell on your skin. I need some fresh air, that’s probably what it is. Maybe I finally cracked under the stress of the new boss. You only shrugged it off as you grabbed your towel and slid in the outfit you laid out temporarily on the towel rack. After hastily throwing on the thickest coat hung up in your closet and snatched the keys off the counter table, you snugly pulled your scarf right underneath your nose and exited the apartment with a half-hidden face and a hooded head.

You looked down at your phone and mentally timed yourself for a half hour walk around the neighborhood. It sure was convenient to only live a few blocks away from the local park; your nearby getaway from life was only a seven-minute walk away. Your gloved hand stuffed your phone back in your coat pockets, and there began your walk.

The first half of the mini-exercise was pleasant and serene. Although the biting wind irritated your cheeks, there was something untouchable and peaceful about walking in the winter alone. Your once-clouded mind was as clear as the soft sunlight filtering through the leaves of the trees, pillowed by the lush grass. You inhaled fresh oxygen, Mother Nature completely overtaking your senses and engulfing you. The scattered chirps of your winged friends were your only source of sound above the chilling wind.

You had circled around the park for a good while, already spending 80 percent of your time doing so. You finished up your final round and started heading back to your home. The walk back was as ordinary as it usually was.

Until it suddenly wasn’t.

If you had continued to space out for a second longer, you could have missed it. The moment could have passed long gone by the time you had snapped out of it, but you just had to come back to reality in that exact moment. And you weren’t sure whether it was a good or a bad thing.

He was sitting on a windowsill of a random quaint business shop a little ways ahead. His hands were stuffed in his brown and white wool jacket, his head slightly tilted back and the corners of his lips were imperceptibly quirked upwards like he knew a secret you didn’t. In this case, he sure seemed like he did.

You had stopped abruptly in your tracks and in turn gaped at the brown-haired beauty. Even in the dreary cold light of the winter, he was still able to shine even without wholly exposing his pearly whites. He always did have that effect. His gaze moved from the sky to the right of his vision and finally to the left, where that gaping mouth of yours was.

He stood up, his smile widening by the second. You blinked twice and even moved your hands to rub your eyes. Your heartbeat picked up the pace as he started advancing on you. You were simply frozen on the spot, your limbs terrified of moving a muscle.

Before you could even get out the word “what,” his arms encircled you and knocked the air out of your lungs as if you weren’t already having trouble getting enough oxygen inside your system in contrast to the open environment in the park. You wanted to screech, cry, shove him, hug him, but your voice would give away the emotions welling up in your chest. They eventually journeyed all the way to your head as soon as he let go to examine your face. The overwhelming sensation made everywhere else stiff, but the leaking of your eyes gave it away. His grin dropped almost immediately as your head, and you could only hear his mouth run.

“Oh no, are you okay?! What happened? Who do I have to fight?” You cried even harder at his last sentence. He couldn’t even hurt a fly, much less get involved in a physical fight. You tearily chuckled and raised your palms in an embarrassing attempt to wipe away the tears, but he had beat you to it. The grip around your shoulders migrated to the sides of your face, cupping you like you were as fragile as you felt, and gently raised your head. His thumbs brushed away your tears as they rained down on them. His eyes searched yours in a frenzy, trying to inspect any hints of your sudden meltdown.

“How… how on earth are you here? Literally?” You managed to gargle out of your strained throat. He only stared blankly at you. You continued, “You’re… you’re not supposed to be here. Maybe I’m really hallucinating this time around. Yeah, that must be it.” You reach out to poke him, and you gasped as you could feel the material of his coat. The grip he had on your shoulders and now on your face; they all felt too real. Why?

“That—that’s not possible. You’re, you’re not real!” You tried taking a step back but his hands went back down around your shoulders. “Wait, Y/N.” Fresh tears pricked the back of your eyes. You haven’t heard your name on his tongue in years. So why now?

“I know it must come as a shock—“ “—of course it does!—“ “—but it really is me. You touched me; I’m as real as it gets!” “Prove it. Where did we last go together?” “The amusement park. You forced me to go on that rollercoaster 4 times.” “What did we do for your birthday?” “We went to a bowling alley where I destroyed you.” “You only got lucky that last round, Lee.” “You’re still using that same line after all this time.”

Your breath quickened momentarily before slowing down. Is it really him?

“If you need any more proof, here’s the final one.” He pulled out his phone and gave it you. You stared incredulously at him. “You want me to take your phone?” He laughed, “Why don’t you turn it on?”

With your brows still raised, you slowly took his device and pressed on the power button. “Alright, it’s on—“

The words remained stuck at your throat. His wallpaper was the selfie you both took at the amusement park in line waiting for the rollercoaster. Your eyes shot up to his. It… it can’t be… He’s...

He only gives you a warm smile, the same one so many years ago. “Happy birthday, Y/N.”

“I just don’t understand,” your voice echoed through your apartment as you entered the living room with two water bottles in both hands. You handed one to him as you sat across from him. “How are you even here?”

He shrugged and opened up the bottle. “Beats me. One second I’m sleeping at the studio, and the next I’m here.” You bitterly remembered the studio, the last place it all happened. You took a large gulp of water before speaking up again. “Seokmin, I was there. I saw it with my own eyes. You DIED!”

Seokmin stared at you before leaning over to rest his forearms on his thighs. “Okay, so, maybe I kind of lied.” You gave him a look. “I’m not really alive, but not exactly dead, either.”

“Just say you’re a ghost or some spirit.”

“Well, I guess you could say I’m a ghost. I was just brought back to ‘life,’” he air quoted, “to spend the day with you, I guess!” You shake your head and sit up straighter. “But why now? You didn’t appear for a bunch of birthdays consecutively. It’s only today.”

“I wish I knew the answer to that, too.” He raised his hand to cup your cheek. You leaned into his touch and brought your hand to rest on top of his. He looked at you melancholically, his eyes slightly hooded. “I want to spend every day with you if I could, but things just happen in their own way like this.”

You sighed. “Well, it still freaks me out to no end that you’re actually before me after so much time has passed, but it also feels like we’re picking up right after we left off, as weird as that is.”

He leaned over and pressed his lips on your forehead. They were still warm and soft. “Well, birthday girl, what do you wanna do today?”

You wracked your brain, your hand cupping your chin. “Do-over of those amusement park and bowling dates!”

He only let out a chuckle and shook his head. “Didn’t expect anything different from you. Shall we?” He laced his fingers in yours and pulled you up to your feet. You still had no idea why or how everything was happening like it was, but you were in no position to complain. Maybe this was the second chance you were finally granted with after wishing on countless shooting stars, prayer after prayer in the deafening silence of the dark.

You made your first step at the looming hunks of metal and the familiar grinding on the tracks as bursts of screams followed the direction of their carts. You felt bittersweet of your return after so long; you couldn’t bring yourself to have the same enjoyment you did with the only person who was willing to be dragged on every ride possible with little to no complaints. The warmth surrounding your hand suddenly felt more present than ever. You gently squeezed his, ensuring his presence was there for the tenth time that hour.

“Y/N, if you keep squeezing my hand like this, my blood circulation will cut off.”

You playfully nudged him, rolling your eyes. “Okay, you baby. Tell me that once we get off the rollercoasters.” Flashing his pearly whites, he leaned in to plant a kiss the side of your head. “Maybe it just gives me an excuse to hold your hand, hm?” He dropped your hand and just when you opened your mouth in protest, you felt a slight tug around your shoulders, where his hand reappeared. You smiled to yourself as you wrapped your arm around his waist and rested your head on his chest. His inviting warmth always allured you, and even more so in the harsh winter.

Have you always been this cold?

“You really want a rematch, don’t you?” You raised an eyebrow at him with crossed arms. “Are you that eager to lose against me again?”

“Hey now, don’t get too cocky. After enduring all those long lines and horrific rides, it’s your turn to be in my forte.” He carefully picked up a bowling ball and got into position. You inwardly grimaced when the scoreboard marks a strike on his first try. That was a tell-tale sign that he truly was about to demolish you, but you were never going to admit that -- at least, not in front of him. He turned back and gave you a smirk you wanted to wipe off his terribly attractive face as he stalked back to his seat. You deeply inhaled and exhaled, your eyes trained on the 12 pins at the end of the lane. You released the ball and subconsciously held your breath as it traveled further down. A satisfying clunk rang in the nearly empty bowling alley as you turned back and returned his smirk.

“Strike out, buddy.” He stood up and said tauntingly, “Don’t be so confident. We have a whole game ahead of us, honey.”

The friendly competition and the banter was all that could be heard the whole night. Echoes of your laughs and the pins knocking down were music to your ears, melodies that you desperately missed. The ache in your chest returned as it usually did whenever you felt too sentimental. The twinkle in his eyes and the brightness of his smile were all it took to turn you into a sappy mess. He didn’t change one bit.

His head was cocked up to look at the scoreboards, his legs shook in anticipation. He turned to you and raised his hands up in the air triumphantly. “Another game to me!”

For some reason, his boyish enthusiasm ironically made you… What was the word? You stared at him doing his dorky happy dance and the smile that never left his face for a second.

Longing. Hopeful. Melancholic. A mix of everything, much more than the numbing feeling you grew accustomed to after the incident. Your vision blurred, hot tears tracked down your now red cheeks. He immediately stopped dancing and rushed to you.

“Hey, it’s okay, we can always go for another round. The night is still young--”

You laughed wetly, shaking your head at his pure innocence. “No, no, I’m not crying because I lost. I -- god, what’s wrong with me.” You could only shake your head and pathetically wipe away the tears. He gazed at you sadly and brought your head to his chest. The hug he engulfs you in was almost enough for you to break down more heavily, but you stopped yourself before it would turn into a sobfest. He rubs your back soothingly and pets your head all at once. His slow movements contained traces of dejection and led to his next question that you least expected.

“You’ve been crying all day, Y/N… Are you… not happy to see me?”

You abruptly lifted your head and stared up at him with panicked eyes, your tone slightly raised in alarm. “What, of course not! It’s just so much to take in. I mean, you’ve been out of my life for five years, and you’re suddenly back. It makes no sense at all. And everything about today has made me miss you so terribly. It’s been hard, Seokmin.” You touched the side of his face and he nodded in understanding. “I know… I know. I really do wish I could still be with you, but… well, we know why that can’t be.” He gazed at you with a sadness you’ve never seen fill his pupils before, his features slightly distorted at the situation you’re thrown in.

You sighed but decided strengthen your resolution. “Well, there’s only a few hours left of the day. We can’t spend the rest of it moping around now. Let’s go back home and call it a night.” You were about to grab your jacket sprawled out on the benches, but he quickly took ahold of your wrist. “Wait, let’s take a selfie together!” You couldn’t help but giggle at his excitement and the speed he whipped out his phone from his jeans back pocket. He slightly bent down at your height and held out his device in front of the both of you. You rested a hand on his shoulder and smiled at the front camera. “One… two… three!” Just before the “three,” you turned your head and leaned in to give him a light cheek kiss.

Click.

His eyes widened and he laughed in embarrassment. “Aren’t you getting bold now,” he bashfully states more than questions. You chuckled and peered over his shoulder, “Let’s see how it turned out!”

He turned his back towards you and shook his head. “No! You always demand a retake, and it ends up being a photoshoot for five minutes and deleting 14 out of 18 pictures.” He secretly checked his image gallery and smiled. “You’re beautiful, as always.” You rolled your eyes and started packing up your things scattered on the table. “Always the charmer, aren’t you, Mr. Lee.” He jogged back to you and gracefully took his jacket from your hands. “You deserve the truth, babe.” You let out a small laugh and took his hand in yours. “Just send me it.” He nodded and led you out the door, the eventful night coming to a close.

The trip back home was in a comfortable silence, the both of you simply basking in the other’s presence. There was no need for words to fill the quiet. With your head on his shoulder and his stacked on yours, it was crystal clear what both hearts communicated. You hadn’t felt this much at ease all day, much less in those empty, listless five years. The soft movements of the moving car soon lulled you to sleep up until your apartment building pulled into view.

You and Seokmin trudged up to your floor and plopped down on the couch. He was underneath you, his arms wrapped around your back and your head nuzzled in the middle of his chest, your ultimate favorite pillow and source of comfort you yearned for all these years. Your legs were an intertwined mess and your arms just as entangled.

“It’s 10 pm,” he muttered from the top of your head. “We should wash up.” You sleepily shook your head, your eyes already drooping heavily. “There’s always tomorrow…”

He let out what was supposed to be a chuckle but ended up sounding more like a tired grunt. “Well, I suppose I like being here better.” He planted another kiss on the top of your head, adding more warmth to you that radiated from his body neck down. The slight discomfort you felt from being squished on your tiny couch amounted up to nothing as you cuddled up next to Seokmin. There was just something about him that could make everything feel right, no matter how bad it may seem.

“Seokmin.” “Yes?” “I still have no idea how this is all happening, but… I’m happy it is.” “... Me too, Y/N.” “I missed you a lot.” “So did I.”

A gigantic yawn escaped your lips despite your attempt to stifle it. His throaty laugh sent vibrations from his chest, another thing you were aware of in his full presence that day.

“You should go sleep, honey.” “But… I wanna talk to you. I finally have the chance to.” “We’re both worn out. It’s okay, just go rest.” “I don’t want you to disappear when I wake up.”

You slightly choked on your last words. He paused before leaning down just centimeters away from you. “I love you. I’ll always love you.”

And for the first time that night, you shared your first kiss after his sudden appearance in the morning. His lips were still soft and warm like the last time you remembered. The slow yet emotional kiss simultaneously sent chills down your spine yet warmed your whole being from head to toe. You felt drops on your cheeks, but this time it wasn’t your own. You knew exactly what that kiss conveyed, the words that neither of you could utter to fake the ignorance of the time ticking away. You slowly broke away, and your hands somehow ended up on the back of his neck.

“I’ll always love you too, Seokmin. Always.”

You both spent a while like that, your foreheads touching and holding on to the other for dear life. You didn’t want to believe that in just several hours, all of this could disappear as suddenly as it appeared. You wanted to take in everything about him; the way his eyes crinkled whenever he smiled, the soft smile he would always give you when he looked at you doing the most mundane thing, how his hands rested on your hips, the curve of his shoulders, everything. Simply everything. You eventually went back to your cuddling position and stayed there the rest of the night. Your late night talks with him once returned, talking about anything and everything. Before you knew it, it was already well into the early morning.

Your consciousness was rapidly slipping despite your fight to stay awake. This was the only time you could spend time with him, and your body just had to choose that moment to pass out. He noticed your failed attempts to prevent your eyes from closing and slightly giggled.

“Alright, little one, you should go to sleep.” “No, I… I wanna see you until the end.” “You can barely see me now with your eyes closing like that.” “I’m trying!”

He kissed the top of your head and made his way down your face. First, your temples, then your eyelids, your nose, your cheeks… and finished it off on your lips again.

“I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere.”

You wanted to thrash against the drowsiness, but you could no longer endure it. Before you fully knocked out, he managed to mutter his last words.

“I love you… I’ll always be watching over you.”

Soft sunlight filtered through your window curtains. You lightly stirred and then immediately remembered last night’s events. Your eyes shot up instantly. Seokmin. Your body shoots up as quickly as your eyes did. And that was it.

You were the only one on the couch.

You scurried off the couch and hysterically called out his name. He was nowhere to be found, no matter how loud and how often his name rolled off your tongue. He wasn’t in the kitchen, the bathroom, nor your bedroom. He was gone without a trace.

You slumped down in the middle of your hallway, your sobs the only sounds travelling down the corridors. He was taken away from you once again.

Your body felt heavy as you tried to get back on your feet again. You loudly sniffled as you shuffled back to the empty living room where you spent the night. You stopped as soon as you saw the coffee table.

His phone and a note underneath it were staring back at you. You almost tripped over your feet making a beeline towards his things. You opened the neatly folded white piece of paper. The sight of his penmanship on its own was enough to tear you up, but not as much as the words he had written. You read his message and lifted a finger to trace his letters, as if you could feel his presence when he wrote them. You put down the note back on the table and turned on his phone.

The lockscreen was the selfie you took at the bowling alley. It deceivingly looked like you were the regular couple five years back. You could almost feel his smooth skin on your lips the longer you stare at the picture. You slumped back down and cried in your hands, the same ones that held your boyfriend’s not even 8 hours ago.

I hope you had a good rest, Y/N. I know you’ve been taunted by those dreams for so long, so I hope I was able to help you sleep well from the short time I was here with you. I could feel myself slipping away from reality when I felt you become at ease and come to terms with what’s happened, so I had to rush through this before I fully disappeared. I hope I gave you the best birthday yesterday. I’ll always love you, and I’ll always be with you.

Love, Seokmin

P.S. Turn on my phone one last time. I told you that you were beautiful as always.

#my post #write-svt #seventeen #seventeen dk #seventeen seokmin #dk #seokmin #seventeen imagines #seventeen scenarios #seventeen headcanons #seventeen au #dk imagines #dk scenarios #dk headcanons #dk au #seokmin imagines #seokmin scenarios #seokmin headcanons #seokmin au

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dong-hyucks · 7 years

Note

Hello, may I please request an imagine for nct dream Chenle with an evil-Peter Pan au if that makes sense? If it doesn't then just do a normal Peter Pan thing, after all I do want you to enjoy writing this. I don't mind if he's a lost boy or Pan himself. As for the gender I'm She/Her but it's fine if you don't want to use those. Thank you and take your time I'm patient and will happily wait until 2076 if that's the time you need. Lots of love a girl that loves your writing.❤️💘🥀

The Lost Boy ; Chenle

Characters: Chenle / Reader / ft. NCTGenre: Peter Pan!AU, adventure, suspense, fluff, angst (happy ending)Warning: implications of death and a rough home life, slight swearingA/N: dEDICATED TO THE SOFTEST CHOONLOO STAN TO EVER WALK THE EARTH; @chenlays HAPPY EARLY BDAY SAM ILY

Masterlists

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul

1902, London

The streets were cold, empty. Dank cobblestone clip-clopped under your scuffed and water-ridden shoes. Your arms, uncovered and unprotected from the cold, were covered with goosebumps, little hairs standing up in response to the sheer coldness of the night. In the distance, you could see the large clock tower. The building was rundown, as was practically every other building in town. The clock chimed and chimed, you could almost see the rickety building tremble with each vibration, alerting you and the townspeople of the hour. You swallowed thickly. Hairs on the back of your neck stood rigid, not from the gelid air that surrounded you, imprisoned you in its freezing hands, taking you as it’s prisoner. No, the hairs that stood, your knees that shook, your breath that caught; they all did so out of fear.

You were late. Five minutes late, to be exact.

There was a sudden, muffled thud. You stopped, quickly moving to hide behind a nearby building. A man, a man you recognized as Mr Percy from two roads down, exited your home as he fixed the collar of his trenchcoat. He looked around as if to see if anyone had seen him, before quietly sneaking off into the darkness. It wasn’t long before his form disappeared into the dark fog that always followed London’s nightfall.

Your doorstep drew near, and you dreaded each step closer you took. You could practically hear your adoptive mother, Madam Iva, screaming– her voice raspy from yelling so vehemently. Her eyes were what scared you the most, the beady, coal black pairs of eyes that would stare you down as if you were prey. They’d narrow as she screeched, her irises almost disappearing under her wrinkled eyelids. She was always like that. A hawk compressed into human form. Watching. Always watching.

In fact, you could see her now, glaring down at you from her bedroom window. Chills ran up and down your spine as your hand clasped around the doorknob and twisted. You waited patiently, patiently yet with an immense amount of fear, at the door. As if on cue, her heavy footsteps came stomping down the creaky wooden staircase. You had to remind yourself to replace the wood tomorrow.

Soon enough, her face, red with anger and vexation, came into view. Her puffy cheeks and dropped eyelids obscured her eyes in an ever so familiar way. As she made her way down the stairs two at a time, loud thuds sounded within the household. With each step, the ruffles on her evening gown fluttered slightly due to the astounding strength she used with each step. The only thing on her body that remained still was the bun atop her head, her hair tightly twisted and tied in such a way that made her eyebrows arch upwards.

“You!” she sputtered, her eyebrows knit together as she jabbed a stout finger in your direction. “Do you know how late it is?” Her tone demanded answers, and you could tell she wouldn’t like yours.

“I was only–”

“I don’t want to hear any excuses coming from you! This is the fifth time this month you’ve come home late, you ungrateful brat.” With each sentence, she took another massive step toward you. “Who do you think you are? I work day and night working so you can have a good life and this is how you repay me? Staying out late when you have a reasonable curfew? I bet you were messing around with those disgusting groupies of yours.”

You frowned a frown that almost mirrored her own. “Madam, my friends aren’t groupies, but I really didn’t–”

She took a quick step toward you, raising her arm in a feinted swing. You flinched, backing into the door as you shut your eyes tightly. Eyeing your trembling form, Madam Iva scoffed. She relaxed her arm for a moment, crossing them as she looked down on you. “Insolent, weak child,” she spat, turning on her heel. “I should’ve left you to die on the streets when I had the chance.” And with that, she walked back up the stairs, this time her steps softer as she attempted to walk in a ladylike manner – though, to you she still looked as much of a cross elephant in a dress as she did before.

You stood in the foyer, waiting to hear the noise of Madam Iva’s door clicking as it locked. When you did, you made your way up the stairs as quietly as you could. Today, you were lucky. Madam Iva stuck to using words and didn’t go any further. Perhaps she was too tuckered out to do much, you had seen Mr Percy leave just before after all.

When you got to your room, Ms Lula was gathering her things. You quietly greeted the cleaning lady, ignoring her presence as she made her way out into the hallway. After she left, closing the door behind her, you collapsed onto your rock-hard mattress. “I hate this,” you mumbled tiredly into your pillow. Though you were used to Madam Iva’s discourteous behaviour, you absolutely detested being on the receiving end of it all. You always had to watch as she pretended to be the perfect mother in front of others, though she was everything but.

Turning onto your back, you stared up at the cracked ceiling. Your room was always cold– there was a hole in the corner of your ceiling, one that let in all of the frigid air, rain, snow, and just about every mouse that required shelter in the winter. Madam Iva was always too cheap to pay for a repairman’s work.

As you stared, your eyes tracing each imperfection, you wondered. You wondered what you had done to deserve such a life. You always saw other kids your age getting along well with their mothers, their fathers, their sisters, their brothers. Though they still lived under the poverty that everyone in the area suffered through, their lives seemed perfect to you. You, on the other hand, were a reject sob story. You were left in the streets by your parents at birth, almost experiencing hypothermia in the coolness of the city. Madam Iva’s late husband, Mr Howard, was the one to suggest taking you in after finding your basket. After his death, your life spiralled into hell.

Hot tears burned your eyes, tears that you wiped away roughly. You weren’t one for tears. They didn’t fix anything. Shaking your head, you took out the pillow from beneath your head and covered your face, pressing it into your skin gently as to allow yourself to breathe.

“Poor, poor child. Living a life of such hostility.”

You jumped, throwing the pillow in the direction you thought you heard the voice from. You looked over, watching as the pillow thumped against the wall. “Too slow,” the voice whispered into your ear. Scrambling off of your bed, you held a hand against your mouth. If you screamed, you’d be in more trouble by Madam Iva– something you would rather not face. Once your eyes landed on the figure in your room, you let out a gasp.

A male, perhaps in his early 20s, was standing in your room. Rather– he was floating in your room. Your eyes quickly darted from the space between his dark gray slippers and your splintered wooden floor to his face, one with sharp features. He stared back in amusement, leaning back on some invisible surface as he raised a brow at you. You noticed something glittering, something glowing right above the fabric of his shirt, one that matched his slippers.

You shut your eyes, smacking your cheeks lightly. “Wake up, [Y/N]. You’re having too weird of a dream–”

“A dream? Is that what you think I am?”

You yelped, hastily grabbing the nearest object and holding it before you. The man snorted at the sight of your outstretched arm. You were tightly grasping onto a stuffed bear, it’s fur visible in the spaces between your clenched fingers. He raised his arms in mock defense, smirking over at you as he floated toward you. “I’m so scared,” he drawled, sarcasm heavily evident. You glared.

“Who are you and what’re you doing in my room?” You paused. “How are you floating?”

The man paused mere metres in front of you, floating about a foot off of the ground. “I am Pan,” he greeted nonchalantly. “You can call me Taeyong.” He tipped the front of his black cap, your eyes travelling to the red feather that came from it. His attire reminded you of some old fairytale you had heard before, one that told the tale of three siblings who travelled to a faraway land. “And you are?”

“[Y/F/N]. That doesn’t answer all of my questions, Taeyong.”

“Impatient little thing, you are.” He clicked his tongue before twirling in the air, quite literally, staring at you upside down. You noticed the glowing, glittering something once again, this time below his hat. Is that, you thought, what’s keeping his hat from falling? “I was bored, your window was unlocked, so here I am.” He glanced over to your window, “You should lock that, by the way. Wouldn’t want some weird stranger coming in during the night, now would you?”

“… Right.”

Taeyong moved forward, though he kept his feet pointing upward. “Your mother,” he began, “is very rude.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I was trying to sleep up here, and there she went running down the stairs as though she was racing for gold.” He rolled his eyes. “Her little toy was annoying too. Wouldn’t stay quiet while he was here.” Before he could continue, you quickly shushed the flying male, not wanting to hear any more. Pushing your hand away, Taeyong sent a smirk your way, turning in the air to land on his feet. “I have an offer you can’t possibly refuse,” he sang, clasping his hands together behind his back as he moved away.

You stayed quiet, still feeling incredibly distrustful of the seemingly magical man. You shook your head, the thought of this all being a dream still very liable. Taeyong, noticing your doubtfulness, chuckled. “Then, I guess you don’t want to escape from here.” You looked up at his words, your eyebrows coming together. You could feel your hands getting clammy, your interest piqued. You would give anything to leave, to escape. He chuckled, the noise as deep as his voice. “Would you be willing to fly away with me?”

As if on cue, he began to float up toward your ceiling. You backed into your dresser, your legs shaking. “I can’t fly,” you prompted. “Not sure how you think I can go about that.”

Taeyong laughed, bending over as he held his stomach,as if you had just said the greatest joke known to man. You glanced at your door, an image of Madam Iva bursting in, as red as a baboon’s behind, and you shuddered. Turning to Taeyong, you brought a finger to your mouth in your silent way of telling him to be quiet. “Of course you can’t fly,” he said with the wave of his hands. “You need a little something to assist you.” He then grabbed at the air. You frowned in confusion. Hovering over to you, Taeyong held his hand above your head before shaking it as if he were adding salt to a dish. “All you need is a little pixie dust,” he smiled.

“Now, fly!”

You rolled your eyes, stepping away from the madman. “Taeyong, whoever you are, I can’t fly.” You looked down at his floating feet. “I’m not sure how you’re doing it, but whatever it is, I can’t.”

Taeyong groaned, moving in front of you. “No, you can’t, not with that attitude. You need to believe! You need to want.” He looked at you as if he were urging you to try. You sighed. “Just close your eyes and wish to fly.”

This is just a dream, you told yourself, what’s the worse that can happen?

As if to just humour him, you closed his eyes. I wish to fly.

Nothing happened. You opened your eyes, deadpanning at Taeyong. He groaned yet again, flying over to shake your shoulders. “You aren’t trying enough! I can barely feel your energy and I’m just over here. Try again.” You leaned back. His tone no longer sounded kind nor boyish; but demanding. He must’ve noticed your sudden change in demeanour, because he smiled nervously, moving away. “Just,” he tried again, this time with a gentler tone, “try.”

Not wanting to anger him, you closed your eyes tightly. I wish to fly. I want to fly.

You kept your eyes closed, not wanting to open them to Taeyong’s annoyed expression. To your surprise, he started clapping. “You’re doing it!” Opening your eyes, you looked down. True to his word, you were no longer on the floor. Your legs shook as you got higher, your inexperience blatantly obvious.

“So,” Taeyong grinned boyishly as he turned to face you. He held out his hand as he jumped onto the sill of your window. “[Y/F/N], do you trust me?”

You looked down at his outstretched hand. You glanced at the door again, before your eyes darted to your floating legs. Slowly, you took his hand.

Taeyong’s grin widened to the point where it was almost devilish. “Then!” he exclaimed, taking an alarming step out your window. “Off to Foreverland we go!”

Foreverland? “Wait, Taeyong–”

Suddenly, he shot himself and, by extension, you into the night sky with the push of his leg. You almost forget that you were just floating, a scream ripping from your throat as you watched the ground get farther and farther away. Taeyong glanced over at you, “Come on, [Y/N], relax! Believe.” You glared up at him, your eyes watering from the wind. Believe– the word was starting to sound annoying coming from him.

Once you were very high off the ground, to the point where fog heavily obscured your view of the old buildings below, Taeyong stopped midair. To your luck, you didn’t plummet to the earth when he let go of your hands, but instead, you remained afloat. “What’re–”

Taeyong shushed you, his hand going moving to a small sack that was attached to his waist belt. You watched curiously as he took out something minute. It looked like a simple fountain pen, one like the ones you used regularly whenever Madam Iva had you create a list and go to the market. Suddenly, he began moving his arm in an oval, one almost as long as the length of his own body. “What are you doing?” you questioned, tilting your head in confusion. Before he could even answer, the oval he had drawn in the air became something else. It was as if he had cut a shape into the sky. You gazed through in astonishment, looking down at an island that was just as far as the city was.

Without warning, Taeyong pushed you in.

“Welcome to Foreverland!” You heard his voice bellow from above. You could barely stabilize yourself, nowhere near experienced in ‘flying’. Taeyong raced passed you, moving in a much more comfortable and smooth manner. Your heart raced as you looked down at the almost pitch black ocean down below. As you neared the island, Foreverland as Taeyong had called it, something struck you. A searing pain erupted from your shoulder, shooting down into the nerves of your arm and more. You let out a yell and suddenly you were falling. Whatever magic Taeyong had used on you seemed to leave you as you got closer and closer to the sea. You turned midair, looking up at the sky in hopes of finding Taeyong. You could barely see the fletching of an arrow within your quickly fading vision.

The last thing you saw before you hit the harsh surface of the freezing water was Taeyong as he watched you.

Was that a smile you saw etched onto his features?

A boy clad in ripped and dirty clothing smiled happily as he gathered fruit from the highest of the trees. Down below, he could hear his friends singing to themselves in harmony, their voices soothing to the ears. The boy hummed along to the familiar tune, his head bobbing slightly as he picked one last mango. Content with his pick, he slowly made his way down the tree trunk. He passed his youngest friend, the only friend younger than him, and jokingly pushed himself off of the trunk to nudge him gently. The vines he had tied to his waist kept him up as he manoeuvred around the tree. “Chenle,” his friend poked, softly throwing a small mango at him. “You picked them all up there?”

Chenle grinned with a nod, easily catching the thrown mango. “Slowpoke,” he teased, sticking out his tongue as he continued his descent. The voices got louder as he reached the ground, his bare feet landing upon the damp dirt. As they picked berries from bushes, Renjun, Jeno, and Donghyuck were singing the same song they always sang together – a song of loss and acceptance – the song of the Lost Boys. As he neared them, Chenle even joined in, dropping his mangoes into the large basket in which numerous other fruits were contained.

Jeno looked up from his bush, inspecting the basket. It was almost full, which meant they had to go back to the house soon. “Last batch,” he called loudly, loud enough for Jisung in the trees to hear.

It wasn’t long before the humongous basket was filled to the brim with a variety of fruit– mangoes, oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries. Mark, the oldest of the six, came out from the thick vegetation with two wooden buckets, each filled with water. “Are we ready to head back?” he asked, carefully placing the buckets on the ground. When the five boys nodded, Mark moved to help the older of the few while Jisung took hold of the buckets.

Then, the six began their trek down the path to the house in the trees. The older members noticed how much harder it was to hold the basket with only five people, as it was big enough to hold each of them with extra space. Chenle glanced over at the gap between Donghyuck and Jeno, where another boy had once stood. Similarly, there was another space between Mark and himself.

They didn’t make it far before the familiar sound tinkling of bells invaded their ears. Jisung stopped and the boys put the basket down, happy to take a break. “Yuta?” Renjun called, looking around for the little faerie. Before long, they all spotted the tiny faerie, a faerie only visible to beings of Foreverland.

Yuta didn’t even bother greeting the group, instead heading straight to Chenle and landing on the set of arrows that hung across his back. “You need to shoot a predator,” he told the boy, his voice urgent despite being small. “A killer bird is after Taeyong, you need to shoot it once they get back.”

Chenle frowned, his hand involuntarily going to the bow at his waist. He didn’t like shooting at animals. Yuta knew this, but he also knew that the others couldn’t aim as well as he could even if their lives depended on it. “If you don’t do it,” Yuta started, narrowing his eyes, “you know how Taeyong will react if you let him get hurt.”

Chenle flinched. Nodding, he quietly agreed to shoot the killer bird. At his submission, Yuta grinned. “Good. I’m glad we don’t have any conflict here.” The faerie glanced down at the basket. “Now hurry up. He’ll be back within the hour, and he’ll want those fruits home by the time he is.” With that, he flitted away, the only sign of him being the trail of dark blue faerie dust he left behind.

Donghyuck lent the younger male a small smile, patting him on the shoulder gently as if he were saying it’s okay. Chenle merely returned the smile before moving to his position around the basket. Getting the hint, everyone aside from Jisung went to their past positions and heaved the basket up into their arms. They kept moving.

Luckily for them, the fruit trees weren’t too far from their treehouse. The only struggle was bringing them all up into Taeyong’s room. They had built a contraption using buckets and rope and despite the convenience, the operation was a strain on their muscles. “First batch ready,” Mark called to Chenle and Donghyuck, who stood at Taeyong’s window. They nodded, simultaneously reaching out to pull the rope that brought up the buckets of fruit. Below, the boys helped.

“This,” Donghyuck huffed, “is a lot harder without Jaemin and Hansol–”

“Chenle!”

The boys flinched at the sudden voice, almost letting go of the rope. Yuta impatiently jumped on Chenle’s shoulder, though to Chenle it felt like a mere tap. “Taeyong’s back and the bird is with him!”

After Donghyuck took hold of the rope, Chenle took out his bow and arrows. His eyes searched the darkening sky, looking for Taeyong and the killer bird. Soon, Donghyuck pointed toward the Treasure Cove. “There!” Chenle looked over, and sure enough, Taeyong was flying away from another flying figure, though whatever it was wasn’t clear.

Yuta tugged on Chenle’s ear, noticing the way his arms tensed in hesitation. “Shoot, Chenle!”

Feeling pressured, Chenle held up the bow and aimed. Within seconds, an arrow was fired.

Taeyong chuckled, watching as the water began to grow flat, the ripples that had followed your fall dispersing. He looked into the distance and saw the treehouse. He could just barely make an outline of two of the Lost Boys. He mentally commended them before heading toward them.

As he neared, he pulled a straight face. He gracefully landed on the balcony of the treehouse. Yuta came to him quickly, landing on his shoulder with ease. “Good job,” he whispered to the faerie. Yuta’s bells sounded quietly, only loud enough for him to hear.

He walked into his own room, watching as Chenle and Donghyuck pulled up another bucket of fruit. “Thank you for shooting down that bird,” he acknowledged, though his town sounded anything but grateful. He looked down at the growing pile of fruit. “That’s enough,” he commanded. “Get out and bring the rest to your rooms.”

“Yes, sir.”

The two scrambled out of the room, and climbed down the ladder to the rest of the Lost Boys. Mark quickly told the two to head up to the shared room, glancing up nervously at Taeyong’s room. They didn’t argue, climbing up without a word.

Night came quickly, the orange light of the sun soon disappearing as navy blue bled into its colourful hues and, eventually, taking over the sky completely. The Lost Boys lay in their beds, too afraid to make a noise. Yuta always flew around at night and if they were too loud he would most definitely tell Taeyong.

Chenle went to bed that night wearing a frown. He felt like a mere fish swimming in a sea full of bloodthirsty sharks. He always did. Shifting under his thin blanket, he stared across the room. The two empty beds made him feel uneasy.

The next time you awoke, you were warm. It was an almost unfamiliar feeling– you could barely remember the last time you felt so cozy. Light flooded into the area mercilessly, too bright for your dazed being. Once your eyes adjusted, you realized you have washed ashore, lying on a bed of dead grass. You were so far away from the sealine, however, that it was as if you had been placed there.

Upon further investigation, perhaps you were.

Barely a foot away from you, you found a silver ring. It hadn’t been affected by the water as it was still shining brightly without a single bit of rust, so you assumed it had been dropped recently. That wasn’t the only sign that someone had been near you, as there were footsteps all around you, each unique footprint stamped into the sand. However, not a person who could’ve left those behind was in sight.

You moved to get up, only to gasp out in pain. Your shoulder was still sensitive from your injury. Glancing at it, you notice how it was wrapped with ripped cloth, a poultice of seaweed just barely peeking out from beneath. Whoever had brought you to shore had taken care of you, delicately so.

Staying flat on the ground, you moved your head to look around. You had no idea what to do. Panic began to bubble from within your soul, making your breathing heavy as you realized how severe your situation was. It would sound insane to anyone else– saying you were taken to ‘Foreverland’ by a magical being and then shot by an arrow? No one would believe you if you lived to tell the tale.

That is, if you could even get back home.

This time, you moved slowly, picking yourself up off of the ground with such care it was as if you were holding a newborn. The entirety of your upper left body was sore, but you tried to ignore as you trodden slowly around the thick vegetation. You kept close enough to the trees that no one would be able to spot you if they were up above, like Taeyong, but far enough from the forest itself to see sunlight. Your eyes darted back and forth from one point to another, wary of your surroundings.

Your, now, bare feet felt odd against the soft sand and the damp feeling of your clothes was plain uncomfortable. In fact, everything about Foreverland was making you feel insatiably antsy. It was quiet– too quiet. You had only been near the sea once, but you could only remember noise, the loud rush of water as it pounded against the white sand, the whispers of the wind as it passed by, the lovely voices of birds as they flitted across the sky. But here, it was deadly silent. You could only hear a high pitched ringing in your ear, though that wasn’t unusual.

Without realizing, you stepped on a branch.

In a split second, there was shuffling. You could see the movement of bushes as something small ran past them, toward you. Your heart began to race, your feet subconsciously bringing you away from the treeline. Suddenly, something jumped out at you and landed on your chest, bringing you flat against the sand once again. The fall brought another shock of pain up and down your arm, making you cry out in agony. It took you a moment to realize what had jumped on you, but when it did you nearly screamed again.

Laying atop your chest, was a fuzzy, black and white creature. You had never seen one before, but you had heard stories and inspected drawings of the small beast.

“A panda?” you questioned, your voice cracking in pain. Sitting back up, letting out yet another set of groans, you took the panda in your hands and looked at it. “What odd place does this Foreverland have to be to have pandas of all animals?”

You barely had time to process the fact that a baby panda was in your arms before there was more shuffling from within the thick forest. Without thinking, you held the panda against your chest and scooted back toward the water. To your complete and utter surprise, a boy began to speak. “Who’s there?”

You stayed quiet, hugging the surprisingly calm panda to your chest. You were about to back right up, into the calm water, when a boy walked out from behind the trees. Your breath caught in your throat at the sight of him. You had seen boys dressed similarly before, in dirty and ripped clothes, but this boy still managed to look clean somehow. He laid eyes on you and you watched as he tripped over his own feet. He landed on his knees, luckily on the sand.

There was a silence, as you weren’t willing to speak to the strange person and he was staring wide-eyed at the ground. Finally, you opened your mouth, though you inched away ever so slightly. “Are you okay?” you stuttered, your words slow and unsure. Your shoulder and arm were pulsing in pain, but you were still trying hard to ignore it.

The boy smiled up at you over his dark brown bangs and nodded. “Peachy,” he mumbled, although he was wincing. He shifted to look at his knees and there were bright red marks. The skin hadn’t broken but there was some irritation. “I’ll be fine in a few.” He looked back up at you. “I’m Chenle,” he paused. “At least, that’s what I’ve been told.”

You raised a brow. “You aren’t sure?”

He shrugged. “I can’t remember much,” he confessed. “We were named by Taeyong after he–”

You droned out the rest of his words, your body going stiff. He must’ve noticed because he slowly stopped talking and looked at you with concern. “Hey, are you–”

Without a word, you got up as fast as you could, your shoulder burning in pain, and bolted. Your feet slipped beneath you constantly atop the sand, but that didn’t deter you. You could hear Chenle running after you, calling after you although he didn’t know your name. You held the small panda close to you as you ran; its claws digging into your shoulder and adding to the pain.

Suddenly, another boy, dressed similarly to Chenle, jumped out of the forest holding a spear. The sight of him and his weapon made you halt in movement, which gave Chenle enough time to catch up to you.

“What’s going on, why did you run?”

You tried to run in another direction, only to meet the eyes of yet another boy. Then, one by one, three more came out. Chenle looked at you with worry, stepping cautiously toward you. With each step he took forward, you took one back until your feet touched water. “We’re not going to hurt you,” he murmured, glancing at your, now bleeding, shoulder in worry. “We want to help.”

“You know Taeyong,” you grumbled, your voice shaking. “I can’t trust you.”

The six of them looked at each other with wide eyes. “How do you know him?” one of them asked. You could barely respond before Chenle shook his head.

“Guys, they’re injured. Let’s get their shoulder patched up before we start asking questions.” He turned to you, holding out his hands as a way of showing no harm. His posture reminded you of Taeyong, back in your room when he had asked you to trust him. Sensing your distrust, Chenle offered a small smile. “I promise you, we won’t take you anywhere Taeyong is.”

You looked down at your own arm, where blood was trailing down slowly. The panda looked up at you innocently, blissfully unaware to your distress. Your shoulder wasn’t in good condition, you could tell– heck, anyone within eyesight could tell. Swallowing thickly, you took a cautious step closer.

“Okay.”

The boys brought you into the forest and to a waterfall. You looked up at the open sky warily, scared that Taeyong would suddenly come out of nowhere. One of the boys, Donghyuck as he had introduced himself before, smiled warmly at you. “Don’t worry,” he said nonchalantly, “we’re safe here. We’ve hid here a lot since we got here and Taeyong has never noticed.”

You just nodded, petting the panda slowly. Another boy, Renjun, looked at the animal with affectionate eyes. “What’s it’s name?” he asked, cooing at the panda. You shrugged; you weren’t sure to be honest. Naming the panda hadn’t exactly crossed your mind since you stumbled upon it. Renjun hummed. “How about Wren?” He smiled down at the baby animal. “Do you like that?” The panda reacted in such a way that couldn’t be described as positive or negative, with the baby just yawning and resting its head against your collarbone.

You smiled at him, “Wren is good.”

Unbeknownst to you, Chenle had looked over just in time to see your smile. He coughed, looking away. Busying himself with grinding together a poultice, he tried to ignore the invisible strings that were pulling his lips up into a smile. Jisung, who had been helping him, noticed this and laughed quietly.

“Okay,” Chenle said, holding up the makeshift bowl (which, in reality, was just a large piece of bark that had been cleaned). You handed Wren to Renjun and sat on a rock across from Chenle. Slowly, he peeled away the cloth from your shoulder and used it to wipe away the old poultice. He gasped at how deep the wound was. The boys all gathered around and had similar reactions. Chenle began to frown, his suspicions ringing clearly in his head, though he kept them quiet. Using water from the waterfall, he cleaned the wound despite your flinches and wrapped it with care.

“How did this happen?” Jisung asked, gesturing to your wound.

“Actually,” Jeno cut in, “how did you even get here?” The boys seemed to all want an answer for the latter, each looking invested in words that had yet to be spoken.

You sighed, fiddling with Wren’s paw. “Well, to begin…” Then, you began to tell the story of how Taeyong appeared into your room, lead you to Foreverland– everything up to the moment you lost consciousness. One by one, each of the boys looked at Chenle with rounded eyes. You did as well, curious. Your eyes darted to the set of arrows on his back to the bow that hung from his waist. “You,” you mumbled, “you shot me, didn’t you?”

There was a pregnant pause, tension grew thick in the air as Chenle struggled to answer. “We were told,” he started, “that you were a killer bird going after Taeyong. If we didn’t comply with orders, he’d…” he trailed off, not wanting to finish his sentence.

“He’d what?”

Mark frowned. “If we disobey orders, given from him or his faerie, Yuta, we get taken away.” He looked down. “He’d take whoever went against his word and we’d never see them again.”

Sensing that you had hit a sensitive topic, you zipped your mouth closed.

Changing the subject, Jeno frowned. “How do you think you’re going to go back home?” he asked, leaning against the large boulder behind him. “You said Taeyong brought you here with a portal. We can’t exactly do the same.”

Your expression mirrored his. You hadn’t thought of a how and true to Jeno’s words, you had no means of creating a portal yourself. It’d be absolutely mad to try and take the pen away from Taeyong, suicide even. And after hearing about what he does to Lost Boys who don’t follow orders, you weren’t about to send them away for theft.

“Why don’t we eat first,” Mark suggested, taking out a mango from his sack. “You’re probably starving and our minds won’t work as well on an empty stomach.” When everyone agreed, Mark tossed you the mango, which you luckily caught.

While everyone idled and went away at their fruit, you wandered off. Nearing the waterfall, you fell back against the waterfall’s cliff, sighing in exhaustion. Beside you, Wren fell against your thighs, pawing up at the mango in your hands. Do pandas even eat mangoes? You glanced around. You hadn’t seen any bamboo anywhere and you weren’t sure which leaves a panda could eat.

“Hey,” Chenle said as he made his way over to sit beside you. The rushing noise of the waterfall almost drowned him out. “Are you not hungry?” he asked, eyeing the way the panda began to gnaw on the mango.

“Not really.”

Chenle suddenly looked like he had just remembered something of significant importance as he looked over at you. “What’s your name, by the way? You know ours, but yours remains a mystery to us.”

“[Y/N].”

He repeated your name once, twice, then thrice, the syllable(s) rolling off his tongue easily. Something about the way he said it made you feel giddy. You couldn’t place your finger on why– after all, people had been calling you [Y/N] since birth, so why were you feeling like this now?

He paused. “What’s it like? Living in a real home with a real family.” You looked over at him as he stared wistfully up at the sky. It couldn’t be more than an hour past noon, based on the sun’s position.

“Do you really not remember anything?”

“No, not completely. None of us do, actually. The lot of us, we only remember random snippets of anything. Donghyuck, he remembers his mother and how she wanted a cheque book, whatever that is. He wants to buy her one,” he smiled sadly, “if we can ever leave this place. And Jeno, he says he can remember lots. Like how everyone lives in these big houses and how it only ever rains once in a ‘blue moon.’” You raised a brow at the fibs, curious as how he came to even think of those.

“Mark remembers,” he stopped, trying to remember what exactly Mark remembered. “He remembers painting! Yes, painting.” Chenle started to laugh, the noise sounding like heavenly bells to your ears. Something about the boy next to you was calming, soothing even. “We tried painting once. It didn’t look to good and I don’t think we were supposed to run berries against stone tablets, but it was great fun.”

“Jisung, he remembers writing. He’s not sure where or why, but he can remember bringing pen to parchment and just letting ink flow.” He chuckled, “That’s what he always says. ‘The ink just flows from the pen, just like that!’” A smile came to your lips at how fond Chenle seemed of the others. “Respectively, Renjun remembers reading. He can faintly recall the tale of a dragon, a knight, and a royal stuck high up in the sky.”

Turning to you, Chenle hummed. “Do you think that’s what we are? People stuck in the sky?” After hearing himself talk out loud, a light pink hue took over his otherwise light skin. “Ah,” he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck in an embarrassed laugh. “That doesn’t make any sense, does it? Never mind.”

You smiled, petting Wren gently as she began to fall asleep, a half eaten mango laying on the ground next to your leg. “No, no. It makes sense. In a way, we really are just people trapped up in the sky. After all, I had to fly to get here.” You glanced over at him curiously, your gaze catching his eye almost instantly. “What about you, Chenle? What do you remember?”

A frown took place of his easy smile. “I’m– I don’t remember a thing about the past.” Your expression dropped. Chenle had sounded so dejected, so miserable over the fact that he couldn’t remember anything. “I don’t get it; the others remember things. Why don’t I?” His voice cracked, as though the topic of his memory wasn’t something he liked talking about.

Slowly, you moved in front of Chenle, gently placing Wren on the ground. He watched you curiously as you shifted. Leaning forward, you wrapped your arms around him in a gentle hug. Chenle stared over your back in shock– he could’ve sworn his heartbeat was loud enough for you to hear in such proximity. Then, inch by inch, Chenle raised his own arms before hanging them over the small of your back. Soon enough, he was bring you closer, reciprocating the hug happily.

The feeling was so unknown to the both of you. You never received hugs, at least, not since Mr Howard’s death. Chenle, on the other hand, couldn’t remember if he had ever been hugged. The warmth, the contact, all of it was so odd to the two of you and yet neither of you wanted to move. Chenle buried his face into the crook of your neck, something that felt oh-so natural to him. “Thank you,” he whispered, his voice sending slight shivers down your spine. You pulled away slightly, smiling at him.

Before another word could be uttered, Donghyuck started yelling, effectively gaining your attention. “Come here,” he called, “no– not you, Chenle–”

You chuckled, standing up. Brushing your pants off, you looked down at Chenle, who had gone to play with Wren. “I’ll be right back,” you said. Then, out of habit, “goodbye.”

You could barely take a simple step before Chenle was moving to grab your wrist. You let in a sudden breath, not expecting the sudden movement, nor his hand that was now clasped around your wrist. Chenle looked somewhat embarrassed as his eyes travelled to your wrist. He coughed, fumbling with himself as he cleared his throat. “Sorry about that but,” he looked away for a moment before looking you in the eyes, “don’t say goodbye, okay? At least not to m– not to us. Goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” He frowned, “I don’t want you to forget us.”

You smiled, moving your hand so that it lay in his. “Don’t worry, Chenle. I won’t forget you guys– I don’t think I could even if I tried.”

When you walked off, Chenle watched. Your words rang in his head, echoing effortlessly.

You reminded him of something, though he didn’t know what.

“Did you need anything?” you asked once you reached the group. At first, they said nothing and just laughed amongst themselves. You waited patiently, hoops of confusion swirling around your head.

Eventually, Renjun spoke up. “You and Chenle are getting cozy over there,” he commented, faking nonchalance. Your cheeks burned. Only then did you realize that all five of them could easily see the small exchange you just had with the aforementioned Lost Boy.

“I bet he knows your name too,” Jeno sang with a chuckle.

Mark and Donghyuck laughed in unison, glancing over at Jeno. “You say that like knowing a name is scandalous,” said Mark. Donghyuck looked to you.

“Speaking of, what is your name?”

You barely had time to introduce yourself before all of you hear a familiar noise.

Bells.

The boys’ eyes widened, each of them standing stiffly. You froze, unaware of what consequences the boys feared. The hairs on the back of your neck stood stiffly straight as the rest of your body shook. A familiar glow, a shimmer even, appeared right above Mark. It was the same glow you had seen back in your room.

“… his faerie, Yuta…”

You’ve been found.

Suddenly, Yuta’s faerie dust began to fall, fluttering over Mark’s head. Before any of you could reach out and grab him, he began to rise, and he rose much faster than you had before. “Mark–!”

It was too late, Yuta’s glow disappeared and Mark was flying seemingly out of control to sea. Chenle came running, Wren hanging off of his shoulder. “Yuta?” he asked urgently, his eyes not leaving the screaming form of Mark. Jeno merely nodded, looking incredibly distraught.

Jisung let out a shaky breath, tears lining his eyes. “Do you think Taeyong’s going to,” he stopped himself short, shaking his head fervently. Jeno brought the younger male into a hug to mask his own tears. The boys had experience this three times now and none of them were mentally prepared.

“We have to get him before Taeyong can do anything,” Donghyuck stammered, staring down at his own shaking hands in fear. He turned to you and only then did you see his glossy eyes. Looking around, you could see that all of them were on the verge of tears in their panic. “Please, [Y/N], help us. We’ve already lost two Lost Boys– none of us can handle a third.”

You nodded, shaken up yourself after witnessing the absolute terror in Mark’s expression as he realized what was happening. “Of course,” you stuttered, “I don’t know what I’ll do, but I’ll try to be as helpful as possible.”

Without another word, the six of you began your trek through the thick vegetation of the forest. The only noise being the sound of branches and leaves crinkling beneath your running feet and the breathing of each and every one of you. Once again, Foreverland seemed eerily quiet to you. It’s lack of audibility disturbed you to no end. It gave the, otherwise beautiful, island a creepy vibe and you did not like it. Not one bit.

No one spoke as you each ran, too focused on their thoughts. You knew even without them telling you what they were all thinking. Though you didn’t know the details about their friends, you knew they hall thought Mark would have a similar fate.

You looked up, looking at the backs of each of the Lost Boys– at least, the boys that remained. You had only met them that day yet you felt emotionally attached. They were so kind, far kinder than anyone else whom you’ve ever met– from both Foreverland and London.

Your eyes fell upon the first Lost Boy you had met. Chenle’s face of determination pushed you. It pushed you to keep going even though all you wanted to do was give up and weep. It surprised you, how much influence the boy had over you without even trying.

You thought back to the conversation you had at the waterfall, then to the pen Taeyong had used to create a portal.

Yes, you decided. I’ll do it. I’ll make sure these Lost Boys are finally found. You swallowed thickly. If anything bad happened to them solely because of you, you don’t know how you’d live with the guilt.

Soon enough, daylight began to break through the gaps in between the trees thick branches until the six of you reached the beach. The sky was turning orange, tendrils of warm colours galore painting themselves over the soft, baby blue of the sky. Clouds cast shadows here and there, leaving their temporary mark on the world. To you, the world’s beauty was unfair.

How could the sun set, the sky turn and the wind blow like usual when someone could meet an undesirable fate?

“Look!” Renjun pointed outward, out to sea. Your gaze followed his finger out above the cool water, until it struck upon the side of a ship. You had looked just in time to see Mark drop onto the deck. “That’s Captain Johnny’s ship!”

Chenle narrowed his eyes, focusing on the ship. Then, he let out a gasp. “On the stern, that’s–”

Suddenly, you could no longer hear Chenle, or any of the other Lost Boys. All you could hear was bells. A dark blue dust fell upon you and without realizing, you started getting closer and closer to the ship. The Lost Boys, they called after you, desperately calling your name, but you had no control of your body– not your head, not your mouth, nothing. You felt as though you were in a daze.

“[Y/N]!”

You blinked. From the corner of your eye, you could see a blue glow flitting back and forth. Yuta. You tried to move your arm, but it felt as though they were tied to your body with the strongest, most durable rope in existence.

Straining every muscle in your arm, you willed yourself to break those invisible ropes. Moving as quickly as your injury would allow you, you hastily grabbed at Yuta. You felt him struggle against your curled fingers as you pressed him into the skin of your palm. However without Yuta controlling the faerie dust, you quickly began to plummet. You let out a scream, screwing your eyes shut. Despite everything that had happened, you found yourself repeating Taeyong’s words like a mantra.

Just close your eyes and wish to fly.

You opened your eyes just barely. A sigh of relief left you once you realized you were hovering mere inches above the water.

“You’ve mastered flying in such a short time. I’m impressed,” a condescending voice said from above. You looked up and saw Taeyong floating, hovering as though he were lying down on a chesterfield bored out of his mind.

“Pan,” you muttered disdainfully. You glowered as he came closer, to which you flew back a few metres. You could practically feel Yuta trying to shove his way passed your fingers, but you weren’t willing to let him go whilst under his faerie dust’s control.

Taeyong chuckled, though you could tell he was anything but amused. “Pan? Why, [Y/N], you sound so distant with little ol’ Taeyong. I’m hurt.”

“Stop acting as if you’ve done nothing.”

“Oh, but [Y/N]. You see, the thing is– I haven’t done as much as lifting a finger since you’ve arrived in Foreverland.”

“Bull. You had Yuta tell Chenle to shoot me and you watched as I fell to what could’ve been my death. You’ve taken Mark onto that bloody boat to do who knows what.”

Taeyong grinned down at you, his constant look of amusement infuriated you to no end.

Before you could say much else, Taeyong looked back onto the boat. Up on the starboard appeared a pirate, one with a hook as a hand and an eyepatch over his right eye. “John,” Taeyong started, “get them.” ‘John,’ who you assumed was Captain Johnny, nodded and disappeared for but a moment. Not too long after, men of all sizes and ages appeared onboard, each clambering into row boats that were then ejected to sea. You turned around in your spot with wide eyes, watching as they rowed toward shore.

The Lost Boys!

You moved to stop the boats from getting any further, but Taeyong was quick to grab your arm, pulling you flush against his chest. “You get to watch,” he murmured into your ear, “as they bring your little friends onboard.” He chuckled. “Though you may not want to see what happens next,” he clicked his tongue, as he dragged a finger over your throat. “Not that you’ll have a choice.”

“Bastard,” you spat, “why’re you doing this? They’re just boys!”

Taeyong chuckled, flying back onto the ship and bring you with him. “Why?” he repeated, roughly forcing your hand open. Within seconds, Yuta clumsily fluttered up onto Taeyong’s shoulder, gasping for air as he clutched his bent wing. “Why. What an interesting question.” With the single wave of a hand, Taeyong managed to push you against a wooden post, trapping you against it. Only then did you notice the blue shimmering on his hand that only shone against the fleeting rays of light.

“I can’t think of any reasons why I should grow old, shrivel up, and die. If I do, what were my accomplishments for? My memories?” He rambled, talking as though what he spoke was common sense. “Even after being twenty-two for ten years, I will never grow sick of not growing. I hated growing up, and now I don’t have to.”

You furrowed your brows together in confusion. Your mind tried to grasp onto frayed ends of his speech to no avail. Upon laying eyes on your confused expression, Taeyong threw his head back in a deep, bellowing laugh. He sounded completely insane. “You still don’t get it, do you sweets?” Beside him, Yuta’s bells tinkled as he quietly mocked you. “Here, in Foreverland, each day that passes takes a year off of your lifespan. But I, the oh-so wonderful, the ever so amazing Pan– have found a way to keep myself young. To live for years upon years.”

Two boys walked out from the room under the stern. Their eyes were hazy, their skin pale as crisp, new parchment paper. They looked soulless. One of the boys, the shorter one, had a ripped sleeve. The cloth, you noted, had a familiar pattern. “All I have to do, is take.” With his final word, Taeyong reached into the same sack that he had taken out before. Instead of taking on a pen, he took out a clear flask containing an almost murky gray liquid. Within the liquid were strange, black blobs. The longer you stared at them, the clearer an image came.

Screaming souls.

In that moment, your heart dropped. Your eyes darted to the sea, where five rowboats were on their way back to the ship. In that single moment, you realized what Taeyong had done to the two Lost Boys and what he was going to do to the rest of them.

You screamed, yelled for the Lost Boys to escape. To swim away, to hide deep within the forest of Foreverland. Taeyong grew more and more irritated with every sound that came from your throat, muffling your voice with the palm of his hand.

Why hadn’t they listened?

As the pirates began to flood the deck of the ship, you realized why. One by one, burly pirates climbed up the ship’s edge, each heaving an unconscious body over their shoulders. You struggled against Taeyong’s magic and his hand, but with no luck.

Then, everything went black as Taeyong forcefully hit your head against the post.

“… -joy the show, boys.”

When you came to, you were tied to the post. You gasped at what you saw before you.

The Lost Boys, all six of them stood in a line. Behind them were the same burly pirates who had carried them onboard. Each pirate had their hand to the hilt of their swords. You could tell the boys had been crying, their eyes red and puffy. Crying. As you glanced at each of them, that’s all you wanted to do. You felt weak under the scrutinizing glare of the pirates.

You struggled to breath. Fear encased you like a prison trapping its prisoner. But, with the touch of a familiar paw, your vision cleared. Your breathing steadied.

Taeyong came into view, tossing the flask back and forth between his hands. Both you and the boys watched him warily as he stepped in front of you. You noticed the boys turning away, but it didn’t take long for the pirates to redirect their gaze, forcefully keeping their heads pointing toward you.

Taeyong brought the flask up to your lips. Immediately, you clamped your mouth shut and turned your head. He tried again. You did the same. The more you moved and refused to drink from the flask, Taeyong grew annoyed. “Drink it, dammit,” he spat, his strident voice making you flinch.

“I’ll never drink it,” you glowered, “not while they’re still in Foreverland.”

The boys’ eyes widened. Chenle moved forward, only to be held back by the pirate behind him. “[Y/N], what are you doing–”

Ignoring Chenle, you looked Taeyong in the eye. “You want to live longer right? You already have their lives,” you nodded your head toward the two lifeless Lost Boys. “That’s plenty already.” You sounded desperate. “I’ve only been in Foreverland for a day. Them? Weeks. My lifespan is definitely longer than theirs, maybe even combined. You want my soul? Let them go. Bring them back to earth– let them be found.”

Now, the Lost Boys struggled more and more against the pirates, their voices muffled. Taeyong, too obsessed with the concept of a longer life to think properly, looked as though he were weighing his options. Without hesitation, he took the pen from his sack and drew a portal. “Free them,” he ordered the pirates. The group looked at each other, unsure of whether or not they wanted to follow his orders. “Free them!” he repeated, seeing red.

You gulped. Taeyong wasn’t in the right state of mind, that was obvious enough. You looked up at the Lost Boys, almost immediately meeting the teary eyes of Chenle. Your lips moved, mouthing a goodbye, but he beat you to it.

“Don’t say it,” he whispered, smiling painfully.

“Don’t say goodbye, okay? At least not to m– not to us. Goodbye means going away and going away means forgetting.” He frowned, “I don’t want you to forget us.”

You smiled, moving your hand so that it lay in his. “Don’t worry, Chenle. I won’t forget you guys– I don’t think I could even if I tried.”

With that, the last you saw of him was one last fleeting smile before he was pushed through the portal, back to earth.

Then, you met eyes with Taeyong, who was in the midst of turning back to you. He held the flask to your mouth again, only to wheeze in pain once your foot came in contact with his stomach. He dropped the vial, the murky liquid spilling everywhere. The sounds of the screaming souls almost deafened every being on the ship, momentarily distracting them. You tugged hard at the almost broken down ropes that trapped you, covering your ears as you ran away from the post. You glanced back, finding Wren scampering toward you. Picking her up in your arms, your eyes darted from left to right in search of Taeyong’s pen. The portal the Lost Boys had gone through had disappeared into thin air mere seconds after Chenle entered. Finally, you saw it. It had rolled near the foot of the tallest pirate– Captain Johnny.

He must’ve noticed your gaze, because he was quick to reach for it. However, not fast enough. A force sent him backwards, one that you weren’t expecting. One of the soulless Lost Boys had tackled him before kicking the pen in your direction. The other Lost Boy fended off pirates that neared you. The flask. Their souls, they must’ve returned to their original hosts!

Wasting no time, you took hold of the pen and drew an oval just as you had seen Taeyong do. Without thinking, you jumped in, taking the pen with you.

2017, Seoul

Chenle awoke with a start. He bolted upright, panting. He had broken out into a cold sweat, something Renjun noticed right away upon entering the bedroom. “Did you have a nightmare?” he asked, playing with the strings of the hoodie he wore. Chenle merely shook his head. “We couldn’t wake you up earlier. We’re going soon, so I suggest you get changed.”

“Going? Going where?”

Renjun chuckled at the boy’s memory– “To the zoo, Lele. You know, the one you’ve been rearing to visit since our manager said we could go?”

Chenle made a noise of recognition, smiling at Renjun sheepishly. “Right, right. I remember,” he laughed as he spoke, ruffling his messy chestnut brown hair. “I’ll be ready soon.” Renjun nodded. He took one more worried glance at the still frazzled Chenle before leaving the room to let him change.

Chenle ran a hand through his hair, sighing. “Weird dream,” he mumbled to himself before kicking off the covers. His mind conjured up an image of the stranger, [Y/N]. He couldn’t remember even meeting a [Y/N] and that left him with questions.

Shaking his head, he bounced off of bed and got ready.

At the zoo, Chenle grinned up at all of the enclosures. The rest of NCT Dream could barely keep up with his bubbly attitude and his rush to see the next exhibit. In truth, Chenle hadn’t been able to visit a zoo in a long while, and he always liked seeing the animals. “Wait up, Chenle,” called their manager as he trudged after the energetic group. Jaemin, who walked alongside the man, laughed. He himself looked on, watching with keen interest as his members rushed from one cage to another in an attempt in catching up with Chenle.

Finally, Chenle had stumbled across the one exhibit he was most excited for. The others hadn’t yet caught up with him, still two or three enclosures down. After his odd dream, he hoped there would be an exhibit for pandas. To his luck, there were three pandas left– a small family that had grown within the enclosure.

He stared at them, passed the glass with rounded eyes. He watched as they interacted with one another, their actions reminding him of the numerous families he had seen along the way. Then, one of the pandas, the mother he assumed, seemed to look at him. He blinked, small, quiet noises of awe escaping his mouth as the panda drew near. He laughed in astonishment when the panda sat down in front of the glass, placing her large paws on the smooth surface.

“She’s cute, isn’t she?”

Chenle jumped, having not heard anyone walk down the hallway. He turned and saw a person wearing a cap and a mask standing a little ways away from him. Slowly, he nodded. “Very,” he agreed.

The stranger smiled from beneath their mask. “Her name’s Wren. She was found outside the zoo a few years ago. Odd, considering we’re in the city.”

Chenle frowned, turning to look at the giant panda. Her paws still pressed against the glass, as if she suddenly longed for freedom.

Wren?

He looked back at the stranger, only to stop short. The stranger had taken off their mask to reveal their smile.

“[Y/N]?”

sO fOrCeD– i hope!! you all enjoyed this 10.2k worth of messy trash :) (esp u chenle’s wife ily i hope ur bday goes great !!!!)

78 notes · View notes

lilmamaash · 4 years

Text

1. Last beverage:

water

2. Last phone call:

my best friend hehe

3. Last song you listened to:

All I want - Kodaline

4. Last time you cried:

last night, because i’m simpin lmao

5. Have you dated someone twice:

yes, kinda

6. Have you ever been cheated on:

yes

7. Kissed someone & regretted it:

yessss

8. Have you lost someone special:

yes

9. What are your three favorite colors:

pink, mauve, dusty rose/nude, lilac, white, black

10. Met someone who changed you in the past month:

yes, a boy on tinder lol

11. Kissed anyone on your friends list:

yes

12. How many kids do you want:

4-6 LOL

13. Do you want any pets:

yessss, dogs forsure

14. Do you want to change your name:

yes, my last name when i get married

15. What did you do for your last birthday:

went to soju belly LOL

16. What time did you wake up today:

i can’t remember, i sleep throughout the day.

17. Name something you CANNOT wait for:

to love and finally have that love reciprocated

18. Last time you saw your mother:

earlier before i went to target

19. Most visited webpage:

snapchat or insta

20. Nicknames:

ash

21. Relationship status:

single as fuck

22. Zodiac sign:

capricorn

23. Male or female:

24. Height:

4"11

25. Do you have a crush on someone:

yes, i do lolol

26. Piercings:

like 13? some are taken out though.

27. Tattoos:

28. Strong or Weak:

depends on the situation

FIRSTS

29. First surgery:

kindergarten, i broke my arm lmao

30. First best friend:

jenn, nika, tiff, kat, etc

31. First sport you joined:

ballet, if that counts

32. First vacation:

prob vegas for my 10th bday lmao

33. First school:

post elementary

34. First pair of trainers:

i wore my first training bra in like 3rd grade LMAO and i got made fun of and i cried.

WHICH IS BETTER

35. Lips or eyes:

eyes

36. Hugs or kisses:

depends on which person LMAO

37. Shorter or taller:

taller, but i’m short so it doesn’t really matter.

38. Older or younger:

older preferably, but if younger by maybe 1-2 years but not any younger.

39. Romantic or spontaneous:

doesn’t matter as long as i’m with who i wanna be with

40. Sensitive or loud:

sensitive

41. Hook-up or relationship:

relationship

42. Shy or outgoing:

doesn’t matter, as long as we vibe

HAVE YOU EVER

43. Kissed a stranger:

yes, when i was drunk lmao

44. Gotten a speeding ticket:

yes smh LOL

45. Lost glasses/contacts:

contacts forsure, they get stuck on my acrylics without me knowing LOL

46. Sex on first date:

47. Broken someone's heart:

doubtful

48. Been arrested:

49. Have you turned someone down:

yes

50. Fallen for a friend:

nooo

51. Moved out of town:

not yet, maybe in the future

BELIEVE IN

52. Miracles:

yesssss, i do believe in them

53. Love at first sight:

i believe that a person can fall in love with the connection at first sight, yes lol living it firsthand right now

54. Heaven:

yes

55. Santa Claus:

no, my family was too poor for that lmao

56. Kiss on the first date:

i don’t see anything wrong with it, as long as you feel like there’s a second date too!!!

57. Angels:

yes, my denise esp <3

58. Yourself:

learning

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY

59. Had more than 1 girlfriend/boyfriend at a time:

nope

60. Been in love with someone you couldn't be with?:

def lmao

61. Ever cheated on somebody:

nooo

62. If you could go back in time, how far would you go?:

childhood, i would try to remember more of it

63. Are you afraid of falling in love:

never, only afraid of not being loved back

64. Was your last relationship a mistake?

like bf/gf? or just interest in someone? cause if so, no. just wish things could’ve been different. wish we could start over.

65. Do you miss your last relationship?

i miss the last guy i was interested in, yes.

66. Who did you last say “i love you” to?

my best friend, jenn hehe

67. Have you ever been depressed?

basically my whole life

68. Are you insecure?

def, isn’t everyone

69. How do you want to die?

peacefully and painlessly lol

70. Do you bite your nails?

if i don’t have acrylics, cause i have anxiety, thats why i have fake nails to prevent it

71. When was your last physical fight?

it’s been a while LOL

72. Do you have an attitude?

guilty

73. Twirl or cut your spaghetti?

twirl

74. Do you tan a lot?

i used to lol

75. Ever eaten food in a car while someone or you are driving?

yessss lol

76. Ever made out in a bathroom?

noooo hahah

77. Would you take any of your exes back?

the last guy i was interested in, yes.

78. Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?

yes

79. What are your plans for this weekend?

bitch, we in quarantine.

80. Do you type fast?

yes

81. Can you spell well?

yes, most times.

82: What are you craving right now?

someone’s attention

83. Have you ever been on a horse?

nooo lol

84. Would you live with someone without marrying them?

yes

85. What’s irritating you right now?

i miss someone a lot but i’m too stupid and emotional and i fucked it up

86. Have you ever liked someone so much that it hurts?

yes

87. Does somebody love you?

hopefully lmao my friends and family

88. Have you ever changed clothes in a car?

yes hahaha

89. Milk chocolate or white chocolate?

milk!

90. Do you have trust issues?

no, and i think that’s my problem. but i also do get defensive if someone doesn’t text me back/open my snaps but their score is going up lolol so take it as you will

91. Longest relationship?

n/a

92: Do you believe your most recent ex thinks about you?

a don’t have an ex

93. Have you ever walked outside in your PJs?

always LMAO idgaf

94. Do you believe everything happens for a reason?

i try to

95. Did you have dream last night?

yeah and i cried cause it felt so real

96. Have you ever been out of state?

yes

97. Do you play the Wii?

i used to have one!

98. Do you like Chinese food?

yesssss

99. Are you afraid of the dark?

YES LOL

100. Is cheating ever okay?

never wtf

101. What year has been your best?

i can’t even remember, but maybe 2017

102. Do you believe in true love?

yes, i think so.

103. Favorite weather?

cold cold cold, winter forever pls

104. Do you like the snow?

love it

105. Do you like the outside?

depends lmao

106. Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby?

love ittttt

107. Have you ever made out for more than a half hour straight?

with breaks in between

108. What makes you happy?

my loved ones

109. Ever been to Alaska?

no, but maybe one day!

110. Ever been to Hawaii?

no :(

111. Do you watch the news?

no, i don’t lol i prob should

112. Do you love MTV?

back in the day LMAO

113. Do you like subway?

yessss, i love sammiches

114 Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed?

no, but i wouldn’t care to

115. Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do?

been there, done that, we’re still friends

116. Why did you decide to do this quiz?

because i’m bored as fuck in quarantine and i miss this shit lowkey LMAO

117. Have you ever seen someone you knew and purposely avoided them?

always, i’m very shy and weird like that

118. Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around?

yesssss, i’m v grateful

119. Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to?

the guy that i miss lmfao

120. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?

my best friends, myself lol

121. Ever bought condoms?

no haha

122. Ever gotten pregnant?

never

123. Have you ever slipped on ice?

yessss, at work being a bobarista LMAO

124 Have you ever missed the bus?

yessss, in eighth grade, i had to take naother bus home, it was fucking scary LOL

125. Have you left the house without money?

yessss

126. Have you ever smoked cigarettes?

used to :(

127. Have you ever smoked a cigar?

noooo, sounds gross

128. Did you ever drink alcohol?

bitch plssssss

129. Did you ever watch “The Breakfast Club”?

yes!

130. Have you ever been overweight?

all my lifeeee, 4″11 gang

131. Ever been to a wedding?

yes, i fucking love weddings!!

132. Ever been in a wedding?

yes, kinda lol i was shy tho as the flowergirl

133. Have you ever been on the computer for 5 hours straight?

yesss, more so back then.

134. Did you ever watch TV for 5 hours straight?

yessss, binge watching everything.

135. Ever kissed in the rain?

yesss, it’s not as romantic as you’d think LMAO

136. Did you ever shower with someone else?

as kids, not w a lover

137. Did you ever fail a driver’s test?

nope, never

138. Ever been outside your home country?

139. Ever been on a road trip longer than 5 hours?

yesss, lake tahoe

140. Ever been to a professional sports game?

i don’t think so

141. Have you ever broken a bone?

yesss, my arm in kindergarten

142. Did you ever win a trophy in your life?

like a medal LOL

143. Ever get engaged?

nope, hopefully one day

144. Have you ever been on a diet?

i’ve tried many times

145. Have you ever been on TV?

146. Ever ridden in a taxi?

yessss, vegas baby

147. Ever been to prom?

yesss, junior and senior year hehe

148. Ever stayed up for 24 hours or more?

yesss crack head hours

149 Have you ever been to a concert?

so manyyyyy

150. Have you ever had a crush on someone at work?

never LMAO

151. Have you ever been in a car accident?

yes, i wasn’t driving tho

152. Ever had braces?

never

153. Did you ever learn another language?

nope

154. Do you wear make-up?

usually every day LOL

155. Did you ever have your wisdom teeth taken out?

neverrrr

156. Did you ever kiss someone a different race than yourself?

yesss lol

157. Ever dyed your hair?

too many times

158. Did you ever wear someone else’s clothes?

yessss

159. Ever ridden in an ambulance?

160. Ever ridden in a helicopter?

161. Ever caught the stove on fire?

162. Ever meet someone famous?

many people

163. Ever been on an airplane?

never

164. Ever been on a boat?

yes and i get seasick as fuck

165. Ever broken something expensive?

LOL, i’m sure of it

166. Did you ever kiss someone before you were 14?

no, my first kiss was at 15 i believe

167. Did you ever find something valuable on the ground?

a pack of cigs LMAO or the $100 bill my friend accidentally dropped and we finally found it like an hour later

0 notes

satire-please · 7 years

Text

Where the Moon and Night Meet

Summary: For @the-all-seer‘s bday. :) Enjoy my dear, I love you to pieces. I had this A/B/O idea for FFXV where what if the whole bloodline of Lucis were Omegas? And what if an Omega Noctis meets an Alpha Luna for the first time as kids. Adorable fluff with Awesome!Dad Regis and a bit of world building thrown in.

Long ago the Starscourge fell upon Eos and laid its land and people to waste. Seeing the aftermath of the rampage, one of the six took pity at humanity scant and few on the surface. Therefore she blessed humanity with secondary characteristics, secondary genders so they will always have the ability to multiply or prosper. Each gender possessed a deep instinct or drive so their people could thrive.

Alphas were to fight, protect and defend their own from all.

Betas kept order and peace throughout the land.

Omegas nurtured, gave and sacrificed what was necessary for tomorrow’s future.

Currently though as Noctis watches Prompto, he doesn’t feel really peaceful. No, he feels like he wants to strangle the beta. Huh, maybe then he’ll be at peace?

“So Noct are you excited to be getting married?” The open road made Prompto excited and restless. “I mean it’s Lunafreya. She’s practically a goddess made flesh!”

Noctis eyes Prompto and tries a gruff, “I guess.” But he can’t really stop his heart from beating a little harder at the thought of their upcoming reunion. Neither can he stop the pleased, but anxious scent that floods the Regalia.

“Awwwww, are you nervous? Don’t be! Any Alpha is lucky to have you as their Omega.” And Prompto leans over the seat to get into Noct’s face and wag his eyebrows suggestively. “And to think? An Alpha putting a ring on our Noct.”

Gladio snorts into his hand as he leans out the window, “Who knows, maybe Noct will finally listen to an Alpha for once.”

“Ha, you wish.” Noct snaps back with a laugh.

“Everyday.” Gladio mutters, “Every fucking day.”

“You would be surprised.” Ignis of course cannot help but add his two cents in. “Noct and Miss Lunafreya have always been quite partial to each other. Even when they first met, Noctis was very eager to most of her suggestions.”

“Ignis…” Noctis growls lightly sensing danger in the smug smell that Ignis emits. This can’t be good.

Ignis just smirks in the rearview mirror. “In fact, if I recall correctly, the prince even starting purring after Miss Luna suggested giving him a tour of the grounds herself.”

Prompto whips his head around from Ignis to Noctis so fast that Noctis hopes that Prompto doesn’t have a neck injury. Then he takes the thought back immediately when the biggest chocobo-eating grin that Noct has ever seen splits across his face.

“Oh realllllllllly.” Purring is an important sign omegas unconsciously give out only when they’re deeply content or happy about something.

“Ignis shut up!” Noct whines. He tries to get up to grab the driver’s shoulder, cover his mouth, or do something to shut the man up. Anything to stop what’s definitely going to be an embarrassing, traumatic story about his early omega days. Unfortunately, Gladio wants that hazing moment badly enough to reach over to push Noct back into his seat.

“Sit down, and didn’t your pop ever tell you it’s not safe to disturb the driver. Plus I desperately need to hear this.”

Ignis pushes his glasses up his nose, “Of course the tour of the grounds turned into a tour of the gardens and then Miss Lunafreya stated she must for diplomacy’s sake show him around the household, which of course turned into a tour—“

“Of her bedroom?” Gladio leers at Noct and blocks the punch aimed his way. “Look at you Prince, a real lady killer I’m so proud~”

“It wasn’t like that. We were just kids!” Noctis hissed, his ears bright red. And the rest of the gang coo and aww like the assholes they are at the sight. Any time Noct shows other emotions than brooding and quiet determination is a point in their favor.

“Indeed, Gladio. There’s no need to be crude. Such remarks reflect poorly upon the innocence of the two that practically bonded at first sight. But yes, a tour of the bedchambers occurred at one point.” Ignis stops purses his lips in thought. “In truth during our short yet memorable stay, Noct could usually be found in her quarters.”

“Oh my god, you’re making things worse.” Noct groans, burying his face in his palms and tries to find a reason not to hurl himself out of the car. As if he can find one. Noct unbuckles the seat belt and leans over the Regalia’s side. Maybe there’s a decent warp point from here. The whiplash is going to suck but if he can get away from the ribbing….

“Geez Noct, don’t look like that!” Prompto chides. As a beta he starts emitting a calming scent at Noct’s caged expression. “We’re just kidding!”

“Yeah, don’t get your panties in a twist, your highness.” Gladio grabs the edge of Noct’s jacket, because he wouldn’t put it pass the idiot to trying warping when they’re going 85 miles per hour.

“Leave my underwear out of this,” Noctis snarls, but lets the pushy Alpha tug him back into place. “And just can it okay?”

Prompto pouts. “But you two must have been so cute!”

“They were.” Ignis reminisces, “They still are.”

“But that stuff, it’s…ours. I don’t want to—I don’t need to share it.” Noct glances to the three before watching the scenery rush by. “Does that even make sense?”

“Well, you have always been a private kinda guy.” Prompto says scratching his head.

Gladio grunts. “Ha. That’s one way to put it, but fine. I guess we’ll lay off for now.”

“For the current moment. A quick respite.” Ignis acknowledges that there is a time and place, “Yet the closer we get to your wedding, the loser my lips will be. I hope you can forgive me when I crack.”

“I’ll try.” Noct say dryly. But is grateful for the break. He takes a deep breath and for a while gets lost down memory lane himself. And when he met her.

She was the shiniest thing Noct had ever seen.

When Dad said they were visiting Tenebrae to help with diplomatic relations as well as to acquaint Noct to kingdoms besides his own. Noct had been sullen because Dad was lying. Again. Noctis isn’t an idiot; he does pay attention to his lessons. Besides everyone knows Tenebrae is infamous for its healing magics.

This was another thing to try to fix his useless legs. To try to fix him.

Insomnia’s doctors and medics had tried everything to cure the injury to his spine and legs…but nothing. Procedure after procedure was met with failure and Noct is sick with the way his father’s face twists from hope to heartbroken disappointment every single time. As if each setback adds to guilt Regis carries of not being there for his son when the monster attacked.

Noctis will never forget the way his Dad tore into that creature.

Noct knows that in other countries, people like to color Omegas as the weakest cast, but if they could only see his father annihilate the threat to his child. How the armiger glowed and burned stronger than the fire. Or the hands pressed on his back and sides trying frantically to stop the puddle of his blood from getting larger.

The worst part was when he woke up to his Dad sobbing. The broken, “We’ll find a way Noct, I promise. I promise.”

“I know.” Noctis had weakly mewed. But he wishes his father would be okay if they don’t. If Noct does have to use the wheelchair for the rest of his life.

And he knows that Dad will still love him, but Regis can’t stop the whispers of Noct not only being an omega, but an injured one. Sure the whole royal bloodline of Lucis have always been omegas but the council does not need another excuse to be more overprotective and smothering to its rulers. Regis already regularly duels to show his fighting competence, that yes he can leave his crown city and come back in one piece.

Noct? Noctis doesn’t have a chance right now.

In this instance though? His bad mood, bad thoughts fade away. Her eyes are so blue. They match a summer sky with hair so blonde it’s like starlight that frames her soft smile.

“Hello, Prince Noctis. My name is Lunafreya. Welcome to Tenebrae.” The girl bends just a little bit over his wheelchair to offer her hand.

Noctis takes it, wow she’s so warm, and tries to swallow the lump in his throat. “Hello. It’s nice to meet you Lunafffff-, Lunafre—” He feels his mouth snap closed, his cheeks on fire. What the heck is wrong with him?

And Noct always thought Alphas were kind of intimidating or jerks, but the girl just seems to sparkle at his response. “The pleasure is all mine.” She feels her heart swell, taking in the red flush spreading on the boy’s skin. She leans closer to him, the distance between them narrowing as she lets her presence soothe any embarrassment. “If it’s alright with you,” Lunafreya drops her voice to a whisper. “Would you call me Luna?”

“Luna.” Noctis breathes, his eyes so lovely with her reflection and oh Lunafreya is going to keep this person.

“I like the way you say my name.” Lunafreya can’t help but inhale the prince’s scent. She wants to know it, be able to find in a crowd or across the sea if she needs to. Noctis’ smell has the tint of sweetness all omegas carry, but it’s like earth after a thunderstorm, charged with lightning and fresh with rain.

She loves it.

She squeezes Noctis hand, turning her hold from passive to active and spins to her Mother rapidly. Her white fur cape brushes over Noct’s bare arm and his breathing hitches. Underneath the cloth, Luna gently grips his forearm, pressing the scent glands at their wrists together. Their scents will mix and though Noct doesn’t exactly want to let go, he kinda really wants to see what the new blend smells like.

“Mother, may I show Prince Noctis the grounds? I’m sure Noctis would appreciate our national flower the sylleblossom.” She looks imploringly to the Queen. “It would do well to show him what makes Tenebrae great.”

It’s so slight, but Regis is close enough to discern the quiet noise coming from the back of his son’s throat. Noctis is purring. It’s been so long since Regis heard that sound, he feels his brow furrow. Well. This is an unexpected turn of events.

When the Lucian King looks over to Queen Sylva, another Alpha in their family, he sees that he is not the only one who’s surprised. “Why Lunafreya, that’s a lovely idea. Thank you for being so accommodating.”

“How could I not Mother, which such honored guests?” Regis will admit the girl is very eloquent for one of her age. Almost savvy, she’ll be a political, yet polite terror if or when she takes her mother’s throne.

Sylva Nox Fleuret gives a sweeping gesture behind her, “I can only be grateful for such a hospitable daughter. When you are finished, you can meet us at the courtyard.”

“Thank you Mother.” Slowly she detaches her hand from Noctis, who gives a downtrodden look until Luna whispers something into his ear so quietly not even Ignis holding Noct’s chair can hear. Yet when she places a hand on the chair’s handlebar…she sharpens.

“Where to Miss Lunafreya? Or shall we just follow you?” Ignis says coolly.

“Actually, I was thinking I could take over your duties for once. As a royal retainer, there’s so much for you to do during a trip such as this. You could dedicate yourself to making sure the prince’s accommodations are suitable if you like. I do not mind pushing the prince around.” Lunafreya’s words are civil, but the look she gives….is less so.

As a Beta Ignis shouldn’t feel riled up by the little upstart, but two can play that game. “I’m sure I can balance all of my duties princess. There’s no need for your concern.” He smiles chillingly.

“Nonsense. Besides I’m certain the prince—“

“Noctis. If I can call you Luna…you can call me Noctis or Noct.” Between the blondes, the prince mumbles.

“—I’m certain Noctis,” Luna rolls the name in her mouth like it’s delicious, “would enjoy spending time with someone closer to his age.”

“Now see here—“

“Ignis.” Noctis halts the tirade in its tracks. “I-I’d like that. Can I, I mean may I go?”

And Ignis has never been good at denying his prince. Ever. “Oh, alright. I’ll expect you in the courtyard.” The tired teenager relents.

“Thanks.” And that small appreciative smile is the reason Ignis folds like a deck of cards.

Beaming, Lunafreya takes the handles somewhat graciously and wheels the heir away from the group. Her voice chattering in the distance, interspersed with a couple low tones from Noctis.

Regis pats Ignis’ shoulder. “Rest assured Ignis, Miss Lunafreya will give the best of care to our dear Noct.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of, your Majesty.” Ignis dares to utter as he bows to leave. “But as the princess mentioned I have things to attend to.”

Then it’s only the monarchs with their retinues in the clearing left. Sizing up each other, Alpha to Omega, Sylva beckons with an expression of keen interest.

“Come, you must be tired from your journey.” She takes in how exhausted the man looks, and the instincts in Sylva growl a bit. Surely Lucia should do better to support their omegas. “We now have even more to talk about.”

The halls of the Fleuret Manor ring with Regis’ clipped footsteps. The king searches for his son as the night waxes, passing room upon room of calming tones of blue and purple. True, Regis could have had Ignis do the task, but there is a kind of fulfillment of putting one’s own child to bed.

Also it is an excuse to escape the Queen’s clutches.

The woman is a kind one, yet Regis wishes she would focus more on the care of his son than him. Sometimes he swears Sylva combines the mother-hening force of the entire Lucian counsel. Her views on the care of Omegas…are different than his own.

But besides his health, the monarchs have started to contemplate the future of their heirs. Regis would rather ponder about Noct’s marriage when the boy is thirty. But it is a possible match, a possible alliance. Even this afternoon the conversation followed different variations of:

“Truly you can see the advantages of such an arrangement, Regis.”

“Yes, but I fear the fates have a very different picture of the future than we do.”

“Then should we not press for even the scantest trace of their happiness?”

And Miss Lunafreya and Noctis are very fond of one another. They spend much of their waking hours in each other’s company and it is good to hear Noct’s laughter again. In addition there is finally progress with Noctis’ injuries; the healers truly have earned their reputation well. The prince exhausts quickly, only few steps before he collapses…usually into Lunafreya’s arms.

On that note, Regis easily deducts Noctis’ whereabouts.

He’s about to knock on the young lady’s door, but his hand freezes at the sound of Noct’s voice.

“This feels kinda weird Luna.”

“You think so? I swear I’m doing it right.” A rustle. “Is it a bad weird or a good weird?”

“I’m not sure…it almost tickles?”

“Well you let me know if you want me to stop.” And then there’s a wet noise.

Regis gurgles and wretches the door open. On Miss Lunafreya’s bed the two sit side by side with Luna’s head buried into his precious son’s neck. Their fingers intertwined as the girl kittenly licks Noct’s nape as if preparing to…

The Dear Six, they’re attempting a mating bite.

“Lunafreya Nox Fleuret what do you think you’re doing?” Noctis jerks at Regis’ shout while Luna looks up frightened.

“Sir, I-I—“ Tears spring from the girl’s eyes.

“Get away from him.” The king strides forward with the intent to rip them apart. “I cannot believe that someone of your prestige would dare—“

“Stop yelling at her, it was my idea!” Noct yells twisting his body in front of Luna’s.

“Noctis.” Regis stares at his son shocked.

“We…” He looks to his friend for guidance. “Luna?”

Softly she explains, “We overheard that it is most likely for us to be married.”

“But no one asked us what we thought. You didn’t, Luna’s mother didn’t. Nobody even asked us what we wanted.” Noctis blurts out shakily.

“So we discussed it. We desired to do something…without being told to do it.”

“So I asked Luna to be my bride.” Noctis states with determination.

“And I asked Noctis to be my omega.” She stares at Noctis in wonder. “He said yes.”

A quiet smile graces Noct’s face and he takes a second to nuzzle Luna’s face. “We both said yes…but words aren’t enough. A mark is stronger, better. It’s something that can’t be erased.”

“B-but a mating bite?” Regis choked out. He had planned to have this type of conversation with Noctis later. Much, much, much later.

“Why not?” Noctis stubbornly retorts. He points to Regis accusingly. “You still rub the one Mom gave you sometimes.”

“And my mother still bares my father’s mark proudly, even years after his death.” Luna adds. From behind she wraps her arms tight around her dear one’s waist. If the king of Lucis wishes to remove her, they’ll have to cut her arms off first. Luna will hold on, Noctis is worth it.

“So there’s no reason for you to be mad, Dad. We did nothing wrong!”

Regis pauses and chooses his words carefully. “It’s not necessarily that it’s the wrong action, as it is the wrong time.”

“What do you mean?”Noctis glares when Regis finishes crossing the room to sit on the bed.

“A mating bite is special. It should be done after your wedding ceremony. When you’re together for the first time as a pair, alone and somewhere private.”

“But we were together alone and somewhere private. Until you butted in.”

“And older, Noctis.” Regis snaps, “Much older and mature. You are still children for heaven’s sake.”

He can see the two getting ready to argue more and puts up a hand. “But there is something that you can do now. Something that’s more appropriate for your age and circumstance.”

“And what would that be, King Regis?” Luna asks eagerly.

“A bite of intent. A bite that designates a willingness to begin a courtship.” Regis looks to his hands. “A relationship takes time. Time to develop, time to grow. Even if this arranged marriage does take place I, and your mother Lunafreya, would never force you children into something you’re not ready for.”

He gets up from the bed to kneel in front of the children. “You can take your time. And if you change your mind, we will wholeheartedly accept your decision. Yet for now, there’s no need to rush.”

Luna and Noctis look at each other and then back to Regis. “Alright. How do we do a bite of intent?” Noctis questions.

Regis takes a deep breath in relief. Oh, thank the stars he found the pair before anything else could happen. “The two of you will take the other’s wrist and bite down on the scent gland there. It will hurt and feel strange as it does create somewhat of a fledgling bond, but I will watch you to make sure it is done right.”

Noctis nods and offers Luna his wrist, Luna does the same. Luna presses gentle kisses to light blue veins she finds while Noctis mouths the pulse on hers, but neither do anything until Regis nods.

“Ready…bite.”

In unison the two bite down hard, wincing for a moment as blood fills their mouths but soon their expression turn relaxed and sated.

Noctis feels something snap into place. It’s like going home or seeing an old friend you didn’t know you had. It’s Luna. A bright feeling of happiness almost overtakes the prince, and it increases as he realizes that Luna’s emotions echo his.

It’s wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.

Quietly, Regis reaches over to tug their wrists towards him to wipe off the blood, and wrap the sluggish wounds. They’ll heal almost immediately, but they will leave a faint scar.

All that’s left is to carry his wayward son to bed and think of ways to avoid Queen’s Sylva’s smug inquires tomorrow.

“Now say goodnight, Noct.” His son is getting bigger, but Regis treasures each moment he can still hold his boy like this.

“Goodnight Luna.” Noctis sends a feeling of contentment down the bond.

The warm emotion bounces back with a peal of joy. “May you have sweet dreams, Noctis.”

And he does.

In the present, Noctis rubs the white mark on his wrist hidden by bracelets and charms. The bond is faint between his intended, distance stretches it as fine as a strand of hair, but it’s still there.

Noctis feels a brush of apprehension, of excitement…of hope from her. ‘I miss you too.’ He tries back, he can’t send words exactly but maybe the impression will be enough.

Well at least that’s one thing Ignis can’t embarrass him with. The memory of the ‘almost’ mating bite, their first step as a couple. That’s all Luna’s and Noct’s. It’s all theirs.

‘I’m coming.’ Noctis thinks and prays. ‘Just wait for me Luna, I’m coming…’

#my writing #ffxv #final fantasy xv #fic rec...for ME #noctis lucis caelum #lunafreya nox fleuret #noctis x luna #regis lucis caelum

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