#nct dream fantasy imagines

[slightlymore]

death of peace of mind

train conductor haechan x fem reader

genre: magiccore/miyazaki/tim burton, broad industrial revolution/victorian setting, romance, soulmates au, enemies (?) to lovers, !!slow burn!!, angst, smut, multiperspective

warnings and content: +18, explicit sexual content, virgin reader, fingering, unprotected, nipple play, biting, some level of corruption, sexual tension, oral fem receiving, hand job, pet names (darling, love, baby, my girl, my lady) and titles (Sir, Miss), begging, praise, spanking, sexual tension, gentlemanly and lady-like behaviour etc etc

words: 19k

other characters: mark as reader's friend, jeno for a moment, johnny mentioned

synopsis: The Train. That's where your parents met a few years before you were born and that's where your grandparents met as well as their parents before that. Oh to be grown and travel on the Train as well, meeting your soulmate and falling so madly in love that you'd become consumed by it. And there you were years later, your only travel case in your hand and your best dress on, standing in the Train Station at exactly 1:05am on the 1st of May. You looked up and let the night sky calm you down and when you looked back in front of you, the train was there. What were you supposed to do now? But then one door opened, engulfing you with the freshest flowery scent. The most gorgeous man you've ever seen in your life descended and tilted his hat lifting one gloved hand to guide you inside. "Welcome aboard, Miss."

for the lovers of dream sorter haechan

__________

When the curtains call the time

Will we both go home alive?

It wasn't hard to realize

Love's the death of peace of mind

The Train.

That's where your parents met a few years before you were born and that's where your grandparents met as well as their parents before that.

The tales of those encounters enriched your childhood and your fragile dreams. Oh, to be grown and travel on the Train as well, meeting your soulmate and falling so madly in love that you'd become consumed by it.

You’ve always desired it. You’ve always longed for it. 

The teachers would get shiny eyes and beaming smiles on May 1st. You remembered the first time it happened. The air felt different and the town felt more alive than usual. 

"Today is a special day for all of us," your parents also smiled at the breakfast table. They looked almost shy and they exchanged gazes they would usually let themselves have in a more private moment. 

You were in your first year of elementary school but from what you could understand, that day sounded like a big deal for the adults and it started to be a big deal for you as well. 

"This is the day when people go on a Journey to find their soulmate," the teacher repeated what you've already heard at home. 

The Train, the children would whisper, the giddiness in their voices making you almost escape your skin with excitement. 

"Can we go and see it?" you asked with your heart in your throat from the emotion. You really wanted to see all the young adults go to the Train Station and embark. 

The teacher smiled as if that was the most common question asked. "Unfortunately, it's a very private moment. But when you're ready, you will finally see the Train and you will find the love of your life during the Journey." 

You were an only child so besides your parents' tale of how starstruck they both felt upon seeing each other on the Train, you had no other immediate example of how the experience would go. 

"My brother Johnny said the place they ended up in is way more gorgeous than our town," one of your classmates and your best friend said one time. "But not as gorgeous as his partner, he said,” making a throwing-up motion with his fingers. 

A choir of grossed out children made you giggle at the time and you joined them, but deep inside you knew that it was indeed possible to meet a person more gorgeous than the most gorgeous place on earth.

You wanted that. You desperately wanted that. 

Your parents also said their towns of origin weren't as beautiful as the one you were living in and although you could objectively see it was decently cute and cozy you were sure they felt that way because of the rosy love glasses. 

"Why do I have to leave this place when I find my soulmate?" you wondered one time as you were growing older and having more and more thoughts about the Journey. 

Your mom patted your head. "When you find the love of your life the Train stops and lets you both off. The couple has to live in the place they ended up in."

"What if I want to come home?" you argued.

"Your partner will be your home," your dad explained with a fond smile. "We will see each other often the way you see all of your grandparents. Don't worry about missing us."

"Also it is too soon for you to think so deeply about it," your mom chuckled, pulling at your cheek.

Yet, there you were years later, your only suitcase in your hand, which you bought for the occasion, and your best dress on, standing in the Train Station and feeling like the too soon came, well, too soon. 

Your mom helped you put on some makeup as well that day and you had to admit you were feeling pretty cute.

But oh so anxious.

You couldn’t believe you were about to initiate the Journey on the Train. Thoughts of how your soulmate looked like adorned your mind since you could remember but in the latest months you found yourself fantasizing about them more and more. 

But with the pretty thoughts, some thoughts of doom would send rocks to your mind as well feeding your anxiety even further.

The mixed emotions made you uneasy.

"What if there's no soulmate for me?" you looked yourself in the mirror as your mom finished her last touches on your hair. 

"Nonsense," she reassured you. 

"But has it happened before?" you insisted. 

She sighed. "Yes but it's very rare. What happens, in that case, is that you need to come back home and you need to go on the Journey the following year." 

"And are there people who went on for many years and they met no one?"

"Not as far as I know. Everyone met someone sooner or later. Your grandma met your grandpa after 3 years." 

You exhaled. Maybe you'd just go on a little train ride and come home before sunset.

Maybe you'll also need 3 years. 

Maybe no one would fall in love with you ever. 

You expected the Station to be full of people but it was completely empty.

"Don't worry about it. The Station doesn't let you see your friends until you're all on." 

You bit your lower lip and waited. There was no moon on the sky and the stars were very visible. 

You looked up and let the night sky calm you down and when you looked back in front of you, the Train was there. 

"Heavens," you swallowed the little surprising gasp and looked to your right then left feeling your breath accelerate. You didn’t hear it arrive. 

What were you supposed to do now? Was it supposed to feel this ominous? 

But then one door opened with a slow hiss, engulfing you with the freshest flowery scent. 

The most gorgeous man you've ever seen in your life descended and tilted his hat lifting one gloved hand to guide you inside.

"Welcome aboard, Miss." 

His hair was black and a bit longer in the back. Your father would have said it looked a bit messy; he’d probably offer some gel and suggested him to comb it backwards. But the man wore it so well that you found yourself thinking how it would feel like to pass your hand through it and mess it up even further. 

“Thank you,” you replied quietly. Then you cleared your throat and tried again. 

The man’s face was a polite mask, not one muscle of his perfect face twitching or moving. On the contrary, you felt your face in flames as you walked near him to enter the wagon. 

“Please, choose the coach you’re most attracted to,” you heard his voice behind you. The fresh flowery perfume followed you both and you realized it was his scent. Taking a few steps forward you found yourself shaking ever so slightly. 

“Who are you?” you turned around before having a chance to look down the dark but cosily illuminated wooden corridor of the train. 

His chest was so close that you could see the little silvery tag on it. Conductor. 

Then you took a step back not realizing how close he was. 

“I apologize for not having introduced myself earlier. I am the Conductor, Miss,” he simply replied. “I’ll be around the Train if you need me. Also, if you ring the bell you’ll find in every wagon."

His eyes were a dark shade of marine blue, you realized, like the ocean during a storm, when you can’t distinguish between the water and the sky.

Your grandpa told you many tales of his life at sea. He used to say it was the most beautiful and terrifying thing, and at the time you didn’t understand how something scary could be beautiful, but that man’s eyes made a shiver go down your spine yet you didn’t want him to stop looking at you. 

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I'll leave you to get comfortable,” he tilted his hat again, making a shadow appear over his eyes, as if reading your mind and seeing your fascination with them. 

You gave him a little bow as well, as your mother has been teaching you it was polite to do when meeting gentlemen, then you stared at the way he turned around and took the opposite direction in the tight corridor. His shoulders almost touched the walls when he walked and his legs looked extremely long in his black uniform. 

The coach you chose was the first on your left, a luxurious dark brown space, with deep bordeaux seats which you realized were softer than any other material you’ve ever felt before. You placed your suitcase on the designated space and sat down, looking at the windows showing your town’s Train Station, then you inhaled and exhaled looking down at your dress and rubbing your lace-gloved hands together.

What were you supposed to do?

Would your soulmate come barging in your coach?

Would you meet over breakfast in the morning?

Why were you all supposed to go at exactly 1:05am? 

You suppressed a yawn wondering where you were expected to sleep, then with the corner of your eye you noticed the curtains slowly close and you gasped feeling the train depart at the same time. 

Your older cousins liked to joke about ghosts roaming around the Train but you thought you were grown already to believe such things. Yet, the movement felt uncanny and you were so on edge that you haven’t realized you were squished against one of the seats’ corners until a ding made you scream. 

On the little table a small card boarded with gold appeared out of thin air. 

“Dear Miss, you are invited for Breakfast in the Dining Car. Please turn the card around for the Train map. My warmest regards, the Conductor” 

You touched the paper with your fingertip as if it were a poisonous snake and the ink smudged a bit as if it has been freshly written. 

Breakfast? At 1am? Maybe he meant tomorrow morning? 

You turned the card around as instructed and the display for the train was illustrated. A little “you are here” red mark told you that your wagon was the one in the middle of the train.

You wondered how did the Conductor know you chose that specific coach when he left you just a few minutes prior and didn’t even check back.

The Dining car was towards the head of the train, the direction in which the Conductor walked, and the name Steam Locomotive adorned the first car. You wondered if he was in there or if his coach was one of the wagons close by. 

The train was moving swiftly so it wasn’t bothering you as you thought it would. The closed curtains made you sad that you couldn’t see the scenery so you got up and extended your hand towards them, trying to perhaps see the machinery through which they were able to close on their own.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” a voice made you jump in place. 

“Mark!” you turned around and walked the few steps towards the door to hug a very dumbfounded young man. 

“Hey, hey, you okay?” he awkwardly stood there even after you retrieved your arms from his neck and stared him up and down. 

“I was so scared to be alone. It’s good to see your face,” you explained. 

Johnny’s younger brother has been your best friend and the one you spoke about the Train Journey the most growing up. You were still ashamed to remember the way you cried for the whole night the time Mark told you his brother hasn’t come home from the Journey because he has found his soulmate. You had a very intense childhood crush on him. 

“I get it,” he smiled then his eyes went down to eye your dress, then up, noticing your prettily arranged hair and makeup.

Then he sighed, almost disappointed. 

Without realizing you touched your cheek. Did he think you were ugly?

“What?” you blinked at him. 

Mark shook his head. “I just-,” he started then interrupted himself, a bright dust of red moving in towards his cheeks and ears. “I thought that maybe you could be- you know-sometimes it happens that even friends-” 

You blinked at him then you felt your own face on fire. “Oh,” you realized what he wanted to say. The scarf you tied around your neck made it difficult for you to breathe. 

“Well,” he scratched the back of his head. “I guess we’re not soulmates. That, of course, if you didn’t feel anything in particular either.” 

“I felt relief,” you said. 

Mark nodded, agreeing with you. “I was also just glad to see a friend.”

Was he disappointed you weren’t his soulmate? Or was he happy it wasn’t you?

“Same.” 

The following silence made him clear his voice once then his eyes fell on the card in your hands. 

“Oh, I got one too. I was wondering if it was a prank inviting me over for breakfast. I was going towards the Dining Car to at least check it out.” 

“Right? I thought I was the one misunderstanding the invite,” you chuckled. “I’ll come with you now if you don't mind.” 

Mark took a few steps back to let you exit the coach and his eyes fell on the window again. “My parents said that if you open the curtains when the train is moving you’ll be forced to descend in the first place you see. Alone. Without the possibility to return on the Train ever again.” 

A shiver ran down your body at his words. 

“There’s also a warning,” he indicated with his chin. 

You followed the direction and noticed the golden plate near the curtains. 

You could have sworn it wasn’t there before. 

_________

The corridor was gorgeously decorated with fresh flowers and paintings. You and Mark took your time to peek into most of the coaches too, giggling a bit when you noticed some of their residents weren’t alone. 

“How long do you think it takes for people to meet everyone on the train?” Mark asked, impressed that some were already coupled. 

You thought about it. “The train stops in every town, doesn’t it? There's so many people. I feel like even a few weeks." 

Mark winced. “That’s a long time. My parents met within 15 minutes of boarding. They had neighbouring coaches.” 

“My parents met after a few days,” you recalled. “My maternal grandparents met after three years of trying.” 

Your friend hummed. “That’s hard. I’d be losing hope.” 

You swallowed the dry lump. “That’s a bit scary, yes.”

You didn’t want to tell him that you were afraid you might end up just like them. 

The Entertainment wagons were about five, and you both held your breaths when entering the first as it was roaming with people. The strangers’ faces turned towards you both with inquisitive eyes, as if checking if one of you were their soulmate. 

You bit your lower lip taking a few steps inside. 

“What exactly do you think we need to feel when meeting the one?” you whispered as some people sighed and turned around, sign you weren’t interesting. 

“No clue. But it has to be something,” Mark answered. “Maybe a sharp feeling. Awe. Even fear?” 

“Fear? Why would I be afraid if I meet my soulmate?” you both walked slowly, staring at the board games people were playing. 

Mark hummed. “Not actual fear. More so like the fear you get right before sliding down with a sleigh. It’s scary but you know it will feel very nice.”

The example made you chuckle and it broke some of the tension you were feeling. Then his words actually arrived to your brain. 

Like the fear before sliding down with a sleigh…

…or the fear when you see a sea storm. 

You shook your head and exited the coach to enter the rest. 

_________

“I can’t believe there’s actual breakfast,” Mark repeated for the third time already, cheeks full with eggs and bacon. 

You giggled, impressed by your own appetite so late at night. Or early in the morning?

“The train has different time zones than your town of origin,” a voice explained. 

The scent came first and it froze you in place, the piece of banana you were about to devour still in mid-air. 

Mark lifted his gaze to the side and greeted the voice. 

“I hope everything is to your liking,” the Conductor added. When you put the banana down on your plate and looked up, he was already looking at you. His stormy eyes were slightly squeezed in an attempt to look polite. His uniform looked impeccable as usual and with his hands clasped behind his back his chest popped underneath it.

You forced yourself to look away. 

“Yes, thank you. The train is gorgeous,” you said. 

The Conductor smiled a bit more. “And I hope this is a congratulatory meal?” he asked, looking at Mark for a moment as well, who furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Oh,” you shook your hands, realizing what he meant. “No no, it’s not like that.”

“We’re just friends,” Mark butt in, a bit scandalized. 

You nodded fervently. “Classmates. From the same town.” 

“Yes. Our coaches are close-by and we just found each other.” 

The Conductor listened to one then the other, looking at both of you intermittently with his everlasting smile. “Well, then. I’m glad you enjoy each other’s company. I wish for you to find your soulmate when the time comes as well.” 

You and Mark both thanked him and watched the Conductor bow enough for his eyes to get the same shadow you saw the first time you met him.

But he lifted his gaze to look at you this time. Slowly, letting his long lashes fan on his cheeks for a moment.

The pupils were very deep and you imagined yourself drowning in the almost black blue of his irises. 

You couldn’t bring yourself to turn around and look at his back as he walked away to greet other passengers. 

You couldn’t even bring yourself to reach and grab the fork because your hands were tightly clasped together on your lap to hide how badly they were shaking. 

_________

On your way back Mark got welcomed by his male friend group in the third Entertainment wagon. Some of them had new faces around and from their shy gazes, you assumed they met their partners already. Some were alone and in the mood to party. 

Mark invited you to stay but you decided to go back to your coach and have some rest.

You wished to be able to party like Mark did. In the end, for him that was also a well deserved holiday after spending most of his days helping his father with the lands. Many thought the same and not everyone wanted to go on the Journey to meet an actual soulmate. For a lot of people it was a nice break from studying or work and that was it. 

But you felt uneasy to be that free-spirited, and you needed time alone to understand what was going on. After all, you’ve been day dreaming about the Journey and the Train your whole life. And now that the desired moment arrived there was something off about it all.

And you couldn’t point it out. 

You’ve never felt more relieved to enter your coach and see a fluffy small bed in one of the seats’ places. You sat on it and you also found it very comfortable. How it got there you had no idea and by that time you decided to stop asking yourself questions on how that Train actually worked. 

The spring dress you chose for yourself was easy to slip into but quite hard to undo, you realized, grunting a few times as you tried to untie the light corset. When you managed to open it you exhaled deeply and you let it fall to your feet. 

Then your eyes darted towards the warning sign near the window as you slowly got under the covers.

Curiosity killed the cat but you really wanted to know what was behind those curtains and why you weren’t allowed to know. 

Before you could realize that you didn’t brush your teeth or wash your face, the train stopped and you opened your eyes in the silence. 

“Thank you for traveling with us. I wish you happiness,” the Conductor’s voice was muffled outside your window and you remembered your coach was the first near the main train entrance. 

Did someone already get off as a couple? Or was that someone who looked outside and was now forced to live alone?

You walked slowly and stealthy and you were about to turn the corner to where the entrance you came in was when the voices stopped you in place.

They were many, perhaps six different ones, thanking the Conductor and chatting away, making already plans for the future. Imagining you in their place gave you anxiety - after all they all met a few hours ago and already thought of getting married - but you were also glad they were all soulmate couples and not any forsaken person who went against the rules.

Somehow, you also felt a but envious that it has been that quick and smooth for them. 

The Conductor’s back was towards you and you looked at his long fingers behind his back as he greeted the people away. His white gloves covered them and for some reason you wondered how they looked like naked. His waist was visibly smaller than his shoulders and the spine line descended so beautifully that you felt the urge to draw him, although you were no artist. 

You shook your head trying to get rid of thouse thoughts and realized that in the meantime the chatter died down as the passengers walked towards the Station.

The Conductor was still outside, probably seeing them away for good before departing, and his scent was slowly engulfing you the more you remained in his presence.

You swallowed. How could a man smell that good? 

Then you realized you had a full-on view of the Station so you squatted down behind the corner and tried to make sense of what was outside. That was your only chance, you figured.

“You know that’s forbidden, right?” the man’s smooth voice made you jolt.

The Conductor was still standing stoically without looking back and you let your gaze fall around as to understand who he was addressing, because he definitely couldn’t have seen you. 

“Yes. I’m talking to you, Miss,” he turned around enough for you to see his relaxed expression.

You could see only half of his face and the only visible eyebrow was lifted in a way that made his gaze look- well, sexy, you realized with a certain degree of embarrassment.

You got up and took a step forwards. “Well, I am not looking out through a window, so it is not technically forbidden. There’s not a sign near the entrance telling me I can't do this.” 

The Conductor turned around fully. His lazy gaze rested on your face then slowly went down your body and stopped on your nude feet. His eyebrow lifted even more. You wigled your toes in embarrassment. 

“I forgot to bring shoes,” you mumbled, your burst of confidence suddenly dying down. 

“And a dressing gown,” he added, his pupils darting back down to your chest and hips in the almost sheer underdress you were wearing to sleep. “And some common sense,” he added, locking eyes with you. 

You crossed your arms on your chest to prevent him from looking any further. Then you lifted your chin in disdain at his last phrase. 

“That’s not very polite of you. Gentlemen avert their eyes.” 

“Tell me, Miss. What prevents me from grabbing you and making you descend here in this town with the excuse of you not following the rules?” 

You gulped. “Common sense, of course. Why would you even do that?” 

“Why not? Maybe I forgot to bring it with me the way you did coming here.” 

You let your arms fall down in anger. “That would be very inappropriate and illegal!” 

“Says who?” he smirked. “There’s no warning near the door saying I can’t do that.” 

You bit your lower lip. “I get it. I should not be here. But you can’t push me out of the train. That would be barbaric.”

The Conductor stepped back inside in one fluid movement. “Usually passengers rest in their coaches or entertain themselves with the others in an attempt to find their soulmate. They don’t go wandering about.” 

You dropped your gaze to his chest as he was getting way too close for your liking.

And when he unbuttoned his jacket, slowly, and let it slide off his shoulders and fall on yours instead, you visibly shuddered.

It was warm and big, and it smelled like him. Like that overwhelming flowery perfume.

You felt dizzy. 

“I was just curious,” you whispered, feeling like a little child being scolded. But the Conductor’s expression was warm when you dared to look at his face again.

His lips were full and plump and you felt a tight lump in your throat seeing them move. 

“Go back to sleep, Miss.” 

His deep voice rang in your head the whole time you washed your face and brushed your teeth, feeling it incredibly warm. You let his jacket fall on the seat in front of your bed but as you slid under the covers you wore it again, and nuzzled you face into the material. 

_________

In the morning, or what you felt was morning, you wore another dress you packed, a deep blue one you instinctively chose with little black flowers around the crown of it. 

Some people were walking against you in the corridor and you could audibly hear them stop their breathing as you locked eyes.

They were wondering if you were their soulmate.

Yesterday you would have walked slowly and looked around shyly as well, but today all you wanted to do was to bring the Conductor his jacket back and all of those people were just in your way. 

You were about to start pushing against people’s shoulders when Mark’s head pocked out of a coach and his ruffled hair made you realized he just woke up.

Not in his bed. 

“Mark Lee!” you stopped in place. 

“Fuck,” he blinked at you. “You out of all people. I mean, so nice to see you-”

“Did you find your soul-”

Mark exited the coach quickly and closed the door behind him. “Shh,” he was about to place one hand on your mouth but then looked at it and put it behind his back instead. 

“Let’s not- do not say anything.” 

You blinked at him. “Are you telling me that-” 

“Maybe,” he interrupted you again. “Listen, people here are gorgeous. There’s no need to save myself for marriage or anything.” 

Your jaw fell. “Mark Lee, did you just sleep with some random woman?” 

He scratched one eyebrow. “Did I offend your sensibility?” 

“You’re just some man, aren’t you?” you looked him up and down. “Whatever. Have fun,” you rolled your eyes and started to walk again. “And wash that hand, would you?” 

“How do you even know-” 

“I wasn’t born yesterday,” you turned around to quickly let your tongue out at him. 

“Is that the Conductor’s jacket?” he asked before you could exit the car. 

“No? I just found it around,” you answered quickly, leaving him behind with his questions. 

The Conductor said you had no common sense but you had enough common sense to know that being seen around with his jacket would somehow be a mistake. He was the one who didn’t have the common sense to know to not send you to bed with it. 

Lost in your thoughts you didn’t realize how far up the train you arrived and when the cars started to be empty safe for storage items you stopped in place to catch your breath.

It was very silent up there, the only sound coming from the rails outside and the steam locomotive. 

You were close. And you had no idea why you knew that. 

The walk towards the locomotive was slow and the spaces less fancy. Some coaches were on your right and you wondered if perhaps the Conductor was in one of them.

Or maybe you were stupid and he was way back in the train, doing his job. 

When you felt like that damned train didn’t even have an end, in front of you a big dark door with a skull on it indicating some type of danger opened and the swish of fresh flowers made you close your eyes for a moment. 

The Conductor’s head was tilted to the side as if amused. 

“I see that this time you’re decently dressed,” he said, the his gaze fell on your chest. “Almost.”

You gulped and put on a brave expression. “I came to give you this back. Thank you.” 

The man looked at the jacket you were holding and reached towards it slowly. His fingertips touched your knuckles for a brief moment and it made you so tense that you felt your head pulsating. 

“You could have rung the bell. There was no need to come all the way up here.” 

You let the air come out your nostrils. “You always scold me. You should be thankful I brought this back to you.” 

“I am scolding you because you keep taking the most convoluted decisions instead of the straight forward ones.” 

The informal conversation and the lack of Miss from his part made you nervous so you tried to look around his shoulder to see if any staff, or worse, the train driver could hear it.

Although you found his tone aggravating you didn’t want him to lose his job or anything. 

“So you didn’t make me come because you were curious to see the Locomotive instead,” the Conductor added, seeing you snoop your nose around.

You straightened your back. “I was just trying to see if someone was listening to your inappropriate comments towards a passenger and a lady.” 

The Conductor smiled and took a step to the side. “No one is here.” 

For a second you forgot about him, the curiosity of how that Train actually worked exciting you more. “Who drives this then?” you stepped in and looked around the small space. 

“No one,” the man explained and his breath caressed the back of your neck. When you looked behind your shoulder you realized he was staring at the goosebumps on your exposed skin. 

“Why is there a chair here, then?” you cleared your throat and walked around it. 

The Conductor wore his jacket and put his hands on the back of the big chair. “I like to sit here and look outside.” 

You lifted your gaze towards the small window in front of you. You hadn’t even realized you could see outside. 

“Do you want to try and sit down?” he asked. 

You bit your lower lip. “Would that be alright?” 

“I thought you didn’t care for rules,” he smirked. 

You lifted your chin and sat down. It wasn’t much, just the railroad in front of you and some trees on each side. But it was peaceful and your curiosity got fully fed.

Now you wondered when it was the time to be killed like a cat. 

“Why are you really here, Miss?” 

The Conductor’s voice was so close to your ear that your spine curved. But you didn’t move away. 

“Don’t-” you gulped. “Don’t flatter yourself or anything. I came here because I was curious and I had to give your jacket back.”

His index finger touched one of your hairs near the ear and you jolted in place, moving your head away. The man was smiling. He was holding a small feather that was probably stuck there. 

“I hope you’re satisfied at all times, Miss,” he replied. “And I am here to make sure all of your future needs are fulfilled as well.” 

That tone and those polite words were meant to be professional yet your mind went to Mark’s ruffled hair and half naked body. You imagined the Conductor’s dark hair on your pillow and his scent engulfing you all as his touch made your spine curve. And his hand, would he also use his hands on you like Mark did with his woman?

You shook the thoughts out of your head and got up quickly, feeling it hard to breathe in that narrow space. 

“Thank you. I will leave now,” you voice was wavering and if he noticed it he didn’t say anything about it. 

“I hope you have a pleasant journey,” he wished as you exited the car. 

He didn’t mention anything about finding a soulmate this time. 

__________

Your scent lingered on Haechan’s body the whole day.

It was in his hair, his nostrils, his skin, around his neck and his hands. He wondered if you slept with his jacket the whole night and the thought of your naked body pressed against the material of it made him almost knock heads with a passenger. 

“Good day to you, Sir,” he tilted his hat last minute.

The young man barely noticed him, as his eyes were directed towards another person in the corner of the car.

Haechan was very acustomed to that gaze. He saw it every day for the past few years - the look of someone madly in love at first sight. 

That was how your eyes looked like the first instant he saw you on the platform waiting for the Train.

Waiting for him. 

He wondered how that gaze looked on his face but he was sure you didn’t notice it.

He wasn’t even sure it was there in the first place. 

His instincts got the best of him and he worked on autopilot. Polite face, good smile, distance.

Hell, he even took the sign away from your windows for five minutes. But then you almost opened the damn curtains - as he intended for you to - and he realized he couldn’t physically let you go.

It was probably a mistake, he thought the first seconds of seeing you. He took the job of the Conductor because his old grandpa couldn’t work anymore. Haechan lived on that train since he could remember. It was always him and his old grandpa, in the middle of the swarm of people looking for soulmates. It made him sick to death to see all that love around him. 

I wish you didn’t hate your parents for falling in love, Haechan, his grandpa used to say.

But it would have been different if they fell in love with each other.

But they didn’t. 

The boy has been told the tale of his family of Conductors many times. It was a curse, they said. No one in his family had soulmates and they were tasked with assisting the Train instead. 

How did you and grandma decide to be together then? small Haechan asked at the time. 

Sometimes you just choose who to spend your life with. This is how your parents met as well. Your father came on this train often and never met his soulmate. Your mother understood he might be a good husband choice so she approached him and that’s how they got together. 

But then dad met another woman on the train and left my mom. 

The grandpa sighed deeply. He just met his soulmate. He didn’t do anything wrong. 

Haechan as a child couldn’t know what to say to that.

He knew something was not right but he didn’t have the vocabulary to argue back.

But as a teenager he finally understood. 

He abandoned my mom, your daughter, and he abandoned me. Don’t speak about that man ever again. 

Haechan’s grandpa would only sigh and pat his shoulder. You’re growing into a fine young man. I am proud of you. And I am sorry that happened. When you’ll meet your person you’ll understand their choices. 

I will never understand it because I don’t have a soulmate. And I surely as hell won’t marry a woman that might meet her rightful soulmate years later and leave me.

Your grandma never left me, he used to remind him. And I wish for you to have children. Who’s going to assist this Train otherwise? 

To hell with this fucking Train, Haechan would explode and run away. 

He didn’t hate the Train.

It was his home.

So when he’d calm down, sitting on the outside metal stairs and looking at the scenery no one besides him and grandpa were allowed to see, he’d realize he didn’t hate his parents either.

His mom remarried and left the Train after dad left.

Haechan wasn’t sure if she was actually in love although from her letters she seemed happy, but the memories of her time closed off in a coach on the verge of death were still haunting him. Haechan stopped reading his father’s letters altogether and started to burn them in the Locomotive. 

A young woman approached him and Haechan shook off the memories and the convoluted thoughts about you from his head. 

“How may I help you, Miss?” he placed his hands behind his back with the best custom service expression plastered on his face. 

The woman seemed embarrassed. 

“If you need anything, please, don’t hesitate to ask me,” he tried to reassure her. 

She inhaled and took a step forward. Haechan leaned down to hear her better. “Well, you know how you said the coaches makes appear everything that you want? I was-, well, I met a man and- I know he’s not my soulmate but it’s not against the rules and we’re doing fine together for now and we were well, we were wondering how to make- how not to-” 

“Get pregnant?” Haechan simply asked and the woman’s pale face turned purple from embarrassment.

She surely didn’t expect him to be that straightforward. “Usually if you really don’t want that to happen, it doesn't,” Haechan continued. “If you’ve encountered difficulties then maybe you or your partner have-,” he interrupted himself. “-a breeding kink?” 

The young woman placed her palms to her cheeks and gave him a little bow. “I understand. I think I need to go now, Sir. Thank you, Sir.” 

“You just have to-” Haechan tried again but the woman already ran away. 

“I see I’m not the only one you’re being not so professional with,” a voice made him turn around. 

__________

You were on your way for lunch. Or dinner? You lost track of time. You’ve been on that Train for less than 24 hours yet you felt like a lifetime already passed. To think you had to stay there until meeting your soulmate made you almost throw up. 

“I thought you were very excited to meet your soulmate,” Mark commented that morning, eyes closed under the fake sun in the fake seaside car.

You sighed. 

“I am.”

You were.

Or you thought you were. But somehow you lost interest. You imagined yourself inside the Train for so long that the moment you actually got on it it all lost meaning. 

And how was it possible that none of the men looked interesting enough to even have a mere conversation? The only ones approaching you were trying to get under your dress and you soon realized that romance was not the way you imagined it to be. 

“You don’t sound like excited. It’s as if you can’t wait to get off of here,” he opened one eye then turned to his side to see you better. “If you haven’t met the one yet, then what about enjoying it to the fullest until you can? It’s a place with free food and entertainment.” 

You gave him the side eye. “I do not intend to sleep around with random men. I’m a lady.” 

Mark rolled his eyes. “I’m also a gentleman and going down on people doesn’t make me less gentle.”

You almost spat your water. The Train somehow made everyone change or it opened your innocent eyes because you had no idea your childhood friend had that side of him. 

“Did you really not find anyone who’s kinda attractive? You don’t even have to know his name,” he insisted. 

Actually, there was a man whose name you didn’t know who you found very attractive. That was probably the worst part of that experience. Was it normal to be attracted to the Conductor like that? 

You shook your head. “Nonsense. I will wait for my soulmate. And no, no one around is attractive enough.” 

Mark exhaled and went back to his previous position. “I just don’t like seeing you sad.” 

“I’m not sad.” 

“Then angry.” 

“I’m not angry.” 

“You’re angry now.” 

“Because you’re pissing me off,” you sat up. “I’m going to eat.” 

You were already too confused for your liking. You didn’t need Mark Lee to investigate further.

The desire to have a soulmate was still there deep inside, the longiness and the need, yet for some reason you also felt numb to everything around you. 

Still feeling like Mark rubbed you the wrong way you almost missed the figures of the Conductor leaning down to whisper in a young gorgeous’ woman’s ear in the middle of the Library wagon. 

The woman seemed scandalized and so red that she looked like a tomato. The Conductor’s face was unfazed but a bit confused as she ran away. 

“I see I’m not the only one you’re being not so professional with,” you couldn’t help but say. 

The car was empty safe for the two of you and when he turned around you smelled his ever present scent.

It drove you insane. What kind of damn cologne was that man wearing?

“What do you go flirting with passengers for?” you crossed your arms on your chest. Maybe Mark was right and you were actually angry but seeing the Conductor’s face just added to the whole irritation, especially catching him flirting with your shy women. 

The Conductor tilted his head to the side as if genuinely surprised but also intrigued at your reaction. 

“What if someone else besides me saw you? What would happen to your position and reputation?” you went on. 

The man took his time to open his mouth and talk. “I don’t understand if you’re mad at me or if you’re worried for me.”

You lifted your chin. “Maybe both.” 

“It takes a good amount of care for both. Do you care about me?” 

He took a few steps towards you and the closeness made his voice quieter. 

You didn’t let him intimidate you with his charm. 

“I was raised a lady of good principles and seeing the Conductor of a Train meant to help people find their soulmates flirt with its passengers is not appropriate and I have to speak on it.” 

The Conductor’s smile widened. “And lurking at the time of descent in a skimpy night gown and nude feet is appropriate?”

His dark blue eyes were more stormy than usual and the moles on his face reminded you of the nightsky above you as you were waiting for the Train. 

“Coming all the way to my coach with a dizzying cleavage is appropriate?” 

His voice was so deep and close that you had to avert your gaze to catch your breath. 

“Shaking like this in my presence and being unable to look me in the face is appropriate?” he whispered so close to your lips that you inhaled and took a few steps back. 

“You’re also here to find a soulmate, Miss. Concentrate on doing that and leave other people’s business to themselves,” he added in his usual calm voice and walking around you he left you breathless and alone in the middle of the Library. 

________

Haechan reached for his tie to undo the knot and he realized his fingers were slightly shaking.

Your scent made him more on edge than usual and the fact he could still smell you on his jacket made him unreasonable mad.

And your face and expression, your hurt eyes seeng him talk to that woman, as if you were jealous, was driving him insane.

What were you thinking roaming around him like that? With your delicate blue dress and your cleavage moving up and down in that damn corset with every quick breath your took? 

He should have let you move the curtains and never see you again. 

Haechan walked the distance from the entrance door of the car to the Bar and without caring about anyone he walked behind it and poured himself a shot of whiskey. 

“Hard day?” a voice made him sigh deeply before turning around. 

He forced himself to smile. “I am not in service right now,” he lied to excuse his drinking on the job. 

The young man waved his hand. “No one would care anyway. They’re either on a date or uhh fucking.” 

“Would you like one?” Haechan indicated the bottle, ignoring the man’s choice of words.

The other nodded. “I’m Jeno.” 

He expected Haechan’s name in return but the Conductor never tells his name to passengers. “I hope you’re enjoying your stay,” Haechan said instead, pushing a glass towards Jeno. 

The latter took it and winced after downing it. “I’m not here for that. I’m actually a journalist.” 

Haechan fought the urge to roll his eyes. There was one of two of them every year trying to gather some kind of hidden information about the Train. Haechan also thought there were some secrets about it growing up but it was a pretty straight forward thing. Just a Train in which you can meet your soulmate. Nothing more.

Well, that until he met you and your scent got under his skin. 

“Is there something specific you’re writing about?” Haechan politely asked. 

“Is it true that soulmates understand they’re soulmates because of each other’s scent?” he asked, and a writing pad materialized in front of him. 

Haechan eyed his pen ready to take notes then his face. “You should ask the passengers. I am not someone who has a soulmate.” 

“So it’s true that the Conductor has no soulmate.” 

“Yes. It’s not a secret.” 

Jeno nodded, not writing anything as if that wasn’t the information he was actually seeking out of him. 

“My parents said there’s no such thing as scent. They’re also divorced,” he said. 

Haechan sighed. Another young man hurt by that Train and his parents. “Sometimes people come here and go home together even if they’re not sure they’re actual soulmates. Maybe your parents mistook their union for a soulmate bond but it was just infatuation.” 

“Shouldn’t this place guarantee a soulmate union?” Jeno asked. He looked very angry and Haechan could understand why. “What’s the purpose of this Train then? Let people choose each other on land at this point.” 

“It’s called free choice. The Train knows who’s an actual soulmate pair and usually it doesn’t stop for couples who are not actually bonded. This is why the train is not stopping now for all the people who are- uh, fucking.” Haechan was too exhausted to choose a more gentlemanly term for that. 

Jeno didn’t seem to care. “Then why did it stop for my parents?” 

“They probably insisted for it to stop. The Train doesn’t go against the free choice.” 

Jeno poured another shot, gave it to Haechan and took a deep gulp straight from the bottle. 

“Nice chat, Conductor. Can I ask to leave now?” 

Haechan kept quiet for a moment. “You should stay until you meet someone or until the Journey comes to an end. If you leave now you will not be allowed to come back.” 

“There’s no such thing,” Jeno whispered and got up, walking towards the windows. With one quick hand he moved the curtains away. The Train stopped slowly on its tracks and Haechan sighed. 

“Please follow me. I’ll escort you to the exit for going against the rules."

__________

Is it true that soulmates understand they’re soulmates because of each other’s scent?

That phrase has been haunting you for the following hours.

You were rolling in bed from the moment you decided to try and sleep after pacing your coach for a while.

You didn’t mean to eavesdrop.

You didn’t even mean to follow the Conductor but his pace was urgent and the curiosity still hasn’t killed you, especially after that heated conversation you had in the Library.

Shaking in his presence and being unable to look him in the face? He could see that? What was going on and why were you feeling like committing the biggest crime you could think of?

No, why was the Conductor with his deep eyes and his pillowy lips and his smooth voice the only thing you could think of when you were on that dam Train to find your soulmate?

The Conductor walked towards the Bar and you remained back in the smaller corridor, watching his throat gulp that brown liquid like it was water. Why did he look so upset? Was it you? Or was it his missed opportunity with that lady that you interrupted?

You felt stupid spying him like that and you were about to turn around and walk away when the voice of a second man made you stop in your tracks. 

I’m actually a journalist, the man said and you wondered what the Conductor would say back. Would he accept to give the journalist information?

Is it true that soulmates understand they’re soulmates because of each other’s scent? You felt your blood turn to ice. What did he mean by that? Scents? Your parents didn’t tell you anything about that. 

But then the following exchange of information made you feel even worse. 

You should ask the passengers. I am not someone who has a soulmate.

So it’s true that the Conductor has no soulmate.

Yes. It’s not a secret.

Mark looked like a baby chick with his hair ruffled around his face. But you could tell it was from simple sleeping and not messing around with someone’s daughter’s insides. 

You pushed him back into his coach after he opened the door and you sat down. 

“Wow, when I told you to look around and decide who to fuck I didn’t think that someone would be-” 

You interrupted him. “Mark, tell me everything you know about the Train, soulmates, and-” you stopped for a second, “the Conductor.” 

Mark blinked hard as if unable to keep his eyes open and laid back in his bed. “It’s the middle of the night.” 

“Actually I’ve been trying to keep track of the time and it should be middle of the afternoon.” 

“Well, everything here is fucked and for me it’s middle of the night. Why are you so curious all of a sudden?” 

You sighed and relaxed in the dark red velvety couch. “Have you ever heard of people feeling their soulmate’s scent more that other people’s?” 

Mark hummed, one hand to scratch his forehead. “Yes. Johnny talked about it but at the time I thought it was something stupid people in love notice about each other. He said his partner smelled like patchouli and warm spices.” 

You lifted your legs up to warm them under your night gown. “And your parents?” 

“Dad said mom smells like lavender and mom said dad smells like woody herbal amber or something like that,” he chuckled, shaking his head. 

He then opened his eyes and got up to sit, mirroring you. “Why? Did you meet someone whose scent is intense for you?” 

You wondered if telling him the truth. “No, I just-” you played with a loose string along the hem of your gown, “I overheard a man talking about his parents never mentioning any scent and they’re divorced now.” 

Mark leaned forwards. “Are you worried that your parents are not real soulmates since they also never mentioned scents?”

Actually that didn’t even cross your head but you realized that might be a possibility. You didn’t want your parents to divorce or anything. 

“Oh, come on. I’m sure that’s not the case at all,” Mark came to sit beside you and wrapped your shoulders with his arms. You weren’t there because of your parents but Mark felt warm and comfortable to lean on so you didn’t correct him. 

“What about the Conductor?” he then asked and you hoped he couldn’t feel the way you tensioned in his hold. “What did you want to know?” 

You gulped and sat straight, letting Mark’s arms fall to your waist instead. “I’ve heard he doesn't have a soulmate.” 

Mark nodded. “I’ve heard that too. Honestly I thought he would be some kind of very ancient man. At least, my parents said he’s very old, but maybe this is a new one.” 

You kept quiet, biting your lower lip. 

“What is it that you’re not telling me?” Mark whispered. 

You lifted your gaze and his big sparkly eyes gave you the courage to open your mouth. 

“If the Conductor has no soulmate, and soulmates feel each other’s scent, then why do I feel the Conductor’s scent everywhere I go?” 

________

After Mark collected his jaw from the floor and you kept him up brainstorming the whole night, you met both early in the morning over breakfast to further discuss the possibility of you and the Conductor being soulmates. 

“Not to put you down or anything,” he repeated, “but I’ve never heard of anyone bonding with the Conductor.” 

You sighed staring down your coffee with no desire to drink it but knowing it would wake you up. 

“I know, Mark, this is why I’m so dumbfounded.”

“I mean, also the original Conductor was a mummy of an old man. Maybe that’s why no one bonded with him. Maybe he was married already and that's how the rumour of him not having a soulmate started.”

You had a sip of the bitter liquid and winced. You were glad Mark was playing devil’s advocate with himself because you had no more force to discuss all the different points of view. 

“I don’t even think it matters. He warned me multiple times to leave him alone and find a soulmate. How would being soulmates with him even work? Where would the Train stop? Would I be forced to stay here? Being the Conductress? Forever?” you felt like descending into madness. 

“Listen, calm down. I think the solution is to check it myself first. We find him, I smell him. If it’s just his high quality cologne then you can put your mind at ease.” 

You didn’t want to ask what would happen if he couldn’t smell anything but maybe your desperate eyes told him your feelings because he sighed.

“And if I don’t smell anything, I try to rizz him up and I’ll be like dang you look like you know your cologne. Can you show me your collection? And I go to his coach and I smell all of the bottles and if it’s any of them we know it’s just his perfume and not his actual scent.” 

You opened your mouth. 

“And-” he interrupted lifting one finger, “if it’s none of them then we will come back here and brainstorm together. He’s an attractive man. Maybe you’re just sexually attracted to him. I bet that if you tried and fucked-”

“I will not fuck the Conductor,” you said, perhaps too loudly. You both looked around. 

You lowered your voice. “I don’t know what’s going on but having that kind of relation with him doesn’t sound like a good idea.” 

Mark leaned back in his chair. “Okay then. I’ll start by going on with my plan then we’ll see.”

You exhaled and nodded once. “That sounds like such a stupid plan.” 

Mark’s smile widened. “At least something fun is happening in this stupid Train besides drinking and sleeping around.” 

________

Haechan finished his morning routine walk across all wagons and sighed looking at his pocket watch. Soon everyone would be done with breakfast and would go about their business. He had to go and assist in the enternatinment wagons in some time as well. 

Then he felt a pair of eyes on his back and lifted one eyebrow. 

“What can I do for you, sir?” he turned around to see your little friend fake confidence leaning on a wall.

If Haechan didn’t know better he’d think the young man was trying to flirt. 

“Oh, hello there Conductor. Or maybe I should say-” Mark stopped his phrase as if waiting for Haechan to say his name. 

“Conductor is fine,” he smiled, joining his gloved hands together in front of him. 

“Right right. I will not push any boundaries. I was just wondering, like from a gentleman to another gentleman, if you can aid me choosing a cologne.” 

Whatever Haechan expected that man to say it wasn’t that.

He had to suppress a laugh. 

“A cologne, sir?” 

Mark walked around him casually. “I mean, I am here to meet a soulmate and I thought damn what if I don’t smell good? That’s my biggest fear actually, you know?” he put his hand on the chest to convey how intensely he felt about not smelling good. 

“When you’ll meet your soulmate, sir, they will think you smell like their favourite scent, so no need to worry.” 

Mark stopped in his tracks and his stupid fake expression fell. “You said soulmates smell like their favourite scents just now?” 

Haechan exhaled. “That’s what I said, sir.” He really hated repeating himself. 

Mark kept looking at him so Haechan was about to excuse himself and bid the weird man farewell but then the awareness of his behaviour washed over him like a cold wave and he stopped in place.

Haechan lifted his gaze and met Mark’s intense black eyes. 

“Are you not curious why I am asking you about scents, Mister Conductor?” his voice suddenly became lower. 

“I am not a curious man, sir,” Haechan straightened his tie with the intention of leaving. He didn’t like where all of that was going.

But Mark took a step to the side, blocking his way. 

“So what’s your favourite scent?”

Haechan fought the urge to grab the dude and physically move him away. “I like clean and fresh scents, sir.” 

“And what does Y/N smell like?”

Haechan put his tongue in the cheek and flared his nostrils. “I wouldn’t know.”

_________

Mark thought about keeping this all a secret from you. Being soulmates with the Conductor of the Soulmates Train didn’t sound like a great time. It was like falling in love with Death when it comes to kill you. But he wasn’t going to be a bad friend. 

He told you to wait in the Seaside wagon in hopes you could relax hearing the sea waves, but when he entered he found you fidgeting instead. 

“How did it go?” you walked up to him but he exhaled and dragged you towards the lounge chairs.

He didn’t know what you wanted to hear, if confirmation that the Conductor was your soulmate, or if you wanted nothing to do with him. 

“First of all, he doesn’t smell like anything to me,” Mark said. “He just has a normal clean person scent. Like any other person.” 

You swallowed and inhaled shakily, letting the information sink in. 

“Second of all, he said soulmates smell like each other’s favourite scents.” 

You opened your mouth but nothing came out of it.

“What does he smell like to you, Y/N? Is it flowers?” 

Mark knew you’ve always loved that scent. The sweet but fresh perfume of flowers with their infinite colours. 

He didn’t need you to answer, he saw it in your pupils. You watched Mark close his eyes for a moment and exhale then open them again. 

“It’s not all,” he said. “He behaved weirdly when I mentioned you. I have a hunch that he can sense your scent as well.” 

________

I think you should talk about it together, Mark suggested, but you couldn’t just do that, could you? He was the Conductor after all. Such thing was impossible. 

Also, for how much you loved Mark, risking such improper behaviour only because of a hunch was too much for you. 

You thought you were afraid of not finding a soulmate. Growing up that has been your everlasting fear; yet your brain has never even taken into consideration the perspective of finding your soulmate in a man you could not have. 

For how much you’ve been wanting to see him, bump into him, or exchange a few stupid words to each other in the past days, your felt the same equal amount of desire to avoid him at all costs. 

You thought you wanted Mark to come back and tell you that it was just the Conductor’s overbearing cologne. You wanted him to say he smelt it too and that is confirmation that he couldn’t possibly be your soulmate.

Yet when he fed your idea that the Conductor might be your man the relief was so intense that you almost cried. 

It drove you insane. 

The following days you haven’t seen the Conductor once. Perhaps the encounter with Mark made him uncomfortable and he decided to avoid you as well. What if he though you were some kind of creep? He did warn you to leave him alone and concentrate on finding a soulmate instead. Was it possible to have a one sided soulmate? 

Somehow you felt like that situation was all your fault. Maybe that was the death moment of the curiousity saying, because you kinda felt like dying slowly if you thought about any other man. Maybe if you didn’t go to see the descending moment, maybe if you didn’t sleep with his jacket, maybe if you didn’t go and find him in the Locomotive, maybe if you didn’t confront him in the Library, you wouldn’t feel like that.

Maybe maybe maybe. 

“I know this is not good friend advice, but you could get your mind off of him by, you know, using someone else,” Mark shrugged, peeling an apple with a knife.

You sighed, pulling your summer hat lower on your eyes. The seaside car soon became you and Mark’s favourite. “You know what? Maybe you’re right.” 

“You finally gave in my temptation?” he wigled his eyebrows. 

“Yes. You’re the little devil sitting on my shoulder.” 

Mark cut a piece of apple and ate it off the knife. “I can introduce you to some fine gentlemen.” 

You snorted. “I saw the gentlemen you have around Mark Lee.” 

“And? Are they not fine?” 

“You can have them.” 

Mark rolled his eyes. “Do you want to have fun or not?” 

“I do. But I’m not sure if fucking random men is what I consider peak of amusement,” you replied. Mark didn’t say anything so you kept going. “Although, I noticed that the light brow hair man is not bad. I think his name is Jaehyun. He has nice hands and a great smile. I do enjoy a good dimple.” 

You expected Mark to laugh at you but he remained quiet safe for a little nudge he gave you. You sighed. “The other J name man is not bad either. He’s tall and he looks gentle like a puppy.” 

“Uhm,” Mark said and nudged you again. 

“What? You said I should sleep with one of them,” you slid away the hat to give him a venomous side eye when your mouth dropped open. 

Mark was looking at you with a little tight smile and in front of you, almost covering the artificial sun of the wagon, was standing the Conductor. 

“I apologize, Miss. I didn’t want to interrupt your- uh lovely monologue,” he tilted his stupid hat. 

You sat up feeling your body on fire. Then you looked at Mark who gave you a small apologetic smile. 

Your mouth was dry and you had no idea what was the appropriate thing to say to someone who overheard you talk about fornication. 

His scent should have told you he was there, but maybe you got so used to it that you were feeling it everywhere, messing with your perceptions. 

“Good day, sir,” you stupidly said. 

“I was just making sure you’re enjoying your stay,” the Conductor looked at you first, then Mark. “From your conversation I assume everything is fine.” His eyes looked black in the shadow and the little line between his eyebrow looked like a crack in his otherwise perfect face.

You gulped and bit your lower lip. 

“Just a precaution. I told this the lady that stopped me in the Library the other day also, if you remember. As a contraceptive, please make sure to strongly desire to not get pregnant, so the Train can take care of you.” 

________

The fact that useless friend of yours ambushed him like that told Haechan that you probably felt his scent everywhere as well.

And you must have spoken about it in such a way that made Mark investigate.

It made Haechan’s fingers tingle and they’d tingle ever more when he’d slid them underneath his covers at night, and fuck his fist to the image of you until he had to push his face into the pillow to muffle his groans. 

Everything was a mess and for the first time in his life Haechan didn’t know what to do. 

The letter he wrote his grandpa asking for advice was still unsent, looking at him from his desk.

He wasn’t sure he wanted to expose himself like that to his family. His grandpa would be nothing but supportive.

I knew you’d find a partner. See, now you understand it. It makes sense how your parents felt, doesn’t it?

Because no. Haechan didn’t understand it and his parents’ behaviour still didn’t make sense to him. Also, he hated to hear others say I told you so. 

But also, his family never mentioned the possibility of a full-on soulmate. They said someone random. Someone that couldn’t find anyone else. Someone who would accept Haechan as a second choice. 

He rolled in bed, the stickiness of his desire still coating his hand. Then he huffed and got up to wash.

His desire. It was such a foreign feeling to him to leave him breathless.

Yet it felt so familiar that he felt like he could finally breathe deeply. It felt like things were finally right, like he was finally home. 

That morning he didn’t follow with his duties thoroughly as usual. The Train stopped twice and he looked behind his shoulder to check whether you were there, in your skimpy underdress and nude feet.

But you weren’t. 

He tried to ignore you for the past few days and apparently you were doing the same. 

Yet, he could feel your scent in the whole Train, as if you’ve just left the wagon he entered.

He wondered if you felt him everywhere as well. 

In the afternoon, he couldn’t take it anymore so he followed the trail. He would just give you a short look, something to further fuel his autodestructive night fantasies. 

You were in the Seaside car, as usual, your dress ridden up your thighs on that chaise longue and Haechan wondered how could Mark concentrate on cutting that apple without cutting his finger when you looked like that besides him. 

“I know this is not good friend advice, but you could get your mind off of him by, you know, using someone else,” Mark shrugged. 

Haechan stopped in place. He wasn’t eavesdropping. You were talking loudly enough for everyone to hear. But he didn’t want you to sense him.

You wanted to get your mind off of whom? Haechan?

“You know what? Maybe you’re right,” you replied and Haechan tightened his fist in his white glove. The image of you sleeping with someone else suddenly appeared in front of Haechan’s irises made the seaside car look like the north pole instead. 

“You finally gave in my temptation?” that useless fellow asked and Haechan has never wanted to have a fist fight with a passenger more.

Of course, he wondered already if Mark was your soulmate and you both dumb idiots didn’t notice.

Maybe that’s why Mark even inquired about scents in the first place.

But why was Haechan sensing your scent if you were taken and why did the Train not stop for you two if that was the case?

Could the Conductors curse be that cruel? Making Haechan fall in love with a woman he could not have?

“I can introduce you to some fine gentlemen,” Mark said and Haechan didn’t know if he should feel relieved Mark wasn’t offering himself for your entertainment or be jealous at the idea of someone else touching you. 

He decided to intervene. 

“I do. But I’m not sure if fucking random men is what I consider peak of amusement,” you replied right when Mark lifted his gaze and a piece of apple fell from his mouth on the fine sand at his feet.

Haechan gave him a venomous look and opened his mouth to interrupt your scandalous monologue. 

But you went on. “Although, I noticed that the light brow hair man is not bad. I think his name is Jaehyun. He has nice hands and a great smile. I do enjoy a good dimple.” 

Haechan felt his jaw muscles twitch. “The other J name man is not bad either. He’s tall and he looks gentle like a puppy,” you continued. 

Mark had the decency to look scared. 

“I apologize, Miss. I didn’t want to interrupt your lovely monologue,” Haechan finally said as you finally realized what was going on. 

He came there like a thirsty man to have a single drop of water and you were thinking of sleeping with other men instead.

Haechan felt like stopping the Train and descending himself. 

Your eyes were glossy when you looked up at him, maybe from the sun but also from the embarrassment.

Haechan felt like making you feel even worse. 

________

Your gaze followed the Conductor’s spine as he exited the wagon and you let a single pained whine as you burrowed your face into your palms. 

“Mark Lee.” 

The poor Mark got up and away from you as if he could sense you might take your frustration out on him. 

“It’s not my fault.” 

You let your hands fall in your lap. “Now he thinks I’m a whore.” 

“I don’t think that changes anything. You don’t need his opinion or approval.” 

You got up with another whine. “He ignored me for days and now that he approached me again he overheard me talk about who of your friends I might fuck.” 

Mark finished his apple. “Hey. Wasn’t that your intention? Getting rid of him? Forgetting him?” 

You exhaled.

Yes, but why did it feel so bad?

_______

They all eyed you the following night - the first ball party of the season, the little card said.

This time the ink didn’t smudge when it appeared on your nightstand out of thin air and it didn’t look like it was written by hand.

One detail made you bite your lower lip. Wear masks, the card said.

The car that was hosting it was huge and you realized it must have been some sort of optical illusion to make the space feel so big. The center was empty and you assumed it was for dancing. Most people were standing near the refreshment tables or near the walls and the exciting but nervous air made your skin shiver. Everyone from the train was there and you realized it was the perfect moment to meet a soulmate. 

With uncertain feet in your high heels you reached towards the drinks but the glasses didn’t move from the tray. 

“You need to say what you want and the glass unglues itself,” the Conductor said and his long fingers appeared in front of you. They wrapped the leg of a glass. “Champagne,” he said and the glass remained in his hand. 

You didn’t dare to look at him. “I didn’t know Conductors were allowed to drink,” you tried, remembering the time he felt the need to have that wiskey shot in the bar. 

“How do you know I am the Conductor?” he asked. His voice was low but light and amused. 

You turned around quickly to see a black mask, leaving nothing but an anonymous jawline and a pair of lips. His hair was covered by a silver crown and in his elegant suit no one could have noticed who he was.

But you did.

You cursed at yourself.

The Conductor leaned closer. “Is it because of my scent?” he whispered. 

You gulped and looked away towards the drinks tray. 

“So you admit it,” you murmured, wondering if someone was looking at you. 

“Admit what?” he asked. 

The crowd of people cheered and you assumed a new couple formed.

The intermission helped you cool your head. 

“I don’t know the names of all the drinks,” you changed subject. 

The Conductor didn’t seem surprised. “Which one do you want?”

“I don’t know. The least dangerous looking one.” 

“Bubbles,” he ordered and then gave you the glass full of sparkly liquid. It smelled fruity. 

“Thank you,” you said. 

“Do you always go for the least dangerous looking thing?” he turned around and looked towards the hall.

Some brave couples started to dance and you enjoyed the way the ladies gowns flowed under the golden lights. 

“Yes.” 

“Are you sure?” he smiled once before taking a sip of his drink. 

“Yes,” you took a sip of your bubbles as well. They buzzed on your tongue. 

“So you didn’t avoid me because you were afraid of me the past few days.” 

It wasn’t a question.

“You knew where to find me if you wanted to see one of your passengers. This is your Train.” 

The Conductor let his gaze fall on your face. “I did find you. You were talking about very interesting arguments.”

You gimaced, thinking of the Seaside Wagon incident. “It was just talk. I did not-” you started to explain the you realized how stupid it sounded trying to justify your actions, or non-actions, to him. 

The Conductor sipped from his drink in silence. You couldn’t read his face normally, and with that mask you really had no idea what he was thinking. 

“Are you upset I didn’t contact you all of these days?” he asked instead. "It was my understanding you were trying to forget someone by engaging in those actions and I am self centred enough to think that someone was me."

His honesty left you breathless. You considered lying. Admitting it would have been too humiliating. “No. I understand why you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me.” 

“Which is?” 

“I look like a crazy woman who claims you’re her soulmate because you smell like flowers,” you blurted out before realizing what you just said.

Your hands in your white lacey gloves started to shake. 

The man remained quiet for a moment then he chuckled. “Really? I smell that nice to you?” 

You exhaled. “This is not a laughing matter.”

The Conductor analyzed your expression. “I apologize. I didn’t realize how this made you feel.” 

His tone gave you the courage to look him in the eyes. Even behind the mask they looked alive, torbid like the dark deep sea. 

But looking was a mistake. 

“I suppose it’s something common for you,” you inhaled, starting to hate the everlasting flowers perfume surrounding him. “Women with soulmate claims over you, that is,” you explained. 

The Conductor looked in front of himself and took another sip. “Yes. I am a charming man afterall.” 

You hated him. Was he punishing you? Or did he actually not care about you at all?

“Well, I avoided you because I wanted to say I had no claims. Take this as a compliment on you smelling decently and let’s move on.” 

“And what moving on means for you?” he inquired. 

“Acting as normal Train Conductor and Passenger,” you took another sip of your bubbles. It started to taste too sour. 

“Tonight many couples will make the Train stop,” he announced. “Would you like to see?” 

You turned towards him and you locked eyes. “Does that sound like normal Conductor and Passenger behaviour to you?” 

The young man laughed at your scolding. “I just know you’re curious.” 

“Why would you be kind to me like that? Do you want to push me out of the Train as you’ve expressed your interests towards doing before?” 

“I wouldn’t mind getting rid of you actually,” he joked and you could tell he didn’t mean it.

But the tears that secretly collected in your eyes during that conversation were close to falling to your cheeks. You left his side quickly but not before hearing him call out your name. 

________

Y/N. 

For some reason you thought he didn’t even know the names of every passenger.

Was that normal behaviour? From Miss to nothing to your actual first name. 

He pissed you off. 

He pissed you off so badly that the tears streaming down your cheeks were tears of anger, you decided. 

“Oh heavens. Are you alright, dear?” a young woman stopped in tracks with her man. 

“Yes, thank you, Miss,” you bowed a little holding your skirts. You wanted to get out of that car.

No. You wanted to get out of the damn Train. 

Was it normal for love to hurt like that? Was all of that even love? 

You had no idea afterall.

Everyone said you would just know and everything would fall into place. You’d have the best experience and make the Train stop to settle down with the love of your life. Then why all of those people felt like nothing around you and the only man your heart ached for you couldn’t have? 

“Hey hey hey,” Mark stopped you by putting his hands on your shoulders. 

You were barely seeing where you were walking. 

“What happened?” he asked. “Did you see him?” 

Bless Mark and his everknowing third eye. 

You gave him a little nod and he pouted his lips, holding you into his arms. “There there. It’s alright. It’s okay.” 

The people walking around you gave you some looks as they tried to reach the ball hall but you didn’t care. 

“Mark, can you be my soulmate so we can go home and live together in a cottage?” you joked, your voice was muffled against his shoulder and you heard him chuckle.

“Actually-” he trailed off and you let him go, rubbing your eyes and finally eying the person on his side who was patiently waiting for you to calm down. 

“I want to introduce you to my-” he added then interrupted himself again, looking at the smiling person with eyes you’ve never saw him have. “-the love of my life,” he finished. 

________

Your coach felt like the safest place on earth and your cell at the same time. 

After the congratulatory moments and after starting to cry again because you realized how happy you were for your best friend to have found the person he was going to spend his life with, the sad tears came along again as you realized that he was probably going to leave the Train that same evening. 

We’ll come visiting often. Afterall I’m leaving my parents and friends behind as well and I want to see them again, he assured you. 

You sighed and sat down on your bed.

The reflection the mirror in the corner gave you back made you jolt a bit. You cleaned the running mascara from your cheeks and laid down waiting for the Train to stop, trying to empty your brain.

The Conductor’s voice echoing in your head couldn’t let you fall asleep. Why was he behaving like that? Was he that cruel? Couldn’t he actual see what was going on? 

When the Train’s rumbling stopped and you heard the chatter of some couples walking down the corridor you sat back up and opened the coach’s door. 

Mark squeezed you in a tight hug then gave you a thumbs up as he passed in front of you with his luggage and, after some other people, you saw the Conductor closing the line.

He stopped in front of your door and opened his mouth as you locked eyes but then he probaby changed his mind because he closed it soon after in a tight line and followed the rest of the people. 

You remained quiet behind his back and none of the passengers looked like minding having another spectator, so deeply lost in their partner’s eyes. 

“Thank you for traveling with us. I wish you happiness,” the Conductor said, repeating the same phrase you heard him say that first time you witnessed a passengers descent. 

Mark lifted his hand to wave and you exhaled, waving back, feeling tears prick your eyes as he turned around and walked towards the Station.

The Conductor remained there for the following moments and you somehow knew he did it for you. 

“He’ll do fine,” he said after a moment of quiet. 

“I know,” you simply replied. 

“Y/N,” he turned around and you inhaled taking a step back. 

“Don’t call me by my name. We’re not on those terms.” 

The Conductor hesitated but then he took a step inside and the doors closed behind him.

Your gaze was on his shiny shoes so he hunched his back a little to make you look at his face instead. 

The cry and the other events calmed you down by now but seeing his face made all of those feelings resurface.

You forced yourself to look at his eyes the way he cleary wanted you to. 

“My name is Haechan,” he murmured straightening his back. “Would that make us be on those terms now?” 

Your fingers fidgeted at the sound of his name and your lips fought the urge to say it out loud. 

“Why?” you asked instead. “Why are you being mean to me?”

“I’m not trying to be mean,” he got closer to you and you took a few steps back again. 

“I don’t want to be close to you. I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to be on first name terms with you. I wish for you to leave me alone if you don’t want anything to do with me.”

Haechan kept moving forward as you moved back until you hit the wall with your blades. He got as close as to rest his palms near your head on the wooden wall.

And when he leaned in and rubbed your cheek with the tip of his nose you forgot how to breathe. 

“You smell like fresh cotton and linen,” he whispered with the most desperate tone you heard a man speak. It was so tender that it clouded your mind. “It engulfed me the same instant I opened the doors that night. You’re not insane, I feel it too.” 

He straightened his back and looked you in the eyes. “The soulmate bond,” he added. “This is why you’re irritable when you’re away from me. This is why no one seems interesting to you, why this Journey feels boring. It’s not because you haven’t met the one yet. It’s because you have.” 

You swallowed the lump in your throat. 

“And? What now?” you didn’t let his sweet words sway you although all you wanted was for him to wrap his arms around you and press those pillowy lips on yours. 

“The truth is I am as lost as you are,” he let his arms fall to his sides. “This is not supposed to happen.” 

“I figured.” 

“I come from the Conductors family,” he started. “Traditionally we do not have soulmates. Our people-” he stopped, as if unsure of how to explain. “-breed by choosing random people they want to be with. Sometimes the couples stay together. Sometimes they don’t if the person who’s not from this family actually meets their rightful soulmate.” 

“Do you know of anyone who separated that way?” you asked although from his eyes you could tell that he did. 

“My parents.” 

You bit your lower lip. “I am sorry,” you wrapped your nudes arms. 

“Are you cold?” he asked but you cut him off seeing his hands going to unbutton his outwear. 

“Don’t you dare giving me your jacket,” you warned him. “It-” you stopped suddenly very embarrassed. “-was a lot to handle the first time,” you settled for, as drove me insane felt too much. 

“I know,” he looked as nervous and for a moment it made you feel better. You also never realized how young he was. He was probably just around your age. “It made me feel a certain well, too,” he added. 

You looked behind him and you realized your coach was just around the corner. Haechan let you walk around him and open the door, grabbing a shawl to put around your shoulders. 

“Come inside. It’s warmer here,” you let your head peek around the corner. 

Haechan felt too big for your coach, you realized, seeing him sitting on the deep dark chairs.

As if knowing to not give you any kind of temptation, there was no bed inside.

You made a mental note to ask Haechan how did the Train knew such stuff. 

“I am as unprepared as you are,” he spoke after a while, resuming his discourse. 

You knew that conversation was due to happen but it didn’t make you feel less nervous. 

“My grandfather never mentioned something like this happen to me. He just assumed I might end up seeing someone with no soulmate. My grandmother was one of them and they haven’t separated. Although now I wonder if she met someone else and actively chose my grandfather instead because of some kind of principle sentiment.” 

All of that raw information made your heart ache. You’ve never thought about the Conductor’s family growing up. You’ve never ever heard of people with no soulmate whatsoever. 

“Would that be that bad?” you asked in a tiny voice. 

His eyes were fiery when he looked at you but you knew he wasn’t mad at you. “Would you enjoy the thought of someone being with you because they feel sorry or because of a promise they made although they’re madly in love with someone else?”

You gulped and looked down at your hands in your lap. 

“You think that would be our situation?” 

The man didn’t reply. You took it for a yes. 

“Or are you afraid I’d leave you after a while? Because you think you’re not my actual soulmate?” 

“I don’t know,” he exhaled. “You’d think for a Conductor of the Soulmates Train I’d be more well versed in these heart affairs,” he chuckled bitterly. 

He closed his eyes and you felt brave enough to stare at his face. You’ve never had the opportunity to see his features for that long. He was so gorgeous that your heart felt like bleeding and the thought of you meeting someone else that would make you feel more than that that felt inimaginable. The thought of him with some other woman felt even worse. 

“If I can’t have you-” you started unable to keep your mouth shut. “I think I’ll just not have anyone else. I can’t even imagine-”

The man smiled and opened his eyes. They were the same deep blue that made you feel like suffocating the first time you saw them. “I am flattered you think this way now.” 

“I’m not going to change my mind.” 

“I love a challenge.” 

He was pissing you off. You told him just that. 

His laugh was so pristine that you felt a little smile bloom on your face as well. 

“Then what? I’ll just finish this Journey and go home? Then I’ll see you next year? Does this make sense to you?” you tried to reason. 

His story was so sad that it made your heart bleed but the relief that washed over you felt so good that it was making you dizzy. He was into you too. He could sense your scent too. He desired you too. You would not let him go away. 

“Sounds good,” he replied with a tiny breathy voice. 

You rolled your eyes. “No, it doesn’t.” 

“Then what? You wish to stay here with me? Forever? On the Train?” he asked instead. 

You bit your lower lip. “Where do you stay when it’s not Soulmates season?” 

Haechan sat lower on the chair and his extended and spread legs made you curse at yourself for finding that attractive. “I live on the Train. Always had.” 

“You just stay here alone? The whole year?” you leaned in surprised. 

The man shrugged. “I had my Grandpa before. It wasn’t that bad. And I don’t know another world besides this one so I don’t miss it.”

“Where is he now?”

Haechan looked towards the window as if actually seeing what was behind that curtain. He probably knew what was behind it, you realized. 

“He’s living with my mother. He couldn’t work anymore as he was too old.” 

You leaned back in your chair as well and lifted your legs to rest them near him.

Haechan turned his head towards them and lifted one hand, letting his fingers trail the arch of one of them making you twitch. 

He looked at your surprised expression and his eyelashes were heavy on his eyes. 

Then he inserted two fingers between the hem of one of his white gloves and took it off, letting it fall to the ground. Then he did the same with his other hand. 

You couldn’t speak.

No, you couldn’t think. 

His fingers were slender and his touch was warm as he caressed your arch again, this time making you fully shiver. Seeing his bare hands shouldn’t have made you feel that way. 

“Haechan,” you murmured, maybe as a warning, or maybe because you simply wanted to say his name. 

“Y/N,” he said back, taking your feet and placing them on top of one of his thighs. He then looked down at them, slowly touching your ankles too, going up as much as he could reach which was too much for your dizzy head giving the crampness of the coach. You could have sworn it wasn’t so small before. 

You hummed as he reached your knee, letting your skirts fall to your thighs in the movement. And when he reached the clasps of your garter keeping the tights up you jolted. 

“I don’t think we should be doing this,” your voice wavered. 

“I know,” he breathed out, yet his hands didn’t move away and you didn’t push them away either. 

They kept going up, over your skirts this time until reaching the back of your corset which was starting to feel way too tight. 

Haechan slowly slid down between your legs, on his knees, as if guided by a string coming from inside of you. The view made you mewl and the thought of doing this with anyone besides him sounded abhorrent in that moment.

The first pull made you inhale and put your hands on his shoulders. They felt firm. 

The second pull at your corset made you bite your lower lip and Haechan’s pupils darted to it. 

“Haechan,” you called out again, this time softly, like a prayer. 

“Yes, darling,” he leaned even closer to you, attentive to your expression and reactions. 

The pet name knocked the air out of your lungs.

“If-” you swallowed thickly, “if we have to separate-, please, I want-” 

Haechan patiently waited for more. His eyes, his fucking eyes, they were so deep, and his lips, so so close to you. You could have just leaned forward and tasted them. 

You felt like going insane. 

“Remember when you said that you’d-” you changed the route of the phrase thinking it would be easier but you stopped again.

Haechan exhaled and pulled another string from your corset. “What is it that you want?” 

“I want you to be my first.”

________

Something inside Haechan’s brain was screaming that it was all a mistake, that he was doing something he shouldn’t have.

But Haechan has been a very good boy his whole life while everyone around him made mistakes with not a single worry in the world. Warm between your legs he didn’t care if he’ll regret it. 

But hearing you he stopped, inches away from your mouth. Your heavy breath was matching his and your cleaveage still tightly restricted in that corset made him wonder if you could feel how hard he was against the heavy skirts of your dress. 

“I need to hear you ask me again, explicitly, and I need to hear you say that you’re aware this might be a mistake and you might regret it,” he grunted. 

You fanned your lashes at him with that pure expression of yours. 

“I want you to make me yours and I am aware of all of the consequences,” you murmured. 

Your tone and the polite choice of words made him want to scream. 

“Please,” you added and Haechan couldn’t take it anymore.

He leaned towards you and grabbed your chin with one hand, tasting the tender skin of your neck instead of your lips. 

You exhaled and trembled against him, your pulse beating so fast underneath his tongue that he wondered how plump and wet you were between your legs. 

So soft and malleable in his arms you let him gently push you into the bed that materialized underneath you. 

________

The Conductor’s eyes were so deep that they looked almost black. His body felt so good on top of yours that you wondered if he could let his weight down even more to fully engulf you with his presence.

You couldn’t imagine feeling such intensity with someone else. He didn’t trust you with your feelings but the moment his lips pressed on yours you were sure he had to be your soulmate or nothing in life would have made sense. 

And when you finally slid your hands in his hair you found it was as soft as you imagined.

His wet velvety tongue on your throat made you mewl in ways you’ve never heard yourself sound before.

Then he kissed your boiling skin on your clavicle and when he reached the swell of your breasts you felt on fire. 

“Hng,” you whimpered, feeling his warm and wide palms press on your waist and slide underneath until he pulled up to sit. He never stopped kissing your body, not even when he pulled harshly at the corset strings to finally undo it. 

You gasped at the sudden freeing sensation and shyly let your arms up for him to drag it up and let it fall to the side. 

He cupped your free breasts soon after under the thinner dress material and you threw your head back. 

Not in a million years you would regret that. It wasn’t possible. 

And when your back hit the mattress again Haechan finally kissed you, slowly, brushing your lips together first, then delicately taking your upper lip between his, letting you taste his bottom one. Your fingers deepened the pressure on his shoulders the same moment you felt his tongue nudge at your mouth. You opened further and timidly let yours meet his. It tingled all over your body and when he slid it fully inside your mouth you moaned.

You couldn’t breathe nor think. You couldn’t even move. 

Was this the love everyone was talking about? Because you were starting to understand. 

In that moment it didn’t matter what you two would end up doing. The only thing you could concentrate on was the ardent kiss and his hands on your arms, reaching up to slid the dress straps off your shoulders.

Then he touched the spot with his lips and you finally gasped, taking in as much air as you could, extending your neck in the opposite direction, giving him more space to fully drive you crazy. 

“Shh, it’s okay,” he murmured against your skin as you twitched ever so slightly. Your breast was almost bare and the thought of him seeing you as no one had before made your nipples poke the dress fabric until it hurt. 

“Tell me to stop anytime and I will,” he added. 

“I don’t want you to stop. Please,” you found yourself saying. 

________

You were so warm. You were warm and soft and Haechan desired you so much that he had to bite his lower lip almost to blood to prevent himself from devouring you completely.

Insane, he thought, you were insane to ask him to fuck you like that, and he was also insane for going with it.

His cock was so hard that it was painful and he imagined you felt the same, so he leaned down and wet your hard nubs making you gasp so deliciously that he made a mental note to do it often.

The thoughts of that being your first time together but maybe also the last was banging into his brain but he decided to ignore it. Your little sounds were grounding him and the way your breast felt underneath his hands, overflowing between his fingers as he squeezed just added to his brain haze. 

He was starting to feel feverish and if he didn’t ended up with his mouth between your legs soon he thought he was going to go insane.

Your hands on his shoulders made shivers go down his spine and when they moved to his hair, he hummed with your nipples against his tongue. 

He wanted to make you feel good, he wanted to make you feel so fucking good.

And he told you, murmuring it on top of your skin, sliding down your torso and letting your scent and warmth guide his clouded brain. 

Haechan took your dress with him and when he couldn’t take it anymore he lifted himself on his knees and dragged it up your legs, throwing it as far as he could.

Your chest was falling and dropping so fast underneath him and he took a moment to enjoy the view, letting his gaze caress you where his hand was, slowly from your ribcage down your navel until reaching the slit between your legs. 

You gasped, the little O on your face making his almost growl. 

“Have you ever touched yourself before, darling?” he asked with a voice he barely recognized. 

You shivered and he leaned back down to shelter you with his body, his hand still lazily drawing circles around your plump and soaked clit. 

__________

You tried to hide your face in the crook of his neck but he was quicker.

You couldn’t believe you were completely naked in front of the man you desired so desperately. Was that the cruel joke of the destiny? Giving you all before taking it away from you?

Haechan kissed your lips, this time deeply and rougher than the first. Then he breathed on them. “Answer me,” he demanded. 

You melwed, unable to think. His fingertips were so delicate and gentle that they almost weren’t there, yet you felt them so well that you couldn’t concentrate on anything else. 

“Only outside,” you admitted. 

Haechan rubbed his nose against your cheek. “I thought you were a curious person. You never felt the need to know how it feels inside?” 

You swallowed thickly. Not in your most depraved thoughts you imagined a gentleman talk to you like that. And you loved it. 

“I was afraid,” you admitted. 

Haechan hummed, kissing slowly alongside your neck then licking your ear. “You’re so sensitive. Were you afraid it was going to hurt?”

You nodded as a reply. 

“Are you afraid now?” he looked you in the eyes, his fingertips never stopping for a moment. 

“No,” you whispered. 

Haechan’s wet lips were open as if to let more air get inside his lungs and the thought of you being the cause to that decadent expression made the wetness between your legs just get worse.

You bit your lower lip, wondering if he noticed and when he dropped his hand by a mere centimeter you could feel his finger nudge at your hole and collect every drop of it. 

You closed your eyes in embarrassment, clasping the material of his shirt on his bicep, and it just made Haechan more eager to rub your clit in ways you never even thought of. 

“Show me,” he said, his voice so thick and rough that you felt like swimming in it. “Show me how you touched yourself.” 

“Please,” you begged unsure yourself for what. 

“Don’t be shy. Put your hand on top of mine and guide me, love,” he murmured with a twinkle in his eyes that made your insides burn. 

You let one of your hands slide down his arm and you reached the back of his hand between your legs. It felt so erotic that you felt like combusting. 

“Yes, just like that,” he prompted you, his lips now back on your chest, gently biting the softness of your flesh. 

You gulped and pressed your fingers on top of his, moving them in little circles you knew felt good. Haechan hummed. “Yeah? Do you like it like this?” 

The little nod you gave him made him smile. Then it turned into something more ferocious. 

“What about this?” he changed the movement, his fingers now gently flicking your nub up and down as well, pressing a bit more that you did it yourself, sending jolts of pleasure across your body. 

“Yes,” you stuttered. 

“Yeah?” he spoke in the crook of your neck. “Did you make yourself cum as well?” 

You threw your head back at the sensation and his tone and his words didn’t help you feel grounded at all. “A few times.” 

Or at least you thought you did. Because the way Haechan was making you feel didn’t even come close to the way you managed to make yourself feel alone. 

“May I?” his words buzzed against your lips, so polite in contrast with the way his fingertip felt like nudging at your core. 

You bit your lower lip and Haechan rubbed his lips on you as a in invitation to bite his lip instead. You inhaled and nodded, pressing your hand on top of his.

He sucked the air between his teeth and kissed you deeply, letting his tongue smack against yours in the wettest and most desperate kiss. 

And when you felt his finger slide inside of you it felt so overwhelming that you clenched so hard he had to break off the kiss to shush you. “You need to relax for me, baby, yeah?” 

You felt your whole body shake and Haechan kissed the corner of your mouth then your cheek, doing on your jaw and neck.

“It’s going to feel very good, I promise,” he murmured against your clavicle. “That’s right,” he exhaled, feeling your melt in his hold. “My sweet sweet girl, just like that.” 

The praise went to your head so badly that you almost didn’t realize the way he managed to move inside and out of you slowly and when he reached a specific spot and curled his finger upwards you jolted in place, grabbing his shoulders with a strong grip, the moan that escaped your throat probably loud enough to wake up the neighbouring passengers. 

“You like that, darling?” Haechan kept fucking you on his finger until you couldn’t close your mouth, the sensation sending the most intense jolts of electricity up your legs and torso. 

“Fuck,” you exhaled and Haechan chuckled. 

“Yeah? My lady became this dirty for me?” 

“Shit,” you couldn’t stop yourself. “Oh, heavens.” 

The wet sounds and Haechan’s quick breaths made you curl your toes, and when he stopped his hand and you felt his finger exit you mewled a protest. 

“More, please?”

Haechan gave you a cocky smile, lifting himself on his knees in front of you and letting you stare at the way he took off his jacket then slowly, so fucking slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt.

His pristine skin peeking underneath the white fabric made your mouth water and you had to sit down as well, leaning in and pressing your lips on his chest. 

________

Haechan exhaled and cupped the back of your head and when he felt your delicate fingers open the rest of his buttons he thought he’d cum on the spot. 

Your touch was heaven on his chest and your lips started to get too low, very low, down his abdomen until reaching the band of his dress pants.

Your ass was full on display the way your were crouching on all fours and when you lifted your gaze up, your mouth so close to the tip of his clothed cock, he reached and gave you a light spank that made your eyes shine and your tender throat mewl. 

He desperately wanted his cock down that throat but he knew it would be insanity. 

So he grabbed your chin instead and pulled you upwards to kiss your mouth again, and this time when he pushed you into the mattress he didn’t care to be gentle.

The grunt that left your chest made him worried that he had been too harsh but the way your grabbed his hair and pulled him into the kiss again, wrapping your thighs around his waist told him you weren’t a porcelain doll. 

And when he left your gasping mouth to devour your cunt the moan you made and the way your body curved almost broke him. 

“Haechan,” you called out and he has never heard someone pronounce his name in a sexier way. 

He hummed back, deeply, licking a stripe up from your hole to your clit and resting on it heavily before rolling the tip around it, tasting you, flicking it until he felt your nails dig in the forearm he snaked around one of your thighs.

He pressed his palm on your lower stomach and the way you inhaled deeply made him suck ever more. 

________

Legs around his head - the Conductor’s head - and his mouth on you, his arms around your limbs and his scent all over your body, you’ve never felt more ready to die. 

“God,” you moaned, shaking in his hold so much that he added more pressure on your hips and when you felt his fingers nudging at your hole again, this time two of them, gently pushing past the rim, you grabbed the sheets underneath your until you had no more strength.

“Please please please,” you mumbled, his fingers hooked in so deliciously that you couldn’t see anymore. You had no idea there was such pleasure out there. 

Haechan hummed, almost growled, his mouth full of your and his deep blue eyes staring at you with such intensity that you just had to let go or you would go insane. 

“I feel-” you tried, your voice rough. 

The man let your clit go for a mere second. “Yeah? Come on, cum for me darling. Come on, my love.” 

It was like a switch, his tongue back on you and his fingers stretching you so well that you could only bury your had in the pillow and scream, coming undone until the only thing you could hear was your own breaths and the gentle rumbling of the Train underneath you. 

Haechan’s little kisses made your shaking thighs relax and you realized you were clasping his wrist so you let go with trembling fingers. 

“My good good girl,” he came towards you, peppering kisses all over your body, his fingers still deep inside of you, feeling the way you kept rhythmically clenching around them. 

His lips were wet and red when he reached your mouth.

You exchanged a deep look that made all the hairs on your body rise and when he kissed you slowly and you tasted yourself on his tongue you felt like pouty in his arms. 

“I want to make you feel good too,” you whispered against his lips. 

Haechan hummed and slid his fingers out, making you hiss. Then with his wet hand he grabbed yours gently and directed it towards his pants. 

“Open the buttons,” he ordered and you gulped, sliding your second arm between your bodies and obeyed, opening them one by one and feeling the heat coming from his body. 

“Now touch me,” he breathed against your temple and you felt like rolling your eyes back from the sheer intensity of that energy. 

You looked up and saw the man of your life close his eyes and furrow his eyebrows almost in pain when you caressed his length from tip until base. 

“Fuck,” he gulped. “Harder,” his order made you bit your lower lip and you added a second hand, grabbing it loosely and moving them both up and down. 

Haechan wrapped your hands with his and you inhaled shakily at the darkness of his eyes. He guided you, making you squeeze more until his breath went missing. 

“Like this?” you asked. He was hot and hard but so velvety that you were afraid to hurt him. 

“Just like that, darling,” he reassured you and when you felt the drops of something sliding under your palm Haechan’s jaw clenched. “You’re making me feel so fucking good, good heavens Y/N.” 

You picked up the pace, loving his sounds and his expressions and he groaned.

You wanted more. You needed more.

“Please, I need you,” you murmured against his cheek. 

Haechan leaned in and bit down on your neck, sucking on your skin and the sting felt so good that you felt your cunt pool up again. “Say that again, darling.” 

You exhaled. “I need you, Haechan, please.” 

“Where?” he breathed on your open mouth. 

“Inside of me,” you choked on air as he reached down and slid his cock out of your hands with a wince, letting it rest between your fold instead. 

“Yeah?”

You nodded and gasped, feeling the heaviness on if rub against your sensitivity. 

“I need you to stop me at any given moment of discomfort. Do you understand me?” 

His tone and demeanor made you almost chuckle. He drove you crazy. 

“Yes, sir,” you whispered and Haechan put his tongue inside his cheek at your choice of words. 

He intertwined his fingers with yours while the other hand held the base of his cock to align himself with you.

It was so big and thick, two veins running down it similar to his forearms and it made you swallow dryly at the sinful thought that came inside of your head. 

But you felt drunk and you didn’t care.

“I want it in my mouth,” you locked eyes with him and Haechan visibly crumbled between your legs. 

“You’ll be the death of me,” he inhaled sharply through his teeth and pushed inside of you slowly making you gasp and squeeze his fingers. 

“Mmmm,” you furrowed your eyebrows and Haechan stopped, leaning down to shush you, kissing your neck and guiding your breaths until you wrapped your legs around his waist and pulled him forward. 

“Does it hurt?” he murmured, moving his hips ever so slightly, making more and more space for himself. 

“It stings, outside, but it feels good, inside,” your phrases were broken and Haechan chuckled against your lips, giving you a quick kiss that you couldn’t concentrate on as he was getting closer and closer to the spot you oh so desperately wanted him to reach. 

“It’s going to feel better soon,” he reassured. 

“I know. How does- it feel-for-you?” your tiny voice, stuttering because of his shallow thrusts made Haechan dig his other hand in the mattress. 

“It feels like heaven, my darling.” 

You hummed and then gasped as Haechan felt you open even more, swallowing him so well that he had to compose himself before he could start losing it and ram inside of you. 

“Does the thought of me feeling good turn you on, love?” he grabbed your waist, keeping you in place and finally bottoming out. 

Your face scrunched and the moan you let out sounded like music to his ears. 

“Haechan-” 

“Yeah?” 

_______

Your breath was so irregular that you felt not enough oxygen getting to your brain.

There were no words to describe how he felt inside of you, intoxicating, sinful, full, so fucking full, he was all over you, inside your body and mind and heart, you wanted him more and more, you wanted him forever. 

You stared at him between your lashes and you hoped he could see all of that. You hoped he could understand how he made you feel and you hoped he felt the same. 

“I know, baby,” he shushed you, his hips picked up the pace and he was heavy and deep, the sound of his skin slapping yours making you hide your face into the crook of his neck in shame. He let you do that and lifted your hand above your head, pushing into it as much as he wanted to push into you and couldn’t for fear of hurting you. 

Your brain went to the image of him fucking you desperatly and animalistically, fast and with no worry.

You desperately wanted that.

You wanted him again. That couldn’t be the last time you saw each other.

No way. 

“Haechan, kiss me, please,” you managed to speak between the gasps. 

The man leaned down and kissed you deeply, fucking you both with his tongue and his cock, until you moaned into his mouth. 

His eyes were feverish and his forehead shining with a thin layer of sweat.

You let his hand go to wrap his neck and dig your hands in his soft messy hair, not breaking eye contact until with no words you both orgasmed and you lulled each other’s shaking bodies to sleep. 

---will continue---

#haechan smut #haechan angst #haechan fluff #haechan fanfiction #nct dream smut #nct smut #nct 127 smut #nct dream angst #nct angst #nct 127 angst #nct dream fluff #nct fluff #nct 127 fluff #nct schenarios #haechan scenarios #haechan imagines #nct dream imagines #nct imagines #fanfiction #fantasy #mark #nct haechan fanfiction

[minjithekang]

NCT DREAM

THEY DEALING WITH YOU ON YOUR PERIOD

MARK

RENJUN

JENO

HAECHAN

JAEMIN

CHENLE

JISUNG

Thanks for reading, lovelies♡

#nct texts #nct dream #nct dream texts #mark lee #renjun #jeno #jaemin #haechan #chenle #park jisung #romance #reading #oneshots #music #imagines #kpop #fluff #fantasy #jaemin texts #mark texts #renjun texts #jeno texts #haechan texts #chenle texts #jisung texts #lee donghyuck #lee jeno #na jaemin #zhong chenle

[softsan]

NCT WEREWOLF AU (AESTHETIC)

A remake of this: X

Taeyong

alpha

seven hundred and one years old

suspicious and dubious of humans

puts his pack above all

can be rash and unforgiving

encounters his mate on a non-routine hunt

mate: councilman's daughter

Taeil

elder

eight hundred and fifty-six years old

oldest member of the pack

works as an adviser to the alpha and the betas

breaks up and resolves pack conflicts

stumbles onto his mate who's wearing a disguise

mate: physician

Johnny

hunter

four hundred and eighty-nine years old

has the best sense of smell in the pack

the pack's number-one tracker.

exceptional at mauling his enemies.

left heartbroken by his mate's rejection

mate: rival pack member

Yuta

hunter

four hundred and sixty-seven years old

incredibly quick and stealthy

is labeled the 'ambusher' for his cut-throat hunting tactics

despises the prospect of a mate

believes fate is cruel and callous

mate: city guardian

Kun

beta

six hundred and eighteen years old

second in command

rules in taeyong's absence

known to be morally strict and stern

goes against his beliefs by stealing his mate away

mate: stolen bride

Doyoung

delta

five hundred and thirty-two years old  

is the support unit of the pack

on standby to fulfill the duties of ill or injured packmates

finds himself in a hopeless situation

accidentally marks his mate in a poisoned haze

mate: north's princess

Ten

head scout

five hundred and sixteen years old

has an unparalleled control of his inner wolf

works as the pack's eyes and ears in the city

warns the pack of dangers outside their territory

overcomes his heartbreak by meeting a nifty pickpocket

mate: thief

Jaehyun

delta

four hundred and forty-nine years old

strongest member of the pack

formidable opponent in battle

responsible for guarding the pack's territory

comes across his mate in the scorching sands

mate: she-wolf

Winwin

sentinel

four hundred and three years old

routinely patrols the pack's territory

greats new visitors and learns their intentions

will harshly punish aggressive and disrespectful intruders

accidentally kidnaps his mate instead of his actual target

mate: royal governess

Jungwoo

scout

three hundred and twenty-one years old

has great command of his inner wolf

can avoid shifting on a full moon

gathers and shares information for the pack

blown away by his sweet mate

mate: royal maidservant

Mark

delta

three hundred and twelve years old

known to be sunny but stubborn

incredibly fast learner

teaches hunting skills to younger pack members

saved by his mysterious and magical mate

mate: thread coven witch

Renjun

salutary

two hundred and sixty-three years old

is the pack's herbalist

makes tonics and concoctions for his fellow wolves

plagued by dreams of the past

gives the cold shoulder to his mate

mate: old soul

Jeno

hunter

two hundred forty-eight years old

a distinguished pack fighter

often organizes hunts

is the first to volunteer to go on nightly patrols

captured by his formidable mate

mate: general's daughter

Haechan

omega

two hundred and twenty-four years old

rash and impulsive

has poor control over his inner wolf

frustrated by his low status within the pack

taken in by his beloved mate

mate: baker

Jaemin

hunter

two hundred and twenty-two years old

very talented tracker

is the most versed with their territory's terrain

lovestruck by the idea of love and fate

has his memory wiped by his elusive mate

mate: siren

Xiaojun

scout

one hundred and eleven years old

has mastered controlling his inner beast

recently elevated to the position of scout

is eager to prove himself within the pack

rescues his mate from the cruelty of humans

mate: seer

Hendery

hunter

eighty-three years old

loves running under the moon's light

known for his great speed and stealth

recently elevated to the position of hunter

taken down by his fearless mate

mate: assassin

YangYang

omega

twenty-three years old

only recently had his first transformation

is the pack's forager

searches for plants and provisions to help feed the pack

is reunited with his childhood friend and mate

mate: greenskeeper

Chenle

pup

twenty-two years old

is eager for his first transformation

spent his early years on the run with his aunt

thankful to be accepted into a pack

ambushed by his wicked mate

mate: star coven witch

Jisung

pup

twenty-one years old

is nervous about his first transformation

last to join the pack

spent years hiding underground from humans

shyly taken by his doting mate

mate: seamstress

#nct #nct imagines #nct fluff #nct dream #nct fanfiction #nct werewolf au #nct agnst #nct fanfic #nct 127 #nct u #kpop #wayv #wayv au #wayv fanfiction #nct dream fanfiction #nct moodboards #nct au #nct icons #nct fanfiction au #nct fantasy au #nct dream fanfic #nct reactions #nct dream reactions #nct 127 reactions #wayv reactions #nct headcanons #nct x reader #kpop moodboard #kpop icons #kpop fanfic

[haechurch]

"What's wrong baby? Panting like a dog in heat... what a needy, needy little slut,"

Well, jaemin isn't wrong. You feel horny and you're kinda having an urge to get off fast so when you saw your boyfriend sat peacefully on his computer chair, you're planning on interfere him for whatever he was doing at his desktop, just for a moment.

And here you are, sighing, whining even louder when jaemin throw the filthy comment as you straddle him, grinding your pussy into his hard bulge. Unlike you who keep panting and wriggling on top of him with eyes shut, brows knitted, and loud moan exiting your mouth, jaemin was more motionless and calm.

He's staring at your face with a dark, half lidded pair of eyes, full of lust. His mouth slightly agape, every so often leaving some of low curses and grunts. He would sigh and growl in attempt to restraining himself from cumming sooner.

When you open your heavy eyes to see jaemin's face, you swore you were in the edge of coming undone on how lewd his expression was. And you realized he just as fucked up as you were at the moment. His lashes looks beautiful as always as his eyes bore into yours between love and lust, stare straight into your soul with adorance and devilish desire.

Once you think you can't take it anymore you mewl out loud and pressed your body onto him, clawing at his bare shoulder as you speed up your pace, hitting up all the precise spot that makes both of you feel so much pleasure.

You suck on jaemin's thick neck and trailing wet kisses, leaving red marks all over the skin, lapping on every veins as he drop his head back, jaw clenching hard. His adam's apple even more visible as it bob a little too hard when he's trying his best not to choke on himself.

"Shit. Baby girl, if you keep on doing that, i will come in no second-"

And that's when he shoot his warm load, dirtying his own sweatpants. "Fuck.."

#if all of these aint living free in our fantasies #hes so hot #jaemin hard hours #jaemin smut #nct hard hours #nct smut #nct dream hard hours #nct dream smut #nct blurbs #nct imagines #jaemin #nct dream #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios #nct drabbles #nct dream drabbles #nct scenarios

[neonacity]

ARCANE : INIZIO | CH.7 | NCT DREAM X READER

Summary: When human deviants granted with the abilities of the legendary Arcana cards find themselves racing against devious forces, they are left to make a choice that might change the fate of the world itself: be the victims of the game, or become the masters of it themselves.

But will this war end with a crowned hero?

Or will it just create another mad villain?

*****

Note: This is the second book of Arcane. The happenings in this story is a prequel to the first installment which you can check in my Masterlist. Since the lore is highly dependent on the first book, I highly suggest you check it out first—otherwise, new readers might have a hard time understanding what is happening here. Expect lots of time jumps and flashbacks throughout the chapters.

Pairings: Dream 00’ Line + Mark x Reader

Trigger Warnings/Themes: romance, violence, torture, trauma, poly dynamics, suggestive themes, language, psychological, mystery, sci-fi. The concept of the tarot or Arcana cards will be loosely used throughout the series. Note that I am not a trained doctor so there may be some slips here and there about medical things. Again, this is a work of fiction and I am not implying any likeness between the characterization here of the boys to their real life counterparts. I also reserve the rights to all my work—I do not post anywhere else other than tumblr. Minors DNI. Please do not repost. I only publish my works in Tumblr.

© neonacity, 2022

Chapter Song: Before the Dawn | Evanescence

Previously > CH. 1 | CH.2 | CH.3 | CH.4 | CH.5 | CH.6

The soft, soulful notes of the grand piano teased the edges of your consciousness like the whisper of a lover. 

You have no idea what time it is when you managed to open your eyes, but the first thing that registered to you as you stirred from your sleep were the beams of moonlight that pierced the darkness of your room. It took you a couple of quiet seconds to prop yourself up from your bed, eyes drifting towards the direction of the music as you tried to gather your bearings. Beside you, the glowing handle of the clock on your desk struck 2AM.

The cold feel of the floor seeped into your skin when you pulled the blankets off of you and finally swung your legs over the side of the bed. The hymn floating in between the cracks of your door was beautiful, but there was something about the way the notes danced around each other that made the deepest parts of your chest throb dully. For some reason, it stirred great sadness in you, so you didn't give it a second thought to pull on your night robe and step out into the hallway to find its source. You know exactly where to go… And in a way, who you will find at the end of it.

His back was on you the moment you stepped into the room. It was dark, with only the light of the moon peeking from the high window providing illumination to the almost empty space. It was enough for you, however, to make out his strong back contrasted by the graceful features of his profile. His lean fingers continued dancing across the piano keys and you decided to stop just on the edge of the hallway to watch him from a distance.

"Aren't you cold?"

You weren't surprised at all when he addressed you, his low voice braiding through the notes of the hymn he was playing. He still hasn't looked at you, but you still gave a slight shake of your head in answer.

"That's a very beautiful piece you are playing."

"Did I wake you up?"

"You did. And I think you did it intentionally, too."

The way the corner of his lips slightly curved into a small smile made you tighten your fingers around yourself. You wanted to reach out to him, touch his face, and pull him over to you all at once. You might as well have screamed your thoughts out loud because Mark finally turned to look at you, his gaze gentle and open.

"Come here?"

Your first instinct was to keep your ground, but the side of you that wanted him close got the best of you in a heartbeat. Stepping away from the shadows, you went straight to him, his arms already opening for you before you even settled beside him. You melted into his embrace, fingers treading through his hair as he pressed his nose against the crook of your neck. You frowned and closed your eyes at the contact, the heavy feeling that you didn't even know you've been lugging around for the past couple of days leaving your chest like smoke. 

"Don't do that to me again. I thought you left me," you half whispered to keep your voice steady. You felt him sigh against your skin.

"I'm sorry… I needed some time alone."

"Do you hate me?"

Mark shook his head before letting you go just enough so he could see your face. You didn't even realize the tears brimming in your eyes until he reached out to catch them before they fell with his rough fingers.

"I could never hate you."

"But I…"

His smile fell a little as he gave a slight laugh.

"I admit the rejection hurt. I needed time to compose myself again. I wasn't really at my best when we talked so I had to distance myself a little."

"Mark, I'm sorry…"

The way his gaze probed your face now made a twisting tightness bloom in your chest again. It was the same way he had always looked at you, but now with a shade of honesty that he never had before. 

"You shouldn't. You made me realize something after all."

Your throat felt tight, but you managed to speak.

"What?"

"That you love me. And that the way you also love the others doesn’t change that."

Your heart squeezed in your chest.  You wanted to answer him, give him confirmation, but the way he looked at you told you that he didn’t need any of that assurance anymore. Instead, you leaned your cheek against the hand he raised to cup your face, eyes never leaving his. When he smiled at you again, you knew right then and there that the two of you will no longer be able to go back from all the pretending that provided you safety before. This was a man who had stopped himself from holding back because for the first time, he was finally standing in the same spot you’ve always been at. 

For once, none of you are afraid.

“Are you back for real this time? I asked the others and they said you were gone for days. Nobody knew where you went.”

A look of recall quickly crossed his features at your question. He almost seemed a bit guilty, but you knew there was more to it than he was letting on. You could feel dread at the back of your throat, but waited for him to take his time to answer.

“I didn’t really leave because of our conversation. There was something I was trying to figure out.”

“What?”

“Who the traitor is behind all of this.”

You paused. Mark's gaze never wavered from yours and you could see the clear frustration from the set of his brows.

“Did you find out anything?”

“Not much. I could have done it easier with the help of my father but I—” he stopped, a hard look flashing in his eyes momentarily. “I know he is supportive of the Headmaster’s decision for all of us to go into hiding. He wouldn’t help me even if I beg him to. I was able to get access to some reports of the investigation that our family have been doing though. Whoever is coming after us must come from an advanced technology corporation. They—”

“It’s Cypher Institute, isn’t it?”

Mark froze in his seat, his gaze one of surprise before it morphed into confusion.

“How did you know that?”

“Jaemin and I snooped around in my father’s office while he was gone and someone called him about it. It was a coincidence. Was it the same Institute that you were able to confirm from your father’s side?”

The way Mark’s expression changed in just a matter of seconds slowly made an uncomfortable feeling bloom in your gut. It was what he said next, however, that really threw you off.

“My father is not aware about Cypher Institute.”

You frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“He had leads but none of the files I cross-checked had any mention of Cypher. And I looked at everything, I am sure of it. Whoever gave that information to your father is not from our family.”

The silence that wrapped the two of you was brief but heavy with meaning. There were so many questions that came to mind but it was Mark who managed to voice out the most pressing thing you couldn’t bring yourself to say.

“Do you know any other family that your father could be working with?”

You shook your head slightly.

“He does work with everyone. The Kim’s are one when he asked Mijeong to watch over me while I was in university, and I’m sure he also had agreements with the families of the other Masters. I’ve always thought that he shares a lot of his plans to your father though… Especially anything related to this threat. It was the Lee's who saved him from the latest ambush after all. It wouldn’t make sense for him to ask another family to look into things over your father…”

It took a while for Mark to finally say something as he processed that. Your throat felt dry, and you could almost feel your hand locked with his slowly grow cold.

“It would make sense. If he doesn’t fully trust my father.”

His words hung thick in the air. You didn’t know what to say, especially with him saying what you couldn’t put into words. There was something about Junho Lee that has always bothered you, but he is also Mark’s family and for that, you still provided the man a level of respect even from a distance. Still, you knew that one of your father’s reasons for trusting him stands on shaky ground—you just didn’t expect for the distrust to run this deep.

“Do you think… He can do that?”

Mark’s jaw tightened at the question. You could see the fight going inside of him so clearly that you almost felt bad for asking.

“He's a very ambitious man. I was still very young when I lost my mom, but I remember enough to know that he was never really the same after what happened. Still, he is the only other family that I have and…”

“And it is absolutely alright if you want to believe in him,” you gently interjected by giving his hand a gentle squeeze. Mark pursed his lips and he shifted his gaze away from you, his expression torn and pained.

Just like you, Mark’s life was greatly affected by what happened in the past. Fate dealt him bad cards, and for that you can’t really blame him for wanting to stand up for things he wants to believe in. You would do the same if you were in his place; choose to stand by your father before anything and anyone else. 

It took a moment before he finally seemed to break from his thoughts. Gaze following him, he reached out for something in his pocket before finally offering his open palm to you. It was dark so it took you a moment to realize what you were looking at, but your lips were soon enough parting wordlessly as he moved to open the small blue velvet box he was holding carefully. 

Lying nestled in black satin, catching the light of the moon, was a deep blue diamond ring framed with smaller clear gems on its sides. It looked ornate but well-loved, like a star that had fallen in the middle of a dark night. Your eyes widened as you stared at it, Mark’s silence in contrast to the sudden loud beating of your heart.

“What…”

“It’s my mother’s wedding ring. My father gave it to me when he told me about his plan of us getting married.”

“Mark… I…”

Your voice sounded so full of guilt, but he gently cut you off by pressing the box against your palm.

“Relax, I am not proposing to you,” he said in a tone that made you pause. “I told you that I understand where you stand now. I am not going to force you to do anything that you’re not comfortable with.”

You swallowed, but let him continue. 

“But we can’t deny how dangerous it is right now. There is a traitor in our family and it could be anyone, including my father. I won’t blame you if you can’t find it in you to trust us right now, but my family can give you protection, regardless of who is the person who betrayed us. Even if it was him, I think he will spare you if we make him believe that you’re engaged to me.”

“What makes you think he will make an exception for me, Mark? If it really was him, and he was willing to sell the rest of the Masters, then he can betray anyone.”

“No. Not you.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you.”

The way you paused gave Mark the chance to really look at you, his eyes roaming your face. You were at a loss for words, and he used that as his window to continue with a gentle voice that made your chest hurt.

“My father can be ambitious and cruel, I admit that, but he knows how to honor love when he sees it. He was hit hard when he lost my mom, but I don’t think he is going to punish you and me for what happened. He will also gain nothing if he hurts you over us being engaged and making our bloodline stronger.” 

“I hate to say this, but it’s the reality we’re living in right now,” he continued. “I can protect you if you choose to continue your life as a Master. It’s that or you move away and cut off all connections with us. Follow what your father has always wanted for you and live like a normal human.”

You slowly shook your head as the weight of his words fully sunk in. You’ve always known this… Everything Mark is saying right now have always been the choices given to you. Not once have you accepted them though, especially with your only other option being to exile yourself from the Family and never see any of them for the rest of your life again.

“So are you saying that we should… tell everyone that we will get married?”

Mark’s gaze dropped before he gave a slight nod.

“Yes. At least while we haven’t figured out who the real traitor is. If they see that we’re both onboard, I don’t think they’ll rush us to it. We can buy ourselves some time.”

You were quiet. Your eyes found the ring again, a testament to a different promise made years ago. After a moment, Mark reached over and closed the box before guiding your fingers to close around it.

“You don’t need to give me an answer right now, but I want you to keep it. Even if we won’t get married, you’re the only woman who I want to have it.”

Your thumb ran over the soft plush of the velvet cover. A few seconds passed before you felt him gently hold your chin to guide you to look at him again.

“I’ll do anything and everything just so we could get to the bottom of this. Whatever happens though, I want you to know…”

“That I will never ever betray you. My life is yours.”

Time seemed to have stopped, the same way your heart did. He looked at you with nothing but bare honesty laid out and you received it, unafraid this time. A cloud shifted outside, and the next moment, you two met in the middle, lips soft against each other. It was a simple kiss, but one that you knew was long overdue. When you pulled away, you whispered softly against him, only loud enough for him to hear.

“I know. I believe you.”

******* “Come in.”

You have barely raised your hand to knock when your father’s clear voice sounded from the inside of his office. The antic would have been amusing if this were any normal day, but instead you found yourself slightly hesitating before finally pushing the door open. He wasn’t looking at you when you stepped into his room, his gaze set instead on reviewing a stack of documents laid out across his table.

“Are you busy?”

It was a rhetorical question at this point, but still, the man’s lips twitched into a small smile as he finally looked at you from over the rim of his wired glasses. He looked unhurt, but the dark shadows under his eyes betrayed how his last couple of days have been.

“Even if I am, I will always have time for you, Princess.”

You didn’t want to immediately soften after that, but you couldn’t help the way your eyes shifted sideways as a reaction. Your father, of course, noticed, and chuckled as a response.

“So? Is there anything wrong?”

Your shoulders slumped a little before you answered. To be honest, you didn’t really plan for anything when you decided to see him today. All you know is that you’re glad to see him again after he had been in and out of the Academy for the past few days, especially since you haven’t really talked after your argument. The way his eyes sparkled behind his glasses now made you think that he already has an idea why you’re here, but the man kept his silence to give you the room to open it up yourself.

“I wanted to apologize… For some of the things I have said last time.”

“Apology accepted. I want to do the same, since I have realized why my decision warranted that kind of reaction.”

Immediately, it felt like a part of the heaviness in your chest lifted. You remained standing in your spot though, your gaze open as you searched his face.

“Did you change your mind? About me and Mark?”

A pause.

“No, my dear. My stand remains the same. And you?”

You didn’t hesitate to answer.

“No… I am still against it.”

He nodded, but didn’t say anything else to counter you. Your father can be as headstrong as he is, but he also knows how to draw boundaries, at least temporarily. What you said next, however, is something he definitely did not expect.

“Mark and I talked though,” you added as you tried your best to work through the lump in your throat. Ever since that night with him, you’ve sat with your thoughts to consider every angle of the situation. You still don’t have a decision, but it would be unfair to lie to your father about what has happened since.

“We… still do not have an answer right now. But we are considering things.”

It was quite hard to gauge whether he was relieved about it or not, but he gave you a slight smile after his pause of silence.

“That’s enough for me. Thank you, darling. Now, do you want to sit? I know you came here to tell me more than just that. At least try to relax a little.”

You hesitated only for a little bit before finally giving in and settling on the chair across his desk. Now that you’re closer, you could better see the lines on his face, proof that the last few days haven’t been easy on him.

“I found out who was after us. I heard it from a call… While you were gone.”

“I know.”

You shot him a guilty look.

“Are you mad?”

The question made him laugh. “Honey, I would be even more surprised if you didn’t snoop around to find out things on your own. Let me guess, did Mark come with you?”

“No. Jaemin did.”

“Mm. As expected from Mr. Na. That young man's loyalty to you is fiercer than his strongest fear.”

“Why is Cypher after us, Papa?”

You didn't know if he was taken aback by your straightforwardness or not, but the moment you asked, a shadow of emotion you couldn’t quite understand flitted over his features. It was fast, but it was enough for you to understand that he knows something more than he is letting on. At first you thought he would avoid the question, but then the light in his eyes shifted again, almost as if he was looking inward to himself.

"It's human nature to crave power. Cypher, unfortunately, is one of those willing to meddle with it."

"Do you have any idea what it is that they want from us? Even with what they have, it is impossible for them to tap into the abilities of the Arcana. Manmade resources have no chance against us."

The pause from him was loaded. The man leaned on his desk now, shoulders slightly slouched as he took off his glasses and pressed the bridge of his nose. You almost wanted to reach out to him, but he seemed on the verge of breaking at the slightest touch. A flash of uninvited memory took over you, and it was then you realized that you've seen him like this before. Once, a long time ago when you were younger…

Back when your mother died.

"I wish I knew. It's hard to go against an enemy without understanding how they could possibly hurt you, but I am sure of one thing. They're dangerous. If there's something even more powerful than greed, it's hatred, and  Cypher… has both towards us. Whatever happens, we can't let them get to us. To any of you."

His words slowly sank like dull blades into your skin. There was something lurking behind his statements, a confession hidden in plain sight. You hated how you're piecing things together slowly, how you're realizing that there is possibly more to this than just going against an enemy.

"What do you mean about them hating us?" You asked softly now, your eyes set on him. Your father's gaze hardened as he continued staring at a spot in front of him. His silence was enough of an answer that you need.

"You… know these people. You know why they are doing this," you continued slowly. Your words seemed to have struck something in him, a look of pain overtaking him for a solid second before he finally reached for your hand.

“When the time comes, you will understand.”

“No, I don’t think I will. Why won’t you tell me everything?! I can help. You don’t have to carry this on your own.”

“Darling, you don’t understand. They are not like anything we have faced before. I’m doing this to protect all of you.”

You were quiet as your mind ran a million different things at the same time. You could see the cracks in him, the dawning realization shaking your core in a silent, terrifying way. There are a lot of moments in your life when you don't agree with your father, but you love the man, and he has always been the epitome of someone you can rely on ever since you were young. It doesn't matter how big the problem is, he will always come swooping down to save the day. As you look at him now across from you, shadows and light bouncing off his tired face, you felt your heart break as you realized one thing. He is afraid just as you are. Unlike you though, there was an air of resignation in him, as if he already knew the fate waiting for him.

“Then why… does it feel like you are saying goodbye.”

The way that he looked at you made something in you break. You shook your head slowly, and he cupped your face with his hand to keep yourself from trembling.

“You will understand it soon. For now, all I wish is for you to trust me. I know it might be too much to ask, but I hope you can give me this.”

You were terrified. In that moment, you felt like a little girl again, afraid to lose the only family that you have.

“Only if you promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You will not die.”

He paused for a bit before finally giving you a small smile.

“You have my word.”

You weren’t entirely convinced, but you took it, at least for now. Your father may not be perfect, but as much as he is flawed, he had always tried his best to never break his promises to you. You nodded now, your eyes falling to the piles of papers in his desk.

“What are we going to do now, Papa?”

His hand on your face lowered and your gaze landed on his ring as it caught light from the lamp on his desk. It was an ornate piece made with what looked like bronze, the simple band carved with intricate-looping patterns that are reminiscent of snowflakes. It was the only piece of jewelry that he had worn for as long as you could remember, on top of his wedding band that he never took off despite the death of your mother. For some reason, the ring looked different now as it shone against his skin. It looked regal in your father’s hand, yet at the same time... lonely.

When he spoke again, his voice was melancholy.

“When the time comes, you will know exactly what you have to do.”

******* “You know the view of the sunset looks best on the other side of the rooftop, right?”

Your head only slightly turned towards the sound of the voice that broke through your thoughts. Shrugging a little to yourself, you turned your gaze once more to the burning sky, eyes not really seeing the deepening colors there. You have no idea how long you’ve been sitting in the cold, but the freezing chill clinging to your skin gave you an idea of the hours you’ve lost track of. 

“I know. I didn’t really come here for the view though.”

Soft footfalls started moving towards you in answer. The next thing you felt was the warmth of a cardigan going over your shoulders as your visitor dropped to the spot next to you.

“That makes one of us. I do like the view here. Can I join?”

You raised a brow but grabbed the edges of the jacket to wrap the material tighter around you. “You’re already here. Will you leave if I ask you to?”

“Nope~”

The way you could almost hear his smirk in his voice couldn’t stop you from smiling a little. You gave a light-hearted sigh before finally turning to look at him.

“Why are you here, Haechan? Shouldn’t you be resting in your dorm? You just finished training with the others, right?”

“When I can finally have some alone time with you? You do realize how hard it is for some of us to get your time, right? Either you’re sulking on your own or you’re being hogged by my cousins—”

He wasn’t able to finish what he wanted to say as you raised your hand and knocked your fist on top of his head. Haechan jokingly flinched and massaged the spot you just hit, a smirk on his face.

“Did you just come here to harass me?”

“Did I lie? All I’m saying noona is that I’m a Lee too. What does Mark and Jeno have that I don’t have?”

You looked at him dead-panned before giving an answer.

“Height.”

The way his face dropped made your lips twitch. It was taking you everything not to dissolve into laughter with how hard he scowled at you.

“Okay, Princess, listen here. Mark-hyung is literally a centimeter taller than me. Don’t be mean.”

That was the last that you could take. Unable to help it, you finally gave in, your laughter bursting as you curled in on yourself to keep yourself from snorting. You could almost feel his frown deepening without even looking at him, the awareness of it only making you wheeze harder.

"I do know what I can do that those two dorks can't though," you heard him say quietly after he let you have your moment. When you finally gathered yourself again—cheeks pink from the cold and the laughing fit—he was looking at you softly. The sunset was kissing his skin, making him look as if he was glowing. The corners of his lips lifted as he angled his face a little to the side to watch you.

"I'm the only one who can make you laugh like that."

The way your heart jumped made you immediately forget what you thought was funny just seconds ago. Your relationship with Haechan has always been different… Mark is loyal, Jeno is secretive, Renjun is subtle, and Jaemin is passionate. Haechan has always been straightforward with what he wants, but unlike the others, his intensity can sometimes be impulsive, like an open flame ready to spark into a larger fire at any moment. It was in his nature—The Magician, as the master of chaos, is the one force in the Arcana that constantly straddles logic and madness, next to The Fool itself. He is designed to want you in a different intensity from how others feel ever since the Arcana chose him as its Master. 

It's because of this that you have always tried to hold back more when it comes to him. And so when he pushes, you pull back, not because you feel any less for him, but because the idea of you two meeting in the middle has always terrified you.

That, and you know that whatever feelings Haechan has for you at the moment might not be his own, but his Arcana craving for yours.

"You make me laugh just as hard as you can make me mad," you admitted finally, allowing your walls to break down just a little in front of him. Something flickered in his eyes though his smile remained.  

"You always run away from me, noona. Why?"

"You already know the answer to that."

"What I know is that you like me just as much as you like the others."

"I do. But do you feel the same about me? Or is it your Arcana telling you that you want me?"

Your question made him stop. You watched as the smile slowly bled from his face, his well-kept mask slipping for a moment. Haechan is a good master of his own emotions, but this time you knew you hit a chord. 

"I can do anything for you. Destroy worlds… and build new ones if you want me to,” he said, his voice serious. 

"I know. But that is not answering my question."

"Then what—"

"Will you feel the same if I am not the IL Matto, Haechan? Will you still like me if I’m just a regular human?"

The way his eyes hardened a little at the very thought of you living a life as a normal mortal admittedly made your heart break a little. You've always known this, of course… but hearing his answer now in his silence did not make it easier. When it seemed like he didn't know what to say next, you took it upon yourself to take his hand gently. He immediately wove his fingers with yours, his hold tight that it felt like he was giving you his reply through it alone. This time, it was you who smiled at him to try and give him comfort.

“I know how much you like me, but I can’t accept those feelings if you’re not even sure yourself that they’re your own. It’s unfair for me to give you an answer and take your free will from you, Haechan... I can’t do that, at least while you still can’t answer that question.” 

He looked so lost and in pain that for a moment, you could see the chubby-cheeked boy who had always ran after you when you were younger. It made you want to pull him in for comfort, but you settled on giving his hand a squeeze instead. 

"Hey. Don’t feel bad about it, okay? It’s fine. I like having you around, just like this. If you want to do anything for me though, then just promise me one thing."

He still seemed torn, but he managed to give an answer anyway.

"What is it?"

"Never stop making me laugh. You're right. You’re the only one who can do it."

******* Kun kept his eyes steady on the flickering flame of the candlelight in front of him. The room was quiet, but there was a different tinge of melancholy that was lingering in the air as the Headmaster sifted quietly through the papers in front of him. The ticking sound of the grandfather's clock in the room was deafening to him, like a death call waiting for its final drop. It was a reprieve when the door finally creaked open, revealing Taeyong on the other side of it. Kun waited for him to join his side, giving the man the liberty to break the suffocating silence.

"We just finished the final round of trainings, Sir. We’re gathering all the data before giving them to you."

"How are the kids?"

"They have improved a lot. They’re not at their full potential yet, but they can definitely control their abilities better now. They will be able to hold a fight… should the need arise."

"They don't have to. They only need to defend themselves,” the man said evenly. “Have you heard word from Doyoung?"

Taeyong paused before giving an answer. 

"Yes. He has confirmed that it is most likely Junho Lee who is working with Cypher."

The man's hand froze ever so slightly as he moved to pick up a paper from his desk. His face was calm, but there was something about the set of his lips that made Kun and Taeyong surreptitiously exchange glances.

"I appreciate you working with the Kim's, Taeyong. He's probably watching me very closely, so I needed you to do the job."

"Do you want us to get rid of him?" Kun's voice was quiet but steady when he asked the burning question. The Headmaster shook his head, his eyes hooded by the shadows from the flickering candle.

"No. Not yet."

Kun's jaw clenched ever so slightly at the answer. His morals tell him to take the man's word with no question—follow him with blind loyalty like he has always done—but he couldn't bring himself to do it now, not when everything seems to be crumbling around him. From the way that Taeyong was holding himself beside him, shoulders stiff and face set, he knows that the other Legacy shares the same stand.

"With all due respect, Sir. I would like to understand why," he finally decided to ask after gathering enough courage to speak again. The man peered at him from behind his glasses, curious, but not seemingly surprised by his question. He didn't know if it was just a trick of the light, but he thought he saw the shadow of a smile on the other's lips before he finally moved to cross his hands together.

"You and Taeyong always had the right to ask. The pair of you just do not give yourselves the full credit you are due."

For a second, Kun felt oddly like a child being gently reprimanded by a parent. Gathering himself again, he decided to press more to get answers.

"We do not understand why you're protecting Junho. He betrayed you. He betrayed all of us."

"I am not protecting him. I am protecting the Family… From him."

The look of silent confusion from him and Taeyong was not lost on the Headmaster. The man, on the other hand, seemed set and collected as always.

"Cypher is already a formidable enemy on their own. They will wage war on us soon, there is no doubt about it. Going after Junho now will only split the Family more—and we are currently at a disadvantage of not knowing who else within our network has decided to side with him. If he finds out that we know, we'll just be pushing ourselves in a corner. The Lee's have resources, and having those used against us is the last thing we need."

"So we will just let him do whatever, then?" Taeyong asked this time.

"No. When the time comes… And you will know when—you will have to take him down. Even his own son should he decide to betray my daughter."

The way the man said that so evenly without batting an eye made Kun and Taeyong's blood run cold. The Headmaster is a kind, rational man that oftentimes, people forget how cunning and ruthless he can be in his own ways.

"For now, I want to keep him alive. After all… He might still become useful in the future."

Both men stared at him, though none decided to speak up this time. Wordlessly, he picked up a thick brown envelope from his table and offered it to the two. Kun and Taeyong looked at each other before the former took it silently from his hands.

"When that time comes, my daughter will be the first person to know what best to do with him," the Headmaster continued as he leaned back on his chair. "Just the same as she will know what to do next once things start to unfold. When the moment calls for it, give her that envelope. It will help her."

Kun's fingers tightened on the edges of the bundle he was holding. There was a heavy feeling that had started to weigh on his stomach, similar to the one he had when the man talked to him first after his quick absence.

"Are you leaving, Sir?"

A shadow of something quickly glossed over the man's expression. It was so brief, but it was enough to give Taeyong and Kun the answer they hoped they wouldn't have to hear ever.

"There are things that only I can do in this fight. So yes… I would have to leave my daughter. For a while," he said, his eyes moving from one young man to the next. Maybe it was the darkness and the shadows dancing in the room, but in that moment, the Headmaster saw in the pair two other young men who stood shoulder to shoulder in this room once, many decades ago, promising their allegiance to the Arcana. The memory made his chest constrict with a mix of emotions—pain… longing… and sadness for what was and what will never be again.

He let the memories linger for a few more seconds before finally giving the two a small smile.

"I know I have already asked for too much from the both of you, but if I can have one last request… I hope you two can put her and the Family's best interests at heart while I am away."

"Consider it my last request as IL Giudizio."

******* Your footsteps echoed softly in the hallways as you made your way back to your room. Tucked loosely by your side are a couple of hardbounds, titles you decided to sneak out of the library in this unholy hour because you were already out of reading material. It's been weeks since most of the student body have been sent back to their homes, leaving Rosewood silent and vacant. Since then, you’ve tried to take comfort in the stillness surrounding you by keeping mostly to yourself and out of everyone's way.

You have already turned the last corner to your room when your phone suddenly vibrated in your jeans pocket. By the time you managed to pull it out and check your messages, you were already at your door, one hand wrapping around the knob while you tried to open the message notification. You have barely caught Mark's name on your screen when a gasp was suddenly torn from you as someone grabbed you by the arm, the motion causing the books you were holding to tumble to the floor. Your eyes grew wide as your back made contact against the wood, your elbow grazing the cold knob of your door as you were pushed against it. Your first thought was that you were being attacked, but a different kind of shock gripped you when you realized what exactly was happening.

You didn't really need to see him to know whose lips were pressed against you the next second. Even in your confusion, your hands automatically gripped the front of his shirt as he held you close to him. He was holding you so tightly that it took you a moment to guide his face back so you could see him better. Dark eyes met yours, hooded by his windswept, messy hair as you searched his face. The warmth of his breath fanned your lips and his fingers only dug deeper on your hip bones as if he was afraid that you will push him away. 

"Jeno, what—"

"I need you. Now."

Four words. That was all it took for you to pause and for your heart to stop in your chest. You held his gaze for a second longer before grabbing his hand the same time he reached out to turn the knob behind you. Wordlessy, you pulled him in, leaving nothing but the sound of your door closing in the empty hallway.

*******

A/N: This took a while because I simply could not put my thoughts into words properly. Enjoy!

Taglist: 

@effulgentfireflies, @kasperneo, @lostlovesoul11, @byunniebaekhyunnie, @smolpeyy, , @dearj43, @bettyschwallocksyee, @babyksworld,   @yongboksfreckles,  @user103843, @lovehowdream, @glitching-wren, @jhornytrash, @coconuttiez8d, @negincho​, @stopeatread​, @ellatizw​, @huangberryyy, @wonyofanclub​,

Untaggable for some reason: @renjunsflower, @coconuttiez8d

#mark nct x reader #haechan x reader #jeno x reader #jaemin x reader #renjun x reader #nct dream fic #nct dream imagines #nct dream reader insert #nct dream supernatural au #nct fic #nct fantasy au #nct fantasy fic #haechan fic #jeno fic #jisung fic #renjun fic #jaemin fic #chenle fic #mark fic #nct au #nct dream x reader #nct dream 00 line x reader

[yutafrita]

To Pierce The White Eye- THREE

Pre. / One / Two / Three / Four / Fin.

Pairing: Psychic!Jaemin x Reader (She/ her)

Genre: Fantasy, Thriller, soulmates au, angst

Warnings: Graphic depictions of physical violence, mentions of vomit, Occult imagery, mentions of religion,

Word Count: 7.1K

Work is inspired by/ based on blue exorcist & vampire knight.

You and Jaemin were squatting over your tiny kitchen table, shoulders brushing as you watched him doodle on a loose paper he asked for. You had taken him back to your studio so you could put on fresh clothes, and all the while he was silent as he pieced together his thoughts.

“The Na prophecy has been passed through my family for hundreds of years. We bear the burden of seeing it through to completion,” he started, capping the pen he was using and now using it as a pointer. 

“The university’s goal was to always assist in bridging the human and mythic world-,” he pointed at the two opposite edges on the rickety bridge he had hastily drawn, “but they always lacked the proper parts to build a bridge. Architects, sure,” he pointed at a small stick figure with a large coat, “and two- somewhat begrudging- sides. The bridge, though, never properly came into fruition. It wasn’t simply a bridge that we were missing, and the prophecy my ancestors saw knew this,” he paused to look up at you and away from his drawing.

“Spit it out,” you whispered, struggling to not collapse under your nerves.

“The bridge, that connection, needs three things- a human, a mythic, and… Satan’s blue flames,” your eyes widened when he uttered the last words. Blue Flames- like the ones you just exploded in. “A human and a mythic, easy enough, but Satan’s blue flames can only be achieved by either Satan himself or his offspring.”

You dropped yourself onto your floor, knees giving out on you. Jaemin couldn’t catch you in time, reaching at your elbows and falling to your side.

“If I could have seen your future, I would have caught you,” he admitted sheepishly, hoping to lighten up the weight he dropped. Your hands raced through your scalp, terrified as you tried in vain to dig up any memories from before your abandonment, but none coming to fruition. Those flames… it made no sense how they didn’t burn you except…

“How did you know?”

“... I could see your future for a while-.”

“No, how did you know who my birth father was? How did you know to keep watch over my future?”

Jaemin sighed, his chest deflating, “You met my mother when your father took you in. You were still young, confused, and even vampires who hid their fangs terrified you.”

“I was scared of everything- I was a kid,” you defended, your eyebrows knitted together.

“Right, but your father still had to host council meetings, so to help acclimate you he sometimes would ask a few parents to get there earlier and just… chat with you.”

“Ten was always there with me so it was more of a playdate when his Mom would visit… but I don’t remember your Mom,” you confessed.

“I know, she was only there twice. We have a habit on occasion of just seeing someone's future just because we can will it- but when she saw yours… she said all she saw was blue. She went by a second time, just to be sure.”

You moved away from Jaemin, frustrated then as you sat on your couch with your head in your hands. 

You were busy trying to plug different parts of the prophecy into your current situation. If you were truly Satan’s child (the flames made this difficult to deny), the human and flames were your parents (yuck- biological parents), but the mythic left you feeling uneasy.

“There’s more,” he whispered, still on the floor and staring up at you with wide eyes. When you remained silent, he took this as a sign to continue, “when those three ingredients are achieved, then the following sequence will occur,” Jaemin breathed in deeply, building up his courage, “a destined ruler will die in order for the blue flames to arrive on earth. A mythic in relation to the deceased ruler will fall in love with the flames. Then, either the pair dies, or someone else dies in order to protect them.”

The weight on your chest became crushing, and you released the breathe you were holding in. You couldn’t even fathom how Jaemin had to have felt bearing this knowledge.

“Just because your family says this prophecy is your responsibility, doesn’t mean it actually is,” your voice was hardly a whisper, and you stared at the blank TV in front of you.

You felt the couch dip next to you, and you didn’t bother looking over.

“So she told you about me and you took the mantle of making sure the prophecy is followed,” you thought over his words again, frowning, “no one should have to die to build a stupid metaphorical bridge.”

“Aren’t you going to ask?” Jaemin’s voice cracked, and that was when you looked to meet his gaze.

“What?”

“Ask me who I see dying.”

You looked at the psychic, petrified by the pained smile he wore.

“It was supposed… it was supposed to be me,” your eyes widened at his revelation, “but now… I don’t even know now because I can’t see your future,” he chuckled dryly, running his hands through his hair before looking back at you, “do you want to know why?”

“Stop with the fucking quest-.”

You stopped, guilt slamming your chest as you watched a silent tear graze down his twitching cheek. Clumsily, like how he did with you, you passed your sleeved hand over his cheek, sloppily drying him off.

“I want to see your future the most,” he whispered, his eyebrows furrowed as if he was deeply concentrating on something.

“A destined ruler will die in order for the blue flames to arrive to earth, and a mythic in relation to the deceased ruler will fall in love with the flames…” you repeated, “no one’s in love with me…”

Jaemin cleared his throat and averted your gaze, “yeah, well, I thought it would be someone else. I guess he’ll just need more time.”

You studied the side of his face, burying your own suspicions before you simply nodded in response. It’s not that you were not a believer in love- matter of fact, romance was one of your favorite book genres to read. It was more so that fact that you yourself had never been in love with someone- in relationships, yes, but being fully in love with someone…

“In your paths… did you see yourself in love with someone?” you asked. Maybe the psychic could tell you about how he would feel eventually.

He glared at you before he softened his expression. Jaemin internally was having a bit of a dilemma- he so desperately wanted to tell you what he knew, but he was petrified of your reaction. It terrified him that he couldn’t see your future, but he could catch a few small snippets of his own.

“... warm. It… feels warm. Like, yeah you’ve been warm before but there’s this warmth somewhere in your heart that you didn’t even know was cold,” he answered. His explanation made you melt- there was something so sincere about how he spoke, and there was something you felt blossom inside of you.

“Well, the person you’re meant to be with is very lucky,” you offered. You felt envious, and you chalked up the feeling to wanting to have someone who thought of you like that. Someone that felt warm at the thought of you.

Jaemin smiled grimly, “I wouldn’t say that at all.”

You’re not sure at what point it happened, but between you leaning your head on the couch and maintaining a half conversation with Jaemin, you stopped responding, instead falling asleep. You knew he had fallen asleep too, because in the midst of your dreams you found yourself being yanked out and returning to that white circular room. 

Jaemin was on his hands and knees on the floor, slapping the ground to look for something. You ignored the TV screens- some of which were more grainy than others- and kneeled in front of the psychic.

“It should be around here,” he muttered, ignoring your presence as he continued to slap along the pure white ground. You opened your mouth to speak before you let out a terrified scream, the ground beneath you opening as you fell for a few seconds, landing in a dim room on your back. You were breathing heavily, the white room still above you and seeping light into the dark space you found yourself in. Jaemin’s head poked out from above and he smiled, easily climbing down the opening and landing next to you. He helped you up as lights began to hum in the space, more monitors coming to life.

Only, these monitors were far fewer in their numbers than the ones above, and each one varied in age and size. You explored the cramped space with your eyes as they adjusted, noticing the cabinets that filled the area along with a computer tower in the corner.

“What’s this?” you asked, moving towards some of the cabinets.

“These are my memories of all my visions,” he explained, going toward the cabinet you were reaching for. With an experienced hand, he opened a drawer, leafing through the folders to yank one up. “When I was younger, I would pop into my Dad’s memory bank- it was huge,” Jaemin gushed, taking out a DVD from the folder as he moved towards the computer tower.

“So, these spaces change?”

“Yeah, mine hasn’t changed much, though,” Jaemin admitted. As he slid the DVD into its player, the lone blank monitor hummed to life.

“Have you ever tried to change it?” you asked, squinting at the lonely space he was in. Jaemin simply shrugged, his eyes fixed on the monitor in front of him. You moved forward, and Jaemin was painfully aware of your proximity to him, trying his best to not appear nervous.

The screen showed a clear video of you and Mark outside of the night dorm fence, a sunny day. Jaemin lifted an irritated finger, making you turn your gaze to the upper right hand corner that had a date and time stamped on the video.

“That was-.”

“The day after you met Yuta,” Jaemin cut you off, and you frowned.

“I… I was going to say the day we met,” you paused, “how did you know I met him that day?”

“That’s one of your paths I’ve been tracking… it wasn’t supposed to rain this day, and… and you were supposed to take the left,” Jaemin watched the screen with a slack jaw as he watched your figure on screen start to check around the night dorm via the left, and Mark the other side.

Irritated, you ejected the DVD from the computer tower, snatching it up in your hand as Jaemin stared at you in fear.

“Jaemin. It’s done. What the hell is the point of seeing the future if you can’t stop obsessing over the past? What is even the difference here?”

Jaemin was quiet, before shutting his eyes. “I think I should go.”

********

It had been a few days, and you felt as if you were in a constant state of limbo. All you wanted to do was speak with Jaemin again, but since he left that night all you could do was second guess any of your actions- you were terrified of affecting the prophecy and in turn hurting him more. You just wish you could understand him. You felt alone and scared- did he feel that way too? 

You slinked into the back of all your human classes and had skipped all of your night classes, leaving poor Mark to have to manage all of the Warden duties on his own for a week.

It was as you were dipping out of your bio class that your brother caught you. Mark pinched your ear, and you whined as you swatted his hand away, “cut that shit out!”

“Dude, I need you to go on watch tonight,” he snipped, ignoring your visibly disheveled appearance. You had slid out of bed earlier and just had on a hoodie that was far too old and pants that sat awkwardly on your hips since you lost the string that held them up properly. You knew that Mark could tell something was up with you, but he knew better than to pry when you seemed so miserable. You may look irritated, but you were frankly scared above all else.

“Fine,” you muttered. Doing research on your own you found that onyx was a good defense against demons and Satan, so after ordering two onyx bracelets, the bands wrapped around your wrist and seemed to suck out any energy you had. You were terrified of suddenly bursting into flames, but you wished you weren’t tired all of the time.

Ten and Chaein didn’t push your buttons when you walked into class that night. Ten simply glared at the onyx bracelets and Chaein offered a sympathetic smile. The rest of your peers, though, began to whisper amongst themselves when you entered the class, but all you could see was that Jaemin’s seat was empty. You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying to keep some semblance of focus on what your professor was discussing that night.

“... this unit is going to be a bit contentious,” the faerie professor hummed before continuing, “but the next three classes will be focusing on the Sect of Satan.”

“Professor, is that really necessary?” one of the students shot up from their seats. No one else spoke, but you saw multiple heads nodding in agreement.

“Hendery, this is a Modern Mythic Religion class- it would be like a human religion class not once mentioning any of the Abrahamic religions.”

“Sir-.”

“If any of you counter me again we are going to have a big problem,” the professor silenced the student named Hendery, and the student sat back down in defeat. You weren’t pleased at all by the lesson plan, but you were too exhausted to even think of arguing.

Outside now after your class, you sat on a bench taking in the cool night air. You rubbed your eyes in an attempt to stay awake, returning to stare off into space until you heard a leaf crunch behind you. Slower than you would have liked, you shot up from the bench, taking out your bo staff to see…

“What the…?” you looked down to see a small white cat staring up at you curiously. Pouting, and now spent from that small burst of adrenaline, you perched yourself on your knees to meet the cat at eye level. “Oh hi there buddy,” you hummed, scratching behind the cat's ears. It shut its eyes, leaning into your hand as you carefully studied it. Its fur seemed fairly clean, brushed, and the cat was friendly enough with humans to not be scared by your touch.

“Where’s your owner?” you wondered out loud, taking back your hand as the cat made eye contact with you.

“I would say I’m pretty independent,” the cat replied, making your eyes bulge before a realization dawned on you- shifters could turn into a few different animals, and one of them was a cat.

“Creep!” you lurched away from the cat, and it visibly scoffed.

“You’re the one that pet me.”

“What do you want?” you stood up. Your arms were crossed as you glared down at the feline. It was just the two of you outside of the main building, and all the other mythics were still in at least one more class for the evening.

“You should talk to Jaemin,” the cat replied matter of factly. Your eyebrow twitched, stunned by the sheer audacity of this cat. “He’s… been a bit of a mess since you last spoke.”

“I’m trying… I…” you frowned, shutting your eyes as you attempted to gather your frayed thoughts. Sighing deeply, you opened your eyes, “I don’t want to… fuck with my future more and hurt him.”

The cat stood up then, its tail swishing. “You guys are really meant for each other.”

“What?”

“Go see him, I’ll cover your guard,” the cat instructed before within the blink of an eye it transformed into the student that was arguing with the professor earlier.

“Why are you doing this, Hendery?” you asked, tilting your head as you studied his face.

“He’s my friend, and I don’t have to be a psychic to know that you’ll probably be somewhere in my future, too. Now go,” he smiled, taking the spot on the bench you previously were on. With the small bit of energy you had left, you slowly got up and made your way to the night dorm with Jaemin being the only person on your mind.

Across campus, Jaemin was in the courtyard of the night dorm. He hadn’t gone to class in a week and only left his dorm room to use the bathroom or steal food from the kitchen when his peers went to class.

Jaemin hadn’t been inducing any visions, so whenever one was forced onto him he winced in pain with a shot depth perception. Sat on a bench in the courtyard with his sandwich he flinched as a vision shoved itself into his view- it was of Hendery in his cat form, outside of the Knight’s Cross main building. Jaemin groaned. This vision had been popping up these past few days, more clear and crisp whenever it revealed itself to him.

Jaemin wished he wasn’t an idiot.

He wanted to talk to you so badly, but he was afraid of messing everything up. Jaemin wasn’t known for his sociability, and he was sure that he had scared you off. His obsession with making sure the Na prophecy was fulfilled was simply a good distraction for the simple fact that you were each other’s soulmate.

It terrified him.

It’s not that he didn’t feel like he deserved to be loved, but he just frankly accepted that if he was to be loved it would never be in the way his parents love each other. It’s gross, really. They dote on one another and have a secret language only the other could ever understand. There was no way he could ever be that… in love with someone else.

Yet, he smiled so easily with you- truly a rare feat. Even just thinking of you now in the empty courtyard with the last remaining bites of his sandwich, he couldn’t help but smile. He loved being around you and your humor and your love for weird books and topics. He felt so unnaturally safe with you, it freaked him out. 

He wasn’t in love with you, but he knew that he could be, and the fact that Jaemin couldn’t see this future made him want to throw up.

“Come on come on come on….” The soft voice at the front entrance of the courtyard made Jaemin’s ears perk up. For the first time in a few days, he forced a vision of himself, and gasped when he saw the other person entering the courtyard. 

The courtyard entrance clicked, accepting Mark’s keycard. Your brother swiftly entered the space, having a proud smile before his eyes landed on Jaemin and turned sour.

“Hey! Psychic!” Mark called stomping over to the bench Jaemin sat on. Jaemin’s eyes returned to normal, frantically scanning the courtyard for anything he could use to put some distance between him and Mark to no avail. Instead, he stood up tall, doing his best to rid any emotion from his face.

“I have a name,” Jaemin replied briskly as your brother now stood mere inches from him. Your brother may not be as good of a fighter as you, but he was still good enough to handle any medium level supernatural threat.

“You’re a dick.”

Jaemin’s face went blank.  “Huh?”

“You heard me. You know, I get that I shouldn’t get involved in any of my sister’s relationships- but you,” Mark took a sharp breath, shutting his eyes before glaring back at Jaemin, “you’ve made her second guess herself and that’s not okay.”

“Second guess herself?” Jaemin repeated this in a hushed tone, a feeling of disgust settling in his stomach. 

“Yes, shitface. I don’t know what happened, but you need to apologize to her and fix whatever the fuck you did,” Mark tightened his grip on his backpack strap. It was obvious to Jaemin that was all Mark could do to refrain from beating Jaemin’s ass. “She’s in the courtyard of the main building,” was all Mark said before turning on his heel, his steps echoing in the gated space until he finally left the psychic alone.

Jaemin felt a swell of emotions choke him. He felt guilty that he made you feel like that- it may not have been his intention, but that didn’t change the result. He also, and this part was small and he was ashamed of it, was giddy at the thought of you potentially wanting to see him. 

Wiping the sweat that formed on his hands off his shirt, he moved through and out of the courtyard. Along the long path away from the night dorm, Jaemin had expected to see Mark’s receding figure, but instead saw you running towards the courtyard and only picking up the pace when you saw the psychic slip out.

“J-Jaemin!” you shouted, your arms wrapping around the psychics neck as you collapsed into his arms.

“I’m sorry I was avoiding you I just-.”

“I don’t want to hurt you,” you cut him off, your voice muffled as you buried your face into his neck. 

“You could never hurt me,” Jaemin whispered. After a few beats of silence, he realized that you had leaned your full weight on him and had fallen asleep. Had you not been able to sleep? As Jaemin adjusted you in his arms to get a better look at your sleeping face, he heard the clank of bracelets, and knew what they were before even seeing them. Onyx bracelets. It was sucking the life out of you because you had no idea how to control your powers. 

*****

Jaemin was seated on your couch when you woke up, wide awake and flipping through a high school yearbook. 

“Good morning, I hope it’s okay that I stayed here. I just wanted to be sure you were okay,” he set the book down, making his way to your bedside. You squinted at the psychic, still sifting through your memories of the night before but nothing after running to Jaemin came to mind. Despite this haze though, you felt more full of energy than you had in the past week.

“It’s okay, thanks,” you whispered. Glancing down, you saw the glass of water the psychic held. Cautiously, you took it from his extended hand.

“I need to tell you something,” Jaemin whispered, his voice shaky. This moment was the one he was dreading as you slept. It wasn’t fair, he felt, for you to not know everything. It made his chest ache at the thought of hiding the truth- the whole truth from you. You deserved the whole world.

You groaned, “you didn’t eat the last yogurt I had in the fridge, did you?”

Jaemin was stunned for a moment before he laughed and shook his head, “no, I didn’t.”

“Good, that means it can wait until I piss,” you hummed, setting the glass on your nightstand and brushing past Jaemin. You stopped at the doorframe of your bathroom and glanced over your shoulder, “Jae?”

Jaemin blushed at the sudden nickname but tried to not show that his heart was racing, “yeah?”

“I know you act weird sometimes because your whole life was spent focused on that prophecy. When it isn’t about that, though, I think you’re actually kind of sweet, so you should just… be yourself,” you spoke, having practiced these exact sentences in your head all last week. You shut the bathroom door, and Jaemin clutched his chest.

What was this feeling wrapping around his heart and lungs? The tightening of it as he replayed your words in his head? You thought he was sweet? 

In the bathroom, you sprinted through your morning routine- you were so aware of Jaemin’s presence near you and all you wanted to do was keep speaking with him. How did he sleep? Did he see any interesting futures as he did?

You stepped out of the bathroom, shrugging on a hoodie you left on your floor as you approached the corner of your bed Jaemin perched himself on. His eyes felt like they could nail you down to your spot. You began to feel oddly shy as you leaned on the wall across from him, waiting.

“So, my Mom told me about why I can’t see your future,” Jaemin’s voice was shaky despite the way his eyes never lost focus from you. You tilted your head, attentive as he continued, “she told me…about how when she never saw my father in her future. And, I remembered how my aunt never saw her partner in her future…” Jaemin squeezed his eyes shut, turning his face away from you.

“Y… Your parents couldn’t see each other in their futures?” you whispered, gears in your head turning in a rapid fire pace. Jaemin’s eyes were trained at his feet now, noticing how yours and his were inches apart before he nodded. There was a warmth spreading in your hands as you tried to digest this information. “You said you used to be able to see me in your future, though.”

“I know. I know,” Jaemin looked pained once he turned his gaze back at you, “I think when your path changed firmly,” he pressed his lips tightly together in a pause before continuing, “it… it locked us into this position.”

You froze, “what do you mean by locked?”

Jaemin’s eyes rose in surprise as your eyes flashed into a cerulean blue right before him.

“Locked… is it… do you view me being maybe your partner as a burden?” You hated that your voice sounded like a whimper, but you couldn’t help the spear of pain his wording sent to your chest. 

Jaemin ignored the color change, instead leaping up from his leaning position on your bed to press both of his hands on your shoulders, “no! Not at all!”

Your face twitched, and you passed your warm hands through your hair in an attempt to cool yourself down. You could hardly decipher the feelings you had in the moment, and were struggling to mask them.

“You wouldn’t wanna be with the spawn of Satan, right?” You forced a chuckle, trying to remain collected but struggling.

“Hey… I’m lucky just to be near you. I just…. I don’t want you to feel… obligated,” Jaemin admitted. He was crushed when Mark told him that you were second guessing yourself- the thought of you being negatively affected any further because of Jaemin made him feel disgusted with himself.

You felt your body cool immediately and you sighed, “you know I’m my own person, right?’

“Of course!”

“Okay, so we can just take… that… as more of a suggestion and just… see where things go. On their own and at our own pace.”

Jaemin smiled, and you felt your chest tighten at the sheer beauty he held, “okay, I’d like that.”

“Good, now,” you lifted both your wrists, “where are my bracelets?”

Jaemin stayed quiet, and you followed his gaze past the couch and to the coffee table, choking back a gasp as you saw that they were snapped into pieces.

“After I set you into bed they basically fell apart,” he explained as you moved forward, studying them as if that would fix the problem.

“Jae-,” there was that nickname again, “I can’t control my powers and I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Jaemin pressed his lips together in a tight line, avoiding your gaze.

“You know something.”

“Yes,” he admitted, still avoiding your gaze.

“Is it something that can help me?”

Jaemin nodded, before shutting both of his eyes and forcing a vision. It was the one person on earth who could help you, and they were currently in an apartment that Jaemin had very vague memories of. 

“We need to go.”

“Where?”

“To…. We need to go see your biological brother.”

Now, half an hour later, you sat uncomfortably in the living room of Kun and Jungwoo, avoiding eye contact with Sicheng as you tried to justify the random appearance.

“I told her that I was the best super smash brothers player in the area, but she swore that Kun was better. I had to come and see for myself,” Jaemin lied. You fought the urge to say that you knew for a fact could beat Jaemin’s ass in smash, but because you were grateful he thought of something mildly believable, you nodded quickly.

“Come on Kun, are you scared?” You taunted your friend, trying to play everything up.

“Kun should be- because I’m gonna beat all of you!” Jungwoo leapt up, rushing to the spare room likely to grab the consoles and controllers. Jungwoo was known to be easily distracted, so you figured he would take a bit longer than an average person to search for everything.

“Oh, Kun, could you show me where your water is? I’m a bit dehydrated,” Jaemin asked. Kun started to point to you before Jaemin nearly yanked him out of the couch, insisting that the host show him around.

Finally, Sicheng was cornered and alone in the living room. You both studied each other in a way that had never occurred, furrowing your brows and analyzing the other's features. Sicheng was always cool in your book, and closer to your other friends, but knowing that he was your biological brother added a layer of discomfort that never previously occurred. He’s known the entire time and never did a thing about it.

“You know who I am,” Sicheng wasn’t asking. He stood up from the couch and you followed suit, sending a glare to the other.

“You need to help me control my powers,” you didn’t bother asking, either. He didn’t have a choice. He held on to the fact that he was your brother for years- the least he could do was make sure you didn’t burn everything to the ground.

“Why would I do that?” Sicheng giggled, obviously not sensing the burning rage that was threatening to pour out of you. Jaemin and Kun were still in the kitchen, and you could hear Jungwoo tearing through the other room to find the game console.

You swallowed deeply before furrowing your brow and reiterating the phrase Jaemin had given to you, “I know your demon name. And I’m not afraid of saying it.”

This gave Sicheng pause, before his eyes flitted to the door of the kitchen and back to you. “Fine.”

“Tonight at one, meet me in front of the main building.”

Sicheng simply nodded, before a smirk appeared on his face. 

“What?” You challenged, irritated.

“It really does pay to fuck a psychic. You give him some attention and he’ll do all the leg work for you,” he chuckled, before adding, “He has to be as shit in bed as his personality is.”

Without thinking, you wound up your fist and punched Sicheng square in the gut with every bit of physical power you had. The blow landed, causing Sicheng to grab his stomach and groan loudly, falling onto his knees.

“What the hell??” Kun and Jungwoo both appeared in the living room, confused by the site before them. 

“Sicheng said he’s been constipated,” you lied, faking a smile, “I just gave him a small punch to the intestines, I think that should help him get his shit moving.”

“Oh, that never helps me,” Jungwoo mused, his hand that did not hold the console holding his side in sympathy. You could tell Kun was not fooled, but Sicheng forced himself up with a hunch.

“I’m gonna go… try to shit,” he shot you a glare before scooching to the bathroom.

“Well, we actually should get going- my dad just gave me a call,” you slinked past the confused duo, grabbing Jaemin’s arm and escaping their apartment complex.

“What actually happened?” Jaemin asked cautiously as you climbed into his car. You frowned.

“He was being a jackass.”

“I believe that. You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t mind. He said that I was only,” you paused, and rephrased, “I was only hanging around you because you could tell me clues about the future.”

Jaemin was quiet, the only sound being from the car as you neared campus

After a while, he spoke, “you don’t have to defend my honor or anything. I know that’s not true.”

“That doesn’t mean he didn’t deserve a gut punch.”

“As cool as you are, you know you can’t go around punching people.”

“I don’t like people being mean to you, even if you aren’t there,” you huffed.

“It’s okay, kind of comes with the territory of seeing the future,” you watched him force a smile as he parked his car. You knew that Jaemin was one of the few psychics left-  one of three families if you could remember- he had to be used to being alone and spoken down to simply for his abilities.

“Do you ever wish you couldn’t see the future?”

Jaemin was quiet, staring blankly ahead at the car he was parked in front of. “Sometimes.  But, no point in changing what I can’t. Might as well enjoy the small wins.”

“What would the small wins be?”

You watched him fight a smile, and you poked his shoulder, watching a blush creep onto his ears and cheek.  “What small win are you thinking about?”

“No… Nothing.”

“Come on,” you teased, poking his now rosy cheek. 

“Well, I was able to help you and… yeah, help you.”

“I like hanging out with you too, if that’s what you were going to say.”

“Are you a mind reader?” Jaemin huffed, earning a good, solid laugh from you. You kept laughing, holding your stomach to keep yourself together until eventually, Jaemin started laughing too, making you laugh even harder. 

You felt safe laughing with him. He was funny without trying and judging by how he managed to help you by distracting your friends, he was reliable. Then, it hit you- you could actually see him being your soulmate. You slowed in your laughter, wiping the tears from your face as you two settled on staring at each other. 

Jaemin when he was in the kitchen earlier with Kun, was running on pure adrenaline- speaking to people he knew and liked was already a challenge, but making up bullshit conversation with one of your closest friends was like he was being sent into a gym that was lit on fire. However, he was determined. So, he worked whatever charm he could muster.

“Oh she tells me you’re her TA for her statistics class- that’s great! Do you like being a TA? How did you even get that job?” Jaemin had plastered on an eager smile, holding the full glass of water Kun had awkwardly handed to him. 

The older boy raised an eyebrow before politely responding with, “it’s a fine job. I just applied since the position was only open to grad students.”

“Oh cool cool cool um…” Jaemin was panicking as Kun brushed past him and moved to leave the kitchen. Jaemin spat out the first words he could string together, “I-I like her- how should I tell her?”

This gave Kun pause, and he moved back to where Jaemin was by the fridge. Jaemin was praying that a) you were almost done trying to get Sicheng to help you with your powers and b) Kun was not about to lecture him.

“How did you two even meet?” This question surprised Jaemin. What he wouldn’t give to be able to quickly check the paths and see which response would work best, but his white eye would not be helpful here to say the least.

Kun was always your most observant friend, this Jaemin knew from the few visions he did catch the man in. This question was for a few reasons, but the main one that Jaemin could guess Kun was most curious about was how Jaemin had never come up in any of his conversations with you.

“I’m another Resident Assistant, we met at an RA meeting.”

“Where?”

“What?”

“What dorm? I’m pretty sure I’ve interacted with most of the current RA’s,” Kun was looking up, clearly shuffling through his own memories.

“Oh, I… I work in the night dorm,” Jaemin puked out. This was dangerous territory, but this was better than admitting the truth and revealing the whole of the mythic existence.

“That’s cool- now how did you get that job?” Kun laughed, smiling and leaning in, “her and Mark never talk about the night students- and we’ve asked a ton.”

“Well, good to know they’re good at their jobs,” Jaemin forced a dry chuckle before pressing onwards.

“Wait, does that mean you’re a night student?” Kun asked, tilting his head. Jaemin felt dumb- that’s the most logical conclusion Jaemin’s lie could have led Kun to, and now he was going to have to try and work with the hole he dug himself into. Before Jaemin could respond, there was a loud thud that came from the living room. 

Now, after the incident, Jaemin and you walked side by side through campus. It was a weekend with most students who were on campus either rushing to the library for last minute studying or leaving from there. The sun was setting, and the sky was filling with hues of pink and gold as you wandered aimlessly.

“Just a heads up, I told Kun I’m an RA for the night dorm and that’s how we met.”

“Why did you tell him how we met? Also, that’s an interesting lie.”

“He asked.”

“Did you tell him we’re dating?” You furrowed your brows.

“No.”

“Then why else would he ask?”

“Listen I had to keep him distracted,” Jaemin defended, feeling that stupid embarrassed blush rise again. He glanced over to see you staring at him expectantly before sighing and telling the truth.

You smiled, “thanks.”

“For what?”

“Just, being yourself I guess.”

That was all you could say. From him not wanting to be presumptuous or pin you in a corner by lying and saying you were dating, for being honest about his visions, and being there to help you in every way.

It didn’t take much convincing to get him to go back to your dorm with you. With just the prospect of food Jaemin had agreed without thinking twice.

“Let me help,” the psychic was standing closely beside you as you boiled the pasta and cooked the sauce.

“There isn’t much to do, Jae. It’s just pasta.”

“Jae,” he mindlessly repeated the nickname you’ve been using for him.

“Oh, sorry, is it fine that I-?”

“Yes,” he didn’t even let you finish getting the words out, and you both let out a chuckle. “Well it’s only fair that I think of one for you.”

“Oh? Well by all means go for it,” you offered before you finished cooking. How had Ten never mentioned Jaemin to you? Even if not you, it was strange for his path to never cross your brother’s at least.

You spent the time eating dinner, only occasionally adding a word or two to Jaemin’s trail of thoughts. He was vocally trying to decide on a nickname for you, all of which he either shot down himself or you would reply with a sharp no. 

“Nicknames are hard,” he relented, his bowl now empty.

“You just need to let it come naturally, can’t force a nickname,” you offered. There was a lull then, and you decided to ask the question that’s been sitting in the back of your mind. “Jae? Why…” you groaned, annoyed with yourself as you tried to string together the question in a way that made sense.

“This sounds like it’s gonna be serious,” Jaemin couldn’t hide the nerves on his face, and it was impossible to fight the small smile tugging on the corners of your lips.

You shook your head, “I don’t think it is. I… I noticed that you keep dancing around Yuta. Even in your dreams in those visions, he’s there- at least I think so they’re so grainy,” you muttered the last part, now having laid your main question bare. The vampire was sweet and helpful, but the way Jaemin had spoken about him, and in the small visions you were able to witness, you knew there had to be more to the story.

You were observant, so Jaemin should have been prepared for this question. Yet, as he stared at you, he felt his own face fall into darkness. In the visions he used to see of you with Yuta, you always looked so happy- how could Jaemin possibly make you feel like that?

“Hey? Did something happen?” You asked, noting the coldness now permeating off of the psychic. Nervously, you began to speak quickly, “it's just that he explained the blue night to me and answered some questions for me. He even said he noticed my ‘smell’ on you or whatever, and helped Ten cover it up,” Jaemin’s hooded eyes were unwavering, so you continued, “I just want to know where your head is at, that’s all.”

This made Jaemin blink quickly and return from his own well of self-pity.

“In my visions of you- before I stopped being able to see them- you were always with the prince.”

It was silent between the two of you for a moment, and now it was Jaemin’s turn to continue speaking, “I was worried about… robbing you of the future I saw you having. But, the future changes… and like someone once told me,” Jaemin smiled now as you raised a questioning eyebrow, “what the hell is the point of seeing the future if you can’t stop obsessing over the past?”

You smiled, a chuckle now escaping before you asked in a teasing tone, “were you jealous of a future that won’t even happen?”

As you predicted, Jaemin’s cheeks and ears flared into the red you’ve started to find adorable, laughing loudly as he tried to defend himself, swearing up and down that that was not the case- he was just concerned is all!

Taglist! @nini0620 @enhazen @shwizhies feel free to reach out if you’d like to be added :)

<- Go Back? CHP. TWO

Continue?-> CHP. FOUR

#nct fanfic #jaemin x reader #jaemin fic #jaemin imagines #jaemin fluff #na jaemin x reader #na jaemin x y/n #nct dream fic #nct dream imagines #nct imagines #nct angst #nct fantasy au #kpop au #kpop imagines #to pierce the white eye #nct fic #nct #nct dream fanfic #nct Dream #nct dream x reader #nct drabbles #nct dream x you #nct dream fluff

[diorcities]

love and robots

warning: contenido maduro. basado en las crónicas lunares & alitta. nct fanfic. español. 1.3k palabras.

contenido: anterior ♡ siguiente

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ .

jaehyun se frotó los ojos con cansancio, observando el reloj anclado a la pared.

tic tac, tic tac.

sus ojos aventuraron el montón de papeles esparcidos por su escritorio. enfocar la vista le resultaba una tarea difícil, luego de pasar horas leyendo entre líneas. “¿qué estoy haciendo mal?” preguntó en un susurro. en respuesta, el silencio siendo cortado por el sonido de las manecillas del reloj. no sabía por qué conservaba ese cacharro, que solo hacía ruido sin cesar, pero cuando no había nada más que el sonido de su propia voz, era buena compañía. el joven podía pretender que aquel aparato era su mano derecha, y que el tic tac que emitía era, de hecho, comentarios astutos.

quizá se estaba volviendo loco.

río para sí cuando se dio cuenta de sus patéticos pensamientos. aquel reloj antiguo no era más que un reloj antiguo, y jaehyun no estaba más que solo en aquel laboratorio.

la cómoda superficie de su cama a escasos metros donde se encontraba se veía tentadora. había movido el mueble hace unas semanas, porque había caído en la conclusión de que se la pasaba más tiempo allí abajo que en su dormitorio, o en el comedor, o en la sala de estar; el laboratorio era su lugar favorito. con vasos de precipitación, pizarras llenas de fórmulas, telescopios y piezas. esto último había sido añadido hace unas semanas atrás. la verdad era que jaehyun no se consideraba un programador. lo suyo eran las fórmulas; ver si algo era matemáticamente posible. y si era matemáticamente posible, era posible volverlo en algo que pudiera tocarse.

pero aquello había sido hace tiempo, y tuvo que aprender a ser ambas partes. a comprobar y consolidar. algo que él mismo consideraba dificultoso si solo una persona lo realizaba. y jaehyun nunca había estado solo… hasta ahora.

aunque debía admitir que estaba cogiéndole el gusto a armar cosas. se descubría a sí mismo buscando piezas en el mercado de bajoterra, y de vez en cuando, en el vertedero comunal de nueva pekin; siempre había algo que podía sacarle provecho. ¿piezas robóticas arrojadas en el vertedero común? cosa de todos los días. a jaehyun le gustaba ir de vez en cuando cuando necesitaba piezas para un nuevo invento.

pero nunca había visto esa clase de piezas.

y debía averiguar a qué pertenecieron.

claro que, el trabajo no era sencillo. quiso recuperar todas las piezas, pero aquel vertedero tenía kilómetros a la redonda de pura chatarra. y toda la basura provenía de arriba. bajoterra era su vertedero. jaehyun pensó que aquellas piezas eran entonces algo en conjunto, con todas las piezas, pero ahora sólo tenía la mitad de ellas. saber con certitud si provenían de nueva pekin o de bajoterra era otro tema. a saber si provenían de más arriba; pensar en ello le dio escalofríos.

lo que no podía soportar era la incertidumbre de a qué máquina pertenecieron. los robots eran cosa de todos los días en bajoterra; de vez en cuando, jaehyun se topaba con ellos en las calles serpenteantes. En nueva pekin sí que era bastante comunes. cada habitante tenía un robot a su cargo; máquinas que solo saben acatar órdenes. nada del otro mundo. hacían tareas del hogar o eran usados en la seguridad del castillo. los modelos iban desde los más caseros, hasta las máquinas corporativas. jaehyun sabía que los robots eran usados para todo allá arriba. hospitales, tiendas, farmacias. incluso parte de la policía. en bajoterra, esto último no era tan raro, pero en los centros médicos aun predominaban más humanos que máquinas. algunas veces, una combinación de ambos.

se bebió de un tirón el contenido de su taza de café y se levantó en dirección a la camilla ocupada por su nueva tarea. jaehyun había intentado buscar el botón de encendido del cual estaba familiarizado con aquella máquina, pero no lo consiguió por ningún lado. dedujo, al final, que debía tener algún sensor. y tuvo razón. algo tan sofisticado como pasar su palma por la cara frontal. observó la máquina zumbar. muy imperceptible. ¿cómo algo tan exquisitamente detallado pudo haber acabado en un basurero de bajoterra?

la máquina con facciones femeninas abrió sus ojos y los fijó en la nada.

“¿desea restaurar la última sesión?”

“no,” intervino, “corre un examen de estado” ordenó, “... por favor” añadió después, “he hecho algunos arreglos, creo que ya estás” comentó, incluso cuando sabía que no iba a recibir respuesta de nadie más que de sí mismo. se estaba volviendo una costumbre.

observó a la máquina, su satisfacción creciendo a medida que los segundos en los que la máquina permanecía en silencio pasaban, hasta que... “error desconocido. ejecutando protección al sistema, desconectando...” la máquina volviendo a apagarse, junto a sus expectativas. si tan solo pudiera saber dónde se encontraba el error..., si tan solo no se desconectara como mecanismo de defensa. ¿qué podría estar protegiendo?

caviló en el cableado. a pesar de ser primera vez viendo un sistema tan sofisticado (no era como si hubiese visto muchos sistemas, de todas formas) jaehyun estaba seguro que todos debían tener la misma codificación. la misma programación. aquella máquina no podía ser tan diferente a otros modelos. podría estar configurada diferente, pero el cableado seguiría siendo el mismo. por eso notó algo inusual.

acercó lo más que pudo la lámpara e iluminó el interior del panel de cables; no había sido cosa suya. extrajo la tarjeta madre y la inspeccionó, sus facciones cambiando a medida que los cabos sueltos por fin parecían unirse. entonces, se aproximó a su escritorio y buscó en uno de los cajones. lo pensó mejor y también buscó la mini máquina de soldar. la inseguridad haciéndole vacilar. la incertidumbre de que quizá era solo una teoría. sin tener a nadie que lo alentara a seguir más que a sí mismo. “tú puedes…”

se apresuró a la camilla y le dio vuelta a la máquina. en la nuca, un pequeño sensor dejaba entrever el cableado interno. no había tornillos. ni tuercas; la tecnología de arriba era por mucho, más imperceptible que la de abajo. sin embargo, había visto una tarjeta madre similar a la que poseía la máquina. jaehyun no creía en las coincidencias, y por un momento, miles de incógnitas afloraron en su mente. los recuerdos de haber visto la tarjeta madre siendo construida, pieza por pieza, como si hubiese visto una igual, y no solo se tratara de una simple idea que se te ocurren cuando estas cavilando en tus pensamientos. jaehyun se preguntó si había sido víctima de secretos, y si solo conocía el pedazo de la historia que ella quería contarle.

cuando abrió la caja de madera que había evitado mirar en el cajón olvidado de su escritorio, estaba más que seguro. aquella tarjeta era una réplica casi exacta de la tarjeta que poseía la máquina imperturbable en la camilla. salvo por algunos detalles que la tarjeta original tenía. la tarjeta que descansaba en su mano no estaba cubierta de aquel metal plateado.

su mano vaciló cuando pasó su palma sobre el sensor en la cara frontal, por septuagésima vez en la noche. otra vez oyó el zumbido. esperó por la típica pregunta del sistema, pero solo recibió silencio. “ejecuta neo-127” dijo. hubo más silencio. y jaehyun contuvo la respiración. nunca antes había probado el prototipo. estaba seguro que no estaba terminado, porque no había continuado lo que ella había empezado. lo había prometido, pero se había encontrado incapaz de tocar aquel cajón desde el accidente. todo le parecía ofensivo. querer terminar algo que en un principio había sido una idea ajena, algo que no le pertenecía. Y luego, ¿qué? ¿dejar que se beneficien de su proyecto mientras ella no podía verlo? jaehyun se rehusaba a comerciar con su memoria. no cuando el único tributo que había recibido por parte del emperador había sido nada. jaehyun se encontraba ensimismado en algún lugar oscuro de su mente cuando oyó “comando ejecutado con satisfacción. reiniciando sistema...”

estoy trabajando en un nuevo proyecto. es mi primera fic en tumblr aaaaa. anyways, estoy pensando en subirla a wattpad o ao3 más extendida, y más desarrollada. por el momento, esto es un borrador.

masterlist

esta historia pertenece a h-yyuck, todos los derechos reservados

#nct imagines #nct scenarios #nct fantasy au #nct fanfic #nct fic #jaehyun scenarios #jung jaehyun #jaehyun fic #nct dream fluff #nct dream scenarios #nct dream imagines #nct 127 imagines #nct recs #nct au #nct fluff #nct 127 fluff #nct x reader #♡lar

[blossominghunnie]

I’m gonna go on a trip soon and my flight is kinda long so I’ll most likely be writing imagines and maybe chapters of my fics that aren’t smau.

So plsss request imagines, I need something to entertain myself with, lmao.

#sam’s rants 🦋 #cyberpunksunwoo #Kpop imagines #imagines #zb1 #cix #enhypen #&team #boys planet #txt #skz #svt #xdinary heroes #cravity #e’last #Oneus #p1harmony #ateez #nct dream #fantasy boys #epex #treasure #park jihoon #woodz #the boyz #jay chang #victon

[djcaracalhisshiss]

renmin au drabble

wherein baby jaem went with his parents to a pizza place because he got an award from school. Jaem's parents were busy choosing what to order and jaem was too excited he kept on tugging his mum's shirt

'Can I get a cheese pizza and some milkshake please?'

'okay baby' his mum continued to give her order to the girl in the cashier

jaemin walked away from his parents and decided to look for a spare seat and while he was scanning the place his eyes caught a very cute kid sitting with his grandparents.

he slowly approached the table and immediately said hi to the boy

'my name is jaemin how about you?' he offered his hand and even showed the dino toy he was holding

the other boy hid behind his grammy

'renjun say hi to your new friend he seems nice don't be shy'

renjun was peeking and timidly looked at jaemin who was still smiling at him

'im renjun'

jaem quickly seated beside renjun and his grandparents 'let's play with my toy'

jaem's parents were puzzled as to why there was no trace of him behind them but they're not surprised that their outgoing son is already playing

'jaemin baby? come already we have our order'

jaemin's mum tried to apologize to renjun's grandparents

'it's okay your son is very cute and i'm glad he approached our grandson'

'jaem you should say bye to your friend now. we have to go already'

jaemin just pouted and bid his farewell

'bye renjun i wish we could play together again. i'll share my dino toys to you'

'okay i had fun playing with you. thank you jaemin'

renjun waved as jaemin and his parents exited the pizza place

fast forward to a teenage Jaemin on his way to his freshman orientation

he's running towards the school auditorium due to being late when he bumped into another student

'I'm so sorry'

the other student immediately said 'its okay'

jaemin wasn't able to look at the other student when he heard him saying

'are you on your way to orientation?'

'yeah i'm sorry again tho'

'it's really fine. we can go together'

the other student offered his hand and introduced himself smiling

'Im renjun btw what a nice way to meet you'

this suddenly came to my mind while i was scrolling through my fb stories let me know what are your thoughts hehe i might start posting drabbles here

#nct #nct dream #renjun #jaemin #renmin #au drabble #fanfic #nct fanfic #nct fantasy au #nct dream drabbles #renmin drabbles #nct drabbles #nct imagines #nct dream imagines

[herwonderland7]

Map of Wonderland

Aerina's Kingdom

Former Queen Lenora Aerina Delcous

Queen Aretha Anthia

Princess Ariane Aurelia, Princess of Aerina Kingdom

Elexis Violeta Doukas, General Violeta

"You have been gone for too long,

That people wouldn't believe much,

Hence you would be called,

To mend their faith and beliefs,"

KINGDOM OF AERINA [mood board], characters : Aerina Royal Family

KINGDOM OF ATHENIAN [mood board], characters : Athenian Royal Family

KINGDOM OF MORIAN [mood board], characters : Morian Royal Family

KINGDOM OF NEO [mood board], THE JUNGS [mood board], characters : Neo Royal Family - 127, DREAM, WAYV

KINGDOM OF ESTELLEA [mood board], characters : Estellea Royal Family

KHIONEA, THE FALLEN ICE KINGDOM [mood board], characters

her wonderland : for infinity [the 3rd adventure]

#nct royal au #nct fantasy au #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct au #nct 127 scenarios #nct 127 au #wayv au #nct dream au #nct prince au #nct royal #nct prince

[strxbrymochi]

i know im quite late but this has been stuck in my head and i need to get it out so here are my 12am impulse thoughts,,,

how i imagine nct dream would be on valentine's day;

note: this is just the vibes i get from seeing them and 100% based on my delusional imagination

mark;

i am extra delulu for this man rn its so bad

i feel like he would be such a wholesome valentine date

straight up imagined some sort of serenading going on bc hello guitar skills?? and his voice??

i'd imagine he'd gift you some sort of designer thing (just cause i think he's the type to spoil u for special occasions bc ur his girl yk screams)

i think good food = good talks = just enjoying each other's company; type of guy i genuinely feel like you can have hour hour hours long convos and not get bored

lots of laughs bc hearing his laugh >>>

feel more home date vibes where you take out your fave foods and just jam out love songs in pjs but i can also see late night walks or going to some lowkey resto so yalls dont get spotted

renjun;

this guy is for real a deep down romantic aint no way with that face and attitude have you seen how he speaks to some of the dreamies??

defs would serenade u if u ask him to (imagine him shy at first but giving it his all aww)

hands down will gift u something he custom made i do not doubt this given he made custom hoodies for the rest of dream but yours defo will be extra special and made with care <3

can imagine some sort of art date or a quiet night for the two of yalls, him spoiling u a bit cause valentines is extra reason to do so

honestly if i was on a date w him i'd just stare at him ... oops

i think u guys should do the "draw each other" trend as a gift and ur drawing of him looks horrendous (bc u are not as gifted in the arts-- if you are good for u) while his of you looks majestic but he keeps it anyways bc u made it (hearing his beautiful laugh makes it worth ut too anyways)

jeno;

ok look i think jeno's v acts of service-y

wouldn't question if he attempts to cook for you or do things for you a lot more often on valentines to show his love for u (wake up to meals and a clean house yessir-- only for today tho GAHAHAHAHA)

another one i think would spoil you with designer stuff and just imagine the little cute smile on his face when he watched you open the gifts cause he's out here looking at u w pure genuine love (must be nice)

my man's a gamer would probs challenge u to a game or two before heading out

ice cream !!!!!! i have seen 2 vlogs w him looking for and eating ice cream i think you guys will defs have an ice cream taster or smtg (he's so me!!)

idk bro i love jeno any boyfriend fantasy i have in my dreams is played out by him. TT

haechan;

nah yea atp they'd all spoil you (pls dream is full of loving green forest men)

i can imagine deep talks about your future together like wouldnt be surprised if mans doesnt just propose to you alr thats how much he loves you

clingy clingy boy and he is not afraid to show you and let you know how much he loves u !

would hands down take you to the BEST restos and yalls would have insanely good food

can see some karaoke or bowling or idk just an activity yalls can do together before going home for a quiet night of the talks and just enjoying each other's presence

where do i find one genuine question

jaemin;

royalty treatment all the way

breakfast in bed: check with four course meal, flowers: check, gifts: check, chore-free house: check say less

i feel like jaemin is a very big words of affirmation guy so he will not stop complimenting you or saying he loves you

takes a lot of pictures of you too

yk also i think he'd actually send his mom flowers for valentine's day too

staring at you for hours with that stupid cute grin of his, eyes full of adoration

would have all your wants and preferences memorised hes so attentive you actually dont need to worry or do anything all day (just appreciate it bc u deserve him and his love!!!)

chenle;

(there were like no chenle gifs wtf)

PRESIDENT ZHONG CHENLE!!!!! money moves fr name what u want and u got it, spoiled level 1000 on valentine's day

if he could go around freely i think he's the type to take you to fancy ass restaurants like those rich hotel ones (but like if not that's ok he'll spoil you through other means)

he's a menace sometimes i think he'd joke around and try to get on your nerves a bit for fun like imagine him rocking up and being like what day is it today? oh it's valentine's? what's that idk what that is. was i meant to do smtg for u? (him and haechan fr would be the type to tease u so bad) all that just for laughs i can alr imagine the look on his face

as sweet as he is i think at one point he'd either make you do smtg so stupid w him or get a random ass matching present just for the lols (he rlly doesn't gaf he's so real and u love him for it)

jisung;

my sweet sweet child (we're like the same age)

i feel like he'd be so babie trying to prep everything and making sure everything is perfect for u awwwie

tries to act all tough and cool but melts on the inside, compliment him once he shows that smile of his and he's down forever

would be the type to get advice from his hyungs on what to do but be so shy when asked (sksks hes adorable pls)

i feel like he would make you a custom gift like something you can take w u always but also get u something expensive idk unless ur not into that stuff GAHAHA

IMAGINE he tries cooking for u but oblivious kiddo ended up burning it but its ok he tried, yalls got takeout instead

OK ALSO think him trying to teach u how to dance that'd be so cute or yalls can end it w a movie just in each other's presence and u fall asleep next to each other on the couch (BYE SO CUTE IM DED)

ok that's it im done i need to sleep good night (stay delulu besties <3)

#nct dream scenarios #nct dream fluff #nct dream headcannons #nct dream as your boyfriend #boyfriend nct dream #mark lee #jeno lee #haechan #renjun #chenle #park jisung #nct headcanons #nct scenarios #nct dream imagines #nct on valentine's #jaemin #na jaemin #lee haechan #zhong chenle #huang renjun

[dalivanmagritte]

FIC REC : NCT

SOLO FIC REC BY MEMBERS :

suh johnny

jeong jaehyun

lee mark

lee jeno part.2

na jaemin part.2

lee haechan

lee taeyong (ty track)

fall from grace (smut, angel!au, demon!au)

half blood camp! taeyong ver (demigod!au, mythology!au)

nakamoto yuta (yuta)

predator (DUBCON, smut, alien!au, scientist!au)

golden (smut)

kim doyoung (doyoung)

push & pull (smut, fluff, angstish, hogwarts!au)

the reserved (smut, housmate!au, college!au)

NCT series

housemating (finished serie, jaehyun, johnny, doyoung, haechan, jaemin, smut, housemate!au)

house of pleasure (finished serie, haechan, johnny, jaemin, taeyong, mark, doyoung, jaehyun, smut)

nct dream and the hogwarts series (finished serie, renjun, jeno, haechan, jaemin, smut, hogwarts!au)

ridin's club (finished serie, renjun, jeno, haechan, jaemin, smut, streetracer!au, badboy!au)

nct dream as supernatural creatures (ongoing serie, fluff, angst)

king's crown (ongoing serie, royal!au, rebel!au, smut, angst)

wanna ride? (Finished serie, smut, streetracer!au)

inferno (finished serie, smut, angst, monsters, halloween serie)

masturbation series (serie finished, smut, individual stories)

halloween serie (finished serie, jaemin, mark, jeno, haechan, smut, genie!au, mermaid!au, vampire!au, werewolf!au)

and they were roommates (finished serie, jaemin, smut, college!au)

a hogwarts collection (jeno, renjun, jaemin, haechan, smut, fluff, angst, hogwarts!au)

alpha camboy's are ruining my life (ongoing serie, jeno, johnny, smut, abo!au, camboy!au)

nct dream as supernatural creatures (ongoing serie, dreamies, fluff, angst, monsters and mythical creatures)

the pick me chronicles (ongoing serie, haechan, jeno, jaemin, smut, college!au)

campus heartbreakers (ongoing serie, jeno, jaemin, mark, haechan, jaehyun, smut, crack, fluff, college!au)

the poison archives (finished serie, smut, angst, drama, some dubcon)

animal instinct (ongoing serie, dreamies, smut, monster!au)

giving into things (i don't) want to (ongoing serie, smut, dubcon, dark themes, smut)

scented poison: faded fantasies, poison that spreads, final scent (finished serie, jaehyun and jaemin, smut, cheating)

the dream demigod diaries (finished serie, dreamies, fluff, angstish, demigod!au, mythology!au)

elysium chapter 1 (ongoing serie, 00's and mark, demigod!au, mythology!au)

don't kiss and tell (finished serie, mark, jeno, haechan, suggestive)

NCT imagines

when you use your safe word (mark, haechan, jeno, jaemin, smut)

when you walk through the rain (dreamies, fluff)

nct dreams + sungtaro as greek gods (mythology!au)

Other fic rec

lee jeno fic. rec by taexoxosgf

lee mark fic rec by taexoxosgf

na jaemin fic rec by taexoxosgf

na jaemin fic rec by miragewitch

nct masterlist by notnctu

#nct #johnny #jaehyun #mark #doyoung #yuta #jaemin #haechan #jeno #smut #fluff #angst #fic rec #johnny x reader #johnny smut #johnny angst #nct fanfic rec #nct fic rec #nct fic #nct rec #nct x reader #nct 127 #nct dream #nct scenarios #nct imagines #nct drabbles #nct oneshot #nct series

[sxcret-garden]

ღ NCT Dream Jeno x fem-bodied!reader ღ words: ~2.5k ღ genre: college AU, roommates AU, a bit of humor if you squint, smut ((subby) perv!Jeno, a bit of humiliation, handjob (idol receiving), masturbation, voyeurism, unprotected sex, multiple orgasms) ღ warnings: none ღ prompt: “How many times have you jerked off to me?”

It’s a Thursday afternoon like any other - you arrive at home at around 4pm after the end of your last class, you’re slightly exhausted from having a busy day, and you’re craving nothing more than some alone time with your laptop and some comfort food.

Except that you didn’t expect to hear your roommate moan your name upon entering your shared flat. You think you misheard it at first - maybe you’re more tired than you thought and you’re so out of it that you’re having hallucinations? - but then you hear it a second time. Jeno, most likely in his room, is calling out your name loud and clear, followed by a groan that causes blood to rush to your cheeks. You’re a little embarrassed about it at first, but at the same time you find it strangely amusing. And so, you make the most immoral decision in a while, and you draw closer to his room as quietly as possible to eavesdrop.

“Mmmh… feels so good, Y/N…” you hear him mutter. “Your pussy… so tight…” You raise your eyebrows as you're caught off guard by the dirty things leaving his mouth, but at the same time a huge grin appears on your face. It doesn’t come as a surprise that he’s into you - you’ve known that something’s up for weeks, and even your friends who occasionally come over when you’re both home have noticed that he has a crush on you. He hasn’t made any clear advances on you though, and neither would you for as long as you’re stuck living under the same roof. You don’t mind that he obviously treats you differently than his other friends, that he smiles more to himself when he’s around you and that sometimes he stares at you a little too long when he thinks you’re not looking. However, the thought of attempting to date someone you’re already living with would’ve never crossed your mind either.

And still, here you are now, listening in on Jeno getting himself off to what you assume is a very detailed fantasy about you, and you’re somehow not repulsed by that at all. And so you bite your lip in excitement as you hear him groan your name over and over again, spelling out bits and pieces about the mental image in his head. 

“Ride me… yeah… just like that…” An uncontrolled moan escapes him, making you think he’s about to cum, and you wonder whether you should announce your presence before, after, or not at all. “Ah… your tits… I love your tits bouncing like that…” And then it happens. You crack up. You make a noise. And at the same time he stops making noise altogether. You’ve given yourself away, and in order to spare him the suspense that you imagine is killing him at this very moment, you step through the half open door. Standing in his doorframe now, your gaze finds his huge hand wrapped around his cock in all its pre-orgasmic glory, and then also his wide open eyes, quivering lips, and deep red cheeks. He gapes at you, opening and closing his mouth like a fish under water, and you almost feel a little sorry for him.

“Excuse me, but would you let me in on the fun or am I supposed to keep pretending I’m not here while you’re getting off to my bouncy tits?” Jeno remains speechless. You’d have thought he’d immediately try to hide, try to talk himself out of this situation, but none of the likes. He just keeps sitting there, at the edge of his bed, frozen. 

“What day is it?” That’s the first thing he says when he finally speaks.

“Thursday?”

“Fuck. Sorry. Oh my god. I thought it was Friday. Shit.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” you say, crossing your arms in front of your chest as you lean against the doorframe. Friday is when you would’ve had an evening class, so it makes sense that he thought he’d be undisturbed for another while. However, this also makes another burning question arise - almost as burning as Jeno’s deep red ears.

“How many times have you jerked off to me?” Jeno looks around the room, obviously in a panic, and somehow his hand is still wrapped around his exposed dick.

“U-uhm… like… today?”

“Lee Jeno, my god. I didn’t think you were such a huge pervert.”

“I… I’m sorry?” Now he grins abashedly, like a five year old boy that has just been caught preparing a prank on someone, which makes quite the contrast to the rest of the position he’s in.

“At least it’s not on my bed…” you comment, and when he seems to run through another circle of internal panic at your words, you immediately brush them off, gesturing wildly. “You know what? No, let’s not talk about this.” Though, if you’re perfectly honest with yourself, on second thought it somehow turns you on to think he’s secretly snuck into your room just to get off on you there.

“I… can I have a minute or two? And then we uh… talk about this?” Your roommate gives you an apologetic yet mischievous grin, and you profusely shake your head.

“No. No, you can not have a minute or two.” And then you push yourself off the doorframe, and you take a few steps to his bed until you’re standing right in front of him. You see him gulp as he looks up at you, and a single drop of sweat makes its way down the side of his face. Perking up an eyebrow, you slip out of your shirt, throwing it to the ground somewhere next to you. 

“So… how many times?” You pose the question once again as you put your hands on his shoulders, and a knee between his legs. 

“T-today it’s… the first time…”

“And overall?” You lean in and you let your lips ghost over his neck. “Be good and tell me the truth.”

“U-uhm…” Jeno stutters, unable to bring himself to answer. You find it kind of cute, and when you nip at the skin below his ear and you let a palm glide down the shirt covering his stomach, he becomes even more flustered. You decide to tease him for a while, running your fingertips back up and raking them into his hair as you take your sweet time scattering kisses all over his neck. He leans his head back a little, allowing you better access, and you have to grin at how needy he is.

“Been close?”

“Huh?”

“Were you close to having an orgasm when I barged in?” you clarify, and you lift your head to get a good look at his face. 

“I-…”

“Just tell me. Maybe I’ll help you out a bit…”

“V-very close…” He’s still embarrassed that you caught him. You can tell by his stammering and by the way his cheeks are still dusted pink, but when you put your hand over his, slowly sliding it towards the tip of his cock in order to take over for him, he relaxes with a sigh.

“Now… how many times?” You stroke him slowly, watching him melt under your touch with a groan.

“F-faster…” he mutters under his breath, and you huff.

“Then answer my question.”

“A few times…?”

“Oh really?” You apply some pressure when going over his tip, and another desperate gasp escapes him.

“M-maybe every Friday… for… some time…”

“You are such a perv,” you say, but at the same time you speed up the movement of your hand. Jeno throws his head into his neck with a groan, digging his fingernails into the bedsheets at his sides.

“I heard you call my name too,” you say. “Wanna let me hear that again? Right in front of me?” If looks could kill you’d be dead by now, but when you cock your head to the side and you stop moving your hand, he’s quick to give in.

“Y/N…” he moans, “keep going. I’m begging you…” You smirk at his request, and you give him what he wants.

“It’s really cute how much control you can have over a guy once you have his dick in your hand.” You say that, not thinking much of it, but it seems to be doing something for him, as he squeezes his eyes shut and moans your name again.

“Y/N… I’m gonna-” His load spills into your hand as he clenches his teeth and a strained groan escapes his throat. You stay like that for a few seconds, drinking up his blissful expression that none other than you is responsible for, and then you get up to grab a tissue from beside his bed to clean yourself up.

“Ugh, I’m so sorry, I-” Jeno gets ready to apologize, pulling his pants back over his softened dick, but you’re quick to cut him off.

“What are you doing?” you ask, unzipping your jeans and slipping out of them. “I’m not doing this for free. Also, I thought you wanted me and my bouncy tits to ride you?” He blushes again at how nonchalantly you say this, but when you also rid yourself of your underwear, now standing completely naked in front of your roommate, he merely gapes at you in disbelief. 

“Get naked,” you prompt. “Or are you telling me you’re gonna miss out on this chance?” Jeno doesn’t think twice, and he hastily slips out of all his clothes as you watch him with a victorious smile on your lips. You let yourself marvel at his toned, well-trained body, and once he sits down on his bed completely naked, you crawl on top of him, pushing him back into the blanket by his shoulders. 

“Now, tell me again what you almost got yourself off to.” Again, he’s shooting daggers at your wicked grin and your words, but you can also see a certain thrill in his stare as he begins to talk.

“You… on top of me… like right now,” he begins to explain reluctantly as you run your hands down his chest and abs. However, the more your palms roam his body, the more confident he becomes. “I was thinking about you riding me… my hands on your hips, like this.” Jeno grabs your hips at once, giving them a squeeze, and then you allow him to guide them to his core. You roll them in his lap once, and you feel your folds grazing his hardening length.

“You’re already getting hard again just at the thought of it?”

“Aren’t you getting wet at the thought too?” he challenges you, and you can’t exactly deny it. Not when you feel the heat rushing to your core so clearly.

“So? What’s next?” You ignore his attempt at teasing you, and instead you keep rocking your hips, feeling him grow against your slick pussy. He sighs at the friction, and you raise an eyebrow, throwing in, “My boobs?”

“Y-yes…” he answers, and suddenly his stare is glued to your chest. He brings one hand up to squeeze your right tit, and you moan at his touch. It fits into his hand just perfectly, and you too find yourself throwing your head back at the way he gropes you. 

“You’re so perverted…” you hum, and then you lift your hips off him for a second. Aligning yourself with his full grown length, you prepare yourself to take him in. And then you let yourself glide down on him, taking in just the tip to tease him, but in that same moment you can clearly feel just the tip isn’t enough for you either.

“Fuck…” you mutter under your breath, hands propped up on his chest.

“Well, you’re the one currently having sex with that perv, so…” Jeno comments. You come back up, having him slide all the way out, before lowering yourself onto him again. You repeat that process a few times, each time taking him in a little deeper, until eventually you both run out of patience, and he takes control with both hands back on your hips. Guiding you all the way down, you gasp at the way he stretches you out, and Jeno gives you a few seconds to adjust to his size. And then, you begin to bounce on top of him, and you find his lustful eyes fixated on your breasts.

“Perv,” you mutter, but that only seems to turn him on more. 

“You’re enjoying it,” he throws back, and you can only moan in response.

“Maybe…” But who could blame you, when he feels so good inside you, and when his hips meet you so perfectly every time you sink down onto him. You feel him pressing his thumb against your clit, and it causes you to groan, becoming more eager in your movements.

“You gonna get off on that perv’s cock, huh?” Jeno teases you, directing his full focus on pleasing you. You whine in response, feeling your high approaching at light speed. Something about this situation makes you unbelievably horny, but you currently don’t have the means to figure out what exactly that is. Instead, you focus on moving your hips in just the right way to maximize your own pleasure.

“Fuck, Y/N… you feel so good…” You moan in appreciation, and through a string of curses falling from your lips, your high crashes down on you. You feel yourself clench around his cock, and your thighs tremble as you keep rocking your hips even past your orgasm. You bring Jeno’s hands up to your boobs, letting him squeeze and play with them as he pleases while an expression of utter bliss appears on his face. 

“Mmhh… this is even better… than I imagined…” he groans through gritted teeth, and now you feel heat rushing to your cheeks as well because of his boldness. You feel him twitch inside you as your hips keep bouncing on top of him, and then eventually he shuts his eyes tightly and grunts your names as he cums inside you.

You crawl off him, knees still shaky, but you do your best not to let him notice. Then, you collect your clothes, tucking them under your arm.

“I’m going shower,” you inform your roommate, who’s following your every move with his eyes. You can tell he’s unsure what to say, and you’re at least as speechless as he is about what you just did, but you’re a bit better at seeming unbothered. You walk out of the room, and just as you’re right in the doorframe, he calls out to you to make you halt.

“We should do that again sometime,” Jeno blurts out, and you fail to suppress a dirty grin.

“Maybe,” you say. “If I catch you getting off to me again I’ll think about it.” You throw him a wink, and before you can fully register the smirk on his face that’s supposed to tell you he’s accepted your challenge, you leave the room for a nice and hot shower.

#nct dream smut #nct smut #jeno smut #nct dream x reader #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios #nct dream drabbles #nct imagines #nct x reader #jeno x reader #jeno imagines #kpop smut #smut

[luviestarz]

nct pt 2

tyonfs masterlist (nct)

NCT FF RECOS

nsheetee’s masterlist (nct)

jenonctcity masterlist (nct)

loviejaehyun masterlist (nct)

gohyuck masterlist (nct)

babyflossy masterlist (nct)

nct fic recs

imagine — making out with nct 127 (m)

holy-hyuck masterlist (nct)

mafia-nct masterlist (nct)

Got Stars in My Eyes - haechan

otptings masterlist (nct, enhypen)

huangels masterlist (nct)

99liners masterlist (nct)

cuteyongs masterlist (nct)

astroyongie masterlist (nct)

[8:02pm] - haechan

in which a spontaneous dance in the kitchen with donghyuck sparks a revelation about how you feel about him.

Scenario — 00 line (dream) reaction to their partner giving them head while they play a game

yunopouts masterlist (nct)

nct dream playing the chapstick challenge

NCT Dream + Sungtaro reaction: their S/O is ticklish

[5 : 18] Yandere!Mark Lee

@flameravn

『 ‎ ‎Ƕąҽçհąղ / ϚէąӀҟҽɾ 』

Haechan breaks into your house, sexual fantasies.

Yandere!Haechan The Sun

NCT Drabbles Mini Masterlist Part 4 (yandere)

﹟♡ ·  ⁺ yandere!NCT DREAM﹕ how they met their s/o.

LUCID | NCT DREAM ‘00 LINE X READER

bluejaem-recs (nct fic recs)

beware the panty perv ♡ ldh x reader

there’s a mystery at hand! it seems like your panties have been vanishing into thin air whenever you need them most? angry that your favorite pairs of panties are going missing, you decide to put on your detective hat in hopes of finding the mysterious lingerie bandit. but between all of the guys that you sleep with— you can’t seem to pinpoint who the culprit could be. it couldn’t possibly be your absolute geek of a tutor for calculus, right? nah.

pussy fiend (l.dh)

3raaaachachacha masterlist (nct,txt,enhypen)

waking you up with sex － nct dream

SMILE FOR THE CAMERA - jisung, haechan

upon accidentally finding a video of you and your boyfriend haechan doing some very sexual things, jisung knows that he shouldn’t watch it. he knows that it would be an extreme invasion of privacy, but he’s unable to control himself when he sees the thumbnail. so he settles for only watching 30 seconds. except, 30 seconds turns into 30 minutes, and by then he’s buried himself too deep into a life-changing situation—or in which jisung’s terrible at keeping secrets.

jeontaeil masterlist (nct)

𝐭𝐢𝐤 𝐭𝐨𝐤 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦

after spending some time scrolling on tik tok, you came across a cute couple’s prank video and decided to use it on your partner to see his reaction.

saying “its hot in here” and then undressing in front of my bf - haechan

Haechan + blindfold

september 19. - haechan

Inseparable - Slight Yandere!Haechan X Reader

Haechan Fic Recs

Nct Fic Recs || All fics

— a few perv!jisung thoughts &lt;3

nct drabbles masterlist

NCT DREAM + SIMPLE ACTS OF LOVE ! 

Warm You Up - haechan

SURE THING (L.DH)

young gods (l.dh)

in the midst of committing felonies in the dark, lee donghyuck—your literal partner in crime and ride or die for life—manages to snag your heart in the process without you even realizing it. i mean, what the hell did you expect from seoul city’s most notorious robber?

tooth-rotting love - haechan

[7:43am] - haechan

[7:07 pm] - haechan

three’s a crowd [m] - haechan, jeno

maybe you can have your cake and eat it too, although your friends certainly don’t make it easy.

haechan obsessed with you

bf!haechan x (f) reader — bondage, masturbation (m)

dry humping - jisung

[11:42 PM] - jisung

the right one. (m) - haechan

donghyuck doesn’t like you going on dates with anyone else, especially lee jeno. you’re supposed to be his. and only his.

Haechan As A Boyfriend

𝐍𝐂𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 + 𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐔𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

nct dream as couple things (that make other people feel sick to their stomachs)

thigh riding with dom jisung

[11:27 PM] - jisung i.l.y. (pt 2)

hyuck drabble (m)

𝐍𝐂𝐓 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 :: 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

NCT 00 LINE REACTION TO YOU WALKING UP TO THEM NAKED !

NCT 00 LINE + FINDING OUT THEIR S/O IS INTO SOMNOPHILIA !

When They Get Overprotective Of You ~ NCT Dream Reaction

NCT 00 LINE REACTION TO THEIR S/O MAKING THE FIRST MOVE !

Hey baby! You are hotter than Apollo at dawn - haechan

°✵.｡.✰ 𝕟𝕔𝕥 𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟𝕤 ✰.｡.✵° - chenle-dressed-in-black

[neonacity]

HIRAETH | Reader x Jeno

Hiraeth: (n) a longing for a home you can never return to, or that never was.

TW: blood, weapons, character death, wounds. Werewolves.

Summary: This is Jeno’s installment of my Dark Fairytale Series featuring the Dream’s 00 Line.  You can check out the other stories on my Masterlist here. This is a work of fiction and does not imply any likeness between the characters and their original counterparts. 

© neonacity, 2022

“And what if… It is the villain you fall for? What then?”

Hunting is more than just the kill. 

It is a game. Of patience... Timing... and the right dance between predator and prey. 

Jeno’s mastery of the art couldn’t be more pronounced as he crouched on his hiding spot, his eyes set on the clearing ahead. Beyond him, a fawn grazed freely, its deep brown coloring bathed by the pillars of sunlight piercing through the thick foliage of the canopy. Like a ghost, he silently reached for one of the thinnest arrows strapped onto his back and gracefully docked it on his bow. The gentle sounds of the forest masked the creaking of his string as he pulled it, before he finally let the weapon fly into the air. 

It caught the fawn straight at the neck, making it topple to the side and start kicking its legs in shock. By the time he had straightened up from his hiding spot, the animal's eyes had already turned glassy and blank. Jeno easily stepped over from the shrubbery and pulled out a knife from his belt as he bent over his hunt. It will be a good hour until the sun dips in the west, so he has enough time to skin his game and head back to the village.

"Impressive. You still have the best aim of all the hunters I've ever seen."

His leather-gloved hand froze in the middle of edging his dagger as a foreign voice disturbed his peace. His first instinct was to pull up one of his axes and drive it straight to the source of the sound, but his visitor was already there, leaning against one of the ancient trees before he could even blink. The boy was shadowed by the shade, but his pale countenance still stood out from where he was standing. Jeno gave him a dead stare before fixing his attention back to his task.

"And you still have the eerie behavior of stalking everyone in the woods. Were you planning to hunt me?" He asked as he cleanly ran his blade to separate the skin from the flesh of the carcass. Blood seeped into the soil, turning it pitch black. The stranger grinned at him, his perfect white teeth making him seem even more unnaturally perfect.

"If I wanted you dead, I would have killed you years ago."

"So why didn't you, old man? I thought you hated our kind."

There was a moment of pause as his visitor pushed himself off the tree to finally step into clearing. The moment the rays of the afternoon sunlight hit him, it was like the air in the small space stilled before restarting again. He was beautiful, with pale skin and dark hair that fell to his eyes. Instead of being closer to human, however, his features seemed to belong more on marbled sculptures of  weeping angels. He was dressed simply but nicely, a stark difference to Jeno's worn out leathers. Like him, however, he was young, though his youth doesn't seem to reach his jet-black eyes now set on him.

"I do. But some talents deserve some exception. Besides, you have never desecrated the lands here, nor have you gone after my head yourself."

Jeno gave a dry chuckle. "I am not stupid enough to join a war I did not start. Whatever bad blood my family has with yours is none of my business."

"A smart choice. You've always had a logical head with you, huntsman. Which makes me wonder… What will it take for you to start a strife?"

"I have no care for human affairs."

"The Blood Moon is coming in a fortnight, Jeno."

He stilled as if his veins were shocked with ice. Slowly, he raised his gaze towards the young man in front of him. The latter's expression was impassive, but the darkness in his eyes was enough of a proof to the truth behind his words.

"When that happens, the whole kingdom can be thrown into a bloodbath. You need to know where you stand when that time comes."

Jeno slowly stood up from his crouched position, his eyes unwavering on the other. They were almost the same height, though the power they give off couldn't be more different from each other.

"Are you threatening me, Jaemin?"

The vampire didn't move. He was so still that he looked more like a porcelain statue than an actual living being.

"I am not, as long as my lands are respected during that time. But if my mate gets hurt…" he paused, his head angling a little bit to the side. His eyes glowed golden for a moment before settling into pitch black once more.

"Then I will personally rip the head of the Black Wolf myself."

******* "My Lady, your father has called for a meeting at the Blue Hall."

You looked up from the book on your lap just in time for your lady-in-waiting and good friend to settle on the seat across from you. Despite the fact that it was only the two of you in the parlor, her eyes still shifted side to side as if she was checking the privacy of the place. Slowly, you closed your novel as a confused frown crossed your features.

"The Blue Hall? All of a sudden?" You asked, your voice thin with concern. Your manor has no shortage of private rooms, but the Blue Hall is dedicated for highly official meetings of the Duke of Black Thorn.

"Yes. I have not fetched enough information yet, but I have seen some of the guests come in. They have closed the doors in private and have sent guards away."

That piece of information only left you even more confused. As the Lord of these lands, your father has no shortage of guests for his affairs, but you could only count in your fingers the amount of times he had called for such last minute gatherings. Something must have happened… that you are sure of.

“Who are his guests? Have you recognized some of them?”

Your friend paused a bit and pursed her lips, a reaction that only caused your anxiety to escalate more.

“It’s the huntsmen, My Lady.”

You weren’t able to keep the look of shock from your face. Black Thorn Grounds is set on the southern borders of the Kingdom, near the fringe of the Dark Enchanted Forest. Ever since time immemorial, the land has served as the home of the prominent hunting families in the whole kingdom. Some say it’s because it’s where they are closest to their game, but the villagers know the real reason behind it.

Rather than seeking their prey out, the huntsmen are there to keep the predators away.

“I need to go and talk to him,” you said all of a sudden as you picked yourself up from your seat. Your lady in waiting look scandalized as she followed suit, but you were too fast in making your way out of the room before she could even pull you back.

“Young Mistress, wait. I don’t think that’s a good idea—!”

You chose to ignore her, your gait determined as you went straight to the hallway that will lead you to the place. The poor girl was already stumbling all over her skirts when you skidded to a halt in front of a deep blue door, hands grasping the heavy golden handles. You pulled it open with no hesitation and stepped in before anyone inside could even realize what was happening.

Your eyes quickly scanned the room just as the guests trained their eyes on you. Your friend was right. There was no doubt that these are the kingdom’s best hunters judging from their choice of garb alone. You were searching for your father when you suddenly stopped, your gaze stilling on a figure sitting far back from the rest. You know that face... You can never not know that face.

Lee Jeno.

It wasn’t the right moment, but you couldn’t stop the memories from racing back to you the second your eyes met. It’s been years... but that didn’t stop you from revisiting snippets of your childhood that you have long since buried. As the Duke of Black Thorn, your father has to keep close ties with all the prominent hunting families in your town. Jeno comes from the Lee line, a clan known throughout the kingdom for being the best in the trade. This connection gave him access to your manor every time his family would come for their business affairs, which in turn, led to you developing an unlikely friendship with him. You remember the first time you met him, when you were only six, the two of you immediately clicking due to your shared love for the outdoors. From there, he always made it a point to spend a few fortnights with you, using his family’s visitation rights as his excuse. He was a close friend. Probably even your only friend... That is, until he decided to cut ties with you all of a sudden.

You never really knew what happened. Looking back at it now, you realized just how much everything came to a sudden halt. One random day when you were twelve, you were simply told that he couldn’t make it to the manor. There was no reason, nor an explanation. You thought it was a one time occurrence, but then seasons passed and he never came again. It was hurtful to say the least, especially since he disappeared like he was never there at all. 

Today is the first time you’re seeing him again after almost a decade. You didn’t really know what you were expecting as you stared at this now-stranger, but it definitely wasn’t the impassive look he was now training at you. Unconsciously, you balled your hands into fists behind your skirts. 

“Your daughter, Your Grace?”

Your attention snapped back to the present as you heard the question addressed to your father. Forcing yourself to look away, your gaze immediately found the man currently sitting at the head of the table. He didn’t look the least bit surprised to see you there—if anything, it even seemed as if he was expecting you to come barging in. Despite your nerves, you raised your chin as you waited for him to acknowledge you.

“I do not remember inviting you here, dear.”

Behind you, your lady-in-waiting cowered, her head down as she tried to reach out for your arm again. Your father is usually a civil man, but he is also someone who takes important affairs quite seriously. Everyone’s eyes were on you as they waited for the Duke’s reaction, but you kept your ground, unfazed by the attention.

“Has something happened?” you decided to ignore his question and get straight to the point. 

“Even if it has, it is none of your business… At the moment.”  

Your jaw tightened at the response. As his sole child, you remain the only heir to his aristocracy. You may not have the title yet, but that has never stopped you from caring for these lands and its subjects. Your father has not particularly stopped this side of you, but he has never encouraged it as well. When nobody in the room answered your question, you decided to finally offer one yourself.

“It’s the wolf isn’t it? Has it attacked again?”

The heavy silence that thickened the air was enough confirmation you needed. For as long as you can remember, your village has always been stalked by a monster during the full moon. For decades, it has taken lives, but the attacks have noticeably started to escalate as the years went by. During this time, your father has tried his best to hunt the monster down, though each effort only ends up in taking more from Black Thorn.

“Did it kill again? There’s not been a peek of the moon for the past weeks. And the last attack was six fortnights ago.”

“That is the reason why we’re here,” the man finally answered, his face grim. “The recent bloodshed is out of the ordinary.”

You frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“Last night, we found the bodies of men scattered along the edges of the Dark Forest. This is the biggest massacre we have ever seen in years. The werebeast is growing stronger by the day, so much that it doesn’t need the full moon now to sustain its power.”

“But… That’s impossible…”

“It is. With the Blood Moon coming.”

All heads in the room swiveled towards Jeno collectively. Even you yourself were surprised by him breaking his silence, but he looked unfazed by the intensity of the stares he was getting. Your father remained calm in his seat despite the obvious tick in his jaw.

“The Blood Moon is a myth. It has never been proven to be more than just lore.”

"Nor has it been disproved as well,” he answered, voice low. “The Blood Moon is more than just an old wife’s tale, and it rises in the sky every decade to paint it red. This is the time when creatures of the dark are at their strongest, though it is the werewolves that gain the edge the most. As children of the moon themselves, it is the only time they can prowl the night without any of their usual weaknesses. It has happened a few years ago, and it is bound to come again.”

“The Red Night. I remember this happening ten years ago,” one of the elderly members of the circle chimed in darkly. “The village was ravaged by a monster and almost decimated more than half of our population. It was carnage. We were only able to hold off enough to prevent the beast from passing the boundaries of Black Thorn and moving to the other towns. it was never confirmed that it was indeed the Blood Moon, but if the lore is true, then the timing matches.” 

Your father seemed frozen in his seat as he listened, his eyes glazed as if he was watching a montage only he can see. You could only assume that you looked the same, as memories of you being sent to another village when you were twelve came back to you in waves. You were young, but you can still remember coming back the day after and finding out about the massacre that happened.

That night… you lost your mother as well.

“What are we going to do, Sire? We have barely survived that night. We cannot have a repeat of it again.”

It took a while for your father to finally give an answer. When he did, he look resigned, the shadows on his face masking whatever storm of emotions he was suffering through.

“We have no other choice. We ride on the night of the Blood Moon…”

“And slaughter the beast itself.”

******* “Wait! Stop!”

Your leather boots padded against the packed dirt of the courtyard as you ran after the boy heading towards the gates. You knew he heard you despite not turning around because he slowed his pace enough just enough to let you catch up. When you finally did, you made sure to block his way before he could make another step. It was a futile attempt, because you were the one who felt frozen on your spot when your gazes finally clashed.

For a quick second, you almost forgot about whatever it is that you wanted to say to him. Jeno had definitely changed throughout the years, his stature now looming over you and his features more grown. And yet, none of those changes are what shook you the most as you looked up to take him in. Instead, it was the hardness in his eyes that almost made you falter from your stand. 

“What is it?”

The coldness in his deep voice made you internally shiver, but you held your ground before you betrayed yourself and show any sign of weakness. Instead, you squared your shoulders, your expression determined.

“You didn’t say everything you know about the Blood Moon earlier,” you whispered, voice down despite the fact that it was only the two of you in the courtyard. Something flickered in his eyes that only made your suspicion grow even more. “I want to know why.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Lies. It was your clan who was at the forefront of the fight during the Red Night. They were the ones who fought the monster head on with my father—that’s why your family are considered the heroes of these lands. You lost a lot of your kin from it, but they did save this village.” 

“How do you know about this?”

“Everything that happens in the Kingdom is chronicled. Anyone can know… As long as they have the desire to look,” you answered slowly and carefully. You have never shared this confession to anyone else before, but as the only daughter of the Duke, you can access sealed records with the right amount of digging and sleuthing.

“What do you want from me?” Jeno asked, his jaw tightening. For a slip of a moment, you thought his impassive facade has finally cracked, showing a glimpse of something more than just cold detachment. Unfortunately for you, he was too quick to catch himself, and in the next second he was back to wearing his mask. 

“I want to know why your family hid from the public that the Black Wolf was slaughtered during the Red Night. It was all in the records. I know you were there too, Jeno. Several eye witnesses have seen the beast beheaded by your clan members. The same witnesses who were reported dead a week after the massacre. ”

Jeno’s eyes have turned so black that they almost scared you. Still, you held your place, not giving way until you get answers. He looked at you for a few more painful seconds before side-stepping so he could walk past you. In your panic, you quickly turned around before he could put more distance between the two of you.

“The werewolf killed my mother!” the words were already out of your lips before you could even stop yourself. It made Jeno pause, his back rigid. He didn’t look at you, but you could tell from the set of his shoulders the bitterness running through him.

“It wiped out my family too,” he said, angling his face so that he could look at you. You could only see his side profile, but the loathing that you saw there was enough to make your blood run cold. “The curse of the Lycan had taken more from me than it had from yours.”

The venom in his voice shocked you numb. Never have you seen such pure, unadulterated anger from someone that you felt cold to the core. You watched as he continued walking away, before you caught yourself again. 

“Wait! Just answer my last question then!” you called out to him before he could fully disappear from your gates. “What can the Blood Moon do to the one who has a curse?”

Jeno only momentarily stopped. For a while, you thought he wouldn’t give you anything, but then his next words made your heart drop.

“Under the Blood Moon, the Black Wolf can pass the curse to someone else to create a beast as powerful as they are.”

******* "I apologize. I think I heard you wrong. What did you just say, my Lady?"

You silently followed the shifting of the shadows on the edge of the Dark Forest from the glass-paned window of your room. Peeking behind the clouds, glowing like a ghostly apparition was the waxing moon, bright but not yet complete in its form. From the position of the stars in the sky, you could assume there are only a few days left till it fully wanes; signaling the rise of the Blood Moon in the sky.

You took your time to give your close friend an answer, unsure of how to phrase things in a better way. If it were only up to you, you would have chosen to bring this secret to the grave, but you also knew someone else has to know, lest something happens to you. As your confidante and the closest you can have for a sister, she is the only one you can leave this information to.

"I think the beast walks among us… whoever they are, they are within the village, hiding among us humans."

"I do not understand. What makes you think of this?"

"Ten years ago, the beast who was terrorizing the village died, presumably in the hands of the Lee clan. It was also during the rise of the Blood Moon, the only night when a werewolf's bite can turn another human being into a monster. If the hidden accounts from that night are correct, there is a high chance that the original beast has perished, before passing on the curse to someone else," you said as you turned from your spot to fix the other girl with your stare.

"It makes sense, too. Over the years, the attacks have escalated, proving that the new monster is slowly growing in power… maturing if one must say so. It also has never tried attacking any other place other than Black Thorn… Almost as if it has a personal vendetta against the people of this land."

"But… If the werewolf is among us, why do you think it has managed to escape our huntsmen? Black Thorn has the best hunters of the Kingdom. The beast wouldn't have passed them."

The crackle of the dying flames from your fireplace was the only sound that could be heard from your room as you tried to contemplate over your answer. The truth is… your suspicions could be very much wrong, but all signs also point to one possibility.

"It could have... If it was covering as a hunter himself...”

You saw your friend's silhouette pause in shock in the dying light of your room. You walked over to the edge of your bed, voice low as you continued.

"The Lee clan was at the forefront of the war against the Lycans a decade ago. They were the key behind the Kingdom's win during the Red Night, the hailed heroes of BlackThorn... Which makes you wonder, why would they hide the fact that they have slayed the beast during the fight? It doesn't make sense, especially when that war almost wiped out their whole bloodline."

"Are you saying they are hiding the truth because…"

"When the werewolf was killed, it probably passed on its curse to someone else. That family probably covered up its death to hide the fact that one of them is now the carrier of the bite."

"But almost everyone from the Lee family has now died. I heard they weren't able to bounce back from the war so its remaining heirs rarely interacted with others. Their bloodline is almost obsolete. Even the remaining ones now are too old, weak, or dying."

"Almost. There is one left, the sole and last son born to their clan more than twenty years ago."

Your friend's lips parted as she looked on to you, shell-shocked. It looked like she was racking her brains, trying to remember every single face from earlier.

"The boy with the black eyes…?"

As if the words triggered something deep inside of you, that same pair flashed in your mind's eye again. It didn't matter that you've only seen Jeno today again after so long. His gaze seemed to be burned into your consciousness even if you try to close your eyes.

"My Lady, you must definitely tell your father. Three days from now, he and the other hunters will go to the Dark Forest to hunt for the beast. That boy will be included in the party. This can easily become a massacre if we don’t do anything."

You were silent only for a moment as you considered the plan. You wanted to tell the others, your father most especially, but something unexplainable is holding you back. You couldn't really understand what it is, but your gut tells you to keep your silence… For now.

"I will. On the night of the Great Hunt. As much as it will be dangerous for us, it is also the only time we can keep the wolf within our reach. He'll be easier to trap while he is close to us. For now, none of this can come out yet."

The other girl didn't look convinced, the set of her lips still worried. She looked back at you, probably reflecting your own fears and apprehensions.

"And if things don't work out? What shall we do?"

Your throat felt dry, but you managed to push out an answer. Your voice was firm and set, but it still didn't stop your words from sounding like a death sentence to your own ears instead.

"I'll have to kill him with my own hands instead."

****** The thick deer skin under the leather of your hunting garb was not enough to entirely hold back the chill of the frigid night air. You weren't sure if it was just the nerves turning your skin clammy under all your layers, but you are almost convinced that there is something supernatural clinging thick into the night as you stood just outside the borders of the Dark Forest. After days filled with anxiety and tension, the Blood Moon has finally risen high into the skies, signaling the start of the Kingdom's longest fortnights.

The Dark Forest looked unnaturally still today as if it was a silent monster waiting for its first prey. Surreptitiously, your eyes wandered down the line of hunters stretching on your side, men and women who all looked like they could have easily melted in the dark should you let them out of your gaze for a second. You almost felt out of place in the group, despite also being trained in the same trade since you were young. 

If you were going to be completely honest, it also came as a surprise when your father agreed to let you join the hunt. You were already expecting to fight for your position in the ranks that it shocked you when the man supported your request to participate. You could still remember his words that night...

"If there is a perfect time for you to be a part of the hunt, it would be the night of the Blood Moon."

Your eyes wandered further down the line now, only stopping when it finally found the person you were looking for. Jeno stood silently a few men down from where you were, all dressed in black. You could barely see half of his face under the drooping hood of his hunting coat, but the glow from the moon caught slivers of light strapped on his back and the hip of his belt.

Holy silver. The only metal that can kill a werewolf.

"Make sure to stay close to me."

The voice of your father made you tear your eyes away from your former friend. Silently, you gave a small nod, afraid that your voice might betray the conflicting emotions pressing against your chest. You were still set on doing what needs to be done today, but that didn't mean the vow was easy for you to accept.

"Yes, Father."

"We go in three groups. The first faction will scan the west of the forest and the third will tread the eastern trail. We will go north, straight ahead," the man said, addressing the group. Your hand tightened unconsciously on the hilt of your own blade strapped to your hunting belt. If your number will be split equally, then Jeno will be part of your faction.

"Always keep your eyes ahead and watch each other's backs. We might encounter other creatures in the forest but don't forget what we came for. You know the Black Wolf is near if you smell blood.”

Where the beast prowls, death follows, you said silently in your head.

None in the group needed another word to collectively start. Moving like shadows under the cover of the night, the unit split into its respective groups and started making their way towards their assigned trails. The moment you passed the first ring of trees, you could tell something has definitely shifted, the air seemingly thicker with something no human words can truly capture. This wasn't the first time you have entered the Dark Forest, but your skin prickled from the unexplainable energy that charged the air.

Your group continued pushing on for a few more minutes, following the trail that would lead you to the heart of the woods. Your senses were hyper-focused, your hearing picking up the slightest of sounds, from the flap of bird wings to the breaking of branches under heavy boots. Everyone in your group was on high alert, though nobody really made any big moves. That has always been one of the critical rules of hunting: stalk, do not attack. Hunters know not to pursue their game, but to wait for them.

Especially when the prey is just waiting for the right time to attack himself. 

For minutes you continued with your trek, silent in your movements. It was not until the Blood Moon peeked from behind the clouds when something finally broke the deafening stillness of the forest. You were watching Jeno closely in your peripheral vision when all of a sudden, a blood-curdling scream split the air. The voice was so high-pitched that it almost didn't sound human, but then you started making out words, begging for help. You whipped your head so fast, trying to figure out the source of the sound. 

"Stop! Help me!"

"It's the Western group. They're under attack," one of the men said beside you.

"Do you think it's the—"

"Wolves!!! Run!!!"

"Quick! Let's go!"

You felt yourself almost flying through the forest as you broke into a run. You could barely see your father in between the winding trees, his red coat the only thing that's keeping you from losing him. You were so caught up in the adrenaline of it all that you barely caught Jeno stop with his sprint, his eyes set on the rest of your party as all of you whizzed past him. The moment you realized what he was doing, you stopped all of a sudden, the motion almost making you topple all over your feet. He looked like he was observing… contemplating something. And then his eyes met yours.

Your heart dropped to your stomach when he started running towards the other direction without another word. Your reaction was almost instantaneous. Without even looking back, you chased after him, your boots thundering against the forest floor as you tried your best not to lose sight of his figure winding between the trees. The darkness of the forest deepened as you delved deeper into its heart, the gleam of his silver blades the only thing keeping you on his tail. He dipped here and there in between the darkness, almost at an inhuman speed, but you didn't stop despite the piercing pain that had started on your side from all the running.

You were only forced to slow down and pause when you ran head on into a wall of thorny branches that seemed to have come out of nowhere. It was too late for you to see and dodge it so you had no other choice but to barrel through them, the sharp thorns leaving tears and cuts on the sleeves of your clothes and the skin of your cheek. You were still reeling from the crash when you finally stumbled into what looked like a small clearing ringed by thick fringe of trees you just passed. It was a small vacant lot that opened up into a clear view of the sky and the waning moon above. 

For a moment, only the sound of your labored breathing filled up the space as you tried to get your bearings. Eyes roving, you slowly bent over to pull the biggest knife from your belt as you tried to take a feel of your surroundings. Despite the thick silence, you are absolutely sure that you are not alone, the feeling of being watched heavy on your skin and making the hairs at the back of your neck stand on end.

The sharp cracking of a dead branch from somewhere behind you made you spring to action. You turned instinctively to swipe your blade, but a strong force pinned your arms to your back before you could move. The next thing you felt was the iron grip and suffocating feel of a leather-gloved hand muffling your screams.

"Shh. If you want to live, stop struggling."

You immediately froze as the feel of hot breath skimmed the side of your face. You didn't need to turn your head to know the owner of that voice, the hand holding your dagger shaking as you realized your predicament. Still, you refused to let the it go despite the heavy trembling of your fingers.

Jeno. He got you. And now you're going to be slaughtered just like everyone else.

"You need to listen to me and do every single thing I tell you. Do not make a sound. We need to get out of here."

The rising fear in your chest had almost rendered the logical part of your brain numb. Jeno was unbelievably strong, and you barely realized you were being dragged back into the forest until you felt him pause just as you were about to disappear between the trees. It took you a while to realize what was going on, until your eyes set on the opposite shadowed side of the clearing.

You heard it before you even saw it. Branches broke and bent as a low growl from the other side made the very ground you were standing on tremble. And then it hit you.

The metallic smell of fresh blood.

And the rotting scent of death.

"Shit. Keep your dagger close to you," Jeno whispered in a low voice the same time gleaming red eyes appeared between the trees. You didn't even notice his hand lowering from your lips as you stared, speechless at the monster that finally stepped into the moonlit clearing. The wolf's fur shone deep black under the glow of the night as it stood almost as tall as a man, its ruby gaze set on you. Blood and flesh dripped from between its maw which it now bared into a snarl.

You were still in shock for being face to face with the beast itself, that what happened next took your breath. In just a matter of seconds, your terror finally grew into a full blown nightmare after a cloud shifted to reveal the moon above. It  bathed the monster with its eerie light, giving you a sharp view of the scene as it unfolded. You watched, terrified, as the flesh and bones of the beast churned right in front of your very eyes, like a broken marionette being tugged by an invisible master. Its own bones snapped and locked again until its silhouette transfigured into an entirely different creature. If not for Jeno's tight grip on your waist, you would have fallen on your knees from the swift misery that overtook you the moment you saw its face.

"Father…"

The man smiled at you, his teeth red with blood. 

"Hello, darling. Didn’t I tell you not to leave my side?"

******* You were convinced that you had died and was pulled to the deepest depths of hell. 

"I apologize for being a little late. I had to take care of the rest of the hunters first. I have to say… those men did put up a good fight, though they were still foolish enough to fall for my trap."

You stared, unseeing, as your father regarded you with his emotionless gaze from the distance. Your shock had rendered you numb, that you weren’t even sure if you were hearing him right or if your broken mind was just making things up. Regardless, your stomach turned as you processed what he just said.

A trap…? The blood covering him right now… Are those…

"You were supposed to be there, princess. I wanted this to be done quickly, but I see you've lost your way. Nevermind though. Maybe it's a good thing you didn't see the carnage. It can be a little heavy to stomach at first…"

Your father leaned his head a little bit to the side and clasped his hands behind his back as he looked down on you. For a fraction of a second, he almost looked like the man you've always known, except the light didn't really quite reach his eyes.

"It's a good thing Jeno found you for me… Otherwise, I would have ripped the whole forest apart just to catch you.”

For what seemed like the hundredth time that night, it felt like a hole was punched straight into your chest. Not once have you tried to look at Jeno since earlier, but you turned your head slowly now to see his reaction. What you saw on his face was probably what made you lose the last string holding you together. His eyes were dark… but there was not a trace of denial in them.

He knew. 

All along.

"Jeno…"

Your father smiled wider as he saw you piece things together. Slowly, he started pacing back and forth, as if he was enjoying the look of betrayal on your face. He was too far gone from the man you thought you knew, almost as if that version of him never existed at all. When you finally had the strength to look at him, his eyes glinted, like he was already expecting your next words.

"How could you…? You were supposed to take care of this town."

"What are you talking about, darling? I did. I still am. Why do you think other supernatural  beings wouldn't dare step foot here? The lore of the Black Wolf has kept them, and other humans who had their eyes set on our lands, at bay."

"You've also killed innocent villagers!"

"Ah. Yes. Well, those are rougher nights, you see. Sometimes, when my powers get the best of me, I do lose control. Casualties, they all are. I wouldn't think too much about them."

You were stumped. The lack of mercy in his voice and actions is probably more nauseating than the smell of death that is still suffocating the stagnant air enveloping you now. It was so strong that the stench clung to your clothes and sank deep into your very marrow.

"You're a monster…" was the only thing you managed to say as you looked at him, defeated. A quick shadow passed his face, though it dulled down in an immediate second. A change in the set of his jaw almost made you shrink back against Jeno.

"Maybe I am. But I wasn't at first. Not until I was turned by the very same beast who killed your mother,” he said, his gaze hard. “To an extent, I do admit it was my fault. You see darling, I could have lived a peaceful, comfortable life, but I was foolish enough to think of myself as a hero and save this town. I did, in a way, but at the cost of sacrificing my own humanity.”

You listened with slow horror at his recount of that night. You've always known that your mother was one of the casualties of the former Black Wolf, but your father had never really talked about what happened then in detail. 

"I remember that night pretty clearly," he continued, the last traces of warmth bleeding out of his eyes as he went inward to his memories. "The moon was high above the skies just like tonight when the wolf slipped into the village like a phantom. It used to be rabid, but its intentions were different that night. It only had one goal…" he stopped and looked at you dead on. "To kill our family and finally have his revenge."

"That monster... It had a personal vendetta against me after decades of our hunters killing off his kind. It knew that I was the only one keeping him from taking over Black Thorn and the rest of the Kingdom, and so it made sure to make me its target on the night it was at its strongest. I already had a feeling that it would happen, which is why I was able to make arrangements for you to be temporarily sheltered in another town. I begged your mother to come with you, but she was determined to stay and stand beside me in the fight."

"And she did. She fought very well. But we were also against a hound from hell, and after a long fight, the beast managed to rip her throat off. I wasn't so lucky… the monster could have killed me too if he wanted, but he also knew he wouldn't get out of Black Thorn alive that night. So instead he gave me something that's far worse than death. He passed on his curse to me before we swiped off its head."

The sinking cold feeling climbed from the pits of your stomach up to your chest. Your father continued, his expression lost on the ghastly memories of that night. Warmth streamed down your face until your vision blurred. You could barely even see him now from the tears tracking down your chilled cheeks.

"I did try to kill myself on that very same night. Believe me, I did. I was about to use your mother's dagger and bleed right beside her, but then she stopped me and begged me not to go through with it with her dying breath. We can't leave you both, she said. And so I didn't, despite knowing what will become of me from then on,” your father continued, his gaze now lost and dead. 

"The only people who were there were the Lees. The accounts are not wrong. Without their help, the Black Wolf wouldn’t have been taken down… But as the only known witness of everything, I had to strike an arrangement with them. Pretend that the original wolf was still alive and keep their silence lest they want to lose their own heads. Nobody could ever know that a new beast was created. In return, I will provide protection to the village. Continue doing what I have always done.”

All the pieces started moving slowly in your head but you kept your lips sealed as you continued listening to the man. Everything makes so much sense now. The other witnesses mysteriously dying after making opposing accounts about the attack of the Black Wolf... The hidden records… All of those can be pulled off by someone with power and position, and who else have them other than the very Duke of Black Thorn himself? 

“To be fair, I kept my end of the bargain. During the early years, I used my new identity to keep the village safe. Every transformation was painful, but I was mostly able to keep my sanity with me for as long as I could steer clear off humans. But then… the powers of the curse shifted as I matured more as a wolf. I became stronger… faster. I could do things I couldn’t do before. It was… intoxicating. Freeing.”

The way the man’s voice changed in tone definitely made the blood in your veins freeze. It didn’t even seem like he was speaking to you now, the look in his eyes  lost and manic. The realization washed over you like poison as the last of the puzzle pieces clicked in your head.

Your father had been slowly corrupted by the curse over the years. He had let the blood of the Lycan eat him from the inside until it burned off the last traces of his humanity. 

Power… poisoned him.

You were far too lost in the storm of your emotions that you barely caught the slight movement against your hands still being held by Jeno against your back. At first, you thought your fingers have finally gone numb with cold, but then you instinctively wrapped your free hand around something solid. You paused when you realized what it was.

A dagger.

He was giving you his silver knife.

You tried your best to try and reign in your emotions as you tightened your grip around it. Your father, fortunately, seemed none the wiser, too lost in his own world. You watched carefully as the man stopped with his pacing before turning towards you again.

“I’ve had a few good runs, but true power can only be appreciated if you have someone to share it with. This… is what this night is all about, darling. Finally, the time has come for you to also join me in this journey.”

You didn’t think there was something else that could shock you tonight, but his last words definitely rendered you speechless. You looked at the man, stupefied, as he started taking slow steps towards you. You felt Jeno ever so slightly pull you back, pressing you against his chest.

“What… What do you mean?”

“You heard what I said. During the night of the Blood Moon, a wolf can turn another into a creature as powerful as them. Come join me. Imagine what we can do together, if we both have the curse.”

The shock that overtook you almost made you retch. So this was his plan all along, the reason why he set up this trap tonight. You slowly shook your head, eyes wide as you watched him continue his advance.

“No… I will never… I will never be like you.”

He laughed.  The man stopped just as he was a few feet away, regarding you with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. The moon dipped again from behind a black cloud, its light making his eyes glow red as it hit them.

“Princess, I think there is something you’re quite not getting here.” 

“You don’t really have a choice.”

The next turn of events happened way too fast for you to catch. Jeno pushed you out of the way just as your father transformed mid-air as he lunged at you. The force of the push knocked the wind out of you but you caught him jumping out of the monster's path just as you rolled away and scrambled to get back on your feet. By the time you were upright again, you felt him tug at your arm and start to drag you back into the forest. The beast behind you howled as soon as it noticed what was going on.

"Run! Now!"

You didn't need telling twice. The two of you started weaving between the trees, away from the horrific crashing sounds behind you. Every so often, Jeno would turn and shoot an arrow with his bow despite the beast being too quick and agile to dodge them. When your father gave another howl, you doubled-over from the pain that assaulted your ears.

"Jeno! Give her back to me!" Your father's voice mixed with the growls of the beast made you almost fall and lose your balance. Jeno, however, pulled you before you collapsed a second after. The pained scream that followed told you that he finally managed to get a shot in. 

"Get up. You can't stop. We need to get out of this forest!"

Your lungs were collapsing in your chest, but you did what you were told as you ran and jumped over dead tree roots and low hanging branches. You didn't care at all that you were now bloodied from all the gashes, your mind only set on escaping. It took you a couple more minutes of running until you realized that there were no other sounds following your frantic footfalls. Jeno seemed to have realized the same time you did as he suddenly pulled you to stop so that you could catch your breaths.

"Is he—is he gone—"

"I don't know. My arrow caught him, but we need to pierce his heart or cut off his head to kill him."

"Jeno what are we going to do?"

His jaw tightened as he finally turned to look at you. For the first time that night, you finally noticed the strain on his face. He looked torn. Troubled. You were only barely able to keep your tears in when he finally reached out to cup your cheek. 

"We need to get to the village and look for reinforcements. I am sure he already killed every single hunter who joined the raid tonight."

"But he might just cause more carnage there. We can't let him step foot in Black Thorn again."

"Which is why you need to evacuate the women, children, and the elderly. Take them with you. Your father wants you, but you can be safe with them in the right place."

"Where—"

"Deep into the Eastern side of the forest, there is a sanctuary that you can go to. No human or any other supernatural ever dares trespass those grounds since it is under the ownership of a Pale Face, a Night Walker. Even your father wouldn't be able to go there without him being shredded to pieces. You'll know the place once you start to see the silver barks of trees."

"A Pale Face… Is he… A vampire?" You asked, confusion straining your voice. Jeno gave you a tight nod.

"He's a friend. He'll help you."

“But how about you—”

You weren’t able to finish what you were saying as an inhuman force suddenly knocked the two of you to the ground. Your vision turned white from the pain, but Jeno suffered more from the blow as he flew and body slammed against a tree a good few feet away. A grunt of pain left him as he started coughing blood when he slumped to the ground.

"Jeno—!"

Before you could even move on your spot, another scream was once again ripped from you as you felt the burning sting of talons slicing your back. Eyes closing from the pain, you collapsed once again as blood started seeping from your tattered garb. You couldn't see anything, but you heard the heavy footfalls of the beast just a few feet away from you before it gave a low snarl.

"Stupid boy. Your family promised their allegiance to me. You are going against their word."

A few short, labored coughs answered the beast. Looking up with white spots still clouding your vision, you saw Jeno lift his head and meet the glare of the werewolf despite his injuries.

"My family gave you their word. Not me. I have no affairs with you, you monster."

The weight of his words hung heavily in the space after. For a moment, even the usual sounds of the forest quieted down, which only punctuated the gravity of his statement more. The wolf watched him with his glowing eyes as you waited, breathless for the pin to drop. And then it finally did, and you thought you died the first time that night upon hearing its next words.

"If that is the case… then you leave me with no choice. Close your eyes, huntsman. I promise this won't be painless."

You were moving before you even realized what was happening. With a spurt of energy, you hauled yourself from the spot you are crumpled on just as the werewolf reared itself back, jaw open as it charged against Jeno. Jumping, you managed to land on its back before driving the silver dagger that you managed to hold on to straight at its nape. The blade sank deep into its flesh, causing the beast to howl in agony and stumble back. You tried your hardest to hold on to the blade, but it easily shook you off, leaving you flying into the air again and hitting the ground.

Your ears were still ringing as you tried to push yourself off the dirt. Unfortunately for you, you have only managed to lean to your elbows when you found yourself collapsing again as an excruciating pain ripped one side of your body. The wolf had managed to jump over you, one of its taloned paws pushing your shoulder  into the forest floor. You screamed when it dug its claws against your flesh, shredding the skin there.

"Why are you fighting me. I am your father!" The beast roared, spraying you with spit and blood. Its eyes burned so red now they were almost black.

"You're not—You're not my father anymore…"

Your voice had gone so raspy that you barely managed to get the words out, but you saw something flicker in the wolf's eyes that was almost reminiscent of the human he once was. A shift of shadows and light and it was soon enough gone, replaced by a darkness that you couldn't fathom.

"Then so be it. After you have turned, I am sure you will change your mind."

Everything seemed to move in slow motion from there. The beast opened its jaw, long teeth glistening as it reared its head back. You know you should feel afraid, but instead there was a certain calm that overtook you as you slowly closed your eyes in resignation. Even the haunting howls seemed far away as you finally let go and let instinct take you over.

Soon enough, death will come, and the curse that has terrorized over Black Thorn will finally be over.

The piercing sound of flesh and bones cracking under force tore the air. Then it was silent again, the dead air finally urging you to open your eyes once more. Instead of being met with glaring red orbs, you came face-to-face with your father's deep brown human gaze. Slowly, your vision moved a little more downwards…

Right at your hand holding the silver dagger buried in his heart.

It took a few seconds for your mind to finally catch up with what you were seeing. As you numbly let go of the hilt, you realized it wasn't the only weapon embedded in your father's chest. Buried beside your blade, its tip slicing through the man's breastbone is a silver arrowhead. For the first time, you noticed Jeno hovering above him, having used one of his arrows to pierce your father from the back.

A werewolf can only be killed two ways. By cutting off its head...

Or piercing its heart with silver.

"You did so well… You were brave, my dear."

Your father's soft words shook you back to reality. The man was still looming over you, but his gaze was clear as he smiled down at your blood-streaked face. When he blinked, his own tears mixed with the warmth that was already streaming down your face.

"I'm so sorry…" you whispered, your voice breaking. He simply shook his head and reached to touch your cheek.

"Hush… Do not cry. Thank you for releasing me from the curse," he said as he slowly tried to sit up. Blood blossomed in his chest like rose petals, though he couldn't look any more free as the light of the moon hit him one last time. When he gave you one last smile, you knew it would be the last.

"Finally, I can rest. But please… Forgive me… For what I have done."

******* Jeno silently watched as the former Duke finally crumpled to the ground. Everything happened so fast, that even he was questioning whether the end had finally come. Under the light of the Blood Moon, the former protector of Black Thorn finally felt at peace after long years of carrying the curse with him. It was a salvation… not only for the town, but for the Master himself.

"Jeno…"

The soft voice that called out to him finally made him look up from the crumpled form of the man on the ground. His first instinct was to check if she was alright, but whatever words he wanted to say immediately died in his throat when his eyes finally settled on her. She was covered by the body of her father earlier, but even the deepest shadows of the forest couldn't hide the deep bite mark on her right shoulder. Jeno's gaze shot to her face only to be met by pleading eyes that almost made him die himself.

"Please... You have to kill me."

******* She was about to slump to the ground again when he finally had enough sense to run over to her side. Immediately, his arms went around her, cradling her against his chest to try and keep her head up as much as possible. Her eyes were unfocused—whether from the pain or the venom coursing through her veins, he didn't know.

"Jeno…"

"Shhh. Let me take a look at your wound. We need to make a tourniquet."

"He bit me. I can feel it. Something is happening to me."

Jeno tightened his jaw and refused to acknowledge her words. Instead, he started tearing parts of his clothes before pushing the rags against her gaping wound. His hands are now stained deep red, but he didn't care, his attention focused instead on trying to keep the blood flow at bay.

"We just need to get you to a medic. The village isn't too far away. We can make it. You can make it."

She was quiet as she let him continue with his mumbled whispers. He could feel her gaze heavy on him but he didn't look at her, afraid of what he might see there. He knew what was coming—what needs to be done. But that doesn't mean he could go through with it.

No. He refuses to.

"You have to kill me. You know that."

Her words finally made him stop. Slowly, he turned to look at her, face filled with grief. She tried to reach out for his hand and he quickly wove his fingers to hold hers.

"I won't do it," he finally said, voice breaking. The look he gave her only made his heart shatter.

"You have to."

"I can't."

"I don't want to become a monster."

That made him stop. The reality of the situation finally washed through him in its full gravity and it made him tremble. This was more than any pain he had suffered through during the years he had to tear himself away from her out of his own spite for her father. He was wrong for making her suffer for something she didn’t cause, but never in a lifetime did he think he would lose her like this. Just when he thought she was finally within reach again, fate just had to tear them apart once more.

For a while, the silence in the forest wrapped them like a bidding death sentence. Jeno didn't want the moment to pass, afraid of what might be waiting for him on the other side. It was only until he felt her pressing the handle of his own dagger against his palm that he allowed himself to grip her tighter. Leaning over, he buried his nose into her hair, taking in every bit of her that he could mark on him. He wrapped his fingers shakily around the hilt of his blade, his knuckles turning white from how hard he was gripping it.

"We only have tonight to do it. When the Blood Moon passes, the change will be permanent. It is easiest to kill me now."

Jeno kept his lips pressed against her hair, silent. How cruel it is, for fate to put him in this very predicament. This was his childhood friend. The first girl who had treated him like her equal despite their differences in ranks, and at one point the woman he wanted to marry. The history of their families drove them away from each other, and now, he is about to lose her… All over again.

Without another word, he slowly raised his hand as he pulled away so he could look at her face. The action made her finally smile, like she was relieved by what was about to come. She was as pale as the moon above from the amount of blood she was losing, but even with her hazy, clouded eyes, she still looked at him with the same love and kindness she did when they were kids. When she reached out to touch his cheek, Jeno knew the thread between her dying and living the rest of her life as a cursed monster was just a few breaths away.

"Can you kiss me while you do it? I want it to be my last memory," she whispered weakly. He didn't hesitate to duck his head down to meet her parted lips, their breaths mingling together as he finally let his hand deliver the final blow.

It took her a couple of seconds to realize what happened. When he pulled back, her gaze dropped to the silver dagger buried cleanly on the soil instead. She took it in slowly as Jeno lovingly pushed back strands of hair that had stuck into her forehead.

"We only have an hour till dawn breaks. Why don't you take a rest first…?"

A dry sob left her when he realized what he had done.

"Why… You can't…"

"I won't. Even if I can. You will not die in my hands or in any other’s anytime soon. You will stay here. With me this time," he said, his voice sounding oddly unlike his usual tone. He never thought he would ever come to a crossroads like this, but he did. He had chosen to be selfish. Mad.

Because of love.

"Jeno, I'm begging you. I don't want to suffer like this…" her pleading barely made a dent in the fog that had taken over his mind. He pressed his lips against her forehead, deaf to everything else. Below him, he felt her start to try and reach out for the dagger herself with her waning energy, but he easily pulled it from the ground and threw it away. She sobbed again, helpless whimpers passing her cracked lips.

"I'm sorry. You can hate me every day and every hour after this, but I can't lose you again. I won't let you leave. Even if you loathe me for the rest of your life."

The way she blinked up at him told him that she could barely hear him. Jeno let his bloody fingers move to the side of her neck to deftly feel for the pulse point that will render her temporarily unconscious. He watched as her eyelids started to slowly flutter as he pressed against it before they finally lowered as she went under.

He smiled at her peaceful expression and moved to cup her cheek with his bloodstained hand. Slowly, he lowered his lips on her again, trailing kisses on every part of her face he could reach. All the while he continued whispering against her skin. Promises. Apologies. Words of love.

That continued, even as she bled and paled like a corpse in his arms. Jeno didn't stop once, not even during the moment when her skin started melding together again, leaving nothing but tracks of dried blood instead of gaping cuts. He continued, even as he felt her bones snapping back into place while he held her in his arms.

By the time he decided to finally look up, the sky already had tracks of red staining it. The Blood Moon was still up, its glow pale as the incoming sun started to overwhelm its light. Jeno looked down on the girl he was holding, waiting… waiting… for her to wake up. When her lips parted to give her first sign of breath, he smiled. Her eyelids fluttered open and he held her closer to her than ever.

"Good morning… Love."

Blood red eyes stared back at him, the same tinge of crimson in the skies above.

--------

JAEMIN’s Version | HAECHAN’s Version | RENJUN’s Version

A/N: So after a year of keeping this on hold, I finally got to finish Jeno’s part of the series. I was supposed to publish this on Halloween but oh well, it got so long. As usual, enjoy!

Permanent Taglist:   @negincho, @jhornytrash, @aaasteroidsky, @huangberryyy, @marijmin, @ashkuuuu , @lostlovesoul11 , @johnniverse , @traint0tokyo , @lilyinthewinter , @byunniebaekhyunnie ​, @ellatizw ​, @bettyschwallocksyee , @stopeatread , @glitching-wren

#jeno fic #jeno imagines #jeno x reader #werewolf jeno #reader x jeno #jeno angst #nct dream fic #nct dream angst #nct dream fantasy fic #lee jeno fic #nct dream imagines #nct dream fanfic #jeno fanfic

[yutafrita]

To Pierce the White Eye- FOUR

Pre. / One / Two / Three / Four / Fin.

WARNINGS: Graphic depictions of physical violence, crude language, mentions of vomiting, discussions and threats of death, occult imagery, discussions of “virginity," discussions/ mentions of mc dying, majorcharacterdeathsI promise the ending is happy

Chapter WC: 6.1K

“God, you suck,” Sicheng hummed. 

You were stationed in the basement of the university in the practice room. Nearing three in the morning, Sicheng has been trying to get you to feel enough anger to ignite your flames so you could properly control them, but you were finding it hard to be filled with enough rage to set two of the three candles in front of you aflame.

“I just don’t… feel rage like that,” you admitted, frustrated. Sicheng had exposed his demon ears and tail, and he glared down at you as you struggled to make the flames return. In the one instance you did conjure them, it was only after you were beating up a training dummy in deep thought about Jaemin that you felt so angry.

“Well, do you have any strong emotions?” Sicheng asked, raising an eyebrow. “You have to feel something.”

“Right now I just feel irritated,” you snapped.

“Come on sis.”

“Don’t call me that,” you countered. To you, Mark was still your brother- your only one at that. Sicheng had no grounds or reason to call you his sister. You loved your family- your real family, and Sicheng did not fit into that equation.

Sicheng smirked, “well, you got one candle lit. Let’s try again tomorrow.”

As he maneuvered out of the practice room, you sat stunned as you stared at the one flickering candle wick, the blue flame feeling like an extension of you. It wasn’t much, but you felt a bit of pride to have conjured the flame of your own volition, and as you felt the extension, you swiftly snuffed it out.

You were so excited, you surprised yourself when the first thing you did was call Jaemin, and even more surprised when you heard the ringing of a phone in the hallway. Within a second, Jaemin knocked on the door, holding his phone up to the door window with a smile on his face.

“How did you know I finished already?” you asked after you opened the door.

“I had a hunch.”

“You watched Sicheng’s path to see when he wasn't with me anymore, huh?” you tilted your head, smirking as he let out a bashful smile. You hadn’t noticed before, but you noted the full plastic bag in his other hand and gestured to it.

It was dinner from Deer Moon, the one restaurant within a comfortable radius of the university that was open all night. It was where Jungwoo and Kun had dragged you to pay your debt to them before, and was now your dinner with the psychic.

“So, you think the Queen is going to resign soon?” you were unscrewing the cap to the soda Jaemin brought, listening as he recounted a few visions he’s been getting.

He nodded, frowning a bit as he shoved his food into his mouth, “Yuta’s going to be miserable,” he muttered between bites.

You matched Jaemin’s frown, “so there’s no way that you can switch the government over or something? Yuta doesn’t seem too keen on being king.”

“Things don’t change in the mythic world quite that easily,” he sighed.

“It’s just… it’s unfair,” you replied, picking at your dinner.

“I know… I saw it changing at some point but now…” his voice trailed off and you met each other’s eyes. “Your eyes are pretty.”

“You have great timing,” you teased, finally eating your meal. “I just think it’s weird that Sicheng is helping me.”

“Hm, it is,” Jaemin agreed but shrugged, “are you happy to be having help?”

“Of course, I’m just suspicious.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Jaemin winked.

The next few weeks followed a similar pattern- day classes, warden duties, night classes, training, and then Jaemin. Before day classes you hung out with Kun and Jungwoo who consistently teased you about the psychic, and after night classes Ten would complain about not having your ear all the time. 

All of this time and Jaemin hasn’t even so much as kissed you!

“He’s not my boyfriend,” you grumbled after night class one evening. Mark decided to join you on your guarding of the main building. While there hadn’t been a demon sighting in a while, your brother was still nervous at just the thought of one lurking about.

“You guys are together all the time. You text all the time. You giggle like a schoolgirl whenever you’re with him,” Mark listed. You frowned, knowing the part that your brother was missing- the fact that you two were soulmates. This was something that had laid silent between you and the psychics' interactions now. You both knew that this was a fact, and whenever you felt even more comfortable with the other, this fact made you feel immediately nervous.

“We haven’t even kissed- he’s not my boyfriend,” you repeated the last part, frowning. This took Mark by surprise as he blinked quickly. You rolled your eyes, your gaze returning to the homework you wanted to get a head start on. 

“You have a hot boy around you every night and he hasn’t even kissed you?” Mark repeated this statement and you groaned.

“Unless you have anything to tell me about,” you glanced down at the paper, “EEG machines or demons,” you gestured to the empty main building courtyard, “then I don’t want to hear it.”

It was relieving to have a moment of reprieve to be able to learn about something ‘normal.’ Sure, learning that humans generate electricity in your bio class isn’t necessarily the most interesting thing in the world, but it keeps you grounded when faced with the fact that you were the child of Satan and constantly speaking with someone who could see the future. 

You felt your brother peering over your shoulder as you scribbled down an answer to your worksheet.

“So we’re all like… batteries? That’s crazy,” he whistled. You wanted to be annoyed, but one glance at your brother made you release a small laugh. 

“You’re annoying,” you were still chuckling, punching your brother’s arm lightly. Mark was your brother- you would always have each other's back. You shoved your work back into your pocket, listening to Mark talk about his classes without any fervor. You squinted, studying his face until he stopped speaking. “You have something else on your mind.”

“Hey, don’t turn this on me when you have a weird relationship with a psychic.”

“It has to do with school,” you pointed, watching your brother squirm on the bench. You would always catch him in a lie the same way when you were younger, and just like when you were younger he still squirmed and avoided your gaze. Mark’s ears lit up red and he stood up, turning his gaze away from you.

Mark was always the least interested in Knight’s Cross College and carrying on your family’s mission. Your Dad flipped out when Mark just floated around the idea of applying to a local community college to take classes Knight’s Cross didn’t offer.

“You don’t have to tell me,” you stood up, glancing at your watch, “just know that I’ll support you no matter where you are. I’ll see you later,” you turned back into the main building, making eye contact as a few night students started to leave their classes. 

Taeyeon had managed to get your father’s office cleaned and reorganized, making it so that the office hardly wore the marks of a demon attack. You took out your backpack from your designated shelf, and stole a glance at the family portrait. It was the only piece in the office that bore the scar of the attack- small creases over each of your faces where the painting was glued back together.

Re-entering the main hall, the hairs on the back of your neck stood tall. Across the way from the now locked President’s offices stood one of the night class students, his eyes flashing between a brown and a golden hue as he glared at you. 

“You,” he practically growled, taking two steps forward. You stole a glance at his night student ID that hung pristinely around his neck on a lanyard- Kim Doyoung. This was a name that Jaemin had mentioned to you briefly- a powerful shifter, and his family belonged to the oligarchy as well.

“Do you need something?” you asked, crossing your arms.

“You know, Jaemin is one of the only psychics left in the world,” Doyoung furrowed his brows, his eyes settling on a golden color.

“And you’re going to tell me to stay away from him?” You fought back a smirk, watching his face contort in anger.

“You need to fuck off- he is royalty and you’re just a human,” he snapped, wolf ears morphing onto the top of his head. Just a human- you had to hold back a laugh.

“Doyoung, fuck off,” you both looked towards the main door, seeing Jaemin standing tall with Hendery at his side. Hendery looked less confident than his friend, but he certainly looked protective nonetheless.

“Jaemin,” Doyoung glared, not even acknowledging the other shifter. Jaemin and Hendery moved forward, standing at your side across from Doyoung. The air was thick with tension, and you knew any moment Sicheng would be at the main gate, waiting to enter for your training.

“Doyoung, you need to learn to keep your nose out of other people’s business,” Jaemin took two steps forwards, close to the angered shifter, “or else… well. I guess people shouldn’t know how they die,” you didn’t have to see Jaemin to know he was wearing a smirk.

Doyoung’s mask dropped for a moment, his eyebrow twitching as he thought over what the psychic just said, “you’re lying.”

“And you’re willing to bet your life on that?” you stepped forward, meeting Jaemin’s side and studying Doyoung.

“She… I can smell that you aren’t human,” Doyoung hissed, “no one else has my skills, but I know it! And I’ll tell everyone.”

You all remained silent, watching Doyoung’s growl grow louder until he fully snarled.

“You should leave,” you spoke up, keeping a stern face as you watched Doyoung fully waver. “You don’t wanna be known as the incredibly talented shifter who died young, now would you?” You added, and with this Doyoung nearly sprinted out of the building, leaving the three of you alone.

“I can’t believe he can smell a change, too,” Hendery muttered, scratching his chin.

“Too?” Jaemin asked.

“… Oh look at the time!” And before either of you could press Hendery, he too flitted out of the main building.

“Weird,” you chuckled, finally looking and making proper eye contact with Jaemin. How have you not kissed?? You’ve definitely made attempts to only be ignored-  has he made an attempt that you hadn’t noticed?? 

“You gonna get that?” Jaemin’s question combined with your phone ringing brought you back. 

“Sicheng?”

“I’m canceling tonight. Bye,” he hung up as quickly as you answered.

“Huh,” you muttered.

“What are you gonna do now?” Jaemin asked. You pursed your lips as you thought it over.

“I’ll probably do some practice on my own.”

“Do you want some extra help?”

Jaemin sat behind the candles across from you, the lights dimmed to help you better concentrate on their wicks. Over the past month, you haven’t had any major flare ups and had managed to turn on all of the wicks one after the other, but Sicheng had been having you try to light up the two ends of the trio at the same time without touching the center.

“You have so much more control now,” Jaemin whistled, his eyes wide as he watched you light up the left candle and then the right candle. In his past visions of you (different versions of you) you were far more prone to flare ups, but your flames were so well controlled. He was in awe of you, truly.

You were thankful for the dimmed light and the small blue hue the candles offered, for they were able to hide the blush on your cheeks. Jaemin’s rounded out eyes fully admiring you made your heart pound and throw off your concentration- and this caused all of the candles from wick to their bottom to completely burst into flames.

“Shit!” you cried, horrified as Jaemin grabbed the fire extinguisher to quickly blow it out.

With heavy breathing, Jaemin plopped down next to you, a smile splashed across his face. “That was so cool.”

“I don’t think so.”

“It is… you’re pretty cool,” he playfully pushed your shoulder, and as the blush heated up on your ears and cheeks, you remembered your conversation with Mark. You met the psychic's eyes, noting the deep shade of red his ears wore.

“Kiss me,” you stated plainly, watching Jaemin’s face go blank. 

Jaemin had been dying to kiss you since he met you, frankly. He would always catch himself staring at your lips, and sinking into himself whenever your skin would brush against his own. But…

“I… I’ve never kissed anyone,” the shame washed over him as he spoke, and he felt the painful prickle of embarrassment envelope him. He wasn’t focused much on being physically close to anyone, and the only people he had any interest in kissing he never actively tried to. With you, though, he wanted to be as close to you as physically possible, but how could he? Jaemin knew you not only had more experiences, but you deserved the best. There was no way, he felt, he could even compare.

You blinked, “oh… so you don’t want to kiss?” you were confused. You were surprised that someone as beautiful as Jaemin had never kissed anyone, but you were frankly more concerned with whether or not he even felt comfortable kissing you.

“N… no I do want to kiss you but… what if I’m terrible?”

You couldn’t help but giggle at just how adorable he was and placed your hands on his cheeks, feeling the heat from them rise. “Jae… every first kiss is awkward-.”

Jaemin groaned loudly, but you squeezed his cheeks gently to get his attention back, “but! Just like everything… it takes a bit of time and… practice… and just being open with your feelings and your needs.”

“You’re not… freaked out by that? I mean- I’m in college,” Jaemin sputtered out, leaving your hands and listing off all of his tense feelings. You waited and listened, nodding along as he spoke.

“Jae,” you had him look back towards you once he finished, his breathing heavy as he wasn’t able to catch his breath while he poured over his thoughts. “Just… follow my lead,” you whispered, moving slowly forward, and when Jaemin stayed where he was, lips slightly parted, you pressed your lips against his gently.

Jaemin’s lips were soft, and sweet. He was shy as he slowly began to kiss you back, but once he placed his hand on your hip so he could lean in closer, you couldn’t fight your smile. Jaemin was kind, sweet, respectful, and far from your worst kiss.

Your phone ringing loudly forced you two apart, and when you expected just to see blown out pupils you screeched impulsively. Jaemin’s one eye going white was fairly normal, but both of them having glazed over into a white was new and a frankly terrifying sight to you. He blinked in confusion, the white slowly fading.

“Why are both of your eyes white?”

“They are?” He was surprised by this fact, but didn’t seem at all concerned.

“They’re fading back to normal,” you noted as his soft brown eyes returned slowly, along with another phone call. 

“Sorry,” you apologized as you checked the caller ID, “Mark?”

“I’m fine, don't listen to him!” it was Mark’s voice, but it was from a farther distance than it should be, and he was shouting. Your blood froze.

“Your brother is quite a baby,” a somewhat familiar voice chimed in. They were calm to a chilling degree with the backdrop of Mark’s shouting.

“Sicheng,” you gritted your teeth, “what the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

“Deer Moon. Come here- alone- or your brother croaks,” the line went dead afterwards, and you felt your heart stop.

*******

Jaemin threw up on the side of the road as he watched your figure shrink away towards Deer Moon. He had driven you as close as possible to Deer Moon, and after begging- and begging, and begging- you to not go by yourself, you got out a block away to walk over on your own.

Jaemin wiped the spit from his face, hunched over. He felt fucking useless. How was he supposed to help you? The only way he knew how was stolen from him. It was cruel, he felt, that the person he had come to care for the most was the one person who he couldn’t make his power useful for. Hands shaking, he shoved his hand into his pocket and started a round of calls for help.

Meanwhile, on your path down the empty street, your stomach turned as you realized the parking lot around Deer Moon was teeming with demons. Their blue, beady eyes were glaring at you the closer you approached, and you swallowed the massive lump in your throat. Demons were notorious for only following Satan himself, but it seemed that Sicheng had managed to tame enough to follow him to earth and make sure you were truly alone. 

What a goddamn monster.

The demon closest to the door snarled at you, but allowed you to enter nonetheless. You were half-expecting to see Sicheng and Mark at a booth, but instead were greeted by the bartender wiping down the bar top, a pair of deer antlers exposed at the crown of his head. He barely glanced up at you, simply sighing to himself before he spoke.

“He’s downstairs in the basement. I don’t ask questions, I just do what my boss tells me,” this sounded like a standard script for him at this point. Of course, the one restaurant open late nearby was run by mythics, you thought bitterly.

“Fucking coward,” you spat, walking past him and to the door next to the kitchen he had gestured to.

“Whatever,” he called back. Huffing to yourself, you opened the door to the basement and started down the dimly lit steps.

“... is so foolish,” a voice from below spoke. You hurried your steps and saw Mark on a chair, his wrists uncomfortably tied, a blood streak dripping from his nose, and several bruises starting to form.

“Mark!” you cried, running to where he sat and reaching to untie the ropes.

“No don't-!” Mark had tried to stop you before, but your hands burned as soon as they touched the ropes.

You hissed, ripping your hands away in pain. Cradling them close to you, the burn marks gleamed an angry red on your finger tips.

“Holy water- you’d think you’d be more cautious,” Sicheng hummed. 

“Let him go,” you demanded through gritted teeth, squeezing your hands to dull the pain. Sicheng stood in the far right corner of the room, his demonic sharpened teeth exposed along with a set of green wings 

“Why are your hands burnt from the holy water?” Mark’s soft voice paired with his question made your heart squeeze as you met his eyes. You were quiet, trembling as you watched the terror cross your brother’s face as he looked at you. He had to think of you as a monster, and that was one of your worst fears.

 As you were distracted, the air got knocked out of you as Sicheng brought you to the ground, his body now shrouded in blue flames.

“Get off of me!” you struggled to try and escape his grasp, using both of your feet to ram into his gut and knock him off.

“You fucking brat,” Sicheng growled. He now hovered above you, looking down in disgust. “I should have killed you the moment you were born.”

“... Sis?” Mark’s voice called you back, and angrily you kicked Sicheng’s groin. As he collapsed onto the ground in pain, you rushed to Mark’s side, enduring the agony of the burns as you undid one of the ropes that bound him. 

“Stop, or I will fucking kill him,” Sicheng’s terrifyingly calm voice sent a shiver down your spine as you looked up. He now stood directly behind your brother, knife to his throat.

“Don’t… Don’t kill Mark,” you voice trembled as you stood back up and backed away. You ignored the searing pain your hands felt as the fear of something happening to your brother outweighed anything else.

“You’re going to listen to me very closely,” Sicheng’s voice was shaky despite the determination in his tone, “Father has expressed his impatience. It is time for us to go back home.”

You met the gaze of Mark, and instead of seeing a look of confusion or fear- he shot you a wink.

You had to keep Sicheng talking- Mark was far too calm, and you knew that meant he was up to something.

“I have a theory,” you were spitting up whatever words you could string together, “about the blue night.”

Sicheng raised an eyebrow, “the night we were sent here?”

“It’s nearly impossible to leave hell. So, is it that Satan managed to send two of his kids there?”

Sicheng chuckled, “I’m surprised you remember that I was even there. Father had all of your prior memories completely wiped.”

You frowned. To send two young spawns of Satan to the surface world required a lot of power, power you couldn’t even fathom until….

“B-batteries,” you sputtered out, your eyes widening. In your own attempt to lengthen the conversation, you accidentally stumbled into an answer, “holy shit. Satan used the demons to possess all of those mythics to gather energy to bring us to the surface. That’s what happened.”

“He just had a couple demons possess and destroy some bodies… not that big of a deal,” Sicheng said coldly, not phased in the slightest. 

“You are fucking sick.”

“Oh fuck off- like you’re so great? You can’t even control your powers. Hell- you’re fucking that psychic and you are still losing.”

You smirked, looking back down to see Mark smiling your way, “are you sure about that?”

Sicheng didn’t have time to react as Mark quickly made use of his holy water ropes, knocking the knife out of Sicheng’s hand and killing his flames within the blink of an eye. 

********

Sicheng, the bartender, and the cook of Deer Moon were tied up in the main dining room of the restaurant. Mark had managed to knock Sicheng out, allowing the surrounding demons to vanish since their energy source was pulled. This allowed Jaemin, Ten, Hendery, and Johnny to rush into the place. 

You and Mark were quiet, watching Johnny, Ten, and Hendery arguing over what should be done with the knocked out demon and irritated owners. Jaemin sat himself on top of the bartop after crushing you in a hug, and once he was sure you were okay, he decided to focus on reviewing any possible paths he could.

Mark was easily able to knock out and tie up Sicheng despite the two being friends for years. Mark was your brother in every way but blood, yet you were still nervous to even speak with him. What even would be the most logical way to approach this?

“Sis?” Mark’s voice was hushed, and you glanced over at him. You were trembling, scared of what he was going to say.

“Yeah, Mark?”

“You know Dad’s going to be really sad if you stop calling him Dad, right?” he whispered, a small smirk forming on his lips. You rolled your eyes, punching his arm.

“You guys can’t get rid of me that easily,” you teased. He ruffled your already messy hair.

“Good,” was all he responded with, wrapping you in a bear hug.

“I’m sorry that this happened, and that this is how you found out,” your voice was low as you spoke, squeezing him tightly. You didn’t want to risk everyone else hearing, but you were elated to still have your brother- your real brother on your side.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”

“I think burning a Prince of Hell is more than enough,” you laughed, pulling away. You looked back at the group and rolled your shoulders back- this was your mess, and you were determined to clean it up.

The bartender had a pair of deer antlers exposed, and the cook’s blue faerie wings showed them fully for what mythics they were.

“All right, what are your names?” you asked. The pair glared at you before the deer decided to speak up first.

“I’m Sungchan, this old faerie is Taeil.”

“Why would you answer her?” Taeil snapped.

“Old man, they have us tied up and outnumbered,” Sungchan sighed in defeat, going back to stare at the wall.

“And do you clowns often let demon princes take refuge in your basement?”

“If they pay enough,” Taeil admitted, and Sungchan nodded in quiet agreement.

You glanced over your shoulder to see Hendery and Ten now trying to arm wrestle each other as Johnny moved to heal Mark’s wounds.

“Well, now you’re going to have to pay up- or else this place will be burned to the ground,” you threatened.

“How much?” Taeil raised an eyebrow, seeming to already try and find a way out of it.

“Hm, about two waiters' salaries?”

*****

The car ride to Yosei Inn and Fine Dining was as awkward as you expected. Jaemin had suggested bunking and trapping Sicheng at the all mythic inn as it should have enough protection for mortals to never spot it and keep Sicheng’s powers weak at the same time. Mark, Ten, and Hendery all squished in the backseat with the still knocked out Sicheng spread across their laps as the vampire and shifter kept sending biting comments your way. All the while, Johnny was sitting in the trunk, eating an apple he had swiped from Deer Moon.

“I can’t believe you’re making us be fucking waiters,” Ten repeated this grumble again.

“It’s just for a bit to keep those guys in line,” you, too, repeated yourself.

“It’s stupid,” Hendery added.

“Ten, this means you can give us discounts!” Mark on the other hand was elated by the idea, as he, Kun, and Jungwoo had gone multiple times.

“You plan to go again?” Hendery aired the question you also had.

“Yeah… I’ll just try not get kidnapped into the basement again.”

It turned out that Johnny’s family owned a suite at Yosei. Johnny and Mark did the work of adding additional demon barriers to the doors and windows as Jaemin and Ten carried and attached onyx cuffs to Sicheng’s wrists and ankles.

“Who just owned those?” you asked in a hushed voice. You stood in the empty hallway of the hotel, staring into the decadent suite as everyone was at work. You said you would keep watch in the hall, and when Ten tried to counter you, Mark and Jaemin snapped back at him.

Jaemin popped his head into the living room to answer you, “I did.”

“Kinky,” Ten’s voice rang out and you groaned.

“Gross,” Mark cringed, tucking his holy water back into his pocket.

It did give you a brief pause, as Ten and Mark began to argue while Hendery made an attempt to lower their voices. You and Jaemin shared eye contact, and by the way he averted his gaze immediately afterwards, you figured he knew what you were thinking.

Jaemin dropped Mark and the others off close to the day dorms, and you hung back with him as he drove to park the car in the student lot. It was so awkwardly quiet until he parked and turned off the car. After a brief pause, you both spoke at the same time.

“Did you plan to use the handcuffs on me?” “I’m a virgin.”

Both of your eyes widened at each other as you processed what was said.

“No, I figured we would need them for Sicheng forever ago,” he lowered his voice, the crease between his brows showing a deep concern. 

“I… kind of already figured that?” 

“Oh… yeah.”

There was that awkward silence again. 

“Jae? You shouldn’t feel obligated to do anything, ever. You… I mean… maybe,” you paused, staring down at your hands. The selfish part of you wanted to stop yourself, but the part of you that cared deeply for Jaemin was stronger, “maybe by soulmates it’s a platonic thing? If that’s what you want.”

Jaemin’s hands cupped your face and had you turn to face him.

“I want to do… everything with you,” and before you could tease Jaemin for his wording, he crashed his lips against yours, kissing you fervently. A chill was sent down your spine as you wrapped your arms around his neck, allowing Jaemin to pull you closer to him. His lips were smooth, and you were lost in him as you tightened your hold on him. The center console of the car was the only thing stopping you both from pressing against the other fully, but it didn’t stop Jaemin from moving his hands from your cheeks to smoothly trace down your arms and sides, landing on your hips.

Much to your dismay, Jaemin pulled away, both of his eyes frosted over in white as he stared at you. You were both breathless, your heated breath fanning over the others’ face. 

“I… I love you,” you admitted, watching as his eyes faded into their beautiful brown. His eyes widened before he pressed a small, sweet kiss on your forehead. Moving a hand to caress your cheek, he smiled.

“I love you,” he affirmed, and you both giggled like children, leaning your foreheads against each other. He smiled, pulling away before he stated, “I have your nickname.”

“Oh? What is it?” Before when you had spoken of nicknames, you primarily turned down ones that he didn’t seem that into- but with how he was smiling at you now, you knew you would give into any nickname.

“Blue,” he squeezed his hand in yours, and with the way he was looking at you, you couldn’t help but nod in approval.

“Blue and Jae. Blue Jae,” you spoke aloud, and you both chuckled at the cheesiness of your two names together. Two pieces that complimented the other perfectly. A small moment of peace before both yours and Jaemin’s phones started ringing. 

“Hendery’s calling me,” Jaemin noted once you both brought them out.

“Ten’s calling me,” you muttered before you looked up at Jaemin, “I’ll answer.”

“Ten?”

“HELP! HELP! HE-,” and then the line went dead.

******

Jaemin handled his first bully when he was five years old. It was an older elf boy who yanked Jaemin’s hair for getting the good crayon pack in the classroom. Jaemin, like he was still prone to do, had forced a vision afterwards only to spurn the bully on more once they noticed young Jaemin’s white eye.

“You fucking freak. All you do is see the future so you can manipulate us!” The bully shouted, finally earning the attention of the teacher who was formerly preoccupied. 

“At least my parents won’t be splitting up because of me,” Jaemin whispered before the teacher could get within earshot.

The bully switched classes, and Jaemin continued to handle his bullies in similar fashions. He was able to not have the physical strength necessary by using his skill of always being one step ahead of others.

Satan, though, was not a bully Jaemin was equipped to handle.

The two of you were fully sprinting through the Knight’s Cross Woods, following both Hendery and Ten’s locations. You had tried calling Mark only for your calls to continue going to voicemail, and every few sprinted steps your hands would burst and extinguish their flames.

You both stopped in your tracks, catching your breath as you saw the blue hues of light whispering between the trees.

“Sicheng?” You asked Jaemin between huffs of air. The psychic’s white eye blew out, showing that Sicheng was still at Yosei Inn, awake and irritated by his entrapment, but still at Yosei.

Jaemin shook his head, “I… I think it’s… him.”

Your eyes widened, and Jaemin watched them turn into cerulean blue.

“I’m not ready to take him,” you panicked, grabbing Jaemin’s hands.

“Hey,” he was holding back tears for your sake, “you aren’t alone. You will be okay.”

“And what about you? What about Mark? And Ten, and Hendery?” You whispered, your voice trembling. The Na prophecy was gnawing at both of you, and Jaemin swiped his thumb across your cheek to pick up a tear that spilled over.

“It’s either both of us, or someone we care about,” you repeated. You turned your head back towards the blue hue, watching as the light slowly grew in intensity. “It’s either we go now… or they all get hurt.”

“You will be okay- I promise,” Jaemin whispered. He would rather die than let anything happen to you.

Nodding, you both continued down the unmarked path, getting closer and closer to the blue hue until you entered a clearing. 

It was empty. The blue hue was gone. You and Jaemin shared a look of worry as both your phones began to ring incessantly, and you quickly answered your brother.

“Mark? Mark, where are you?” you spoke quickly, watching as Jaemin answered Ten’s phone call.

“What do you mean? We’re in my dorm playing smash brothers with those freshman on your floor,” he was calm, and you could hear a loud TV in the background along with people laughing. 

“Where’s Ten?”

“He’s getting his ass beat by Chenle. Sis, are you okay?” 

“I- I have to go,” you hung up and silenced your phone, Jaemin and you silent as you stared at each other. Looking down at Jaemin’s phone, the picture was clear- all of their locations showed them at their dorms. They were in no danger.

“Ten is fine.”

“So is Mark.”

“That was fun for me,” a third voice rang out in the clearing, and blue light began to show again. Turning your head, you stood frozen as you saw a large wall of blue fire that somehow was not burning the surrounding area, and the shadow of a beast behind it. “You were sent here along with your brother, for the day you gained your full powers you were to take over and rule the underworld on my behalf.”

This dropped like a bomb on your stomach, and yet the beast continued, “Now is the time. You are to come with me.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” your voice was loud and strong, your hands balled into fists as flames engulfed them. 

“Your half human body was too frail to survive growing up in the underworld- but, you’ve gained your full strength. It is time you fulfill your destiny as my child.”

“I am not your child.”

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way,” Satan’s voice sent chills down both your spines. You looked over to Jaemin, tears welling up in your eyes.

“You aren’t taking her- she is not anyone’s to take,” Jaemin moved forward, and you blew the flames out from your hand to grab his arm and stop him. The flames were silent before a booming laugh resounded.

“Don’t tell me my half mortal daughter has decided to fall in love with a psychic? My child, what an excellent strategy. We are quite similar.”

“I am not your child!” you repeated, this time more fervent in your anger.

“Take my soul and use my gifts, leave her be,” Jaemin’s words fell from his lips before he even had time to think about it. You squeezed his arm, now about to collapse. Your head was spinning just as the thought of losing Jaemin- how could he possibly even think to offer himself like that?

Satan himself chuckled before saying, “you fool. Like she would let you go without her.”

He was right, of course. Jaemin offering himself up on a platter displayed Jaemin’s devotion to you, and showed Satan everything he could have.

“Both of you, enter the flames or else I will simply set this forest, this school, and everyone in it on fire. Your choice.”

You moved in front of Jaemin, grabbing his face in your hands, “you need to run. You have to go.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Jaemin I can probably survive in the underworld but you… I can’t have you die because of me.”

“If you go, I’ll die anyways,” Jaemin was struggling to control his heavy breathing before he continued, “and… I think I’ll live. I can handle a couple hundred demons and Satan himself.”

You were angry as you chuckled- of course, Jaemin would manage to make you laugh at a time like this. You turned back to the flames, “let me send a message.”

“I refuse to send a message to any of your human companions.��

“No… to Sicheng. You can do that, right?”

“How dare you question my abilities?” the voice boomed. You looked back to Jaemin, praying he understood your thinking. He linked his fingers with yours, and while he didn’t understand your plan at that moment, he understood one thing- that you two could face Satan himself as long as you did it together. 

“Just tell Sicheng that he’s free to take what’s his, he’ll know what it means,” you watched as Jaemin’s eye went white, and he nodded in affirmation. What Jaemin saw was more blurry than he would usually rely on, but it did show Sicheng being angry, and that’s all you two needed.

“Enter the flames,” the shadow slowly faded and the wall of blue fire rose. You squeezed Jaemin’s hand as if he was going to melt right between your fingers.

Then, you entered the flames together.

<- Go back? Chp. 3

Continue? FIN. ->

Taglist! @nini0620 @enhazen @shwizhies @ibedreaminghighupinthesky

#nct fanfic #jaemin fic #jaemin x reader #jaemin imagines #jaemin fluff #jaemin x y/n #nct dream fic #nct dream imagines #nct dream fanfic #nct x reader #nct x y/n #nct fantasy au #kpop fanfiction #kpop imagines #kflixnet #nct ensemble #nct ensemble x reader #fantasy!au #fantasy!Jaemin #to pierce the white eye