#nct single parent au

[flurrys-creativity]

Doctor’s Appointment

Pairing: Johnny Suh (NCT) X GN!Reader; Genre: Doctor AU, Hospital AU, strangers to somewhat lover, Single parent AU, somewhat fluff, kinda romance; Rating: sfw, pg-13; Warnings: sick baby, being in a clinic, rude elderly woman, self doubt, johnny being slightly intimidating (if you squint), infusion bags, mentions of needles and piercing the skin with said needles, mentions of passing out, mentions of neglecting ones own needs, a nosy neighbour; Wordcount: 3.269

Summary: Being a single parent isn’t always easy. Especially not when your kid is sick and you just don’t know what to do. If it weren’t for one very handsome doctor.

You nearly ran against the automatic doors as they didn’t open fast enough. Impatiently you tapped from one foot on the other, wincing with every cry that reached your ears.

During the ride here your little one had passed out from exhaustion, the high fever and constant crying throughout the afternoon, evening and half the night finally took a toll. But the second you unbuckled the seatbelt and lifted your baby into your arms it woke up again.

You ignored the stares and frowns from the few people around you, hurrying to the front desk where you stopped and started rocking your baby, hoping to cease the crying. Sadly nothing worked. Instead your little one only cried louder and louder.

By now you were surprised your eardrums didn’t burst, though you were sure you would hear a ringing the second it got remotely quiet again.

“Hey, I called, like yesterday and I was told I should come to the clinic when the symptoms of my baby wouldn’t get better and I think they got worse?” You tried to speak as calmly as possible but at the same time it felt as if you were screaming at the person behind the front desk.

“Mhm, I need to get your information first. Please take this form and fill it out. I’ll get you once the doctor is free.” They handed you a clipboard with an attached pen and pointed to the waiting area behind you.

You took the form out of their hand with a sigh and walked over to an empty seat. You struggled slightly to fill it out while also holding your child in your arm, bobbing it up and down. Again, the few people around you shot you nasty glances, basically throwing daggers at you with their eyes. You weren’t sure whether it was because of your child crying so loudly, because of your appearance or because of both combined - though you would bet your money on the latter.

You only wore some grey, old jogging pants and a loose white tee, which probably didn’t look as fresh as it should be. Due to the sickness of your child you refused to wear anything fancy - not just because of the fact you already had puke all over you once but more with the reason you just had no time. You stayed up for more than one night already, the symptoms and fever having only gotten worse since three days ago.

When your child showed the first symptoms of being sick, you immediately made an appointment with a doctor, not wanting to risk anything when it came to your little bean. There you got some medicine and tips on how to deal with it, saying it should get better in a few days.

Nothing had changed and so you had called this clinic, wanting to get a different opinion on the matter and they only told you to come by should anything get worse. Which it did - hence the reason you sat in the waiting area, looking like a catastrophe with your child still crying.

Once you filled out the form and handed it back to the person behind the front desk, you wandered up and down through the halls. Even though your legs hurt from constantly moving around, you just couldn’t sit still. On one hand you still hoped to calm your baby enough for it to stop crying and on the other hand there was no way for you to sit down and relax when you were this worried.

“Some people just aren’t cut out to be a parent”, an older woman sneered as you walked past her, “can’t even calm their own child.”

You turned back around to the woman, schooling your expression to be as emotionless as possible. Even though you wanted to explode and lash out at her, you couldn’t take a full on fight now with someone, who just didn’t know. “So far I haven’t met an eighteen month old child, who was able to simply say they felt uncomfortable with all the pain and exhaustion they were experiencing. So if you would kindly mind your own business? Thank you.”

“Blaming the child now? You are a horrible parent! Maybe you should have sent your significant other instead of yourself if you can’t deal with your own child!” She told you - loud enough for other people to look at you as well.

You clenched your jaw and tried to take several deep breaths. That comment stung. There was no significant other who could help you out. You had to deal with everything that was thrown at you on your own. “There is absolutely no reason for you to insult me like that.” Even though you tried to stay polite, your words sounded rather hissed than spoken.

“I have all the reasons!” She yelled and pointed at you, waving her arm accusingly in front of your face. “The moment you came through those doors you disrupted the peace inside these walls! It has been almost an hour now and your child is still crying and screaming! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself? Be a better parent!”

You felt tears prick at the corner of your eyes, making you blink repeatedly. Your heart twisted painfully since that woman addressed all the worries you carried inside of you all the time. 

“What is there to improve?” A voice spoke up behind you. “I see a wonderful parent right in front of me. I see the concern and the wish to let the child be checked up on. This is a lot more than other parents do.”

You bit on your lower lip, trying to prevent yourself from crying right in front of all these strangers. 

The woman in front of you stuttered some incoherent sentences, trying to come up with some reason why you were still a bad parent. She glanced at the person behind you one more time before she decided to keep her mouth shut.

You slowly turned around, wanting to say thank you for helping you, when you were met with a stethoscope, a light blue shirt and a white coat. A small tag with the name Dr. Suh was attached to the coat. Your eyes wandered upwards until you saw a soft, comforting smile, warm brown eyes and brown locks. 

“I think the small one has waited enough. Would you follow me, please?” He said and motioned towards the hallway behind him.

“But it isn’t our turn yet”, you whispered, feeling the judging glances on you once more. Some of the patients had been within the waiting room longer than you and you didn’t want to cut the line, giving them all the more reasons to hate you.

The doctor looked down at you, noticing the glances towards the waiting room. He looked over the few waiting patients, seeing none with an emergency or a reason to be addressed immediately. “I’m sure everyone here will understand why a child in severe pain is more of an emergency than a person with a stuffy nose, who could have visited their regular doctor during the day.”

You saw how everyone avoided his gaze before you looked back up to the doctor. 

He scoffed shortly and turned his attention back on you, the smile returning to his lips. “So, if you’d follow me.” He placed a hand between your shoulder blades and guided you along the hallway and into an empty room.

You wanted to thank him again but he didn’t give you the time as he immediately started asking questions as soon as the door closed behind you. Name, age, weight, duration of the fever, other symptoms, how much your baby drank within the last twenty-four hours. You barely kept up with all the questions and him rushing around the room.

“Sang-so needs some liquid immediately”, he suddenly explained, walking over to you with an infusion bag in his hand. “I also added a small dose of pain relief, hoping to give your baby some well needed rest. You can stay in this room until the infusion is done.”

You watched him inject a needle into the back of your baby’s hand, securing it and attaching it with the infusion bag, which he hung on a pole. 

“If nothing has changed within the next thirty minutes, call for me”, he stated and gently caressed the head of your still crying baby. “I will check on the both of you every now and then.”

“Thank you.” You bowed your head in gratitude, not able to go any lower with your child still in your arms.

“No need to thank me”, he smiled, “that’s my job after all.” With that he walked out of the room and left you alone, standing in the middle of it.

You wandered around the room, keeping the pole close to you, while you hummed a soft melody. You still felt the nervousness bubbling within your body but something about Dr. Suh gave you the reassurance everything would be fine.

Soon enough the crying ceased and dimmed down to quiet sniffles. A deep sigh left your lips and you kissed the forehead of your baby, grateful the infusion was helping. 

Only after Sang-so fell asleep did you sit down on one of the chairs within the room. Your own exhaustion slowly caught up on you. With all the fear and stress you had neglected most of your own needs. 

“Ah, I hear nothing”, the voice of Dr. Suh interrupted your thoughts. “That’s a good sign.”

A weak smile played over your lips as you nodded and thanked him again. “The little bean finally fell asleep”, you whispered and brushed a few strands of hair away. 

Dr. Suh squatted down next to you, observing your child momentarily. “The fever didn’t go down because of dehydration. Sometimes we need to force them to drink. When Sang-so refuses to drink water, try mixing drops of juice into it to give it some flavour. That should do the trick.” He looked up to you, eyebrows furrowing while he assessed you. “Do you want to freshen up a little? I can stay with Sang-so for the meantime.”

You shook your head slowly. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“Do you want me to call someone to pick you two up once the infusion is done?”

Again you shook your head. “It’s alright. I’ll call an uber again. Or a taxi.”

His frown only deepened. He raised a hand and cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing over your dry lips. “When was the last time you drank something?” As you only shrugged with your shoulders, he continued questioning you. “When did you last eat something? How much did you sleep the past few days?” 

You leaned into his touch, missing the softness of being cared for by another person. A single tear rolled down your cheek while you smiled weakly. “I’ll be fine”, you whispered and closed your eyes, “I just need a coffee and I’m back on my feet.”

You noticed him wince at your comment before he placed his second hand on your other cheek as well, forcing you to look at him with your glassy eyes. “I need you to rest”, he said sternly without breaking eye contact. “I’ll give you an infusion as well and then I need you and Sang-so to rest on the bed over there until my shift is over, understood?” He didn’t even wait for your answer before he helped you up and guided you over to the bed.

The second you laid down next to your baby, you passed out.

Johnny injected the infusion into your arm and stood up, looking down at you and the small child. Within the clinic Johnny was constantly met with egoistic people, who always wanted to be first or needed the world to revolve around their problems. Yet you had tried not to inconvenience all the other patients, even after they attacked you with their harsh words.

You woke up again from the soft giggles of Sang-so. When you opened your eyes they immediately wandered to Dr. Suh, who sat on a chair and balanced your baby on his legs.

Sang-so held his hands tightly while crouching down and standing back up, silently asking him to move his legs again. Once he did, Sang-so giggled in delight and repeated the request.

You pushed yourself up into a seated position, smiling tiredly while you smoothed down your hair.

“Look, who just woke up.”

Sang-so’s head whipped around and a cheerful laugh filled the room as your baby saw you awake. 

Dr. Suh carried Sang-so over to you, watching you closely as you hugged your kid and mumbled something into its ear. 

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience”, you apologised though you stayed rooted on the bed, knowing full well you weren’t stable enough to move yet. 

Johnny shook his head. “It was my own decision to take my break here.” A pang of guilt shot through your heart and only intensified as he continued speaking. “I also brought you two canteen food. It isn’t the tastiest there is but at least it’s nutritious.” 

You wanted to apologise again, feeling like a burden and a good-for-nothing as you haven’t done anything helpful so far. But the doctor spoke up again before you had the chance to say a word.

“Sang-so? Can you do me a little favour?” He leaned down to your kid and waited for the soft nod. “I need you to make sure Y/N eats something and sleeps a little more until I’m back. Can you do that for me?” 

Sang-so looked from the doctor to you and back again, giggling in excitement and nodding once more.

Johnny turned his attention to you and caught your gaze. “Rest”, he whispered and smirked slightly, “doctor's orders.”

“Okay”, you breathed out, too entranced with his eyes. Only after he left the room were you able to regain some control over your thoughts. Your heart pounded heavily against your ribcage while your hands felt clammy and shaky. 

You leaned back against the wall and closed your eyes, cursing under your breath for falling for the hot doctor. You had a tendency to develop crushes quite quickly. The last time it happened you ended up as a single parent and you had sworn to never fall for someone you barely knew again.

Yet, here you were falling for this incredibly attractive doctor. 

Sang-so sat down on your lap and rested their head against your chest, listening to your heartbeat and slowly dozing off again. 

You rubbed over their back and placed a soft kiss on Sang-so’s head before you relaxed again, letting your consciousness drift away once more.

When Johnny came back you still hadn’t eaten but at least you had rested some more. He quietly walked over to you and gently shook your shoulder, careful as to not wake up Sang-so.

You blinked several times before you were able to focus on the person in front of you. “What time is it?” You asked as you noticed the bright light coming through the windows.

“Time for you to eat something.” 

A soft laugh escaped your lips as you accepted the food he held out to you. “I’m sorry you had to watch this little monster while you were on your break.” 

“Don’t mention it.” Johnny sat back down on the chair and waited patiently for you to eat. He made light conversation with you after he sensed your nervousness, easing your mind almost instantly. “Once you finish eating, I’ll drive you home.”

You nearly choked on the food you just swallowed. “I can’t possibly accept that!”

“My shift ended half an hour ago. I really don’t mind offering you a lift. I don’t think waiting for an uber or a taxi would be a good choice with Sang-so still being under the weather.” 

At that moment you noticed he didn’t wear the white coat anymore. Instead an overly large hoodie adorned his upper body. 

“Dr. Suh…”

“Off my shift, not a doctor anymore. Call me Johnny.” He grinned at you, the smile becoming even wider when you sighed in defeat and accepted his offer.

After you ate up, Johnny guided you through the hospital to the parking lot. He opened the door for you and pulled a baby seat out of the trunk of his car, helping you to secure it on the backseat. 

You felt oddly safe on the backseat of this man, though your heart rate spiked whenever your eyes met through the back view mirror. You knew you’d miss the attentiveness the second you’d get to your apartment and be the lonely single parent again but that thought didn’t prevent the butterflies inside your stomach.

When Johnny parked in front of your home, he quickly got out of the car and opened the door for you again.

“How can I ever repay you for your kindness?” You held Sang-so in your arms while Johnny put the baby seat back into his trunk. Before he was able to answer you though, your nosy neighbour opened the window and called out for you.

“Y/N! I didn’t know you got a boyfriend!”

“He’s no-...”

“Is he treating you right? Where was he when Sang-so was so sick? Did you scold him for not helping you out? He better step up his game! Aigo, don’t get fooled just because he looks handsome!”

“Miss Kim, I don’t have…”

“You should move in to help Y/N during a crisis. Last night they got into an uber! Do you know how dangerous that is for a single parent?” Once again you got interrupted by her, making you sigh deeply. 

From all her nagging, Sang-so woke up again and looked around. The second your baby noticed Johnny standing beside you, the little monster leaned over to him and made grabby hands while giggling.

Johnny quickly grabbed Sang-so and made silly faces, saving you the struggle of holding such a whirlwind in your arms. 

“At least he’s good with kids”, Miss Kim yelled and nodded approvingly, “maybe you chose a good one this time.”

Having had enough of this woman you simply faked a smile and dismissed her antics with a wave of your hands before you turned your back to her. “Sorry about that”, you murmured and reached for Sang-so, “I’ll explain the situation to her another time.”

“How about you repay me back with a date”, Johnny suggested and leaned down to your ear, “this might even save you the explanation to Miss Kim.” He chuckled softly and handed you Sang-so, only straightening again after he kissed your cheek. “Think about it. You know where to find me.” With that he bit his goodbye, even waving one last time to Miss Kim, before he got into his car and drove off.

Maybe your heart was making a good choice, despite fearing it might collapse any second now. You watched the car disappear into the distance, still stunned due to the soft kiss. Maybe you should give this a shot. At least your mind already played a dozen romantic scenarios over and over. 

One of them being you with a small present at the clinic asking to see him and say thank you. And yes. You’d definitely say yes to a date with him. Maybe you should make a doctor’s appointment to let him know. 

A soft giggle escaped your lips and you turned your head to look at Sang-so, smiled as well. 

Yeah, you definitely wanted to make that doctor’s appointment.

© all rights reserved  

Taglist: @xavi-in-kpopland​ 

#supermnet #kwritersworldnet #kdiarynet #wkcnet #kvanity #thekpopuniverse #johnny suh #nct #nct johnny #hospital au #doctor au #single parent au #doctor's appointment #one shot

[nuoyipeach]

Play Pretend

Lee Taeyong X Kang Seulgi

warning: single parents

tags: @gerardeveryway @gomseulgiii @innssanityyy @seulyongggi (+anon requested)

"Baby have you got your report card yet?" Taeyong asked while buttoning his shirt and walking out of his bedroom. His eyes scanned the living room until it fell on the figure of the ten year old laying on the couch lazily, groaning as a response. "Hurry up, let me sign it before you go today." he ordered heading into the kitchen.

The young girl sighed before getting up and fixing back her school uniform, taking out a file from her backpack and handing it to her father at the dining table, where he drank his coffee. Taeyong took it and looked through the card.

"B- in Geography?" he looked at his daughter, raising an eyebrow.

"The teacher is mean OK!" she exclaimed. "I swear daddy she absolutely hates kids and decided to teach just to punish us."

Taeyong chuckled watching the girl pout and slouch into the chair opposite to him, shaking his head before taking out a pen from his pocket and signing the card, handing it back to her.

"Well, you still got As and Bs mostly, so I guess that counts for a little present, don't you think?" he watched as she sat up straight with gleaming eyes, nodding enthusiastically causing her father to laugh.

A smile on his daughter's face was his immediate ecstasy, the cure for all the sadness he felt since her existence.

"After school today, I'll pick you and we'll go to the mall, you can pick out one thing, budget is 40,000 won."

The girl got up and ran to her father's side, hugging his neck tight. "I LOVE YOU DADDY YOU'RE THE BEST!"

"Wow, all for one present huh." he fake sulked, making the girl sigh in exasperation, and he just laughed at her, giving a soft kiss to her cheek. "Go get your bag now, you'll be late."

>>>

"Seojin please calm down." Seulgi's voice shook as she didn't know what to do anymore, her one year old fussing in her arms as she sat in the clinic. She was so tired, but couldn't rest a second at the thought of her baby sick to the point of crying.

"Kang Seojin." she looked up as the nurse finally called them in after what felt like forever, and quickly headed in to the doctor's office with her daughter in one hand and the baby bag in her other. She was quick to fall into the patient's seat opposite the doctor, who was focused on his screen before turning to them.

"Hello, I'm Dr Lee." he greeted, and Seulgi responded. "So this is Kang Seojin, one year old, baby girl, right?" she nodded, and noticed the doctor eyes her fussing baby who had calmed for a second when seeing the new face. The doctor typed away in his computer, before motioning her to sit on the bed and lay Seojin on it.

"So what seems to be the problem Ms?" he asked taking is stethoscope off his neck.

Seulgi looked at her baby still fussing uncomfortably, pulling on her shirt as a sign to carry her again. "She's been like this since yesterday, it's never happened before so I'm incredibly worried. I don't know what to do, it doesn't seem like she's got a temperature, and everything else seems normal. I'm so scared and tired..."

The man took note of the baby's breathing, who had calmed again slightly feeling the cold metal pressed to her chest. Seulgi watched as the doctor smiled at her, making playful expressions while moving the stethoscope around. She wondered if he had listened to her at all with how attentive he was being to Seojin's behaviour, but she knew paediatrics were very smart.

"OK, her breathing seems normal." he put the tool away, then looked at Seulgi, pointing to the baby's little dress. "May I?"

Seulgi stared confused, until she realised what he was asking permission for and felt touched, nodding immediately. He lifted the dress and with light fingers pressed around her tummy, making sounds at the same time to entertain the infant. She watched the way he interacted with her daughter, and almost felt sad if not for the fact she was in public.

"OK, seems like she's a bit bloated." he put her dress down and sat the infant up, holding her hands and playing with them a little as he continued speaking. "I suspect she's having trouble with gas. Has there been any irregularity in her meals? Or maybe something new you've been feeding her recently?"

Seulgi stared at her daughter and thought for a while. She hasn't fed her anything new in the time she's been sick this way, so the only option could be the first.

With a guilty face, she looked at him and answered. "It might have been the meal times. I work as a teacher, and uhm, she only has me, and I only have her..." she bit her bottom lip trying to stop herself from sounding pitiful. "I take her with me to the school and keep her in the day care part time which is free for me as a staff, but I've had to take an extra afternoon class recently, so she stays there a little longer than usual, so me feeding her gets delayed until I get home..."

The man stared a little perplexed. "Doesn't the daycare feed her?"

"They do, I still have to pay just that because she's so young so she requires special meal preparations, but I can only afford to do one for her in the time she's there. She does have some baby snacks in case, but it's not really enough to count as a meal you know..."

Seulgi felt ashamed as her flaws as a mother laid out to the doctor, and she could only pray he didn't judge her or spread the news of a mother being this incompetent. She watched as he stared at Seojin deep in thought, before picking her up and placing the infant on her lap, motioning her to come back to the table.

Once they sat, he typed away in his computer before speaking again. "I see no father listed in her records?" her eyes widened, even more embarrassment washing over her as she nodded.

"She has one, biologically, but... he didn't want anything to do with a baby. It's been just been me since then."

"Well, I can give you a prescription to help with her current bloating, however if her missing a meal continues it won't help in the long run."

He saw how she clearly hated that hypothesis. "What can I do? I took up an extra class for more salary just enough for us two. I can't afford them to feed her twice either." she felt her voice nearly crack, quickly looking away and taking deep breaths to stop herself breaking down.

The doctor rested his chin on his hand, elbow on the table, as he thought about a solution. "How about babysitting?"

"I can't offer enough for people to accept..."

He was deep in thought again, before suddenly raising his brows as if making a discovery. "How about someone young? They won't ask for much." Seulgi stared at him confused, which he clearly noticed before continuing. "You see, I am a single parent myself actually. I have a ten year old daughter, and she goes to the local private academy. The issue is, their classes start eight and end at two, not nine to five like the public schools, and due to office hours I also get off at five. She ends up going home alone, and honestly I trust her but it worries me."

Seulgi empathised deeply with him. She knew despite him having a higher paid job than her and being able to afford niceties more, being a single parent was never easy no matter what.

He continued as she nodded, assuring she was listening. "You work at the local public school right?" he asked, to which she nodded. "Great, hers is just a few minutes walk from there. If you don't mind, I was thinking maybe she could watch Seojin after her classes. That way you won't have to pay double for the daycare meals, and considering she's only ten you won't have to offer too much for babysitting fees either. As her father, I can assure you that it's fine."

Seulgi took his idea seriously, her mind crossing out thr pros and cons of it all. "How will she watch her? I mean like, where?"

"Well, I usually use my lunch break to pick her up and drop her."

Seulgi still wasn't convinced. "But, you don't know my house, and I'm not sure I can let Seojin go to another one like that just yet."

He realised her concern, and nodded before responding. "Where do you live?"

"Well, it's a ten minute walk from the school..."

"Oh that's not far at all, I can just drop them there from now on, and pick her up after work."

"Are you sure?" hesitation filled her voice as she realised how burdensome it sounds on his part. "It sounds like a lot of trouble on your part..."

"It's not don't worry, your place sounds closer to here than mine, so it'll be quick too. I'm only offering because I'd like for her to pick up some responsibility instead of being alone for so long, and it's only for three to four hours."

After much more hesitation, mental debate, and some final thoughts, Seulgi decided it was the only option that doesn't compromise her daughter's health further, so she didn't have much of a choice anyways. Sighing, she agreed to the idea, planning for a meet up first before the young girl would start her job.

The doctor wrote something on two separate note pages. "I'll write her prescription to get her current bloating down, you can pick it up at the counter. And here's my number." he passed both papers across his table as they stood, and smiled putting his hand out. "My full name's Lee Taeyong by the way, my daughter is Lee Yoora."

>>>

After a quick lunch meet at a cafe, where Seulgi saw how Yoora adored Seojin and clearly showed signs of being responsible, she finally agreed wholly to the plan, and now sat in her classroom staring at the clock. Yoora should have picked up her daughter by now and already reach their home, and she had promised to let Seulgi know when she does.

Seulgi had left a pre-prepared meal for Seojin, as well as some lunch for Yoora, and left instructions for everything on a paper on the fridge. If her instincts were right during their meet up, Yoora should have no issue navigating everything.

Her phone dinged, and she was quick to grab and check the notification.

Lee Yoora: hi! we reached your home, Seojin fell asleep, do you want me to wake her and feed or wait?

She let out a sigh of relief, and smiled at how seriously the young girl took her job.

Me: hi yoora, glad to hear that. it's time for her afternoon nap, so why don't you go ahead and eat first. lay her on her mat in the living room and check on the fridge, I've left some directions, and lunch for you in the fridge

Yoora sent back a thumbs up, and Seulgi relaxed, focusing back on her classroom where students started coming in after lunch time. Unlike before she felt much calmer teaching the class, though hints of worry did wash over every now and then at the thought of whether Seojin was doing OK.

As soon as school ended, she clocked out and went home right away. She stood in front of the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself, then opened it to find the house completely calm and quiet. She went in further until she heard a soft giggle from Seojin, and finally peeked into their living room/dining space to see Yoora on the table doing work, while her own daughter sat in her baby seat next to her simply entertained by the jingling fluffy pen the older girl was using to write. Yoora was smiling too, and Seulgi watched a bit longer when the ten year old looked back at the infant and teased her with the fluffy end, causing her to laugh more.

Her heart tickled at the sight of her baby so happy in the care of someone else. Seulgi had felt so alone since having Seojin, with the man leaving her, and her family living too far away to be able to help at all, she was overjoyed that there was someone else her baby could finally learn to trust. She had feared Seojin might have had a separation issue from her, but luckily that wasn't the case as she sees now.

"I'm home." she decided to finally announce herself and entered, greeting Yoora before taking her daughter and kissing her cheek. "I see you two had fun today." she chuckled as she spoke, before turning back to Yoora. "I'll take her now, why don't you finish your work while I make us something to eat?"

"Oh no I don't want to bother you." Yoora waves her hands, but Seulgi shook her head.

"It's fine, you'll need nutrients to keep you brain running."

>>>

Their routine soon became natural, and Taeyong was the most relieved when seeing how happy Yoora had been the past couple of months whenever he picked her up. Sometimes he'd end up a little late due to patient emergencies, but Seulgi reassured him it was no issue for her, and if anything it was more helpful as she was able to get more done without worrying abt Seojin. Yoora also loved the arrangement as Seulgi being a teacher helped her with some schoolwork.

"Daddy we should invite them over next weekend. It's Ms Seulgi's birthday on the tenth, I wanna do something special for her." Taeyong listened to his daughter, and hummed in response. He figured it would be a good way for the two adults to get closer, especially considering he barely knew about them as much as Seulgi knew his side.

Once he tucked away Yoora for bed, he went to his room and pulled out his phone, thinking for a little before sending a text.

Taeyong: good evening seulgi. how are you & the little one?

He waited a few minutes before a reply came in.

Seulgi: hi dr taeyong, we're doing well

Taeyong: great to hear!

Taeyong: so yoora & I were wondering if you'd like to join us for dinner next week, say Saturday?

Seulgi: oh, I think it should be fine. what's the occasion?

Taeyong thought for a second, before deciding to make it a surprise.

Taeyong: just a simple dinner party

Seulgi felt hesitant despite having agreed to it already, and once the day came she stressed about what to wear and dress Seojin in. In the end she settled for a simple sleeveless yellow dress, reaching just below her knees, and a black cardigan over it. She then dressed Seojin in a similar yellow dress with ruffled sleeves and white tights.

She called a taxi and reached the Lees apartment just according to their agreed time, following the text of instructions on which floor and house number to head to. As she stood in the elevator, one hand with the baby bag and the other carrying Seojin, she suddenly felt a slight wave of tension. She didn't know why, but she felt oddly nervous entering Taeyong's living space. They've barely met much ever since the arrangement, just simple greetings exchanged when he picked up Yoora, and once more when she went for a follow up check for Seojin with him.

The elevator stopped, and she sighed stepping out and finding their door. The apartments weren't luxurious, nothing more than simple and modest, but still nicer than what she could afford. Another wave of nervousness washed over her until she found their door, taking a deep breath before ringing the bell.

The door swung open fast as a beaming child appeared. "Hi Ms Seulgi! Come on in!" Yoora cheered, taking the bag from her hand and leading her inside to the living room. "Sit here. My dad's coming out, food is ready too, even for Seojin. Come on Seojin let's go play!" she spoke so fast before swooping the infant from her mother's arms and running to her room, where Seulgi could look into and saw a floor mat prepared for Seojin to play on.

"Hi." a deep voice from behind made her stand and turn, smiling at the man appearing before her in a white collar shirt and dress pants, the top two buttons of his shirt left open. "Yoora sure loves Seojin, she couldn't wait for you guys to come sooner, got ready way before me." he chuckled, motioning for her to sit again as he did next to her.

"I'm glad." Seulgi responded, her eyes drifting to the children again. "I've wanted for Seojin to grow up with people around her. But being alone with her doesn't give me much time for playdates." her voice drifted off, and Taeyong sympathised deeply. He hesitated in questioning the obvious, but figured it would be OK to do so given their similar situations.

"How about any family?"

Her eyes darted towards him, and he almost regretted asking it until she sighed and shook her head. "My parents aren't happy about everything. They still keep in touch, but they live back in our hometown so we barely meet unless during chuseok or seollal. Any other relatives... I just don't keep up with." she looked down at her lap, biting her lip which he noticed started quivering, before her eyes landed on Seojin again and she smiled sadly.

"I don't regret having her, I love my baby to the most. I just wish I could have given her a better life without so much... stress about others."

He didn't know what took over him when Taeyong's hand suddenly slide across the couch and held hers, their eyes fixed on each other as he gave it a reassuring squeeze. He waited for a little, until she gave one back, and they exchanged soft smiles before he released her hand.

Both parents unknowing of the spark each other felt inside.

"How about you?" Seulgi broke the silence. "What's your story with Yoora?"

Taeyong chuckled. "I guess it's only fair. Well, you can see she's quite old. I was a second year med student actually when her mother got pregnant. We weren't ready for anything obviously, but she gave birth to her still. But..." this time he sighed, eyes drifting towards his daughter, except unlike Seulgi, guilt took over his face before he spoke very softly. "I haven't told Yoora the truth. Her mother is alive and well, but her family was some rich powerful one. I honestly didn't know much about her considering we were just a fling to be honest, but when Yoora was born they forced her to give up the baby and transferred her to complete her studies overseas. She called me immediately to take Yoora, haven't seen her since."

He looked back at Seulgi, and chuckled again seeing her bewildered expression. He swore never to speak of this in his daughter's presence, but he was glad it finally get it off his chest and talk about it.

"My family was upset with me obviously, but my sister did her best to help until I finished my degree and started working at the hospital. Once I had enough I moved out with Yoora and well, here we are."

>

They sat for dinner, Seojin seated by her mother on Yoora's old baby seat while Yoora sat on her other side. Taeyong watched as the two paid attention to the infant, a new kind of happiness filling up in him. He's always wanted a domestic family life, but between his shifts at the hospital and raising Yoora, he had no time for meeting new people let alone finding the right one.

As they finished eating, the children were back in Yoora's room while he invited Seulgi out to the balcony, handing her a glass of wine. She accepted with a smile, and they stood in silence out in the dark night, both leaning against the railing of the balcony, looking anywhere and everywhere.

"Do you ever wonder what would your life be like if things were... different?" Seulgi's voice broke the silence, and he turned to see her gazing out at the city. He stared at her for a while before taking a sip, thinking of an answer.

He knew exactly what she meant.

"Sometimes... I love her, but this life isn't what I wished for her."

She sighed, eyes darting down to her drink. "Can I confess something?" she peeked to see him still staring at her, and nodding slightly. "I never wanted to be a teacher. Before this job, I had a basic corporate one just to keep things going for me. That's where I met my ex, and I thought things would go well between us. But... when I got pregnant, I knew I wanted to keep my baby, even when he rejected it and broke up with me. That's when I left that job and started as a teacher here."

She took a sip, waiting for some form of response. She saw through the corner of her eye how he looked at her, suddenly moving closer until they stood shoulder to shoulder.

"What was your dream job?"

"A mother."

Silence filled again, nothing but the sounds of the cars and few people going past the building down on the road. Taeyong kept his eyes on her, wondering if she was going to explain further. But she didn't, which wasn't exactly needed because he knew exactly what she meant.

"I wish the same." he spoke softly, her head finally turning towards him as their eyes met. "When Yoora was born, I was too young to care about my future. But now I know that, no matter how much I love her, this isn't what I wanted her to have. I want her to have a mother, siblings, a family life, something even the most capable single parent won't be able to fill up themselves."

They're eyes locked, a look of sympathy in both as they stared at each other for a while. Seulgi suddenly realised how long they had been staring, not to mention their close proximity, and quickly looked down shying away, taking a last swing of her wine. Like Taeyong, she had no time or space for a new relationship, especially when her daughter had just newly turned one. And as far as she had heard, no one wants to start a relationship where a child is a given from day one.

She peeked towards him again, and noticed his eyes stayed on her. Pursing her lips she turned to him fully, his glass now empty as he gazed at her, his eyes changed from sympathy to something else. He got up from leaning on his forearms and faced her as well, and she saw his eyes dart up and down her face.

"I'm glad you came into my office that day." he spoke softly, the distance between them getting smaller. "I see how happy Yoora is when coming home from you. She talks as if Seojin is her sister, even in school..."

She gave a shy smile in return. "I love having her around, and I know Seojin does too."

A quick smile appeared on his face before disappearing again, and Seulgi suddenly felt hot despite the light breeze.

Taeyong knew what he was thinking about wasn't exactly right, or wrong, it was in fact a very grey area. She was beautiful, she wanted the same as him, she brought everything he ever wanted to fix his life. The seal was his daughter loved her.

A gust of wind lightly blew past them, Seulgi blinking as some of her hair went onto her face. But before she could push it back, his hand was already up, fingers lightly pushing her hair off and putting it behind her ear. Their eyes locked for much longer, his hand still on the side of her face, his knuckles unconsciously tracing her jawline. She didn't move or flinch, not even when he suddenly cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing her cheek this time.

The air felt heavy, Seulgi finding it hard to breathe all of a sudden. She wanted to move, but his touch felt so comforting all of a sudden.

"You've done well."

Three words, full of meaning. Seulgi had felt so stressed, scared, disappointed sometimes even with herself, she didn't realise that these three words was all she needed to hear to feel a wall break down in her heart. She felt so calmed, so soft, that she didn't bother to reject when his lips were suddenly on hers.

Taeyong played it safe, he moved close slowly, hovered his lips over hers at first, and when she remained still, he gave a soft kiss first. But once she kissed back, he let go of all hesitation as his hand moved to hold the back of her neck and pulled her closer as their kiss elongated.

Her skin felt like it was on fire, especially where he touched. She didn't know where it went, but his other hand was suddenly on her waist, simply placed there with no grip or push. Her one hand remained holding the wine glass by its stem while the other slowly gripped his shirt on his arm.

"Da-" they heard a light gasp, enough to break their kiss and quickly detach as they looked at the source of the sound, fear filling up both parents as they faced a still Yoora, looking as if she had faced Medusa and turned to stone.

No one spoke a word, Taeyong feeling guilty, Seulgi embarrassed, and Yoora still in shock. After about two minutes she gulped, looking at either adults, took a deep breath in, then out as she thought of what to say.

"So... you two a thing?"

"NO!" both parents simultaneously answered, shaking their heads.

Yoora looked more confused, then to their shock, a little disappointed. "Oh... thought it was a birthday miracle."

"Birthday?" Seulgi asked confused, to which the young girl covered her mouth before sighing.

"It was supposed to be a surprise. I remember your birthday was the past week, so I wanted to surprise you tonight. That's why I was calling you in actually." her eyes then turned to her father, who stood staring at the floor as if he was caught doing something shameful. "Was that your present or something daddy?"

Seulgi felt a tug at her heart. She hadn't celebrated her birthday since becoming pregnant, and even before that it was spent with a simple wish from her ex-coworkers during their lunch break. Her parents would send her gifts, but that was the most.

The father and daughter were quick to notice tears welling up in her eyes, and Taeyong signalled Yoora too take her inside to where she had readied the cake. She nodded and quickly grabbed Seulgi's hand, pulling her inside until the dining table, where Seojin was seated in the baby seat staring at the cake in awe.

"Mamma!" the infant called out to her mother, pointing towards the candles while laughing. Seulgi silently stared at the scene before her, feeling a deep warmth in the pit of her stomach at the words on the cake wishing her by name.

Happy Birthday to the most amazing mum, Seulgi

"Do you like it?" Yoora's voice took her out of her daze. "I wasn't sure what flavour you liked, but I noticed you baked red velvet cookies for your home so I got that!" she cheered a little shyly.

A tear finally spilled onto her cheek, but with a smile on her face as she nodded at the young girl. "I love it Yoora." she sniffed, when a hand cupped her cheek again, thumb wiping away her tear. She turned to see Taeyong next to her, and they smiled at each other. "Thank you both, you really didn't have to do this..."

"Of course we did." he replied. "You mean a lot to Yoora, she loves you. And well, you've taken a role in her life I could only attempt to."

Seulgi got the meaning behind his words, suddenly remembering the kiss back on the balcony. And through the rest of the night as they cut the cake and sat together talking, that memory flooded her mind every few seconds when she looked at the man in front of her.

Even as she went home and sobered up and laid in bed holding her daughter close to her chest, she started visioning how things would be if the four of them were a family.

Stop it Seulgi....

>>>

As the next week came, Seulgi sat with Yoora helping with her homework while waiting for her father to pick her up. Seojin was in her floor mat napping, her mother looking over at her every few minutes to keep her in check.

"Oh you know, Seojin said unnie today." Yoora suddenly spoke, getting Seulgi's attention off the book as she gasped with a smile. "I've been trying to make her say it to call me, took a few days but she did it. Is this how you felt when she first said mamma?"

Seulgi chuckled, filled with joy at the young girl's excitement. How she wished this was regular...

The bell rang, and she left Yoora to finish up to go open the door. Taeyong appeared with a smile, and a hand carrying three gift bags. She looked at them perplexed before giving him way into the living room, where he stopped and cooed at sleeping Seojin.

"What's all this?" she asked pointing to the three bags in his hand he had put down. He gave a more cheeky smile, then motioned her to sit next to her on the couch.

Yoora appeared out of the dining area, exclaiming softly at the sight of the bags before dashing to sit on her father's other side.

"I got off faster, but I knew Yoora would hate me picking her up earlier." he joked, getting a pout from the younger girl and a laugh from the woman. "I got some stuff for everyone."

Seulgi looked even more perplexed as he handed Yoora the smaller bag, which she immediately opened and pulled out a little purse from and hugged her father in gratitude. He pecked her cheek before turning to Seulgi, handing her a bigger bag. She took it reluctantly, opening it to look inside, gasping aloud as she saw the bigger purse inside.

"This... Taeyong it's a lot." she looked up and saw him smile at her. "I can't accept this, please."

"Please do." he put his hands on her as she was about to push it back to him. "I want you to have it. I noticed you'd carry everything in Seojin's baby bag, and you know, every woman should have that one good purse."

She was awed by his logic, still in shock when he handed her another smaller bag. "This is for Seojin, can't leave out the special one." he chuckled, taking out a small doll that rung a bell when moved around.

Seojin woke up hearing the bell, and was immediately up balancing on her feet and making way to them. Yoora called to her before grabbing the toy from her father's hand and taking her along to her toy corner to play.

Happiness filled Taeyong, and it was clearly evident on his face as he couldn't stop smiling for the whole time since entering. Seulgi on the other hand could only stare at the bags, hers full while Seojin's empty, while her face remained expressionless.

Once he looked at her and noticed it, he shifted closer to her on the couch and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "Hey, what's wrong?" she looked up to see his eyes full of genuine concern.

"Taeyong, this is expensive... thank you but, its just so much for me."

She stopped when his other hand suddenly cupped her cheek, again, pushing her face to maintain eye contact as he smiled softly. "Please let me have this. I've always wanted to do something like this, and you know, you're thr closest that Yoora could have as-"

"Stop." she cut him off and abruptly got off the couch, push his hands away and dropping the bag to the floor. Right now, many thoughts ran through her head, but there was one she needed to clear up, to get off her chest. "I'm sorry Taeyong, but... I'm not here to play pretend."

She watched his knitted eyebrows as he stared confused, still sat down. "What do you mean?"

Sighing, she finally let it all out. "Taeyong, I love Yoora, but... she's not my daughter, she's not Seojin's sister, and you're not... you're not my husband. I don't know what happened that night with us, but it's made things so confusing for me. I agree this arrangement was really great for our kids, and to some extent for us as well, but I don't want it going some place without any guarantee about how it will end. Seojin is all I have, and as much as I hate it, I've come to accept that finding someone to full up the hole in our life is nearly impossible..."

Like the other night, a single tear fell down her cheek, except this time it wasn't a happy one. Stress and sadness piled up in her as she vented everything, and now the silence suffocated her. Before he could response, Seulgi turned away wiping her face and headed into the kitchen, grabbing a glass and pouring out water for herself.

Except her emotions got the best of her as her hand shook picking up the jug, water spilling around the cup. A hand held hers to steady it, and she weakly released as the jug was taken away from her. Taeyong then took the cup, filled it, then helped her hold it. She took a quick chug of water, trying to drown any emotions that had bottled up until her throat.

"I'm sorry." she put the cup down hearing his soft voice, a hand on her back while the other he used to turn her towards him. "I didn't mean to make you feel this way. I know how hard it must have been, believe me, I've gone through it for ten years. But I can say this, no matter how great your life gets through everything, the tiniest piece of you will always crave for what's missing. And so will your child..."

The tone of his voice changed, which lead Seulgi look up at his now sullen face.

"She never says a thing, but I know and can sense how much Yoora feels the emptiness of a mother. Ever since she started coming here, she's been so happy... you don't know this, but she talks about you both a lot in school, not just Seojin. In fact, they had an assignment a few days ago to write about their mothers, usually Yoora would sit out of things like that, but when she came home with a well graded paper... I knew at that point that you're so much more to her than just the mother of a baby she watches over."

This time, his eyes remained down, and Seulgi could see the slight tears welling up in them. His hands slowly dropped down as well, and she was the one to hold his face in both her hands, pushing up to face her. Once their eyes met, he quickly blinked away the tears.

"I promised myself that if ever I get the chance to marry someone, my first priority would be Yoora. But believe me, that's not the only case with you..."

He was quick to grab her hands when she was about to retract them the moment she heard those last words, confusion written all over her face and even in her eyes.

"Every time I see you with either girl, I just get drawn to you. Ten years ago, as a medical student with an accidental baby, I wouldn't have looked at you this way. But now, as a working single father, I see you and I think, this is what I want." he pulled her closer, arms circling around her waist. "You're such a hardworking woman, somehow you manage to balance work and taking care of an infant. I can't imagine how hard it must have been those first few months after giving birth. But you've persevered. When you told me about how alone you were, I realised it didn't matter that I did it for ten years or more, because you started alone without help, and nothing makes you any stronger than all this."

Staring into his eyes, she could tell he was being sincere, every word was meaningful.

"What I went through, Seulgi, it was hard. And seeing you that day at the hospital with Seojin in your arms crying, your face filled with fatigue, stress, worry, I wanted to do so much more to help you. And now, seeing our daughters so attached, plus how attached mine is to you alone, I wondered, what if we were a real family? I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable today, but I wanted to test the waters by gifting you, obviously because you deserve it, but to also see how Yoora would react."

"You... want us to be a real family?" her voice shook. Taeyong sighed, staring at her silently before closing their distance and giving her lips a soft kiss, pulling away fast. He watched her expression, and noticed it was the same as last time. Except now, they weren't drunk.

"I'm willing to try." he pulled her in for a hug, one hand in her hair pushing her face against his chest while the other remained on her waist. A short smile crept on his lips when feeling her arms snake around him as she hugged him back. "I see the way you look at Yoora. And I promise, I will the same with Seojin."

"How do I look at Yoora?" she asked in a quiet voice.

"Motherly. And as her father, nothing can make me fall for a woman more than how they feel about and treat my own daughter, she means the world to me."

This time, a more comfortable silence took over as they remained in each other's embrace, Seulgi's index tracing circled on his back while she thought about his idea.

"Will you be present in both their lives?" she asked again.

"If I don't, you can kick me out of the house. I'm sure Yoora would agree to it." she smiled at his response when feeling him chuckle softly, but his words still carried seriousness.

"Will you treat Seojin fairly?"

"I promise with all that I have, I will treat her as if she's my own."

Sighing, she thought of one more thing. "And if let's say, we... have another one?" she gulped asking this time, in fear of his answer considering the sensitivity of this final question.

Taeyong pushed her out, but his hands remained holding her arms as he faced her, smiling though his eyes remained serious. "Maybe not anytime soon, let's focus on Seojin first. But, if you want another, what kind of husband would I be to deny you of that?"

>

"Sit Yoora." the young girl froze as they entered their apartment, scared of her father's sudden serious tone. He only ever spoke like this one time before, when she got in trouble in school for punching a girl (which she still claims was deserved because she was making fun of her).

She sat opposite her father in the dining room, but unlike last time she noticed his nervous expression as his hands fumbled, his face clear that he was deep in thought of what to say.

"What's wrong daddy?"

Taeyong sighed hearing her concerned voice, and finally decided to speak up. "How would you feel about Seulgi becoming your mum?"

"What?!?" she stood up, whether from shock, excitement or disapproval he couldn't tell. But be understood it soon as a cheeky grin took over her lips. "Are you serious, you're gonna marry her?!" she asked aloud, to which he motioned her to calm down.

"Nothing is confirmed yet baby. It's... just more of a thought. We're still discussing, and how you feel about it is important to me, an-"

"Daddy shut up please and just propose already!"

>>>

The fear of accommodation filled both parents. As per Yoora's approval and request, they decided to move in together sooner than planned, and planned to get married in before Seojin turned two years old, which gave them five months for now.

But even if Yoora agreed happily, it was a whole different case when living under the same roof. Taeyong had cleared out an empty guestroom for them, but Yoora had coerced them into letting her share her room with Seojin, saying it was too big for her alone and she wouldn't feel as lonely at night. Seulgi was worried about Yoora's sleep schedule, but the first three nights proved it to be an OK arrangement.

Seulgi remained in the guestroom, until a week later when they sat for dinner, and Yoora spoke up all of a sudden.

"Don't you think married couples should live together?"

Taeyong stopped eating and stared perplexed. "We are though baby?"

"No. Why would parents be sleeping in different rooms?"

This time Seulgi cleared her throat and decided to answer. "It's my idea Yoora. I just didn't want to overstep boundaries, I know how it's always been you two only."

Yoora hummed, nodding as she acknowledged Seulgi's concern as if she was an adult too. Later on however, as Seulgi helped Taeyong clear away dishes, he suddenly stopped her moving away as his hand grabbed hers in the kitchen.

"She's right you know." she cocked her head sideways, as if to ask what he meant. "Yoora. We should be in one room."

"But... isn't it too soon? I'm worried she'll feel like we're invading her space and life an-"

Her face flushed when he stopped her talking with a quick kiss on the lips, frowning with a pout at his antics to which he simply chuckled.

"She wants to feel like a family, it's been so since that essay assignment... but don't feel forced, if you want to take time before officially moving in with me, go ahead. I'll make her understand."

Seulgi thought about it, hands still holding his while her thumbs rubbed the back of his palm. A cute habit he noticed by now that she was doing again, she bit her bottom lip when deep in thought, and he couldn't help a quiet laugh escape his lips.

She looked up, causing him to stop immediately, waiting for something. "Let's try tonight?"

>>>

Yoora was the happiest, standing aside her father in her beautiful light pink dress, holding the box enclosed with a ribbon, in which she carried two very important rings.

She giggled seeing Seojin toddle her way across the aisle from the entrance up to the stage, throwing flowers whenever she remembered to, until Taeyong stepped down a little and picked her up, lifting her in the air before kissing her cheek, both giggling along with the small audience. He then stood her by Yoora, who looked back at the entrance as everyone stood, and she was sure she saw an angel appear into the wedding hall.

Her eyes trailed her new mother, just as her father's did as he covered his mouth, surely a tear appearing in his eye. Never did Taeyong think he'd get to experience this as he became more of an adult, standing at the altar next to the officiant, watching his almost wife walk towards him in the most beautiful white gown, her face hidden behind the thin mesh veil through which he could tell she was just as nervous and emotional as he was.

And once the rings were worn and both said their I dos, Yoora was the first to cheer lifting her little sister up in her arms and twirling around with her.

"We're a family Seojin!" she let her go and tugged her along to their parents, going first immediately into Seulgi's arms and whispering into her ear. "Thank you for becoming my mummy."

>>>

hello anon, as you may know it doesn't always end up EXACTLY following the request, but I hope you still like it! (it's kinda hard to follow exactly cuz the flow just doesn't always come through like that) also I wrote it in what I call a "creative juice adrenaline rush"😅 so I hope it's good bcuz I wrote this fast lol

#nct #nct 127 #red velvet #nctvelvet #fluff #lee taeyong #kang seulgi #seulyong #kpop fanfic #nct fic #red velvet fic #romance #single parent au

[jungkookschin]

demigod trials: icarus falls | three

synopsis: you met jungkook at camp half-blood when you were 10 years old. since then, your fates have been infinitely intertwined.

word count: 7k

pairing: son of ares!jungkook x daughter of hephaestus!reader

genre: camp half blood au, percy jackson au, demigod au, childhood friends to lovers, exes to lovers , enemies to lovers, jungkook is sooo in love

warnings: multiple mentions of deaths, dangerous quests, QUESTS TO TARTARUS, violence, killing, monsters, ANGST, this chapter is fluffy tho, nct mark as a son of hephaestus, enhypen jungwon as son of ares, broken friendships

demigod trials masterlist

chapter one | chapter two | chapter three | chapter 3.5 | chapter four

With a gulp, Jennie addresses the assembly through the microphone. “Hades, my father, has lost his reign over the Underworld. The primordial god Tartarus has plunged the Underworld into chaos and is plotting to ascend to the surface, aiming to annihilate both demigods and gods.”

Her gaze shifts towards you and Jungkook. "He has somehow taken control of my body, sending me vivid and disturbing dreams. He's furious and demands a sacrifice – a sacrifice of the demigods who once intruded into Tartarus six years ago. If we don't comply, he threatens to rise to Earth through the surface of Camp Jupiter, annihilating Camp Jupiter completely upon his return."

-

Every single eye in the room flickers towards you and Jungkook.

At that moment, incomprehensible dread permeates your system. Like a broken cassette player, memories of your little vacation to Tartarus rewind in your head: drinking from the river of fire, the child eating demon Lamia, Damasen the friendly giant, and so much sheer terror you wouldn’t have survived without Jungkook’s protection.

However, the anxiety, the dread- it’s bearable.

Your window of tolerance has extended to Mount Olympus after narrowly escaping the clutches of death multiple times.

“So what?” Jungkook responds, “You gathered the whole assembly here to announce that you’re sacrificing Y/N and I? A heads up would’ve been nice,” His features are hardened, and the glare he sends Mina and Mingyu, the Praetors of the Roman Legion, is terrifying, resembling his father Ares.

“Jungkook,” Mina seethes, “Do you know how many people live here in Camp Jupiter? There are thousands of children, elderly, and innocent people who live on these grounds. We must publicize the threat and ensure that it is taken care of, for the safety of the camp.”

“And how do you think Camp Half-Blood will feel?” Namjoon intervenes, “You think they’re going to be happy that you sacrificed two of their head counselors? I guarantee you. You don’t want to fuck with us.”

Mina narrows her eyes at Namjoon. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s a warning,” Taehyung immediately steps in, rigidly serious aura clouding his eyes, “We’re not letting you touch Y/N or Jungkook. Camp Half-Blood will go to war over this.”

“Okay everyone chill,” Mingyu arbitrates, his booming voice echoing off the walls, “If there’s a way we can resolve this without sacrificing Y/N and Jungkook, we’ll take that way. 1000%. That’s why we’ve gathered: to discuss.”

Eunwoo, son of the Roman god Mars, clears his throat. “My wife is pregnant. We need to do everything we can to negate this threat. Look, I’m not comfortable putting lives on the line so what about evacuation? We can evacuate the entire city and rebuild somewhere else.”

“No,” Jennie cuts in, a tremor running through her body. “He’ll follow us- wherever we go- he’ll ascend to the surface and kill us all.”

Mina tilts her head, “Any other ideas?”

“Oh fuck you,” Rose scoffs, “You’ve lost yourself. Completely. Being Praetor doesn’t mean rejecting all your morals. You called an entire assembly here to announce you were going to kill two of your best friends? You sure Venus is your parent and not Narcissus?” Rose cocks her head to the left, raising her eyebrows in anticipation for Mina’s response.

“You-”

Mina doesn’t get a word in because Jennie’s body falls onto the concrete with a thud. Immediately, her eyes and mouth emit a red glow. The glow rapidly intensifies, transforming into a blazing red glow from her eyes and mouth.

Like a possessed spirit she ascends into the air and to middle of the Senate House. Her mouth begins to move, and Tartarus himself begins speaking through Jennie.

“Demigods, behold," the resounding voice sends shivers down your spine.

"I have at last arisen from my slumber, seizing dominion over the Underworld," an ominous cackle reverberates through the walls. "The offspring of Hades have been severely weakened, now feeble and enfeebled. You are next. Offer the children of Ares and Hephaestus, who dared encroach upon my realm, as sacrifices, and I shall spare your lives, permitting you to become my slaves after I claim dominion over the world. Refuse, and face your demise."

The red glow disappears from Jennie’s face and she plummets back to the ground before Mingyu catches her.

Mina’s features harden. “Jungkook, Y/N! You have the rest of the day to bid goodbye to your families and friends. At midnight, we will personally arrest you to prepare a sacrifice to Tartarus. That is the best we can do for now. Meeting dismissed!” She roars, before marching out the Senate House.

Mingyu shoots you an empathetic look before following Mina’s lead.

Annd to think, you didn’t get one word in before it was decided that you were to be thrown on the altar as a sacrifice.

-

Immediately proceeding the meeting, you take the portal from Camp Jupiter to Camp Half-Blood.

You, Taehyung, Namjoon, Rose, and Jungkook skirt through the sides of strawberry fields, past the pegasi stables, until you reach the cabins. The sun sets beyond the horizon and the sky is arrayed with hues of purple, orange, and pink.

Your fingers are intertwined with Rose’s, and she is seething in disdain over Mina’s behavior. You’re the one who wields fire manipulation, but you’re a little scared she’ll burst into flames.

“Gods, when did she turn into such a bitch?” Rose seethes, squeezing your hand hard enough for your bones to crack.

“Rosie, it’s okay,” you offer, “I died once. Who cares if I die again, right?”

At that, the three men in front of you stop in their tracks, whirling around to blink at you incredulously.

“Y/N, you’re not funny,” Taehyung frowns.

“I’m not trying to be funny,” you deadpan in return, “Isn’t it true? It’s not like I’m going to the Fields of Punishment. I’ll be in Elysium and we’ll eventually reunite there-“

“Okay,” Jungkook intervenes, “Then kill yourself right now.”

“What-“

“If your life doesn’t matter, then kill yourself right now,” Jungkook repeats, unsheathing his Celestial Bronze knife- the very knife you forged when you were ten- before offering it to you.

You remain still, and Jungkook re-sheathes his knife. “Exactly.” His voice is stern, but delicately infused with the right amount of warmth. “Y/N, there are people who love you. There are people who need you here, so don’t take your life so lightly. Okay?” His features soften and he turns back around, “Now let’s head to the Hades cabin.”

Jungkook surges forward and Rosie has to tug you in his direction to get your feet moving.

She side eyes you, verbal communication not necessary when her eyes tell all, full of pure skepticism. You shake your head, following Jungkook’s lead towards the Hades cabin.

Upon arrival, Namjoon knocks on the door to no avail. The Hades cabin has an eerie and somber appearance, constructed completely from dark stone. Skulls adorn the door frame, and an even larger skull embellishes the cabin above the entrance.

After its initial construction, the cabin’s somber presence sent chills down your spine. Now, everyone seems largely unfazed as Namjoon persistently bangs on the entrance, impervious to its eerie aura.

“Okay, fuck it,” Namjoon grumbles before kicking down the door. You and Rosie yelp, flinching at the thud before entering the cabin.

To your surprise, an eerie emptiness greets you — not a single soul is there.

The cabin’s interior directly mirrors its exterior. It’s characterized by dim lighting, dark décor, and symbols associated with the Underworld.

While the Hades cabin is one of the least populated cabins in Camp Half-Blood, it’s unusual for none of the members to be present.

The five of you conduct a thorough investigation of the cabin, flipping over mattresses, looking under shelves- just to realize that there are no traces of anybody ever living in it. It’s like a ghost cabin.

You repeat the process with the 18+ Hades cabin to no avail. Both cabins are completely inhabited.

Taehyung settles on one of the mattresses and rests his head in his hands. “Fuck guys- these are kids we’re talking about- where did they go?”

As far as you know, there are only six kids in the Hades cabin: two in the 18+ cabin and four in the cabin for minors. Jennie and Soobin are the only adults, whereas Hyein, Ni-ki, Danielle, and Ricky inhabit the cabin for minors.

Tartarus said it himself: “The offspring of Hades have been severely weakened, now feeble and enfeebled”

Where could they possibly be? Without a shred of doubt, you know that there must be a quest: a quest to locate the children of Hades. Jennie’s current state- deteriorating weakness that rendered her unable to stand or exist without exasperating herself- was already a bad sign.

It hurts to think about what may have happened to the others.

The five of you exchange ominous looks before breaking to the Big House to discuss the present situation with Chiron.

-

“Chiron,” Taehyung cuts in, “Mina and Mingyu didn’t have any qualms about sacrificing Y/N and Jungkook. I think that’s enough to cut ties.”

You shrug, “I don’t know. Mingyu looked like he kinda felt bad.”

All eyes in the room flicker towards you incredulously. “Y/N. This is serious,” Namjoon scolds. “We lost you once and we’re not about to lose you again. Chiron, we must employ every defense mechanism to keep Y/N and Jungkook safe,” he implores.

“What matters more is finding those kids!” Rose interrupts, “How old is Hyein? She’s like 13. It’s our responsibility as older demigods to look out for them. We have to do whatever we can to find them.”

“Even if that means sacrificing Y/N and Jungkook?” Taehyung questions, “We have to find the sweet spot: saving the kids, preserving Camp Jupiter, and keeping Jungkook and Y/N safe,” he enunciates.

“Which is why we need to employ defense mechanisms,” Namjoon argues, “to at least buy us time so we can figure out where the Hades kids are. Then we can spring into action.”

“But that’ll just lead us to war,” you argue, “For the first time in a millenia, the Greeks and Romans have peaceful relations. We can’t do anything to jeopardize that-”

“Yea, well I care about you more,” Taehyung intercedes, “I care about you more than the Romans and more than the Hades kids, so I choose you. Fuck everybody else,” he shrugs, and you meet eyes with Namjoon, turning red at Taehyung’s words.

Greek heroes were known to have fatal flaws: a fundamental imperfection , vulnerability, or moral weakness that, despite the hero’s strength, ultimately contributed to their tragic fate. Jungkook already confessed to you that his fatal flaw is love.

With Taehyung, you already knew. His fatal flaw is his blind loyalty to his friends. He’d watch the world burn if it meant keeping his friends safe.

“While the chivalry is appreciated,” Chiron adds, “It is imperative to do the right thing, objectively. Ask yourself, is it moral to declare war on the Romans? Is it moral to abandon the children of Hades? Is it moral to sacrifice Y/N and Jungkook? Child of Apollo, what do you think? You are of Roman descent and are able to offer a unique perspective.”

All eyes flicker towards Rose, who accepts the challenge. “We can’t declare war on the Romans,” she argues, “Y/N is right. We all know what happens when Greeks and Romans go to war. People will die and the world will probably go up in flames. But that doesn’t mean we can’t trick the Romans,” a mischievous smile creeps onto her face and she bites her lip.

Jungkook speaks up. “I have a plan.”

You tilt your head at Jungkook. His features are hardened- rigidly serious at the prospect of what could be going on.

His brows are furrowed in angry little Nike swooshes and all you wanna do is run your thumb over his brow to ease its arch.

He turns his head to you, his right hand man, and his features soften, like he’s signaling to you that everything will be okay.

WIth a deep breath, he explains the plan definitively. The way he speaks, the way he commands the attention and obedience of everyone in the room makes it seem like you don’t have a choice but to follow this plan.

At that moment, Jungkook’s little brother Jungwon and your little brother Mark step into the Big House.

Within the past year, Jungwon seems to have skyrocketed in height. He looks so big, for lack of a better word- nearly the same stature and height as Jungkook.

Mark grins at you, his cute features beaming with a sense of readiness- to accept any and every challenge. “Hey sis, welcome back. How was Olympus?”

He envelopes you in a hug, and as happy as you are to see your brother, you can’t help but eye him with a hint of skepticism.

Suddenly you connect the dots and your face falls. “No,” you express grimly.

“Yes,” Jungwon cheekily responds, throwing an arm around you.

The kid is lightyears taller than you now, and you hate it.

What Jungkook proposed- you also hate it. It’s the worst plan in the history of the universe and you want to sew his pretty lips shut so he’ll never speak again.

Jungkook’s plan involves offering a sacrifice to Tartarus- and it won’t be either you or Jungkook.

He professes to sacrifice decoys- and at first you’re on board because you’re confident that you can engineer mechanical versions of yourselves- but when Mark and Jungwon make their entrance, the gears in your brain begin churning.

“Does it make sense for us to send our siblings as sacrifices? We ourselves might as well go to Tartarus. What difference does it make?” you argue, frowning deeply and glaring spathas into Jungkook’s face.

When it comes to you, Jungkook’s mind always automatically masks your anger in a dewy haze. All he sees is a pretty girl pouting at him, and he has to choke a smirk back so you don’t actually stab him with a spatha.

Jungwon smirks, “It makes all the difference. We all know that you and my brother are the best duo Camp Half-Blood’s seen. We need you to figure shit out while Mark and I distract Tartarus.”

Your jaw drops. There was no way the sweet, kind, polite Jungwon just cursed in front of Chiron.

You whip your head towards Mark. “I don’t feel comfortable with that,” you state, “I’m not sacrificing my little brother so I can be free. That’s pure cowardice.”

Mark shakes his head.

“It’s not,” he declares, “I wouldn’t be willing to sacrifice myself like this if I wasn’t capable of being a good distraction.”

With that, he fishes for something in his pocket before pulling out a remote. He presses a bright red button, causing mechanical wings to erect from his backpack as Mark starts flying around the Big House.

“See? I’m a pretty good distraction! And I’ve got plenty of tricks up my sleeve!” he grins.

Jungwon points to a flying Mark before shrugging smugly. “So Y/N, what do you think?”

“Guys, this isn’t a fucking joke,” you scold, turning more rigid by the second. “Tartarus.. it’s a horrifying place. And quite frankly, I don’t think either of you are capable of surviving his domain.”

Mark lands on the ground next to Jungwon, expression now shrouded with concern.

“Y/N,” Mark argues, “We’re prepared,” he claims.

“Since you came back from the dead- like Jesus or something- I’ve been studying your journals on Tartarus, and Y/N, we’re prepared. Jungwon is the strongest warrior of our generation- he and I are a good team. We can do it,” he finishes his declaration with a sweet smile, but you still shake your head.

“Y/N, what did you say to me when you first handed me this sword?” Jungwon asks, partially unsheathing Cataclysm. “You said I was the only demigod from my generation you deemed capable of wielding an enchanted weapon- and didn’t I prove myself? I soul linked with my weapon in days and slaughtered so many giants with this baby,” he animatedly offers, patting the scabbard of his sword.

You soften a bit but still shake your head.

“I just- look- I-” you trail off, rubbing your bicep as you shift your gaze apprehensively, “I strongly believe that Jungkook and I only survived Tartarus for a single reason,” you inhale deeply, momentarily shifting your gaze towards Jungkook who is observing you with furrowed brows. You inhale. “Love.”

“If he didn’t love me or if I didn’t love him, I really don’t think we would have made it,” you elaborate, “I mean- Tartarus sucks the soul out of you.”

You redirect your gaze towards Jungkook, whose jaw is clenched whilst he leans against the ping pong table. “Jungkook… what do you think?”

Your declaration is bold, and you can’t help but think you might be crossing the line- but it’s true. Simply being in Tartarus drains one’s celestial energy, and the only reason you and Jungkook survived was because you desperately wanted the other to live.

“You’re right,” he offers, lifting his gaze from the ground. “But that’s the thing: we were the first to do it and now we can share our knowledge with the next generation- so they can do it without love,” he explains, motioning towards Mark and Jungon.

“You and I, we need to figure things out above Tartarus. And we can only do that with love,” he smiles, and it sparks a flint hope within your system. You soften infinitely at his proclamation.

He looks at you with soft eyes, their warmth mirrored in the tender curve of his lips. In that moment, it feels as if the fates have conspired to weave this moment into their tapestries. The outside seems to fade into the background, leaving just the two of you in your own little world.

“Besides,” Taehyung cuts in, “It’s not like these two don’t have a bromance going on, right?” At that, Jungwon and Mark fist bump each other.

Namjoon intervenes, pushing up his glasses. “Y/N, this plan makes sense. Jungwon and Jungkook emit the same energy. So do you and Mark. We can fool Tartarus with this,” he claims.

“I just- I don’t know I feel comfortable with sending my little brothers down there,” you sigh, rubbing your biceps like you can still feel Cheimarrhus’s frigid winds freezing you to the death..

“Oh? Am I a little brother too?” Jungwon teases, pulling you in for a side hug.

“We’ll be alright, sis. We can handle it. Just worry about figuring out how we’re going to kill another primordial god,” Mark offers, tweaking with the little remote in his hands.

Jungwon and Mark are like sunshine, and suddenly you’re warm.

“Okay.. fine,” you acquiesce “But that doesn’t mean that suddenly you look exactly like me,” you point out, “I mean- Jungkook and Jungwon look kinda similar, but Mina will know that it’s clearly not me,” you state, gesturing towards Mark.

Rose smiles, stepping in. Between her palms, specks of magical energy whirl from her fingertips, emitting a celestial pink glow.

So as it turns out, Rose has developed the ability to alter the Mist.

Mist is a magical veil that conceals the true nature of the world from mortal eyes. It is a form of magical manipulation that alters the perception of regular humans, making them see things differently from what they truly are.

A minotaur wreaking havoc downtown? The mortals will see a wild giraffe on the loose.

That’s the power of the Mist- and sometimes, if the wielder is powerful enough, it can coerce gods and demigods into perceiving illusions rather than reality.

And that’s what exactly Rose does. With a snap of her fingers, Mark and Jungwon turn into identical replications of you and Jungkook, perfectly resembling your features, statures, and movements.

The transformation is uncanny, making it nearly impossible to distinguish Mark and Jungwon from you and Jungkook

“Hi?” Mark giggles (mocking you), twirling a strand of hair around his pointer finger.

You blink at your brother Mark, who looks and sounds exactly like you. It’s like looking in a mirror.

Taehyung shakes his head. “No, you gotta do more of a-“ He pouts his lips into a duck face, theatrically tucking a strand of hair behind his hair.

You smack his arm before you hear Jugkook’s voice.

“That’s fucking crazy,” Jungkook murmurs in awe.

Jungwon and Jungkook stand side by side, and it’s like there’s a pair of identical twins standing together.

“Okay, now practice trying to be them,” Rose muses, and after a brief moment of silence, Mark and Jungwon pull out all the acting cards.

“Oh, Jungkook, kiss me!” Mark mocks in a high pitched voice (which wasn’t necessary because he already adopted your voice), facing Jungwon and jumping on him.

“Oh Y/N!” Jungwon mocks back, making his voice obnoxiously deep and baritone. “I still love you! I’m just too emotionally constipated to express my feelings!”

After pretending to make out with each other, Mark (you) pulls himself from Jungwon (Jungkook). He clears his throat.

“And scene.”

“That was perfect!” Rose squeals, clapping her hands as she jumps up and down in excitement.

Jungkook smiles to himself, shaking his head in disbelief while he rubs his palms over his face- but you certainly don’t miss the way his ears turn red.

You feel the same way, unable to control the crimson spreading through your cheeks.

-

After establishing that Mark and Jungwon would be sacrificed to Tartarus as decoys, you gather everyone at the 18+ Hephaestus cabin for further preparations.

As the cabin doors gracefully slide open, Mark steps inside, greeted by the hum of machinery. The automated system, recognizing him through a full-body scan, seamlessly grants access to the demigod.

The Hephaestus cabin is reminiscent of a palace, where celestial bronze embellishes every architectural detail, providing extra protection against monsters.Each room is the epitome of celestial innovation, featuring amenities catering to yours and Mark’s individual preferences.

The training arena, for example, has a chamber of fire, adjustable at temperatures above 300 degrees.

You sometimes just sit in there and build up your immunity to heat. It’s like your personal sauna.

You and your friends whiz past the lounge/entertainment area, which is equipped with the comfiest red sofa that can morph into a loveseat, lounge chair, or bed.

With a scan of your finger, a 127-inch flat screen TV can unfold from the walls, running entirely on celestial wi-fi.If you or Mark weren’t in the mood to watch TV, the holographic displays can project immersive gaming environments that respond to the player’s movements and actions.

Your robot on wheels, Reginald, whirs past your friends, holding champagne and water on a tray.

Taehyung and Namjoon stare at Reginald in awe, eyes following him as he rolls around and occasionally tidies up the cabin.

“Would you care for a drink?” Reginald asks, to which Jungkook (Jungwon), attempts to grab a glass of champagne.

You swat his hand. “Jungwon! You’re not of age.”

“How’d you know it was me and not Jungkook?” Jungwon questions in return.

You purse your lips, not answering his question. You know Jungkook so well that you can just tell- but some things don’t need to be verbally expressed.

“So when I asked for a pool in my cabin, you bitched about it for weeks-“ Taehyung begins.

Namjoon continues looking around the cabin. “Gods, this is crazy. Leave it to you guys to make your two-person cabin the most luxurious in camp.”

Mark shrugs, “It’s what we deserve after building all your cabins.”

It’s so weird watching Mark talk. He looks and talks exactly like you. A smile graces your lips as you walk past the arcade room, moving on to scan your finger on a fingerprint sensor.

The bookshelf rotates 180 degrees, unveiling an elevator as it completes a full 360-degree turn.

"Come on in, everyone," you invite, pressing the down button on the elevator.

As the elevator descends, the sound of muzak plays through space. Namjoon shoots you a glance that seems to question the necessity of the muzak. You shrug.

The elevator doors part, revealing Bunker 9, a secretive location known only to you and Mark.

Upon entry, dim lighting unveils a colossal workshop adorned with celestial bronze schematics and intricate blueprints. Automated crafting stations hum with activity, surrounded by shelves of rare materials and celestial artifacts.

Holographic displays flicker to life, projecting encrypted messages and strategic maps. The bunker features a secure communication hub, allowing demigods to coordinate covert missions and exchange vital information without detection.

“Welcome to Bunker 9,” Mark muses.

“Gods,” Rose expresses with awe, “Do you guys even need all this space? This place is huge.”

Mark shrugs, “Yea, but here’s where we do all our top secret Hephaestus kid work. We need space.”

From the end of the bunker, a mechanical murmur fills the air.

"Pulchra!" you exclaim joyfully, hurrying over to affectionately nuzzle your forehead against your mechanical dragon. She responds with a comforting purr, clearly missing you during your year on Mount Olympus.

Jungkook joins in, offering the dragon a warm hug as she continues to purr and emit contented mewls. “How’ve you been girl?” Jungkook teases, to which Pulchra mewls affectionately.

Namjoon toys with a gaming controller directly connected to a holographic display of Camp Half-Blood. Mark approaches him from behind.

"This," Mark explains, "controls a simulation for various emergency scenarios. Chimera attacks, minotaur invasions, even war with a god— it replicates the emergency plans we'd need to implement."

As Namjoon maneuvers the controller, the holographic display responds in real-time, projecting dynamic scenarios that demand strategic thinking and swift decision-making. “You guys should have called me down here years ago,” he expresses, “We could have accomplished so much together.”

In the lull that follows, you delve into an industrial cabinet, rummaging for something before retrieving two rings.

Hurrying to join the rest of the crew, you share, "These rings are equipped with sensors— not ordinary ones. They use a new prototype technology Mark and I are working on,” you exchange a somewhat embarrassed glance with Mark before continuing.

“We call it WhisperTech. They'll capture every sound in your vicinity and transmit it to us in text format. The rings use a discreet audio-sensing system that captures and transmits environmental sounds in text form while monitoring physiological indicators such as heart rate and nerve levels. Make sure to keep them on."

You slide the rings onto the fingers of Mark and Jungwon.

“Let’s test it out,” Mark suggests.

On the holographic display in front of you, Mark’s dialogue appears on the screen.

Mark:

Let's try it out.

Biometric Analysis:

Heart Rate: 78 bpm

Mood: Eager

Thoughts: “I’m hungry”

Stress Levels: Low

Location Data:

Current Location: Bunker 9

Longitude: 155.789° E

Latitude: 36.432° N

Environmental Analysis:

Ambient Temperature: 22°C

Oxygen Levels: Normal

Light Intensity: Dim

Activity Insights:

System Status:WhisperSyncRings: Online

Connectivity: Stable

Encryption Level: Secure

Recommendations:

Continue monitoring for real-time data.

Encourage interaction to gauge response.

Await further commands or inquiries.

“Holy Hera,” Jungkook muses, “There’s no way- so this thing can read someone’s mind?”

On cue, the ring catches onto the dialogue and updates in real time

Jungkook: Holy Hera! There's no way—so this thing can read someone's mind!

Mark's Thoughts: I'm hungry

Biometric Analysis:

Heart Rate: 82 bpm

Moods: Intrigued

Thoughts: Curious about the technology

Stress Levels: Moderate

Location Data:

Current Location: Bunker 9

Longitude: 155.789° E

Latitude: 36.432° N

Environmental Analysis:

Ambient Temperature: 22°C

Oxygen Levels: Normal

Light Intensity: Dim

Activity Insights:

Recent Movement: Stationary (within Bunker 9)

System Status:

WhisperSync Rings: Online

Connectivity: Stable

Encryption Level: Secure

Recommendations:

Continue monitoring for real-time data.

Address Mark's hunger to maintain optimal conditions.

Anticipate further inquiries or commands.

Namjoon tilts his head. “I wonder what the location data will read from Tartarus.”

“As long as I’ve programmed it right, it should read Tartarus as the location. I’m not sure about longitude and latitude, though.”

Taehyung reads the screen. “Address Mark’s hunger to maintain optimal conditions- that’s funny,” he laughs, to which you nod.

“See? The rings will be helpful. We’ll know everything that’s going on, and if something happens, we’ll run in after you,” you exclaim.

Jungwon cocks his head, somewhat unsure. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you guys knowing my thoughts all the time.”

“Yea,” Namjoon concurs, “but what if you guys are in a situation where you can’t speak or talk? We need to know what’s going on somehow.”

“Swear we won’t tell anyone all your little secrets,” Taehyung jokes.

Rose places a comforting hand on Jungwon’s shoulder and you nod your head, “I swear we won’t pry into your personal life. I can design an algorithm to immediately delete all your personal thoughts and keep records of thoughts related to the quest,.”

Jungwon seems more assured. “If it’s for the mission, it’s fine. It’s not like I have any explicit thoughts anyway.”

You meet eyes with Jungwon, and you kinda wish that you didn’t because he seems unreasonably paranoid.

“Y/N, make an extra one for me,” Taehyung asserts, “If I ever get married I’m gonna put one on my wife’s finger to make sure she’s not thinking about any other men.”

Namjoon scoffs amusedly at that, “I’ll be praying for her in advance.”

You pout at Taehyung and give him an oh so platonic pat on the back. “You’ll find her soon.”

Taehyung smiles. “Thanks inferno princess,” he teases, using Jungkook’s nickname for you, “Just make sure you take of your inferno prince for me.”

Jungkook lifts his head and wraps an arm around you, giving you a side squeeze. “Yea inferno princess, take care of me.”

-

After bidding goodbye to your friends at the portal to Camp Jupiter, Jungkook suggests that you indulge in something you both rarely have time to do: sleep.

The anxiety of sending Mark and Jungwon as your decoys is killing you, and you can’t help but to pace around Bunker 9 while Jungkook blinks at you from the sofa.

“Y/N, it’ll be okay,” he offers but you shake your head in disbelief.

The dim lighting of the bunker shines eerily above you, and you don’t even realize where you’re going until you walk right into an industrial filing cabinet.

“Ow!” you yelp, to which Jungkook sighs.

He gets up from his seat on the couch and wraps his arms around your waist, resting his head in the crook of your neck. “Inferno princess, calm down. Everything will be fine. Just look at the screen,” he offers, pointing to the holographic display project Mark and Jungwon’s thoughts.

Taehyung: I’m thinking of going for a swim after they sacrifice you two.

Mark: Gee, thanks. That’s super comforting

Mark’s thoughts: I need to pee

“See?” Jungkook offers, “There’s nothing wrong. The kid needs to take a piss is all.”

You laugh, your shoulders relaxing a bit as you wrap your palms around Jungkook’s wrists. You stand there for a moment, reveling in the safety of Jungkook’s embrace.

Jungkook is your calm before the storm. He’s always there before you go on a potentially life ending quest , comforting you to reassure you that things will be okay.

“How long has it been since you’ve slept?” he whispers into your ear.

“Don’t know. ‘s been a while,” you mutter.

“Think you need to rest first. A nice long ten hours of rest before we do anything else,” he offers.

You hate the prospect of sleeping while your little brothers plummet into Tartarus because of you, but Jungkook’s right. You’re exhausted.

You wiggle out of his embrace and face him, placing your hands on his shoulders. Your eyes glaze over his face before you impulsively ask him a question. His eyes, nose, mouth- there’s a scar on his left cheek acquired during the two years where you were dead. You never had the chance to ask him what happened.

It’s been six years since your fiery dalliance, and the flame of your affections refuses to be extinguished.

You purse your lips.

“Jungkook, what are we?” you ask, features morphing into confusion as your eyes scan over his face.

He looks taken aback at that revelation. His pretty brown eyes widen, coupled with a slight parting of his lips. He doesn’t say anything so you take the chance to elaborate.

“Why are you wrapping your arms around me? Why are you entertaining our friends’ teasing? Are we- are we back again?”

A fleeting pause ensues- like a suspension in time- before he gathers his thoughts to respond.

“Y/N, you know how I feel about you,” is all he says, and his voice wraps around you like a familiar embrace, offering a comfort that no other sound can match. It's so familiar, and the sweetest things he says to you create a flutter of butterflies in your chest.

Warmth spreads through your veins and you suddenly feel like Icarus- the same Icarus who got high on the intoxication of flying and flew too close to the sun, plummeting to his demise when the sun’s rays melted the glue on his feathers.

Jungkook’s kinda like the sun. Last time you flew too close, you literally died.

Luckily, you’re immune to fire.

Jungkook continues, toying with his lip ring. “I’ve been holding back all this time, y’know. But if we’re going to die, do I really have to hold back? I want to be with you, Y/N.”

You face crumbles into disappointment before you actually laugh at the irony. The fates are cruel. “So is that how our stories go? We only get together when facing impending death?”

Jungkook says nothing.

This time, you’ll take the initiative.

Your features morph into desperation. “Jungkook, if we survive this, marry me. If we get rid of Tartarus for good and everything is okay, marry me. I’m sick of pretending that this isn’t real, like I don’t still love you. I want you, and I want you forever.”

Jungkook says nothing, just presses his lips against yours for a sweet and brief kiss- the first kiss you’ve shared since you were 19.

He withdraws, fingers playing with a bolt he had picked up from a nearby shelf. Then, lowering himself to one knee, he presents you with the bolt. “It’s whatever you want, inferno princess. Marry me.”

He slides the bolt on your ring finger before rising, strong arms around your waist before he kisses you again- for the second time in six years. You snake your arms around his neck, letting him take the lead as you literally have not kissed anyone since kissing Jungkook before you died.

In the trenches of your heart, you hate knowing that Jungkook has been with other people besides you. Nonetheless, you like letting him take the lead so you can be his pliant little inferno princess.

He pulls back a bit, his tattooed hand creeping up to smush your cheeks so your lips pout out. He laughs. “Gods, you’re cute. Now let’s get some rest, baby. We have more gods to kill.”

-

Finger intertwined and full of unnecessary giggles, Jungkook leads you to none other than the Hypnos cabin.

Hypnos is the god of sleep, a gentle and soothing presence in the realm of Greek mythology.He holds the unique responsibility of overseeing the tranquil moments when both gods and mortals find respite in the embrace of slumber.

Jungkook raps on the door several times, his fingers securely interlaced with yours as you both patiently wait.

No response.

Jungkook knocks again, and you can faintly hear the sounds of the locks turning before a very sleepy Sana opens the door.

Sana is the daughter of Hypnos and the head counselor of the Hypnos cabin. She rubs at her eyes, eyes barely open.

“Hello? Mommy?”

Jungkook purses his lips. “No Sana, it’s me and Y/N.”

At that, she forces one eye open. “Oh! Jungkook and Y/N! Long time no see! How was Olympus?” Though extremely groggy, she gets her words out before sleepily pulling you in for a hug.

You smile and return the hug. “It was great Sana. Is it okay if Jungkook and I come in to get some sleep?”

At that moment, a sudden surge of energy seems to rejuvenate Sana, and she perks up with newfound vitality. “Oh wow! You guys have never asked me to help you sleep! Come right in!”

You walk into the Hypnos cabin, where you’re greeted by two dozen more Hypnos kids dozing off in their beds.

Cabin #15 is often occupied by demigods with the ability to manipulate dreams and induce sleep. It’s a quiet place with dreamy, soothing colors.

The walls are adorned with calming murals depicting various dreamscapes. The beds are comfortable, and there’s a subtle scent of lavender in the air to enhance relaxation.

Sana leads you to a pair of guest beds before rumbling in a mini fridge for Hyponos’ Sleepy Milk. It’s a unique concoction made by the cabin members to help everyone relax and ease into a peaceful sleep.

She throws you and Jungkook baby bottles of milk. “This will put you right to sleep. I’m so happy you two finally came for a visit!”

“Thanks Sana,” Jungkook smiles, before trailing off, rubbing his bicep, “but could we actually share one larger bed?”

Sana beams at that. “Oh absolutely! There’s the couple’s suite down the hall and to the right. Does that finally mean you two are together?-“ Sana cuts herself off, collapsing onto a nearby bed and drifting into a deep sleep the moment her head hits the pillow.

You and Jungkook look at each other, shrugging before going down the hall and to the right where the couples suite resides.

The couples' suite in the Hypnos cabin has a more intimate setting within the tranquil atmosphere. The color scheme includes soft hues like lavender and indigo, creating a soothing and romantic ambiance.

The bed is larger and adorned with dream-themed decor, such as elegant drapes and dreamcatchers. Subtle lighting in the form of fairy lights and dim lamps add to the dreamy atmosphere.

A large, cozy white comforter adorns the bed, and Jungkook pulls it over, throwing his shirt off and at you.

It hits you in the face.

“Aren’t those jeans tight? Just take off your clothes and wear my shirt. It’ll be more comfortable that way,” he suggests, sliding into the bed.

You owlishly blink at Jungkook.

Gods, there’s no way this man is real and that he chose you.

Jungkook is the epitome of a Greek god. The lines of his eight-pack are so clearly defined, and you instinctively turn away, mentally and physically weak.

And Jungkook- the man has the audacity to laugh. “What, inferno princess? Never seen a shirtless man before?” A teasing lip graces his lips.

Your mood does a complete 180, and your features morph into pure petulance and displeasure.

“Just because you’re used to being naked around women doesn’t mean that I am,” you enunciate, pointing your finger in his face before you whirl around, blazing into the restroom.

“Oh c’mon Y/N, it’s not like that,” you hear Jungkook’s unserious voice reverberate through the wooden door.

You know it’s irrational to suddenly care about Jungkook’s activities after asking him to marry you- but peering into the mirror, you realize that your eyes are glossy.

It's not that Jungkook explicitly shared everything he was up to during your time apart; rather, you only became privy to the truth when Taehyung inadvertently spilled the beans during a drunken night.

His hookups, one night stands, friends with benefits- you’re aware of it all.

That evening, you joined in the laughter, feigning nonchalance. But an overwhelming sense of dread seeped into your system whenever the thought of Jungkook with another woman crossed your mind. It’s nearly unfathomable.

You hurriedly wipe your eyes, undressing yourself before sloppily throwing on Jungkook’s shirt.

You swing the door open to find Jungkook propped up on his elbow, lying on his side, patiently awaiting your return to bed. He raises his brows inquisitively at you. “Jealous, inferno princess?”

He’s such an ass.

You scoff at him, casually settling your left knee on the bed. “Jeon Jungkook, you’re a slut,” you seethe through your teeth.

Jungkook shrugs. “I’ve heard worse, now come lay with me, baby.”

Your features harden, and you stoically grab a pillow before placing it in between you and Jungkook.

Your father Hephaestus crafted an actual net to physically catch his wife Aphrodite and her lover in the act. Of course you’re petty enough to pull the makeshift pillow barrier move.

“Oh c’mon Y/N,” Jungkook scoffs in amusement.

You narrow your eyes at him, sliding under the covers and turning on your side with your back facing Jungkook.

Slyly, Jungkook removes the pillow barrier and closes in on you, enveloping you in his arms. He sighs into your hair.

“Since we were ten, you’ve owned me,” he confesses, “every part of me belongs to you. No other woman will ever compare.”

A heaviness settles in your heart. You and Jungkook have endured so much, suffered through so much. Jungkook has done well.

Sensing your body slightly tremble and hearing a sniffle, he tenderly cups your cheeks and gently cranes your head towards him. “Got it?” he confirms,a smile playing on his lips as he notices the tip of your nose turning pink.

You exhale, and he uses his large palms to force a nod out of you. “Got it,” you respond softly, “It’s just- I haven’t been with anybody but you. I guess it makes me insecure knowing how many women you’ve been with.”

Jungkook’s eyes soften, and his eyes become so clear that you can perceive your reflection in his irises. “That’s my fault, baby. I guess I did anything I could to fill the void,” he explains, “But being here with you, our first time- nothing compares.”

You pout, lifting your gaze towards him. “Do you mean it?”

He places a kiss on your nose. “I’ve been in love with you this entire time. Of course I mean it.”

You soften, fluttering your eyes shut as you revel in the feeling of Jungkook peppering kisses all over your face.

“See how natural it is with us?” he continues, “The gods made you for me.”

You pout, throwing your arm around his torso as he pulls you closer. He lets you rest your head on his bicep, and you look into his eyes.

“Is there anything I can do to make you feel more secure with me, baby?” he offers with a kiss to your eyelid.

To Jungkook, it’s like your mind has gone blank, observing the contemplative pause as you search for an answer to his question.

“Hmmm… maybe just tell me you love me from time to time?” you suggest, to which Jungkook bursts into laughter at how adorable he thinks you are.

“Alright, I’ll do that,” he instantly agrees, entertaining your suggestions.

“What’s funny?” you ask, to which Jungkook dismisses it with a nonchalant wave.

He raises the arm that you're resting on, causing your head to gently nestle into the crook of his armpit. “Drink up,” he offers, placing the baby bottle of Hypnos Milk to your lips.

Pliantly, you sip on the bottle and seconds later, you’re out like a light.

-

That night, you don’t have any unusual dreams, granting you the best fourteen hours of sleep you've ever experienced. When you wake up, a sense of rejuvenation washes over you, but a quick scan of the room reveals that your man is not beside you. Your eyes rapidly dart around the room in search of his presence.

At that moment, Jungkook walks out of the restroom with a toothbrush in his mouth.

His eyes glaze over you, admiring how you look in his shirt, still beautiful with boogers in your eyes. He casually saunters over to you, extending a hand with an invitation card gracefully held between his fingers.

You are invited to our 2000th year anniversary party in Mount Olympus!

A +H

-

author’s note: aphrodite and hephaestus are a and h

ALSO TJE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE A DRABBLE FOR EITHER jungwon x reader or mark x reader,

and the fourth chapter will be a son of poseidon!taehyung x reader 😌😌 jk and y/n’s story will resume in chapter five when they go to aphrodite and hephaestus’s anniversary party

#jungkook fanfic #jungkook scenarios #bts scenarios #jungkook fluff #jungkook imagines #jungkook x reader #jk fanfic #bts fanfic #jungkook fic #demigod!enhypen #demigod!jungkook #demigod!bts #demigod au #camp half blood au

[fullsunised]

𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗟𝗬; 𝙟𝙖𝙚𝙝𝙮𝙪𝙣 𝙭 𝙞𝙙𝙤𝙡!𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

❝ 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙗𝙚, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮❞

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 ; idol!au, fluff, social media!au

𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 ; jaehyun jung x idol! reader

𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐒 ; y/n and jaehyun were from different sides of the same world, that is until they're added into a groupchat together. and as they fall in love with literally everything about each other, the whole world turns heavenly.

𝐒𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓 ; le serrafim, txt, nct, enhypen, bts, aespa, and literally ever other idol friend y/n has.

𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐁𝐘 𝐂𝐈𝐆𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐗 !

𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐍 𝐘/𝐍 ; 99' liner, literally close with half of the industry, has debuted in 2019 with her debut single, heartburn. an only child, parents are not disclosed to the world, is good at song writing, and arranging, for the sake of the story, let's just say the fandom name is 'lovers', has many bangers, and also for the sake of the story just say y/n published all the songs mentioned. (THEY BELONG TO ORIGINAL ARTISTS)

𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐘/𝐍 ; flirty- literally flirts with everything that breathes, is a crackhead, has no time but is chronically online, obsessed with playing games, very outgoing, has an unhealthy obsession with nct and taeyong especially, supportive, acts a bit gay, calls everyone she's close to pet names, a little insomniac.

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ; a lot of shipping between male idols- y/n is delusional like her fans, pet names usage (like a lot), homosexual relationships, mentions of stalking, emotional abuse, passing out, unhealthy eating habits, some female and male idols are actually dating in the story (NOT A DEPICTION OF THEIR REAL LIFE SITUATIONS), and obviously swearing, mentions of sex, ass (don't even be surprised), dicks, and pussies, doesn't have smut is just suggestive, insomnia.

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄 ; please take everything with a pinch of salt! other than that, support, interact and love. if this does well, then maybe I'll work on another idea I have with mark lee as the protagonist. a story turned into reality. love yall </33

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 ;

character profiles

chapter one: breadwinners

chapter two: the 'oldies' groupchat

chapter three: difficult desicions

chapter four: predictions

©️FULLSUNISED.

#kpop imagines #kpop smau #smau #jaehyun smau #jaehyun imagines #jaehyun fluff #jaehyun scenarios #aespa #nct dream #txt x reader #le serrafim #fullsunised #nct fluff #nct dream fluff #idol!reader #kpop idol #jaehyun headcanons #jaehyun x reader #jaehyun #nct 127 imagines #nct 127 fluff #nct social media au #social media au #enhypen x reader #aespa x reader #stray kids x reader #le serrafim x reader #heavenly:theseries #jaehyun x you #jaehyun x idol!reader

[espresseo-cafe]

life is still beautiful | johnny | ch.1

genre: cappucino, romance, angst, university!au, dad!au, drama, slice of life

pairing: collegestudent!johnny x fem!reader

bean count: 4k

a/n: i’m so excited to be sharing this with you! it has been in the works since 2020 on and off and omg i can finally post this fanfic. this whole series has mentions of characters from different groups other than nct- red velvet, dreamcatcher, seventeen, sf9, etc to avoid confusion with people of the same name! note: this is only a work of fiction, it doesn’t reflect the artists’ personalities in any way.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

growing up, the continuous tingling feeling whenever you see your parents arguing at the end of your hallway always broke your heart. the raised voices, objects getting thrown around, and the banging of slammed doors against the doorframe deafened your ears. you remembered you had to knock on every single apartment on the floor; same, above, and below- to apologise the nuisance your parents caused. some with good hearts would understand out of pity for you, others would provoke to kick your family out of the building. so far, you’ve made it to several years without any notice from the landlord.

with that background, there weren’t any doubts that it affected the way you perceive everything in life. silence overpowered the joyous you like a large coat, it has been that way. the younger you wouldn’t understand the clash of your parents. the younger you wouldn’t know the problems they had. most importantly though, the younger you wouldn’t receive any love or support from them at all.

it was like you never existed.

as you hit the eighteenth mark, you’ve made the bold but practical decision to move out. the toxicity they emitted were too much for you to handle. with every penny or dime you’ve been saving everyday since you were twelve and some extra cash from various part time jobs since you were sixteen, you had your small carry on luggage packed and left first thing in the morning one summer. a dilemma kind of held you back whether to leave a note for your mom and dad, only deciding not to and tell them not to find you.

if there was anything you were blessed with even if you were put in a dire situation of a broken home, you had to pat yourself at the back for never failing your grades. just average and sometimes in the honorable mention’s list. thanks to that, you’ve secured a place at a university far from your family home.

and of course, choosing a location far off was more than intentional.

the first few months were a challenge, the surroundings took you sometime to familiarise. adjustment was never an issue though, running away from home was worth the change. as you expected, your parents didn’t bother to look for their only daughter. scoffing at the past, you realised it had almost been three years since you left.

making friends was easy too, to your surprise. known as the loner and depressed type in high school, you tried to change yourself a bit and managed to befriend a new crowd of people. of course, you were discerning on people who are worth to befriend, not the ones who’d waste your time. one of them being kim yoohyeon, who’s now your best friend and roommate.

“y/n, i’m going out to the store, want anything?” she asked while putting on a cardigan.

you hummed and rolled your eyes playfully, “hm, two packs of ramyeon and chips. you’re paying alright?” she threw a crumpled ball of tissue at you, gasping at the very direct response. “what? it’s two in the morning and i’m helping you pull an all-nighter for your fashion thesis due in two months and a half. i deserve a treat. be thankful i don’t have class tomorrow and that my part-time’s in the afternoon.”

“okay fine.” she dramatically slouched her shoulders down, “be back in a jiffy bub!”

as the door closed, you sighed and stretched your almost numbed body. yoohyeon’s project was half done, just needed a little more tweaking and you could say hello to a convenience store feast.

yoohyeon was the first person you met at orientation, she seemed to extract innocence at first glance. though as you got to know her, she was a meme in real life who possessed extreme talent in singing. you and her clicked, she had problems in her home but they were immediately managed. so she was all smiles from ear to ear. it was something you were envious of; to have a healthy relationship with parents, however, it wasn’t working with you at all.

sometimes you wondered how it felt like, to have someone love you like family. your aunts or uncles would message you to check on you, and whenever they brought your parents up, you shoved down the topic back to its grave. it’s dead conversation anyway. the latest update you heard from them was two years ago. they still lived in the same damned roof where they argued a lot, you wondered why they were still stuck to each other like glue. the only difference was that your dad worked the night shift while your mom on the mornings. so they probably never see each other eye to eye.

when they did though, all hell broke loose.

you were brushed off your thoughts when yoohyeon opened the door, “okay, here’s your food, time to pig out!”

“finally, i’m starving.” you had the hot water boiling before she arrived, immediately putting the ramyeon in the pot.

“so,” she started, opening a bag of potato chips.

“when are you planning to date? it’s been theee years since uni started and i’ve never seen you on dates before.”

you pressed your lips into a thin line, “not right now.”

“why not? you’re pretty, you can cook; you’re even taking an early childhood education course, specifically in special education.” she plopped one into her mouth and chewed shamelessly, “i bet you’re good with kids too.”

“so apparently that makes me an ideal girl?”

“an ideal girl worth to have!” she exclaimed, later reaching for your unlocked phone. “guess what, download this app and go have some fun.”

“if that’s tinder you’re planning on brainwashing me with, i’m not interested.” you joked, mixing the sauce and toppings with the now cooked noodles.

“you never know, it might work.” she singsonged.

you sighed, yoohyeon has been pushing you to date because she felt like you were like a hermit, always stuck in your own shell and would only go out if needed to. not that you were interested, you just wanted to get school done and make a stable living. love will come anyway.

she clicked on the app store and downloaded a trendy app named ‘love click’. “it’s an app solely made for university students within the state. kinda like tinder but you play anonymous with a made up nickname, no one will know how you look like.”

you raised a brow. “that’s dangerous than tinder, y’know?”

“this is different, they can detect fake accounts and do a facial recognition. anyway, once you put your actual photo and real age, it will automatically pair you with others similiar with yours; interests, and hobbies. then it will change your face to a random avatar if ever you do a video call.” she tapped away. “that’s how i met hwang minhyun.”

“eh, i still think it’s risky. besides, you just got lucky. you scored a hottie.” you slurped on the noodles. “i could never.”

“just try, you could always quit and they’ll never find you. and who knows? you might even receive the whole package.”

you sighed, “okay fine. i’ll do it just once, for you alright?” you finished the rest and threw the excess soup away. “i’m not doing any after that.”

“cool! all your details are in here already. let me know if someone messages you.” she gave you a playful wink before working on her project once again.

—

johnny stretched his limbs after a quick power nap, he haven’t had enough rest since he was on the clock 24/7. he turned to his side to check the time, sighing a relief when it was only 3pm. as if it was waiting for him to be awake, a text message from his mom appeared on the screen.

[ mom] : “don’t forget to eat, my dear john. you’ve got two mouths to feed ❤️”

johnny smiled at his mom’s reminder, he was relieved that the messages were reduced to a low, knowing how protective she was.

a loud thud on the floor made johnny stand on his feet and rush to the door next to his. his worried demeanor soon changed to a soft one when he saw a little smile beamed at him from the ground.

“youngmin-ah, what’re you doing on the floor? did you hurt yourself?”

the child just giggled, softening johnny’s heart every single he did so.

he remembered the night when the almost two year old came into his life. it was a rough beginning, but he managed himself and was proud how he actually did while still in school.

his friends were in full support of this unexpected scenario and would take turns in looking after the child while he worked the night shifts at a café. like any other people, his friends were in doubt at his decision of bringing him to lectures.

johnny again proved them wrong.

what surprised them wasn’t how the baby managed to be quiet in all of the classes, but how johnny effortlessly handled him if ever a fuss was made. kun recalled that in one of their exams in biology major, johnny had the baby cradled in one arm as the other wrote the quiz. the professor wanted to hold the baby boy while johnny did the exam, but young man refused to, saying that he could handle it. he wouldn’t want the baby crying in a stranger’s hold while everyone was so stressed for the exams. adding that the baby’s wails would be a distraction.

he became viral at the university page when a photo of him feeding youngmin a bottle of milk, that certain scenario made girls want him as a husband. sometimes they would stop by to say hello to him and the child.

“dada.” johnny smiled at title, the little toddler fiddling the bottle in his hand while his feet stretched up.

“seems like you’re alright.” he poked his nose, earning a giggle from the two year old. “i still have to check any injuries. say youngmin, your birthday’s coming up soon. what would you like?”

youngmin hummed, as if he understood the question clearly.

“well?”

“mama.”

johnny was caught off guard that he tickled the little toddler as he smiled. “buddy, you already have a mama though.” his phone dinged, indicating an incoming text message. “speaking of her, she just texted me.”

[ kim minji ]: sorry babe, couldn’t make it tonight for dinner. i got singing rehearsals.

[ johnny ]: it’s cool. how about tomorrow?

[ kim minji ]: i’ll see first, pretty busy.

he put his phone back into his pocket, sighing at the same excuse his girlfriend gave. he didn’t want to overthink but it had been like this for a while, he wondered if she had fallen out of love. shaking his head, he shrugged off the thought to the back of his mind.

youngmin turned his full body to the side before standing and climbed onto johnny’s kneeled figure, the bottle still in between his baby teeth. “mama, where?”

“she’s not coming home tonight. maybe some other time.” he ruffled youngmin’s soft hair, eyes closing due to exhaustion. but then the little toddler smiled and patted his cheek and johnny wrapped his arms around the little frame. “come on, let’s get you dinner, we’re having your favourite!”

“lasagna!” youngmin put arms up, and johnny could melt anytime.

“hey you said it perfectly this time! well done my so-“ he paused as his phone dinged, a snapchat notification from taeyong appeared on the screen. making the toddler tilt his head to why the young man stopped mid-sentence. “let’s go to wash your hands alright?”

while youngmin nodded then hopped away towards the bathroom, swiping to unlock his phone, a snap video that his said friend sent made his eyebrows meet in an ugly mood.

[ taeyongss ]: bro is that jiu? your mj?

it was his girlfriend giving a lap dance to someone he couldn’t seem to recognise due to the flashing lights, she was enjoying it and the shocking thing was, she wasn’t drunk at all.

kim minji, his girlfriend since senior high, had a few names labeled on her. one of them was jiu (pronounced as ji-yoo) a nickname everyone called her in school, being one of the main solos for the choir.

some of the juniors called her a pink princess because of her obsession with the said colour. owning almost everything in it.

and mj was a form of endearment that only johnny used. his expression changed from a smile to a frown, throwing his phone on the bed that it bounced off and landed on the ground; earning his phone a crack on the screen.

“dada?” youngmin peeked through the bedroom door. now it was him to hear the thudding sound. “happen?”

johnny jumped a little seeing the child standing by the door with a towel in his hands. “my phone fell. come on, let’s eat.”

lasagna was a favourite dish youngmin adored eversince he brought him to an italian restaurant. meatballs were a favourite too, but something about lasagna topped it. as youngmin was busy making his hands dirty, johnny called his mom at this hour, she was probably home by now.

“ah my love johnny! i’m glad you called, what is it?” her voice still bright and lively.

“um, i was wondering if i could drop youngmin off tonight?” he played with the fork. “taeyong messaged me and i think i need to have a drink and hang out for a bit.”

his mom’s soft laughter brought relief to his ears, “oh sure my dear, your dad and i could need some company. it’s been quiet around here since you’ve grown.”

johnny smiled at the reply, “great, we’ll be there in ten.”

“see you later.” she singsonged.

after dropping youngmin off, he made his way to the bar where his girlfriend was. everyone who met johnny knew that he could be reckless when someone crossed over the line, who knows what scene he’d make tonight?

“johnny.” taeyong called out after seeing him enter the bar, johnny walking towards the bar where his friend was stationed at. “please don’t make a scene. my boss let you off the hook the last time you broke loose.”

johnny’s eyes scanned the area, looking for mj before looking at back at taeyong. “don’t worry. i won’t. this johnny won’t do anything.”

“better keep your word. she’s by the corner over there.” taeyong pointed with his head, “she’s been here for the past three months. good thing i’m the only one from campus who has seen her. if anyone else did she’d lose her solo spot at the choir. so called ‘angel’, huh? no offense.”

“none taken, but thanks bro. see you later at the dorms.” johnny said, then he walked through partygoers, the blasting music was deafening so much he hated it.

“i know right? he’s such a sweetheart.” mj said to her friend as she patted the guy’s shoulder who she danced with earlier. “i’d love to-“

“mj.” johnny’s cold voice rung in her ears, sending shivers to her spine. what is he doing here? “i’m guessing rehearsals ended early or it never existed.”

“babe i-“

“ey johnny suh!” the guy seated next to her greeted him drunkenly, the more he looked closer in the dimmed light, his blood boiled. “haven’t seen you since you had a baby! minji has been great to me recently.”

it was his high school rival, takuya terada.

“we’ll catch up soon won’t we?” johnny said sarcastically. takuya wouldn’t know anyway, his vision probably already blurry to even comprehend a straight conversation. he looked at minji, who averted her gaze towards him as she rolled her eyes. “we need to talk, outside.”

he took her by the wrist and he didn’t care if he was hurting her. she hurt him first; for a while now actually. he just had to put up a front before he vent out when they exited the bar.

“what the hell, minji.” he threw his grip away, minji holding her wrist and tsk-ed at the attitude. “is that why you’ve been missing out lately? you were cheating on me with takuya?”

“missing out? johnny you’ve been missing out too!” she raised her voice, “i don’t know if you have noticed but it’s been straining on the both of us recently!”

“so your solution was to hang out with another guy when you could’ve voiced out to me about your feelings? mj, we’ve talked about this!” he wiped his face frustatingly. “i don’t think-“

“i don’t love you anymore, john.” she said blankly, her face didn’t emit any pain she felt, it was like she wanted it out there. “that’s why i’ve been ‘missing out’.”

“you don’t.. love me anymore?” johnny stood in shock, his voice shaking a little.

“i fell out of love. i’m sorry.. i’ve been planning to tell you but i couldn’t.” she hugged her arms. “i didn’t want to hurt you.”

“my gut feeling told me there was something up. i was hurt just thinking about it. i don’t know but somehow i knew it all along that you were out of it. i didn’t bring it up because i held onto hope and believed my guts were lying that you cheated on me.” he said, his hands rested on his hip. “turns out i was right.”

“i’m sorry.”

“save it. i’m not hurt at all. maybe i just had to come here to confirm if it were true. you can live with that guilt that you’ve broken me already before you even said anything. i’ll raise youngmin myself. we’re done.”

johnny walked away while the cold wind sliced through his cheeks. usually in a breakup, one would break down. him and minji dated since high school, and there were on and off arguments here and there. they would always make up through talking, but to be told that she was cheating on him by another person sure sucked. he’d rather find it out himself and vent out right then and there.

guess this timing was actually better. though he told minji he was broken, he was actually so much more than that. he expected to at least shed a tear, he didn’t, for youngmin’s sake. even though he felt like an elephant was lifted off his shoulders, his heart was anchored deep below.

he felt so heavy with betrayal that his heart ached so much in a way he didn’t expect.

he wanted to break down so bad.

the door swung open of his family home and youngmin screeched a high pitched tone loud enough to startle the old man beside him, who was reading a newspaper. “oh john’s back.”

“dada.” the little one ran towards him, hugging his long legs for a second before johnny picked him up. “back!”

johnny’s mood changed like a shooting star whenever youngmin’s in sight. “hey little buddy! i’m back, i had to meet a friend earlier.” he kissed his cheek, “were you good to granny bear and papa bear?”

“he was an angel, john!” his mom gave her son a quick peck on the cheek. “who knew you could raise him very well? plus singlehandly!”

“he got it from me, my dear.” his dad took the chance to say, “are your studies going well though?”

“still a dean’s lister, dad.” johnny’s ears tinted a light shade of pink.

“that, he got it from me.” his mom winked at his dad, who scoffed at the remark. “where’s minji? you haven’t brought her here for a while.” the look on johnny’s face was too readable that his mom knew in an instant.

“we broke up. she had another guy behind my back.”

the sudden snickers from his parents left him in question, were they laughing? “great ‘cause we didn’t really like her for you!”

“really?.. wait, what?” he asked in disbelief, “anyway, i broke it off and i kinda knew she was out of it already.”

“took you a while to realize it, john.” his father just sighed, “are you going to get a new one?”

“what? no.” johnny chuckled awkwardly, “anyway we’ll take our leave now.” johnny shook youngmin a little before his parents bid them a goodbye. he walked towards his car and buckled him up. “ready to go, buddy?”

“ready.” he wiped his eyes, sleep covering him very soon. “music please.”

“which one?” johnny asked as he set the rear mirror to get a good look at him, knowing well what youngmin was going to say.

“coldplay!” they said simultaneously.

“now that, you got it from me.” he laughed heartily while they made their way back to his shared apartment with taeyong, jungwoo, and kun.

the clinks of the apartment keys had the boys look up from their game on playstation. jungwoo sighing frustratedly when kun defeated him thrice in a row. “seriously? you’re cheating, kun hyung!”

kun stretched, “clearly not. you’re just a bad player.”

“could one of you dumbasses get the kimchi from the table?” taeyong shouted from the kitchen, only to be greeted with youngmin having the wanted side dish in his tiny hands. “see, youngmin just got here and he did a better job than you two!”

“it’s loud in here, damn.” johnny took his shoes off while youngmin had his phone in his hands.

kun sat on one of the couches, eating the kimchi fried rice taeyong just made. “so you met up with minji, how did the dinner go?”

taeyong nudged the younger boy, and jungwoo looked confused. johnny couldn’t blame the two, they didn’t know what actually happened. “these two lovebirds called it quits tonight.”

“what!?”

“yup.” johnny popped his lips, “takuya terada”

kun’s eyes widened, “like.. takuya from high school?”

“they suit each other anyway, the biggest flirts of ____ high.” jungwoo chewed on a kimbap. “no offense.”

“none taken, i feel relieved anyway.” he sat down spotting taeyong busy typing on his phone. “you still looking for girls on love click?”

“well yeah, someone should at least find me attractive.” he replied.

jungwoo snickered before choking on his food, “as if anyone would see your face through a filter system on the app. just what is the university thinking?”

“ha, wait until they see this handsome thing for real.” he turned to johnny, “bro you should try looking for new love, you’re in need of it right now, you know?” taeyong locked his phone to continue eating the almost midnight dinner.

“please, i’m still freshly ‘heartbroken’, don’t tempt me.” johnny rolled his eyes.

“mama.” youngmin shook the huge phone, a selfie of johnny and minji flashed the screen.

“not mama anymore.” he told him, then youngmin clicked on another app.

“mama.” he showed them the love click app; the color scheme of red and pink caught his attention. and johnny scrunched his brows, the other three smirking at each other.

“seems like he wants a new mama.” kun teased, earning a death glare from johnny. “what? that whole daddy look of yours is attractive to almost every girl in campus. just wife someone up already!”

shaking his head, he couldn’t believe the encouragement from his friend. “too soon my bros.” johnny chuckled, “maybe i’ll give it try after a few weeks or so.”

johnny sat by the bed while youngmin slept with his sausage pillow. now that he thought about it, the little boy hadn’t seen minji in months. it was obvious that he’d look for her. but what he didn’t get was that he showed love click; a dating app he didn’t remember installing.

“mama.” he recalled youngmin say.

he dimmed the lights and sat beside youngmin, patting his bottom gently as he drifted away into slumber, he too was getting sand in his eyes. he pressed his lips into a thin line, halfheartedly created an account just in case he really needed it.

“this is stupid.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

taglist: @titanmaknae29 @joepomonerof @lovesuhng @studyingthemind @cheyehc

#johnny scenarios #johnny fluff #johnny angst #johnny au #johnny imagines #johnny series #johnny drabbles #johnny fanfic #johnny oneshot #nct imagines #johnny nct #johnny seo #nct johnny #seo youngho #johnny suh scenarios #johnny suh fluff #johnny suh angst #johnny suh romance #nct scenarios #nct fluff #nct fanfic #nct drabbles #nct series #nct au #nct angst #nct oneshot #nct kpop #kpop scenarios #kpop fanfic #kpop fluff

[lvrcpid]

headcannons ii - modern!au

neteyam

— he was the type of kid who did the lemonade stands as a kid, backwards e and all.

— his led lights are always set to white. he doesn’t even use the light in his room

— he definitely goes trick or treating still. no matter the fact he’s almost 6 foot. he’s gonna get him some free candy

— speaking of candy, his favorite candy is..TWIZZLERS 🤢

— if there’s one thing neteyam will do, he gonna take a deep sigh like he a stressed father of 5

— he has his caps lock on 😟

— such a mommas boy

— ‘you need help ma?’ ‘i can pick her up for you ma’

— idc what y’all say him and jake ARENT THAT CLOSE

— nete def strays away from jakes old veteran ass but the first one to use his military discount anywhere they go 💀 he’s so me

— that boy loves him some the weeknd

— die for you is his favorite song

— the type to literally hit you while laughing

lo’ak

— he’s always in some sort of pain

— ‘my back hurt’ ‘my ankle hurts’

— he was the type of kid who got caught with kik at age 12

— when he finally got his car, he got a dent in it not even an hour later

— he thinks those a.i president videos are top tier comedy

— his closet is where he records his raps 💀

— neytiri has to FIGHT with him to make him wash his favorite hoodie

— ‘MA I CAN GO ONE MORE DAY’ ‘ITS BEEN TWO MONTHS’

— under his bed is literally comparable to a landfill. ITS SO DIRTY UNDER THERE

— when he was a kid, he ran into a wall and knocked his two front teeth out

— something tells me lo’ak is a fast eater like you could blink and his plate is CLEAR

— jake made him join jrotc 💀

kiri

— she’s def a morning person

— you can find her in her room mediating or doing yoga

— very in touch with her higher self

— she’s given herself a lot of stick and poke tattoos

— her favorite one is a heart on her finger

— shoes? hell no. crocs and slippers.

— funniest person in the family hands down

— she actually enjoys cleaning, it’s therapeutic

— the type to make twitter stans mad on purpose

— has way too much blackmail on everyone in the family

— she probably can’t dance tbh shed rather watch

— gives the MEANEST side eye to people

ao’nung

— he has facial hair (teehee)

— he probably was the type to go “boi 🫱🏽” in middle school

— he smells like irish spring ¿

— big big big sneaker head

— ‘where my hug at’ AONUNG GO TO HELL

— got that stiff athletes walk to him

— something tells me he has a letterman jacket with ‘A’ on it

— he definitely needs his license taken away. he has three tickets already

— speaking of license, his picture is his rizz. he looks so pretty in his picture

— poor baby hates eye contact, it makes him nervous

— he’s so fruity. talking bout some “POOKIE 😆”

— he’s a beast at mini golf

— da hood is his favorite roblox game. he definitely gets annoying and tells people to mic up

tsireya

— she actually believes in the tarot readings on her fyp

— she’s confident. not cocky.

— she can whoop ass. PRAY WITH HER DONT PLAY W HER

— she wants to dye her hair but she’s so scared

— she got a tattoo of a heart behind her ear behind her parents backs

— my girl loves her some astrology

— ‘WHATS YOUR RISING??’ ‘tsireya get the hell out of my room’

— she has a pet kitten named wiggles

— her lock screen is of her , lo’ak and wiggles

— she loves oreos

— her and the sims locked IN

— she’s spent at least 500 dollars on packages for the game

— she wears glasses but never wears them so she’s always squinting

— she’s a concert junkie. she’s been to almost every single nct concert she could attend

— ‘lo’ak let’s get matching silk presses’

#avatar #avatar x reader #awotw #neteyam x reader #jake sully x reader #kiri x reader #loak x reader #sully family x reader #modern avatar #avatar 2009 #avatar headcanons #avatar x you #tuk avatar #avatar 2 #avatar imagine #avatar the way of water #avatar memes

[mochamamii]

yandere!nct: you have children.

▹ a/n: hello loves, I got a request to write the yanderes as fathers a loooong time ago loll lmk what you think!

▹ triggers: yandere!au, toxic relationships, controlling partner, abduction

▹ pairing: yandere!nct 127 x fem!reader

Taeil definitely wants kids. He's more the traditional type so he'd like for you two to be married first. But no matter when in your relationship children come he will be ecstatic nonetheless. Taeil's obsession with you will only intensify once children are involved. He will love your children just as much as he loves you and is willing to kill deal with anyone who threatens his family.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do to keep you and our children safe. I promise."

Johnny would welcome the idea of children. Johnny doesn't do anything without intention, and whilst he'd be able to love his children like a regular father, he'd probably see them as another means of keeping you under his thumb. He'd hope having a baby might detour you from wanting to run away. He's definitely the type to weaponize your access to the children, punishing you by keeping them away from you until you behave.

"You're mistaken if you think there's anything I wouldn't do to keep you right here where you belong. Our children are no exception."

Taeyong is more partial to the idea of having children. If it happens great, if not he won't feel like he missed out on something. Taeyong would see children as more of a liability than anything else. More opportunity for people to pry into your lives. Naturally, Taeyong is just as protective of his kids as he with you. He cares for them and wants them to be happy but isn't all that attached to them like a normal parent might. However, he sees them as an extension of you and loves them for that alone.

"There's no one I'd rather have be the mother of my child than you, there's not a single doubt in my mind about that."

Yuta wants kids for sure, and a lot of them. He's not concerned about whether you want kids yourself or not. Once he's made his mind up about something that's the end of it. He'd want kids sooner rather than later but is at least willing to give you a little time to change your mind. Once the first kid is born this man isn't wasting any time and is ready to make the next one. Lowkey has a pregnancy kink. As a father, Yuta is the unconventional wacky parent. Rejects gender roles for his kids and wouldn't want them going to a traditional school.

"What's one more kid? You look so cute with a swollen belly..."

Doyoung wants children but only when he feels you're both ready. From the moment Doyoung laid eyes on you he's imagined the day the two of you welcome a child into the world together, but he's not the type to impregnate you recklessly. To Doyoung, it's important that you want this just as much as he does, a happy mommy means a happy baby. As a father Doyoung is on the strict side. He's big on good manners and high marks. Doyoung appreciates order and detests disfunction so he might struggle in the early years whilst your child is still young.

"Sometimes you act just like your mother. You should know by now little one that attitude gets you nowhere with me."

Jungwoo wants as many kids as you will give him. Before meeting you kids were never really on his radar. Whether you want kids or not is not that important to him, he will be sad if you don't want them like he does, but after all Jungwoo is the one who's always known what's best for you, right? Jungwoo is definitely the type to trap his significant other. Any birth control you have is either getting thrown out or replaced with something else behind your back. As a father Jungwoo is super involved. He wants to be involved in all your child's milestones, big or small.

"I didn't think it was possible to love you any more than I already did but now that you've given me a child, how could I possibly ever let you go now?"

Mark is indifferent to the idea of having children. He wouldn't mind them but ultimately he would see them as more of a distraction for the two of you. He'd only want kids if they were something you really wanted. Lowkey is scared his children will take after him more than you. As a father I think that Mark would be caring but distant. It's difficult for him to care for anyone else even half as much as he cares for you.

"You know anything you want I'll give you, I'm not opposed to tiny versions of us running around."

Haechan wants kids someday for sure. How many you two have is less important to Haechan, I see him being satisfied with even just one child. As a father Haechan is the laid-back and relaxed parent. Whether the child is a boy or girl he will want them to be his little miniature twin. He will love his children but isn't above using them as pawns to control you with. You want to leave one day? Sure, go ahead, but the kids stay.

"Don't act like you're trapped babe. The door is right there, waiting for you to use it anytime you want. But don't think I won't chase you to the ends of the earth if you ever even think about taking my kid from me..."

#nct yandere #yandere nct #lee taeyong #yandere kpop #kpop yandere #lee haechan #kim jungwoo #kim doyoung #johnny seo #seo johnny #mark lee

[tyxoxo]

Ylang Ylang

| summary: while being close to you and your family’s extinction, a promise needs to be broken to save the lives of your people

| pairing: fairyhunter!jeno x fairy!reader au w/fairy!xiaojun x fairy!reader (if you squint)

| genre: suspense, angst, smut, fantasy, multiple nct/wayv + aespa character inserts, jeno and hendery are brothers

| words: 11.6k

| warnings: murder, blood, torture, knife play, noncon smut + suggestive scenes, blackmail, exhibitionism, caging/imprisonment, degrading, unprotected sex

(this is purely fiction, warnings in bold mean potentially triggering content, everything is tagged accordingly)

a/n: @jenomov and i came up with this concept out of nowhere also, so massive thanks to them for the inspiration, ideas, summary, and endless brainstorming! they practically helped write this <3 also jeno’s look in the header is essentially how i envisioned him to look for this story but imagine him however you want 

playlist: 

livv? - ylang ylang

weatherby - fleeting frozen heart 

datfootdive - stars

alicks - 7 laps later

tame impala - one more hour

“C’mon Xiaojun, spit it out already!!” 

You teased at your loving best friend, shoving him playfully with a single finger as you watched him struggle to speak lucid sentences.

The two of you were in your favorite and most “private” hang out spot—in the trees on the outskirts of your shared village. Far enough away from the hustle and bustle of the community, but close enough for comfort. Though you tried your best not to drift into the terminology of “safety”, “danger”, or “warnings.” 

It was a sure way to initiate ill omens.

Both of your parents were aware of your shared infinity for exploring; venturing past the municipality limits. But as long as the two of you shrunk to “the size of a quail” outside of the village, they allowed you to bask in the wonders of blaring curiosity, to your heart’s content. Your species could never truly bring your guard down…

“Sorry…I just can’t form my words today.” He scratched the back of his head as he peered down at his lap, rustling the Crane's-bill flower crown perched atop his mauve hair in the process. 

“Since when do you ever really form your words?” 

This time you gave a subtle laugh to pair with your smile, hoping to ease his obvious discombobulation. 

“You’re right. I don’t.” 

His eyes met yours, his wings even twitching, which always signified when your kind was flustered.

He continued again, pulling at his own thumb as he drifted his eyes up to the newly blossomed tree leaves; an obvious attempt to avoid eye contact.

You could try to deny it for as long as you lived, but there was something within you that adored him more than he probably ever knew.

It was his tenderness, his soothing voice, his patience, whether it was those nights you stormed out of your house in search of him, as a form of solace from the constant nightmares of your genocide, or the days that you wanted to rant about your parent’s overprotectiveness (though they’ve eased up in recent years).

Anything you needed, he was there. And you always tried your best to do the same, despite having the feeling that he bottled up some of his troubles to keep from feeling like a burden himself.

“Well…I w-wanted to tell you, that I really appreciate you.” 

He gave up on his own finger trap, to tug at the bottom of his white flounce shirt, finally meeting your eyes again with another twitch of his translucent wings.  

“I appreciate you too Xiaojun, always.” 

You leaned forward, so light that you barely caused the branch underneath you to stir. He froze upon witnessing your close contact, only his brown irises lowering to watch as you took both of his hands into your own.

“Is everything okay?” 

You didn’t mean for your voice to come out in a whisper, but his stuttering had become more frequent, and this only made your thoughts whirl just as loudly as his.

If only you knew that he was on his way to confess his true feelings to you, if only he could get his mouth to work as fast as his brain, maybe then he could finally pull the weight off his shoulders.

But you made all of this difficult without even trying. His love for everything that was you, was infinite. 

Even your constant teasing.

And the glimmer in your eyes was no match for his composure, let alone the way you held his hands. 

You scanned his face in search of an answer, that definitely took too long for him to spill.

“Yeah don’t worry, everything's fine.” 

You tilted your head in confusion, wondering where this could possibly be going, knowing he was aware of your ever-so-apparent “what’s the deal” persona. 

He cleared his throat, and geared himself up for the revelation of a lifetime,

“I’ve been m-meaning to tell you that I really like you…that I’ve always dreamed of what it would be like to have this moment with you.”

You felt your wings twitch, more noticeable than his own. And the warmth that flooded your entire body could’ve lit the entire forest in a swarming blaze. 

“W-would it be crazy if I asked you to be mine—”

His lips seemed to come at a rest in slow motion, eyelashes fluttering in stark contrast as he heard your breath hitch in your throat.

Not even the sun’s rays that flashed through the white pine tree could’ve taken you out of your shock. 

You used what seconds you had left, to replay his confession in your head,

“…I’ve always dreamed of what it would be like to have this moment with you”

Xiaojun, your best friend since childhood, had always dreamed of this?

But the thoughts of responding were ripped away, as blood-curdling screams roared from the direction of your home. They weren’t light hearted nor playful by any means, and with the ability to hear great distances, the agony that bestowed upon your ears caused you both to wince in fear. 

Xiaojun turned his head to look through the leaves, skin turning pale upon hearing further destruction. 

Most of the branches obscured your vision, but it didn’t take much longer for the despair to continue. 

“They found us!” 

That voice, sounded like Karina.

And her frenzied words gave the answer—after two years of hiding, the hunters were back. 

You felt your heart drop to your stomach, the ability to breathe becoming a distant memory.  

You squeezed Xiaojun’s hand as you crawled through the thick pine, your best friend eventually grabbing your waist to stop you from venturing out too far.

“Stay back!” His hushed tone was never this turbulent, bringing all the more truth to the chaos brewing just a mile away. 

“We have to go help!”

“It’s too dangerous, I can’t risk you getting hurt!” 

Your adrenaline was too much for Xiaojun, as you managed to fight through his tight embrace or rather his hold on your longing to see your family and friends for what could be the last time. 

“Let me go! We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

You attempted to gear your wings for flight as you broke through his hold, hands raking through the leaves to get a clear view through the sea of green.

As you hovered past the pine tree, a familiar being appeared to be flying this way, the telltale sign being the blush colored wings that matched the embroidered dress swaying through the win at high speeds.

It was Giselle. And upon getting a closer distance, you saw the blood spatter that painted her arms in fresh crimson. 

She was her natural size, like what your kind all chose to be while in the comfort of your home, and the only guess as to why she didn’t choose to shrink was the amount of energy it took to do so. She seemed to grip at her side as the blood continued to stain her silk dress, not once looking up at which direction to fly. Her Dahlia flower crown was nowhere to be found, something that she cherished more than anything in the world.

You had to help her, get her to safety within the trees, whatever you could to secure a better fate. But the constant screams kept you too terrified to react, and being out in the open like this was indeed risky. 

Before you could muster the strength to call her name, Xiaojun was behind you, the vibration of his wings filling your senses. He leaped at you once again, this time pulling you back towards the trees with labored breaths.

He couldn’t just do this to you…prevent you from saving a life, from saving not only your friend, but his friend too.

You managed a measly call of her name, knowing her advanced hearing would be enough. And successfully, she glanced up for the first time since her escape, to watch as you motioned for her to join together in the same tree.

Her face, lit up with hope, was the last sanguine expression to ever grace her face, as the all too familiar sound of a crossbow arrow being loosed from its quarrel sped towards her injured frame.

Your scream, one just as gut-wrenching as those that continued from your home, was muffled against Xiaojun’s palm as he pulled you back within the tree. You were forced away from any further intervention, forced away from burying your guilt.  

Giselle flung forward from the sheer impact of the arrow as it shot through her heart, her umber strands flying through the air in the same intensity; entire body falling face forward onto the red speckled bermuda grass.

You couldn’t look away, not while you witnessed her final moments—eyes drifting up to meet yours within her last breath, wings falling lifeless against her spine, and a faint smile from knowing you would be the last person she would ever see, instead of the hunters that were walking towards her. 

Your entire body shook against Xiaojun, trembling in fear that her killers would surely discover the two of you here.

“Fuck! Hendery I had her!” 

An unfamiliar voice, but one you would never forget, roared through the clearing that led to your dead friend. 

You never felt so much anger from a person before, someone that you could only imagine was seething at the teeth.

Xiaojun finally took his hands away from your mouth, allowing you to inhale as much as you could before they got too close. But he still kept his arms wrapped around you, fighting through his own sobs that hit against the back of your neck.

“No Jeno! I’m not letting you fuck this up anymore! Remember what Johnny said?”

Yet another unfamiliar voice, but you were able to put the faces with the names right as the two humans approached just meters away, barely appearing disheveled despite the chaos they just unleashed. Thankfully their lack of enhanced senses worked in your favor, as you and Xiaojun remained undetected during their inspection of the area.

The one holding the crossbow was Hendery. And the one to speak first with the serrated knife was Jeno. 

These had to have been the hunters your family warned about. For the two years since relocating to this new area, all of the last surviving elders made it their mission to describe these two, for if the day came that they scoured the land again, you would instantly know it was them. 

They were just as menacing as your parents described, especially the blonde, Jeno. 

Whether or not it was on purpose to instill fear within all of your kind, you were always taught to never underestimate him or his brother. 

The two of them could’ve passed as supernatural beings themselves—flawless skin, chiseled features, intimidating height, and the perfect build…you could’ve spent your time describing their otherworldly looks, but their tyranny overshadowed everything else in your mind.

Your breathing finally began to steady as you stared them down like hawks within the evergreen tree, watching with glossy eyes as they stood over Giselle.

Maybe it was the tactical black clothes they wore, or the shared onyx in their eyes. Either observation caused a shiver to run down your spine; they screamed carnage.

You and Xiaojun both jumped as Jeno sheathed the knife in his left hand into his thigh holster, the ear-grating sound bringing you back down to the harsh reality of your near-death experience.

“The others should be on their way any minute. Let’s go.” 

Hendery spoke again and pointed downward with his crossbow at Giselle’s lifeless body, signaling for Jeno to carry her now.

The blonde obeyed, but not without a  furrowed brow as he bent down to gather the fresh corpse.

You were sure his disgruntled expression was due to his brunette counterpart taking away his kill, and a part of you knew that his method of disposal would have been way more barbaric than Hendery’s. 

You felt sick to your stomach to admit that maybe Giselle didn’t suffer too much of an agonizing death, as an arrow to the heart was the quickest way to an end.

Jeno loves the thrill of a chase. Once he has his sights on you, his frenzy doesn’t stop… 

The warning that your own mother gave you stuck ever since she first told you. And it all made sense now: Giselle was part of the hunt.

The last you would ever see of her, was a delicate, lifeless body slumped over Jeno’s shoulders as the two brothers walked back the way they came. 

The two of you could’ve stayed hidden in the trees forever, passing the time by staring at the way the grass moved in the wind. Especially now that you had to face the aftermath of being found after such little time.

Xiaojun’s arms slowly unwrapped around your body, falling onto the branch in defeat.

You couldn’t help but fight back more tears as you looked back at him, eventually failing as you saw how red his own eyes were.

“What did they mean by “be here any minute?” 

You asked in a trembling tone, voice slightly breaking from the sobs that overtook your chords.

“I fear they’ll stay close by for a while, but maybe it’s a chance we’ll have to take to see what’s going on.”

His cool breath touched your lips as he spoke, and you could only give a nod. No amount of talking could take away the pain you felt. 

The two of you cautiously exited the trees, remaining in your shrunken size to stay undetected. 

You gave one last look at the grass below you, soaking in Giselle’s blood that splattered onto the now-soiled greenery. 

Xiaojun led the way, choosing to duck behind the trees along the clearing, as you did the same.

The area seemed too quiet now…

The wisp of arrows no longer filled the air, and the crashing of what sounded like housing structures were no longer drowned out by the screams of your family and friends.

Considering the two of you purposefully ventured out past the village limits, it seemed like hours before you reached the entrance to your once-forever home.

The destruction seemed picture-perfect to what your elders had experienced in the past.

Xiaojun reached behind to interlock your fingers with his as you both approached the gates. You could only let your wings carry you now, barely reacting to his physicality…the numbness had become too overbearing. 

No sign of life could be caught within your sights, only smoke and dwindling flames littered the landscape.  

Houses were barely standing, with sunken ceilings and crumbling timber.

Could everyone truly be dead? Even your parents?

You tried your best to peek over Xiaojun’s shoulder, trying as best as you both could to find your respective homes. And considering how small the two of you were now, the billows proved to be difficult terrain. You both covered your faces in defense of the embers, fending off the irritation to your eyes.

Xiaojun was the first to look towards what was left of your home, eventually dragging you along despite your best efforts to protect your eyes.

Upon stopping and hovering in front of your disheveled porch, it was obvious your parents were gone; though you didn’t want to think about the manner in which they were gone. 

You couldn’t even bring yourself to rummage through the chunks of burnt siding, as every piece was scorching hot to the touch.

“Why even fucking bother?” 

Your anger began to overshadow your grief, and despite the fumes emanating off the burnt mahogany, you kicked at what remained of the entryway.  

Images of your parents flashed through your brain; undoubtedly giving it their all to fight back, not even caring that they would ultimately fail against them. 

They never thought about the aftermath of their bravery…going out in glory seemed like the best way to go.

Xiaojun could only choke back tears as he hovered beside you, knowing that no amount of condolences would render you healed. He wasn’t a ghost to this kind of pain either.

You were there for him when his parents found their end at the hands of the hunters years prior.

And he knew he had to do the same for you. 

“I’m sorry…” Xiaojun sniffled with a squeeze of your hand. You met his bloodshot eyes, blinking away yet another tear. 

Your focus soon shifted past your best friend, as your eyes drifted over to a familiar piece of pink flower nestled under a heap of singed plywood. 

Xiaojun noticed, and followed closely behind as you flew over to your discovery. 

Somehow saved from the flames, was Giselle’s flower crown. 

You steadied the speed at which your wings fluttered to keep the smoke at bay, and in one fell swoop of your hand, you held onto the only remnant of your dear friend. 

Maybe this is why your kind wore these, not only as a form of self expression, but for moments like this. So anyone gone, would never be forgotten.   

“We should go…” 

You were sure it pained him as much as it did you to not give a valid response to his shared grief, but staying here out in the open was suicide. You clutched onto the Dahlia flower crown as the two of you flew south, with no real destination in mind.  

Maybe a change of scenery or something less-desolate would clear your head. 

—

Jeno tried his hardest not to tear a muscle in his jaw as he clenched down with every exhale. 

He was left fuming ever since the end of their hunt. 

He knew why Hendery intervened, and the thought of someone trying to control his methods disgusted him.

It didn’t even matter if that certain someone was his own brother.

No one got in the way of his kill.

Although he wanted to body slam Hendery into the ground, all thoughts of getting his vengeance were cut short as Yuta and Sungchan were arriving to help load the bodies. The brothers were waiting just outside the village in a clearing, with high hopes that more fairies would cross paths with them in the process. 

Jeno passed the time by tossing his knife up and down in the air, purposefully avoiding conversation with his brother to bring more tension into the air. It worked somehow, with Hendery only kicking a few pebbles along the dirt instead of discussing how uneventful their slaughter was. 

Yuta and Sungchan eventually drove up in the shared sport utility vehicle courtesy of Johnny, that had definitely seen better days: waves of mud caked along the fender from transporting bodies to buyers all over the county, along with a few specks of dried blood on the front tire rims from a raccoon Hendery hit the other day.

The fellow hunters skidded along the rough terrain with the help of four wheel drive, successfully parking in front of the pile where only four fairies lay stacked on top of each other.

The sun was beginning to set along the distant horizon, seeming faster as the entire land lay nestled on a hill. That still didn’t stop the golden hour from illuminating the-now blackened blood painted along their lifeless bodies, even decorating a few of their ruined flower crowns like black ink.

Yuta was the first to exit the driver's seat, putting out his cigarette in the portable ashtray just beneath the car stereo. Sungchan followed suit, but not without towering over his comrade as they came to a stop to view the brother’s labor. 

“I feel like there should be way more than this…” 

Yuta’s crimson locks swayed in the breeze as he broke the silence, eyes darting from the bodies, then to the blonde, then to the brunette. 

He was sure such a statement would tick Jeno off, who’s excess pride always managed to bring home the most kills. 

“There’s definitely more out there. I saw a handful scatter south.” Hendery tilted his head in the direction as he kicked the final pebble over towards the pile of bodies.  

“Yeah well if you didn’t get in the way half the time, I would’ve gotten them.” 

Jeno spat as he sheathed the bowie knife back into his thigh holster. His dissatisfied expression only grew as Hendery scoffed in response. 

“What, you have nothing to say?” Jeno finally looked over to him, who’s tongue-in-cheek appearance was almost the final straw to his mania. 

“Can we just load these up already?” 

Sungchan, the timid pacifist, was the only one to stick to the task at hand, bending down to gather one of the bloodied corpses.

Yuta walked over to open the trunk as he texted Johnny with an update.

They each gathered one with ease, and despite being in their full size at death, all four managed to fit with a few pronounced shoves.

“Seems you went easy on them this time Jen…” Yuta took one final glance at the trunk, making sure Jeno heard his side comment before closing it. Based on the way Jeno slammed the rear passenger door, he succeeded. 

Yuta couldn’t help but light yet another cigarette as he put the car in reverse, even offering one to Jeno and Hendery who both declined with a shake of their head. 

It would take at least forty minutes before they reached headquarters, and anything to diffuse the obvious tension was worth a try.

— 

You subconsciously thanked whatever God that your kind didn’t need food and water as often as the humans who co-inhabited this earth.

If you did, the hunger and dehydration would’ve befallen you a long time ago. 

Neither you nor Xiaojun had eaten anything since the attack. 

It was now dark, and based on the abundance of nocturnal animals scouring about, it had to be late.

And unfortunately, the smell of petrichor began to fill your noses. 

Rain was definitely not your best friend while in this size or without proper shelter.

“Let’s stop here before it starts pouring.” Xiaojun guided you over to yet another tree, choosing to fly high up along the weeping willow for extra protection. 

He had become so steadfast in a small amount of time, and you were sure it was because of his familiarity with this type of tragedy. 

At least he was holding himself together better than you were. 

Each time you glanced down at Giselle’s crown, you couldn’t help but tear up. And the thought of potentially finding more along your journey scared you.  

Just as you nestled yourselves within the leaves, the rain began to pour and soon came the thunder.

Regardless of mother nature’s wrath, the comforting sound of raindrops hitting every leaf soothed away your stressors, as it did for Xiaojun. And not soon after, you found yourself laying back into his body for added warmth. 

He welcomed your embrace, and let his head rest on top of yours as the two of you tried to drift off to sleep.

Giselle’s crown never let you, perched just above as some sort of guardian that you hoped would watch over you for a lifetime.

“I love you.” 

Xiaojun’s whisper stirred you from your near distant slumber, and as you rose your head up, you found your lips just millimeters away from his own. 

“I love you too…”

—

2 years ago

—

“Sorry to cut the training short but I need everyone in my office now.” 

Johnny’s stone cold appearance into the gymnasium-sized training room caused everyone to freeze in place. Even YangYang, the newest recruit, had a hint of worry in his eye from what his boss could possibly want at this time of day.

The new offensive tactic he was learning from Hendery felt too liberating to be interrupted.

Nonetheless, all five hunters dropped their practice weapons, and began following through the halls of their headquarters. Jeno walked close behind, exuding annoyance with every step, followed by Hendery, Yuta, Sungchan, and YangYang, who all seemed less vexed. 

“Fresh meat” as Yuta liked to call the newest recruit, found the Brutalist architecture of the entire headquarters difficult to get used to. Nothing felt welcoming, but what could he expect from a group of ruthless hunters who’s only form of entertainment were killing or training? 

YangYang hoped that maybe he was jumping to conclusions, and that maybe they actually engaged in more leisure activities.

Eventually they made it to Johnny’s office. YangYang mentally recalled the first time he ever saw it, back when he was interviewed.  

Not much self-expression, or color for that matter; only strange and usual murals of taxidermied animals, and a few plaques of outstanding achievements in “Guerilla Warfare.”

The newest hunter felt awkward in the sea of black, not knowing if he seemed “lazy” for wanting to sit in one of the two chairs positioned in front of the carbon grey desk. Though, his pondering was short lived as Hendery and Yuta swiftly shoved between him to claim the only two seats.

Everyone except Jeno stayed in direct view of their boss, instead opting to lean against the wall with a few kicks to the fine carpet below. YangYang could already tell from his fifth day here that his blonde-haired comrade was the hothead of the group, intimidatingly so. 

“I called this meeting to discuss our sales…they’re unacceptable.” 

If only YangYang had known that this wasn’t the usual topic of a meeting, nor was it a common issue, though he did notice that everyone had their undivided attention, especially considering Johnny’s succinct tone. 

Yet there was a hint of relief in the hunter’s exhale, as there was no way he attributed to whatever poor sales his boss was referring to, when he’s only been here for less than a week.  

“I wanted to wait and see if maybe there was a mistake in my counts before pulling you all out of training, but it’s quite obvious that we’re down 20%.” 

Based on the way Sungchan and Hendery dropped their heads, the news was transparently bad. And despite the amount of bodies in the room, the atmosphere grew cold in the span of a heartbeat. 

“I don’t understand, we’ve killed thousands. How is that bringing us down?” 

Yuta was the first to speak after what seemed like minutes; eventually sparing the room of awkward silence. He leaned forward in his seat with intrigue, ultimately showing concern that was shared across everyone’s faces. 

“Precisely. It’s not the numbers, it’s the method.”

Johnny leaned far back in his chair with a cross of his hands over his abdomen—typical posture for someone trying to keep their composure.  

Was there confusion? Definitely. So much so that Hendery finally raised his head with a dumbfounded expression which might’ve garnered a slap from his displeased boss, though the thickness of his chestnut bangs spared him of the reprimand. 

“With each receipt that I get, there’s been a pattern...some sort of complaint.” 

Johnny paused to grab the binder in the corner of his desk that housed all of the “receipts”, eventually flipping it open to show the large stack that could barely stay organized due to the lightweight paper.

“Specimen AG — parts not salvageable due to maiming of thoracic cage and surrounding viscera…

Specimen BH — parts not salvageable due to debasement of intestines, including prolapse…”

The list seemed to go on and on—fifty pages worth to be exact, and it wasn’t until Johnny read the sixth one that the group of hunters finally caught on to the stress brewing within his chords.

“There’s a reason we don’t use bombs or any explosives, but based on the condition of these bodies, doesn’t fucking matter if we do!”

Johnny slammed the binder shut; seeming to resort back to his previous posture with equanimity. 

His voice barely above a shout, surely to get louder if no one spoke up soon.  

“But there’s one thing I won’t do, and that’s babysit. I have way too many important things to take care of while you guys are out there. So you all need to tell me what’s going on.”

“I might have a clue…” 

YangYang’s peripherals shifted to Hendery, who was the second to speak with a brief raise of his fore and middle finger. 

“I don’t think it helps that there’s someone in this room that likes to go overboard with their methods.”

YangYang was the only one to scan the room for the person in question, and eventually his suspicion bloomed upon setting his sights on Jeno.

He would never forget his first day hunting, nor would he forget the lingering smirk that painted Jeno’s face with every kill. 

Each fairy met their end in the most gruesome way possible, and somehow even his own brother had less sadistic methods to his madness. 

Limbs torn, torso’s gutted, throats ripped…

That was one way for Jeno to distinguish himself from the more quick and painless deaths of his counterparts. 

Easily…

“You piece of shit…” 

Jeno’s bark was just as hefty at his bite, and snapped YangYang out of his recollection. 

Thankfully his laconic response was towards Hendery. 

“I should’ve known.” 

Johnny produced a heavy sigh as he leaned forward to put his head in his hands. 

“Jeno you’re one of the best hunters i’ve ever known, you and your brother both. But you can’t do this. I’ve had countless buyers not only documenting but telling me that the parts are too mutilated…”

Johnny’s tone surprisingly stayed neutral, but the disappointment in his face didn’t falter.  

“Why criticize me for doing what we are trained to do?” 

Though Jeno remained still against the wall, it was evident his fists were clenched inside the pockets of his combat pants to resist the urge to punish his brother for “snitching.”

“They can’t possibly buy that junk Jeno!”

“Okay, next time I’ll just sit out and let everyone do the work then.”

Jeno’s solution to the problem was only a smart-ass response, one that tensed the room more than it already was. 

“Everyone seems to understand but you…”

—

Present

—

[0900]

Two hours of laying in bed with his eyes open when he could’ve been doing something more productive ate away at Jeno’s soul. 

Perhaps the best way to take his mind off the disappointment from yesterday’s hunt would be to train, even better if he could do it alone.

Considering it was still early, he was sure that could be arranged.

He couldn’t stand to hear the soft “tick” of the analog clock any longer, eventually rising up and navigating across the dimly lit bedroom; being especially mindful of YangYang’s crutches that lay in between their separate beds.  

Just a few weeks ago he sprained his ankle while training with Yuta, and never heard the end of it from the red-haired bully. The teasing was warranted, as his clumsiness made him miss out on the second hunt of his career. 

Before YangYang was recruited, Jeno was lucky enough to have a room by himself, but for the past two years he’s had to share. And despite his constant gripes with Johnny over that decision, there had been no changes in his room and board. 

Thankfully, YangYang wasn’t as much of a headache as he thought he would be. 

Just as Jeno reached for the doorknob, he was interrupted from YangYang’s awakening. 

“How was yesterday?” 

His groggy morning voice was a far-cry from his more upbeat tone that tended to blossom throughout the day. 

“You didn’t miss much.”

Jeno refrained from turning his head to address YangYang’s curiosity, and as a result, missed the frown that littered his face.

“Guess that makes me feel a bit better about being a klutz then.”

YangYang had grown accustomed to Jeno’s uninterested personality and expected nothing in return: no reassurance nor words of encouragement, but it still left him feeling cold as Jeno exited the bedroom with a harsh slam of the door. 

—

After freshening up in the bathroom, Jeno eventually walked through the maze of minimally designed hallways, with the constant reminder of how the entire building matched his current mood—arid, dull, and grey.

The gymnasium was just off in the distance and past Johnny’s office, which he suspected to be empty.

But to Jeno’s surprise, it was occupied by not only his boss, but an unfamiliar person. 

Their voices still seemed hushed to a low volume as Jeno decided to pause just past the partially open door. The brief glance Jeno gave in between wielded a weak observation of the boy, but just enough to know that there was no way he could survive here—he looked barely old enough to even drive. 

“Even though you still have yet to gain experience in the realm of hunting, I think you’ll be a great new addition to the team Jisung. We have plenty of approachable people here who would be more than happy to assist you on your learning curve.”

“Such a relief to hear that.”

The voice matched the ingenuous appearance of the boy, and somehow Jeno already had an irked nerve creep under his skin from the thought of gaining a new inexperienced “co-worker.”

“Due to tight restrictions on sales and making sure everyone gets equal pay, you’ll probably be the last hire, but I'll make sure we get you trained to expectations in no time.”

Last hire? 

Jeno immediately fell into the depths of suspicion. 

There was only one possible meaning in Jeno’s eyes: and the answer was replacement. 

The mere thought of deception plagued the mind of the seasoned hunter, and to such a degree that he could’ve easily torn down the door and stormed in to give both of them hell. 

If anyone saw Jeno now, they would see a raged monster—veins pulsed along his arms and down to his fists where he aimed to punch the wall nearest to him. The impact from his knuckle to the grey wall proved to be successful, and no amount of sting could’ve prevented him from giving another punch. 

Of course they heard it. And he didn’t want to stick around to see their faces when they came out to check. The self- control Jeno possessed, would ultimately spare the two of his wrath. 

The thought of training no longer sounded appealing; only real damage…real blood, could diffuse his anger. 

And no one could stop him from killing the way he wanted to. 

Not even his own brother, that just so happened to unveil himself from his shared room with Yuta. 

Hendery was just beginning to start his day, having already decided to sharpen his crossbow arrows, as training with them weakened the aluminum overtime.

He heard the loud “thud” just as he opened his bedroom door, and to his surprise, Jeno was storming off in the direction of the courtyard.

Something had to have bothered him, especially to the point that a large dent was made into the plastered wall on the other side of Johnny’s office.

Did he have an impromptu meeting? 

As Hendery began to jog towards his impetuous brother, he heard the creak of the office door, but couldn’t bother to look back at who appeared from inside.  

“Jeno! What’s going on?” 

His call yielded no response, and it seemed like miles before he got in arms reach of him.   

Just like Hendery predicted, Jeno made it to the frosted glass doors of the courtyard, violently pushing them open to the point of almost cracking the inorganic material. 

Hendery managed to lunge forward, ignoring the voices of Sungchan and Yuta in the distance as he cupped the back of Jeno’s shoulder.

“What the fuck’s going on?! Stop!” 

Without conscious thought, Hendery’s reflexes erupted from the center of his body, branching out towards his limbs to forge protection from the sudden backhand Jeno tried to give with his left hand. Hendery adjusted his footing to keep from falling backwards, but it seemed that he had to be one step ahead to handle Jeno’s blind rage. 

Sungchan and Yuta halted side-by-side, just in time to see Jeno practically attacking his own brother, with the first strike barely missing, though another seemed to be winding up from his right hand.  

“What could you possibly do, huh? I’m getting fucking replaced!” 

Sungchan was the first to look at Yuta with confusion as they heard Jeno’s explosive response. Even from their position at the doors, they could see every contour of Jeno’s muscles contract along his arms, with veins bulging against both sides of his temple as he seemed to hold back a snarl. 

Regardless, the two hunters felt relieved to know they weren’t the ones trying to console an absolute maniac. 

They knew better. 

“What the hell?” 

Within minutes of the brawl, a flurry of bodies appeared at the door. Johnny rushed down the steps after uttering his shock, followed by Jisung—and in the process of his first appearance, earned a scoff from Yuta as he brushed past. YangYang was the last to reach the ensemble, teeming with frustration at his inability to get accustomed to his crutches. 

If any outsider saw the scene before them, they would question if there was any proper authority amongst a group of murderous men. 

“Jeno! You have to stop!” 

No amount of pleas from Johnny could tear the two brothers apart. And whether or not it was to make a good first impression, Jisung lunged into action to separate them both as best as he could.

With the assistance of Johnny, who was undoubtedly stronger than the three combined, the heavy strikes to each other's bodies eventually ceased…followed by bruised cheeks, puffed lips, and labored breaths that flooded the hostile climate. 

Clearly, Jisung made the mistake of keeping his hands glued to Jeno’s shoulders as he rose from the dark granite rocks, shoving away the unwarranted contact. 

“After all these years of me outperforming everyone you’ve ever known, you’re going to throw me away?” 

He spat in Johnny’s face, even bucking towards him without shame before turning his attention back to Jisung. It was clear that Jeno wasn’t done, and Hendery’s intuition seemed to outshine everyone as he noticed his brother gearing up for another strike. Maybe it was the fact they were both bound by blood, as the two were always one step ahead of each other’s intentions. 

Despite the pain burning at his body, Hendery put himself in between Jeno and Jisung, yet again taking another punch, this time for someone he hadn’t even propely met. 

He took the brute force of Jeno’s knuckles, with plenty of newtons to make him stumble back. 

Jisung barely had time to flinch, but the aftershock left him feeling indebted towards Hendery. 

“I don’t want to lose any of you! If you came to me in private, I would’ve explained, but instead you go absolutely insane thinking he was your replacement?!”

For the first time, Jeno let his fists unclench with a harsh grimace. If it was to hide his disgrace or combat the raging headache, no one would ever know. 

Johnny stepped closer to Jeno, seeking out a valid response, but he was met with an ungracious exit. 

Hendery held onto his aching cheek as he watched Jeno walk away, presumably to never come back. 

His final act of longing to reach for his brother was interrupted as Johnny spoke,

“Just let him go…”

The entire courtyard turned to silence as Jeno pushed past his two comrades at the door, eventually disappearing in the adjacent hallway. 

Jisung was surprised to find that even after all of the chaos, Johnny remained calm. How? 

—

“Xiaojun…Xiaojun wake up! Do you hear that?” 

Off into the distance and below the same tree you both had been sleeping in for the past night, you heard the sound of flapping wings. 

Through the breeze, you couldn’t discern if they were from your kind or an animal, but you desperately needed a second set of ears to assist with your discovery.

After rubbing your companion’s arm, he finally awoke, albeit at a snail’s pace. The flapping stopped just as he stretched his upper body, and it didn’t take a genius to realize your disappointment.

But there again, you heard the high frequency sound of those same wings down below. 

This time Xiaojun heard it, and even his eyes grew an astonishing amount,

“I hear multiple sets of wings…do you?” 

Maybe his advanced hearing fared better than yours considering your lack of proper rest, but after concentrating enough with closed eyes, you heard it too.

“We should go check.”

You wondered if Xiaojun felt like risking his life yet again, but if this was anything like you hoped, then there was a better chance of survival with more than just two to a team.

He agreed with a subtle nod, and stayed close behind as you both crept towards the edge of the weeping willow. 

You paused before going any further, deciding to reach back and grab Giselle’s crown as it was practically your security blanket. 

Once you reached a safe distance, you scanned the twilight sky for any signs of aerial life. But that observation was soon forgotten as four pairs of living bodies were flying across the fescue grass. 

Myrtle, Canna, Red Flax, and Black Pansy rested atop each of their heads and you immediately recognized them.

Karina, Jaemin, Renjun, and Winter. 

You clutched Giselle’s crown close to your chest as you dove towards them, almost forgetting that Xiaojun was right behind you. 

Their hearing proved to be just as fruitful, as they each turned in the direction of your swift flight. 

Their faces, lighting up just as bright as the peeking sun over the horizon, gave you all of the strength in the world. They seemed to be alive and most importantly well considering the disaster that befell the community just two days ago. 

No words were spoken, just tears of relief as an assembly line of embraces filled the atmosphere.

Due to your excitement, you didn’t notice that they too had flower crowns, with Karina being the one to carry all three. 

Chenle, Ten, and NingNing. 

You felt a tight squeeze on your heart as you eyed the only evidence of their unforgettable beauty, but to see remnants of their existence was more than enough closure. 

Winter was the first to speak as you hugged her last, 

“I can’t believe you both are here! I’ve been crying ever since we made it out.”

She kept one hand on your shoulder as she used the other to rid the tear trailing past her chin. 

The abundance of emotions even managed to make Jaemin tear up, as he was someone who never cried. 

Karina seemed to keep her eyes trained on Giselle’s crown nestled in your hand, and as her lip began to quiver, you immediately rushed over to hug her again.

The two were inseparable—sisters who never missed the opportunity to experience life’s wonders together. 

You knew no amount of words would take away the pain, but you hoped that your affection would forge an era of healing. 

Based on her steady heartbeat and the collective encircle everyone decided to share, you knew it would happen eventually. 

“Have any of you seen my parents?” 

You waited until the group hug dispersed before asking, as you needed a solid look at each of their faces for any signs of an answer.  

The silence was deafening, but unfortunately more than enough to answer your question.

“I can barely recall what happened. Everything seemed like a blur…” 

Renjun’s statement garnered a collective nod. Nonetheless, you simply appreciated their existence as it didn’t seem like there was much left. 

—

Jeno had finally found a reason to keep going.

There, in a clearing upon chance, was the source of his thirst.  

Had the fight with his brother not happened, he would’ve missed the six fairies huddled in a circle amongst the teff grass. 

They seemed delighted in their reunion, albeit shaken up from recent events. 

Despite Jeno’s lack of supernatural abilities, he could still sense the wariness looming over their pitiful bodies…he could still feel the magnetic pull that drove him to be their absolute nightmare.  

If he was a dog, he would be salivating, shamelessly so. 

Ever since storming away from the courtyard, Jeno rushed back inside towards the training room to grab all of his signature weapons, along with any other utilities that would be of good use for his inevitable soul-searching. 

Considering Sungchan was quite intimidated by him, he doubted the tall lanky hunter would mind if he took some of his homemade smoke bombs.

Might as well make use of what’s here…

Jeno had a feeling he wouldn’t be able to go back home, especially now that he saw you. 

An absolute spectacle, perfect to use as an example of why your race was so  weak…so obsolete. 

Maybe it was the way you cautiously scanned the clearing ever so often, or the way you tugged at your opposite forearm to calm your nerves. 

Nothing stood out more than your doe eyes—even more gratifying if he was the reason they widened in fear. 

He clearly missed the opportunity to see that fiery emotion the first time he scoured your home. 

Now he couldn’t let the chance slip away. 

As he readied the smoke bomb in his left hand, his own eyes shifted into something sinister, like daggers ready to gouge at your delicate figure.  

A toss was all it took to unleash chaos, and though the plume of white smoke covered your initial shock, Jeno knew he would see more of you, eventually.

It was like muscle memory how effortlessly his throwing knives flew through the air, hitting three in quick succession, spurts of scarlet shooting from their collarbones, tainting the ground yet again at the hands of a homicidal aficionado. 

Their cries of pain were melodic, practically a sextet of symphony that grew louder the closer Jeno got.

Just like he had planned, you were unscathed, attempting to assist one that collapsed from his attack. 

There was something different in the way you gathered your arms to lift him, something special in the way you practically ignored the obvious face of danger to make sure he felt your presence. 

Jeno wasn’t the only one that noticed—the two that lucked out from the assault called your name, practically begging you to save yourself.

But based on the caresses you gave this frail boy, you would rather die than leave him.

How was it possible that a surge of jealousy brewed within his chest just as quickly as your selflessness?

—

Jaemin and Karina continued to shout your name as they made their way towards the weeping willow trees. 

Besides them, you were the last one standing.  

Every hit replayed in your mind upon impact.

Renjun, Winter, Xiaojun—with every blink, their bodies flailed from the sheer power of the flying daggers. The wisp of each knife was just too fast for your hearing.

You couldn’t let your world stop, not with Xiaojun gasping for air as the knife protruded from his neck. He needed you, and even if he didn’t survive, you begged him to be the last person you saw.

“I’m r-right here!” 

You attempted to wrap your arms around his upper body to drag him away, but each attempt only garnered more of a struggle. 

Specks of blood continued to paint his eyelids, with blotches of purple spreading where the knife lay buried. 

The only sounds that managed to escape Xiaojun’s quivering lips were labored sobs, and the determination to reassure him began to crumble beneath your feet. 

All thoughts of an escape melted away as you heard the sheath of a knife coming out of a holster.

—

Your eyes fluttered open just as fast as your wings, though there seemed to be something restricting the full momentum at which you could generate flight.

The feeling of cold metal gave you chills all throughout your body, and the realization of where you were made you feel even colder.

You were full size, surely because the stress you endured however long ago was too much for your body to endure. And somehow, there was a cage large enough to fit you as you hung from the ceiling like a lantern. 

You gave up on trying to keep your wings stimulated as it constantly hit the black steel bars holding you hostage. None of that mattered anymore as you took in the setting before you. 

A wooden shack, rusted tools leaning against the walls, and the same dome-shaped cages hanging from the ceiling, with your friends inside. 

They each had their own confines, but the only thing separating them from you was the lack of movement and familiar pulses within their chest. 

You slammed your eyes shut to focus on any signs of a heartbeat in case your eyes were deceiving you. 

Your hearing was substantial enough to catch two—Renjun and Xiaojun.  

It only took a second for your eyes to flood with tears as you realized Winter was silent…no sign of life in her once-rosy cheeks, no luster to her auburn strands, no apparent warmth to her skin.  

Everything was cold.

And the only lasting memory you would have was her body slumped in the cage—eyes staring blank towards the exit that was so close, yet so far. 

Jaemin and Karina were nowhere to be found in the garage-sized space, but you hoped to whatever god that they managed to escape. 

If they had, they were the last ones left.

There was no ounce of hope in your survival.

“Renjun! Xiaojun! Wake up…please!” 

Your hushed cries were just enough to wake Renjun as he lay cramped in the cage. He was slightly larger than you in stature, so you could only imagine how uncomfortable he felt as his wings failed to even twitch inside the metal bars.

He grimaced before raising his hand to touch the wound on his collarbone. Blood has pooled underneath his Victorian blouse, ruining the once pearl-colored fabric.

The dagger was out, and thankfully his body generated enough clotting to seal off the gash. The same could be said for Xiaojun too.

He shifted once more before scanning the room, eventually settling upon your crying eyes.

“Where are we?”

He choked up the same curiosity your own mind had garnered, though your wishes for a proper answer were slim to none. 

“I don’t know…just please try and wake Xiaojun!” 

Renjun was closest to him, merely centimeters away.

Just as he slivered his arm through the bars to shake at Xiaojun’s shoulder, he froze upon seeing Winter.

Your eyes whirled over in the same direction, but you regretted every blink spent on viewing her lifeless body; you were sure Renjun felt the same. The pain emanating from his expression told you so.

As he fought through his blurry vision, you focused your attention back on Xiaojun, who miraculously began to shift within the cage. 

Despite his brutal awakening, you couldn’t help but marvel at how beautiful he remained through all the chaos.  

He winced from the stinging in his collarbone, blaring his ivory teeth that were just as bright as the moon, and just like Renjun, he too was stained all over.

The way his eyes immediately fell upon you would’ve made any flame last for an eternity. 

You would give your life for him.

The chance to do it would be soon, crashing down like a comet that would scorch your entire body in a blaze.  

A few clicks of what you assumed to be locks chimed throughout the room, and  there standing in the oak doorway was the end to your existence. 

Jeno.

To no surprise, he stilled in the door frame with heartless eyes, gleaming with the satisfaction of his catch.

He captured four of you on his own and could’ve easily taken two more. 

He stood in silence for what felt like fifty pendulum ticks, probably deciding how to execute each of you. 

Regardless of the fact that you were his prey, and prey were never meant to stare into the eyes of their predator, you couldn’t look away.

You had gotten a good look at him when his brother killed Giselle, but seeing him in this state made all the more difference to the stories your family told of him. 

He stood in similar black attire, with plenty of tactical accessories to compliment his status as a hunter—a knife holster on his left thigh, a belt assembled with the same smoke bombs he used earlier, and a few throwing knives tucked into an ankle holster on his right side.

There was a reason he was the most brutal one of them all. 

It didn’t take a lot to kill your kind, but it made his job more enjoyable if every method imaginable could be used.

Your trailing eyes proved to be a mistake, and your upcoming death all the more damning because of how flawless he appeared in front of you. 

His looks were even more deadly up close. Your eyes could’ve melted in their sockets at the sight of his sharp jawline, or even his cheekbones that heightened the electricity of his blue eyes. 

Maybe dying at the hands of someone so unbearably perfect would make the sequence into the afterlife a little less daunting.   

It was just a shame he wouldn’t make it quick. 

Finally you closed your eyes, only using your hearing to verify that his footsteps were coming towards your own personal cage. 

Your entire body flinched as you heard him unlock it and swing the door back, the gust of air rustling your eyelashes, forcing you to open your eyes wide.

He barely had to maneuver his body to wrap one hand around your entire waist, pulling you out of the cage like you were a feather from an owl.

You were nowhere comparable in size to him—the entire length of your body was easily a difference of a foot or more but your attention to those details were the least of your worries. 

The aroma of bergamot and cedarwood filled your nose, stemming from his neck and chest. Each beat of his pulse seemed to push the scent further into your senses, intoxicating enough to distract you from the fact he slammed you into the adjacent wall.

Your entire head recoiled against the weathered hardwood, causing your vision to multiply. It wasn’t until you felt his calloused hand wrap around your throat and lift you meters above the floor, that your sights finally settled. 

The cyan in his eyes had shifted to cobalt, though the diameter of color seemed to disperse as his pupils dilated. It was enough to make you wince, but showing fear would only fuel more desire.

“Please don’t…” 

You barely heard Xiaojun’s sniffled cries in the background, as the trance Jeno put you in was too much to decipher anything else. 

He continued to speak for you, but it didn’t seem to garner any second thoughts in Jeno’s mind.

You wished to be some sort of sacrifice; a guaranteed exit for what was left of your friends. There had to be something you could do to warrant that. 

The only other possibility was actually right in front of you, though you shuddered at the thought of breaking such a promise.

You were never one to plead for your life, but that seemed to be the only viable option to please the sadist in front of you.

With one final gulp that seemed to get caught in between his palm and continue down into your stomach, you brought up your hands to wrap around his own. 

His snarl only grew more intense as he watched, and there you saw a beast unleashing.

You opened your quivering lips, making a pitiful attempt at appearing even more pathetic than you already were.

“Take me…not them.” 

Just as you expected, he forced you forward by your neck, only to slam you back against the wall. It was definitely rougher than before, enough to make your brain feel like it would pop out of your skull. 

This time he stepped forward, using his chiseled thigh to separate your twisted legs.

His face was merely millimeters away from your own, and the coolness of his breath hit your lips like a blizzard.

You wondered why he didn’t verbally challenge your need for survival, but the reason was evident once you felt his groin make contact with your torso. 

He let his length speak for him. 

And with every squirm that you gave, it  continued to twitch under the confines of his combat pants. 

What you assumed to be the tip poked right underneath your breasts, and with that came the realization of how minuscule your kind truly was in comparison to his. 

Your eyes attempted to follow his other hand as he reached for his prized bowie knife attached to his left thigh. The brief yet ominous sound of it being unsheathed caused Xiaojun and Renjun to rustle in their cages.  

From where you were positioned, you could see Xiaojun just past Jeno’s shoulders. 

During this entire ordeal, you kept your eyes away from him, as the indignity of the situation was too much for your soul to bear. But now that it seemed your death was near, it was only right that you gave Xiaojun one final look of goodbye.  

You shifted your eyes over to the one person that remained with you through it all. 

Through your peripherals you could see the glimmering metal rush towards you, but instead of feeling a sharp twinge of pain, you felt a rush of cold. 

You could hear Xiaojun and Renjun’s breath hitch from afar as they both realized too that you were completely bare in front of them. Your clothes had flown off to the side, shredded from the sharpness of his trusted blade. 

Despite the coolness in the air, the warmth emanating from your core served as an invitation for the monster prodding at your stomach. 

Your entire body began to tremble uncontrollably, maybe as some sort of coping mechanism for the humiliation brewing deep within.

“Look at me!”

Your teary eyed shifted immediately back over to Jeno as he bellowed out his command, the cluster of veins in his neck shifting as he clenched his teeth. 

Your shaking didn’t seem to help as he positioned the tip of his blade at your collarbone, pressing inward to break the skin. 

“Keep looking…just like that.”

He spoke again, barely above a whisper; his speech matching the slow tempo of the knife being dragged down the centerline of your body.

The pain was nowhere near the worst to be endured, surely it was sharpness of the blade that kept the stinging bearable. 

A trail of blood followed, a fine line that only stopped once the tip of the blade reached your clit. 

You jumped considerably at the contact, which was enough to slice the bundle of nerves if you weren’t careful. 

As you tried to keep your composure, Jeno stared deep at your struggling frame, marveling in the way gravity caused all of the maroon fluid to pool around your warm mound. 

“Did you think I would kill you so soon?”

Any means of a response were thwarted as he tossed his knife to the floor. 

You were shocked, as that seemed to be his most prized possession, but in mere seconds you realized why.

In two swift motions he finally let go of your throat, leaving you to stumble onto your feet and gain a few recovering breaths. You weren’t even sure how to stand on your own two feet anymore, as you’d grown so accustomed to being one with the atmosphere, flying so freely before any of this mess started.  

Your chances at running towards your friends to set them free were all in vain as you heard the harsh sound of a zipper and belt clasp being undone. 

The sight of his cock snapping out of his briefs was enough to make you press your back as far back into the wall as you could. 

His length stood upright, with a glistening tip that managed to refract in the dimly lit room.

Time seemed to go slow as you watched his veins continue to pulse blood throughout his cock, keeping it just as red as your flushed cheeks. 

Precum dripped like a broken faucet with a distinct patter as it continued to hit the ground just as fast as your racing heartbeat. 

Your knees buckled as he used one hand to spread the clear liquid throughout his shaft in a slick up and down motion. 

He seemed to be sensitive already as he bucked into his own hand, trying his hardest to keep his self-pleasure to a minimum. 

You looked down to your feet to see that there were two puddles on the floor, one of your blood and one of his essence. 

The way they attempted to mix together kept your senses distracted, completely missing that Jeno stepped up to you with his pants at the ground and his tight shirt pushed up to his muscular chest. 

Your legs gave out just as he used one hand to grab at your hip, and the other hand to position his cock at your entrance. 

“First time I get to fuck anything like this…”

Your brief pleas of no were cut short at his pistoned inside you without warning, attempting to tear you apart without sympathy. The guttural groan he produced from his evil chords echoed throughout the room, bouncing off the walls louder than your friends screams.  

There was no way to respond to that, or to any of his actions for that matter. Not when you were being stuffed full, way past your limit. 

All you could do was cry out at the pressure as he came to a standstill. 

His mouth hung open in complete awe…somehow through his infliction of pain, you were wet. 

And the addition of your blood made the entry all the more gratifying.

He was barely a few inches inside, but he was already touching your cervix, and the bulge present in your stomach confirmed it.

Burning began to surge throughout your core even as he stood still to try and accommodate more for himself. 

“You can’t—nngh it’s too much!”

If he continued any further, you weren’t sure you would be able to voice your horror any longer. 

He was too enveloped in how tight you were to care; the pleasure way above anything he’s ever killed.

Your attempts to lift off his cock only made the burning grow and eventually, earned you more inches to try and take.

Now, both hands were on either side of your hips with a death grip strong enough to leave bruised handprints on either side.

You had no choice but to wrap both legs around his waist to alleviate some of the pressure. 

It wasn’t long before his groin finally made contact with yours, and shockingly you were able to breathe through all of the discomfort as he seated himself one final time.

The only thing keeping you grounded to reality was the continuous blood that seeped from your sternum and the grunts coming from Jeno’s drooling mouth as he began rocking into you at a steady pace.

You had long forgotten the others in the room—you couldn’t focus on that now or else you would go into shock. 

But it seemed the more rhythm and sounds that grew between your connecting bodies, the more inclined Jeno was to remind you of your broken state. 

You hoped the pleasure building within your core was strong enough to overshadow your guilt…the way he continued to hit every spot within your dripping pussy made you confident enough in that fact. 

Through it all, you couldn’t bring yourself to voice how full you felt. 

Your lips remained pursed together, sometimes even gnawing at the puffed skin to silence the sounds trying to escape your throat. 

It wasn’t until you and Jeno’s eyes met in sync, that a whimper managed to slip. 

Your eyes grew in horror, completely ignoring the skin slapping prodding at both of your ears. 

You failed, but it seemed to fuel every fiber of his being. 

He leaned forward to bury his face into your neck, allowing his tongue to paint a shiny picture along the side of your jawline. 

You whimpered again.

Like the puppet you were, you found your hands having a mind of their own, lifting to rake your fingers through the back of his platinum locks. 

“I could kill everyone you love, but you’ll still beg to take my cock…”

He groaned into your ear, tugging at your lobe for added effect. 

That was enough to feel a wave of disdained euphoria wash over your entire body. 

There was a band that seemed to snap at every nerve ending, causing you to squeeze your walls as tight as you could around his length until you came apart. 

Your back arched involuntarily, finally giving your wings a break from the wooden wall that continued to tear the skin open with every snap of his hips. 

“Fuck!”

He turned his head to roar against your cheek, hips slowly losing their rhythm the more your orgasm continued.

You voiced your displeasure with a whine as you felt him slide out of your weeping hole, only then did you realize that he wasn’t done with you.

He managed to face you to the wall despite how limp your legs were, and within seconds he was inside you again. 

This new position was even more intense than the last. 

Your hands grabbed at any crevice you could find on the wall for support as he drilled into you from behind.

Your eyes shifted down to see your juices splattering past his cum-laden pelvis, eventually mixing where the blood had turned black against the rustic oak floor.

“I’ll just keep you for myself, nothing more than a cock hungry slut…forever alone, taking everything I give you.”

His words stabbed at you worse than any knife. 

It was too late to self-loathe any longer. The deed was long overdue, as his own release was nearing.

You felt those familiar twitches deep inside your torso, coming all the way from his scarlet-covered cock. With one final snap of his hips, heat shot deep into your womb, coating your insides in milky white. The rest pooled against his groin, spilling onto the floor to join the rest of the filth the two of you created.

His animalistic sounds had morphed into more subdued moans that played over and over like a broken vinyl as he came down from his raptured high. 

Every word of caution from your family about Jeno seemed to be nonexistent now, because of you. 

You were nothing more than a toy for him to use. 

His exited you in a single breath, allowing your bruised body to slump onto the floor.

Convulsions soon followed as you felt his juices ooze out of your swollen hole. 

You were catatonic, barely even reacting to how shameless he was in fixing his attire. 

Only your hearing guided you to what he would do next. 

Maybe it was in your favor that your eyes were stuck facing the door, away from the eventual slaughter of your friends. 

You heard Jeno pick up his knife from the floor and walk over to what you presumed to be Renjun’s cage first. 

The rustling of the metal grew just as loud as his hysterical cries.

But there was something else in the distance that you could hear, outside of the cabin. 

Footsteps.  

They grew in speed until a brief stop. 

Luckily you were facing the door, hoping for some sort of savior.

It couldn’t have been Jaemin or Karina, as you would’ve heard the flutter of their wings instead. 

Through your frozen state, only your eyes could widen as you heard the door crash open. 

There standing with frenzied breaths was…Hendery. 

“Jeno I’ve been looking every—”

You watched as he dropped his hands, eyes scanning the sickening scene in front of him. There was a deafening pause, where you hoped the last bit of humanity rested within Hendery. 

You could only listen as he lunged at Jeno with a scream.

“You can’t fucking do this!!!” 

There was an obvious power struggle, enough to knock over various items in the cabin that crashed to the ground, but not enough to make you flinch. 

“Stop!! Jeno—”

Another pause, and this time you heard a knife enter someone’s skin. A rupture of what sounded like muscle tendon rang through your ears, followed by gurgling.

Time seemed to slow down as Xiaojun and Renjun entered your vision. 

Without a second thought, they lifted your broken body into their arms, a collaborative effort considering your current state. 

It was then that you saw the aftermath. 

Jeno was sprawled on the floor in a pool of his own blood, with his knife peeking out of his neck. 

The entire struggle was the claim of a life. But through it all, Hendery had set you all free. 

Your tears seemed to match that of the dark-haired human as he fell to his knees, mourning the loss of his brother by his own hands. 

A lasting memory that was etched into your mind instantly. 

Soon, the smell of petrichor entered your nose and then came the moonlight that illuminated your skin.

As the two of them flew up into the sky, you felt Renjun place Winter and Giselle’s flower crown into your arms as you were carried to freedom. 

—

to read about the lore, click here!

//tagging:

@tddyhyck @tsumuu @devinitysann

@oleoleniall @wingsss45 @onlyoursol-ace @xusbabe @cheyehc @derywinkle

#jeno smut #lee jeno smut #tw: noncon #tw: knife play #jeno hard hours #nct dream smut

[writemekpop]

Idol Spotlight | Na Jaemin

Ay-yo! Let us take you on a journey through our fave Jaemin fics…

🌻 - Fluff  ☔️ - Angst  💋 - Smut

1. Between the Sheets 💋☔️

Summary: Mafia boss, playboy… husband? You have an arranged marriage with Seoul’s most notorious gangster Jaemin, but the real trouble happens between the sheets.

Genre: Mafia AU, arranged marriage AU, angst, smut

2. Heartbreakerz 💋

Summary: Jaemin is the world’s biggest douchebag. He even makes money from it – by breaking up with people’s boyfriends for them. Until he meets you, and his whole world changes…

Genre: College AU, Arrogant rich boy!Jaemin, Strangers to lovers

3. Know Your Enemy 💋

Summary: Your kid has a fight with Jaemin’s, and a very angry daddy storms into your house one night. Damn, he’s sexy when he’s mad.

Genre: Enemies to lovers, single parents AU, South Asian Y/n

4. Bad Boy Down Part 1 | Part 2 💋

Summary: Jaemin’s been stuck in jail for four months, and you’re both beyond horny. When you visit him, you decide to do something naughty…

Genre: Prisoner!Jaemin, suggestive

+ NCT MAIN MASTERLIST+

#jaemin #nct dream #nct fics #nct fluff #nct smut #nct x reader #nct x y/n #nct 00 line smut #nct 00 line #jaemin smut #jaemin fluff #nct angst #nct dream smut #nct dream angst #nct fanfic #nct imagines #kpop imagines #kpop fluff #na jaemin #nct reactions

[hexonthepeach]

a gentle tongue breaketh the bone | chapter 25: tribunal

pairing: fem hybrid fox omega!reader/hybrid Alpha!nct 127

tags: reverse harem, non-traditional omegaverse hybrid! cyberpunk au, pack dynamics, polyamory, slowburn/slowbuild, angst & hurt/comfort, heavy content warnings inc. torture, graphic violence, suicidal ideation, explicit sexual content

summary: the year is 2127. decades of eugenics and warfare have led to the rise of designated populations: the ruler Alphas and their rare, prized omegas sequestered from the Beta population. in the aftermath of the War of the Two Tigers, New Goryeo ushers in an Imperial dynasty determined not by birthright but by the alliance of the Syndicate’s clancorps to choose the best pack of your generation. you are destined to take your place within the Imperial harem as a queen, and–perhaps–Imperatrix herself

but you have a secret, written into your skin and bones–one that could easily kill you, depending on who finds it out

ten years ago you chose your Alpha and their pack in a fateful meeting

now, you must make them choose you

[masterlist & glossary] [read on AO3] [24: escort]

wc: 6.7k

warnings: in-world bigotry, graphic depictions of violence inc. cardiac arrest

recommended listening: ten's solo album is a masterpiece but we've got nightwalker and on ten on repeat for this one

When you’d failed to meet the expectations of your name and station your elder’s favorite punishment had been to send you to the Imperial Tombs to kneel. 

For hours or even days–you never knew how long–the statues of the Amitahba Buddha and his companion bodhisattvas were your only company beside the dead as those surveilling you determined whether or not you’d shown the appropriate level of filial piety. 

Those long gone points of meditation were more welcome than the terrifying visage of a xiezhi rising up behind your judges now, cloud-like flame swirling from its lion-like snout and single horn. 

If myth were to be believed, at any indication of guilt the chimera would simply impale or devour a criminal. You can register a similar threat in the machinery beneath the holographic projection, the cold light of sensors and turrets in its frame. Tapestry-like screens hang on either side, reflecting you and the equally frightening sight of your vital readouts. 

Now you kneel in the center of the arena, a slowly rotating sam-taegeuk beneath you casting the scene in ominous primary colors. Before you the table is set up for the legal arm of the tribunal, the three judges flanked by a small army of advisors and projected screens. 

Your neck is bent, not just from the heavy jewelry adorning your head but the weight of thousands of Syndicate eyes resting on you, countless more if your suspicions that this was being streamed were correct. Outside the Dome, you aren’t spared visibility. 

Thankfully, neither are they.

“Lee ____, third of her name. Lotus Princess, Daughter of Heaven and the East Sea. Only child of Lee Eunji, second of the Samshin, beloved in memory. The one born by the will of All Saints and the stars aligned to be Princess Consort of the last Imperial Dynasty of New Goryeo.”

“You come before us bearing a number of complaints brought against your kin, your mates, and the pack who took you into their protection.”

Protection. You flinch at the word. Your judge clears his throat, eyeing you over his glasses. 

“We will hear your case before that of the accused, and decide on the terms for reconciliation,” the central figure finishes.

Elder Jeong Yunho is only a distant relation to the hound in Halatus, you know, your parent’s generation and the most notable prosecutor in Old Seoul. He's joined by one of the Park elders, a sly looking man you know as Leeteuk, along with that strange Vulpine spokesperson with a flashy suit–the Kim.

“Rise, Lee ____, and swear your vows.”

“Esteemed members of the Imperial houses and Syndicate, thank you for honoring my formal request for a tribunal.”  You curtsy deeply in the spite of the burn in your knees, tail sweeping the illuminated floor. “I welcome your objective review of my case.”

You can feel the approval of your uncle at having remembered your etiquette, though you can’t see him in the booth beyond the table with the blazing lights. You approach the table to lay your hand on the Imperial seal, the touch activating an internal glow. 

“Under the eyes of heaven and by its laws, I swear to tell the truth,” you recite. 

“Please proceed with your testimony,” Leeteuk allows, nodding at you. Your cardiac output scrolls on his screen, an appropriate orange for the fear driving your vision white. You swallow, hands folding before you as you look down again.

“As you know, I entered into a contract with Nyctos as their property, at the initiation of my first heat cycle.”

You glance to your right, finding Taeyong by his profile burnt black by the red pa on the floor, Doyoung illuminated more clearly by the glow of his A/R glasses.

“I thought he was my fated one,” you say, turning back. “We seemed to have made a bond-match immediately.”

“Seemed to?” The Kim finally speaks. 

“Please refrain from speculative language,” Elder Jeong adds. “Did you or did you not bond-match with the Crown Prince? Answer truthfully.” 

The pull of the order is more powerful than you expected; you nod in affirmation.

“Yes. We did. But I believed a trial period was necessary to determine if our pairing would be favorable,” you stammer.

“A trial which we understand has resulted in a successful mating, hence cementing your bond,” Elder Park replies. “Is that not correct?”

You shake your head, ears appropriately submissive. “We bond-matched. We . . . mated. But I requested contraceptive treatment prior to our formal marriage ceremony.”

“Contraceptive treatment when your contract is based upon providing heirs?” The fox Kim speaks again, asking questions on behalf of the audience it seems. “How curious.”

You don’t dare to look up past the curve of his lips and fangs, seeing the comments scroll down his screen, mirrored but legible. 

“–Claimed by five Alphas. At least one of them should have stuck–”

“Can you illuminate the Syndicate as to why you did not proceed with a definite mating to assure your bond?” Park’s voice breaks the spell of reading through the written condemnations.

“I suspected I would be abandoned as unsuitable,” you say. 

That surprises all of them, the three sitting forward. You can hear the murmur of the crowd, now, muffled by the containment field.

“On what grounds would you be found unsuitable?” Elder Jeong asks.

You turn slightly, the head of the haetae above you mirroring the gesture. Taeyong glares at you from the shadows, shaking his head slightly.

“When the Crown Prince refused to mate me and allowed his pack to claim me first,” you say.

“Objection.” Doyoung raises his hand as he steps forward into your purview. “Did you not agree, willingly, to a pack claim?” 

“This is not your cross-examination, cousin.” Elder Kim warns, stylus tapping on the table. “But we will allow this clarification.”

You refuse to acknowledge Doyoung, turning away as you let real anger sweep through you.

He approaches the table, pausing to give you a wide berth before bowing stiffly. “My apologies for interrupting. But I feel I must specify there is no legal requirement in the Princess Consort’s contract for exclusivity nor is there a precedent for which order claims may be taken.”

“Did you agree to this pack claim?” Elder Kim’s voice is mildly aghast, if a little amused.

“Answer truthfully.” Jeong repeats. 

You pause, mouth opening to close again as you simply nod. You feel an instant sense of relief once the command is fulfilled.

“Your written testimony implies but does not state directly that these claims were forced upon you.” Park says, highlighting the text displayed. “Is it not your duty within a pack contract to submit to the will of your superiors?”

You feel yourself bristle, eyes still lowered. “Is it not the responsibility of a pack leader to protect its weakest members from abuse?”

“The Princess Consort will refrain from directing questions at the tribunal,” Jeong rebuts you, sighing heavily. “Let the tribunal recognize that only a contract owner may submit a charge of abuse towards the persons covered by it.”

The meaning is clear–you are just property, after all. 

“It seems this is merely a matter of internal insubordination, then,” Kim laughs. “How delightful.”

“Does the Crown Prince’s counsel wish to submit such a complaint?”

Doyoung stands more stiffly. 

“Formally, no,” he explains. “We are here to address internal insubordination, as you said. The tribunal is necessary due to the Crown Prince’s status, not because we recognize the Princess Consort’s complaint.”

“Hypothetically speaking, if the Princess Consort’s claims were legally recognizable,” Elder Kim asks, “how would you respond to this accusation of so-called abuse?”

Your eyes swim with tears as you brace yourself for whatever silver-tongued answer Doyoung will give them, fists clenching. 

“The Princess Consort refused to accept her mate's orders to stay confined and made certain solicitations,” he says, clearly uncomfortable with being forced to describe the details. “She tried to turn lesser ranks against the Crown Prince. Eventually she submitted when she found that pack loyalty would not grant her desire to overthrow natural authority.”

“What–?” you begin, forgetting yourself. 

“Silence.” 

You crouch, mouth clamped shut. So much for maintaining your composure, you think, face burning. 

“I think it’s clear enough this contract is in dispute because this omega does not know their place.” Elder Kim says, arms crossing. “Dozens of generations of breeding have fallen thus far.”

“Is it the wish of the Crown Prince and Nyctos to forfeit their contract with the Kims on the basis of this insubordination?” Elder Park asks. 

“While we have been disappointed in the Princess Consort’s behavior it hardly warrants contract termination,” Doyoung says. “We believe with adequate training these flaws in character and behavior can be addressed by reasserting pack authority.”  

You shake your head, still silenced.

“Do you wish to say something, little Princess?” 

You’re surprised enough to look up at the other Vulpine, finding his eyes narrowed in a smug but cold smile. 

“The Princess Consort may respond this once,” Jeong says tiredly, waving his hand. “Make your final statement before we dismiss this matter.”

You drop to your knees, desperate. 

“Please masters,” you plead, voice shaking. “I cannot bear to spend another moment in these brute's company. His pack abused me and forced claims upon me. I have suffered indignity at almost all of their hands, with few exceptions.”

You expect them to ignore your request but you are mortified when the Elder Jeong brushes off your earnest request with one word and a waved hand.

“Noted. Will Second Prince Lee Minhyung please approach the tribunal.” 

You turn to look at Mark stride towards the table, hiding his bewilderment under a soldier’s reserve. It was only fair that he'd be confused.

“Second Prince. Your cousin has requested a transfer of the contract to you, as her closest male relative and preferred mate, with the expectation that you will emancipate her upon transfer,” Elder Jeong says. “Should the trials proceed favorably for you, do you accept this responsibility?”

“You’re the only one,” you explain, quietly, relieved when you aren’t stopped from addressing him. “You can end this.”

A thousand words are spoken in the look shared between you, but most of all you can see something like sympathy there–a welcome sight after this useless political theatre. You see realization dawn on him, eyes wide. He looks up at Doyoung, some subtlety in the exchange spurring him to the obvious answer.

“I accept,” Mark says, looking back down at you.

You close your eyes in relief, exhaling shakily. When you open your eyes again his hand is extended towards you, helping you rise once more from the painful position.

“And will the Crown Prince fight to retain your claim upon your mate?”

The question is directed at Taeyong, who’s already quietly joined Doyoung, tail swishing lazily. 

“I have a major investment in her as property, including futures,” he says, turning to look at you with disgust darkening his usually soft features. “While she’s been more than unfavorable in her lack of compliance, no, I will not hand her over without an appropriate response.”

“Then since this is a matter of personal honor, the tribunal recognizes this dispute to fall under traditional methods of arbitration,” Elder Jeong says, slamming the seal down on the table three times.

“The heirs may choose their principals and seconds. As the challenged, the Crown Prince will state his preferences, first.”

Taeyong bows to the tribunal. 

“I elect my enforcer, Suh Youngho, until the time in which I may settle my grievance against him for claiming my mate without my permission.”

You’re shocked by this addition and clearly so is Johnny–you don’t dare look up at him but you don’t miss the hesitation on his part to accept his position beside his leader and Doyoung. 

“Kim Doyoung will act as second and negotiate the terms on our behalf.”

Elder Jeong nods. “Second Prince. The Princess Consort has elected you as her new owner should your claim be recognized. Who do you request represent you?”

Mark looks at you, eyes twitching with uncertainty as your gaze flicks towards the only reasonable candidate. You don't dare speak, knowing full well that it would undermine Taeyong's plan to present your cousin as a capable leader. Thankfully Jaehyun moves to Mark's side unprompted.

“I elect Jeong Yuno as principal,” he says, relaxing. 

“I, Nakamoto Yuta will perform the role of second,” Yuta says, more formal in his speech than you've ever heard.

“That leaves three pack members unaccounted for, with Moon Taeil excused on the basis of his oath of service. Do the heirs wish to elect the two lower ranks to participate on their behalf?”

Mark shakes his head, but you interrupt him, placing a hand on his jacketed arm. “Please, allow me to address a personal grievance.”

Mark’s disappointment is palpable but he nods, following your lead.

“On behalf of the Second Prince,” you say, eyes moving past Jungwoo to your target hanging on the edge of the arena. “I elect Lee Donghyuck to fight on behalf of our honor.” 

Haechan glowers at you, but says nothing, joining Mark. Jungwoo winks at you as he passes towards Taeyong's contingent, full lips curled in delight. 

“Seconds approach the table for the negotiation and arrangement of terms. The Princess Consort will be retained outside the arena for her safety.”

You bow deeply to the table before turning to Mark’s pack members to present them with the same respect. Before you leave you approach your cousin, placing your hand on his chest, where the five-petaled Clan crest pinned to the navy fabric has already been altered to the same bright blue of the flag beneath your feet.

“Thank you,” you say, embracing him with the same conviction you had hours ago, under extremely different circumstances. At first he stiffens, surrendering when he realizes he’s still on stage. 

“You'll do well, for me,” you tell him, hands reaching around him to hold his chest tightly. He relaxes after a few seconds.

“What's even happening right now?” he whispers into the hair between your ears. “Why did you make me–”

“Please, trust me,” you say into his jacket, adding an extra tightness to your hold. “This is for them more than us.”

You stand on your toes to press a kiss to his startled face through the drape of your veil, hands on his shoulders briefly. You don't mistake the way in which he leans forward when you break free, marching away without so much as a glance in the Red direction.

Outside the arena you are directed to the private box behind the judges table already occupied by your uncle and your guards, helped to your seat by the Elder Kim. The fox has shrugged off the formality of the tribunal to return to his natural role as Master of Ceremonies, and you allow him to take your hand even as your skin prickles at the light touch.  

Your box is illuminated softly by neon lights, prisms and starbursts of light dancing around you where they catch in the crystals meticulously sewn into your gold dress and Key's suit. The table is strewn with various drinks and rich bite-sized foods, your stomach wrenching at the sight and smell.

“There. Now you look like a proper prize,” Key says, almost a little mocking for the calculated way he adjusts your veil once you’re both seated, his tail curling against your own as he sits beside you. “Excellent work proving yourself the opposite.” 

“Are you suggesting I don’t wish to be prized?” you ask, demurely hiding your lips in case anyone can read them through the covering. “Perhaps you can advise on how to be more submissive?”

“Me?” he says, pretending to be wounded. “Though you might make an effort to show some concern for your favorites. The drama here will have no small part in determining the outcome. Perhaps you already know who will win?”

You toss your head. “Not a single one of them has proven worthy to earn my favor.”

“Careful pet,” Tenth Prince interrupts, moving closer on the long booth’s plush seating. “Your negligence towards your mates is not, under any circumstances, a point of pride.” 

“Yes, uncle,” you say with a bow of your head.

You sit back as you listen to the conversations around you. Some of the voices are distinctly familiar, court attendees and Syndicate relations alike, all discussing odds of the mis-matched group inside the arena. Screens on the tables display the individual roster as well as points averages. 

They may as well be written in a foreign language for all you understand. 

“Can you make any sense of the betting?” you lean over to ask Yangyang, watching his ears turn naturally towards yours near the box entrance. He’s more than excited to crouch down next to you to explain, Renjun joining him with an attitude of annoyance.

“See here? Anything involving Suh is getting swept into a parlay. They assume he'll win every match.”

Renjun huffs across from him. “If he has to fight the Crown Prince, there’s no way.” 

“You seem so sure,” you say. 

“Clearly you've never seen your cousin in battle,” Tenth Prince says. “My dear, have you no sense of decorum? Omegas should be seen, not heard.”

“Apologies,” you say with a dip of your head. “I'm merely nervous.”

You receive another look of warning before he returns to speaking to the blond man that's slipped into the booth beside him–one of a handful of guards dressed impeccably with the Lee Imperial plum blossom on their lapel.

There's no indication that your uncle is agitated but you can sense something is off, fighting to keep your ears from swiveling back and forth as you listen for snippets of that particular conversation, pretending to watch the judges retreat from the floor to their own seats past the barrier. 

“That's my cue,” Key says, flicking your ear with his claw upon standing. “Enjoy the bloodshed, my dear.”

There's a muffled wave of applause as the lights adjust once more, the Master spot-lit as he descends to receive the tablet of rankings and details. 

“Fascinating,” you hear him say before he looks up to address the crowd, voice amplified for the entire room. 

“Welcome honored members of the Imperial Houses and esteemed guests and patrons of our Syndicate. Tonight we present a once in a lifetime event, a demonstration of Alpha justice not seen since the Exodus trials of ‘02. Tonight a pack divides over a mutual claim, their prize the contract ownership of Heavenly Lotus Princess Lee ____, Daughter of the Eastern Sea." 

He gestures to the far side of the arena, one of the lower boxes crowded with familiar Syndicate heads. 

“On the one side, our accused and challenged–Crown Prince Lee Taeyong, son of the last would-be Imperator, first of his name. He petitioned the Kim clan for ownership of his cousin in the name of preserving their clan line, and yet within a few weeks has been sued for breach of contract by the Princess herself in a submission of formal complaint to the Syndicate’s board, witnessed by our ranks.”

“How do you plead, your highness?” 

“By Heaven's design, my honor will be preserved,” Taeyong announces, tail curling as he salutes and then bows, in your direction. “I will win my claim.”

You're surprised to hear applause, a few cheers erupting from the wings across the room. 

“Our most popular choice of course, as pack leader and the Lee clan’s worthy Elder. But we have a challenger and champion of our Princess's virtue to fight in her stead tonight, son of our beloved Reverend Mother and the People's Princess, Third of the Samshin, Lee Eunchae and her consort the Fourth Tiger Prince–name not to be spoken.”

“Second Prince Lee Minhyung–your mothers shared a womb–is that what motivates you to defend your closest relation, or do you seek to take what is rightfully your Elder's and claim your Alpha's mate for yourself?”

The provocation is felt within the room, murmurs accompanying a close-in on Mark's face on the screens. 

“I'm here to defend the Princess. That's it,” he says, not bothering to bow. “She asked to be freed and I'll do my best to honor her request.”

There's less of a positive response to this announcement, disapproval like a dark cloud settling over the arena. Beside you Renjun makes a sound of affirmation, hiding his grin immediately beneath grim seriousness.

“Befitting the son of a so-called liberator and champion of omega rights. Well then, shall we proceed to the order of duels?”

The Master of Ceremonies continues to break down the code duello, all of which were bitterly familiar to you from the Academy. In the absence of anything resembling a body of justice to address the constant infighting amongst the Alpha progeny of the clancorps the honorable method for resolving conflicts was through combat. 

“Any insult to an omega under an Alpha’s care or protection to be considered as, by one degree, a greater offense than if given to the Alpha personally, and to be regulated accordingly.”

“Offenses originating or accruing from the support of omegas' reputations, to be considered as less unjustifiable than any others of the same class, and as admitting of slighter apologies by the aggressor: this to be determined by the circumstances of the case, but always favorable to the omega.”

You watch the screen manifest the series of trials, heart sinking at the sight of the names and portraits listed against one another in opposing blue and red, the choice of weaponry and terms bookended by positive and negative numbers you can only imagine are related to the odds. 

Seo Youngho, with a negative score of at least a 100 beyond the other ranks, is pitted against the pack in multiple confrontations. But the one that twists your stomach the most to see is his latestage match against Mark's principal. 

Jeong Yuno barely affords a ranking. 

“Parlays will close within the next five minutes but action bets will be accepted throughout the event. Please continue to submit those wagers and participate in the voting for our environmental controls and hazards as so generously provided by our board and sponsors. May the punishment match the crime!”

“Environmental hazards?” You hear Yangyang ask, drawing your attention. 

“Don’t they have those at the Zoo?” Renjun sighs, giving you a sidelong glance. “He and Zhong live in District Four when they’re off-duty.”

The home of unofficial, underground Alpha matches for Beta entertainment, you know from media rather than experience. 

“It's all fake. For show,” Yangyang assures you. “Not like here. Real death matches are outlawed.”

“It’s not always death matches, here,” Renjun adds. “Just . . . most of the time.”

“If the Syndicate sentences you to death, this is the most honorable way to die,” you say quietly. 

A fate you wouldn't wish on anyone.

“Is that why you claimed a fatal offense?” Tenth Prince's voice is bitter, but you can hear his veiled smile beneath his fan. “An honorable death?”

“I did,” you nod, feeling Renjun and Yangyang’s actual shock at the news. “Against my first claim and true bonded. The man who scarred me and took my innocence.”

“Who?” Renjun asks, quietly. 

You don't answer. 

“Child, you certainly never took any of my advice not to play with fire lest you be burned.” Your uncle sighs. “What a waste of a perfectly fine specimen.”

You're not sure which of the two Alphas slated for a death match he means, but you suspect the words are more for the Felid blinking against the lights to try and find your face in the crowd, his own expression unreadable. 

Your heart clenches in your chest as you turn away, unable to meet Johnny's eyes even at this distance.

“Prepare yourself to give him a proper send-off when the time comes. We wouldn't want anyone to doubt your conviction in accusing bonded mates of such grave offenses.” Tenth says, placing a clawed hand over your own.

You hear the warning spoken plainly: you had to present as innocent or earn the enmity of the other Syndicate Alphas. Omegas executing their claims was unheard of, a precedent much more dangerous than one of your kind seeking emancipation. 

No, their sympathies would never lie with you. But tonight had never really been about what you wanted.

“I do suppose eliminating Suh will resolve the rumors of whether or not Nyctos is led by a foreign-born mongrel rather than your own blood.” Tenth's head of security hasn't spoken until now, voice calm and quiet, but he sounds as bored as your uncle at the spectacle. You fight to keep from reacting, narrowing your eyes at his handsome face. 

He smiles at you widely, almost shyly. 

“That will be quite enough, Sicheng.” The Prince admonishes him. “Do not imply that our clan can not maintain dominance over its own servants.” 

Renjun bristles visibly, eyes darting between the three of you, as if seeing you in a new light. 

You can sense the new discomfort of your guards, themselves under the command of said mongrel, now fully aware he's been gravely accused. But this isn't the time or place to explain, not with the beginning of the trials. 

“We will now commence the first duel,” Master Key announces, spot-lit from below, along with two others.  “May the strongest beast survive.”

“I'm trusting that you three actually have a plan besides my execution,” Johnny says with typical gallows humor, hanging over the wall separating the weapons racks and waiting area to try and make out the stats on-screen. 

It’s hard to read if only because there’s a montage just as eye-catchingly bombastic as the Lottery ads played street side, for the first time in history introducing their pack. Whatever media production crew they had operating this event was well-read on Nyctos history, accomplishments and training, as well as family backgrounds by several generations. 

Of course they’d still gotten his background wrong–just like Yuta’s–his origin somehow now the Western Free States instead of a Midwest Combined Operational Group enclave south of the Occupied Great Lakes. He’s not surprised considering NUSA didn’t register as much more than a lawless wasteland after the Fifth Corporate war.

“We’re playing it by ear just as much as you suspect,” Doyoung says. “I tried to match rank and ability as closely as possible.”

“By fighting Yuta?” Jungwoo asks, smirking as he leans against the wall. “Good luck.” 

“I'll ignore the implication that I might lose,” Doyoung snaps back. 

“You must think I would have if you put me against Haechan.” Jungwoo huffs.

“Yes,” Johnny says, turning to meet him levelly, as equally matched as they are in height. “You are going to minimize harm in your fight and accept your punishment. The next time you hesitate to deal directly with a threat against a lower rank you won't be facing them. You'll be fighting me.” 

Jungwoo swallows, mouth twisted in a wry smile as he turns away to join Taeyong on the side of the field, where a small crowd of Syndicate-approved media spokespeople are interviewing the pack leader. 

“Was this her idea?” he asks, looking up again through the haze of the containment field at that bright spot, your profile visible behind delicately embroidered organza as you nod at something Tenth Prince says. 

Doyoung squints, looking around with the implication that nothing is private here. Even so Johnny senses a shift in his aura, less anxious and more approving, as if the Lepid is experiencing a sudden surge of pride. 

“Her testimony is entirely her own. She understood what the stakes were more clearly than even I had anticipated.”

“What is her goal, exactly?” 

“She truly just wants her freedom,” Doyoung answers with a soft exhale. “By any means necessary.”

Any means. It nags at him deeply, after everything, that your aim would be so simple: mated and bonded Alphas forced to eliminate one another over an accusation of pack disunity. There was a certain poetry in it, in the sense that you'd accounted for every wrong, not-withstanding your own. 

I want us to live. 

He has a choice. Believe what you'd said in private, in the dark, in the moments when the stakes were truly never higher. Or believe you now, with your doublespeak and carefully-constructed artifice. 

No, he thinks. He's lived with Taeyong too long to ever believe royal lies. This had to be the natural conclusion of whatever Imperial scheme had started before you even fell back into their hands. A long, circumnavigating path back to zero. 

He watches Yuta lean into Haechan's ear, instructions given to him. Here in the open stage he looks younger than ever, shoulders hunched with hidden tension, sharp eyes scanning the crowds past the lights. 

“The first of many of tonight's little squabbles, between our lowest-ranked. According to the Princess Consort there is a private grievance to be settled here, would our combatants wish to make a statement?” 

Key's nod is to Jungwoo, deferring to him as first-ranked and the challenged faction. The young Alpha stands tall, clearly in his element, his preferred weapon of a nightstick now tapping against his shoulder in a familiar beat. 

“I submit my performance as testament to the honor of my clan and pack, and hope our Princess Consort accepts my apology in advance for my victory,” the younger Kim states. “Would my lady bestow me with a token of her affection? For luck?” 

The theatrics are generously received, an attempt made to focus on you in the stands finds you shaking your head, ears back. 

“Clearly you have yet to earn your Princess's regard. Oh well, not unexpected for a mutt,” Key laments, earning the laughter of the crowd. “Does her Highness bestow a favor upon her preferred champion?” 

Johnny can't help but tense, seeing you turn your focus on the other Alpha. Haechan's posture is abnormally stiff as you produce something from your sleeve. You flash the illustration on the fan's paper before snapping it closed in an elegant fashion, tossing it through the containment field. 

It passes through without any register of the security, landing on the stage. Key retrieves the small offering when Haechan makes no effort to take it, flourishing it with a gesture upon standing up, long white-and-silver tail balancing the line of his body. 

“Such a sweet token–do I detect a lover's quarrel between you by the sincerity of this gesture met so cruelly?” He gently waves the fan towards his target, letting the Valentine's day colors of the dianthus illustration be seen by all. 

Rather than answer Haechan snatches it closed, awkwardly tucking it into his pocket. 

“Let's get this over with,” he says, brandishing the yellow-marked electric baton he's chosen. 

“Not too hasty, not too hasty,” Key says but the traditional drum beats cascade over the room, lights dimming as the softly illuminated forms of the two men move quietly and slowly around each other, sparks snapping from the active rods of their nightsticks.

It's clear within moments who will have the advantage as the two Alphas circle one another on the glowing field, the floor shifting as applause and cheers take over, almost masking the sound of rushing water that erupts from a moat falling around the central ring. 

“We've of course added our own hazards here, but let's explain the rules. No fatalities are allowed with the exception of incidental and accidental. Stun levels have been set to disable only. Leaving the fight area past the moat will be considered an automatic forfeit. May the Heavens provide justice, and may the punishment match the crime.” 

A tense quiet settles over the combat zone. It's more than a little surreal for him to witness the two like this–after countless trainings and similar play fights. The two Canids may be unequal in size but Haechan is faster, more aggressive when cornered.

Jungwoo makes no attempt to break his defense, lazily feinting when the other comes too close. Even dimly lit he can see the smile breaking on the Canid’s face, a fear response. The scent suppression here can’t hide the flare of Alpha pheromones, just as sharp as the burnt air smell of electricity.

“Get him in the water,” Doyoung mutters beside him.

Johnny growls instinctively, startling his partner.

“I mean disable the weapon,” he adds.

“I got that.” Johnny moves closer, sniffing at the moat's pure water. No surprise chemicals in that mix, at least. 

“They’ll want blood,” he says. 

Jungwoo lashes out, finally, quick arcs that miss Haechan's duck and weave away. Jungwoo has to step back quickly when Haechan counterattacks, almost tipping a foot past the breach and stumbling forward away from the edge. 

Haechan pounces on the opening, thrusting out with the yellow nightstick.

The crackle of electricity is echoed in a collective gasp as Jungwoo takes a knee, immediately set on from behind with the thin metal rod against his long neck, Haechan dodging careless swipes backwards to pull tighter against his throat. 

“Yield,” Haechan growls. Johnny realizes how close to jimseung the youngest already is. That sentiment is matched by the swipe of Jungwoo’s claws across the back of Haechan’s wrist, forearm torn to the sinew as Jungwoo takes advantage of the opening to smash his head backwards into the younger’s face.

Haechan yelps, dropping his weapon as blood gushes from his broken nose. His bloodied fingers slip on the handle of his stun baton as Jungwoo kicks it away lightly, the spin of the handle catching on the moat’s edge a few yards away. 

“Oh, did you need that?” Jungwoo taunts, shaking himself loose on the rise up. “Don’t you have fur under that skin? C’mon, show me your teeth.”

“Bastard,” Haechan spits out a gob of congealing blood from beneath the steady flow, favoring his right arm. 

“All's fair in love and war,” Jungwoo taunts. He switches his baton between hands as he circles the younger, taking his time. Haechan sweeps a kick to upend him but it’s easily avoided. He tries to seize the grounded end of Jungwoo’s baton next, earning a low-level stun that has the jackal seizing and twitching on the floor. 

“Would you really do anything to protect her? Or are you losing so you can keep her all to yourself?” Jungwoo asks, watching patiently for his victim to recover.

“Shut up!” Haechan roars, rising up from the floor to roll the taller man down, defending against a stun with his claws embedded in Jungwoo’s shoulders and neck. The fight on the floor lasts only as long as it takes for Jungwoo to smash his forehead against the other’s face, again, Haechan letting out a gurgling snarl as he lets go–twisting away before the baton can smash down on his shoulder. 

Sparks skitter across the floor, arcing across the flickering portion of the broken screen. 

Jungwoo laughs even as blood oozes between fingers clamped to his neck, snapping the telescopic end of the baton open again with a spray of red. There’s a sinister quality to the way he’s taunting the younger, more like a cat with its prey. 

Na’s influence, Johnny thinks, holding back the order he wants to shout at his subordinate. Even if he had a right to under the circumstances, Jungwoo was taking the act too far.

“Always pretending to be a little puppy nipping at our heels. Did it feel good to get to rut her first?” Jungwoo's sing-song voice is the only sound in the room besides Haechan's wet coughs and frustrated grunts as he tries to pick himself up.

Jungwoo's claws embed in the younger man's scruff, pulling him up, fielding off the weak blows from his left hand and the attempts to kick his legs out from under him. It's clear from the boy's pallor he's lost more blood than expected. 

“Fight back,” Doyoung whispers. Johnny breathes, finally, realizing the air has left his lungs minutes ago. 

“Fight back, kid,” he murmurs. 

“Did you tell her you loved her? Or did you take what you could get and run away with your tail tucked between your legs?” 

“I’ll kill you,” Haechan whines pitifully, pummeling Jungwoo’s wiry arm as he’s dragged towards the edge.  

“Do you think you have it in you?” 

Jungwoo doesn’t go for the final blow immediately, waiting until Haechan has been released and made it to his knee to push forward with a direct attack to the chest, just a tap but reinforced by the full unload of the stun. 

Haechan tips back, paralyzed, crashing into the waters as the crowd erupts violently with a mix of cheers and boos.

“Did you plan that?” Johnny asks, icy rage in his tone.

Doyoung shakes his head, swiping a hand over his face. “No.”

You haven’t even realized you were standing, horror and pain blotting out any thought in your head–to the point you don’t even realize you’re being addressed.

“What's the verdict?” Jungwoo looks up at you, drenched in gore, his clawed thumb held horizontally from his closed fist. The crowd erupts, chants alternating between the desire to drown or electrocute the loser while messages and emotes flash across the privacy screens of the upper booths.

You watch the Canid move at his leisure around the field, even taking the time to dip his bloodied arm in the water to cleanse it. 

“Such a young life, and a fellow Lee,” Key says with faux concern. “Would you really see this child consigned to death?” 

There's a weighted pause as you regard the scene, as you lift your head and wipe your tears away. You lift your own hand in answer, thumb held upright in a mirrored gesture to the one before, shaking in the spotlight. 

“I would have mer–” your words are cut clean by a horrible sound, Haechan's yell more howl as he finally pitches forward from the water, a yellow rod between his teeth. Jungwoo can only brace himself so much with the impact to his gut, pitched into the void beside him. 

He has a moment to surface, scrabbling for the edge–

“NO!” you shout.

“No mercy,” Haechan repeats the crowd's line, activating the device and pitching it into the water below his feet. 

Screams erupt in the sudden darkness and the spider-webbed fingers of lightning reaching halfway around the dark pool, the central light extinguished with a horrible snap and a flicker. 

By the ringing in your ears you’re sure the scream was from you, hands grasping at you as you take advantage of the darkness and chaos to run.

Anguished murmurs follow, medics rushing in to the arena as the overhead lights illuminate the stage, water bleeding away from the rising floor. 

What little of the screen still working is darkened by the arterial blood pooling around the figure who’s collapsed in the middle of it. Haechan holds his dripping head in his hands, healing slowly.

You make it to the edge of the arena, held back by Imperial guards as you reach for the body being pulled from the receding water by uniformed medics, shirt torn open to place electrodes on his unmoving chest.

“No,” you weep. “Please. Why?”

The defibrillation is heard throughout the room, beeps and shocks repeating until Jungwoo arcs upwards with the kick, twitching back to life with a matching signal from the monitors strapped to him. 

You're finally able to wrest out of your captor's hold, falling ungracefully at the Alpha's side as his mouth is cleared of blood-tinged phlegm, unconsciously reaching to clear the damp hair from his forehead.

“Why?!” you repeat, louder. 

It was supposed to be me, you think.

“You did this,” Haechan says, bitterly. The damage to his face is severe, both eyes blackened, claw marks leaking rivulets of red. 

“You didn't have to–you didn't have to kill him!” Your sobs are amplified over the same frequency, keening along with the breaths rasping out of Jungwoo as he slips back into unconsciousness.

“YOU MADE ME!” Haechan shouts at you, making the whole room go still. 

The Canid weakly pulls your token from its place in his saturated clothing, tossing it back on the ground to smear in the blood-dyed water. His eyes find you, finally, hollowed of everything human.

“I challenge you, next,” he says.

[previous] [next] [check the masterlist before you proceed]

#agtbtb #nct 127 fic #nct x reader #nct fic #nct 127 fanfic #nct imagines #nct 127 cyberpunk au #nct omegaverse au #nct fanfic

[vad-hander]

LET’S KEEP IT SECRET

pairing: Yuta x reader

others: Jaehyun as y/n’s best friend, SM Rookies

genre: series | idol!au | smut | angst | fluff

warnings: smut! (read if you're 18+ only), idol!nct, idol!y/n, from SM Rookies till today, readers mom is degrading, love triangle

words: 14k

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3

-

Why did life feel so overwhelming? Why did it feel like you were stepping on your own throat when you were just trying to chase after you dreams? 

Why were you avoiding contact with outer world for the past three days if what you were doing was for your own good? Why were you hiding in your room and chocking on your tears instead of spending your last minutes with the people that became your family?

”You should only do what’s best for you.” Your mom stated plainly, placing chopsticks in front of you. 

”Is it best for you to move there?” your dad asked softly.

”Maybe?” you looked up to the ceiling with a spoon in your mouth.

”It is. As long as they’re going to put money on your bank account and give you success they are much better than that company that left you caged in.” 

”SME is still probably the best out there.” You sighed.

”If they did not put you into that group, they are most definitely are blind for talent. What was the name of the group? L-red? Whatever it is, even the name is tasteless.” you paused, glitching with your mouth open as the chopsticks were about to deliver food on your tongue. What-, was your mom blaming the company? Was she not eating your brains out for not being enough- ”What are you staring at? Eat! Eat!” She hurried you suddenly, making you choke on sprouted beans.

”Did you hear that?” You whispered, following the figure of your mom with eyes. ”She tried to… cheer me up?” You squeezed your face in confusion.

”We’ll always be on your side, child. Now eat, you’ll need a lot of strength to show your best in the new place.” You nodded, wishing you could just give up the feelings inside you.

The moment you stepped out of the meeting room all the confidence faded and it became harder to walk, to breathe even. You got back to your room in dead silence as the SME employee dropped you off in front of the dorm and haven’t gotten out since, unless it wasn’t for the bathroom or the fridge or the lunch to tell your parents the news. 

It was hard to come out and look at the people you were about to abandon. It was difficult thinking of the unknown that was on your path as soon as you left the comfort of the company, the dorm that became your home. Were you selfish? Is the wish to be famous even pure? Were you just dying to be on stage because singing is your dream? Were you just an egoist and next steps would be walking over people just because you wanted to reach something else? 

A single thought of Yuta hurt your insides. He’s going to be pissed, he’s going to scream and probably will not talk to you ever again and to be fair, you’d probably do the same. You felt anxious because you knew there was no reason for him to happily accept the news, to let you go and wave as you exited the dorm and a huge part of his life. What would it be like to not have the safe space where you could see each other whenever? What would it be like to have to put in real effort to make it possible to see each other? The thoughts were just giving you anxiety, you were anxious before, when the word of NCT debut spread, but that feeling in the past was nothing in comparison to what you were feeling now.

You knew Jaehyun would at least try to understand, it is so him to try and put in effort to make everything better. You gulped and sat up. He would put in so much effort to make you feel better even now and you could feel it with your whole being, he had that utter believe in you and it would help him understand where you were coming from. He’s probably going to be upset and hurt but he’ll take the news because he’s the soft-hearted boy you love dearly and he would never want anything less than the best for you. 

Koeun would just cry, you knew that and knew that you would cry too so it’s probably the easiest to tell her. You almost jumped up to go and find her but you couldn’t. You couldn’t risk saying it all to anyone because saying it would make it real.

You knew that it was pretty real, there was an article prepared by the management already to announce your parting from SME activities starting Monday after you signed the contract and you could only wonder when will someone at the dorm see the article, you wanted them not to at all, but it was kind of inevitable to get attention from everyone at the company at least. You almost hit your head on the wall, realising that every one of your friends would understand everything even before the article, when you’ll move out.

Your phone made a sound that made your insides flip. Getting notifications became a disturbing thing, living a cave life. 

from: Jaehyun. 

“i have a very important question.”

to: Jaehyun

“go ahead”

from: Jaehyun

“are we still getting drunk on your birthday?” 

to: Jaehyun

“yeah.” 

“trying to back off?” 

from: Jaehyun

“you were silent I got confused” 

“tbh I wonder what to buy”

to: Jaehyun

“ask Yuta?” 

from: Jaehyun

“he’ll ask why I’m asking and would want to come too” you smirked.

to: Jaehyun 

“I won’t mind” 

from: Jaehyun. 

“I thought it’s just you and me.” 

It took less than a moment for a message to follow up. 

“I mean, if you want other people then that’s cool.” 

to: Jaehyun

“No, you’re right. Just you and me.”

“Just get sojus and beers.”

”And you should buy a lot, I’m sure I have great alcohol tolerance kkk”

“I want to be real drunk”

”Like real-real.” To tell you, that I’m not going to be here anymore, you swallowed. 

from: Jaehyun

“is everything okay?” 

to: Jaehyun 

“yuuup.”

“It’s our first time drinking!!!”

“we’re going to a safe place, I trust you. I want to have fuuuun”

from: Jaehyun

“no twister then…?:(“ you laughed at the message

to: Jaehyun

“oh”

“if you’re not scared to break your skinny legs then why not kkkkkk”

You stared at the phone for a while, but Jaehyun seemed to be off the chat already, putting your phone away too. 

What exactly did your plans for the future sound like? Not the future future, but at least a couple of days before you’re leaving? 

Well, they were vey unclear to you. One thing was set for sure - on Friday you’re signing all the official papers, right after you turned of age. 

Your breath hitched when you realised. 

“My parents.” you mumbled and looked at your phone to see what time it was. Not that late to give that JYPE woman a call, you reckoned and ran up to the jacket you wore on the day of meeting, fishing a card out of your pocket. 

“Lee Soonhyuk, I’m listening.” she picked up the phone quicker than you built up courage, her voice already was filling the line as your brain was coming up with words to say. 

“Mrs. Lee Soonhyuk, it’s Y/n, we met at SME.” you gulped. 

“Oh, Y/n! How are you doing? Nice hearing from you, I hope you’re not calling me to say you’ve changed your mind.”

“No, no.  Mrs. Lee, I wanted to ask you questions, and you’ve told me to call you if I have anything to ask. Actually….” you realised that maybe you should’ve not taken her words literally “maybe you could give me your colleagues contacts, I could ask them.”

“No, no, no. Y/n, darling, you could ask me, it’s fine. We’re going to work together, I have to make sure you understand perfectly how the work flows at JYPE.” You nodded and then realised that she wouldn’t know if you did so or not. ”Go ahead, you can ask.” She broke off the silence that suddenly hung between you.

“Right, do I need my parents with me at the signing this Friday?” 

“How old are you, again?”

“I’m 18 this Wednesday.” 

“No, you’re legally okay to sign these papers yourself, but if you want to, they’re more than welcome to support you through the journey.”

“I… okay, thank you.” 

“For sure. Anything else?”

“Yes. Can I move to JYPE dorms this Friday?”

“Can I ask if everything is okay between you and your friends?”

“Yes, yes. I just hoped I could start adjusting to my new home quickly.” 

“Oh… oh… sure, if that’s what you want I’ll happily arrange everything.”

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for calling! And have a great birthday! See you on Friday.” 

“Yes, Mrs. Lee, thank you, goodbye.”

-

“Koeun?” you called out when three knocks on your door disturbed the silence. There was no response, just three more knocks that kind of made you mad. “Yes?” you called out once again and finally stood up. “What is it?” you sighed and opened the door. “Oh…”

“Happy birthday to you!” A loud group sang in front of your door. 

“Wha-, what are you all doing.” you smiled shocked, suddenly feeling like you could cry right this very moment. You were trying to abandon these people, pack your bags and runaway without a notice and they were in front of your door singing a happy birthday and caring for you. You hid your mouth in your palms staring at each of your friends.

“Blow the candle!” Jaehyun exclaimed and you finally focused your eyes on his face. Your best friend held the cake, smiling all too widely showing off to you his dimples. You smiled too, finally, holding your palms under your chin to make a wish. 

“Make it a good one.” Yuta’s voice stroke through your body right into your heart. You grinned widely noticing the boy you were missing terribly due to your recent life decisions. 

“I will.” you nodded and closed your eyes before you could blow out the candles. 

“Hey.” Yuta called out for you after the hugs and birthday wishes from all your friends were finally given and wished, as you stood in the corner of your room with Jaehyun glued to your side by wrapping his hand over your shoulders. You were trying to discuss quietly the plans for your secret party while others were too preoccupied to share the cake equally. “Can you help me?” he walked up to you two closer, running his eyes visibly over your hand that was entwined over Jaehyun’s waist. 

“Yeah? How?” 

“We need plates for the cake, can you show me where you keep ‘em?”

“Yes, sure.” you smiled at Yuta and untangled yourself from Jaehyun, leading the way to the kitchen. “We keep th- Ugh, ouch.” you cried out and ran your hand over your mouth immediately. “What are you doing?” you giggled, wrapping your hands over Yuta’s neck, as he turned you around to face him. 

“I wanted to wish my beautiful girl a very happy birthday.”

“You already did.” you teased. 

“I did, but it’s not everything I wanted to do.” he walked you slowly backwards over to the countertops.

“Yeah? What else is there?” you couldn’t stop smiling even for a second with the way Yuta’s eyes burned holes into yours. You licked your lips as your back hit the countertops. 

“A lot was planned, but since we’re short on time…” Yuta placed his hands on the back of your thighs, helping you to jump onto the flat surface. 

“This is… new.” you chuckled, as he pulled your body closer to the edge, forcing you to allow him stand between your legs. 

“There’s a lot of things that are going to be new to you in the nearest time.” he chuckled and made your heart miss a few beats. He didn’t even know how right he was about it. “I’ve got something for you.” 

“You do?”

“Yes.” he reached out to his back pocket and showed a fist in front of your face. You caressed the skin of his fingers with yours and he opened them up. 

“Are we getting married?” you joked before you could think, you didn’t mean to be mean towards Yuta’s gift. 

“No, but these have your birthday and mine engraved.” you grabbed the ring and did see it for yourself, there was a heart engraved on the outer side of it as well. 

“This… must’ve cost a whole lot.” 

“It wouldn’t matter even if it did.” 

“Yuta.” you sighed and placed the rings back into Yuta’s palm. Your eyes met his and you got emotional. 

“This is getting heavy…” he paused “I’m into you, I hope you know that, but the job is getting heavy on me, not letting me see you, be with you, take you on open dates, kiss you when I want to, tell the whole wide world I’m in love with the most talented, beautiful, outstanding girl in the world. I know these rings won’t help much to stop missing you when we’re not together, but… just by looking at it I’ll remember I have you during hard times… Will know that I have someone to hold and love, and I want you to feel the same way when you’re having a hard time, or if you just miss me suddenly. This,” he held the ring with his birthday engraved between his fingers, putting it onto your finger. “goes onto your finger, and this one, is supposed to go on mine, but…”

“But…?” you asked still smiling.

“But to not draw attention, will go onto my neck.” he reached out to the chain he wore and made the ring go through it and put the chain back on his neck. 

You reached out to play with the ring hanging over his chest, before you hid it under the shirt, reaching out to caress Yuta’s cheek and then leaning in more to kiss his lips softly. 

“I really-really do love you.” you mumbled into his lips. 

“I love you too.” Yuta’s hands held your head, pulling you a little back. “Let’s spend some time alone.” you nodded excitedly. You would spend all the time you had alone with Yuta, he didn’t need to ask. “Tonight? Or tomorrow night?”

“Oh, no…” 

“Mmh?” Yuta pecked your jaw and made you shiver. 

“I can’t tomorrow.” 

“Something exciting?” 

“No…” you shook your head. “Just agreed to hang out with Jaehyun earlier.” 

“Will I ever be the first one to ask you to hang out?” 

“Mmm… no?” you squinted your eyes. “He seems to always be one step quicker.” you teased, Yuta moved his palm onto your jaw, squeezing it between his fingers. 

“You’re mine anyway even if he’s 10 steps quicker with invitations” he tried to sound serious but his eyes gave him away. Yuta pulled your face closer to his, peppering kisses all over your face all of a sudden. 

“Yuta.” you cried out for mercy, holding onto his wrist as he didn’t leave a single inch of your face, finally being done with it and moving his lips onto your neck, to hide his face in the crook of it, holding your body tightly with his hands. 

The sudden silence dropped over the room, you ran your hands over Yuta’s back a couple of times, finally setting them over his nape. 

“I really want you to stay when everyone leaves.”

“Why?” he raised his head a little to see your face. 

“To… I don’t know, maybe just do the same thing but horizontally.” 

“Okay.” he chuckled, and bent his neck weirdly to be able to kiss you. You quickly kissed him back, pressing onto his body with yours. Your fingers ran over his nape soothingly, while you asked for permission to enter his mouth with your tongue. You haven’t kissed Yuta for so long, you haven’t touched or seen him at all for so long you were not able to possibly detach yourself from his body. 

Of course, if only the situation didn’t ask for it. The little screech your door always made was inevitable for you to miss, and even though just a moment before the sound flooded your mind Yuta rocked his hips into yours and turned you into a flooded pool, your hands were quick to push him off and your feet were even quicker to jump off that countertop. 

“Shit!” you exclaimed, hitting your foot as you jumped off on one of the handles. 

“Are you okay?” Yuta squatted in front of your seated body, reaching out to your cheek. 

“Are you guys okay?” Jaehyun asked concerned and Yuta moved his hand away. 

“I hit my toe!” you cried out.

“H… how?” he asked confused. 

“This stupid door, ouch.” 

“I’m at a loss of words.” Jaehyun smiled a little. “I could not possibly imagine hitting your toe on the door handle of a cupboard.”

“What do you want?” you hissed. 

“Plates, people are starving in your room.” Jaehyun’s eyes ran over the kitchen. “Where are they? I thought you went to get them.” 

“Yes.” you sighed, still holding on to the toe you hit. “Yuta, they’re in the cupboard on the left.” 

“Okay.” the boy stood up to finally get the plates. 

Jaehyun watched you sit on the floor and when his eyes focused too much on your probably way too swollen lips, you reached out a hand to him, and his eyes moved to it.

“Please, help.” you whined and reached out your other hand too, so Jaehyun could pull you into the standing position. “Thanks.” you pecked his cheek as the pulling motion he made forced you too close to him. 

“I’m taking these back to the room.” Yuta shoved the plates between you two. 

”Okay.” You nodded. 

“Did you cry?”

“Mmh?” You asked confused.

“You’re flushed like you cried or something.”  

“No.” You quickly replied, slowing down with your words to not seem weird. “Blood rushed to my face after I hit my toe.“

“Okay.” he chuckled. 

“Do you plan on staying for long?” you asked hesitantly as you two walked back to the room. 

“Me?”

“Everyone else.” 

“Do you-, I mean, should I tell everyone to go?” 

“Yes, please… I’m a little tired.” 

“Okay, I’ll tell everyone to go.” 

“Thank you.” you raised your head to take a look at him, caught with Jaehyun’s stare as he was already looking at you.  

“Of course.” his hand ruffled your hair, before opening the door. 

-

“I think, we should head back.” Jaehyun stretched out his arms, acting tired not much later after the two of you returned. 

“Yeah, you’re right, I have school tomorrow.” Mark put the plate on the floor. 

“Me too.” Koeun jumped up next to the boy.

“Let’s call it a night then.” you pursed your lips, catching a glimpse of Yuta. He sat in the corner quietly, not attracting anyones attention. You wondered if it really would work out like that, moving your gaze from him to not give him away. 

“You know… I thought…”

“Mmh?” you raised eyebrows at Jaehyun attentively. The others were leaving your room but Jaehyun was slow and almost teasing with the time he took to leave. 

“I wanted to make your birthday special. Can we have the whole day tomorrow together? Like a birthday breakfast, then we could do something fun and have our little party afterwards? What you think?” Jaehyun bit onto his lower lip while expecting the answer. You smiled at him softly, he couldn’t look any cuter than that. 

“Do you not have schedules and other things?”

“I really don’t.”

“Let’s see in the morning, parents probably will call me.”

“Okay.” he nodded and sat a little away from you. “Ugh, Yuta?” you almost swore loudly in distress. “Is he asleep? He sleeps with his eyes open sometimes.” Jaehyun looked at you confused.

“I don’t know… should we just let him be?” Jaehyun chuckled at you. 

“Yuta?” The boy called his friend, calling his name once again when Yuta didn’t react. 

“Yes?”

“Let’s go, the party’s over.” Jaehyun stood up and looked at you as a goodbye. 

“Go ahead, I’m catching up.”

“I’ll wait, it’s fine.” Jaehyun walked to the door and turned around to face both of you. “We’re going to the same floor anyway.” he looked attentively at you. 

“I was actually planning to go to a convenience store.” Yuta stretched out his body nonchalantly.

“At this hour?” you held back to not make a joke about Jaehyun’s nerd antics. 

“Yes, I’m craving a lemonade.” Yuta shrugged and walked up to Jaehyun. You watched the figure of the older guy pass you quickly confused. He must’ve gotten an idea on how to trick Jaehyun out of your room. “Want to go with me?” Yuta turned around to look at you, ignoring Jaehyun’s presence in a weird attempt to hurt him, probably. 

“She’s tired.” Jaehyun stated sounding tired himself. “And asked me to make everyone go.”

“Including you.” it wasn’t a question, Yuta stated the obvious to Jaehyun’s face for no reason. 

“I know.”

“Honestly.” your heavy sigh broke off their head butting. “You two should probably leave already.” 

“I’m sorry.” Jaehyun lowered his eyes to the feet like he was scolded. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, you two.” 

You sighed once again, as the boys closed the door behind them. 

Jaehyun needed to know the status of your relationship with Yuta, you thought to yourself undoing the sheets of your bed. If he did know he’d allow the private space between you and Yuta to at least exist. The frustration bubbled up in your stomach. You just wanted to hug Yuta’s waist and feel his hands cover you like a shield, feel his hot breath and listen to whatever he had to say. Probably something that would make you chuckle and blush. 

You dropped the pillows onto the floor with force. 

”I should not be mad at Jaehyun. He meddles unknowingly.” You started talking to yourself in an inner battle, probably looking insane to everyone on the outside. ”Maybe he gets in the way just because he doesn’t understand how it is when you want to spend time one on one with someone you love?” With a pyjama set in your hands you grabbed a fresh towel to shower. 

The best way to get over your frustration and longing over Yuta’s touch was to just get to bed quickly and wake up fresh and happy tomorrow. 

A knock on your door though invaded your loneliness and your eyes focused on the door expectingly. It didn’t open, you voiced out what you thought. ”I’m in bed already.” You lied tired, someone probably forgot their belongings in your room, but you were not in the mood to give it back even if their life depended on it. Another knock followed and you threw clothes in your hands onto the bed, fiercely walking up to the door.

”I’m sleeping, who are you?” You turned off the light on your way to the door to make it less obvious you weren’t in fact yet in bed. 

”I thought you wanted to see me.” Yuta smirked as you opened the door, being swayed away by his hands, that pulled you swiftly away from the door to lock it from the inside. He then quickly pushed you against the door before you could even come up with any words, all sorts of emotions circulating over your body. 

”How-”

”I messed with Jaehyun.” Yuta chuckled, pressing his fingers onto your cheek. You leaned in to capture your boyfriends lips in a kiss, holding on to the hem of his shirt. Yuta let go of your face, keeping the eye contact with you, his fingers trailed down to your shoulders. You felt heated just by being close to him, standing next to the door of your pitch black room, not even a dim street light inside with your black out curtains. Was it normal to feel so heavy in your lower stomach from this brief interaction? 

Yuta pressed on your shoulders, making you lean against the door. His lips followed yours, and when you were about to open your mouth to talk, Yuta laid his lips atop of yours. ”I thought you said you were in bed already, these seem to not be your sleeping clothes.”

”I lied because I was frustrated.” Yuta tried to talk more, forcing you to wrap your arms over his neck so the boy in front of you would not be able to move away anymore. You tried to kiss him slower, savour the kiss, make him stay for as long as possible because actually, you didn’t know for how long was he planning on to stay with you.

You opened your mouth and Yuta slipped in his tongue, pushing your body more against the door. You pulled him in closer too, Yuta pushing his thigh between your legs. 

”I actually came here for a reason.” he pressed your head to the door to not let you follow his mouth for more kisses. 

”Yeah? What is the reason?”

”To spend time with you. I’m not sure you’ve been missing me, but I obviously miss spending time with you. Now that you’re going to spend an entire day with Jaehyun, not just a day - your birthday, I thought we could at least be together at night.” You pouted slightly at your boyfriends face expression. “In case your brain wonders if I’m playing or not, I am not. I might be a little hurt at the fact he’s ahead of me.“

”If only Jaehyun knew, it’d be so much easier to reject him.” Yuta pushed himself off the door, walking over to the bed. You followed behind. ”Now if I’m going to tell him I can’t see him during the day, he’s going to ask why and I’m terrible with lying.” You kneed your mattress next to Yuta, wrapping arms over his shoulders. ”I think I’m going to tell him tomorrow night.” You attracted Yuta’s attention. 

“I think I’m at the state where I don’t really want to stop you from telling him.” you nodded your head in agreement, wrapping your hands tighter. 

”Since you’ve began debut preparations we barely interact.” You gulped, kissing Yuta’s temple. ”Maybe later on we won’t be able to even have this.” There was only so little time to tell Yuta you were moving out and you were wasting it, tip-toing over the topic like a fool.

”Don’t.” his arm wrapped your body, pulling you down onto the mattress with him. ”When we’re going to Japan next-”

”I’m not going to Japan this time.” You didn’t let him finish feeling full on ashamed. The damned SMTown in Japan that you completely forgot about. 

”Why?”

”I was told I’m not, I didn’t ask any further questions.” you cringed at your own lying. You were terrible, indeed. You hid your face against Yuta’s chest.

”I’m sorry.” Yuta pulled you more onto his body, running his palm over your cheek. ”I wanted to say since last time we didn’t get the chance, I wanted you to meet my family this time, but-.”

”Oh, Yuta.” You felt more upset than you probably should’ve in Yuta’s perspective, but in your perspective - when would you get a chance to visit Japan next time at all?

”It’s okay, it’s not your fault, baby.” It is, in fact, you sighed. ”Next time they’ll visit me here you’ll come with me to meet them, okay?” You nodded, Yuta capturing your lips with his. 

“I wish I could meet your sisters.” 

“Momoka probably will come to Korea with my parents and Haruna… I’m not sure.” he suddenly thought too seriously of it. 

”Do you think you’d want to meet my family…if we had a chance…?” Yuta paused his breathing. 

“Mmmh, yes baby.” He nuzzled his nose against your cheek, pressing your side against his body. “This makes me feel so happy and calm. I want to sleep here with you every night until we’re moving somewhere else.” 

“Is that happening soon?” 

“The date’s not set, but, probably, yes.” 

“We’ll still be able to see each other, right?”

“Of course, baby, I’ll make all the time in the world to see you.” 

“I worry… sometimes… how will it be when you’ll debut.” 

“We, debut.“ He corrected you “First we’ll have to get used to the new reality in front of us and then… we’ll have each other and will be happy.”

“I wish it’d be like you describe it.” you turned more onto your side to rub the back of your hand against Yuta’s cheek. 

“We should not be sad about us on your birthday. It’s better we have some fun.” you smiled at the boy. 

“How?” His hand pulled your face in front of his. “In that way?” you whispered. 

“I didn’t bring condoms.” 

“Why? I thought you came here for that.”

“No.” he chuckled at you fully amused. “I came back without a second thought. Just to have time with you, sleeping is also good, we can do just sleeping.”

“Okay.” you stretched out a smile. “I’m going to shower first, though.”

“Okay, I’ll be right here.” he smiled and you smiled back, pecking Yuta’s lips quickly. 

-

“Hi.” you said quietly, clearing up your voice as you tried to sound more cheerful. 

You couldn’t work out what time it was but the sun was already beaming behind the curtains, you could tell. Your body still felt genuinely tired and you wished it wasn’t too late into the day. 

“Honey, are you still sleeping?” your dad asked softly. “It’s midday.” Oh fuck, you thought. So it is pretty late in the day, you tried to move yourself in bed but Yuta’s deadly grip on your body was of no help. 

“Yeah, I got to bed pretty late last night.” You didn’t actually know what time you got to bed even. It was hard to tell since after you got out of the shower Yuta felt like taking a quick shower too and when the both of you got in bed the time stopped moving in the little universe you were in when you were next to Yuta. You talked and kissed, embraced each other and then just quietly laid next to one another, before everything turned out a little more heated than you expected, finally being completely tired and unable to keep on functioning. “Don’t tell mum.” you chuckled.  

“Happy birthday, baby.” your dad finally said what he planned to start the conversation with.

“Thank you.” you smiled. 

“I love you very much, I hope you know that I’m always on your side, I’ll always support you and do anything for you. I hope you’re healthy and happy.” he paused for a moment before you could get too sentimental at his words. “I know you’re going to achieve in life everything you wish for. Just, please, be happy, healthy and eat well. I love you.”

“Dad.” you gulped. “I hope you’re not crying.”

“I’m a though cookie baby, I’m not.” a breathy laugh left his lips.

“I love you too, thank you.”

“Of course.” the line went silent, you heard a little shuffle next to you, feeling Yuta’s lips land over your pulse point. You smiled at the boy, squeezing his fingers under the blanket. “Your mom called you earlier but you didn’t pick up and now she’s running around the house preparing a grand dinner for us. Would you… mind join? Of course if it’s not conflicting your schedule.” he added awkwardly in the end. 

“Dad, it doesn’t. I would love to come home and eat moms food. Maybe I could even stay to sleep home?”

“That would be absolutely great.” your dads voice brightened up. Your stupid brain suddenly remembered you can’t, you had to go see Jaehyun in the afternoon. 

“Dad?”

“Yes baby?”

“Can I bring a friend?” you took a look at Yuta, the boy moved his head from your neck, hiding his smile behind your shoulder. 

“You mean Jaehyun-ie?” You almost chocked on nothing at his tone.

“No, not Jaehyun. You’ve actually never met him before.” 

“Okay, is he-.” you cut off your dad mid-sentence. 

“He’s maybe a boyfriend.”

“Maybe?” his voice didn’t change one bit in concern or fear or anything you imagined he would feel after you told him you had a boyfriend. 

“I mean, just a boyfriend, not maybe.” you expected too feel more cringed while talking about this to your dad. 

“Okay, of course you can.” he seemed… to not care, your insides finally were able to function again.

“Can you please-“

“Talk to mum about it?” now it was your dads turn to cut you off. 

“Yeah, please. I’m worried about her…”

“Yes, baby, me too. I’ll talk to her, don’t worry. You can bring your boy over, I’ll tell your mom to set one more plate for him.”

“Thank you.” 

“See you, then?”

“Yes, bye.“ You dropped the phone onto the night stand. 

“I didn’t know your parents loved Jaehyunie.” Yuta teased the very next moment. 

“Me neither.” you turned your body on the side to face him properly and move your limbs from the numbing position “Good morning.” you smiled. 

“Hey.” 

“This feels nice, right?” 

“What does?” 

“Waking up and seeing you.” 

“It sure does.” he grinned, sucking on your lower lip. 

“Oh, by the way.”

“Mmh?” 

“You’re kind of invited to the dinner at my place tonight.”

“What time? I gotta check my schedule.” You pushed his body off you, his morning husky voice filling the room with a chuckle. “I should probably look presentable and shit to sweep your mom off her feet and satisfy your dad?”

“Hmm…” You made a thinking face. “My dads probably going to be fine but my mom… oh, you might have to fight for her liking.” 

“Just for reference, are you teasing or for real right now?”

“Come and find yourself.” you giggled, kissing Yuta on the mouth. 

-

“Are you upset with me?” you stared at your feet like a scolded child standing next to Jaehyun. 

“No, I’m not.”

“For real?” you raised your eyes relieved. “I stupidly overslept and then my parents called and now I’m going to see them for dinner and I promise I’ll be at yours as early as I could possibly make it.” 

“Okay, okay.” you grabbed onto his wrist, making sure he did actually mean what he was saying. 

“Jaehyun-ah?”

“I swear it’s fine, we didn’t set on hanging out for the whole day anyway.”

“You know that I love you a whole crazy lot?” you smiled. 

“I actually do.” he smiled a little. 

“Okay, then I guess I’ll see you at your place, right?”

“Right.”

“You’re the very best, see ya!” you waved your hand at him as you ran out of the boys apartment, counting down the stairs as you paced down to your own floor to get ready. 

You wanted to look pretty, you wanted to feel that it was your birthday, spend the day with a light heart and go into the night with a heart even lighter. 

-

“I might sound rude.” you immediately turned your head to face Yuta. The two of you were in a taxi on your way to the birthday dinner with your parents. The air in the car was thick as hell, you wouldn’t be able to cut through it even with a saw, thanks to you, not Yuta. You were just the tiniest bit nervous and even the taxi driver could probably sense that. 

“I don’t think you will, go ahead.” You squeezed his fingers that were laying lifelessly on your knee. 

”Can’t get the feeling off my chest that you’re dreading inviting me to come home with you.”

”No I’m not.” You immediately protested making it sound weird, like you were dreading but tried to hide it. 

”It doesn’t even seem like you’re breathing with how tensed up you are.”

”Yuta, it’s definitely not about you.” ‘It’s about me, the fact that my mom doesn’t love anyone in this world, most likely the list is including me and she wouldn’t act nicely to you at all and I already have the image in my head and most likely, which is almost the worst part, she’ll start talking to you about my company transfer and the next second you find it out in such a dumb way you probably wont ever talk to me ever again.’ You wish you could add all of the words that bubbled in your head to your sentence but you just couldn’t. You still had a little hope and that hope was your guiding star. A simple wish to get this dinner over with and go see Jaehyun, tell him everything you are too scared to tell Yuta and hopefully get accepted and possibly get advice on how to tell Yuta. 

”What is it then? It’s your birthday, please smile just a little.” Yuta pulled onto the seatbelt to be able to reach out to your face in a soothing manner. “Will you?” He smiled and you couldn’t hold back the butterflies inside your stomach at the proximity and warmth that he radiated. “Yeah, that’s much better” he chuckled, seeing the smile rise up on your lips. “I’m with you so you don’t have to be scared of your mom or anything else.” His lips pecked the corner of yours, making you melt completely, making the nerves bubble inside of you untangle. “I love you, you know that? Your mom won’t change that.”

“I know… And i love you too. And I do really hope you mean what you just said.” You kissed him too, on the cheek, wrapping your hands over his neck as much as possible in your position to give him a hug. 

“I am.” He nodded, rubbing your back with his palm.

“I’m sure next turn is where my house is.” You suddenly gulped, being able to see outside the window while hugging.

“Is it?”

“Yeah.” You nodded

“Should we run away?” He chuckled obviously amused, moving your head to watch your face. You felt like your body got electrocuted, fully understanding what he said was a joke but somehow still wishing to catch the bait. 

“Shall we? Can we? Do you want to? I mean we can if you want to. I could tell we have to practice and can’t make it.” You suddenly moved very quickly, looking for your phone. Yuta watched your sudden burst of energy confused. “I can text my dad right now.”

“Baby, baby.” He called out multiple times to catch your attention. 

“Yeah?” You looked at him, slowing down.

“I thought this will make you laugh, I didn’t think you’ll actually get hooked on the idea.” 

“We’re here.” Taxi driver announced before you could tell a thing. 

“Mean.” You squinted your eyes, pecking Yuta’s lips afterwards just so he knows you’re not mad at him, finally getting out of the car, and walking around it to watch Yuta get out too. 

“Darling.” Your attention was attracted in a different direction though as soon as you heard your fathers voice. 

“Dad!” You ran up to your father. 

“Happy birthday, baby.” 

“Dad.” You rubbed your face against his chest a little. “Thank you. Were you waiting by the door? How did you know it’s us?” 

“I was, it was about time you two arrived. Will you, by the way, introduce me to the someone that came with you today?” He chuckled, brushing your hair with his fingers. 

“Oh, I sure will.” You smiled and straightened your back. “Dad, this is my boyfriend Yuta. He used to be a soccer player before he came to Korea and now he’s already fixed to be in a boy group, so you can brag to your friends you met an idol.” You teased a little.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Yuta bowed awkwardly you almost cooed at how well behaved he suddenly got. 

“It’s great to finally see who my daughter spends time with.” you nodded, ungluing your body from the hold of your father that you missed so much to stand next to Yuta, hold his hand in the nerveracking event of meeting your mother. “Shall we go in? Your mom made an excessively massive dinner, so I hope Yuta you have a great appetite.” your dad patted Yuta’s shoulder. 

“He doesn’t, idols have to keep in shape.” you chuckled. 

“No, no. I do” Yuta immediately corrected you, nodding his head and threatening you with a finger. “I’m sure I won’t be able to stop once I try the food.” your dad nodded satisfied, finally walking inside the house to find his wife. 

“You’re such a well behaved cutie.” you stood on your tiptoes to mumble into Yuta’s ear so your father wouldn’t hear it, pecking his cheek afterwards. 

“Honey, look who’s here.” 

“Y/n!“ She exclaimed loudly, making you jump. It’s not that you hated your mom, it wasn’t the case at all. The case was that it seemed like she only cared for you to make you achieve goals that she wanted you to achieve and once you drank in a life without her it felt even more wrong than before. You never really wanted to get in contact with her because she would nag, critique or point at your flaws and ‘obvious’ to her eyes reasons you were lacking in something. You had a feeling Yuta wouldn’t like her the minute he hears any of her casual rants and the realisation made you worry even more. Now, besides all other things you were scared of, you feared Yuta would want to fight your mom, which you could only pray for not to happen. “Oh, my child!“ She exclaimed, taking your face in her hands. You expected a snarky remark about your appearance. “You’re too early for the dinner. Go upstairs, the kitchen is a whole mess!“ She pushed you back to the corridor, so your feet wouldn’t pass the threshold of the kitchen. Yuta’s fingers brushed against your back as he caught you.  

“Mom, it’s my birthday.“ You chuckled pissed. “You could’ve said happy birthday.“

“I’ve called you in the morning.“

“I was asleep.“ 

“Exactly.“ She nodded and walked to the stove as if there was no further explanation needed.

“Can you pay attention to the person I brought with me?“ You gulped to not get furious. Yuta sensed that you were on the verge, caressing your shoulder. Why did she have to be like that on your birthday? Why the day when she decided to act sweet wasn’t on your birthday?

“Let’s go upstairs, let’s wait until everything is done.“ He tried to keep his voice low.

“Yes, listen to the boy.“ Your mom nodded and gestured with her hand for you to disappear. 

“Dad!“ You hissed. 

“Honey, please go upstairs. I’ll have a word with your mom.“ You grabbed Yuta’s hand, storming to your room. 

“Hey, hey.“ He caught your shoulders with his palms as soon as you entered the room.

“That’s exactly why I was nervous.“

“I don’t care.“ Yuta said softly, you turned around to see his face. “I don’t care if she for a weird reason doesn’t want to acknowledge my presence, if you’re worried about it. It only matter to me that you wanted me to come, share this with me. It only matters to me that I can spend my time with you and see what you had to live through your entire life.“ you sighed, lowering your head onto Yuta’s chest. “I wonder though, do you not have anything from your mom or will it poke out as you’ll get older and I will have to deal with you.“ He chuckled, pressing you more onto his chest. 

“Straight up just choke me then.“ You chuckled. 

“I kind of fear you would enjoy it much.“ 

“What?“ Your lips raised in genuine amusement now. 

“Would you find it weird if I told you I really want to have you right now. Like, for real fuck you.“

“Yuta.“ You gasped a little scandalised and at the same time, maybe, turned on at the idea. 

“Mmh?“

“I don’t know about that.“

“Okay.“ He chuckled as if he didn’t suggest a thing. “Come here.“ He pulled you by the hand onto the bed, sitting down. “I just want to kiss you. Can I?“ He snorted at your mortified face expression. 

“Yeah.“ You gave in, allowing him to pull you in. Yuta’s hands roamed over your body softly, pressing you onto his lap. The position wasn’t comfortable one bit and even though you really didn’t want to, you crawled a little onto his lap, forcing your knees onto the mattress. Yuta didn’t just leave you be, as soon as his lips were able to reach yours, his hands crawled under your legs, pushing you more on top of him, dropping his back onto the mattress and making his butt sit further on the bed. “Yuta!“ You broke off the kiss to scold him through laughter. 

“Yes, baby? You’re so pretty when you’re smiling. Thats exactly what I wanted to see on your face.“ His hand brushed your hair behind your ear. You dove into the kiss, caging his head between your elbows. Yuta touched up your body, running his palms firmly against your sides, caressing your jaw and cheeks with his thumbs, almost tickling your thighs with how lightweight his touches were at first, making a loud and very unexpected moan leave your lips as his fingers kneaded your thighs roughly, lifting up the dress you wore as the touch went up your legs. You pulled onto his lower lip, pulling away as his head tried to follow your lips up.

“You wanted just to kiss.“ You reminded him of his words.

“I still just kiss.“ He smiled innocently. “Or… do you somehow want more now?“ He chuckled, trying his best to act surprised. You squinted your eyes at him. “I do have the condom.“ He whispered more seriously, your breath hitched at the baldness of the suggestion.

“I can’t, you know that. It’s the birthday dinner.“ 

“I know. I really do. You don’t need to worry.“ He added softly, running his fingers over your cheek.

“Why did you bring it then?“ You smirked.

“Now that we don’t have any legal restrictions between us I just feel like I’m obliged to have it with me at all costs to secure your happiness.“  

“You’re such a fool.“ You cackled. 

“Can I please have my tongue in your mouth now?“ 

“Mmh…“ you thought for a minute. “Yes…?“ You made it seem you were unsure. Yuta took your head in his hands, rolling you on the bed so he’d be on top. “What is this?“ He pulled one of your legs onto his waist, rolling his hips right against your clothed centre. “What are you doing?“ You mumbled into Yuta’s lips as he smashed his lips against yours. 

“I forgot to mention that the other part of my gift besides rings was an orgasm.“

“Yuta.“ You hissed for him to keep his voice quiet. “That is not funny.“ he pressed against you once again with his hardening length. “You’re insane.“ You gasped. “We’re not having sex.“

“We’re not, I know.“ his lips trailed a line from your chin to the ear. “But you’re going to cum.“ Yuta mumbled into your ear, biting onto your earlobe.

His hands little by little closer to your clothed heat, the dress you wore already was pulled up your thighs, making it much easier for Yuta to touch you. His thumb ran up your clothed slit and your leg got tighter over his waist. “I’m not going to stretch you out, okay? Just your clit, we have to be quick.“

“Yeah.“ it sounded more like you meowed. 

“Try to hold back the sounds.“ You granted him with another weak reply, before Yuta’s fingers crawled behind the thin fabric. “Shit.“ He gasped at the feeling of your completely wet folds. “So wet.“ 

“I know, so please be quick.“ Yuta smirked at you, kissing your lips while his middle finger rubbed into you. It didn’t take him much time before the pleasure started to build up in your lower stomach. It really didn’t surprise you at this point how quickly he took you to the peak and even higher than that. Both your hands wrapped his neck tightly, pressing his chest flush against yours. You wanted to whine but his lips swallowed every sound that came out of you or just tried to. “So, so close.“ You managed to let him know. “Yuta?“ you asked sheepishly, even his hand slowed down to pay attention. “I kind of want the sex.“ you felt terrible by admitting. 

“Are you sure?“ He asked clearly not believing the words that left your mouth.

“Yes, is it weird that now I can’t think how would it feel to cum with you inside of me?“ You asked innocently.

“Fuck.“ Yuta cursed under his breath and moved away from you. You felt like you scared him away for some reason and already were ready to take your words back if it would make him feel better. “Does your door have a lock?“ 

“It does, but why?“ Yuta rushed to the door, locking it immediately. You almost asked why he didn’t find it important to lock the door when he was doing what he was doing before. “This is so fucking not how I actually wanted to have real sex with you for the first time.“ He mumbled as he got closer back to you, gesturing for you to crawl to the headboard and lie down. His hands quickly took off the plain white shirt he was wearing, undoing the pants with the same pace.

“You’re going to undress yourself completely?“ 

“Yes, and you should take your dress off quickly.“

“Okay.“ You nodded, pulling the material up your body. “Come here.“ You whispered with trembling hands. You wanted him terribly, the orgasm that almost washed over you was of no help to stop staring at Yuta that was visibly hard even through his underwear. You had seen his cock before, you’ve touched it even, but never with the idea of him getting in beetwen your legs and inside of you.

“Are you scared? Or nervous?“ Yuta asked carefully, as he crawled over you.

“We don’t have time for that.“ you gulped slightly upset. “I am literally about to have my first time while my parents are downstairs about to call us to have the birthday dinner.“ 

“You’re crazy for that.“ 

“I am, and you’re with me.“ You smiled, catching your breath at Yuta’s fond smile. “But please be quick.“

“I’m sure I’ll be, no worries. I haven’t been in a pussy for a really long while.“ you chuckled a little at him. “Just if it hurts, I’m going to have to stop.“

“Yeah.“ You nodded and spread your legs for Yuta to get between them. His fingers quickly pulled down your underwear, lowering his head suddenly to move his tongue against you. “Yuta.“ You pushed him away by the shoulder when he seemed to forget what you were about to do, you were almost cuming from his tongue.

“Right, you’re right.“ He nodded and pulled a condom from the jeans he thoughtfully left laying on the bed. Yuta’s hand quickly lowered to his cock, freeing it of clothing and placing the rubber material onto it. You watched him do it closely, forgetting to say that you actually were deadly scared of getting pregnant even if he wore that. Suddenly your throat felt too dry because the whole thing felt too real to be right. This somehow made you feel like you were in a movie, an awkward teenage movie where the first sex was one of the disappointments in life. How long will it take? Will this feel at least a little pleasurable? 

“This is fucked up.“ You mumbled once again finally realising what you made you two do. 

“Shh.“ He was focused, lining up himself with your entrance. You gasped before you could even feel anything, swallowing loudly. “Okay.“ He gave you a nod, pushing little by little. You were just focusing on how you felt, how he was pushing inside of you more and the expression on your face probably made Yuta scared. “Are you… okay?“ 

“No, yeah, I mean I’m good, you can go deeper.“ 

“I don’t think I should if you want me to last for at least minute.“

“Why?“ You asked concerned.

“Too tight.“ He panted, sucking on your lower lip. It did feel too tight, he was right. Tight, but somehow, still right. Your face expression changed into a brighter one. Yuta moved back, going back a little further than before. You were so scared of all the things combined you didn’t even realise that having him inside of you didn’t actually hurt. He was moving his hips in and out of you now and the both of you breathed harder. “Is it good?“ He suddenly asked.

“Yes, so good.“

“Right.“ Yuta mumbled under his breath. “Can I go harder?“

“Please.“ You nodded, feeling Yuta’s hips slap against yours for the first time. The sound was so loud and nasty, you almost chocked out of fear. If your bed will start to creak you’ll most definitely die of shame. 

You felt a little stiff and you knew for sure Yuta couldn’t possibly not feel it. You wanted to tell him you were sorry and you couldn’t even focus on the feeling of him stretching you out so perfectly, making you feel so heavenly, you could only focus on all the little sounds you two made during the intercourse and it almost felt like your soul drifted behind that door to stay on a watch. 

Soon enough Yuta rubbed your clit again and you felt like cuming. You were already pretty much spent and when he got you clenching you moaned into his mouth, almost crying. It felt too good to wrap around his cock when your body was spasming, feeling him push your walls while chasing his own high. 

You couldn’t understand who came first and who chased behind, you just liked to think you were connected on so many levels your bodies made you do it at the same time.

You panted, Yuta dropped his weight over you. 

“You’re the literal best.“ He found it in him to raise his head and peck your cheek. 

“Thats not true. It’s like you fucked a brick.“

“No.“ He cackled, leaving kisses over you neck. “I don’t think we took more than like what… 10 minutes? Embarrassing.“ he chuckled “I wouldn’t cum this quickly if you were a brick.“

“Thanks.“ you forced a smile and Yuta shifted his body weight.

“I don’t want to pull out.“

“Why?“ 

“It doesn’t feel nice to you?“

“I don’t know.“ you told sincerely. 

“We’ll work this all out later when we’ll have real time to get into things that you like and don’t.“ Yuta pecked your lips, pulling out and standing up. You kind of immediately understood what he meant by not wanting to pull out. Could you possibly ask him to come back?

“Do you have a bin?“ 

“Yes, but isn’t it going to be weird if my parents found a spent lonely condom in there?“

“Do you want me to take it?“ He chuckled but then realised you were serious. “Well if you’re okay I’ll leave it here for the dinner.“ He chuckled again, wrapping it into many paper towels and placing almost under the bed. Yuta quickly put on his clothes and nothing in his appearance gave away he just came. “Are you okay? Can you move?“ You nodded quietly and moved forward, collecting yourself back together. 

“Wait, is that you?“ Yuta smiled widely, staring at one of your childhood photos. 

“It is.“ You walked up to him after cleaning yourself up and getting your clothes back on. “Why are you laughing?“

“Can I steal this? You’re so cute.“ He cooed, caressing your cheek.

“No, its mine.“

“But please?“ He whined and you stared him in the eyes, getting scared when you heard knocks on your door. 

“Yeah?“ You replied as your dad already walked in. 

“Dinner’s ready. I hope you two didn’t get too bored while waiting.“

“No, I was looking at her baby photos.“ Yuta smiled.

“Okay, come downstairs.“ Your boyfriend nodded and grabbed your hand in his and walked you behind him. 

-

“Mom,“ you cleared your throat. “This is Yuta.“ The dinner was going relatively well with your mom keeping herself quiet. You thought that this maybe was a great opportunity to introduce Yuta properly, since she paid him hardly any attention for the past 40 minutes. 

“Yuta?“ She finally raised her eyes at the boy next to you. Yuta, who was pushing chopsticks full with meat and rice into his mouth pulled them away, making all the food drop into the bowl mixed. 

“Yes, Mrs.Y/L/N.“ He stretched his lips in a polite manner. 

“You’re a foreigner?“

“That’s right, I am Japanese.“

“You speak Korean well for a foreigner.“ She sighed, chewing on her rice. Her manners gave off royalty out of nowhere. 

“I learned it thoroughly.“ He bowed. 

“And your ancestors didn’t try to do the same when they occupied our country.“ A cold sweat ran down your spine. What the actual fuck was all this.

“Mom?“ you chuckled awkwardly.  “Why suddenly?“ 

“Maybe you need a reminder what your great-grandparents went through because of Japanese?“ 

“I don’t, I know it way too well.” Your eyes ran from your dad to Yuta. ”I just don’t understand what this has to do with Yuta.“ 

“I’m not sure now that you’ve brought him to the house where people that suffered from his countries’ hands lived.“

“Honey, I’m sure Yuta’s ancestors didn’t take part in the terrible things that happened to our people.“

“Are you so sure? Or trying to pretend like you are?“ She looked dissaprovingly. 

“Mom, you don’t even care about it.“ You bursted. ”You had too much to drink already, dad. Take the soju from her.”

“Y/n, it’s fine.“ Yuta squeezed your palm under the table. “I will ask my grandparents if they have any knowledge on how their parents lived during the occupation of Korea. I’ll give you my deepest apologies, Mrs.Y/L/N, when we’ll see each other next time if I’ll learn something regarding their relationship with Koreans.“ 

“Sure.“ She gave him a careless nod and the topic seemed to be closed, for now, thankfully. “That is exactly why you’re still a trainee while other girls get to debut.“ She didn’t let you to just have a conversation with your father about his co-worker.

“Yes?“ You stretched out your lips in a thin line and blinked.

“If you gave all of your attention to work, instead of boys, maybe you would’ve debuted in that girl group.“ 

“Honey.“ Your dad sighed. “It’s our daughters birthday.“ He finally grabbed the glass from his wife’s hand.

“Yes, and I’m wishing her to focus on work in her next year of life. First that sweet boy Jaehyun, now Yuta.“ Her voice shown disgust when she said your lovers name. “What happened to Jaehyun?“

“Nothing, he’s my friend. Always has been.“

“Thankfully you’re transferring to that other company, I hope they’ll take better care of your free time. When is your first day there, by the way?“ She raised her head to look you in the eyes. Your head turned to Yuta in fear, you almost cried in an instance, seeing his head low, focused on the rice bowl. “Y/n.“

“I’m moving on Friday. From the dorm and from the company.“ Yuta’s head flew up to see you with confused eyes. 

“Will you need any help with moving?“ your dad asked. 

“Yes, I guess I’ll need your help.“ You gulped, feeling a buzz to your butt. You almost didn’t understand what it was but remembered you sat on your phone. Jaehyun’s name and face lit up the screen. You almost declined the call but felt like you needed an excuse to leave the room that suddenly became so sickening. You hated your mom now for sure, you wanted to cry and throw up and never stay alone with Yuta because you were scared. Jaehyun’s voice would make it so much better, you gulped and jumped up. “I need to pick this up.“

“Hey.“ Jaehyun smiled and you could hear it through his voice. 

“Hi.“ You tried to smile but couldn’t at all.

“I’m at the store, I was thinking of cooking something for you.“

“Yeah?“ You were just lost.

“Please don’t get too full at the dinner.“ His voice turned into a whisper with a cute undertone. You wondered why would he whisper in the grocery store.

“Thank you.“ You smiled.

“What for?“

“For making me smile with your call.“

“Is everything okay? How’s the dinner?“

“You know what my mom’s like.“

“Yeah…“ he sighed.

“She said I should’ve brought you.“ you tried to smile.

“Yes you should’ve.“ He chuckled.

“You’re a fool. I don’t think I’ll be able to stay here for too long, so expect me to be early.“

“Okay, I’ll go back home quickly then.”

“Okay.“ You nodded.

“Wait, hold on.“ He suddenly rushed when you almost hung up.

“Yeah?“

“What are you favourite flowers?“

“Why you’re asking?“ you bit onto your lip to not smile too widely. 

“Just… for reference.“

“Well, for reference… you should know by now, are you my best friend or what?“ You scolded him playfully.

“You’re right.“ You could tell he was nodding.

“Okay, I’m going back.“

“Yeah, bye.“

“Love you.“ You hung up and dreaded the idea of going back in. You so wish you could just teleport to Jaehyun.

“Is everything okay?” your dads eyes trailed your figure as you entered the room. 

“Yes, yeah. Just a friend wished me a happy birthday.” you nodded, trying to see how Yuta was with your peripheral vision. 

“I think your mom unintentionally sounded like she’s too harsh on you, right, darling?” your dad chuckled, squeezing his wife’s shoulder. 

“On a brighter note,” your dad cleared his throat loudly. “Your mom baked an amazing cake, I, might I say, helped her decorate it. Will you blow the candles? Honey, shall we bring the cake?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll go light up the candles.” your mom jumped up with such a sweet tone to her voice like she was the most loving and caring mother. 

“Yay.” you faked a giggle, watching your dad get up and leave you alone with Yuta. 

You gulped, he seemed to be frozen for the previous couple of minutes. You were debating whether to touch his hand or not, would he shake you away in an instance or would he give you a chance. He broke off the silence first and you almost jumped up in your seat completely startled to hear him speak. 

“I think I should be going, will you excuse me to your parents?” those weren’t exactly the words you expected from him. You didn’t know what you expected exactly, but you wanted to talk. Yuta stood up and pushed the chair with his foot. 

“Please.” you mumbled almost inaudible. “I’ll blow those candles and tell them we have to leave, please stay.” 

“Why? To not ruin the picture for your dad?” Yuta spoke from behind you, there was no chance you would turn around and look him in the eyes so easily. 

“No! Not for that, I’m so sorry and embarrassed for what my mom said about your ancestors… I couldn’t even imagine she’d bring up something like that…She usually never drinks. I swear to god, I feel so sorry. And besides that I think we should talk about something else. We should’ve talked way before in fact.“

“I think we’ve been doing pretty good, fantastic even, without the aspect of sharing important things that happen in our life’s and talking them through. Aren’t we?” this stung. 

“Yu-“ you wanted to stand up and drop onto your knees to beg him. 

“Happy birthday to you!” distant singing interrupted you, a moment later your dads hand showing up to turn off the lights and then entering the room. 

“Yuta, sing along, aren’t you a singer!” 

“Ugh, yeah.” Yuta took a step back to the table, clapping rhythmically without making a sound. 

-

“Please wait for me.” you whined as Yuta’s feet were making around a meter wide steps. “Yuta!” 

“What?” he snapped and turned around, stopping. You finally caught up with him, lowering your eyes on his chest to not hold his piercing gaze. You could see the shape of the ring hanging on his neck through the shirt he wore.

“I wanted to talk to you earlier, about all this, but I was scared. I had a feeling you’ll be upset.”

“So you’re blaming me for this?”

“I’m not blaming you. It’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying I was postponing this conversation out of fear.”

“Fine.” he turned around and walked away from you, this time much slower, as if expecting you to walk side to side with him. This was a good sign, it was… a good sign… right?

“Will you not ask me where I’m going? Or do you not want me to tell you everything?”

“You’re going to see Jaehyun.” 

“You know I didn’t mean where I’m going like, now.” 

“I meant you’re going to Jaehyun after this, don’t ruin your mood and don’t bother and just go.”

“I-,” you chocked on air. “This is bullshit.” you hit his shoulder from behind and regretted the move a little. 

“Excuse me?” Yuta was scandalised. His eyes dilated to the state they might’ve popped out any second. 

“I know it’s the worst way to find out I’m going away from the dorm and the company… at this stupid ass torture dinner… from my drunk venomous mother. I-, Yuta.” you grabbed his palm with yours and he jerked away immediately. “I was scared to tell you, for your reaction, for the idea that telling you will make it real, and I’m still so scared to move somewhere else where I won’t have you.”

“Does Jaehyun know?”

“No, nobody knows. I haven’t told him either.” You couldn’t decipher what his face expression said. Was he relieved by the fact Jaehyun didn’t know too? “I really, Yuta, I don’t want to fight. I love you. We just did what we did in my bedroom couple of hours ago and now you’re looking at me like I disgust you.”

“Is that why you wanted sex?” he snorted and all your insides dropped.

“No-, NO!” you made it loud and clear. “I only wanted it because I wanted you.” 

“I need a minute by myself. Go to Jaehyun’s.”

“Can I say something else?” he gave a nod. “I’ve never loved anyone before you. I may be doing dumb and stupid things, I can make things harder, I can be closed off, maybe I should indeed share more, but… I was suffering so much. I was, I mean, I’m still depressed because people around me move forward and I stay just there and I kept things partially to myself because you’re in a boy group and I’m just there. I’m so tired of hearing words like you’ll do it, you’re great from people who actually do have a future. I didn’t have one before I got in contact with JYPE. Maybe that’s for the better I’m moving to a different company, if I’ll get to live my dream, wouldn’t you be happy?” 

“What about us?” his eyes dropped onto your face finally, inspecting it. You took a step closer. 

“Weren’t you just yesterday telling me how we’ll fight for what we have? What happened to that?”

“Nothing. It’s going to be different and that’s the thing.” 

“Are you mad because you’re worried for us?” you pouted. 

“No, I’m mad because you’re moving almost tomorrow and I didn’t hear a single thing about it until now!”

“Will you forgive me?” you blinked at him apologetically. 

“I don’t know.” your heart stung. 

“L-, like…like seriously don’t know?”

“Yes-“

“Yuta.” you gasped, tears prickling your eyes. 

“I’ll get you a taxi, don’t cry and go to Jaehyun’s.”

“I-, I’ll cancel that. I want to be with you.” 

“No, I don’t want that. Go ahead and have all the fun you can.”

Yuta caught a passing taxi with his hand, forcefully pushing you inside. 

“Happy birthday.” he said without even looking at you and closed the door. 

“Where to?” the driver turned around.

-

“Hey-y-y.” you sung as Jaehyun was opening the door, you placed one of your hands on the hip, the other going up in the air with a bottle of strong alcohol in it. 

“Hi.” Jaehyun smiled, immediately after focusing his eyes on your hand in the air. “What’s that?” 

“I-I-It’s soju. I got it on my way here because I felt kinda bad for going to a party empty handed.” you puffed your cheeks, passing the threshold to wrap your hands over Jaehyun. 

“I’ve bought more than we could possibly consume, it’s fine.”

“But still, it’s a gift for you.” you moved back, pressing the bottle against his chest. Realising a moment later Jaehyun was wearing an apron, you couldn’t hide away the smile at how cute he looked wearing it. You let the bottle slide down his stomach, finally dropping into the pocket in the front part of the apron. “I actually have one more thing for you.” 

“Yeah?” 

“Yeah, I might’ve opened the gift number one on my way here, sorry.” You pouted. ”The jelly’s. They’re completely yours.” you announced loudly and Jaehyun chuckled, placing the bag in the pocket as well. “So what are we doing?” you slid the shoes off your feet, quickly grabbing Jaehyun by the elbow. “I didn’t want you to put too much effort.” you said as the smell got into your nose. “We should’ve just ordered.” 

“It’s fine, I wanted to do something for you, you’re my best friend after all.” you felt goosebumps run over your body. 

“Your girlfriend will be the happiest girl ever.” 

“Shut up.” He rolled his eyes, letting go of you as the two of you reached kitchen. 

“Mmh, pasta?” you smiled widely. 

“Yeah, tomato sauce pasta with seafood.”

“Yummy.” you smiled. 

“You haven’t tried it yet.” he smirked lightly. 

“You made it I’m sure it’s bomb.” Jaehyun grabbed your hand, smiling at you. 

“Yeah?” you nodded at him, smiling playfully. “ I bought many snacks because I know what you’re like, will you help me put the chips in a bowl?”

“Mmh.” you let him part your hands. “Is that it? Pasta and snacks?” 

“No, I have a pizza in the oven.” Your mouth made an O. “Before you scream it’s a pre-made pizza, I just defrosted it.”

“Thank god.” you chuckled. 

“But it’s a cool one if it matters to you, a handmade.”

“Cool-.” you started, as your phone vibrated, making everything inside of you stir. You only expected it to be Yuta, your brains going in complete overdrive while you were trying to see. “God.” you sighed, dropping the phone on the counter. 

“What’s up?”

“Koeun lost her blow dryer and asking everyone in the chat.” 

“I think I know where she lost it.” he cackled, bringing to you a pack of chips with a bowl. 

“Mmh?”

“Donghyuck might’ve said he found a blow dryer that seemed to be no one else’s when he came to your floor to wish you a happy birthday.”

“He didn’t wish me a happy birth-.”

“He saw the blow dryer and ran away I assume.” you laughed loudly. 

“Okay, sounds like he’d do that for a blow dryer.” 

“Yeah.” Jaehyun made a breathy laugh. 

-

“And the weirdest part?“ you exhaled, lowering your hand a little as the thought drifted away from your tongue. What was Yuta doing at this very moment? Was he asleep, was he thinking of you? Was he mad at you? Or did he calm down a little and is ready to talk? Should you maybe call him?

“Wait, wait.“ Jaehyun grabbed your wrist, pulling your hand back up and getting your brain off the triggering topic. “You’re spilling on my jeans.“ you focused your vision on his thigh, the material turned darker than on the rest of the leg. 

“Oh, shit. I’m sorry.“ you finally let him take the glass from your hand. “We should go back inside and wash it.“ You turned your head back, staring at the sky for the last time. 

“It’s just a somaek spill, it won’t stain my jeans.“ He shook you off, grabbing onto your wrist once again as you tried to get into a standing position. “Sit back down.“ you disobeyed, causing him to pull onto you harder and force you to drop your body back onto the terrace with a loud thud. You fell onto your back, finding it impossible to not laugh. You were most definitely too drunk to even walk. “I’m sorry, did this hurt?“ You forced him on his back too, laughing still. “How drunk do you think you are?“ He asked as your laughter seemed to die a little. You turned your head for the slightest moment to take a glance at your friend and then turned back around to measure amount of alcohol you had by the empty soju bottles on your side, there were barely any. It hurt your pride a little, you expected yourself to at least go through three of these with ease. Was this day bound to be the day of disappointments and first times? You cackled.

“I consider crawling back inside.“ You looked at Jaehyun once again with a smile, taking a hitched breath as your eyes could take in his focused face expression. He must’ve looked at you the whole time, you thought and gulped with the unusual burdened feeling to it. His teeth nibbled on his lower lip and at this very moment he seemed to be completely sober. “I can’t walk.“ You added to make it more clear what you meant. Jaehyun’s eyes traveled all over your face, batting his eyelashes as his eyes paused on your lips.

“Want me to help you walk?“ he sighed, moving his head an inch closer to yours. Jaehyun caught your eye out of nowhere, you found your eyes focus on his face a little more than you usually did. Under the drunken spell his face looked a little funny to you and you pulled your head a little more toward him in hopes of focusing your eyes properly and unseeing the funny features that weren’t even there in the first place. Was that the reason he stared so thoroughly? Did you look too funny to him too, but in his case he’s just too well-mannered to point anything out. You gulped and stared down his soul to not laugh. 

“No.“ You smirked.

“What? What did you think of?“ You bit onto your lip, holding in the grin on your face.

“Should we crawl back to the kitchen?“

“Crawl?“ 

“Yeah, who gets there faster, gets to… hm…“ you ran your eyes over the sky.  “Let’s crawl and then decide.“ You suddenly turned around onto your stomach, getting on your knees and elbows, you false started in your silly competition, hearing Jaehyun’s protest and whimpers behind you. You crawled to the terrace door, getting onto your feet as soon as you got inside, sprinting back towards the kitchen island. 

“This was meant to be a crawling competition!“ Jaehyun whined behind you, getting on his feet, by the sound of it, too. The sudden reassurance that he indeed was on his feet took you by surprise, you gasped and grasped onto his hands that were now pressing your body against his, unable to make any sound as the air got beaten out of your lungs by the push. Jaehyun giggled next to your ear, dragging you the rest of the way to the island. “You’re a terrible cheater.“ You tried to turn your head but to no avail. “You should tell your manager you want to be an actress, you acted like a drunk naturally.“ He chuckled.

“I might be drunk but I would never allow myself to lose in a competition.“ you finally found your voice back, holding onto Jaehyun’s arms tighter, pulling for him to let go. 

“What was the point… of this, again? The competition?“ 

“Turn off the light and get on the floor.“ you gulped, not knowing if you were really not that drunk, if the alcohol faded away or you were shaken by something else that your senses began to come back to you. 

“Ugh… oh?“ Jaehyun malfunctioned. “Why?“

“I want to drink more… and maybe share a secret or two with you… I think I might’ve lost the drunken haziness after the sprint.“ 

“Me, too.“

“Hm?“ You got on your knees to plop on the floor next to the island.

“I want to share a secret with you.“ 

“You do?“ you lit up, unable to contain the smile. “My baby’s all grown up.“ You felt an excited shiver run down your spine. “Come on, sit down.“ You tapped the space next to you. Jaehyun walked over the light switch, turning the room pitch black. It was, to be fair, a little scary, the house was big and creeped you even in the day time, but when the lights were completely off you felt your palms get a little sweaty before you felt the warmth of Jaehyun next to your body. You squeezed more into his side, just in case. The boy gave you the glass you left on the island before the two of you got outside a good hour ago, tasting the drink with your tongue, you took a couple sips to build courage. Maybe, Jaehyun wouldn’t mind sharing his secrets first?

“Do you want to go first?“ Jaeyun broke off the silence. 

“Oh, man.“ You sighed and plopped your head on his shoulder.

“No?“ he chuckled. 

“Mmh, I’m kinda sober now… should we not?“ 

“No, I don’t think we’ll get any other chances like that.“ 

“You’re right, but-“

“If you’re shy and I’m shy too, should we tell each other on the count of 3?“ 

“That’s silly.“ You sighed, feeling Jaehyuns fingers brush over you in search of the glass. “But I agree.“ 

“Do you?“ 

“Yeah.“

“Okay, should I count down?“

“Yeah.“ You nodded, feeling your heart beat faster. Which secret exactly should you spill out first? You swore at yourself for having so many. 

“1… 2…3…“ Jaehyun counted down slowly, but still not slow enough for you to come up with words. “I l-.“ 

“Stop!.“ You cut him off before he could say any more. “I-, I wasn’t ready. Can you count down once again?“

“For real, this time?“ 

“Yes, I’m sorry. I was just unable to form words into sentences.“

“Okay, one.“

“Two.“ You said as Jaehyun took a longer pause. 

“Three.“ He almost whispered as he swallowed. “I am in love with you.“

“I am dating Yuta.“ You said loudly in unison with Jaehyun, blood pumping in your ears so loud you were not able to hear a single word Jaehyun said. 

“What?“ The face expression he made was visible even through pure darkness.

“Wait, did you hear what I said?“ You gasped, you didn’t think his words would be so quiet. 

“Yes, you’re dating Yu-“ he didn’t finish saying his friends name. “How? When… why?“ You could only imagine how betrayed and shocked he felt. And it wasn’t even the main news you wanted him to know. 

“But what did you say? I couldn’t hear.“ You whined, ignoring the boys’ questions completely. 

“I- It doesn’t matter at all.“

“It does.“ You touched his arm with your suddenly cold fingers.

“No, I- it doesn’t.“ Jaehyun chocked on his words almost for the first time in front of your eyes, he never felt this small next to you before. 

“Hey.“ You furrowed your eyebrows. “You heard mine, that’s unfair.“

“Yeah, that’s why we’re going to talk about yours first and come back to mine later.“ He spoke firmly, putting everything in him to hold back his true feelings. You wouldn’t know that, you wouldn’t know that the tremble to his voice wasn’t caused by the shocks of betrayal. Well, maybe, partially, betrayal too, but Jaehyun couldn’t come in terms with his feelings at this very moment to say surely what he felt. He wanted to get all the information he could from you first, he was focusing his brain on the possibility of you hearing him and immediately playing pretend just because it’s not what you expected. But what did you even expect? How could he be sure in anything if a big, no, a huge part of your life slipped from his attention. Was he not reading the room right? Yuta? For real? He wanted to smash his head into the wall. He wanted to smash Yuta’s head into the wall, to be exact, and tell him you two were meant to be together. No you and Yu-. Jaehyun suddenly found disgust in his friends name and wanted to fight with your boyf-. He swallowed again because even the thought of Yuta being your boyfriend made him gag. And then he swallowed again, realising that fighting and confrontation in general was so out of his character, and as Jaehyun took two steady breaths and the first aftershocks left his body he was able to focus his attention on you. You were trembling on his side, sobbing, even. Wait-.

“Are you crying?“ he asked, taking your face in his hand. “Y/n, I- I’m ha-.“ No, Jaehyun wasn’t happy and he couldn’t even lie that he was. “Are you crying because you’re happy that I finally know or because you didn’t want to tell me?“ 

“No.“ You sobbed, untangling your hand from Jaehyun’s to hide your face in your palms. You were crying because after saying the words you suddenly remembered what happened between you two, how he said he weren’t sure if he’d forgive you, and you questioned if there was even a point in telling Jaehyun about this if it’s almost over. 

“I don’t understand.“ He sighed lost.

“I am leaving SME and Yuta found out about it from my mother tonight in between her blaming him for everything that happened to our country. Now you found out about it in a fucked up way too. Jaehyun-ah, I’m so sorry, I’m such a terrible friend.“ You cried. ”I didn’t want to upset you and now I’ve ruined everything you prepared and I-” you broke down.

“You- you’re what?“ Jaehyun felt his own tears prickle his eyes. He had to swallow them harshly before you could sense that. “Leaving SME? Where to? Why? I mean, weren’t you happy here, with us.. you were-.“ He chocked as the world he built so thoroughly around you was shuttering terribly with every passing minute. He wasn’t sure what else could leave your mouth the next minute. Was there anything else that could hurt him more?

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[justwritedreams]

The heart never lies | Jeno

Jeno x Reader, exes to lovers au!, parents au! Word count: 3293 Genre: angst, fluff. Warning: none, i think Author: Maari Note: That’s way angst than I planned lol sorry I suggest to read while listening to the heart never lies by mcfly 🥺 Request: sis but like-- i'm a sucker for nct as dads okay? and i like have an obsession with the mommy secret and we don't talk anymore like---- please i loved them so much are your request still open aosksksk 😭😭😭 i want a Jeno one pretty similar with these two, i don't know, single dad, single mom, kinds emoish Jen blah blah. like Hot Sauce Jen

⪢ NCT Masterlist  

Y/N smiled softly as she watched the small and innocent face sleeping in her arms, she caressed the chubby pink cheek feeling her heart fill with love. This had been her routine for a while and she couldn't resist, making her son sleep in her arms was the most wonderful feeling in the world. Even though her throat closed up every time she watched how her son reminded him so much and every time she sighed as in addition to the love that surrounded her heart, an enormous sadness also consumed it. It's been an year. An eternity without hearing Jeno's laugh, without his cologne filling her nostrils, without feeling his touch, his kisses... A part of her blamed herself, she'd blocked any kind of contact she could have with him after the fight and the breakup—even though in Jeno's words, that wasn't the end of them—and of course the discovery of the pregnancy. She didn't want to know how happy he was away from her. Living life somewhere else as if everything they'd lived together hadn't mattered. But the other part screamed at her not to be selfish. Jeno had the perfect job opportunity, something he'd always been looking forward to since they'd met, moving to another city was in his plans and he'd gotten it. He couldn't miss that, even for her. Or for the son he didn't even know he had. Y/N shook her head to clear away all the dark clouds of memories she didn't want to relive, she promised to herself that the ghost of the past wouldn't haunt her again, for her son's sake. It didn't matter if she felt anxiety every time she thought about Jeno, like he was still around and was going to walk through the front door of her parents' house. So, slowly she put her son on the couch and covered him with the blanket that belonged to him, seeing that he just adjusted better and continued sleeping. She got up from the couch and started picking up the toys that Daejung had scattered on the rug. 6 months and he was already more agitated than ever, Y/N even laughed when she thought what would happen when he started walking. As soon as she put everything in the small chest, she was startled when the loud doorbell echoed throughout the house and instinctively she looked at Daejung, he shifted on the couch and Y/N ran to open the door before the doorbell rang again and woke up the baby. Only she knew how hard it was to get him to sleep and if he woke up now, in addition to being irritated, most likely he wouldn't sleep again. She opened the door, hoping it was her brother who'd forgotten the key.

"Don't ring that bell again-" She held up her finger but stopped midair when saw that it wasn't her brother. Much less her parents. Y/N felt her mouth open and her eyes fill with tears as her mind didn't accept the figure that was in front of her, not knowing what to say or how to do it, she just stood there staring at the last person she imagined knocking on the door from his parents' house at 4 pm. “Y/N.” it felt unreal to hear his voice again but the shiver that ran down her spine told her it was actually real. "I can enter?" “Jeno.” the voice was just a whisper and her breath hitched as if she'd just run a marathon. But it was just her heart beating too fast as she looked at the black haired boy. He was still the same one she remembered, hair a little longer but still the same, not that she ever thought she'd be able to forget him. She never could. “How… What are you?” she couldn't form a complete sentence, her brain seemed to have stopped working and Jeno looked at her with guilt and concern. "I needed to talk to you." he spoke softly and she shook her head, laughing. More of desperation. “Did it take a entire year for that?” she questioned and looked back, from where she was she couldn't see Daejung and she wanted to slam the door in Jeno's face but there was something that stopped her. “Do you really want to discuss this here?” he asked seriously and she was silent. No, but she also didn't know if she should let him in. Before she could answer, Daejung started crying and Y/N ignored Jeno and all the questions in her head and ran to her son. He was still sleeping on the couch, his eyes fighting sleep not knowing whether to stay open or closed and Y/N stroked between his mid eyebrow, a trick she'd found worked. "It's okay, my love." she spoke low. “Mom is here.” she saw him smile quickly and went back to sleep, breathing deeper and she stroked his head as heard footsteps. It was only then that she remembered Jeno was also there and felt her blood run cold, swallowing hard she looked up to face him and he looked at the scene completely confused. Jeno and Y/N remained with their eyes fixed on each other, it was almost as if they could talk telepathically like they used to, but this time there was a huge barrier separating them, the same barrier that prevented them from talking about anything. Silence in this case was the best answer, because Jeno didn't need to hear anything, it was very clear to him. Therefore, he approached the sofa while Y/N cringed, she just looked away to look at Daejung's serene figure and she felt her heart beat much faster and her body produce more saliva than usual, which made her swallow several times and Jeno looked at Daejung. "You could have told me." Jeno spoke softly and moved even closer to the couch, staying behind Y/N who was still sitting on the couch but she could feel Jeno's body heat and it intoxicated her. She shook her head, a disbelieving smile on her face. "It wouldn't have made a difference anyway." Y/N leaned on the sofa and got up, her legs already trembling as she felt that at any moment she would collapse, this caught Jeno's attention and he looked back at her. "You had other priorities." Y/N tried to leave, that approach with Jeno wouldn't do her any good, but anticipating what she would do, Jeno held her arm gently. She stopped and Jeno brought his body even closer to hers, their trunks now practically touching. “You were always my priority.” "Is that why you left?" she questioned, her eyes getting more and more full of tears, and let go of the arm that Jeno was holding. His arm dropped unwillingly to his side. "There are no excuses, Jeno." “Do you want to talk about excuses with me?” he pointed against his chest and glanced at Daejung. “What about him? You hid my son from me!” Jeno's words, even though they were loaded with hurt, made Y/N go silent. Hearing them from him was worse than she'd thought. She hadn't hidden it because she wanted to, she had to do it even though she knew it wasn't right. "How do you know he's yours?" she asked and saw Jeno smirk. "The heart never lies, isn't that what you always told me?" he shrugged and Y/N felt her jaw drop. Did he still remember? "And because I believed you when you told me you were mine." Jeno cut the rest of the space that separated them, making the bodies finally meet, and brought his hand to her chin, making her lift her head and look him in the eyes. "I'm not that innocent little girl who thought she was going to have her fairy tale with you anymore." she raised an eyebrow, trying to sound steady but her voice failed in the end. "Isn't that what we have here?" he pointed with his other hand at Daejung and she hesitated for a moment. "And I'm seeing that you're not a little girl anymore." Jeno looked at her from head to toe, causing a shiver to run through Y/N's entire body. “Do you think flirting with me will change anything after all this time?” Yes, her body screamed. Jeno cocked his head, his eyes were smiling playfully and it was almost as if he was taking it as a challenge. "Is that what you want? Tell me, I do.” Y/N got lost in the intensity of Jeno's dark eyes, it had been so long and even after feeling so much resentment, so much anger at having felt abandoned, her body still reacted the same way. Hands sweating, eyes blinking too much. By God, she even looked like that fifteen-year-old girl who'd confessed to him that she was in love. But reality reminded her that she wasn't that anymore, so she put her hand on Jeno's wrist that was still touching her and lowered her head. “Leave, Jeno.” she asked, uncertainly. The texture of his skin was still exactly the way her fingertips remembered it. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked in a soft voice and that only made Y/N even more confused. In response, she just nodded, still avoiding looking him in the eye. Without hearing her voice, Jeno leaned the foreheads together and the hand that held her chin went to her cheek and covered her with the warmth she had been missing for so long, Y/N even felt a shiver on the back of her neck when Jeno's fingers touched that place unintentionally. "Then look into my eyes." even though he had ordered it, Jeno's voice was so calm that Y/N couldn't resist the will of her own body and do what he asked and her legs wobbled, he was too close and it was the perfect opportunity to dive into the immensity of dark eyes . "Tell me it's too late and I swear I'll be gone forever, you'll never see me again." Y/N remained silent, as much as she was angry and upset, that wasn't what her heart wanted. She had suffered for many months for the lack of Jeno's presence but she was aware that she would never be able to live without him. But she still couldn't step on her pride and simply allow them to go back to what they had before, she had never been in such a difficult conflict and the way Jeno was staring at her so intensely wasn't helping her body to hold on.  She always thought Jeno's eyes spoke a lot more than he ever did and always managed to find all the answers there. And as in the past, she saw that he was sincere. She could see the pain he felt as well as she did, as if his eyes were a mirror reflecting her own anguish, her own sadness but also her hope. As if the world was spinning very slowly, Jeno brought his lips closer and captured them with a passion held for months and miles that separated them, Y/N felt her entire body tremble and heat at the same time, heart practically jumping out of her mouth with that surprised, quick touch. "You can't think that just one kiss will make me-" she started to speak when he pulled away enough but was silenced instantly, Jeno this time kept his lips together and she only closed her eyes when she saw him he did it first, surrendering to the longing he felt. Jeno's free hand grabbed her by the waist and brought her closer, Y/N felt her body collide with Jeno's and she placed both hands on his chest to balance herself as she sighed against his lips. Jeno's lips were warm and tender just as she remembered, even with the feeling of discovering themselves for the first time, he knew exactly what to do to leave her practically swooning in his arms. That was why he used his tongue with agility so that Y/N didn't have time to think about anything but opening her mouth and allowing the tastes to mingle. The kiss, while slow and sweet, was also reconnecting them again with how they felt about each other. As if all the barriers, all the uncertainties and the lack of communication had turned to dust. Jeno felt his chest hurt so hard it made Y/N stay there but he didn't care, Y/N grunted as his hand went to the back of her neck and held her tight as she tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss even more. But all the heat that Jeno's body emanated and found with her own, plus the way his tongue played with hers, made her lose strength in her legs and her breathing much faster than she wanted and she had to force her hands against his chest, more defined than she remembered it, to pull away. The foreheads met again as did the heavy breathing, noses touching softly and when Y/N opened her eyes and saw Jeno's swollen red mouth she forgot what had made her pull away. To be honest, would she have the strength for it? "Forgive me." he said, opening his eyes and Y/N frowned, confused. “For leaving without you, not knowing what you were going through. I always felt there was something holding me to you besides the love I felt but I didn't know what it was." Y/N smiled weakly. "It was your dream, I would never ask you to stay and live a life you weren't ready for." she replied, looking away and her fingers started playing with Jeno's shirt. “I always wanted to have a family with you.” he snapped, making no move to release her. He couldn't even do that now. “But not without planning.” Y/N remembered the plans she and Jeno had made in the past, he would get the dream job and take her with him, after he was stable, they would find a better place to live and have two kids. But fate decided to advance everything. Jeno got the job in another city too quickly at the same time Y/N found out she was pregnant, not wanting to destroy Jeno's plans she simply didn't tell him about the pregnancy and stayed in town, letting Jeno believe she would wait for him. And well, she did. Along with Daejung, badly missing him. But she never said anything about her son, or let anyone know that the baby was Jeno's because she knew it would make him go back and leave everything he'd conquered, she'd feel guilty and he'd feel pressured. "Everything I had planned, every dream I had has become meaningless without you." Y/N stared at him, feeling the tears come back. “I confess I was upset when you said we'd better break up and when I asked you to wait for me because I'd be back, it was a promise. I didn't want to leave you but I had to. I understood why you didn't want to keep in touch when I left, but it was like I left a huge part of myself with you. I didn't even feel complete, and after so much time focusing on my work I realized that being there without you wasn't what I wanted, so I came back earlier to try to convince you that I didn't run away." Jeno smiled sideways and the fingers still firm on Y/N's waist began to make a slow caress. "But I was a little surprised when my parents told me they hadn't seen you in almost an year." “As hard as it was, I knew that if your parents knew, you would eventually find out. So when my belly really grew, close to being born, and a little later I hid from everyone.” she confessed and Jeno took his other hand to cover hers which was still playing with the fabric of the shirt he was wearing. "And would it have been so bad?” Y/N laughed through her nose and shook her head. “I knew you'd be back right away, I just…” she shrugged and Jeno encouraged her to continue. "I didn't want you to give up everything for us and end up regretting it later." Jeno looked at her with compassion and brought her face closer so he could place a lingering kiss on her forehead, Y/N just closed her eyes at the contact. “The only thing I regret was wasting all this time.” she opened her eyes and saw Jeno staring at Daejung with a twinkle in his eye, one she rarely ever saw. "Having missed your growing belly, the birth of my son, the nights with him. Forgive me for not being here when you needed me the most, for not holding your hand on the nights you were alone." Y/N didn't even notice the tears starting to run down her face, she only felt it when Jeno stared at her cheeks and reached for his hand to wipe them away. She felt her heart warm, as if she were melting all the ice she had built up during the time Jeno had been away, and she saw how sorry Jeno was. He practically begged. “I’m the one who must ask for your forgiveness.” Jeno shook his head, as if he said it wasn't necessary, but for Y/N it was. “I hid it from you because I was afraid. From everything, from everyone.” Jeno didn't let her continue and hugged her tight, practically crushing her against his body, but when he felt Y/N relax as she just brought her hands to the back of his neck and played with his hair, he could relax too. He didn't need to listen to her explanations because he understood, he didn't want to relive the wounds left in the past, he just wanted to convince her that he was back to fight. Fight for their love, fight for her and with her. “Who knew that the couple who talked the most during high school would break up just because of lack of communication.” Y/N spoke and laughed against Jeno's skin, making him smile, more at the memory. "I promise you this will never happen again." Jeno pulled back far enough that he could look Y/N in the eye, steady and intense in the way it always was with him. "If you'll let me, if you'll forgive me, I'll take care of both of you." Y/N didn't need Jeno to say anything else, she saw it in his eyes that it was true. Unlike the day when she really thought they were over, when she didn't have the courage to look him in the eye, now she believed. The eyes are the door to the heart, they say, and she could see Jeno's there. It was sincere, pure, hard to resist. And the truth was, she didn't want to resist. Because in all her dreams it was that moment when they arrived, when they stayed together, when they fought together. She could never ignore what she felt for Jeno, it was too strong and the bond they had would be eternal. Daejung bound them for all eternity. “Of course. I love you, Lee Jeno. More than before.” she saw Jeno smile broadly. "I love you and I'll be here forever." he promised. And she knew he would keep that promise, just like all the others.

#jeno scenarios #jeno scenario #jeno fanfic #jeno imagine #jeno fluff #jeno imagines #jeno x reader #jeno x y/n #jeno x you #nct scenario #nct fanfic #nct fluff #nct imagine #nct scenarios #nct x reader #nct x you #nct x y/n #nct dream imagines #nct dream scenarios #nct dream x reader #nct dream x you #nct dream x y/n #Parents!AU #Maari #request #kpop scenarios #kpop imagines #kpop x y/n #kpop x reader #kpop x you

[justhere4kpop]

~Beautiful Stranger~

Pairing: Yunho x Reader. (The guys are involved at some point too but not romantically.) NonIdol! AU

Description: A lonely perpetually single grad student working at a museum is approached by a handsome man, he looks expensive. Maybe this is your chance to get swept off your feet. Maybe he wants something else.

Warnings: I don't censor myself so I don't censor the characters, so Language warning. Let me know if I missed anything.

taglist: @legohwa, @hwaightme

a/n: Okay! I was originally going to make this a one-shot but I think I have too much storyline in my head to make it that way so Surprise! Series time! I'm really excited about this one so please let me know what you guys think, I'm having so much fun writing it already.

Also yes the Teaser is included at the beginning of the chapter, I added some stuff to it so I just put it in.

w/c: 4258

Chapter One: Handsome Stranger

The blaring sound of my morning alarm disturbs the dreams of a man sweeping me off my feet, his voice no longer sweet as honey but now Kick It by NCT 127. I guess I’m getting introduced to some New Thangs today  So it was going to be that kind of day, no school but long hours at work as a gallery attendant but also archivist in training, the latter being an unpaid internship…of course. Yeah, long day. I got up, finally silencing my alarm and pulling myself out of my full sized bed, the only luxury I could afford on my own, to drag myself down the hallway to our shared bathroom and brush my teeth. Let’s hope I’m awake enough to remember not to drink Orange Juice again as I look for breakfast. Now how long until I have to catch my train? And if I miss it how long until the bus? It’s not a terrible walk but I need to eat. Maybe I can get to Uni from here. Why does London have to be so confusing!

I’m not originally from the UK but my parents moved back and forth for a variety of things while I was growing up so it’s like a second home. I came here for my graduate program in Art History and made a few friends…moved in with them and now there’s 5 people in an apartment made for 3. We all go to University College London and live off campus in the cheapest place we could find. I was fortunate enough to get a job and internship at The National Gallery here. I’m lucky and I can pay rent but that’s about it, I’m by no means well off and trust me I could use a few extra of any sort of money. 

“You’re up early y/n” William, my flatmate’s boyfriend said passing by the open door.

“Work.” was all I mumbled as I head back to my room to pick out my outfit for the day. I stayed up writing this stupid research paper all night and what do I have to show for it…the not so designer bags under my eyes. Most days are filled with a plethora of alarms going off around the same time, lucky for my flatmates, I’m the only one with work today I guess. Alright, which combination of suit pants, blouse, and jacket am I going to wear today…All Black? All Black. I finished setting everything out before heading downstairs to eat just in case I got something on my shirt again. Last time I decided to make this beautiful breakfast sandwich with a runny egg and it broke onto the bright pink blouse I had picked for the day on the tube going to work, my boss was not happy about the spill. Did I cry, yeah…hey the saying is crying over spilt milk not spilt eggs.

“Oh hi y/n!” my other flatmate's girlfriend Emma cheerily said. “I’m just making Becks some breakfast do you want any?”

“Sure Ems…thanks.” I nodded. If I didn’t have to cook I wasn’t going to complain. Oh that’s the other thing you should know, I’m the only one single in this apartment anymore…or flat. Whatever you want to call it. 

The two sleeping while their partners roam around are my best friends for 2 years, Becka (Rebecca) and Liz (Elizabeth), I only use their full names when I’m angry at them, there have been plenty of arguments in the small confinement of our apartment. There’s 2 bedrooms upstairs, one above the living room, one above the downstairs bedroom, the bathroom is in between the two and just up the set of stairs. Downstairs is the living room, and subsequent dining area. Kitchen is just through to the back and off to the right is bedroom number 3. Yes we all share one bathroom, no it’s not as fun as it sounds. I live in the room at the front of the place above the living room. I was going to take the downstairs room because I came home late and didn’t want to wake anyone until Liz and Will got together, when they started dating they went at it like rabbits. Becka offered to switch with me since she was barely home to begin with, she and Emma had just started dating so she was with her a lot, at school doing lengthy research papers, or at her internship at the hospital. Her internship slowed down so she had a lot of time to be home and spend time with the love of her life. They’re cute don’t get me wrong…just unfortunate to be the only one single here. 

“Thanks again Ems.” I said cleaning the plate I used as I got up to finally get dressed. “It was really good, Becka is lucky to have you.”

“I certainly am.” said woman came into the room perking up at her partner. “Thank you again love.”

“I’ll be going before that breakfast makes a fast journey back up.” I laughed receiving a towel to the face. I put on the outfit I had picked out, touched up my hair so I didn’t look like I was coming out of bed, and set off for the day. Thankfully I didn’t miss my train so it was only 45 minutes to get to work. I know that sounds like a lot but it’s not so bad when you’re used to it. I get to listen to music and relax a little more before starting a long long day.

The opening of a museum is never exciting, there’s probably 10 maybe 15 guests in the first 3 hours of opening, not much to do, luckily the museum lets me work on my internship first on these long days so I’m not bored out of my mind by the time I’m done. I usually clock in around lunch time finally and sit or stand around for the rest of the day depending on what they want me to do that day. 

“Y/n” you’re going to be in Room 43 today.” my boss Henry looked at me.

“Well at least I get to look at some of my favorites today.” I sighed, knowing I was going to be on my feet for the rest of the day was not something to invoke joy. Room 43 on Level 2 had our Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Seurat paintings, most notably Sunflowers by Van Gogh, Van Gogh’s Chair, and Motherhood by Picasso. One of my favorites was-

“A Vase of Flowers, Paul Gauguin,” said the smoothest voice I’ve ever heard. Like butter melting on bread.

“Yes, one of my favorites in the room.” I smiled before turning towards the man. My breath hitched, there before me stood a man about 6 foot 1, dressed in a suit that looks like I don’t know how to pronounce the designers name, oxford shoes, no tie,his nose had a slight point to it, a jawline that looked like it was sculpted by Michelangelo, full eyebrows, his eyes soft and warm, finally his black hair. He was perfect, absolutely stunning, I wanted to look at him more than the art around me.

“Can you tell me about it?” he smiled.

“Oh, yes absolutely.” Anything to talk to him. “Painted by Gauguin in 1896, painted with Oil Paints-”

“Ah so it needs something breathable to not ruin the paints?” he smiled. “When transported for cleaning?”

“Yes, since oils are very hard to fix if damaged and excess moisture can ruin them like the whole water and oil thing... So um anyways, Paul Gauguin painted 'A Vase of Flowers' when he arrived in Tahiti for his second stay in 1895. The vase is bursting with exotic flowers including hibiscus, white and yellow frangipani and white tiare. The flowers look as though they are past their best as some blossoms have fallen onto the table. This suggests that Gauguin was not interested in the horticultural detail but instead the decorative shapes and interweaving of colors of the display.”

“Very interesting.” his smile grew. “Sorry one of my friends is very interested in this piece but I never knew what it was painted with.”

“Excuse me ma’am.” an older woman called my attention. “I had a question about this piece.”

“Oh, well I’m glad I could help sir. I’m y/n.” I shook his hand. “Please let me know if you have more questions.I’ll um..be over there” I nodded, giving him time to look at the painting. A handsome stranger interested in learning about one of my favorite pieces…he’s probably married. I’m going to be alone forever.

“Thank you beautiful.” he flashed a smile my way. 

The beautiful stranger hung around for quite some time staring at the piece, he even had a notebook where he wrote some notes and made a sketch of the painting. No I wasn’t staring at him…okay maybe I totally was but it’s not everyday you see someone that attractive in here, he was practically an art piece himself. No I wasn’t fantasizing about him taking me away in some fancy car with the engine revving going way to fast down the street to a fancy restaurant where the prices aren’t even on the menu and he tells me not to worry about it and to order what I like, he’d probably call me something cheesy like baby, honey, sweetheart, dear, starlight, honey bun….darling…his. NO! Oh my god you can’t fantasize about that stuff he asked you a question. You really are deprived. 

Work was the same as ever after the man left, I was stuck making sure no one touched the art until the museum closed and then I got to go home after clocking out. Back to the happy couples…I put on my earbuds and walked to the station, after staring at someone all day I wasn’t really ready to be reminded I was single forever. Oh well, no choice…maybe I’ll stop and get food and just head up to my room so they won’t notice.

“Hey y/n!” a voice yelled in the tunnel. “Aww hey do you have your earbuds in?” he tapped my shoulder.

“I have mace!” I whipped around feeling someone tap me. Oh. “Wooyoung! Don’t scare me that way!” I hit him gently and took my earbuds out.

“Heading home?” he asked.

“Yeah, I just got off work.”

“I was hoping you were going to say a date,” he sighed.

“Can’t find one. I stare at paintings from the 1800s all day.” I chuckled and nudged him. “Let me know if you find Degas or Van Gogh walking around, I’m pretty sure I know more about them than myself at this point.”

“I’ll be sure to point them your way.” he smiled. “Not even one of your coworkers huh?”

“I went out for drinks a while ago with David but he was so boring, no spice you know. Plus he’s one of those water is too spicy guys.”

“Oh yeah, ew.”

“I don’t know, maybe I’m just always going to be single. I just want someone…who’s a little interesting you know?”

His eyes lit up, he had heard that sentence a few days ago from someone else, he knew what to do.

“Well maybe I have this friend?” he started.

“Oh god not matchmaker Woo again.” I rolled my eyes as we got on the train.

“Hey look I really thought you two would hit it off.”

“Woo he just wanted to make his ex jealous…and I ended up with a ruined dress and a large bill.”

“I apologized and paid you back for his meal. I’m sorry!”

“I know you did.”

“Okay but seriously, this guy is one of my best friends, he’s got some money, he’s actually single single, like hasn’t had a partner in years single, he likes art, he’s tall, he’s not a scumbag, and he’s interesting. I promise you’ll like him.” he pleaded.

“Woo I just-”

“Pleaseeee just one date and then if you don’t like him you can tell me to fuck off whenever you want, please please please!”

“Okay okay fine…one date. Just…one ok?” I sighed. I trust Wooyoung. I do. He's a good friend, great even…his matchmaking skills are just…hit or miss.

“You won’t regret it, and be sure to thank me at the wedding!” he got up at his stop.

“Woo there won’t-!” the doors closed… “be a wedding.” I groaned. Just what have I gotten myself into.

“Hey sour puss what’s with the face?” Liz asked as I came in.

“Ran into Wooyoung on the train.”

“Oh how’s he doing? Also what did he do, you’re not in a bad mood every time you see him” she smiled. “Will is in the bathroom.” I motioned to head up and stopped at her words

“He begged me to go on a blind date with someone he knows.”

“Oh god because that worked out so well last time.” she smiled.

“What did?” Becka came into the room.

“Woo set y/n up on a blind date…again.” Liz smiled.

“Oh god, you have my number I will come get you.” Becka chuckled.

“He promised it wouldn’t be as bad this time but I don’t know I’m still worried.” I rubbed my arm. “He did apologize for last time but still…that was so bad.”

“Do you know anything about this one?” Liz asked.

“Apparently he’s tall, very single, likes art, and has money?” I said remembering what Wooyoung told me on the train.

“Ooo tall handsome rich single man?” They both chuckled. “How does Wooyoung know someone like that?”

“Beats me honestly, but I said I would try…even though I regret it already.”

“And when is said date?” Becka asked.

“Dunno….he’ll probably text me about it later.” I sighed. “I mean I guess it couldn’t be too bad to try.”

“It’s probably worse to trust Woo than to go on the date.” Liz smiled and Will came down.

“Who’s got a date?” he asked.

“y/n” Liz said and made room on the couch for her boyfriend.

“Oh y/n has a date?” Emma sat next to Becka.

“I’m off to bed, it looks like a date night.” I waved. 

No need to be reminded I’m still…very much single.

~~~~~~~~~

“Hyung Hyung Hyungie Hyung-ah Hyunghyunghyung” Wooyoung began annoying the older man at his desk.

“Yes Wooyoung?” Yunho looked up from his computer, blueprints and notes scattered around the desk. “Do you need another reference photo or something?”

“No no that’s fine, it’s all coming together.” Wooyoung brushed the man off. “I found you the perfect date!”

“Woo we’ve talked about this, I don’t date.” he sighed.

“No no listen really, she's perfect for you, she’s single and lives with two other couples so she’s practically begging to get out, she doesn’t ask a lot of questions, she knows a bunch about art and everything.”

“Wouldn’t that make it easier for us to get caught Wooyoung? She could tell fakes from the real ones?”

“Nah her eyesight is too bad for that unless she’s up close and personal. She could help us out with transporting them properly, you know, how to keep them undamaged. Plus she’s really pretty, you’d like her…oh and she’s funny, sarcastic, looks good on your arm at a party.”

“Why don’t you date her then?”

“Oh hyung don’t be silly, you’re the one getting old, you need to settle down, don’t you want to spend time with someone, you know spend some of that money on them, have someone besides us…help relieve some stress?”

“We’re the same age Wooyoung.” he closed his laptop.

“Oh no, my birthday is in November, yours just passed.”

The room got quiet.

“You’re not letting this go until I say yes are you?”

“Oh come on just one date! You’ll like her, I bet you’ll even get married come on! Please please please please please please please please please please please please pleasepleasepleaseplease-”

“Okay!!...Okay fine, just one date, and we’re not-” Wooyoung left. “Getting married…”

Yunho couldn’t help but think of the beautiful stranger he met at the museum earlier, he caught her staring a few times but couldn’t bring himself to say more in case she got suspicious, but man did he want to, her smile was infectious, her clothing choices mimicked his own, she knew about the art he wanted…but he’s a criminal, no one would ever want to be with a criminal, it’s not that he can’t do the time he just wouldn’t want to drag someone else into it, although he certainly wouldn’t mind coming out to that beautiful face…if he ever got caught that is, he has no plans on making that a reality. 

“One date.” he sighed to himself.

~~~~~~~~~~

I smoothed over the dress I chose for tonight, Wooyoung couldn’t wait to text me and tell me his friend said yes. Why did I bother saying yes this is…no let’s..let’s be hopeful, maybe he’ll be nice, and funny, and hopefully a little good-looking….please Wooyoung…don’t do this to me.

“You look gorgeous y/n!” Emma and Liz squealed, their partners on the couch. 

“We definitely won’t be seeing you tonight.” Becka chuckled.

“Oh please I’m definitely not going to sleep with this guy, it’s the first date and it’s a Wooyoung blind date.” I rolled my eyes.

“I mean if he’s lucky we won’t see you tonight.” Liz laughed. “He’ll certainly only have his eyes on you this time.”

“One can hope” I groaned. “I better go, I don't want to show up late.” I grabbed my purse and a long black coat to keep warm. Of course there’s a hole in the pocket…I really need to get this fixed. 

“It’s going to be warm out, just forget the coat and get it fixed later.” Liz called out. “Go go! You’ll be late.”

It feels weird to walk around the city in just a dress and heels, I feel a little exposed but it’s not any different from the other people I’ve seen I guess…I made my way to the station to go to the restaurant Wooyoung had picked out, he told me to dress fancy so I got the fanciest dress I could. Black and white, a little lace, elegant but not over the top, stops at the knee, a cute little black heel and my hair pulled up into one of those fancy buns. Hopefully I remembered my glasses this time in my bag.

When Jung Wooyoung says fancy restaurant he wasn’t kidding, I’m pretty sure an appetizer here costs my entire rent, there’s not even prices on the menu how am I supposed to afford-

“Miss y/n?” A voice called. Sounds….familiar?

“Yes?” I turned around and it was the guy from the museum. “Oh hello.” I blushed

“It’s nice to see you again, are you waiting for someone?”

“My um..my friend set me up on this..silly blind date.” I chuckled lightly.

“How funny me too.” he smiled. “I wouldn’t be rude to assume you know a Jung, Wooyoung?”

“That would be the one.” I nodded gently.

“Well how funny would it be if I told you the very person sent me here on a silly blind date as well?”

“Well I suppose that would be…quite nice actually.” I sighed. “Last time I let him talk me into this…it didn’t go well.”

“Ah I know the feeling. She went after her ex after spending 30 minutes with me.” he chuckled.

“Ironic, mine used me to get back with his ex.”

“Now isn’t that just something.” he offered his hand to me. “Shall we go in?”

“How gentlemanly.” I let out a chuckle.

“Oh I’m Yunho by the way, Jeong Yunho.” 

“Oh a James Bond type I see. Last name first.” I chuckled. “Y/n L/n. Sorry I went the other way.”

“Oh god!” they both thought. “It’s you from the museum! What should I do?...stay calm, it’s just a date.”

I never thought I’d thank Wooyoung for setting me up on a date but, I might after this one…he’s so…he’s almost too perfect to be true, he’s interested in what I do, he’s charming, funny, he’s handsome…I..I almost feel like I’m dreaming. I’m pinching myself and not waking up so this has to be real, please be real. If this is a prank Wooyoung I’m never speaking to you again. 

“I should warn you beautiful, I’m quite dangerous.” he chuckled

“Oh are you now? Maybe I should’ve brought a bat.”

Time felt forgotten, it passed by so fast but so slow. Before we knew it the restaurant was closing and asking us to leave.

“Oh don’t worry about the bill.” he waved his hand at me reaching for my wallet. “It’s on me tonight.”

“I couldn’t possibly let you-”

“I insist beautiful.” he smiled and handed the waiter his card….A Black Credit Card!??!?! Oh my god.

“Next time is on me.” I said my cheeks were heating up. “A-As long as it’s pizza.” I joked…not really.

“Pizza sounds perfect if you’re there.” he winked. Oh man he is dangerous. “Can I walk you home? Or perhaps drive you?” he beeped his car…his very expensive silver car. A Rolls Royce?

“Oh my god.” I whispered. “What do you do?” I laughed.

“Oh I just inherited a lot of money from my uncle.”

“Oh sure, do you sell organs on the black market?” I nudged him gently.

“Oh no way, blood freaks me out.” he laughed. “I invest.”

“Sure.” I smiled and got in the car.

“Where to?” he asked.

“Oh right.” I gave him my address and we were off. It was bittersweet driving with him, I really didn’t want it to end yet. If this was going to be my only date with Yunho then…I just wanted to feel special for a little while longer. “Um, would you mind if we made a short stop first? It’s just…a really nice night out and I don’t want to…with my roommates and all.”

“Sure, I wouldn’t mind staying out myself.” he smiled.

“There’s a park just up ahead.” I said bashfully. “We could just…walk around?”

“I like that idea.” he pulled over to the park and before I could even think about opening my door he had sprinted around the car to open it.

“Ever the gentleman.” I stepped out and he offered his arm.

We walked around the park for a little just continuing our conversations from earlier, he shared about his childhood days, some of the stuff he and his brother used to do, his friends and how he met Wooyoung. It was all great until a breeze swept through.

“Here.” he shrugged off his coat and pulled it around me. “Better?” he smiled and his touch on me lingered slightly.

“Better.” I whispered and looked at him. “Thank you.”

“Sure.” he cleared his throat and pulled back slightly. 

It was close to 11pm when we finally decided we had been out long enough, I would hopefully not get hazed about the date and he would hopefully be able to go back to whatever he wanted. Even if it was just one date, it felt like a million and it just felt wonderful.

“Oh your coat.” I started taking it off as we pulled up to my little flat.

“Just give it to me next time Beautiful.” he smiled and put his hand up to stop me.

“Are you sure?”

He nodded.

I leaned over the center console and kissed his cheek leaving a slight pink imprint there.

“Goodnight Yunho, thank you for the…probably most perfect night of my life listening to me talk about work.” I smiled and got out of the car. I’ll miss him.

“Goodnight Beautiful.” he smiled more to himself as he drove off when she walked in her front door.

Did I receive the interrogation of a lifetime? Yes absolutely.

Could I stop smiling? No..Not at all. He listened to me ramble about work and school and how overwhelming it is, he listened to me talk about different paints and how to preserve them and take care of them like it was the most interesting thing he ever heard. I almost hate him for how perfect he is.

“Jung Wooyoung, I'm going to kill you.” I said as he picked up the phone.

“What?! Why!? What happened!?” he sat up on the other line.

“How could you literally give me that after all the shit dates you’ve set me up on!”

“Was it bad? You guys have been out for hours!”

“No! It was amazing! I can’t believe you!” I groaned and flopped onto my bed. “He was…kind and sweet and charming and caring and…everything and I hate you for it.”

“...BECAUSE I WAS RIGHT???”

“BECAUSE YOU WERE RIGHT!” I sat up. “Why did you have to be right!?”

“Because I’m amazing, excuse you. You liked him.”

“Yes.”

“You liked him a lot?”

“Wooyoung I literally would drop everything right now to just listen to his laugh.” I sighed. “It's pathetic.”

“I’ll let you know what he says, I just heard the front door.”

“No Wooyoung please, it's fine. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.” I sighed. “I’ll have to give you his coat too.”

“He gave you his coat? Oh my god. See marriage.”

“Goodnight Woo.”

“I’m the matchmaker god after all.”

“Goodnight! Woo.” I hung up. I hate this.

I hate men.

`Next

#ateez fic #ateez fanfic #ateez x reader #yunho #yunho x y/n #yunho x reader #my writing #Beautiful Stranger #by me

[mingkist]

cassiopeia | kprofiles

Cassiopeia (카시오피아) is a five member South Korean girl group under SM Entertainment. The group consists of Minho, Sage, Yn, Orion and Sook. They debuted on July 08, 2018 with the digital single “Athena.”

Official greeting: “All in one! Hi, we are Cassiopeia!”

Fandom name: Naiad (나이아드)

Fandom Colors: Ecru

smrookies sage cassiopeia sage

Stage Name: Sage (세이지)

Birth Name: Park Eun-ae (박 은애)

Position: Leader, Lead Rapper, Sub Vocalist

Birthday: April 13, 1997

Zodiac Sign: Aries

MBTI Type: INTP

Nationality: Korean

Official Symbol: Hamster 🐹

Insta: @/ps_sage

⇒ Sage facts

She moved to AUS for university where she auditioned for SM after losing a bet to her friend, she moved back to Korea after being accepted as a trainee.

Her stage name Sage was given by the company to fit into the group's concept, a sage, in classical philosophy, is someone who has attained wisdom.

She shares her room with her other member, Minho.

On January first, 2020 Dispatch reveals her relationship with Seventeen’s Mingyu. On January second, 2020 both companies confirmed their relationship.

While Minho, Yn, and Orion were abroad for their solo schedules, she and Sook released a unit song called ‘Daylight’ where they took part in the song writing process.

Sage’s ideal type: someone sweet, caring, respectful.

smrookies minho cassiopeia minho

Stage Name: Minho (민호)

Birth Name: Park Minho (박 민호)

Position: Visual, Main Rapper, Face of the group

Birthday: March 20, 1994

Zodiac Sign: Pisces

MBTI Type: ESFJ

Nationality: Korean

Official Symbol: Cake 🍰

Insta: @/m.minho

⇒ Minho facts

Minho is the oldest member of Cassiopeia.

She was a huge Revuluv and was scouted at a Red velvet fan sign.

Was in talk to be a brand ambassador for Miu Miu but ended up becoming an ambassador for Chanel instead.

Is roommates with Sage.

Co-parents a pet cat named Cole slaw with Orion.

She and Yn are part of SM’s project girl group, GOT the beat.

Enjoys cooking and shares recipe with Ateez’s Wooyoung, and more recently, Seventeen’s Mingyu.

Minho’s ideal type: someone who is smart and kind.

smrookies yn cassiopeia yn

Stage Name: Yn

Birth Name: Ln Yn

Position: Main vocalist, Lead dancer, Center

Birthday: Unknown

Zodiac Sign: Unknown

MBTI Type: Unknown

Nationality: Unknown

Official Symbol: Four leaf clover 🍀/ Tulip 🌷

Insta: @/everywhere.yn

⇒ Yn facts

Became a trainee after passing through a global audition.

Is good friends with many NCT and Aespa members, said to have trained together.

Is close friends to Ateez, says that Hongjoong is one of her best friend.

It was rumored that she and NCT Wayv’s Xiaojun were together.

On January first, 2022 Dispatch reveals her relationship with Ateez’s Yunho. A few hours later both KQ Ent. & SM Ent. confirmed their relationship.

She and Minho are part of SM’s project girl group, GOT the beat.

Has a pet rabbit named Cobb salad.

Had her acting debut in Netflix’s original ‘Girlhood’ where she played the lead actress.

Yn’s ideal type: someone who understands that she doesn’t mean any harm when she teases them.

smrookies orion cassiopeia orion

Stage Name: Orion (오리온)

Birth Name: Lee Sooyoung (이 수영)

Position: Main dancer, Lead vocalist, Center

Birthday: July 13, 1999

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

MBTI Type: ENFP

Nationality: American

Official Symbol: Bear 🐻 / Onion 🧅

Insta: @/orion.sbelt

⇒ Orion facts

Was born and raised in Boston, and had followed a staff member into an audition because they offered her a free croissant at the SM cafe.

She chose the stage name Orion based off of the constellation and the hunter in greek mythology.

Was in talk to be a brand ambassador for Chanel but ended up as an ambassador for Miu Miu.

Co-parents a cat named Cole slaw with Minho.

Orion’s ideal type: someone energetic and fun, can make her laugh.

smrookies sook cassiopeia sook

Stage Name: Sook (숙)

Birth Name: Min Sook (민 숙)

Position: Visual, Lead vocalist, Maknae

Birthday: June 16, 2000

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

MBTI Type: ESFP

Nationality: Korean

Official Symbol: Tiger 🐯

Insta: @/signedbysook

⇒ Sook facts

She was scouted at her school's talent show where she joined because she wanted a participant badge.

Is known to be a social butterfly who knows everyone from her trainee years.

Is closest with NCT's 00 liners (the dreamies to be specific), Jongho and Skz 00 liners.

Was rumoured to be dating both NCT Dream’s Jeno and Ateez’s Jongho at the same time. Both were proven false.

Took part in creating a concept for Sage & Sook’s unit song ‘Daylight’.

Sook’s ideal type: someone who the opposite of her to balance her out, someone calm, quick witted

#⇔ smau series: perhaps love #→ girlgroup: cassiopeia #⇔ smau series: ardent love #ateez x reader #ateez smau #ateez au #ateez fanfiction #ateez texts #ateez x yn #ateez x you #yunho x y/n #yunho x you #yunho fanfic

[yuta-nakamots]

Touch - S.Johnny

Pairing(s) - Volleyball!Johnny x Female Reader, featuring Ten as Johnny’s roommate and teammate

Genre(s) - Fluff, University!AU, friends to lovers

Warning(s) - descriptions of an injury (Johnny gets injured during a game)

Summary - As a first year student majoring in English, you would have never thought that you’d end up working for the sports news network at your university. Even more so, flirting with one of your coworkers who happens to be on the men’s volleyball team.

Word Count - 8.6k

Author’s Note - I’ve had this in my drafts for nearly 2 years now and I’m so happy to finally release it! It’s been a while since I’ve competitively played volleyball so I’m sorry if my descriptions of actions aren’t the best but feedback is always appreciated!

Written for the NCT Sports Collab previously hosted by @leesmrk (deactivated) and currently hosted by @yuta-nakamots​ (me)​.

Leaving home for college in your second semester was definitely scary and to make it worse, you did not know anyone at your school. There were a few other students who graduated from your high school but they were not close enough to call them friends. What’s more, you had promised your parents that you would get a part-time job to help pay for tuition without a single clue of how to go about doing so.

It seemed like some higher being was on your side when you received an email with information on the fall semester job fair. As you were going through the long list of departments hiring, none of them really caught your eye except for one, sports news.

Sports News Network: Flexible hours, no grade level standing necessary, open to all students. Experience in sports is preferred. Must be comfortable doing tasks such as running the scoreboard/live stream, taking pictures/videos, and managing player statistics during athletic events. Spring sports include but are not limited to; Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball. If you are interested, please leave your name and university email address. Thank you!

At the job fair, it was almost as if you had tunnel vision while making a beeline toward the booth, barely sparing the others a second glance. It didn’t seem like a boring desk job you would regret taking up so you eagerly jotted down your information on the paper, only slightly worried about the large number of students who applied before you.

You were not clueless with cameras and shooting content. Ever since childhood, you had experience with a wide variety of sports or at least prior knowledge of the ones mentioned in the job description. Leaving the job fair, you felt as dreadfully excited as one could possibly be when entering their first semester at a new school.

About a week later, an email came in from the director of the Sports News Network congratulating you on being hired and asking for your general availability. You responded almost immediately and sent a detailed list of your schedule. Apparently, your schedule was a near-perfect match for the job since athletic games were mostly on weekends, or occasionally weekday evenings while your classes were exclusively on weekdays with most evenings free.

Apparently, it was not common to take so much initiative because you were one of the first new hires brought in to start training at a women’s volleyball game. Most of the other people working at this particular game had at least a year of experience. They had little to no difficulty going between fulfilling their duties and also instructing you on how to do yours or fixing it when you made a mistake.

Though you were given mostly menial tasks like running the scoreboard and monitoring the live stream, it was most enjoyable when you were handed a camera and told to go down on the court and take action shots. It seemed a bit scary with all the balls flying around, looking like they were coming directly at you through the lens of the camera.

“Careful, sometimes it feels like dodgeball over here,” one of your coworkers joked. “Here, take my spot in the corner, I’ll get the ones behind the court line. I’m Johnny, by the way. You’re one of the new hires right?”

“Yeah, it’s my first day actually,” you informed him while switching spots with him. “How long have you been working here?”

“Three years now. I started when I was a freshman and never left,” he shared as he caught a ball that had been hit out of bounds.

You took a few pictures of both teams celebrating their hard work as the set concluded. “Interesting. What’s been keeping you here so long?”

“First off, I love photography and it’s been a hobby of mine since maybe the end of middle school,” he ushered you off to the side of the court where it was not as crowded, “second, I’m on the men’s volleyball team so it helps to have a hand in what gets posted about us and make sure all the information is correct. It motivates me even more if anything since I want to make sure my teammates look good.”

“Wow, this is practically the perfect job for you then,” you remarked while going over your shots from throughout the game.

Johnny chuckled a bit. “Yeah, I guess one could say that.”

He became an immense help as you started learning all the different roles and tasks for the Sports News Network. He showed you the best spots for pictures in each sport and how to take ones that are more likely to get chosen for the school newspapers. He was also the one to teach you how to run the sound system of the gym though he could not help himself from acting like an upscale DJ in the process.

He even made sure to introduce you to some of your other coworkers who were more experienced, similar to himself. Since men’s volleyball was coming up, he would be on the court as an athlete instead of working so he wanted to make sure you were comfortable asking other employees for help too. The thought of seeing Johnny in action was exciting and you could only imagine how he would look in his volleyball uniform and not his normal hoodie and jeans ensemble.

It felt intimidating to be taking photos without Johnny beside you to ask for advice. Though it was reassuring to be able to see him through the lens of the camera knowing he was still right in front of you. Really, it was even possible to just run over during a timeout or while he sat on the bench if you seriously needed his help.

Despite this, it seemed like he was intent on making it obvious he was still paying attention to you even when on the court. When he and his team came out to warm up, they were met with the enthusiastic cheering of their fans and you took pictures of them waving and hyping up the crowd. Johnny was quick to find you and make a funny face, eliciting odd looks from his teammates toward him.

During warm-ups, he did not hesitate to strike a pose while running through your line of sight and stopping so you could get a better shot of him. “How do I look?” he asked, after mimicking The Discobolus after shagging a ball.

“Amazing,” you joked, “wanna take a look?”

“Hmm, that’s good but it would look better once I’m uniform.” He rolled up the sleeves of his warm-up shirt and recreated the pose. “Something more like this, you know? To get the boys in there.”

“Right, got it.” You laughed while he got called back into the drill by one of his coaches. There were a few of his teammates giving you second glances but you figured it was because Johnny kept interacting with you.

Once the starting lineups were being announced for both teams, you tried to do as Johnny instructed, situating yourself at a forty-five-degree angle from the team. Fortunately, the opposing team, the Warriors, was called out first so there was time to practice on them before taking pictures of your own men’s team.

You wanted to make sure Johnny’s photos look good they would show him you were listening to his advice and taking the job seriously. It felt like your nervousness only heightened when the crowd erupted in cheers as the Spartan name was mentioned, signaling the start of the home team’s lineup.

Taeyong, the team captain and outside hitter was introduced first, wearing the number 1 on his jersey. He stepped forward and addressed both sides of the gymnasium, giving you more than enough time to get a few pictures of him in. Yuta, the Allstar right-side hitter was next as number 7 followed by Ten, the team’s libero wearing, well, the number 10. Those three were known the be the favorites and the volume of the crowd definitely reflected that.

Sicheng was called upon, with some visible hints of confusion from the audience as the setter position, regularly occupied by Taeil as number 33, was now taken by him with number 28. It occurred to you that Taeil had been missing during warmups though you simply assumed he must be sick or missing for some other reason like an exam or interview. But you were interested in seeing Sicheng play since he hardly ever participated in games due to being a first-year while Taeil was in his final season with the team.

When the Spartan’s middle blocker wearing the number 29 was introduced, you got butterflies in your stomach but it was hard to tell if they were from your slowly developing attraction toward him or not. Johnny proudly came forward and waved to both sides of the gymnasium, lingering just a second longer on the side you were crouched on. Last, but not least, was another first-year student on the team. Jaehyun, adorning the number 77, was introduced and showed off his endearing dimples while acknowledging the crowd.  

The two teams met at the net to exchange greetings before the start of the match and you continued to take shots of the home team, wanting to be able to have gotten a photo for every member of the team. Kun, as number 11 led the rest of the team in following their starting lineup. On the roster, he was listed as the team’s second defensive specialist due to his skill all around the court. Following him was Doyoung, another right-side hitter who wore the number 26 and was often substituted in for Yuta when the older got too heated about bad calls by the officials.

The match started just the same as any other volleyball game, the constant back and forth of the ball making you feel somewhat dizzy at times. The male athletes kept up a faster rally than what was typical in the women’s matches, which left you struggling to keep up with the plays.

You remained on the same side of the court your team was on, which allowed you to hear the news of Taeil’s arrival about fifteen minutes after Taeyong had delivered the first serve of the game. The coaches and staff were anxiously whispering to each other as Taeil slipped into the line of other players standing next to the seats of the bench. “Should we put him in now?” The assistant coach asked.

“No, let’s wait for the boys to get a lead, I don’t want to disrupt the rhythm they have going right now,” the head coach responded. Sicheng started off a bit rocky with some of his sets going a little too low or a bit off target but within a play or two, he had settled down and been able to give his teammates nice passes for their kills.

Once the Spartans had pulled ahead by eight points, Taeil was called on from the lineup and substituted in for Sicheng. The other substitutes congratulated Sicheng as he took a seat on the bench while you got pictures of the other five members on the court welcoming Taeil in.

He had a worried expression on his face while he fell into position, ready for his teammates to receive the incoming serve. Yuta neatly bumped the ball to Taeil at the net, who then set it a little too short for Jaehyun on the outside. He quickly changed his direction to still get it over the net but his attack lacked its normal amount of sheer force.

This allowed the Warriors, to have an easier time organizing themselves to have a strong offensive play, sending Ten diving for the ball when it came beaming over. He had his arm stretched out for the pancaking technique in a desperate attempt to save the play, barely giving Taeil enough time to situate himself under the ball for the second touch. Again, he was unable to successfully hand off the momentum to his chosen hitter, this time being Yuta who had to stop his prep before jumping and spiking from the ground.

The opposing team had yet another opportunity to deliver an attack on the scattered team whose only composed defense was Johnny and Jaehyun shifting around at the net, getting ready to block the other team’s hitter. The ball got sent straight into Johnny’s extended arms causing it to fall slowly towards the ground, interrupted only by Taeil’s effort to get it back in the air.

It was a good attempt but instead of going straight up, it shot out to the back end of the court, none of the boys able to reach it in time. “Get your head in the game, Taeil,” the head coach shouted before shaking his head in disappointment at the senior. “Sicheng, get ready to go back in during the next set.”

The lead the Spartans had previously held became a neck and neck race to the end of the first set. Yuta closed off the last three points with a string of service aces, much to the dismay of the opposing team and the relief of the team next to you. As the court switched sides during the timeout, you reviewed some of the stills and adjusted your settings to have a faster shutter speed after noticing a motion blur in a few of them.

It felt like hardly any time went by when the twelve players were already returning to the court and the Warriors delivered their first serve of the second set. Ten received the ball, effectively stabilizing it for Sicheng who was able to set up a beautiful attack for Taeyong and earn the first point in the set. Now that you were on the opposite side of the court from the team, you could get photos of them from the front and capture their faces instead of just their numbers on the back of their jerseys.

Johnny was up to serve next. Excitement built itself up at the rare sight of a middle blocker serving. With so much distance in the second set remaining, it made sense to allow him to flaunt his court-dominating power. Though he wasn’t often trained to have such a heavy serve, his ball flew into the court with even more intensity than that of Taeyong or Yuta, the team’s strongest hitters.

There was a sequence of chaos as the Warriors struggled to return Johnny’s service, resulting in his first service ace of the game. The audience reacted enthusiastically, showing their support to see the middle blocker being given another go at starting off the play. Johnny ended up claiming his second service ace while the third was cut short by a well-placed attack from the opposing right-side hitter.

The second set continued on similar to the beginning half of the first set and the Spartans quickly racked up their points. By the time the score had reached the 20s, it was getting close to Johnny’s turn to serve once more and you fully expected him to be substituted but it seemed like their coaches wanted to see if they could steal the set with more aces.

You peered through the lens of the camera as Johnny stood at the other end of the court, waiting for the referee to signal for him to serve as he shifted the ball in his hands. This could possibly be the end of another set and the gymnasium was silent aside from the shrill sound of the whistle followed by Johnny’s footsteps as he tossed the ball into the air.

He took only two steps before jumping and pulling his arm behind him, his hand perfectly framing his face. You pressed the button on the camera, hoping the shutter speed would be able to catch these next moments as his hand came down on the ball, launching it across the court, easily clearing the net and falling into play as the opposing team received his strong serve.

There was no time to rest, already finding Johnny’s large frame again and tracking his movements as he fell into position behind Jaehyun, crouching with his hands out, ready for the incoming attack. When you noticed the opposing team’s outside hitter prep for the kill, you took rapid-fire shots again as Jaehyun jumped from the other side of the net, arms extended in hopes of a block.

Both the teams and the crowd burst into chaos as the ball was hit right into Jaehyun’s arms and came falling down against him, sending Ten scrambling to recover it. He managed to pop it up to the back where Johnny prepared to spike it over and again you set your camera off. His hand made contact with the ball, sending it into an empty space on the other side of the court, the opposing team failing to reach it in time.

“And that wraps it up for set two of the game, folks. The Spartans lead the Warriors, two sets to none.” You continued following Johnny as he turned around to celebrate the win of the second set with his teammates and were pleasantly surprised when he parted from their huddle to send a playful look with a pose, drawing laughs from the rest of the team as they either joined him or left for the locker room.

Entertaining him, you took a few photos of him and his teammates until someone came and dragged them away, allowing you to finally head back to the sideline. Since it was halftime, there was a fair amount of time to sit down with your laptop and upload the pictures to see how they came out.

Already, once the first few loaded, you were quite happy with the quality of the stills from today after switching the exposure settings as per Johnny’s suggestion. You were even able to get a few of Kun and Doyoung throughout the few minutes of the set they played before they were substituted out.

The way their skin glistened under the light of the gymnasium was truly something to be adored and you couldn’t help but stare in awe at the way they looked while clicking through the photos. It took a bit of time to get through them all, especially with how many were taken with the rapid shutter speed, but when you finally reached the action shots of Johnny, you could’ve sworn your heart did a little dance in your chest.

His hair fell in front of his eyes as he held the ball in his hands, the veins and athletic tape he wore made them all the more eye-catching. You went through the next few in which the ball floated in the air as he prepped for his service with his lips slightly parted, tracking the ball above him.

You didn’t get to finish looking at them all because the ones where he finally made contact with the ball were particularly eye-catching. Johnny’s arm was extended above his head, his toned muscles flexing as he followed through with the motion. Your eyes trailed down from his arm to his face, where you became lost in the details of his curved lips pulled thin as he clenched his jaw or the small beads of sweat covering his skin.

Going down even further, you took in the broad expanse of his chest and shoulders, the sleeveless uniform granting the privilege of seeing the warm shades of his skin and the definition of his muscles underneath it. You thanked the lightweight uniform once again when there was a glimpse of his abs peeking out from where his shirt drifted upwards, revealing a substantial portion of his torso.

It was almost mesmerizing, looking at Johnny’s physique like this. You were so engrossed in admiring the photo that you didn’t even notice the team coming back out to the court and Johnny’s presence behind you. “You’ve been looking at that picture for nearly a whole minute now. Are you okay?”

Your soul leaped out of your body for a second. “Good lord, don’t scare people like that, Johnny.”

“I was just standing here,” he stated, “you’re the one who found me to be scary.”

“What- wh-” you stuttered in confoundment, “who in their right mind just stands behind people and expects to not be considered scary?”

“Depends,” Johnny shrugged, “who in their right mind stares at a photo of their coworker for a minute straight?”

“I- you know what?” you were fumbling for a witty response, “I could have been checking for motion blur and thinking about which settings to adjust.”

Johnny raised an eyebrow and nodded as if thinking about that situation. “You could have been,” he agreed, “but you weren’t.”

“How would you know that?” you asked mockingly.

“Oh, I just know,” he taunted, “I have my ways.” He glanced over at the scoreboard and saw the time continuing to count down. “Also, I guess this is a better time than ever, but I heard some of the flowers at a botanical garden are gonna bloom this weekend. Would you like to come with me to take some pictures?”

“Yeah sure, just let me know when and we can set something up,” you agreed, “but I think you should get out there, some of your teammates are looking at us.” Ten was standing with his hands on his hips, waiting for his volleying partner to join him.

“Right, I’ll get your number later,” he assured while heading back onto the court, “take shots of my teammates, not just me!” You exhaled heavily, unamused.

Some of the best photos of the match came from the third set since you were now acclimated to the speed of the plays and the movements of the guys on the team. Taeyong had a constant lead-up to his attack compared to Yuta who was more spontaneous. Jaehyun was slower than his teammates but it was obvious why he became a starter despite being only a freshman along with Sicheng, whose setting form was ever so elegant.

The team’s senior setter was not as easy to track, though. Taeil jerked around quite a bit as if he got lost in his thoughts and yanked back out once he processed the ball in the air above him. His strained expression showed something was troubling him and keeping him uneasy throughout the game. He didn’t seem as shaken as before, but the way he quickly rushed out of the gymnasium after the game ended said otherwise.

You were helping your boss clean up the equipment on the sidelines and load the pictures onto the school laptop when Johnny came jogging over before heading to the locker room. “What’s up with Taeil?” you inquired as Johnny grabbed an extra copy of the roster and a pen.

“He didn’t really tell us much but I think it’s got to do with his girlfriend,” he shared. “She’s in my cinematography class and she was acting kinda weird this past week too.” He handed you the paper and pen, “here, write your number on this and I’ll text you later tonight.”

Right, your garden photoshoot ‘date’. You quickly jotted down your number and handed the paper back to him. “Congrats on the win, you guys did good tonight! Go join the rest of them before they start getting suspicious.”

“Oh, they already are, don’t worry about that,” he teased with a wink. You felt yourself heat up at what he could be possibly hinting at but forced yourself to concentrate on the tasks in front of you. It was definitely not a good idea to be imagining a strong, sweaty Johnny holding you and kissing you and-

“Can you bring the laptop back to my office?” your boss requested.

“Yes! Of course!” you replied, possibly with a little too much enthusiasm.

Johnny had sent a message, as he promised, which led to an hour of cheeky bantering before both of you decided to head to sleep since it was getting late. He continued texting you throughout the week and it only increased your excitement to see him again. Sometimes his messages got a little more suggestive but he was probably just being friendly. It’s not like you would know how he treated other girls.

But if he treated all girls in any manner similar to how he treated you, he would be a man of much chivalry and far more pleasant to be around than other guys his age. He gave you a ride to the garden and made sure to hold open any door standing within your path. On top of that, he hardly was on his phone and devoted most of his attention to you throughout the day.

He wore a pale pastel orange button-down shirt with white and yellow flowers on them, the coral color of the shirt bringing out the warmth of his skin tone even more in the late afternoon sunlight. “Oh my gosh! Where did Johnny go? I think I lost him in all these sunflowers!” you dramatically exclaimed when walking past an area filled with the tall yellow flowers just around his height.

He picked up on your skit and stopped in his tracks, clasping his hands together and calling out your name like a damsel in distress. “I seem to have lost track of my dear friend! How will I ever get out of this garden without a brave soul to escort me through it!”

You burst out into laughter at his histrionics. “Why are you so good at that?”

Johnny shrugged nonchalantly, “just watched a lot of movies and studied the actors.”

“Are you interested in becoming an actor someday?” you asked, easily picturing him in a classic romance film or maybe even a blockbuster action movie.

He tilted his head with a thoughtful expression. “Not really acting per se but maybe directing or filming. I enjoy being behind the camera more than I do being in front of it but if an opportunity comes my way to try acting, I wouldn’t turn it down.”

His major in creative media made a lot more sense knowing this information. You had noticed it on the team roster because it seemed a bit out of place compared to the rest of his teammates who were going into things related to health. “I think you’d do so good as an actor,” you admitted, “I would watch all the stuff you’re in.”

Johnny looking at you questioningly. “Anything? Even if it had a nude scene?”

“Sure.” You were flustered by the question but knew you would watch things he starred in. Especially if he had a nude scene.

“Hmm…interesting,” he eyed you with suspicion but continued walking through the garden without further explanation.

It was clear Johnny was awfully confident with his camera in hand and giving advice on how to pose in front of the various flowers. He didn’t hesitate to shower you with compliments and call you a range of things like ‘pretty, hot, sexy, cute, beautiful, amazing’ and nearly anything else you could possibly think of.

While looking at the stills on his display, you definitely had some favorites already but it seemed like Johnny had a few of his own. “Look, a flower among the other flowers,” he said cheesily, presenting a photo where you sat on a bench surrounded by smaller flowers in full bloom.

“Thank you.” Your cheeks heated up from his remark of admiration, causing you to quickly scroll through more photos to calm yourself down. “Hey, how about I get some of you? You’ve only taken pictures of me today. Let me repay you somehow.”

Johnny shook his head, “no that’s okay, I like taking photos of other people.”

“Come on,” you insisted, “you’re so attractive. How do you not want to show that off?”

“Me? Attractive? No way.” He couldn’t possibly be joking when he was this handsome, right?

“Please, Johnny? What about just as a way to remember this date?” you prodded, though quickly regretting your choice of words. “I mean this day itself, not like a ‘date’ date but just a day that we hung out together you know?”

He chuckled at your scramble for words. “I think I’d consider this a date. Wouldn’t you?”

“Uh, yeah, sure, I would too but like-”

“Here, take the camera before you embarrass yourself more.” He handed it over while going to find a spot that suited him. He ended up choosing the wall of sunflowers the two of you had passed by earlier. “Just me and my crew,” he joked when posing in front of them.

You tried to remember the way he had taken your pictures and how he coached you to position yourself during work. Quite honestly, the shots of him came out quite good but you weren’t sure if it was your doing or simply due to Johnny’s photogenic features. “If you were a flower, I’d pick you,” you proclaimed while giving his camera back.

“Not bad, not bad,” he mused, “pretty good, actually.”

“What? My photos of you or my pickup line?” you clarified.

“Both.”

By the time you and Johnny were back in his car, golden hour began to set in and both of you had exchanged more than a sensible amount of pickup lines, even disputing how well some of them would work in certain situations. It was surprising how many casual ones he knew since most of yours took a turn to a more intimate side.

“Duuuuude, are you flirting with me?” he contended after you delivered quite a risky line.

“Maybe, I don’t know,” you teased, wanting to egg him on to see if he knew any.

Johnny hummed in thought before turning in his seat to face you. “Fuck me if I’m wrong but you want to kiss me, right?”

Your eyebrows furrowed as you processed what he just said. “...Gosh, that’s so forward holy shit.”

“But am I right?”

“Should I show you if you are?”

“Go ahead.”

You reached over and cupped Johnny’s face, bringing him closer while leaning in and planting a quick kiss on his lips before releasing him and sitting back into your seat. You wished it was possible to sink further into it and have it swallow you whole once the reality of your actions hit.

“Wow…I can’t believe you just went straight for the lips,” Johnny mused.

You immediately blurted out an apology. “Sorry, I should have asked first, I just thought-”

Johnny cut you off by placing his lips on yours and pulled away with a smile when he felt you reciprocate his kiss. “It’s okay, I liked it. I wouldn’t have said such a suggestive line if I didn’t think you were down for it.”

“You think I’d be down to fuck you? Like right here? Right now?” you gasped.

“No, not really but I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” he teased. “I definitely thought that you wanted to kiss me though, and I was right anyway.”

“Yes, yes you are,” you sighed exasperatedly. His flirty personality kept you constantly on your toes.

A brief silence fell upon the car until Johnny spoke again. “Do you want to try that again but for real this time?”

“Johnny Suh, you’re such a flirt aren’t you?”

“You know you want me.” With that, you met him over the center console as your lips felt his for the third time. This kiss felt warmer than the ones before it and the sincerity behind it was evident. His lips were soft and hot against yours though they never tried to take control. They danced with yours and followed your movements, allowing you to lead.

The kiss lasted only a few seconds but felt much longer because of how intoxicating it was. Purely because of your need for air, you broke away, though you didn’t go very far. Johnny noticed this and waited for you to catch your breath before diving back in and placing a hand around your thigh. He began pushing for more control, his teeth grazing the soft flesh of your bottom lip as if asking to go further. You gave way ever so slightly, waiting to see if he would take the bait but before he could-

Ring ring. His phone rang from inside his pocket.

“Shoot, sorry,” he hurriedly apologized while fishing his phone out using his free hand. He paused when he read the name of the person calling him, “it’s my roommate, sorry, I think I should take this.”

“It’s okay, go ahead,” you reassured him. A friend had once said if a guy felt comfortable enough to answer a call around you, it was a good sign in the relationship. But you weren’t technically with Johnny. He wasn’t yours and you weren’t his. It still must be a good sign though…right?

“Hey, where are you?” You recognized the voice on the other end of the line.

“I’m out at the botanical garden right now. Why? What’s up?”

“Oh, nothing. I just wanted to know where you were because normally you’re at home and I didn’t remember saying anything about going out.” His roommate was Ten from the volleyball team.

You thought it was cute how Ten cared enough about Johnny to call him like this. “Sorry, I thought I mentioned it to you.”

“Wait, are you with that girl you were telling us about? The one that was working during the game last week?” It was both shocking and admirable that Johnny had mentioned you to his roommate and possibly some other guys as well.

“Yeah, I am. She’s with me in the car right now,” he informed Ten.

“Oops, sorry dude,” Ten giggled, “did I interrupt something?”

“Kinda, yeah,” Johnny finally removed his hand from your thigh and you immediately missed the warmth from it. “You did.”

“Damn, Johnny! You get some! And hi, future bestie! You really managed to catch Johnny’s eye so I hope I get to meet you someday.” You looked to Johnny for permission to respond to Ten.

He held the phone out to you, giving you the chance to respond. “Hello! I swear I didn’t mean to steal him away from you.”

“Nah, it’s okay. You can keep him, he’s kinda weird anyway,” Ten bantered.

“That’s enough of that,” Johnny interrupted, pulling his phone back. “I’ll be back in a bit after I drop her off. Thanks for checking on me. See you at the apartment.” He promptly ended the call and tossed his phone into one of the cup holders in the center console. “He can be a handful at times.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve seen you guys on the court together.” You remembered Ten’s exaggerated gestures when Johnny failed to return one of his volleys as they were warming up.

“Yeah,” Johnny echoed. “Well, I guess it’s time to drop you off.”

You pulled the seat belt over your shoulder while Johnny started the car. “Right.”

Despite the air conditioner blowing, the air felt still and stuffy with awkwardness. You couldn’t pinpoint where it came from, nor did you know how to get rid of it. So you simply sat in it and soaked in it, hoping it wouldn’t be a major setback in your relationship with Johnny even on a platonic level. It wasn’t until you had shut the door of his car and watched him drive off, that it felt as if you could breathe freely once more.

Johnny and the rest of the team left for an away game the following week, leaving you slightly bored without his constant texts. It left you slightly anxious not fully knowing where you and Johnny stood after having kissed each other within just a month of meeting each other. Regardless, you decided to watch the live stream of Johnny’s game to support him and the rest of the boys.

Due to the time difference, when you had finally ended class and tuned into the stream, the game was already in its second set with the Spartans up once more against the opposing team. The match was maddeningly close, neither time falling more than five points behind the other and you felt so proud of your schoolmates.

As much as you wanted to watch the game, you still had chores to do around your apartment and went around doing them while treating the live stream as a podcast. You checked back in every few points to monitor the score, the cheers of the audience informing you of how long each play went.

You were heating up a late afternoon snack when the audience began talking amongst themselves, making you think it was a timeout. There wasn’t any music playing as there normally would be during the short break, so you took a quick glimpse at the stream only to find the Spartans huddled around one of their players who was lying on the floor.

It was frustrating that there was no way to enlarge the video and zoom in on the boys. The numbers on their jersey were not big enough to be transmitted clearly and it left you anxiously waiting to hear what happened. As the team helped the injured athlete up and brought him over to the seats at the sideline of the court, your heart sunk when you realized who it was.

There was a replay being shown in slow motion on the large screen in the gymnasium and you watched the ill-fated play. The opposite team’s outside hitter was preparing to attack, both Johnny and Jaehyun jumping to block. Johnny had come over from his centered position, the other team’s defensive specialist mirroring him in case the block was successful and the ball needed to be saved. The defensive specialist had taken large steps in their hurry to get into position and accidentally crossed the centerline.

Following a successful block from Jaehyun, their foot remained over the line just underneath where Johnny was coming down. Your middle blocker landed unsteadily, falling unsteadily to the left since that was the side interrupted by the opposing player’s foot. He crumpled to the floor, grabbing onto his ankle in pain while the play was kindly stopped by the opposing right-side hitter who caught the ball before their attack upon seeing a player down.

“Foot foul by the Huskies. Point given to the Spartans,” the PA announced, interpreting the motions from the referees. “Player substitution for the Spartans, number 94, Sehun Oh coming in for number 29, Johnny Suh, and number 28, Sicheng Dong coming in for number 33, Taeil Moon…timeout called by the Huskies.”

There was so much going on all at once, you could only imagine how shaken the team felt seeing one of their core members become injured. Sehun was a year older than Johnny and was a senior like Taeil, though he was hardly put in because he was not as skilled as his younger counterpart. You weren’t very familiar with him but you knew there wasn’t any bad blood since Sehun and Johnny often fooled around together during practice. But again, Sicheng was being substituted for Taeil and you wondered if this was still due to his recurring lack of focus.

It was an odd mix of players on the court for the Spartans and the team was split into two groups along the sideline. The active players received hurried instruction from their coaches given their new combination while Johnny was surrounded by the athletic trainers and a few of his other teammates offering help where they could.

The game resumed after the short intermission and the Spartans lost the lead they previously held over the opposing team. There was a lot more noise coming from the team as they tried to find a rhythm amongst themselves and communicate who would be doing which touch. You couldn’t help but stare at the bottom corner of the screen where Johnny sat, getting his ankle wrapped. When the set concluded in favor of the Huskies, you saw him being helped off his chair and presumably to the locker room where he could rest out of view.

You struggled to pay attention to the rest of the game, your thoughts constantly wandering over to Johnny. Even though you knew he was not seriously injured since he had managed to hobble off with help from Kun and Doyoung, your worries got the best of you and were driving you insane. What if he couldn’t play for the rest of the season? They still have a few games left but Sehun could probably cover for him. What if he ended up not being able to play for the remainder of his college career? No one else was given the middle blocker position though it was always possible to train another player or recruit someone to the team.

Before you knew it, the match concluded with the Spartans winning a long battle of three sets to two. You turned off the stream and focused your attention on completing assignments but your mind refused to stay put. It was getting late in the afternoon, almost nearing evening, but you still had time until things were due at midnight. Putting on your favorite comfort videos, you spent a while watching those to calm down. At some point, you finally felt peaceful enough to resume your work.

You went to sleep uneasily that night with Johnny remaining in your consciousness. Even when you woke the next morning, he was quick to return. You sent him a message letting him know you watched the live stream and hoped he recovered soon. He responded almost immediately, thanking you for watching his game and saying that he wasn’t in too much pain though he did have to use crutches even past when the team gets home in a few days. You pledged to help him when he came back which he responded to with a simple ‘haha thank you’.

This simple interaction was enough for you to get your fill of him and you didn’t want to disturb him any further so you went about your day as best as you could. There was a basketball game that you were scheduled for and it seemed like all your coworkers had heard the news about Johnny’s incident. Luckily, they did not linger on the topic for too long but there was something inside you both nervous and excited for his return.

You had nearly jokingly offered your help to Johnny, not expecting him to actually take you up on your offer by the second day he was back. He had called you during lunch when he knew you had a break in the middle of your classes and asked if you could come over to his apartment at the end of the day.

He claimed he was pretty much bedridden and without the help of Ten, he had a hard time even moving around his room. Plus with there being practice later, he knew Ten would not be around until later in the evening and he was not ready to struggle on his own for that long. You stayed true to your promise and told him that you’d be there after your classes finished with food and a few of his favorite snacks.

It was your first time going over to his apartment though you did have a few friends who lived within the same building so it was not hard to find your way to his unit. Johnny said Ten had left the door unlocked, both a smart yet dangerous decision since it’s not like Johnny could really defend himself if an intruder came in though it saved both of you the trouble of figuring out how to let you inside.

“Johnny, I’m here,” you loudly announced, not wanting to startle him.

“I’m in my room,” he called out. You followed the sound of his voice to the third door down the hallway, the only one open, which made sense. Johnny was dressed comfortably in a grey hoodie sporting the university’s name and logo along with matching black sweatpants that were hiked up on his left side to leave room for the brace he wore. Upon seeing you in his doorway, his face lit up despite immediately greeting you with an apology. “Sorry for making you come to help me, I know you probably have better things to be doing right now.”

“No, don’t be sorry. I offered my help and I’m happy to be of assistance,” you reassured him while leaning on his doorframe. “What would you like to do first, now that we can get you out of bed.”

“Uhhh, I have to pee,” Johnny sheepishly admitted.

You laughed as you took a seat next to him on his bed and helped him to stand up, supporting a portion of his weight through his arm placed around your shoulders. “Alright, let’s get you to the bathroom.”

It was really a team effort with him guiding you over to his crutches leaning against the wall and then you functioning as his hands once he was properly situated with them. Fortunately, once the two of you made it to the bathroom next to his room, he did not require assistance actually using it. You already skipped a few checkpoints in your relationship with him but you weren’t sure if you wanted to jump that far ahead.

Getting him to and from the bathroom was the hardest task that you completed for him. Everything else he had you do was comparably simple, like filling up his water bottle or grabbing something from the living room or Ten’s room. About an hour and a half went by where you sat next to him, both of you with your laptops out and working on school assignments.

The quietness was strangely comfortable and oddly enough, it felt like you were able to focus better than when you chose to work in the library. Maybe it was because there weren’t people bustling around or maybe it was just because Johnny was with you. If anything, you would have expected his presence to have the opposite effect, but that was not the case.

At a certain point, the two of you lost interest in working and decided to call it quits for now and opted to watch a drama on Johnny’s TV instead. “It’s called Dear.M,” he informed you when you asked for the title. “Jaehyun kinda looks like one of the actors in it.” While the first episode played out, you saw what he meant. The lead male, named Minho, really did remind you of the endearing outside hitter, even down to the way the character was being portrayed.

“Aww, that’s so cute,” you cooed when Minho gave his hoodie to the female lead and she got absorbed in the scent of it. “I would so do that too, not gonna lie.”

“Here, you can have mine,” Johnny suggested, though he didn’t give you much of a choice, already taking off the hoodie he was wearing and revealing a plain black shirt underneath. You used it more so as a blanket or a pillow, clutching it against your chest for comfort. “Cute,” he quietly commented.

You watched the next few episodes with him, enraptured by the plot of Jaehyun’s look-alike pining after the female lead with his efforts going unnoticed. “Man, I would love to have a guy like that as my boyfriend,” you mused, “literally what is she doing? She’s missing out!”

“You could have me, I’m pretty much just as good, right?” Johnny put forth. “I think we’d look nice together.”

Because of his naturally playful and flirty nature, you couldn’t tell if he was serious or not. You squinted ever so slightly at him, “are you offering to be my boyfriend right now?”

“Well, when you put it that way…yeah, I guess I am,” he confirmed.

You were still hesitant to believe him. “For real?”

He nodded. “Yes, for real. I’d love to take you on more dates and be your dorky boyfriend if you allow me.”

You inwardly thanked the universe for somehow making Johnny interested in you. “I would love that, too.”

“So, uhh…will you be my girlfriend?” he asked, holding his hand out.

“It would be an honor.” You placed your hand in his and he gently brought it up to his lips before leaving a kiss on the back of it, making you smile giddily.

Johnny chuckled at your expression. “Sorry that we already had our first kiss a while back, but how about we try it again.”

“Oh my gosh, you’re so cheesy,” you teased though you followed his gestures to seat yourself in his lap.

His large hands held you securely at your hips while your arms found their way around his broad shoulders. “I’ll make you so happy, I promise,” Johnny murmured while placing a kiss on your cheek before capturing your lips. They felt familiar and warm against yours, the tenderness of his lips making you feel ever so safe and allowing you to get lost in the moment.

Both you and Johnny were so taken up by each other that neither of you heard the sound of the front door opening until there was a complaining voice coming from the doorway. “I know I said I wanted to meet her, but I didn’t mean like this, Johnny. At least tell me when you’re gonna have people over so I can clean up or something.”

Johnny was breathing heavily when the two of you quickly broke apart. “Dude, why do you have to be so nosy? You could have just minded your own business and gone to your room.”

“I was going to ask if you wanted pasta for dinner but I guess I won’t order for you,” Ten scoffed. “Do you like red sauce or white sauce?” he asked, nodding over to you.

“No, sorry, I want pasta too,” Johnny interjected.

“Has he asked you out yet?” Ten inquired, clearly not wanting to talk to his roommate. “I’ll only get him food if he confessed to you because that’s all he’s been talking about for the past week.”

“He did,” you confirmed. “But really? The entire week?” You looked between the two volleyball players.

Ten enthusiastically nodded, “absolutely would not shut up about how happy he was that you watched the game.”

You looked over at Johnny who was playing with the strings of his sweatpants, “aw, that’s so cute!” You leaned over to kiss his cheek.

“Okay, no, ew. Stop,” Ten warned, shielding his eyes. “Both of you stop or else I won’t be ordering food for either of you.”

“Man, she’s my girlfriend, not yours,” Johnny spoke up, “we’ll do what we want.” He reached over your shoulders and turned you to face him, hastily kissing you in the most obscene way possible.

You heard Ten let out a yell of disgust and slam Johnny’s door shut. When Johnny released you from his hold, the two of you shared a laugh about the situation. “So I’m guessing we have to order our own dinner.”

Johnny flicked his hand, showing his apprehension to the issue. “Dinner can wait. We should finish what we were doing earlier,” he insinuated with a sly smirk.

“Right, of course,” you agreed, “how could I have forgotten?” You fell back into his embrace, his touch, as if it were the only thing you needed.

If you liked this, you may also like: L.Taeyong - Stuck With You

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[disclove]

HEARTSIGH . hrj (ft. lyy)

PAIRING / HUANG RENJUN X YANG NANA (FT. LIU YANGYANG)

WORD COUNT / ~15000

SYNOPSIS / everyone was in love with huang renjun, right? the student council prez with perfect grades that every parent would kill to have as a son-in-law. but not nana, and she had a good reason. but would she change her mind after a drunken dare that she'd stupidly agreed to? or would it end terribly?

GENRE / COMEDY, ANGST, PINING, BET AU, RICH KID AU, HIGH SCHOOL AU.

WARNINGS / there's a lot... umm ... mentions of self-harm, depression, anxiety, smoking, a lot of toxic behavior, nana and renjun are both assholes (lowkey), violence, manipulation & kind of gaslighting?? not sure if i missed anything

PLAYLIST / OKAY - CHASE ATLANTIC, MODERN LONELINESS - LAUV, I HATE U - SZA, YOU WON'T BE THERE FOR ME - SLCHLD, BYE MY FIRST - NCT DREAM.

NOTE FROM TAOJUN / hello! this is a repost from my old account NEOWAVES (& nana is an oc). this is part of my HIGH SCHOOL CLICHE series and dedicated @njmverse from the neosecretsanta collab!  like and reblog if you enjoyed, and please send any feedback in my askbox!

TAGS / @ankathi-a​, @nct-writers​, @kflixnet​, @ficscafe​ !

NEW BLOG, NEW TAGLIST - FORM HERE!

i. the face of a bitch, who never rests

“I should’ve known better than to trust a bitch that doesn’t even go to this school,” Nana scowls, throwing an empty glass bottle down from the roof. A smirk grows on her face as the ear-splitting sound of the glass shattering on the concrete echoes through the air. 

“Gosh, I fucking hate him. Can’t believe I fell for such a bitch, but I probably never liked him anyway.”

Yangyang grabs her hand before she reaches for another glass bottle. “Stop. You’ll get in trouble.”

“Do I look like I give a single shit?” she snaps, with a cigarette sticking out of her mouth, prying his grip off of her as she hurls the next bottle down the side of the building. 

“I told you he was bad news,” he sighs. “His facade was too perfect to be true—”

“Mhm. What— you’re gonna tell me ‘I told you so’? Thanks for the moral support,” she sneers, taking the cigarette between her fingers and pulling it out of her mouth.

“Yang Nana. You can’t just let all your self-esteem break down over a piece of fucking trash,” Yangyang glares at her. “You always said you’d never let anyone break you, and yet here you are, smashing shit to stop yourself from crying.”

She grips a broken glass bottle, feeling the glass shards dig into her skin and pierce it, yet she barely registers the pain. 

“Everyone in my life is a fucking liar,” she sneers, watching as the glass cuts into her skin and blood flows down her fingers, stomping the fire out of her cigarette under the soles of her boot. “and I hate him.”

“Nana,” Yangyang scolds with a sigh, prying the glass from her palm and grabbing her injured hand, lightly picking a few glass shards out. “We’re going to the nurse. Stop doing this to yourself. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and pick your confidence back up. Don’t let him take a single thing from you by leaving.”

With that, he grabs her non-injured hand and leads her down the stairs, away from the rooftop with a crate of glass beer bottles with the blood-stained glass shards on the ground. 

“Why do you resort to self-harm every time?” Yangyang sighs as he watches the blood drip off of her fingertips and onto the ground, leading her across campus to fix up her hand. 

Nana stays silent, and Yangyang just shakes his head, knowing she was too stubborn to listen. His gaze hardened when he saw Renjun walking out of one of his classes, already heading in their direction. But before he could lead Nana out of the impending argument that was inevitably going to happen, Renjun already saw them from across the hall, and was walking towards the two of them. 

“Hey, Yang Nana, what happened to your hand?” Renjun asks in mock concern, his eyes lingering on the blood dripping down her hand. “Lost your temper again?”

She scowls at the bitchy tone of his otherwise sweet words. “None of your fucking business, kiss-up.”

“That's no way to speak to the student council president,” he tsks, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “Calm down, I was just asking. Sometimes I think you hate me for no reason.”

“Yeah, you’re only student council president to build your resume because your grades are trash,” she snaps. “And because only two people ran for president. Get your head out of your fucking ass, bitch.”

“Last time I checked, I’m number 4 overall in the school for grades. You’re just two places higher because you fucking cheated,” Renjun sneers back. 

“Wow, the perfect boy knows how to curse,” she gasps sarcastically, before addressing his accusations. “And no, I didn’t cheat. Just because I’m smarter than your dumb ass doesn’t mean I cheated. I don’t care about my image and status being perfect as much as you do, you conceited bitch.”

“Oh, really? Why don’t you tutor me then?” he suggests with a smirk on his face, raising an eyebrow.

“Mhm… no, go kiss your chemistry teacher’s ass. Maybe Dr. Ou-Yang will pity you and give you a chance at being valedictorian… that is, if you can beat Huang Xinyi… or me,” she retorts.

Renjun hesitates for a moment, and Nana takes this chance to stick her middle finger in his face and brush past him, Yangyang’s hand still firmly in her grip. 

“God, he’s such an annoying shit,” she scowls. “Pretentious ass.”

Yangyang sighs, unconsciously repeating Renjun’s words. “Sometimes I think you hate him for no reason.”

She stops in her tracks abruptly, turning to look at him sharply. “I have very good reasons to dislike him, in fact. You of all people should know this.”

He holds in yet another sigh, nodding as he walks Nana into the nurse’s office. The student who was taking Dr. Li’s place during his break, Guo Yifeng, glances at Nana and her bleeding hand and frowns— while suppressing a smile at the sight of her hand firmly in Yangyang’s grip. 

“What happened, Nana?” Yifeng asks, cocking her head in the direction of her injured hand. 

“Glass shards,” Nana responds plainly, not caring to elaborate further. 

Yangyang lets go of her hand and pushes her slightly towards the seat next to Yifeng, causing her to fall into it ungracefully. 

Yifeng gently takes Nana’s hand, inspecting the glass puncturing her skin with a sigh. She turns away to grab a bottle of disinfecting alcohol and a few cotton balls, dampening the cotton with the alcohol as she speaks. 

“The glass cut pretty deep into you, so I’m going to need to use tweezers to pick them out,” she explains as she lightly wipes away the blood near the wounds on Nana’s hand. Grabbing a tweezer, Yifeng looked at her closely. “It might hurt, but I don't have enough time to take you to a hospital. We can’t let the glass go in any deeper, or it’ll never come out and keep cutting you internally, causing a lot of internal bleeding.”

Nana nods indifferently, sucking in a breath as she feels Yifeng’s tweezers pulling a glass shard out of her hand. With her other hand, Yifeng immediately grabbed a cotton pad to press against the blood rushing out from the open wound.

After extracting a few more pieces and bandaging her hand carefully, Yifeng breathes out in relief. 

“You’re lucky there weren’t that many small pieces that went underneath your skin, but make sure to let your hand rest for about a week. Change bandages everyday, and if you don’t have enough of them, you can always come back to get more,” she says with a smile. “Try not to get injured so much in the future, okay?”

But her words went ignored as Nana grabs Yangyang’s hand again and exits the nurse’s office. 

“Where do you want to go now?” Nana asks. “God, this means that I can’t work. Fuck it, I’m working anyway. I need the money.”

“You should rest. But before that— let's go beat up your ex.”

“But… ” she starts, a little apprehensive— but brushes off her concerns quickly, slightly scared to ruin her reputation by turning Yangyang down. “Never mind. yeah, let’s go.”

They approach Yangyang’s motorcycle, Nana climbing on directly behind Yangyang. 

Though he looked composed, all of his thoughts masked behind his indifferent facade, Yangyang shakes with rage under his calm expression. Nana has been the only person he’s ever trusted, and he became extremely wary when she started dating Jaemin. 

Yangyang was so suspicious of his perfect facade, and the way they even met— Jaemin lived in Korea, for fuck’s sake. He visited China every few weeks only when he didn’t want to attend school, until he graduated. He moved to a university near their school in China, yet turned down her multiple offers to meet up, despite the significant decrease of difficulty to just walk a few blocks down to meet his girlfriend. 

And a few days ago, his fling had texted Nana and apologized, explaining what had happened. She had hooked up with Jaemin multiple times without knowing that he had a girlfriend. 

Instead of wanting to kill Jaemin like he had expected, she had only sent him a “fuck you” text and blocked him everywhere she could. 

Yangyang knew that Nana was broken, yet she pushed him away— and there was nothing he could do about it. 

Once they got to the back of Jaemin’s university, Yangyang dialed his number, making sure that his number remained unknown to Jaemin. 

“Back of your school,” Yangyang snaps angrily. “Square up, you fucking asshole.”

“I’m surprised that Jaemin didn’t hit you back,” Nana sighs as she bandages Yangyang’s wounds. “but holy fucking shit, Jeno is strong as fuck.”

She had only gotten a punch in the nose by Jaemin’s friend Haechan, but Jaemin pulled him back, unable to help Yangyang while Jeno had, quite literally, beaten Yangyang up. 

“Don’t remind me,” he groans, as he hissed out in pain when Nana’s alcohol wipes brushed over his open wounds. “God, I had no idea Jaemin’s friends were assholes too. I thought they’d be mad that Jaemin cheated, but they’re sticking up for a motherfucker like him? Wow. I am absolutely fucking speechless.”

“I know, I can’t believe it either,” she sighs, while turning to glance at the clock, gasping as she reads the time. “Shit, it’s already 4. I need to go to work.”

“Not with that,” Yangyang eyes her bandaged hand, with a raised eyebrow and a pointed expression on his face. 

She just rolls her eyes at him. “You can’t stop me.”

“Well, I’ll still be at your house when you get back. We’re going to a party at night,” he sighs out, knowing that he couldn’t change her mind, being the stubborn person she was.

ii. truth or dare? that’s boring, let’s play dare or humiliation!

True to his word, Yangyang was still sitting on her couch nearly six hours later, scrolling through his Netflix account that he logged into on Nana’s TV.

“Oh, you’re back,” he yawns, blinking his drowsiness away as he sat up. “Just finished binging The Untamed. Gosh, I forgot how much it fucking sucks.”

She makes a sound acknowledging his statement while rubbing her eyes, setting her bag down on a chair. 

“God, just came back from three shifts,” she sighs tiredly. “And I’m barely making enough to cover this month,”

Yangyang frowns at his friend’s tired state. “Nana… I told you that I can help you pay it off, I have too much money anywa—”

“No.” She interrupts sternly. “Ma would’ve hated that. She hated owing people money, and I’ll just feel bad knowing that you paid off Ma’s hospital debt, which should’ve been Ba’s responsibility. But he’s gone too, so it’s my job now. I’m not going to let you offer me your whole allowance to cover this.”

Yangyang sighs. “But you literally work, like, 30 hours a week on the weekdays and an extra 20 hours a week on the weekends! You need a break, I’ll just cover one month for you—”

“Stop it, Yangyang. I said no.”

He just pouts. I can’t ever do anything nice for Nana without her getting upset. 

“Fine. Let’s get ready, the party is in half an hour.”

“What party?” she asks in confusion. “I’m fucking exhausted, I’m not in the mood to party.”

But he just ignores her words as he pulls out an outfit for her from a bag that he had placed inconspicuously on the floor a few hours ago. “Put it on, I’m waiting!”

“When did you even buy this?!” she gapes, her eyes widening as she reads the designer brand name and the price tag of each piece. Her jaw drops upon reading the huge number. “Yangyang, this is literally enough to cover two months of the hospital debt!! What were you thinking?! This is so fucking expensive I-”

“It’s not important… put it on!” he says, cutting her off successfully. 

She exhales a breath steadily, and goes into her room to change, with the outfit in her hands. Yangyang had chosen a pair of high-waisted ripped straight denim jeans, a Gucci belt, and a black ribbed tube top with sheer sleeves, leaving a small section of skin exposed above the waistband.

Nana sighs, feeling bad for accepting all of the extravagant gifts Yangyang buys for her— at this point, he could honestly pass for her sugar daddy. She pairs the outfit with more jewelry that he bought for her; a simple gold chain choker, and a few rings— a twisted silver one on her right index, a simple rose gold one that she placed halfway on her right middle finger, a bronze chain one on her right index, a thick jade ring that she got from her grandmother (the only one that wasn’t from Yangyang), which she placed on her left middle finger, a gold one with a crescent moon on it halfway on her left ring finger (which was from a matching set with Yangyang), and a claw ring that started from the base of her left index to adorning the tip of her finger. 

Grabbing a pair of purple tinted glasses to, hopefully, complete her look, she walks outside of her room. “Yangyang, you really need to stop buying me shit… you’re literally being a sugar daddy at this point,” she jokes. 

“Oh? Do you want me to be your daddy?” he smirks, and Nana’s eyes widen slightly at the innuendo, but she just scoffs, a disgusted expression on her face.

“You wish.”

Yangyang snickers at that, and casually grabs a pair of heeled sandals out of the same bag as before. “Shoes.”

Nana sighs. “Literally 90% of the shit I wear is bought by you, Yangyang, you really need to stop.”

But her words go ignored by Yangyang, who places the shoes into her hands.

“Let’s go,” he smiles as she finishes fastening her new shoes, taking her hand and leading her out of her apartment, back onto his motorcycle again. 

Nana wrinkles her nose at the already overwhelming scent of alcohol in the air as she enters the party with Yangyang. She mentally freezes in anger as she realizes whose party this is, seeing Renjun — who’s already drunk and complaining about something (probably Nana) to his friend Chenle—from across the room. 

She turns accusingly to Yangyang, but he was already gone; he knew better than to stick around and get yelled at by Nana. 

With a sigh, she walks into the kitchen, grabbing a mixed drink on the table, grimacing at the initial taste. 

“Fancy seeing you here,” a voice says behind her. She smirks as she turns to meet his eyes. 

“Guanheng, what the fuck did you put in this drink?” Nana snorts as she takes another sip.

“Ah… it’s my new special, the one I’d like to call Drunk In My Bed,” he snickers. “How is it?”

“Terrible,” she jokes. “I think I’ll Puke In Your Bed instead.”

He frowns, clutching his chest in mock pain. 

“How rude of you, Nana,” he gasps out playfully. “That’s my favorite creation!”

She smirks while downing the rest of the drink. “When are we playing beer pong?”

“Any time you want, babe,” he flirts, raising an eyebrow with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Are you playing with me?”

“Only if you don’t suck, sweetheart,” she plays along. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make better drinks. You need an upgraded bartender.”

With that, she grabs the tequila, vodka, Sprite, mango juice and orange juice from his fridge, along with a drink shaker and a few syrups he has stashed in a cupboard. 

She shakes up an array of drinks, making Guanheng hand them out, who promises a round of beer pong after everyone is drunk enough. 

Nana rests her arm on Yangyang’s shoulder as she hands him a drink. He takes it and drinks it, humming in approval. 

“What’s happening now?” she asks. 

“Nothing interesting,” he shrugs. “Just Renjun shit-talking you, but I didn’t expect anything more from that snake.”

She sighs in response. “Let’s beat him up later, we’re playing beer pong first.”

Just as she finishes speaking, Guanheng claps his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Hey everyone, we’re playing beer pong, so join me in the room with a partner if you want to play or watch— there’s a total of three tables to play on.”

“Let’s go,” Nana smiles, taking Yangyang’s hand and leading him to the beer pong tables. “You want to play?”

“No, I’ll just watch you and Guanheng argue,” he smirks.

“I heard my name,” Guanheng winks as he joins Nana at one side of a table. 

“Who wants to play against the godly beer pong duo?!” Yangyang yells out loudly. 

The party goes silent for a moment, before Renjun (who is already nearly bat-shit drunk) yells, “Me and Chenle-ya will do it!”

“You’ve made a bad decision, Renjun-ah,” he mumbles out to Renjun with a smirk on his face. 

“It’s okay, he was a bad decision,” Nana smirks. “Bring it on, losers.”

Before Renjun could open his mouth to retort, Yangyang pushes them to the other side of the table. And suddenly, the two other beer pong tables look empty as everyone huddles around the center table with Nana and Guanheng against Renjun and Chenle. 

“Let’s fucking go, Yang Nana!” Siyuan yells out loudly, already almost batshit drunk. Chenle and Guanheng fill their respective cups with beer as Renjun and Nana stare at each other. 

“Bring it on, Mr. Perfect,” Nana snickers. 

Renjun grabs a ping-pong ball and aims it at their side of cups, but it bounces off the rim of the center cup and onto the table. 

“Darn, your aim sucks,” she taunts as she grabs herself a ball, easily tossing it into the cup closest to Renjun. The crowd of students go wild as she cocks an eyebrow at him. “Drink up, prez.”

He mutters out complaints while tossing the ball back to their side, taking the cup of beer and drinking it all. Chenle grabs another ball, resisting the urge to facepalm at the obvious tension between the two, and easily gets it into the cup closest to the center. 

Guanheng sighs as he grabs the cup, tossing the ball back to Chenle, who hands it to Renjun, and downs the beer— so quickly that it leaves a burn in his throat, which he grimaces at, before grabbing their ping-pong ball. 

He manages to get it into the cup in the corner, and Nana lets out a small breath of relief as Chenle drinks all of the liquid in the cup.

Renjun squints at cups in front of him, his vision already getting a little blurry with the alcohol in his lightweight system. 

Surprisingly, he manages to get it into the left cup in the second row. Nana grabs it with a scoff, taking out the ball and throwing it at Renjun’s head before pouring the whole drink into her mouth, throwing the cup behind her. 

She grabs the ball in Guanheng’s hand, staring closely as she aims it at a random cup, and it lands in with a splash. Renjun lets out an audible groan as he grabs the cup, rolls the ball towards the other side, and drinks it all. 

It’s Chenle’s turn now, but he misses, and Renjun nearly screams in frustration. 

“Chenle, you fucking suck,” he whines, and Nana doesn’t even suppress the laugh bubbling up within her. 

“You also missed one,” she smirks. “Therefore, you also suck.”

Guanheng grabs the ball and lands it into the cup nearest to the center, and Chenle grumbles an insult at Renjun as he drinks it. 

“All your fucking fault for making me play with you,” Chenle tsks. “I should’ve just ignored you.”

Renjun just shrugs as he attempts to throw the ball into another cup. But it fails, bouncing on the rim of two cups before landing on the table— but by now, mostly everyone has dissipated from the crowd, disappointed in Renjun’s and Chenle’s lack of skill. Nana just gives him a mocking pity smile as she tosses the ball into the right cup in the second row.

“Looks like you’re the one who fucking sucks,” she snickers, watching as he downs the cup of beer with a pout on his face.

“Shut up, you’re only good because you have nothing better to do,” he snaps. 

“That’s a bad way of coping, assuming things just because you’re bad at it. You’d be bad at this even if you did it every single day,” she says disapprovingly with a click of her tongue. “You just don’t know how to do anything except be a nerd. Is this your first time tasting alcohol, goody two shoes?”

Chenle interrupts their argument with a cough, getting his ball into the middle cup closest to the other side. Guanheng exhales air through his nose as he drinks, slamming the cup on the table as he consumes the whole cup. He grabs the ping pong ball, focusing on the last cup standing on the other side. 

“You better get this one, or I’m never playing beer pong with you again,” Nana whispers threateningly. 

“Don’t worry about it, honey,” he smirks back as he bounces the ball on the table, and into the last cup. 

Renjun groans as Chenle finishes the last cup on their side, whining about Chenle making them lose. 

“As customary to our version of beer pong, you guys also have to split the last three cups of beer too,” Nana winks as she leaves the room.

Siyuan drags Nana to the group of people playing their version of Truth or Dare. 

“Siyuan, Truth or Dare is the dumbest game in the history of dumb games,” Nana deadpans. “For the last time, I am not playing.”

“Hey, hey,” Guanheng pipes up from the circle. “We’re not playing Truth or Dare. That’s boring. We’re playing Dare or Humiliation!”

Nana raises her eyebrows. 

“Come on, just one round, please?” Siyuan pouts, and she groans, obliging with a few “fine, okay”’s falling from her lips. 

Siyuan spins the bottle in the middle to choose the first victim player. 

And it lands on Siyuan. Nana smirks as she senses Siyuan’s grimace. 

“Tang Siyuan,” Nana says. “Dare or Humiliation?”

“Hm… um, I’ll pick Dare,” Siyuan sighs.

“Wise choice,” Guanheng winks at her, and spins the wheel of dares on his phone, which everyone in the circle contributed to. 

“Mix Lao Gan Ma, soymilk, mung bean ice cream, sesame paste, orange juice, salted egg crackers, that 5-day old jasmine milk tea with brown sugar boba and coconut jelly in Guanheng’s fridge, and yogurt in a blender and drink it,” he snickers, but it fades and a terrified expression grows on his face as he reads the rest of the dare. “And then… kiss Guanheng. I- wait, what? What if I got this one? Would I kiss myself?” 

The two victims cringe at the sound of the monstrous dare. 

“Now, who came up with this?!” he cries out in terror. 

“Me,” Yangyang says casually. “Great dare, right? I was kind of hoping that Siyuan would get this one.”

Siyuan scowls at him as everyone else in the circle excitedly gets up to make her the gag-guaranteed drink.

Soon, Nana approaches her again with the demonic concoction of a drink— chunky and revolting— with a shit-eating grin on her face as Siyuan reluctantly accepts the cursed cup of disgusting foods. 

“Drink up, darling,” she smirks at the scowl on Siyuan’s face. 

Plugging her nose and quickly pouring the mixture into her mouth, she swallows with a grimace on her face. 

“Oh God, that was nasty. Guanheng, come here,” Siyuan says with a cheeky grin on her face, grabbing him by the neck. She connects her lips with Guanheng’s, making sure that she slides her tongue into his mouth— forcing him to taste the gag-worthy drink, too. 

He pulls away as soon as she lets go, coughing and choking at the taste. 

“I’m getting water to wash that shit down,” he gags, as she follows him to get some for herself as well.

Siyuan sits back down in the circle, spinning the bottle again a little too eagerly. 

It lands on Yangyang, and he groans out “Dare”, as Guanheng spins the wheel again. 

“Kiss the person closest to you,” he reads. “Simple enough. You and Meng Xiyun.”

Xiyun cringes slightly at the dare, but stays in place as Yangyang pecks her on the lips, an indifferent expression on his face as he grabs the bottle to spin. 

About ten rounds go by before the bottle lands on Nana. 

“Dare,” she shrugs.

“Shit, we’re out of dares,” Guanheng sighs as he looks at the zero at the top of the “New Dares” list. “Anyone have a dare for her?”

Siyuan perks up, a little too eagerly as she downs the rest of her Tsingdao beer bottle, slamming it onto the floor as she yells out drunkenly, “MAKE OUT WITH HUANG RENJUN!”

Everyone in the circle goes silent. Nana’s eyes flick to the side of the room, where Renjun is still shit-talking someone (presumably, her) to Chenle, who looks extremely exasperated, but unable to stop his friend from complaining. 

She hesitates for a few moments, but smirks and lets out a scoff as she processes the dare. 

“Sure, I’ll do it,” she said indifferently, grabbing Yangyang’s half-empty beer bottle and chugging the rest of it before slamming it down on the ground again. 

“Nana, what the fuck,” Yangyang deadpanned.

“Bitch, I’m not doing this sober.”

Everyone’s eyes widen in complete shock as she stands up and makes her way towards Renjun. 

He loses his train of thought as he sees Nana walking towards him, and Chenle takes this as a cue to leave. She smirks at his pathetic attempt to back away— completely backing himself into a wall instead. 

She slaps her hand to the wall beside him as she looks him up and down in disgust. She raises an eyebrow, exhaling heavily through her nose.

“Hey, student council president,” she scoffs. “Don’t you know it’s rude to talk shit about other people? Especially if they can hear you?”

He lets out an audible gulp as her hot breath brushes across face, making him look even more flushed on top of his drunken red glow.

“I— uh, yeah— but—” Renjun stammers, but before he could get an excuse out, she leans in even closer and his eyes blow wide as she connects her lips to his.

He doesn’t know how to react. His lips stay completely frozen as hers move against his passionately. Out of all the things he expected to happen, getting his first kiss as a makeout session from the person he hated the most was absolutely not one of them.

Renjun loses it when her tongue glides over his bottom lip, gasping into the kiss as her tongue slides into his mouth. He closes his eyes, kissing back as he moves his hands up to her head, pulling her even closer to him. He nearly moans into the kiss as her fingers find their way onto him, running through the hairs at the nape of his neck as her tongue explores each and every crevice of his mouth. 

But just when Renjun was debating whether to slide his tongue into her mouth as well— something that had never even crossed his mind before, let alone considered— Nana suddenly pulls away, blowing out a breath against his lips before walking away, throwing a wink behind her shoulder at him before joining the circle again.

“I told you it was easy,” she states nonchalantly, like she definitely did not just have a heated makeout session with someone whom she hated more than her father (which was truly an impressive feat). 

The rest of the group was still shocked, staring at her like she just entered the room from the ceiling.

“You— Renjun— that—“ Siyuan sputters out in disbelief, the shock from watching that probably sobering up her mind. “You actually did it?! I was joking, Nana. And I was drunk!”

“Don’t pretend to be innocent,” Nana rolls her eyes. “I know that all of you wanted to see that.”

A wave of embarrassment hits Renjun after he hears the conversation, as tears well up in his eyes. 

Of course she isn’t interested in you, Renjun, he thought bitterly to himself. You were a fucking asshole to her. 

And his eyes widen at the thought of thinking of her that way and he spins back to look at Nana’s expression, which looks uncannily similar to the Cheshire cat’s. 

Don’t I hate her? Why do I even care?

His thoughts were nearly visible on his face. 

Oh, sweetheart… that’s only what you want to believe, Nana thinks to herself, the shit-eating grin plastered on her face only growing.

iii. step one: try to make him like you— well shit, step one failed.

Nana wakes up in Yangyang’s bed to a massive headache and around fifty text notifications blowing up her phone. 

Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she sits up, blinking her eyes as she regains consciousness, drinking a glass of water on the table beside the bed she was in.

She unlocks her phone, her eyes widening comically as she reads the texts guilty of blowing up her notifications for the past few hours. 

siyuan idiot 🤺 — 01:04babe i know you’re batshit drunk right now but i think it’s a good idea to text you this so you DO know even though i’m right next to your drunk ass right the fuck now don’t kill me pls but i dared you to makeout with huang renjun and your dumbfuck ass DID… i- I’M SORRY FOR THE DARE ??? BUT I I DIDN’T KNOW YOU WERE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IT ?@?1)*;&2(#1%$?!/ 😭😭 NANA PLEASE DON’T KILL ME ;A;

guanheng aka devil 👹 — 01:47 YANG NANA YOU DID NOT YOU FUCKING MADE OUT WITH HUANG RENJUN ??? IN FRONT OF EVERYONE AT MY PARTY???? OH MY GOD I NEVER KNEW THIS DAY WOULD COME LMFAOO i am ACTUALLY WHEEZING btw i recorded it ;) Attachment: 1 video i’m sending this to everyone LMAOOOO

guanheng aka devil 👹 — 09:31Renjun’s at mine rn and he’s having a breakdown bc i told him what happened BSHKDSMSN help i’m trying not to laugh but it’s nOT WORKING

yangyang fake tsundere 😇 — 10:26you’re at my house rn (in case your hungover ass forgot <3) i just left to go buy you breakfast ok? do not call 119 today bc i’m not there :) i did NOT abandon you

Her face pales. 

She kissed Renjun last night? The Huang Renjun who she claims to hate so much?

Nana’s cheeks flush upon watching the video. 

Oh God. I’m fucked.

“Siyuan, this is all your fucking fault,” Nana whines, back at her favorite spot (or the rooftop). Her legs dangle off the side, and she kicks her feet around like a child as she frowns in embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, Nana,” she apologizes for the umpteenth time, handing Nana a cup of her favorite drink: roasted oolong milk tea with brown sugar boba, light sugar and no ice. 

Nana begrudgingly accepts, taking a sip and smiling at the taste. “I’ll forgive you after you buy me… hm, another twenty of these.”

But her smile soon fades again, remembering all the memories that she associated with the drink. 

“Nana? Earth to Nana,” Siyuan says, snapping her fingers in front of Nana’s face. 

Hearing the loud sound, she snaps back to reality and blinks away the memories, turning to face her friend. 

“What?” Nana asks. 

“I said,” she smirks. “Maybe you can use Renjun to get over Jaemin.”

She subconsciously flinches at the sound of his name. 

“I… well, I mean,” Nana stutters. “It’s not a bad idea?”

“Exactly!” she grins. “You hate him anyway. No strings attached, you know? What’s the worst that can happen— you guys hating each other more?”

Nana forces a grin onto her face. “I’ll… I’ll think about it, yeah.”

Why am I hesitating?

“Why think? You have such a good opportunity. If only you saw his face yesterday after the kiss… oho. He was staring at you like you were some angel,” Siyuan snickers. “Angel, my ass. Devil is more like it.”

Despite the pile of excuses lying on the tip of her tongue, Nana blurts out, “I’ll do it.”

Siyuan’s eyes widen comically, not expecting Nana to accept her poorly thought-out plan so easily, but she brushes it aside. 

“Step one,” she smirks. “Pair up with him in History today, and try to get him to like you. We have group projects starting today.”

“How do you know?”

“Hello? Did all that alcohol yesterday make you dumb?” Siyuan jokes. “I just had History first period.”

Nana gasps. “WAIT… Did you pair up with… with Guanheng?”

Her cheeks dust with pink at Nana’s accusation. “Well… maybe.”

Nana lets out a cackle. “I fucking knew it. I fucking knew it.”

“Shut up, Yang Nana!” Siyuan fumes in embarrassment. 

“Make me, Tang Siyuan!” Nana retorts with a smirk on her face, but it dies as she realizes a very important detail that could make her plan go very wrong. “Wait… but Chenle is in Renjun’s class! Won’t they pair up?”

Siyuan lets out a sharp exhale of mock offense. 

“I already have that sorted out, babygirl,” she rolls her eyes. “Who do you take me for? An idiot?”

“Yeah, sometimes,” Nana teases. 

Siyuan pouts. “Hey! Sometimes?!”

“Nah, I changed my mind,” Nana says, with a shit-eating grin on her face, and pauses for good measure before continuing her thought. “All the time.”

Just as Siyuan opens her mouth to retort, the school bell rings loudly. 

“Gotta go— I have to go implement step one,” she snickers.

Throwing a teasing wink in her direction, Nana opens the door to the stairwell as a teacher yells from down below, “Are you guys on the roof? During school hours?”

Taking that as a cue to leave, Nana kicks the door open. The teacher to the entrance of the building as the two of them race down the stairs and exit through the back door of the building— just in time as they hear loud footsteps rushing up the staircase.

They collectively let out loud exhales of relief, before Siyuan gasps. 

“Nana, our bags are up there!”

“... Shit.”

They collectively groan, but Nana convinces Siyuan to go to their math class first. 

“It’s fine, I’m always in detention,” Nana grimaces. “Just tell the teacher I have, uh… period cramps.”

She opens her mouth to argue, but before she could get a single word out, they hear sounds of footsteps coming back down the staircase, and Nana shoves her away. 

“Go!” she mouths at Siyuan, who frowns but runs to class.

She heads back into the building, only to be confronted by her old biology teacher. 

“Yang Nana,” he sighs. “Why am I not surprised?”

She doesn’t respond, keeping an emotionless expression on her face. 

He let out another sigh. “You just earned yourself a week of detention.”

“Cool,” Nana deadpans, before brushing past Mr. Han and walking up the staircase.

Mr. Han just blinks in confusion at the disrespect he had just witnessed— which, to be fair, was probably one of the only disrespectful actions he had ever seen from a student— but before he instinctively yells at her, he just shakes his head, lets out a sigh of disappointment, and exits the building.

Nana scrambles up the staircase, completely out of breath by the time she reaches the top, panting as she grabs the two backpacks and races back down.

“Pair up, everyone,” Mr. Yao announces lazily. “Find one person to work with— absolutely no groups of three.”

Renjun glances at Chenle, but he looks back at Renjun apologetically. “Sorry, I’m pairing up with Yifeng.”

He shoots Chenle a death glare, while scanning the classroom to find someone else who didn’t have a partner. 

And his stomach drops when he realizes that the only other person who seemed to be alone was Yang Nana— the devil incarnate.

“You’re such a traitor,” Renjun sighs dramatically to Chenle. “You owe me so much for this.”

With that, he walks over to where Nana is sitting in the back corner of the class. He tries not to blush as memories of the previous night flash before his eyes. 

“Oh wow, you’re voluntarily pairing up with me,” Nana deadpans, raising a singular eyebrow. “Class president got no friends left?”

Renjun resists the urge to fight back. 

“So you’re back to being a bitch after making out with me,” he blurts out. 

She lets out a mix of a scoff and a laugh at that, raising her eyebrows at his comment. 

“Oh darling, did you think I did that because I like you?” Nana snickers. “Too bad it was just a dare, then.”

Ignoring the completely dejected look on Renjun’s face, she pushes herself out of her chair and leaves the table to take the assignment from Mr. Yao.

Step one: failed, she sighs to herself. Nana clenches her jaw in annoyance. Why do I even need him to like me? 

“Can I have your WeChat username, at least?” Renjun sighs as she returns with one packet of instructions, haphazardly tossing it onto his desk. 

“What, you want to take me out?” she smirks. 

“In your dreams,” he manages to retort. “No, you idiot, it’s for the goddamn project.”

“That would be in my nightmares,” she scoffs. “I’m starting to think you purposely made your friend pair up with that girl so you could pair up with me.”

Renjun sputters out indignantly at her sarcastic jab, and Nana just tuts condescendingly as she grabs his open phone and punches her WeChat username into his phone harshly.

As the sound of the school bell pierces through the chattering noises in the classroom, she drops his phone into his lap indifferently, grabs her bag, and is the first to exit the room.

iv. alexa, play any random song. wait— no, NOT PPAP

huang renjun — 15:28hi it’s renjun when are you free to work on the project together

Nana scoffs at the notification, but as soon as she picks up her phone to respond, her coworker, Dejun, tells her to go take the order of the new customers. 

Stuffing her phone into her apron pocket, she stands behind the cashier table. 

“Hi, welcome to Wei Shen Cafe— oh, it’s you,” her fake smile disappears in an instant as she glowers at Renjun and Chenle standing across from her. “What do you want, nerd? Are you following me?”

“You wish,” Renjun snaps back. “This is one of the most popular cafes around here, you aren’t fucking special.”

“Hurry up and order,” Chenle groans. 

But Renjun just ignores him, and continues pestering Nana. 

“Aren’t you rich, Yang Nana? I wouldn’t think you’d be working at a cafe like this,” he prods, trying to get a reaction out of her. 

But luckily, before she could open her mouth and cause a huge scene in the cafe (and maybe get fired if her boss comes out), Dejun comes to her rescue. 

“What would you like? As you can see, there’s a long line behind you,” he tells Renjun plainly. “Please leave or order now.”

Chenle sighs in embarrassment, pushing Renjun aside as he orders two drinks hurriedly, pulling him to a table to sit down at. 

“Thanks,” she mutters to Dejun, and he gasps mockingly. 

“The Yang Nana? Saying something nice to me??” He gapes teasingly. “No problem. He was being a jerk anyway. Like, who does he think he is?! Commenting about you and what you do with your money like that? What an asshole.”

“You can say that again,” Nana sighs, resisting the urge to spit in the matcha latte she was making for Renjun. 

huang renjun — today at 16:03when do you get off your shift

Nana just rolls her eyes, changing his name in her WeChat.

now watch me na(e)na(e) has changed huang renjun’s nickname to bitchboy extraordinaire

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 16:07none of your goddamn business, bitchface

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 16:07i’ll ignore that nicknamei’m fucking waiting for you right now when do you get off

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 16:12oh, you’re waiting? how sweet. i literally get off at 1am let’s see how long you can wait

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 16:13what…. doesn’t wei shen close at 10 ?? you’re fucking lying

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 16:20what’s it to you? we don’t need to see each other to work on this project anyway fuck off. go do it yourself you don’t have 8 hours of work like me every day

With that, she slips her phone into her back pocket and ignores the notifications buzzing from it.

Days pass, and the only thing on Renjun’s mind is her. The only thing he can think about is Yang Nana, that fucking stupid kiss, and the way his heart feels like it's about to beat out of his chest when he even catches a glimpse of her anywhere. 

He’s fallen for her, and he hates it. Renjun knows that Nana doesn’t give a shit about him, so why does he still like her? 

And why did she even hate him? 

He feels like he’s going insane. He malfunctions every time she talks to him, and all of their flirty teasing is starting to get to him. His face fires up whenever she calls him darling, whenever she even smirks at him. 

Renjun’s infatuated with her, and there’s nothing he can do but forget about it, and hope it’ll go away. Or confess, and inevitably get his heart broken. 

“Fuck you, Yang Nana,” he mutters to himself.

Shaking his head and sighing at himself, Renjun goes back to studying— only to be interrupted by another notification, and his eyebrows raise, seeing that it’s from Nana. 

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 11:51okay it’s a saturday so i don’t have that much work since you’re so fucking annoying, when do you want to work on the stupid project

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 11:53 have you ever considered that i might be busy

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 11:54 no if you’re “busy” then go do the damn project yourself

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 11:55have i ever mentioned that i hate your guts

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 11:57 yes many times like i said you can kiss my ass. i don’t give a shit.

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 11:58fuck you

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 11:58i know you want that anyways show up at 2pm at my house, or i will commit arson on your ass whenever i see you next

Renjun is left choking on his own spit at her very obvious sexual innuendo.

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 12:01 i don’t even know where you live

But his message goes ignored, and he sighs out a deep breath of annoyance. 

Yang Nana, stop fucking with my head, will you?

Two hours later, Renjun receives a message with her address, and he looks down at Nana’s message and the apartment building he found himself in front of. 

Floor 12, he reads. Room 7.

“No elevator?!” he cries out, his eyes staring at the dusty blue stairs with paint peeling off of them, the worn-out wood, and the rusty handlebar. 

I guess I’m climbing twelve flights of stairs, he sighs to himself, 

By the time he reaches the top, he feels like he’s done his brother’s leg workout, wiping sweat accumulating on his forehead. He pants out in exhaustion, taking his water bottle out of his bag and gulping down half of it to quench the sandpaper consistency his throat had started to resemble. 

Finding Nana’s apartment was also a challenge, since there were no room number labels on the walls; and he finds himself knocking on her door at 2:20 pm. 

“Sorry I’m late, I couldn’t find your place,” Renjun blurts out, mentally cursing himself for even bothering to apologize. “And why are there no elevators in this big ass apartment building? Are you really so poor that you need to live at such a worn-down—“

He doesn’t finish his thought before Nana grabs him by the collar and pulls him into her apartment harshly. 

“Have you realized that not everyone is as rich as you?!” she snaps angrily. “Why are you even here if you care so much? If you didn’t want to work with me, you wouldn’t have even come here. So what’s your fucking problem, Huang?”

He falls silent. 

“I’m— I,” he stumbles over his words. “I was just surprised, sorry. I didn’t know you were… you were… ” 

“Poor. I know, I’m pretty fucking poor,” she sneers, rolling her eyes as she grabs his wrist and leads her towards her room. 

He tries to stop asking so many questions, but when he notices the empty house, he opens his mouth to speak again. 

“Yes, I live alone,” she snips tiredly. 

His mouth closes. 

“What happened to your parents?” Renjun asks. 

He knows that he shouldn’t, but he can’t help but be curious— realizing that there was a lot he didn’t know about Nana than he had thought.

But she remains silent, and he takes that as a cue to stop talking.

Stupid, they both think, but for different reasons. 

“Alexa, play any random song,” Nana says to her Amazon Echo that Yangyang had gifted her a few years ago. 

“Generating a random song,” Alexa says, shuffling a list of songs. “Playing: Pen Pineapple Apple Pen, long version.”

Nana resists the urge to unplug and throw the device against the wall, as the man sings, “I have a pen, I have an apple… uh. Apple Pen. I have a pen, I have pineapple… uh. Pineapple P—“

“Wait—” she groans out at the sound. “No, NOT PPAP. Alexa, shut the fuck up.”

”If only it were that easy to get an Apple Pen,” she mutters.

Renjun lets out a snicker at that.

Around three hours of bickering, arguing and yelling later, Nana stands up. 

“I need to go to work— good luck with the rest,” she informs him, closing her laptop and standing up to open her closet to grab her work bag and supplies. “I did way more work than you, since you were arguing with me and staring at me for most of the time, so… it’s not my work anymore. Go research about that stupid guy, and finish the presentation.”

Renjun raises his eyebrows at her clothing collection as she opens the door. 

“If you’re so poor, how do you have Gucci—” he starts, but he’s cut off by Nana. 

“Gifts,” she sighs out in frustration. “So many goddamn questions, you fuckface. Stop being so nosy, will you?”

With that, she grabs his laptop, shoves it into his backpack, and pushes it into his chest. 

“Get out.”

As soon as they exit her apartment, Nana turns around and locks the door behind her. 

“How do you get down to the lobby?” he asks. 

“With the stairs,” she deadpans. 

Renjun groans at the thought of going back down the stairs. “It’s not that bad. I used to live on the 20th floor.”

“What happened, though?” he asks again, as they begin down the stairs. 

“Why do you need to know?” she retorts. 

“Because…” he starts, fumbling over his words. “Because, I… I want to know. I think we didn’t start off too right—”

“No shit, Sherlock,” she snaps. “I don’t think we’re that close to justify me spilling to you my whole life story, though.”

“Maybe another day, when I don’t find you an asshole and a half,” she finishes. 

He mutters something under his breath, but Nana doesn’t hear it— nor is she interested in knowing. 

“Where were you from 2pm to 5pm, young man?” his mother questions as soon as she walks into the house, locking her Tesla and sitting down to eat dinner— a very late dinner.

Renjun freezes at her angry tone, sitting in front of his now cold food. “I was working on a project with a friend.”

“Chenle?” she asks. “He says that you weren’t at his house.”

“Not Chenle,” he replies. “Another person in my class.”

His mother tsks. “Show me the work you two did.”

He obliges, bending down to unzip his backpack and show her the presentation. 

She scoffs (probably at the lack of criticism she can give).

“Why has your school ranking dropped from number 3 to number 4?” she snaps angrily. “What did I tell you about staying in the top three, huh?”

“Only getting an 89 on your chemistry test,” she seeths angrily. “Why can’t you be more like your brother?!”

Renjun’s eyes prick with tears upon the mention of his perfect brother.

“Your brother was so much better than you,” she yells. “He was so perfect. Everyone loved him, he was both popular and smart, getting everything he ever thought about having.

“What about you?! You just managed to snag the title of ‘Student Body President’, because there were no good candidates to choose from! You don’t get good grades, your teachers don’t love you as much, why are you such a failure?! I pay for your tutoring, your extra classes, and you still can’t do well?” she screams. “Why are you so useless? Wasting my money— I knew it was a mistake to have another child.”

Renjun’s tears drip into the broth of his noodles. 

“Stop crying, you fool!” she barks at him. “Does that solve anything for you?!”

He sniffles, slamming his chopsticks down onto the table as he grabs a tissue to wipe at his tears. 

“Why do you do this to me?!” Renjun sobs. “I try so hard to please you, and yet you’re still not happy.”

His mother swallows, sighing as she realizes she went too far.

“I was missing your brother,” she sighs. “I’m sorry, Renjun— I have been going to therapy, but nothing stops the anger.”

But Renjun was done with her excuses. “That doesn’t mean you can just release it all on me. I’m not your punching bag, Ma.”

He glances at the clock but ignores how close it is to midnight— grabbing his coat and phone.

“Going out for a walk,” he mumbles, running out the door and out into the neighborhood.

He tries to ignore his mother’s stupid words, wiping at the stray tears falling from his face. 

I try so hard to be perfect for you, Ma, since Ba left and Ge stays at university, Renjun sighs to himself. Why don’t you ever see it, though?

He checks his phone, sighing as he realizes that it’s already past midnight. 

Oh well, I can always go to the 24-hour convenience store, right?

He approaches the store, the bells on the dore jingling as he enters. 

“Hello, welcome go 24/7— wait, what the fuck are you doing here?” a familiar voice speaks with annoyance. 

Renjun looks up from the shelves, staring incredulously at Yang Nana, working behind the cashier table. 

“I’m… why are you everywhere?!” he snaps. 

“Why are you stalking me?!” she retorts.

“I’m not fucking stalking you! I just left to get some fresh air, and you’re everywhere I go!” he yells. “Forget it.”

But his red and puffy weary eyes don’t go ignored by Nana. Before he can leave the store, she walks around the cashier table and grabs his wrist, pulling him back in and shutting the door behind them. 

“What’s wrong.” 

It’s not a question, it’s a statement. 

He gulps. “Why should I tell you, when you never tell me anything?”

She exhales harshly through her nose. “That’s besides the point. Why were you crying?”

“My mom,” he manages to utter out, and the tears begin welling up in his eyes again. She tosses him a pack of tissues, while choosing a ramen flavor for him as he speaks. 

“She’s never been the same since my parents divorced,” he manages to explain. 

And once he starts talking, everything spills out of his mouth. 

“My brother is two years older than me,” he explains. “He left the country to the United States for university, and he hasn’t come back to visit since. But because he isn’t here anymore, my mom starts to think so highly of him. He was an average child, but now, in her eyes, he was perfect. He was perfect, because for his whole life before college, my parents were together.”

“Today, she was just spewing lies about how good my brother was, that just weren’t true, and making me feel like shit,” he sniffles, as hot tears run down his cold face. “Like I don’t try hard or something. Like it’s easy to be in the top five student grades.”

By the time he’s done explaining, Nana’s already prepared two bowls of instant ramen and two cups of boba milk tea.

“I’m sorry about that,” Nana says, and that’s the first kind thing that Renjun’s ever heard Yang Nana say to him. 

“You’re… you’re being nice,” he gasps, clearing his throat and sniffling as he presses tissues to his leaking eyes.

Nana rolls her eyes. “No, I’m only capable of being mean,” she deadpans. “Here, eat the ramen. And the boba milk tea.”

He thanks her as he opens his bowl of instant ramen. 

“Salted egg ramen?” Renjun gapes. “How did you know that was my favorite?”

“I didn’t. It’s my favorite.”

They sit across from each other and eat instant ramen together. 

“Why are you working so late?” he asks. 

“I need a lot of money, Renjun,” she smiles wryly. “If school is a third of my day, work is the second third of my day. I study at night, and I get up early for a shift before school. I live off of caffeine.”

He gasps at her hellish schedule. “Why, though? Why do you need so much money?”

“Because I don’t have parents anymore.”

The words take a few moments to sink in. 

“Oh, God. That’s why you hate me,” Renjun sighs. “I’m… Nana, I’m so sorry.”

She manages a pained smile, resisting the urge to punch him as she remembers the bitter memory. “It’s… fine.”

“But it’s not. I had no idea, Nana,” he says apologetically. “When did it happen?”

“Seven years ago.”

He gasps. “You… you were only ten.”

She only lets out a forced laugh. 

“And my dad left when I was twelve. He claimed that I caused him too much pain because I look almost identical to her.”

Renjun lets out a noise of indignation. “How could he?! Just leaving a child like that?!”

“Because my mom died of cancer, there’s a shit ton of hospital bills to pay,” she scoffs. “And because my dad’s gone, I have to pay them now. I watched as the bills were mailed to our house month after month, with a stupid amount of debt printed on each sheet. Given that we already weren’t rich at all, it was nearly impossible to pay it off… I know my dad left because the debt was too much.”

He scoffs at this. “How could your father feel okay with leaving a child by herself?!”

“He thinks it’s fine, because he covers the rent for my apartment,” she seethes. “What about food? What about the debt? He didn’t care. As long as I had a place to stay, he thought it was fine. So I had to leech off of neighbors for three years, until I was legally allowed to work.”

She takes a long sip of her drink afterwards. 

“You’re the second person I’ve ever told,” she admits. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you.”

Renjun smirks suggestively. “Oh my, is the Yang Nana warming up to me?” he gasps mockingly. “Never thought I’d live to see the day.”

Nana raises a single eyebrow, the expression on her face unreadable. “You wish.”

And before he could ask what she meant by that, her coworker comes in for his shift, and Nana tells him that she has to leave. Taking off her uniform and grabbing her bag, she leaves the store, and gets onto her bike to go home.

v. huang renjun, master of the claw machine (yes, i’m kidding. he fucking sucks)

“You invited Renjun to your apartment yesterday?!” Siyuan and Yangyang collectively gasp scandalously. 

“Oh my God, Nana, why didn’t you tell me? What did you guys do?” Siyuan gapes, nearly quivering with excitement. 

“Nothing interesting,” Nana rolls her eyes. “We just… worked on the History project.”

“You need to take him out on a date,” Siyuan declares, taking a sip of her strawberry slushie that they had gone to buy during the second class of the day. 

Yangyang clicks his tongue apprehensively, mixing his mango slushie. “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to have a rebound after Jaemin and do it to Renjun on purpose.”

“No, it’s a great idea,” Siyuan interjects. “You don’t understand. After getting some dick, Nana will be happy again. “

Nana cringes at her in disgust, as she takes a sip of her lemon slushie. “Well… I do find it kinda rude to just play with Renjun’s feelings like that, but maybe talking to him will get That Dickface off of my mind.”

“It’s up to you, Nana,” Yangyang says. “Don’t feel pressured just because Siyuan changes boys every other day and clearly doesn’t care about any one of them.”

“Hey! I just sleep with different boys,” she defends herself. “They know what they’re getting into. So… erm, yeah— maybe it’s not a great idea to be an asshole to Renjun.”

“But one last dare, Nana,” Siyuan continues, her eyes sparkling. “I dare you to take Huang Renjun out on a date. Last dare, I promise.”

Nana tsks. “That’s easy, the boy’s already infatuated with me.”

And as a teacher yells at the three of them yet again for being on the roof without permission, the trio speeds down the staircase and split up in different directions to their respective classes.

Nana runs into her history class, grimacing as she realizes the only available seat is next to Renjun in the front. 

Gives me the chance to ask him out, though, she smirks to herself, waltzing up to the empty seat and settling in, around 30 minutes late to the period. 

“Yang Nana, do you realize that you’ve missed about half of class?” Mr. Han reprimands. 

She just shrugs, unfazed. “Yeah.”

With that, she stuffs one of her wired earbuds into her right ear, pushing the end of the cord into her phone with too many scratches and cracks on the screen to count. 

Starting a random song from her playlist, she lazily watches Mr. Han’s lecture, not even bothering to take notes— not that she could’ve, given she didn’t even bring anything school-related in her bag, besides her laptop.

“You’re all dismissed,” Mr. Han smiled amicably as the bell rang. As everyone stands up and begins chattering amongst themselves, Renjun turns to look at Nana, who surprisingly had not bolted out the door yet. 

“You’re here,” he observes.

“No shit,” she deadpans.

He smirks. “Waiting for me?”

“In your fucking dreams,” Nana scoffs, grabbing his hand and pulling him out of the class, as the rest of the people in the room gasp at the scene— utterly shocked, considering everyone knew of their hatred of each other. Renjun flushes with embarrassment, a grimace on his face. 

“Don’t do that,” he whines. “Now everyone thinks we’re dating!”

She stops abruptly, turning to face him with a smirk on her face. 

“Then let’s make their thoughts a reality,” Nana raises an eyebrow, sending him a wink. “Huang Renjun, do you want to go on a date with me later?”

Renjun swears that he felt his heart stop, as she notices his cheeks flush every shade of pink. 

“Uh,” he says intelligently. “Um… ”

Nana presses a chaste kiss to his lips. “I’m taking that as a ‘Yes, Nana, I love you— I mean, I’d love to!’”

He freezes as her lips meet his. 

“I’ll text you,” she winks, and with that, Yang Nana walks away from him. 

“Fuck, I am in love,” he groans, as his worst nightmare comes true.

But is it really a nightmare?

“Ooooh, did I just see Yang Nana ask you out on a date?” Chenle gasps, a shit-eating grin widening on his face as he appears out of nowhere, slinging an arm over Renjun’s shoulder. “You like Nana?? I thought it’d be Yiren.”

Renjun wrinkles his nose in embarrassment. “No, I hate her, dumbass. That’s why I said yes.”

“You didn’t say yes, though,” Chenle observes. “But you didn’t say no, either… I was trying not to laugh when I saw you just fucking standing there without responding. Ha, I’d take that as a yes if I were Yang Nana too.”

Renjun cringes. “Whatever, we’re going home.”

“No we’re not,” he smirks. “I’m taking you shopping because you need to look HOT for the date. You have zero fashion sense, my boy… I’m going to need to buy you some better clothes. C’mon, I’ll tell my driver that we’re going shopping!”

That’s all Renjun hears before Chenle drags him away to the parking lot in an attempt to find his chauffeur— he’s nearly shoved into the fancy Tesla car with chicken-wing-looking car doors.

“Mr. Teng, we’re going to the mall,” Chenle informs his driver. 

His chauffeur glances at Chenle from the rearview mirror and nods, before leaving. 

Renjun’s phone vibrates with a notification, and he unlocks his phone to see a new message from Nana. 

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 16:32 meet me in an hour at neo arcade

A lovesick grin spreads across Renjun’s face, and Chenle snatches his phone. 

“An hour?!” Chenle squawks, looking at the time and addressing his driver. “Fuck. Mr. Teng, how far are we from the mall?”

“About twenty minutes,” he responds.

“How far is the arcade from the mall?” Chenle mutters to himself as he opens his Maps app. “Okay, only ten minutes. But we still only have an hour… Renjun, search up the store list, we need to have a good outfit in mind.”

A little less than sixty minutes later, Renjun enters Neo Arcade in the best outfit out of the choices that Chenle presented him with. 

Taking his phone out of his pocket, he messages Nana. 

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 17:28 i’m here

He half hated the way his heart pounded at the almost instant reply from her.

now watch me na(e)na(e) — today at 17:30be there in 2

When did two minutes, or 120 seconds, feel so long? Renjun fidgets with his jacket, stares expectantly at the door, and scrolls through his Weibo— but nothing successfully distracts him in the time he waits for Nana. 

He forgets to breathe when he sees Nana walk through the door; although casual, she still looked stunning. 

She had a black bucket hat on her head, a thick silver chain around her neck, wearing a leather jacket over a white tank top, red jean shorts and a pair of heeled white lace-up boots that went halfway up her calf. 

When her eyes meet his, his mouth is still open but he closes it, walking towards her. 

He doesn’t notice her eyes raking up and down his body, internally screaming at his new outfit; a green bomber jacket on top of a beige and brown striped tee, and a belt holding his denim jeans up. 

Since when did Huang Renjun have such good taste in fashion?

“Wow, you look decent,” she manages to say. “Someone help you with your outfit?”

Nana doesn’t glance at his expression, looping her arm through his, but his cheeks are stained red with embarrassment. 

Was it that obvious?

Noticing his silence, she erupts into laughter. “I’m just kidding. You look great.”

Renjun tries not to let out a breath of relief. 

“You look good, too.”

Nana snickers. “You just noticed? Do I not always look good?”

Before he can respond, she drags him to the racing game, sitting onto the seat. 

“Let’s race. Loser has to get a stuffed animal from the claw machine,” she smirks. 

“Hey, I’m not good at these!” Renjun protests, and it only makes Nana’s cheshire-like grin grow wider. 

“Even better.”

“Didn’t know that Yang Nana, a certified bad girl, would like stuffed animals, but okay.”

She gives him a pointed look. “Everyone likes stuffed animals,” she responds seriously, turning her car to the right to crash into Renjun’s, and his car falls down the edge of the trail, causing him to restart. 

“Hey, that’s not fair!” he protests, a pout on his face as he drops to 10th place in the game.

“Nothing’s fair,” she snickers as she corners the person in front of her into the cliff, cheering as she ends up in first place. 

“You owe me a stuffed animal, and I get to choose.”

Sliding off of the chair, she extends her hand to Renjun, who begrudgingly takes it and steps off. 

“So you’re bad at racing games and beer pong,” she tuts sarcastically. “Disappointing. What a red flag”

Before he can retort, Nana pushes him lightly towards the claw machines. 

“Okay, fine. What type do you want?” Renjun sighs. 

“Squirtle.”

Renjun grimaces, walking towards the claw machine full of Squirtle plushies. 

Inserting a few coins into the machine, his eyes narrow in on a specific Squirtle, and he moves the claw hand to the right via the controller. He squints at the aim as he presses down on the button, the claw reaching down for the leg of a specific Squirtle. 

Unfortunately, the Squirtle drops from the claw, and Renjun slumps in defeat. 

Nana just lets out a snicker. “Try again, babe.”

The tips of his ears involuntarily turn red at the pet name, but he sighs and inserts another two coins into the machine. 

Nana silently takes out her phone to record this, silently laughing at his effort— and he visibly deflates at the failed attempt. 

Determined to win Nana a Squirtle and not look like an idiot, he wastes more money and moves the controller, focusing on the biggest squirtle— hey, a bigger Squirtle means more area to hold, right?

No luck. The claw grabs the poor Squirtle by the neck, but it ultimately drops, and Renjun’s ears grow redder by the second. 

“This stupid machine,” Renjun frowns, pushing yet another pair of coins, while Nana does her absolute best to not erupt into laughter, her camera still directed in his direction. 

After a few more failures, his face lights up as he thinks of a new strategy.

“Maybe I should go for the tag,” he smiles as he presses down on his controller, causing the claw to reach down onto the back of the Squirtle’s neck, where the stuffed animal’s neck-piercing (... neck-ring?)— in the form of a tag— lay.

Renjun’s face lights up as the next Squirtle victim is dragged across the pile of other Squirtles. 

He’s about to push over the claw machine in frustration when the claw rips the tag off of the plastic loop on the neck cleanly. 

But Renjun lets out a cry of excitement as he realizes the stuffed animal had landed headfirst across the collecting tunnel, ultimately tipping over into the slot down below due to the imbalance. His cheeks dust with embarrassment as other people in the arcade cast judgmental looks towards him.

Nana stifles a laugh, stopping the stop button on her phone as she discreetly stuffs it into her jeans pocket.

“Only wasted 10 yuan too,” Renjun grins as he pulls the Squirtle out of the machine, handing it to Nana with a proud expression on his face.

She looks thoroughly impressed. 

“Wow, so maybe you’re not bad at everything. Kinda bad, though,” she teases, grabbing the Squirtle from Renjun’s hands in one hand, and taking his hand in the other.

“You get to choose the next game.” Nana offers generously.

“Basketball,” he smirks, pulling her towards the basketball hoop game. 

She visibly cringes. 

“Shit.”

“Loser has to kiss the other person,” he raises his eyebrows. 

“What about the winner?” Nana scoffs. 

“Well, uh… they get the kiss?”

“Darn, so anti-climatic.”

And Renjun presses the “START GAME” button without warning, causing her to sputter out in disbelief. 

“Hey, that’s cheating!” Nana protests, grabbing a basketball and surprisingly making it into the hoop.

“You cheated earlier too!” Renjun retorts, as Nana manages to get a few more in.

“Did not,” she grumbles, missing a ball, staring at her pathetic score of “8” and at Renjun’s “16”.

She pouts as she misses yet another hoop, and another. The ding of Renjun’s scorekeeper display— signaling that he got another ball in— only lowers her confidence as the game ends, with her at a measly 23 points while Renjun stood at 32.

Nana scoffs at her clear loss. 

“So… looks like you owe me a kiss, sweetheart,” he smirks as he leans towards her, a suggestive grin on his face.

“You can get one any time, loverboy,” she smirks. “You don’t need to impress me…. you just have to ask.”

His eyes widen, and so does her smirk as her hot breath tickles her face. 

She pushes Renjun against the nearest wall, pressing her lips against his.

His mind goes back to their first kiss at that party as her lips move against his, and his eyes flutter shut as he kisses her back. 

But she pulls back before a makeout session starts, and he whines at the absence of her lips on his. 

“Gotta win more games to get another one, hm?” Nana cocks a singular eyebrow, grabbing her Squirtle and moving to another game, leaving Renjun behind in a daze. 

Again.

vi. dumb and dumbass. renjun’s the dumbass.

It had been a whole month since Renjun and Nana had (un)officially started dating, yet Nana had refused to put a label on it.

Even though Nana was saved as “nana gf 🦋” for Renjun, he was still saved as “dumbfuck 🔪” and she had a tendency to dodge every personal question that he’d ever asked— that is, since the time they opened up to each other a little in the 24/7. 

To be honest, he was jealous of her. He admired the way she could mask her pain and become so indifferent— stoic, even— to everything, and wished that he could be that way. 

Renjun wished that instead of being so easy to crack open, like an egg, he could hide away. It didn’t take much for him to open up to others, while he couldn’t even pry another sentence of information from her.

But he hated it. He hated the way Nana seemed not to care. 

Does she even like me?

“Nana, can we hang out again?” Renjun asks, while Nana walks with him out of History. 

“Hmm,” Nana hms. “Maybe next week.”

She doesn’t miss the way his face falls. “I’m sorry, but I have a lot of work.”

Renjun pouts. “Fine,” he says childishly and leaves her side to enter his own classroom.

She watches as he leaves, and sighs as she continues on her way to the rooftop, a hand reaching for her lighter and cigarette, and her other reaching for her phone with earphones plugged into it. 

Nana climbs the stairs with regret as she lights a cigarette, knowing that her time with Renjun was limited. 

“Gosh, I’m so stupid,” she grumbles. “This is just stupid— literally the plot to a shitty coming-of-age movie.”

She was so closed off to others that no one really knew what was going on in her life. Not Siyuan. Not even Yangyang. And she hated it. Nana despised the way she pushed everyone away from her. 

She was consumed with the consequences of her bad decisions, and she knew that one day, she wouldn’t be able to hide. 

Nana’s so caught up in her thoughts that she doesn’t even notice a familiar motorcycle passing by.

“Yang Nana, we meet again, at last,” a cold voice utters out, letting out a sinister chuckle. “You won’t be able to run again. We need the money.” 

She freezes at the sound of the voice, and her instinct is to run— but he’s right. She can’t; not with a gun pressed to the back of her head.

“Money, Yang,” he hisses, pressing the cold metal even harsher against her head. 

“I— I don’t have it on me.”

“Then let’s get going, hm? To your house, shall we?” 

“Only if you let the gun go. Someone’s going to call the police if they see this.”

Squinting at her, he reluctantly lowers his hand— falling directly into her trap as she kicks her leg up high and strong, the tip of her boot hitting his jaw. 

He spits out a mouth full of blood, a hand cupping his jaw as he winces. 

“You— Yang Nana!” He screams, lifting the gun again, but she swiftly grabs it by the barrel and turns it onto him. 

“Oh, looks like you’re going to need some help, hm?” she tuts. 

“Yang… you will pay… ” he croaks out, but she only scoffs, grabbing him by the forearm and twisting it backwards, socking him in the gut with the gun. 

“We’ll see about that,” she sneers, watching as he falls to the ground, and kicks him in the ribs for good measure. 

“Say hi to your boss for me,” Nana smirks, dropping his gun down the sewer. 

“I am about to gag at you two,” Siyuan cringes at the sight of Renjun and Nana holding hands.

“Me too,” Yangyang says in disgust.

“See you later, Renjun,” Nana waves as he turns around to walk home. 

Yangyang raises a brow at the sight. “You’re not walking him home?”

“I don’t need to spend every minute with him,” Nana deadpans. “Also, I have work.”

The smile on his face drops upon hearing her words, but he doesn’t turn around.

Yangyang scoffs. “That’s a little harsh.”

“You and Renjun— literally dumb and dumbass, except Renjun’s the dumbass,” Siyuan sighs. “You’re supposed to spend more time with him, idiot.”

Renjun walks home from school alone, a frown on his face while he ponders about Nana. 

Why is she so confusing? I never understand her, he thinks to himself with a sigh. 

But when he’s a little more than halfway home, he feels the sensation of being followed. Renjun panics, his heart pounding against his chest, as he grabs his sunglasses from his backpack, to see three people unsubtly trailing him, all dressed in different variations of a beanie, leather or denim jackets and ripped jeans. 

Yikes, scary, he gulps to himself, trying to walk faster, but the people behind him notice and run to catch up with him. 

Before he could try to get away, they pass him and stop abruptly, turning back to face him. 

“You?” The one in the center scoffs as the other two corner Renjun against a fence. “Wow, Nana really moved on with a fucking loser.”

“You know Nana?” Renjun asks in confusion. “Wait, who are you guys?”

“What do you think, you idiot?” he hisses. “I’d beat you up so bad, but that’s not really an option… Nana would just come and beat me back.”

“I’m Jaemin, the one with a red beanie is Haechan, and the other one is Jeno,” Jaemin introduces plainly.

He nods and gives a small smile as a welcome, but none of them return it.

“How— how do you know her?” Renjun croaks out, intimidated by Jeno and Haechan’s glares blazing into him. 

“We dated. But she broke up with me,” Jaemin scoffs. “All because my fling decided to text her. What an idiot.”

Renjun’s jaw drops. “How is she an idiot?! She was doing the right thing by telling Nana!”

“Oh, of course you’re sticking around for that girl, loverboy,” Jeno sneers. “You don’t know even a smidge of what she’s hiding underneath, boy. Can’t you tell that she’s bad news? What’s a dork like you doing around her?”

Renjun flinches at the same nickname that Nana had called him at the arcade.

“We— we’re dating,” Renjun stutters out.

“Are you now,” Haechan drawls out with a cocked eyebrow. “Nana does move quickly, hm?”

“Shut up, you idiots,” Jaemin snaps angrily. “Let me fucking talk.”

He pushes past Jeno and Haechan and stares directly into Renjun’s eyes. 

“You don’t know Nana. I’m doing you a favor here— she’s a thief, a liar, a manipulator. She’s not what she seems, and she’s involved with criminals, Huang Renjun. You need to run, or they’ll get you before her.”

Renjun’s eyes widen. “What— how do you know?”

“What do you think?” Jaemin sighs. “We broke up a month ago. And I was once captured by them. I’m saying this for your safety. Renjun, get as far as you can away from Yang Nana, because the people she’s with are dangerous. They can ruin your life, like they did to mine.”

Tears begin to well up in Renjun’s eyes as he’s struck with betrayal. 

“Nana— she wouldn’t,” he says desperately. “Nana can’t be like that, she… ” 

He trails off. As much as he hated to admit it, Jaemin’s claims somewhat lined up with Nana’s behavior— her refusals to spend time with him, her being “busy with work” all the time. 

No, she couldn’t… 

“And I know why she even went after you,” Jaemin adds, to add salt to the wound. “I was at a bar the other day, and hooked up with her friend Siyuan— who’s such a whore— and guess what? Siyuan told me the plan they came up with. Renjun, the truth is that she only dated you to get over me.”

Those words impale Renjun’s heart, and he’s left broken and confused. 

“Nana… no, this can’t be… ”

“I’m only trying to help you, Renjun. Please consider it,” Jaemin says with a fakely apologetic smile, and motions for Jeno and Haechan to follow him as they leave. 

Leaving Renjun in tears.

“That was a little harsh, Jaemin,” Haechan grins as soon as they’re out of earshot from Renjun. 

“Just need him away from Yang Nana,” Jaemin smirks. “She’s not allowed to be happy. Not without me.”

vii. can i set his dick on fire? please?

Nana flips her phone over near the end of her shift, pressing the pad of her finger to the fingerprint sensor to unlock her phone. 

A smile grows on her face, eager to see the message as she sees that it was from Renjun. 

bitchboy extraordinaire — today at 00:07 you’re such a fucking liar i never want to see you again

Blood drains from her face as she frantically picks through her memories, trying to remember what she had done wrong.

But ultimately, she didn’t remember what she had done. 

Nor did she respond to his accusation, deciding to finish her homework, and passing out on her bed immediately afterwards. 

Nana had no idea what she had done wrong. 

Why did Renjun get so mad? 

She kept thinking about what could’ve happened, yet she still came back empty-handed, unable to find anything she had lied to him about. 

During their lunch break, Nana waits outside of Renjun’s classroom, making sure she could corner him and ask. 

Sure enough, he comes out a few minutes later, but attempts to run once he sees Nana standing near him expectantly. 

Nana easily corners him into a wall. 

“Renjun, what did I do?”

He gapes at her incredulously. 

“You’re asking me?! You’re trying to ruin my life!” Renjun exclaims angrily. 

Nana only stands there, staring at him in confusion. 

“I don’t know where you got that from, but I promise you that I do not take pleasure in ruining lives. Nor do I have the power to do such a thing,” she says, raising an eyebrow.

“Don’t lie to me,” he snaps. “I know everything now.”

She raises her eyebrows. “Please, enlighten me. What knowledge have you acquired to make you hate me this much?”

“I ran into your ex yesterday,” Renjun blurts out, and Nana’s stare turns icy.

“Oh no, he didn’t,” she mutters. “That fucker.”

“Yeah? He told me that you’re using me. He told me that you’re involved with a lot of criminals that will find out about me and ruin my life. And that you got a bet to date me,” he accuses, getting more and more emotional as he reveals all the information. “From Siyuan, to get over Jaemin.”

“That fuckface,” Nana sneers, and Renjun swears that he’s never seen her so angry. “If you really believe the words of a fucking liar, a fucking manipulator and gaslighter, go ahead and believe the words of that fucking asshole.”

She backs away from him, allowing him to scramble away. 

“But I will tell you the truth once,” she says. “I was only involved with criminals when I couldn’t make enough money, and they have never bothered Jaemin before. He only knows because I told him.”

“And, maybe it was a stupid dare to Siyuan, but it’s a shit ton more to me.”

With that, she walks away from Renjun with a heavy heart. 

He just watches her shaking form as she leaves his side, the regret hitting him in a huge wave. 

When Nana reaches Yangyang, he looks at her expression in concern. 

“What happened, Nana?”

She swallows the lump in her throat, hesitantly spilling everything out to him. 

Yangyang’s expression contorts from worry, to confusion, to rage.

“He did WHAT?!” He yells out loudly. “Oh my God. The next time I see his pretty face, I’m going to smash it in so his face is concave—”

“Yangyang, no,” Nana sighs, her head in her hands. “That’s…. ”

But she couldn’t find a good reason to reject his proposal, knowing she’d do the same if someone else had done this to Yangyang. 

“Can I set his dick on fire? Please?” he frowns. “I am not going to stand and watch two assholes ruin your life. No. That’s not going to be okay.”

Nana’s eyes fill with tears for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity. 

“Nana, no—” Yangyang panics, reaching through his bag to look for a tissue, but unable to find a single one. 

Taking off his hoodie, he lets out a breath of relief knowing that he had washed his hoodie the day before, dabbing the sweatshirt sleeves at her eyes. 

“It’ll be okay, Nana,” he says, wrapping his arms around her shaking form. “Don’t cry— that goody-two-shoes ain’t worth your tears.”

“But he is,” she cries, feeling her heart crush with all the pain. “He’s the first time I’ve felt love in a very long time.”

“And he’s a fucking dumbass,” she adds after a moment.

“Hey, Na Jaemin!” Nana yells at him. “I hope you choke on a fucking stick!”

Jaemin turns around with his signature fuckboy smirk. “Oh hi, Nana, long time no see!”

“I’m not interested in formalities,” she spits at him, decking him in the face without a second thought.

They both hear a loud crack coming from Jaemin’s face, and he winces in pain. He clutches his nose as blood trickles out of his nose, staining his hands, and dripping onto the ground. 

“I think you broke my nose,” he grunted out.

“I think so, too. I’m glad. That’s the least I could do after you ruined my life, twice. Go eat shit,” she snaps, kicking him in the stomach without remorse, and Jaemin crumples at the impact. 

“Nana, I just wanted you back,” he croaks out. “Please, give me ano—”

“Another chance?” Nana sneers. “Not after you cheated on me, dickface.”

She squats down in front of him, relishing the sight of Jaemin in such pain. Nana offers him her hand, and he eyes it suspiciously, but takes it despite the hesitation. 

“Oh, you thought I was going to help you up,” she coos. “How cute.”

And she bends his arm backwards, earning a pained howl from the boy.

“I hate you, Jaemin, and I will hate you forever. Stop meddling with my life and go fuck yourself.”

That’s the last thing Jaemin ever hears from her before blacking out.

viii. oh you’re keeping me hostage ?!

TWO YEARS LATER.

Nana doubles over in laughter at something her friend, Aiyun, said. 

“Please, that’s hilarious,” she shakes with laughter, wiping tears that spring from her eyes.

Just as Aiyun opens her mouth to say something, a boy their age taps on her shoulder. 

“Sorry, could I talk to your friend for a little bit?” He asks.

“Oh, go ahead,” Aiyun smiles, backing a few steps away. 

Nana looks up to see his face— and her spirits drop. Her gaze hardens at the sight of him, and the previously wide smile on her face drops immediately, replaced with a straight line. The sparkle in her eyes fade, and she looks him up and down in disgust.

“What are you doing here?” Nana snaps. 

“I just—” he sighs. 

“Stop it. Just go,” she says.

“Wait!” Renjun exclaims as she turns away, and Nana swivels her head to look back at him. 

“Huang Renjun, what do you fucking want?”

“I’m sorry.”

Nana remains expressionless for a few moments, before she forces out a laugh. 

“You’re about two years late for that.”

“No, wait!” Renjun says, instinctively grabbing onto her arm as she turns away from him again, but this time, he’s met with an icy stare. 

“Let go, Huang Renjun.”

He obliges, wincing at her tone, but before he can get another word out, Nana stops him. 

“I’ve moved on, Renjun. A long time ago. Now there’s someone that loves me without doubt. We would’ve never worked out, Huang Renjun. You’re a fool who believes the words of strangers before even trying to know the whole story.

“I don’t want to see you anymore. And the party is ending, I’m leaving,” she adds.

“Nana! There you are,” Yangyang says, making his way over to her, slinging an arm over her shoulder. 

And he, too, glares coldly at the sight of Renjun. 

“What are you doing here?!” Yangyang scoffs.

“I transferred here,” Renjun responds. “Are you guys… dating now?”

Nana just shoots him an empty stare. 

“I have no obligation to tell you anything.”

The two of them walk away from him without another word. 

“Why didn’t you tell him that you’re doing a lot better than before?” Yangyang murmurs to her. “And that we’re dating?”

“I just hate his guts,” she shrugs. “But I can tell him we’re dating to make you feel better.”

Yangyang scoffs. “Like I care.”

A smirk grows on Nana’s face. “Aw, you’re jealous. That’s cute.”

Yangyang pouts, turning to the side to face her. 

“Am not.”

“Are too.”

“Shut up.”

“Make me.”

A cocky grin spreads onto Yangyang’s lips as he places a chaste kiss on her lips, effectively shutting her up.

“I wish I dated you instead of Jaemin and Renjun.”

“Me too, but you’re mine forever now.”

Nana gasps in mock horror. “Oh no, you’re keeping me hostage?!”

“Shut up.”

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