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yournameloveskpop · 3 months

Text

It All Started At The Night Shift

Paring: Felix x Reader

Warning: SMUT, a lot Manipulation, Murder, mention of suicide, attempted murder, toxic relationship, Stalking

Style: NSFW, Yandere AU!, dark Romance, Friendship

Word count: 17,601

“ If I can’t have her no one can ”

The night at the market store was quiet, just Y/N, the guard, and Hwan, her colleague, were present. They often chatted to pass time during these slow hours.

As Y/N was sharing a comical story from her day, a customer walked in. She and the guard greeted him warmly. The customer, a handsome guy with blonde hair and an Australian accent, smiled back, his gaze lingering on Y/N.

Hwan, noticing the interaction, came over with a smirk. "Hey, did you see that? He's definitely cute. And that look he gave you, Y/N!"

Y/N blushed, trying to play it cool. "Oh, it's nothing, Hwan. Just being polite, I guess."

Hwan nudged her, "Polite? Nah, that was more than just polite. Trust me, I know these things."

As Felix approached the counter, Y/N felt her heart race. Hwan, seizing the moment, asked, "Hey man, what's your name?"

Laughing, Felix replied, "I'm Felix. Nice place you've got here. And you are?"

"I'm Hwan, and this is Y/N, the star cashier." Hwan beamed.

"Y/N, that's a really nice name. Suits you." Felix said as he smiled at Y/N.

Y/N's heart flustered at the compliment, "Thank you, Felix. Did you find everything okay?" managed to respond.

"Yeah, thanks to the great ambiance here. You guys seem like a fun team."

As Y/N scanned his items, Hwan chimed in, "We try our best. Keeps the night shifts interesting, right, Y/N?"

Felix paid, his eyes still on Y/N. "Thanks, Y/N. Maybe I'll drop by again during your shift."

After he left, Y/N sighed, trying to calm her fluttering heart. Hwan and the guard couldn't help but tease her. "Looks like someone's got an admirer," Hwan said, winking.

Y/N tried to dismiss it, but she couldn't help feeling excited at the prospect of seeing Felix again. Felix's visits to the market store during Y/N's night shifts had become a regular occurrence. Their conversations were always a highlight of her evenings.

On one particularly quiet night, Felix stayed longer than usual, engaging in conversation with Y/N, Hwan, and the guard. They talked about everything from funny personal stories to random trivia, creating a lively atmosphere in the usually quiet store.

"So, Felix," Hwan started, "what brings you to our humble store so late at night? You seem to have become quite the regular."

"Well, it's not just the midnight snacks that draw me here. It's the company, of course." Felix grinned.

Y/N blushed slightly, trying to focus on organizing the counter. The guard chimed in, "We're glad you enjoy our little night crew. Makes the time pass quicker, doesn't it?"

As they were all laughing at a joke the guard had just made, a new customer walked in, interrupting the moment. Felix glanced at the door, then back at Y/N. "Looks like I should get going. Duty calls, right?"

"Yeah, it does get a bit busier around now," Y/N replied, feeling a tinge of regret.

Felix headed out, and Y/N noticed his wallet left behind on the counter. "Oh no, he forgot his wallet," she said, picking it up.

The guard urged, "You should catch him before he gets too far. We've got things covered here."

Y/N hurried outside, calling after Felix, who was already some distance away. "Felix!" He didn't stop, so she called louder, "Felix!"

Hearing her, Felix turned around with a puzzled look. "Y/N? What's up?"

Out of breath, Y/N held out his wallet. "You forgot this."

"Ah, my wallet. I'd forget my own head if it wasn't attached. Thanks for bringing it out to me." Felix laughed, a bit embarrassed.

As he reached to take it, their hands touched briefly. Y/N felt a strange sensation, a mix of excitement and a weird unease. Felix's eyes were intense, holding hers a little too long, making her heart flutter.

He finally stepped back, breaking the gaze. "I really appreciate it, Y/N. You're always looking out for me, huh?"

Y/N, still trying to catch her breath, managed a smile. "Well, can't have you walking around without your wallet."

Felix nodded, "True. Well, I should let you get back. Thanks again, Y/N."

As he walked away, Y/N stood there for a moment, feeling a chill despite the night's warmth. Felix's presence had left an unsettling yet intriguing impression on her.

Unseen by Y/N, Felix paused further down the street, turning to watch her return to the store. His expression was no longer just friendly; there was a depth of something else, something unreadable, as he watched her disappear into the store.

The shift in schedule due to a colleague's accident led Y/N to work mornings, leaving her usual evening slot to a new staff member. This change was felt by Hwan and the guard, who missed Y/N's presence during the night shifts. They often talked about their hospitalized colleague, hoping for a quick recovery.

On one of these evenings, Felix entered the store, his usual smile ready. However, it quickly faded when he didn't spot Y/N at her usual post. Instead, a new face manned the till. Hwan, noticing Felix's disappointment, approached him.

"Hey, Felix! You look a bit lost. Missing Y/N, are you?" Hwan asked, a teasing note in his voice.

Felix, trying to hide his surprise, responded, "Yeah, where's Y/N? Not her shift today?"

Hwan explained the situation, "Y/N's covering morning shifts for a while. One of our colleagues had an accident. She's always there to help out, you know?"

Felix's expression softened, "That's really kind of her. She's always thinking of others."

Hwan nodded, "True, but I worry about her sometimes. She needs to remember to take care of herself too."

Felix, with a hint of concern, asked, "So, when is she coming back to evenings?"

Hwan, sensing Felix's interest, replied with a grin, "Ah, missing her that much, huh? She should be back next week. But hey, I'm here too, you know. I can be quite the entertainer."

Felix chuckled at Hwan's playful flirtation. "I have no doubt about that. You guys make a great team. I'll still come by, just was curious about Y/N."

As Felix wandered around the store, he occasionally glanced at the new cashier. She tried to engage him with a confident and playful demeanor, even boldly asking for his number. Felix, though polite, seemed only half-engaged in the conversation.

Finally, at the till, the new cashier tried to strike up a conversation. "So, you're a regular here, right? I'm Jenna, by the way."

"Yeah, I come by often. Nice to meet you, Jenna." Felix replied politely.

"You seem to know Hwan pretty well. He's quite a character, isn't he?" Jenna smiled.

"Yeah, he definitely keeps things interesting around here." Felix laughed.

As he paid, Jenna leaned in, "If you're ever here in the mornings, let me know. I can make a great coffee."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," Felix said, offering a friendly but non-committal smile. His thoughts, however, seemed to linger on Y/N, not the conversation at hand.

Felix, a night owl by nature, found himself venturing out during the day, driven by the desire to see Y/N. He preferred the quiet of the night, but today was different. Arriving at the market shop, he was greeted by the bustling activity of daytime business. Spotting Y/N away from the cash register and busy with shelf stocking presented him with the perfect opportunity.

Approaching her with a playful smile, Felix spoke softly to avoid startling her. "Hey, need a hand with anything?"

Y/N turned, her eyes widening in surprise at seeing Felix in daylight. "Felix? What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Surprised to see me?" he asked with a grin.

"Yeah, I am. How did you know I was working mornings now?" Y/N questioned, a mixture of curiosity and happiness in her tone.

Felix explained, "I dropped by last night and didn't see you. Hwan told me about your shift change. I was actually hoping to ask you something yesterday, but you weren't there."

Y/N straightened up, "Oh? What did you want to ask?"

Felix hesitated briefly before asking, "When's your day off? I was thinking, maybe we could grab a coffee? I've really enjoyed our talks during your evening shifts, and I'd like to get to know you better."

Y/N's heart fluttered. "Um, I'm off on Sundays and Wednesdays."

"How about coffee this Sunday, then?" Felix suggested, his tone hopeful.

Y/N agreed, perhaps a bit too quickly, eliciting a chuckle from Felix. They exchanged numbers, and he promised to text her the details for Sunday.

Not wanting to keep her from work during the busy day, Felix picked up a few items and headed to the checkout. Meanwhile, another colleague of Y/N's, who had observed their interaction from afar, approached her.

"Who's that guy?" the colleague asked with a curious look.

"That's Felix. I met him during one of the evening shifts. He's been coming by almost every night since," Y/N explained.

Her colleague's expression shifted to a mix of intrigue and concern. "Doesn't that seem a bit... creepy to you?"

Y/N hadn't considered it that way. "I don't know, he's always been nice."

"Just be careful, okay? The way he just showed up, especially after finding out from Hwan when you'd be here... it gives off stalker vibes," her colleague cautioned, a hint of worry in her voice.

Those words caused a twinge of unease in Y/N's heart, but she hoped her colleague's concerns were unfounded. Felix had always seemed kind and genuine, yet now she couldn't shake off a slight sense of doubt. Sunday arrived, and Y/N felt a mix of excitement and nervousness about meeting Felix outside the familiar confines of the market. She recalled her colleague's warning about potential stalker vibes, but she pushed those thoughts aside, choosing to focus on looking her best for the meetup.

Upon arriving at the cafe, Y/N spotted Felix already there, seated at a corner table. His eyes brightened as she walked in, his smile wide and welcoming.

"Hey, Y/N! You look amazing," Felix greeted her as she approached.

"Thanks, Felix. It's nice to see you outside the store," Y/N replied, feeling a flutter of excitement.

They settled in, ordering their drinks before delving into a deep conversation. Felix's gaze remained fixed on Y/N, showing his genuine interest. "I've always wondered what you liked to do outside of work," he said, leaning in.

Y/N shared her hobbies and passions, noticing how Felix's eyes seemed to sparkle with every word. "What about you, Felix? What do you enjoy doing when you're not at our store?" she asked, smiling.

Felix shared his interests, watching Y/N's reactions closely. "I love exploring the city at night, the quietness... it's peaceful. But being with you now, this is nice too."

As the evening approached, they decided to take a walk around Seoul. The city's vibrant energy surrounded them, creating a comfortable backdrop for their continued conversation.

When it was time to part ways, Felix hesitated. "Can I walk you home? It's getting late, and I'd feel better knowing you're safe."

Y/N, recalling her colleague's words, felt a twinge of uncertainty. "I appreciate it, Felix, but I'm fine. My place isn't far. But let's definitely meet up again soon."

Felix's expression briefly faltered, but he quickly recovered. "Of course, Y/N. I'd like that."

They said their goodbyes, and Y/N walked home, unaware of Felix quietly following at a distance. His intentions seemed protective, yet there was an underlying intensity to his actions.

Reaching her apartment, Y/N entered, unaware of Felix's watchful eyes. He lingered outside, ensuring she was safe before finally walking away, his thoughts a mix of affection and an unsettling possessiveness. The following week, Y/N continued with the morning shifts, as her colleague was still recuperating. While she hoped for her colleague's swift return to work, this schedule change meant more opportunities to see Felix.

One day, after finishing her shift, Y/N was surprised to find Felix waiting for her outside the store, holding a small bouquet of flowers. Her colleagues, witnessing the scene, couldn't help but express their delight with a chorus of 'awws,' curious about the charming gentleman.

"Wow, Felix, this is... unexpected," Y/N said, her heart skipping a beat as she accepted the flowers.

"I thought it might brighten your day," Felix replied with a smile.

As days passed, Y/N eventually returned to her usual evening shifts. Hwan and the night guard greeted her with cheers, happy to have their friend back. Felix, true to his routine, resumed his evening visits to the store.

The familiarity of the evening routine felt comforting to Y/N, but there was an undercurrent of something different now. The interactions with Felix had grown more personal, and while part of her was thrilled, another part couldn't shake off a subtle sense of unease.

During one of these shifts, Felix visited the store. He seemed more intense than usual, his gaze lingering on Y/N a bit longer, his conversations deeper and more probing.

"Y/N, have you ever thought about what it'd be like to just... leave everything behind? To start fresh somewhere new?" Felix asked her one evening, a distant look in his eyes.

Y/N, taken aback by the sudden depth of the conversation, replied cautiously, "I guess I've thought about it, but I have responsibilities here. Why do you ask?"

Felix's expression darkened slightly. "Sometimes I feel like the world is too much. Too loud, too crowded. I find peace in the quiet moments, especially with you. You bring a sense of calm I don't find anywhere else."

Y/N didn't know how to respond. The intensity in Felix's words was both flattering and a little frightening. She tried to steer the conversation to lighter topics, but the night ended with Felix's words echoing in her mind.

Walking home that night, Y/N felt a prickling sensation on the back of her neck, as if she was being watched. She quickened her pace, hoping it was just her imagination running wild after the strange conversation with Felix.

Reaching home, she locked her door and peered out her window, half expecting to see someone there. The street was empty, but the feeling of unease lingered, leaving her to wonder about the true nature of Felix's intentions. During their next coffee date, Y/N and Felix found themselves more connected than ever. Their conversation flowed effortlessly, filled with laughter and shared stories, drawing them physically closer. As their hands entwined and shoulders brushed, the air around them seemed charged with unspoken feelings.

Felix, looking deeply into Y/N's eyes, broke the silence with a confession. "Y/N, these moments with you, they mean a lot to me. I've come to really like you."

Y/N, feeling her heart flutter, couldn't help but respond in kind. "Felix, I feel the same. There's something special about what we have."

Their eyes locked, and Felix's gaze lingered on her lips. Y/N, blushing slightly, leaned in, and they shared a gentle, yet profound kiss.

"I really like you... a lot," Felix whispered softly, giving her another tender kiss.

As they prepared to leave, Y/N, emboldened by the moment, invited Felix over to her apartment. He smiled warmly, "I'd love to come over. It'll be nice spending more time with you."

At her cozy apartment, they settled into an evening of more conversation and a movie. As the film played, Y/N's eyelids grew heavy, and she eventually fell asleep on Felix's shoulder.

Felix gazed down at her, a small smirk on his face. "You're so peaceful when you sleep," he whispered to himself, appreciating her serene expression.

As the movie ended, Felix gently shook Y/N awake. "Hey, it's late. I should get going."

Y/N, groggily waking up, felt a tinge of disappointment. "Oh, already? Thanks for staying. I had a great time."

"Me too," Felix replied, standing up. "I'll see you soon, Y/N."

After he left, Y/N locked her door and sat in the quiet of her apartment, the evening's events replaying in her mind. It was another evening shift at the market store, and Hwan was brimming with curiosity about Y/N's budding relationship with Felix. The guard, too, was eager to hear more, so Y/N shared details of their recent dates.

Hwan's excitement was palpable. "Oh my gosh, tell me everything! How romantic is it on a scale from one to ten?" he asked, clapping his hands together like a giddy schoolgirl.

Y/N laughed, sharing some of the sweet moments they had shared. "It's been really nice. Felix is thoughtful, and we've had some great times together."

As the night progressed, Y/N noticed Felix didn't make his usual visit. She tried not to think much of it, assuming he might not have needed anything that evening. Still, his absence made the shift feel slower.

After closing up the shop, Y/N began her walk home. Normally, the walk was a peaceful end to her night, but tonight felt different. She had an eerie sensation of being followed. At one point, she even heard footsteps behind her.

Increasing her pace, Y/N glanced back and saw a shadowy figure at a distance, seemingly following her. Her walk turned into a run, heart pounding. As she rounded a corner, she collided with someone, letting out a startled yelp.

Strong hands grasped her arms, and she looked up to see Felix, concern etched on his face. "Y/N, it's me, Felix. Are you okay? What happened?"

Relieved yet still shaken, Y/N stammered, "I-I thought someone was following me. I heard footsteps..."

Felix's brow furrowed with worry. "Why were you walking alone at this hour? It's not safe."

Glancing back, Y/N saw no one. She looked at Felix, who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. "Felix, what are you doing out here?"

"Just taking a stroll," he replied, his tone casual. Noticing her shivers, he took off his jacket and gently draped it over her shoulders. "Let me walk you home. You shouldn't be alone."

As they walked, Felix kept a protective arm around her, occasionally looking back to ensure no one was following them. Y/N, though comforted by his presence, couldn't shake off a lingering sense of unease, wondering about the odd coincidence of his timely appearance. Y/N decided to invite Felix over for dinner a few days after their unsettling encounter. She wanted to create a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, cooking a meal for them in her apartment. As she busied herself in the kitchen, Felix arrived, still carrying a hint of concern from their previous meeting.

"Hey, are you sure you're okay after the other night?" Felix asked as he entered, his eyes searching hers for any sign of lingering distress.

"Yeah, I'm okay, just a little shaken still. It was weird, you know?" Y/N replied, focusing on chopping vegetables. "But I'm curious, Felix. Why were you out for a stroll that late? It seemed... out of the ordinary."

Felix chuckled softly, understanding her unease. "I know it must've seemed strange. I didn't visit the store that night, and it felt odd not being there. I just needed to stretch my legs, get some fresh air. I'm sorry if it scared you. The timing was certainly unusual."

As they talked, Felix admired her cooking skills. The kitchen was small, and the aroma of the food was enticing. He moved closer to her, and in a smooth, casual gesture, wrapped his arms around her from behind as she continued to cut vegetables.

"Do you need any help with anything?" Felix asked, his voice close to her ear.

Y/N leaned back slightly into his embrace, feeling a shiver run through her from his touch. "No, it's okay. You're the guest tonight. Just relax and enjoy," she said, a hint of warmth in her voice.

The dinner Y/N prepared was a hit. Felix complimented her culinary skills, genuinely impressed. "This is amazing, Y/N. You're a fantastic cook," he said, savoring each bite.

After they finished eating, Felix insisted on helping with the cleanup. "It's only fair since you cooked such a wonderful meal," he said, taking the dishes to the sink.

Once the kitchen was tidy, they decided to play some card and board games, laughing and enjoying each other's company. As the evening wore on, they settled down to watch movies, cuddling under a blanket on the couch. Y/N found comfort resting atop Felix, and soon, they both drifted off to sleep.

In the early morning light, Felix awoke to find Y/N still asleep on top of him. Gently, he shifted her aside, careful not to wake her. Standing up, he looked down at her peaceful face, a complex mix of emotions crossing his own.

"Sleep well, Y/N," he whispered to himself. He felt an urge to have something of hers, a memento to keep her close even when they were apart.

As he quietly moved around her apartment, Felix's eyes scanned for something small, something she wouldn't immediately miss. His movements were silent, almost ghostly. He found a small hairpin on her dresser, its design simple and elegant. He picked it up, turning it over in his hands.

"Just a little something to remember this night," he murmured.

Continuing his subtle search, Felix found a book she was currently reading. He carefully slipped a bookmark inside - one that he had with him, a silent exchange of possessions. "Now there's a part of me with you, too," he said softly.

With each item Felix took, his expression grew more introspective. He wasn't just collecting objects; he was weaving a deeper connection with Y/N in his mind, a connection he believed was protective and necessary.

Finally, he found a scarf, lightly perfumed with her scent. He held it close, inhaling deeply. "I'll keep you safe, Y/N, from anything that might harm you," he spoke to the scarf as if it were Y/N herself.

As Y/N slowly came to consciousness, she noticed Felix sitting by the window, lost in his thoughts. The soft morning light cast a serene glow over the room, a stark contrast to the complexity of emotions playing across Felix's face.

Rubbing her eyes, Y/N sat up, causing Felix to turn his attention away from the window. He quickly masked his contemplative expression with a more cheerful demeanor. "Good morning, Y/N," he greeted her warmly.

Y/N stretched and smiled, though still groggy. "Morning, Felix. Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep on you last night."

Felix shook his head, "Don't worry about it. I fell asleep too. It was nice, actually."

Y/N got up, moving around the room, still unaware of the items Felix had subtly taken. As she busied herself, Felix watched her, his gaze soft yet tinged with a possessive intensity.

"I should probably head back," Felix announced, standing up. "Didn't want to just leave while you were asleep."

Y/N, turning to face him, felt a hint of disappointment. "Oh, are you sure you have to go? We could grab breakfast or something."

Felix hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I'd love to stay, but I have a few things to take care of today. Rain check on breakfast?"

Y/N nodded, understanding. "Sure, another time then."

As Felix prepared to leave, Y/N walked him to the door. "Thanks for coming over, Felix. Last night was really fun."

Felix turned to her, his expression softening. "I had a great time too, Y/N. We should do this again soon."

They said their goodbyes, and Felix left. Y/N closed the door behind him, feeling a mix of happiness from the night before and a vague sense of unease she couldn't quite place.

Once outside, Felix paused, looking at the items he had taken from her apartment. He held the scarf close, feeling a sense of duty to protect Y/N, even from shadows and dangers only he seemed to perceive. His thoughts were a blend of affection and an overprotective urge, a dangerous combination that blurred the lines between care and control.

As Felix and Y/N's relationship progressed, Felix found himself increasingly fixated on her. He cherished their shared moments and kisses but craved more. One day, while out shopping for clothes, he unexpectedly saw Y/N laughing and talking with her friends.

From his hidden vantage point, Felix couldn't help but smile at Y/N's carefree demeanor. "She's so different when she's with her friends," he thought to himself, his gaze following her every move. "So full of life and laughter."

Meanwhile, Y/N, completely oblivious to Felix's watchful eyes, was engrossed in the lively banter with her friends. Her laughter was infectious, and her energy radiated happiness, drawing in those around her.

After a while, Felix left the scene, his mind replaying the moments he had witnessed. He felt a strange satisfaction in having seen this other side of Y/N, yet it also fueled his desire to be a bigger part of her life.

Felix had developed a habit of subtly taking small items from Y/N's apartment during their dates – things that carried her scent but wouldn't be immediately missed. It was his way of keeping a part of her with him.

A few days later, Felix visited the market store during Y/N's shift. As he was browsing, a rowdy group of men entered, their loud banter filling the store. The guard immediately became alert, sensing potential trouble.

The men's eyes soon fell on Y/N. They began to make crude comments about her, loud enough for Felix and others nearby to hear.

"Check out the cashier. She's pretty hot," one of the men remarked to his friends, his voice dripping with lewd intent.

"Yeah, way too good for a place like this. Bet she's got some fire in her," another added, chuckling.

Y/N, feeling their eyes on her, tried to ignore the comments and focus on her work. The men's behavior was making her increasingly uncomfortable.

Hwan, sensing the situation escalating, moved closer to Y/N. "These guys are bad news," he whispered to the guard, both of them keeping a watchful eye on the group.

As the men approached the counter with their items, one of them leaned in, smirking at Y/N. "Hey, sweetheart, why are you working in a dump like this? Someone as pretty as you should be treated better."

Y/N responded with forced politeness, trying to remain professional. "I'm just doing my job, sir. Can I help you with anything else?"

Felix, unable to stand idly by, stepped forward with his items. He cleared his throat loudly, drawing the men's attention away from Y/N. His expression was stern, a silent warning.

The leader of the group, catching the protective vibe from Felix, gave a sarcastic apology for holding up the line and shot Y/N one last inappropriate glance before leaving with his friends, their crude remarks still audible as they exited.

Felix turned to Y/N, a mix of concern and frustration in his eyes. "Are you alright, Y/N? That was completely out of line."

Y/N nodded, trying to shake off the unease. "I'm okay, thanks, Felix. It's not uncommon, but it's never pleasant."

Felix's brow furrowed, his protective instinct clear. "No one should have to put up with that. I wish I could be here all the time to prevent it."

The night at the market store continued, with Felix staying a bit longer than usual. As closing time approached, Hwan offered Y/N a ride home, concerned for her safety after the unsettling encounter with the group of men. However, Y/N reassured him that she would be fine, her apartment being just a short walk away.

Hwan, still hesitant, told her, "Please, Y/N, call me immediately if anything feels off, okay?"

Y/N nodded, "I will, Hwan. Thanks."

Walking home alone, Y/N was extra alert, her mind replaying the earlier incident. As she made her way through the dimly lit streets, she noticed the same group of men from the store lingering nearby. They spotted her and began whistling and calling out to her.

"Hey, there she is! The pretty cashier!" one of them yelled, their tone menacing.

Y/N quickened her pace, trying to ignore them, but before she could turn the corner, one of the men grabbed her arm. She let out a sharp scream, which was quickly muffled as another man covered her mouth, dragging her towards a dark alleyway.

Her struggles were in vain against their strength. Panic surged through her as she tried to free herself.

Meanwhile, Felix, who was still nearby, heard Y/N's scream. He paused, then ran towards the source of the sound. Arriving at the alley, he saw the men trying to overpower Y/N. Rage filled him, his eyes darkening with fury.

Felix made his presence known, causing the men to pause and turn towards him. One of them smirked and taunted, "Better walk away, buddy, unless you want to get hurt."

Underestimating Felix, one of the men charged at him, only to be knocked out cold with a single punch. The second attacker lunged, but Felix grabbed him and slammed his face into the brick wall. The leader and another accomplice then attacked, but Felix swiftly incapacitated them both, leaving them unconscious on the ground.

But Felix wasn't finished. He stood over the leader, his foot pressing down on the man's neck. The leader gasped for air, pleading for his life.

"You don't deserve to breathe," Felix growled, his voice cold and devoid of mercy. "After what you were going to do to her... to Y/N..."

Y/N, terrified by the scene unfolding before her, called out weakly, "Felix, stop! Please, don't do this!"

Felix turned to look at her, his expression softening slightly. He slowly removed his foot from the man's neck, leaving him gasping on the ground. "Next time, I won't hesitate," he warned the man, his voice low and threatening. "Get your life together, and stay away from her."

Approaching Y/N cautiously, Felix said softly, "It's okay, Y/N. I won't hurt you. I'm here to protect you."

Y/N, still in shock, hesitated before slowly clinging to Felix. He gently helped her up, covering her eyes so she wouldn't see the aftermath of his actions.

"Let's get you home," Felix whispered, guiding her away from the alley and back to the safety of her apartment.

Upon reaching Y/N's apartment, the tension and fear from the night's events still clung to her. She held onto Felix tightly, seeking comfort in his presence. "Can you stay tonight?" she asked in a trembling voice as they walked inside.

Felix nodded, his expression serious but gentle. "Of course, I'm here for you," he assured her.

As they entered the apartment and removed their shoes, the proximity and the intensity of the evening seemed to draw them even closer. Y/N, still shaken and now driven by a mix of fear and gratitude, reached for Felix. With unsteady hands, she pulled him down into a deep, fervent kiss.

Felix responded with surprise but quickly reciprocated, his arms encircling her waist, pulling her closer. The kiss deepened, fueled by a blend of need and desire.

"Felix..." Y/N murmured between kisses, her hands moving to lift his hoodie and t-shirt.

He reciprocated, lifting her top off with equal urgency. Their clothing fell away, forgotten as they became lost in each other.

As Felix held her, the sensation of their skin touching was overwhelming. "Y/N, I... I want you," he confessed, his voice low and filled with longing.

Y/N, responding with her own need, whispered back, "I want you too, Felix. Please."

Lifting her in his arms, Felix carefully ascended the steps to her loft bed. Once there, he gently laid her down, his lips finding her neck. Y/N called out his name, her hips rolling against his in a rhythm of desperation and desire.

"Felix... Felix..." she moaned, her voice a mix of pleasure and need.

Hearing his name from her lips sent waves of desire through Felix. "Y/N, you're everything," he breathed, his voice deep and resonant.

The night unfolded in a blur of passion and intensity. Their moans and whispered names filled the room, a testament to their fervent connection. Eventually, exhaustion overtook them, and they fell asleep in each other's arms, the bed covers and their shared warmth the only things holding back the chill of the night. In the early morning quiet, Felix and Y/N lay entwined in her bed, a temporary calm enveloping them. Felix held Y/N close, feeling a sense of protectiveness and possession that had intensified since the previous night's events. The scent of her hair and the softness of her skin under his fingers sent shivers down his spine.

He gazed down at her, marveling at her peaceful, innocent appearance. "I could keep you safe forever," he thought, his mind teetering on the edge of a dark and possessive desire.

Leaning in, Felix gently kissed the top of her head, inhaling the scent of her shampoo. His fingers continued their delicate caress along her back, a contrast to the violence of the night before.

Y/N slowly stirred awake, her eyes fluttering open to meet Felix's gaze. His serious expression quickly softened into a smile. "Good morning," he murmured softly.

"Morning," Y/N replied, her voice still heavy with sleep. She looked up at him, his presence bringing a sense of safety.

"How are you feeling after last night?" Felix's voice was low, laced with concern.

The memory of the attack flashed through Y/N's mind, a flicker of fear crossing her face. Then she remembered Felix's actions, how he had stood over one of the men, his foot pressed against the man's neck. "I'm... better now that you're here. But, Felix, what would you have done to those guys... if I hadn't stopped you?" she asked, her voice hesitant.

Felix's smile faltered slightly. He chose his words carefully, aware of the gravity of her question. "I only wanted to scare them, to make sure they wouldn't hurt you. I wouldn't have gone further," he assured her, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of something more intense.

Y/N nodded, wanting to believe him. She leaned in for a kiss, seeking comfort in his embrace. Felix responded, his kiss reassuring yet tinged with an underlying intensity.

As they lay together, Felix spoke softly, his words filled with a dark promise. "I'll always protect you, Y/N. No one will ever hurt you as long as I'm around."

Y/N felt a mixture of comfort and unease at his words. "I know you will, Felix. But promise me, no more violence."

Felix nodded, though his expression remained unreadable. "I promise, as long as you're safe."

Y/N was eager for Felix to meet her friends, believing it was an important step in their relationship. Despite Felix's nervousness, they went to the mall to meet up with her group of friends.

As they arrived, Bangchan, who had always been like a brother to Y/N, was the first to greet them. He extended a warm welcome to Felix.

"You must be Felix. Y/N has told us so much about you," Chan said, shaking Felix's hand.

Felix, trying to mask his nervousness with a polite smile, replied, "Yes, that's me. It's great to meet all of you."

Bangchan, picking up on Felix's Australian accent, added, "Hey, I'm from Australia too! Whereabouts are you from?"

"Sydney," Felix responded, a bit more relaxed. "It's good to meet a fellow Aussie."

Yeonjun, Chanbin, and Wooyoung, Y/N's school friends, introduced themselves next, each expressing their gratitude for how Felix had been there for Y/N. Jeongin, Mina, Sana, and Emily followed suit, making Felix feel gradually more welcome.

As they wandered around the mall, chatting and laughing, a TV in the public area caught their attention. The news was on, and a breaking story flashed across the screen.

"Breaking News: Men Found Dead in Apparent Group Suicide," the headline read.

The group fell silent, their attention drawn to the screen. The reporter detailed how the men, involved in a recent assault, were found dead in what appeared to be a case of group suicide.

Y/N gasped, recognizing the men as the same group that had harassed her. "Those are the men from the other night," she whispered, a mix of shock and fear in her voice.

Felix stiffened, his expression darkening as he watched the report. Bangchan looked at him, sensing the change in his demeanor. "You okay, mate? This must be shocking for Y/N, given what happened."

Felix's voice was low, almost a growl. "They got what they deserved," he said, barely audible.

Y/N turned to Felix, her eyes wide. "Felix, you don't think that... they deserved to die, do you?"

Felix quickly masked his dark expression with a more neutral one. "No, of course not. It's just... shocking, that's all."

The group tried to resume their previous cheerfulness, but the news had cast a shadow over the day. Felix, meanwhile, harbored a secret. He had orchestrated the demise of those men, making it appear as a group suicide executed by another gang. His primary goal was to ensure they could never harm Y/N or anyone else again. This dark deed, known only to him, was driven by a twisted sense of justice and an obsessive desire to protect Y/N at all costs.

As they walked through the mall, Felix could sense Y/N's discomfort. He wrapped an arm around her, trying to offer some comfort. "Are you alright, Y/N? You seem a bit off," he asked, his tone laced with concern.

Y/N forced a smile, not wanting to voice her growing fears about Felix. "It's just the news... it's quite shocking, isn't it?"

Felix nodded, keeping his expression carefully neutral. "It is. But at least they won't be able to hurt anyone anymore. You're safe, that's what matters."

Bangchan, attempting to salvage the day, suggested, "Why don't we try to do something fun to lighten the mood? How about we play some games at the arcade here?"

The group agreed, albeit half-heartedly, and made their way to the arcade. As they played, Y/N found herself repeatedly glancing at Felix. His earlier reaction to the news report lingered in her mind, casting him in a new, more ominous light.

Later, as the group sat down for a meal, the conversation struggled to regain its previous ease. The friends chatted about mundane topics, but the underlying tension was palpable.

Felix remained mostly quiet, his mind preoccupied with the secret he was keeping. He knew that his actions, though driven by a desire to protect Y/N, had crossed a dangerous line.

As they ate, Y/N finally mustered the courage to ask Felix a question that had been burning in her mind. "Felix, that news about the men... Do you really think they deserved to die?"

Felix paused, his fork midway to his mouth. He looked at Y/N, searching for the right words. "In a way, yes. They were dangerous, Y/N. They could have hurt you or worse. I can't stand the thought of anyone harming you."

Y/N felt a chill run down her spine at his words. The man she had come to know and care for now seemed like a stranger, capable of a darkness she hadn't seen before. Despite the undercurrent of discomfort, Y/N found herself torn between her growing fears about Felix and the love she felt for him. He had been her protector, her savior on two occasions, and their recent intimate moments had only deepened her affection.

As the group wrapped up their meal, her friends, though worried about the news, expressed their gratitude towards Felix for always being there for Y/N. They liked him for his protective nature and the way he made Y/N feel loved.

Bangchan, taking a moment alone with Y/N, voiced his thoughts. "Hey, Y/N, just wanted to say, Felix seems like a great guy. You two look good together."

Y/N smiled, feeling reassured by her friend's approval. "Thanks, Bangchan. He's been really wonderful."

Yeonjun chimed in, "Yeah, and the way he stepped up for you that night. You've got a real hero there."

As the group said their goodbyes, Felix took Y/N's hand firmly, his grip conveying a sense of protectiveness rather than possessiveness. Walking her home, Felix sensed the mixed emotions in Y/N.

"Everything okay, Y/N? You seem a bit quiet," Felix inquired, his tone gentle.

Y/N nodded, her mind still processing the day's events. "Yeah, I'm just thinking about everything. It's been an eventful day."

Felix smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I'm glad I finally got to meet your friends. They seem really cool."

"They are," Y/N agreed, her spirits lifted slightly by Felix's attempt to keep things upbeat.

As they reached her apartment, Felix's concern was evident. "Y/N, if you ever need anything or feel uneasy, just let me know. I'm here for you."

"I know, Felix. Thank you," Y/N said, giving him a small, grateful smile.

They stood at her door, the evening ending on a more positive note. Y/N felt a sense of comfort knowing her friends liked Felix and that he was there to support her. Felix leaned down and gave her a warm and gentle kiss. His heart swelled with emotion as Y/N returned his warm and gentle kiss. The night had been a mix of apprehensions and affirmations, but this moment felt like a culmination of all their shared experiences.

"I love you, Felix," Y/N whispered, her eyes locked with his.

Hearing those words, Felix felt an overwhelming rush of happiness. He had longed to hear them since the day they met. His smile was bright and unrestrained as he kissed her again, unable to contain his joy. "I love you too, Y/N. More than you can imagine," he replied, his voice filled with emotion.

Y/N smiled back, her eyes reflecting the deep connection they shared. "I'm so glad you're in my life, Felix. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Y/N. Sleep well," Felix responded, watching her disappear inside.

As Felix made his way back to his apartment, his mind replayed their evening. He leaned against his door, lost in thought, a dreamy expression on his face. The confession of love had ignited something intense within him.

He removed his shoes and jacket, walking through the dimly lit apartment to a room he always kept locked. This room was his sanctuary, a hidden space filled with his deepest obsessions and desires.

Inside, the walls were covered with pictures of Y/N, some taken long before they officially met. Felix had been quietly observing her, captivated by her kindness since the rainy day she offered him her umbrella. That gesture had sparked an obsession that grew with each passing day.

He had carefully orchestrated their meeting at the market, though to Y/N, he was just a stranger. Each photograph, each stolen moment captured in these images, was a testament to his growing fixation.

Felix picked up Y/N's scarf from the room, inhaling her scent. His mind raced with plans and possibilities. "She loves me," he whispered to himself. "Now, we can truly start our life together."

He thought aloud, addressing the empty room, "It's time for the next step. Y/N should be with me, always. She'll be safe and loved. I'll make sure of it."

Felix's thoughts turned to the future, envisioning a life where Y/N was by his side, away from any perceived threats or dangers. In his mind, this was the ultimate act of love and protection.

"I'll start preparing tomorrow," Felix mused, his voice low. "Everything needs to be perfect for her. She deserves that."

As he left the room, locking away his secret shrine, Felix felt a resolve stronger than ever. His love for Y/N had become an all-consuming force, driving him towards a future where he could keep her close, forever safeguarded in his care. The night shift at the market store felt surprisingly light for Y/N. There was an air of anticipation around her, a sense that something significant and exciting was on the horizon. The unsettling news about the men's supposed suicide had receded to the back of her mind, replaced by thoughts of her blossoming relationship with Felix.

Even when the guard brought up the incident, Y/N's response was brief and detached. "It's just one of those things, I guess," she said, trying to keep the conversation light.

Hwan, observing her nonchalant attitude, commented, "You seem pretty chill about the whole thing. Felix must've really helped you through it, huh?"

Y/N blushed slightly, choosing not to delve into the intimate details of her time with Felix. "Yeah, he's been amazing," she admitted.

"If he shows up tonight, I need to thank him for looking out for you," Hwan added, a tone of gratitude in his voice.

As if on cue, Felix entered the store, his demeanor one of contentment and happiness. He greeted the guard and Hwan warmly before making his way over to Y/N.

The guard, in a light-hearted attempt to ease the mood, teased, "Look out, everyone, here comes Mr. Knight in Shining Armor."

Hwan joined in with a laugh, giving Felix a friendly pat on the back. "Good to see you, man. We owe you one for keeping Y/N safe."

Felix, slightly bashful at the attention, smiled and nodded. "It's nothing. I'm just glad she's okay."

As Felix approached Y/N, he reached into his pocket, pulling out a small box. "I got something for you," he said, his voice soft.

Y/N's eyes widened in surprise as Felix opened the box to reveal a beautiful necklace inside. The design was elegant and perfectly matched her style.

"Felix, it's gorgeous! You didn't have to do this," Y/N exclaimed, touched by the gesture.

Felix gently took the necklace out of the box. "I wanted to. Here, let me put it on you," he offered, his fingers deftly fastening the necklace around her neck.

As Y/N touched the necklace, now adorning her neck, she looked at Felix with a mix of affection and gratitude. "Thank you, Felix. I love it."

The rest of the night shift passed with an ease that had been missing for some time. Y/N's colleagues noticed the change in her, the lightness in her step, the frequent glances she and Felix exchanged. The store had a warm, almost festive atmosphere, with customers picking up on the positive vibe.

As closing time approached, Hwan nudged Y/N playfully. "You guys are too cute. It's like a romantic movie in here."

The guard chimed in, "Yeah, just make sure to invite us to the wedding, okay?"

Y/N laughed, a genuine, carefree sound that hadn't been heard in a while. "We'll see about that," she said, her eyes twinkling.

Y/N couldn't stop admiring the necklace Felix had given her, her heart fluttering with happiness. She walked close to him, her hand tightly clasped in his, the other arm wrapped around his. The gift was more than just an accessory; it felt like a physical representation of their growing relationship.

As they strolled through the quiet streets, Y/N chatted excitedly. "I still can't believe you got this for me, Felix. It's so beautiful, and it's just my style," she gushed, her eyes sparkling in the dim streetlight.

Felix smiled, happy to see her so elated. "I saw it and immediately thought of you. I'm glad you like it."

The conversation flowed easily until Felix, with a hint of nervousness in his voice, broached a new topic. "Y/N, I've been thinking... What would you say about moving in with me?"

Y/N's steps faltered, and she looked at him with wide eyes, taken aback by the question. "Moving in? With you?" she asked, a mix of surprise and contemplation in her voice.

"Yeah," Felix said, a hopeful note in his voice. "I mean, we've been spending so much time together, and I just thought it'd be nice to... you know, take the next step."

Y/N paused, weighing the idea. "Felix, it's a big step. I love spending time with you, and I love this," she said, touching the necklace, "but I'm also really attached to my apartment. And, well, I haven't even seen your place yet."

Felix's heart sank a little at her response, but he understood her hesitation. "Of course, I get it. It's a big decision. How about this - why don't you come over and see my place? You can take all the time you need to think about it. No pressure."

"That sounds fair," Y/N replied, her expression softening. "I'd like to see where you live. It'll help me make up my mind."

They continued their walk, the conversation shifting to lighter topics. Felix felt a twinge of disappointment but remained hopeful. Showing Y/N his apartment would be the perfect opportunity to bring her closer into his world.

As they reached Y/N's apartment, Felix gave her a gentle kiss. "Let me know when you want to come over. I'll make sure it's special."

Y/N nodded, her mind abuzz with thoughts about their future. "I will. Thanks, Felix. Tonight was really wonderful."

They said their goodbyes, and as Felix walked away, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety. His plan to have Y/N move in with him was set in motion, and he hoped it would only be a matter of time before she agreed. The next day, Y/N arranged to meet BangChan and Jeongin. She was eager to share the big news about Felix's proposal for her to move in with him, but she also carried a mix of excitement and uncertainty.

As they sat down at a local café, Y/N broached the subject. "So, Felix asked me to move in with him," she began, watching their reactions closely.

BangChan's face lit up with enthusiasm. "That's great news! Felix seems like a stand-up guy. Plus, it's nice to have another Aussie around," he said with a grin.

Jeongin, however, was more reserved. While he tried to appear supportive, there was a hint of skepticism in his expression. "It's a big step, Y/N. Are you sure about this?"

Y/N, feeling a bit defensive, replied, "I think so. Felix has been amazing, and after everything he's done for me..."

Jeongin's gaze then fell on the necklace Y/N was wearing. "That's a new piece, isn't it? It's not really your usual style," he observed, his curiosity piqued.

Y/N touched the necklace, a gift from Felix. "Yeah, Felix gave it to me last night. Isn't it beautiful?"

While BangChan admired the necklace, Jeongin scrutinized it more closely, a frown forming on his face. He couldn't shake off a feeling that there was something more to the pendant than met the eye.

Unknown to them, Felix was watching from a distance, his presence hidden. He listened intently, his expression darkening as he heard Jeongin's comments about the necklace.

The necklace, unknown to Y/N, contained a tracker. Felix had planted it to keep a close eye on her movements, a dark testament to his growing obsession and need for control.

Y/N, sensing Jeongin's unease, became defensive. "Jeongin, Felix is a good person. He's been nothing but kind and protective."

Jeongin, though concerned, tried to soften his stance. "I'm just looking out for you, Y/N. It's a big decision, that's all."

BangChan intervened, trying to defuse the tension. "Let's not worry too much right now. We're all here for you, Y/N, no matter what you decide."

As the conversation at the café continued, Felix discreetly left, his mind overwhelmed with thoughts of what he had to do. He hurried back to his apartment, determined to remove the traces of his obsession from the locked room.

Once inside his apartment, Felix approached the locked room with a sense of urgency. His expression was a blend of regret for what he had to let go and determination to move forward in his relationship with Y/N.

He began the painstaking process of dismantling his shrine. One by one, he took down the photographs of Y/N, each image a memory of his hidden surveillance. With each picture destroyed, Felix felt a part of his old obsession crumbling away. All the small items he had collected from Y/N over time were discarded, except for her scarf. He crafted a plausible story in his mind about how he came to have it, intending to return it to her under innocent pretenses.

Felix also took the time to clean the rest of his apartment, erasing any sign of the darker aspects of his life. The locked room was now bare, its purpose no longer necessary. He hid the scarf in a safe place, planning to reintroduce it to Y/N under a different light.

When Sunday arrived, Y/N came over to spend the day at Felix's place. Felix double-checked the apartment to ensure nothing was out of place. The only photos visible were recent ones of him and Y/N together, harmless reminders of their time as a couple.

Hearing a knock at the door, Felix's heart raced with anticipation. He opened the door with a bright, welcoming smile and greeted Y/N warmly. "Hey, Y/N! I'm so glad you could come. Welcome to my place," he said, stepping aside to let her in.

Y/N entered, looking around curiously. "Wow, Felix, your place is really nice," she commented, taking in the clean and orderly space.

Felix led her on a tour, showing her the living room, kitchen, and finally the bedroom. The room that once held his dark obsession was now just an ordinary space, its secrets carefully hidden away.

"So, what do you think?" Felix asked, hopeful.

Y/N smiled, genuinely impressed. "It's great, Felix. You have a lovely home."

As they settled in the living room, Felix felt a sense of relief. The day was unfolding smoothly, and the darkness of his past actions seemed to be fading away. He was determined to create new, happier memories with Y/N, memories untainted by the shadows of his obsession.

They spent the day together, enjoying each other's company, talking, laughing, and planning for the future. As the day turned into evening, Y/N felt more at ease, the comfort of Felix's home and his company making her consider the possibility of moving in with him more seriously.

Felix watched her throughout the day, his love for her mingling with an underlying fear of losing her. He knew he had crossed lines in the past, but now he finally had her by his side. That evening, Felix took charge of preparing dinner. As he busied himself in the kitchen, Y/N offered to help, echoing the question he had once asked her. Felix, however, insisted that she relax and enjoy her evening. "No need to lift a finger, Y/N. I've got this," he said with a reassuring smile.

Y/N, unable to sit still, began wandering around Felix's apartment, admiring its spaciousness and tasteful decor. Her curiosity was piqued when she came across a room with a key lock on the door. It seemed out of place in the otherwise open and welcoming apartment.

"Why is there a lock on this door?" Y/N asked, turning to Felix with a curious expression.

Felix, caught off guard, felt a surge of nervousness. "Oh, that? It's always been there since I moved in. Just a spare room, really. Haven't figured out what to do with it yet," he explained, trying to sound nonchalant.

Y/N nodded, accepting his explanation, but the locked door stayed in her mind as an odd detail.

Dinner was served, and Felix poured them each a glass of wine. His attempt to enjoy the wine ended in a comical grimace, causing Y/N to laugh. "It's okay, Felix. Not everyone's a wine person," she said, finding his reaction endearing.

"I'll stick to something less sophisticated," Felix joked, opting for a soft drink instead.

As the night wore on, Y/N realized it had gotten quite late. She mentioned that she should head back, but Felix suggested she stay over, citing the lateness of the hour. "It's late, and I don't like the thought of you walking back alone. Stay here, and I'll walk you back in the morning," he offered.

Y/N hesitated but then agreed, feeling comfortable and safe in Felix's presence. The topic of moving in came up again, and although Y/N was still unsure, Felix had an idea.

"What if you stayed for the whole weekend? Just to see how it feels living here with me," he suggested gently and hopefully.

Y/N considered the proposal, playing with the necklace Felix had given her. "That's actually a good idea. I'll give it a try," she said, a smile forming on her lips.

As Felix embraced Y/N, a sense of elation mixed with a darker satisfaction filled him. He pulled her into a long, passionate kiss, his hands gently squeezing her waist, drawing a soft moan from her lips. The intensity of their connection deepened with each moment, enveloping them in a world of their own.

Breathless, Felix momentarily pulled away, his gaze fixating on the necklace he had given Y/N. His eyes momentarily darkened, a hint of something more than just affection lurking in their depths. He gently lifted the necklace, admiring how it adorned her neck.

"Y/N, promise me you'll always wear this," he said in a low voice, laden with an unspoken meaning.

Y/N, blissfully unaware of the true nature of the necklace, nodded with a smile. "I love it, Felix. I'll only take it off for showers. It's too beautiful to get ruined," she promised, her voice filled with sincerity.

Hearing her promise, Felix's smile grew wider, a sense of possessiveness cloaked in the guise of affection. He drew her back into a kiss, their lips meeting with renewed fervor.

As their kiss deepened, Felix's touch grew more insistent, his hands exploring her with a growing intensity. Y/N was entirely caught up in the moment, oblivious to the subtle shift in Felix's demeanor.

"I can't believe how lucky I am to have you," Felix murmured against her lips, his voice a mix of tenderness and something more possessive. "You're mine, Y/N. Only mine."

His words sent shivers down her spine, her response a soft moan that encouraged him further. Felix's hands moved to the hem of her dress, slowly lifting it up and over her head, revealing her in the soft light of the room.

Gently, he carried her to his bedroom, laying her down with care. He hovered above her, his gaze admiring every curve and contour of her body. "You are breathtaking," he whispered, his lips tracing a path from her lips down her neck, eliciting soft gasps and whispered pleas from Y/N.

Y/N's fingers tangled in his hair, her voice filled with desire as she called out his name. "Felix, I... I need you."

The night evolved into a whirlwind of passion and intimacy, their connection growing more intense with each caress, each whispered declaration of need and desire.

Later, as they lay entwined in the aftermath, Y/N felt a deep sense of connection to Felix, mistaking his possessiveness for profound love and care. Felix, on the other hand, reveled in the control he felt over her, his actions driven by an obsession masked as affection.

Their relationship was evolving into a complex web of love, trust, and manipulation. Felix's veneer of protection and care for Y/N was slowly ensnaring her in a situation where her affection for him was becoming entangled with his increasingly controlling behavior. It was a dangerous path, one where affection and dependency blurred the lines, leading them deeper into a world where true intentions and emotions were dangerously obscured.

The weekend Y/N spent at Felix's place felt like a blissful escape from reality. She was so enamored by the experience that she texted her friends about her decision to move in with Felix permanently. Her friends, especially BangChan, were thrilled. "That's amazing, Y/N! Felix seems like a great guy, and you two are so good together," BangChan responded enthusiastically.

However, Jeongin harbored reservations. Despite his efforts to appear supportive, a sense of unease about Felix lingered in his mind. It was something about Felix's demeanor, the way he seamlessly blended into their group, that didn't quite sit right with him.

When they all went out to celebrate, Felix was charming and sociable, effortlessly fitting in with Y/N's friends. Yet, Jeongin couldn't help but feel there was something off. He found himself frequently glancing at Felix, analyzing his interactions and laughter, which seemed almost too perfect.

Felix, perceptive as ever, noticed Jeongin's glances. He turned to him, offering a reassuring smile while keeping his arm wrapped gently but firmly around Y/N's waist.

As the night progressed, Jeongin's discomfort grew. Eventually, he couldn't keep his concerns to himself any longer. He pulled Felix aside, away from the group, under the pretense of a casual chat.

"Listen, Felix," Jeongin began, trying to sound casual but with an underlying firmness. "I'm happy for Y/N, and I get that she's really into you. But we all care about her a lot, you know? Just make sure you treat her right."

Felix's expression remained calm, but there was a glint in his eye that suggested he understood the true nature of Jeongin's words. "Jeongin, I appreciate your concern. Y/N means the world to me. I'd never do anything to hurt her," he replied, his tone smooth yet carrying an unspoken warning.

Jeongin met Felix's gaze, trying to read the man before him. "Good. Because if anything happens to her, if she's not happy, we'll have a problem," he stated, his voice low but serious.

Felix nodded, a cold smile playing on his lips. "Understood. But trust me, Y/N's happiness is my top priority."

As they rejoined the group, Jeongin couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Felix than met the eye. His smile seemed genuine, but his eyes held a darkness that Jeongin found unsettling.

The celebration continued, but the interaction between Felix and Jeongin cast a subtle shadow over the festivities. Y/N, blissfully unaware of the exchange, enjoyed the evening, feeling loved and supported by both Felix and her friends.

Back at Felix's apartment later that night, as Y/N slept peacefully, Felix lay awake, his thoughts dark and swirling. He knew Jeongin suspected something, and that could be a problem. Felix's mind raced with plans and contingencies, determined to keep Y/N close and to maintain the carefully constructed facade of their perfect relationship. His obsession with Y/N had reached a point where any threat, real or perceived, would be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

In the heart of the city, under the guise of a normal evening, the dynamics among friends were shifting, veering towards a path none could have predicted. Felix, with his polished charm and a smile that never seemed to falter, was the center of admiration among Y/N's friends, all except for Jeongin. His intuition screamed that something was amiss, a sentiment that grew stronger with each passing day. Jeongin's observations of Felix had morphed into a silent vigil, his distrust simmering beneath a facade of cordiality.

It wasn't long before Y/N sensed the tension, the unspoken accusations that Jeongin harbored against Felix. She arranged to meet with Jeongin, hoping to bridge the growing divide, unaware of the depth of Jeongin's concerns. BangChan, ever the peacemaker, joined them, believing he could mend the fractures in their friendship.

As they settled into the conversation, Jeongin wasted no time unveiling his unease. "Y/N, I have to be honest with you. There's something off about Felix. He's too perfect, too calculated. It doesn't sit right with me," Jeongin confessed, his gaze locked onto hers, searching for understanding.

Y/N's heart sank. "Jeongin, why can't you see the good in him? He's been nothing but kind and loving. How can you question his intentions?" she retorted, her voice laced with disappointment and disbelief.

BangChan chimed in, hoping to diffuse the tension. "Jeongin, maybe you're just seeing things. Felix is a great guy. You're making it into something it's not," he attempted to reason, his words aimed at restoring peace.

But Jeongin was resolute, driven by a conviction that something darker lurked beneath Felix's surface. "No, it's not just a feeling. Don't you find it strange how protective he is? How he always needs to be close to Y/N, as if he's afraid she'll disappear?" Jeongin pressed on, his concerns spilling out, unchecked.

Y/N felt torn, her loyalty to Felix clashing with her friendship with Jeongin. "Jeongin, he's just being protective. He cares about me," she defended, her voice quivering with emotion.

Jeongin sighed, a weighty realization pressing upon him. "Y/N, there's a difference between protection and possession. Felix's attachment to you... it's obsessive. And after that incident with the group that harassed you, how quickly they... disappeared. Doesn't that make you wonder?" Jeongin urged, his voice a mix of worry and desperation.

The conversation took a turn, with Jeongin teetering on the brink of a confession, his feelings for Y/N nearly surfacing. "I just... I care about you, more than you know," he stumbled, catching himself before his emotions could betray him further.

As they parted ways, a hug exchanged in the dim light of the evening, neither noticed the shadow that followed. Felix, his heart a tumult of fear and rage, had overheard every word. Jeongin's nearly confessed feelings for Y/N and his persistent doubts about Felix's character were a threat that Felix could not ignore.

Jeongin's mind was a whirlwind of concern and suspicion as he navigated the dimly lit streets, his recent confrontation with Felix replaying over and over. The chill of the night air did little to cool the heat of his frustration. So deep in thought was he that he failed to notice the silent figure tailing him, blending into the darkness with predatory ease.

The abruptness of being slammed against the wall jolted Jeongin to the present. Panic surged as a cold blade pressed against his chest, the sharp point a stark contrast to the warmth of his skin. His eyes, wide with fear, met Felix's, but what he saw wasn't the man Y/N had fallen for. This Felix was a stranger, his gaze burning with an intensity that bordered on madness.

"Felix, what... what are you doing?" Jeongin's voice was barely a whisper, his disbelief palpable.

"You've always been in the way, Jeongin. Always watching, doubting, questioning," Felix hissed, his voice laced with venom. "I can't have you ruining everything I've worked for. Y/N is mine, and you... you're just a problem that needs to be removed."

Jeongin's struggle was futile against Felix's unexpected strength. "Please, Felix, think about this. You don't have to do this," he pleaded, desperation coloring his tone.

"Sorry, Jeongin. I've thought about this plenty. You leave me no choice." With those final words, Felix drove the knife home, watching as the light faded from Jeongin's eyes, his body going limp in his grasp.

As Felix stepped away, leaving Jeongin's lifeless form in the alley, a chilling calm settled over him. He took a moment to catch his breath, the rush of his actions pulsing through him like a dark heartbeat. The deed was done. Jeongin, the obstacle to his perfect future with Y/N, was gone forever.

Felix merged back into the shadows, his steps quick but measured as he made his way home. The city around him buzzed with the ignorance of the night's events, an eerie backdrop to the grim tableau he had left behind.

Upon reaching the safety of his shared home with Y/N, Felix slipped through the door, his expression carefully neutral. Y/N greeted him with a smile, blissfully unaware of the darkness that clung to him like a second skin.

"Hey, you're back! I missed you," Y/N said, her voice a soothing balm to the turmoil inside him.

Felix forced a smile, his heart heavy with the secret he now carried. "Yeah, I'm back. Missed you too," he replied, wrapping his arms around her in a hug that was both an embrace and a plea for absolution.

The night wore on, with Felix playing his part perfectly, the loving partner, all the while the shadow of his actions loomed large, a dark specter over their seemingly perfect life. The next day, Felix was sorting through his apartment, feigning a casual air as he "stumbled upon" the key to the locked room that once housed his shrine to Y/N. With calculated nonchalance, he presented the key to her, a playful grin dancing on his lips.

"Look what I found," he announced, holding up the key with mock surprise. "Should we see what's behind that door?"

Y/N's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she approached, her interest piqued by the mystery. "Definitely!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement.

Together, they unlocked the door, revealing the barren room within. Y/N's suggestion of turning it into a spare bedroom sparked a brief discussion about home renovations, their conversation peppered with laughter and playful banter.

Felix's hand found its way to Y/N's stomach, a silent promise of future plans and shared dreams. "Maybe someday," he murmured, his tone laced with warmth and affection.

Y/N's giggle filled the room, her eyes alight with joy. "Slow down, tiger," she teased, playfully pushing his hand away.

A few days later, the news of Jeongin's death shattered the fragile bubble of their happiness. Y/N's tears flowed freely as she mourned the loss of her childhood friend, her grief palpable in the air.

Felix stood by her side, his heart heavy with guilt and excitement in equal measure. "I'm so sorry, Y/N," he whispered, his arms wrapping around her trembling form. "Jeongin was incredible."

Y/N's sobs echoed in the room as Felix held her close, his mind racing with a mixture of emotions. "You're safe with me, Y/N," he vowed softly, his words a promise tinged with darkness.

In the days that followed, their life together unfolded like a bittersweet symphony, harmonizing moments of joy with whispers of darkness. Felix embraced his role as Y/N's steadfast companion, a silent guardian in the shadows of her world. At Jeongin’s funeral, their tears mingled, a testament to their shared grief.

But when Y/N expressed a desire for solitude at Jeongin's grave, Felix's heart clenched with unease. BangChan's voice broke the silence, offering a gentle reminder to respect Y/N's need for space.

"Hey, man, give her some time," BangChan said, his voice soft but firm. "She's hurting, and she needs to process this."

Felix nodded reluctantly, his gaze following Y/N's retreating figure. "Yeah, you're right," he replied, his tone tinged with apprehension. "I'll give her some space."

As Felix and BangChan stood in silence, another figure approached, their footsteps echoing in the quiet cemetery. It was Beomgyu, Jeongin's longtime friend. Y/N's eyes met Beomgyu's, a silent understanding passing between them.

"Hey," Beomgyu said softly, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Y/N nodded, her own tears threatening to spill over. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching out to embrace him.

Felix's jaw tightened as he watched the exchange, a surge of jealousy coursing through him. He couldn't bear to see another man comfort Y/N, not when she was his.

BangChan noticed Felix's reaction and placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, man," he said quietly. "Beomgyu was Jeongin's friend too. We're all grieving."

Felix forced a tight smile, his eyes never leaving Y/N and Beomgyu. "Yeah, you're right," he muttered, his voice strained. "Thanks, BangChan."

As Y/N and Beomgyu shared a moment of solace, Felix's mind churned with a mixture of doubt and insecurity. He felt a pang of jealousy seeing Beomgyu offering comfort to Y/N, a feeling he tried to suppress but couldn't ignore. The thought of losing her to someone else gnawed at him like a festering wound, fueling his inner turmoil.

Watching them from a distance, Felix's facade of composure began to crack under the weight of his emotions. He knew he had to be there for Y/N, to support her in her time of need, but the sight of Beomgyu's comforting gesture stirred up a storm of jealousy within him. It was a reminder of the uncertainty that lingered in their relationship, the fear of losing her to someone who could offer her more than he ever could.

After a while, BangChan and Felix approached Y/N and Beomgyu, their presence breaking the silence that hung in the air. Y/N and Beomgyu pulled away from each other, but their arms lingered, a silent testament to the bond they shared in their grief.

Hey, everything okay?” BangChan’s voice broke the silence, his concern evident in his tone as he approached Beomgyu. He patted Beomgyu’s back, offering a reassuring gesture of solidarity.

Beomgyu's gaze shifted to Felix, his eyes betraying a hint of suspicion as he replied, "I'm coping, I guess. It's just hard to believe that Jeongin's gone."

Felix's jaw tightened at Beomgyu's words, a surge of resentment rising within him. He knew that Jeongin had confided in Beomgyu about their relationship, about his trust in Felix. And now, with Jeongin gone, Beomgyu's presence felt like a threat, a reminder of the fragility of their bond.

As Beomgyu's eyes flickered between Y/N and Felix, a silent tension hung in the air, a palpable reminder of the darkness that lurked beneath the surface. Felix could feel the weight of Beomgyu's scrutiny, the unspoken challenge that passed between them.

But amidst the tension, Y/N stood between them, her presence a beacon of light in the darkness. She reached for Felix's hand, her touch grounding him in the present moment. "We'll get through this together," she said softly, her eyes meeting his with unwavering determination.

Felix forced a tight smile, his heart heavy with the weight of his insecurities. "Yeah, we will," he replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "We'll always be there for each other."

Felix's mind was a tumultuous sea of doubt and insecurity, his thoughts swirling like dark storm clouds on the horizon. Beomgyu's presence felt like a shadow looming over their relationship, casting a pall of uncertainty on their future together.

Standing together, the silence between Felix and Beomgyu crackled with unspoken tension, a silent battle raging beneath the surface for Y/N's affections. Each locked gaze held a myriad of emotions, from resentment to determination, as they vied for dominance in Y/N's heart.

As days turned into weeks, Felix found himself increasingly on edge, the whispers of doubt and suspicion swirling around him like a gathering storm. The conflicting reports surrounding Jeongin's death only added fuel to the fire, leaving Felix feeling like a man walking on a tightrope over a chasm of uncertainty.

His unease only grew as he observed the growing closeness between Beomgyu and Y/N. The constant barrage of messages on Y/N's phone from Beomgyu felt like a dagger to Felix's heart, each notification a painful reminder of his own insecurities.

One day, while out shopping with Y/N, Felix's patience reached its breaking point. A stranger approached, his smooth words dripping with insincerity as he attempted to charm Y/N with compliments. Despite her polite attempts to deflect his advances, the stranger persisted, his persistence fueling Felix's growing anger.

With a forced smile masking his simmering rage, Felix stepped forward, wrapping his arms protectively around Y/N. "She's with me," he declared firmly, his voice laced with an underlying threat.

His smile remained fixed, but his eyes burned with intensity as he held Y/N close, a silent warning to the persistent stranger.

Unseen by Y/N, the stranger's demeanor shifted as his gaze met Felix's, a silent acknowledgment of the simmering tension between them. In that moment, Felix knew that the fight for Y/N's heart was far from over, and he was determined to emerge victorious, no matter the cost.

Beomgyu sat in his room, the weight of his suspicions pressing heavily on his mind. He knew he couldn't ignore the nagging feeling any longer. With a deep breath, he picked up his phone and dialed BangChan's number.

"Hey, BangChan," Beomgyu greeted, his voice tense with apprehension. "Can we talk? It's about Felix."

BangChan's voice came through the phone, warm and familiar. "Of course, Beomgyu. What's on your mind?"

"It's just... I've been feeling really uneasy about Felix lately," Beomgyu admitted, his words coming out in a rush. "I know you trust him, but there's something about him that doesn't sit right with me."

There was a pause on the other end of the line before BangChan responded. "I understand where you're coming from, Beomgyu, but Felix has always been nothing but kind to us. Are you sure you're not just overthinking things?"

Beomgyu sighed, frustration evident in his voice. "I wish I could believe that, but I can't shake this feeling. Something about Felix just feels... off."

BangChan's voice softened with understanding. "I get it, Beomgyu. I'll keep an eye out, okay? But try not to stress too much. We don't want to jump to conclusions."

After ending the call with BangChan, Beomgyu knew he couldn't rely on others to validate his suspicions. He needed to gather more evidence on his own. So, he reached out to Y/N's other friends, hoping they might share his concerns about Felix.

"Hey, guys," Beomgyu greeted as he met up with Yeonjun, Chanbin, and Wooyoung. "I need to talk to you about something important."

As he shared his concerns about Felix, Beomgyu watched their reactions closely, hoping to find some validation for his suspicions. But to his dismay, they all echoed BangChan's sentiments, unable to see Felix as anything other than the caring partner he appeared to be.

Feeling defeated, Beomgyu retreated to his room, his mind swirling with doubts and questions. He couldn't shake the memory of Jeongin's suspicions, or the feelings he himself had harbored for Y/N. It was a tangled web of emotions, and Beomgyu felt hopelessly trapped in the middle of it all.

Determined to uncover the truth, Beomgyu turned to the internet, scouring social media and news articles for any hint of Felix's past. But no matter how hard he searched, there was nothing. Felix seemed to have no history, no online presence to speak of.

Frustrated and feeling like a stalker, Beomgyu knew he needed to approach this from a different angle. Instead of digging for information, he needed to find a way to trigger Felix, to see if he could reveal his true colour’s.

Beomgyu, determined to set his plan in motion, reached out to y/n once again. They had never really spent time together unless Jeongin was the instigator, making this their first one-on-one hangout.

It could feel awkward due to this dynamic, but Beomgyu justified it by suggesting it would be nice to catch up after Jeongin’s passing, to see how they were both coping.

“It’s been too long since we hung out, just the two of us,” Beomgyu said over the phone, his voice tinged with excitement.

Y/N hesitated, surprised by the invitation. “Yeah, it has been a while. But with everything that’s happened…”

“It might be good for us to catch up, you know, after Jeongin’s passing,” Beomgyu interjected, trying to ease the tension. “Just to see how we’re both doing.”

Y/N was taken aback by the invitation but found the idea of meeting up appealing. So, they coordinated a day, time, and place to meet. On the appointed day, y/n informed Felix of her plans, eliciting a subtle flinch and a sharp look from him.

“You sure you want to go alone?” Felix asked, his brow furrowing with concern.

Y/N nodded, offering a reassuring smile. “It’s just a catch-up, Felix. Nothing more.”

Felix sighed, relenting with a nod. “Okay, just… be careful, alright?”

Y/N leaned in, planting a kiss on his lips. “I will, I promise.”

As y/n left, Felix’s demeanor turned dark and brooding. He paused for a moment before retrieving his phone, activating the tracker on y/n’s necklace to monitor her whereabouts. After fifteen tense minutes, he decided to follow her.

Y/N met Beomgyu with a warm hug, the tension of the moment melting away as they strolled down the street in search of a café. They reminisced about fond memories and shared laughs.

“It’s good to see you, Beomgyu. I’ve missed this,” y/n admitted, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips.

Beomgyu returned the smile, his eyes reflecting genuine warmth. “Me too. It’s been too long.”

Hours flew by as they delved into conversation, Beomgyu smoothly segueing into asking about y/n’s relationship with Felix.

“So, how did you two meet?” Beomgyu inquired, his tone casual yet curious.

Y/N took a sip of her coffee, a nostalgic smile gracing her lips as she began recounting her first encounters with Felix. "Well, it all started at my night shift at work," she began, her eyes glimmering with reminiscence. "Felix was a regular during the evenings. Always came in, got his coffee, and had a quick chat with me."

Beomgyu leaned in, his curiosity piqued. "And then?"

"And then," Y/N continued, "there was this one time when I had to cover a morning shift. I didn't expect to see Felix there, but he showed up. That's when we started meeting outside of my work."

Beomgyu furrowed his brows, processing the information. "He seems quite persistent," he remarked, his tone tinged with skepticism.

Y/N nodded, acknowledging his observation. "He is, but in a good way. Felix is just... genuinely nice, you know? He's funny, charming, and always knows how to make me laugh."

Beomgyu couldn't shake off his unease, despite Y/N's reassurances. "It all sounds a bit too perfect, don't you think?" he questioned, his voice tinged with concern.

Y/N's smile faltered for a moment, sensing Beomgyu's hesitation. "I understand your concerns, but Felix has always been there for me," she explained earnestly. "He's helped me out of some tough situations, especially when I was with Hwan and the guard during our night shifts."

Beomgyu sighed, still unconvinced. "It just seems... off," he admitted, voicing his doubts. "And what about Jeongin? He never trusted Felix, and now he's..."

Y/N's expression darkened, her mind drifting to Jeongin's untimely demise. "I know," she whispered, a pang of sorrow gripping her heart. "It's all so sudden, so... strange."

Meanwhile, hidden a few feet away, Felix listened intently to their conversation, his mind racing with a mix of emotions. As Beomgyu leaned in closer, his voice barely above a whisper, he pleaded with Y/N to trust him. "I know this is hard to hear, but you need to listen to me," he urged, his eyes searching hers for understanding. "There's something off about Felix, something that doesn't add up. I have a plan to uncover the truth, but I need your cooperation."

Y/N's heart raced, a mixture of fear and confusion clouding her thoughts. "I don't know, Beomgyu," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly. "I love Felix, I really do. The thought of him being... bad, it's just too much to bear."

Beomgyu reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "I understand, Y/N. But we can't ignore the signs, not after what happened to Jeongin," he insisted, his tone grave. "Please, just trust me on this."

After their coffee, Beomgyu and Y/N decided to take a stroll, the weight of their conversation lingering between them. As the sun began to set, casting an orange glow over the city streets, they paused, their eyes meeting in silent understanding.

"It's getting late," Beomgyu remarked, a sense of urgency in his voice. "I should head home."

Y/N nodded, a sense of unease settling over her. "Thank you for today, Beomgyu. I'll... I'll think about what you said."

As Beomgyu made his way home, a strange sensation washed over him, like he was being watched. His heart pounded in his chest as he quickened his pace, his senses on high alert. Finally reaching his street, he turned the corner, only to find himself face to face with Felix, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. Felix’s features were obscured by the shadows, but his eyes gleamed with an unsettling intensity.

Felix’s smirk widened at Beomgyu’s approach, his gaze piercing. “Well, well, well, look who decided to show up,” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “What’s the matter, Beomgyu? Lost your way home?”

Beomgyu squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. “I know what you’re up to, Felix,” he declared, his tone firm. “You may have everyone else fooled, but not me. Not Jeongin.”

Felix’s smirk faltered for a moment before he regained his composure, his eyes narrowing. “And what exactly do you think you know, Beomgyu?” he shot back, his voice laced with malice. “You’re just a pawn in this game, nothing more.”

Beomgyu chuckled darkly, his hands raised in a mocking gesture of surrender. “Oh, I’m well aware of my role, Felix,” he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “But unlike the others, I can’t be manipulated so easily. Jeongin saw through you, and so do I.”

Felix’s expression darkened, his grip tightening into fists at his sides. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Beomgyu,” he warned, his voice low and threatening. “But mark my words, you’ll regret crossing me.”

Beomgyu met Felix’s gaze head-on, his own eyes blazing with defiance. “We’ll see about that,” he shot back, his voice steely with determination. “Because I’m not backing down until I uncover the truth about you, Felix. Not for Jeongin’s sake, and certainly not for yours.”

Felix's voice was cold and devoid of remorse as he stared down Beomgyu, his words dripping with venom. "Y/n belongs to me, and me alone," he declared, his tone sending shivers down Beomgyu's spine. "Anyone who dares to come between us or poses a threat to our relationship will face the consequences. No one will take y/n away from me, not now, not ever."

Beomgyu's eyes widened in shock at Felix's chilling proclamation. "So it was you who killed Jeongin?" he blurted out, his voice trembling with disbelief. "He didn't like you, You found out about his feelings for y/n, and you just..." Beomgyu's words trailed off, unable to comprehend the depths of Felix's depravity.

Felix's expression hardened at the accusation, but he didn't flinch. "Jeongin was a threat," he stated flatly, his grip tightening on the hidden knife in his pocket. "And now you're becoming one too, Beomgyu."

Beomgyu's heart raced as he realized the danger he was in, but he refused to back down. "Do you even feel any shame or regret?" he pressed, his voice shaking with a mixture of fear and defiance.

A sinister smile curled at the corners of Felix's lips, his eyes gleaming with malice. "Of course, I do," he admitted, his voice low and menacing. "But y/n is mine, and if I can't have her, then no one can. That includes you, Beomgyu."

Beomgyu's blood ran cold at Felix's words, the gravity of the situation sinking in. He knew he was staring into the eyes of a dangerous man, one capable of unspeakable acts in the name of love. But Beomgyu refused to cower in fear. "You won't get away with this, Felix," he vowed, his voice trembling but resolute. "I'll make sure of it."

In the dimly lit alley, Felix’s eyes flickered to a coil of rope lying nearby as Beomgyu turned to leave. In one swift motion, he lunged forward, seizing the rope and rushing toward Beomgyu with a predatory gleam in his eyes.

Beomgyu barely had time to react before Felix’s foot connected with his back, sending him crashing to the ground. Gasping for air, Beomgyu struggled to free himself as Felix advanced, his movements calculated and precise.

With a grim determination, Felix looped the rope around Beomgyu’s neck, his hands working deftly as he fashioned it into a noose knot. Beomgyu’s panicked gasps grew more frantic as Felix tightened the rope, his voice a hoarse whisper of desperation.

“Don’t do this, Felix,” Beomgyu pleaded, his voice strained and choked. “Please, just let me go.”

But Felix’s grip only tightened, his expression void of mercy as he leaned in close, his breath hot against Beomgyu’s ear. “I told you, Beomgyu,” he hissed, his voice laced with malice. “No one crosses me and gets away with it.”

Beomgyu’s struggles grew weaker as Felix’s hold on the rope tightened, cutting off his air supply. Panic surged through him as he fought for breath, the world growing hazy around him. In a last-ditch effort, he reached out, clawing at Felix’s arm in a desperate plea for mercy.

But Felix’s resolve remained unyielding as he stared down at Beomgyu with cold, unflinching eyes. “This is your warning,” he growled, his grip tightening ever further. “Cross me again, and next time, I won’t hesitate.”

Beomgyu struggled to draw breath, his fingers clawing at the rope around his neck as panic surged through him. He gazed up at Felix, his eyes wide with fear and disbelief. "You... you're sick," he managed to choke out, his voice strained and trembling.

Felix's expression contorted with a mixture of rage and desperation as he knelt beside Beomgyu, his grip on the rope tightening. "No, Beomgyu, you don't understand," he insisted, his voice strained. "I'm doing this for y/n. Can't you see? She's everything to me."

Beomgyu shook his head weakly, his chest heaving with the effort to breathe. "This isn't love, Felix," he gasped, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is obsession. You need help."

Felix's eyes flashed with fury, his fingers trembling as he fought to maintain his grip on the rope. "You don't know anything about us," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You never understood what we had."

Beomgyu's vision blurred as darkness threatened to overtake him. "I don't need to understand," he rasped, his voice growing weaker by the second. "All I know is that this isn't right. Y/n deserves better."

Felix's grip faltered for a moment, a flicker of doubt crossing his face before being replaced by a fierce determination. "No one will come between us," he vowed, his voice cold and unyielding. "Not you, not anyone."

As Felix wrestled with Beomgyu, his focus solely on the man before him, he remained oblivious to Y/N's presence, hidden nearby. Her heart raced with a tumult of emotions—fear for Beomgyu's safety, horror at Felix's actions, and love for the man she believed Felix to be.

Summoning her courage, Y/N stepped forward, her voice trembling as she cried out to Felix, pleading with him to stop. "Felix, please! Let him go!" Her words echoed in the tense air, desperation lacing her tone as she rushed towards them, her hands outstretched in a futile attempt to intervene.

Felix's eyes widened in surprise as he turned to see Y/N standing there, her expression a mixture of disbelief and anguish. The madness in his own gaze wavered, his grip on Beomgyu loosening slightly as he registered her presence. Beomgyu gasped for air, grateful for the brief respite from Felix's choking hold.

"Love, what are you doing here?" Felix's voice was strained, confusion evident in his tone as he struggled to comprehend the situation unfolding before him.

Y/N's voice trembled as she continued to plead with him, her eyes filled with tears. "Felix, please, stop this. Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to hurt him?" Her words were a desperate plea for answers, her mind reeling with confusion and disbelief.

Felix opened his mouth to respond, “Y/N I-“ but before he could utter a word, Y/N rushed forward, her lips meeting his in a desperate, passionate kiss.

It was a gambit, a desperate attempt to throw him off balance, to distract him from his violent intentions towards Beomgyu.

Their lips met in a whirlwind of emotion, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Y/N felt a surge of conflicting feelings coursing through her—fear for Beomgyu’s safety, uncertainty about Felix’s actions, and a glimmer of hope that this kiss could somehow reach the Felix she knew and loved, the one who had always been her protector and confidant.

"Stop, Felix, please," Y/N pleaded, her voice trembling with fear and desperation. "Let him go. This isn't you."

The kiss was deep and passionate, but beneath the surface, Y/N felt a sense of unease. She clung to Felix, hoping her touch could somehow reach the part of him that was still human.

"Felix, listen to me," Y/N whispered, her words barely audible against his lips. "You're not a killer. You're better than this."

Felix's arms tightened around her, but his grip faltered slightly as her words pierced through the darkness clouding his mind. "Y/N," he murmured, his voice strained with conflicting emotions. "I can't lose you. I'll do anything to protect you."

Beomgyu's gasps for air grew louder, more desperate, as he weakly removed the rope from his neck. His vision blurred with tears as he watched the scene unfold before him, powerless to intervene.

"Felix, please," Beomgyu managed to choke out, his voice trembling with fear. "Don't let this consume you. You're stronger than this."

But Felix's gaze remained fixed on Y/N, his love for her warring with the darkness within him. "I won't let anyone take you away from me," he declared, his voice tinged with desperation.

Beomgyu's heart raced with fear as he watched Felix's grip tighten around Y/N, his mind racing for a way to break through to him before it was too late. Felix's grip on Y/N tightened as he dragged her away, his eyes burning with a possessive intensity. "You belong to me, Y/N," he growled, his voice laced with both obsession and desperation. "No one will ever come between us."

Y/N's heart pounded with fear as she pleaded with Beomgyu, her voice shaking with terror. "Please, Beomgyu, don't say anything," she begged, her eyes wide with panic. "I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me."

Beomgyu watched helplessly as Felix led Y/N away, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. He knew he had to find a way to stop Felix before it was too late, but the fear of what Felix might do held him rooted to the spot.

Felix slammed the door shut behind them, the sound echoing through the empty hallway like a death knell. He dragged Y/N into a dimly lit room, the shadows dancing ominously around them.

Y/N's heart sank as Felix shoved her into the darkness, the cold walls closing in around her. She could feel his eyes on her, burning into her skin with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

As Felix tied her up with the red scarf, Y/N's mind raced with fear and confusion. "Why are you doing this, Felix?" she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "What have I done to deserve this?"

Felix's expression softened slightly as he gazed at her, a mixture of love and madness swirling in his eyes. "I'm doing this for us, Y/N," he murmured, his voice tinged with desperation. "So that no one can come between us ever again."

Y/N's heart ached with sadness as she realized the depth of Felix's obsession with her. "But Felix," she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper, "this isn't love. This is control."

Felix's grip tightened on her, his eyes flashing with anger. "You don't understand, Y/N," he snapped, his voice tinged with frustration. "I'm doing this to protect you, to keep you safe from anyone who might try to take you away from me."

Felix's words echoed in the dimly lit room, mingling with the tension that hung heavy in the air. "You'll stay here until you understand," he reiterated, his voice a mixture of determination and desperation. "Until you understand why I had to do what I did."

Y/N's heart sank as she absorbed his words, her mind reeling with confusion and fear. "But Felix, I don't understand," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "Why did you... why did you do those things?"

Felix's gaze softened momentarily as he looked at her, a flicker of regret crossing his features before he hardened once again. "Because I had to protect you, Y/N," he explained, his voice tinged with desperation. "I couldn't let anyone hurt you, not after everything we've been through."

Y/N's eyes brimmed with tears as she shook her head in disbelief. "But killing those men, and Jeongin... it's not right, Felix," she whispered, her voice barely above a whimper. "I can't understand why you would do such things."

Felix's jaw clenched as he fought to contain his emotions. "I did it for us, Y/N," he insisted, his voice tinged with urgency. "To ensure that no one could come between us. To keep you safe."

Y/N's heart ached as she looked at him, her mind struggling to comprehend the depth of his actions. "I love you, Felix," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "But this... locking me up like this, it's not love."

Felix's eyes softened momentarily as he reached out to brush a tear from her cheek. "It's the only way, Y/N," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "To ensure that we can be together forever."

Y/N's heart shattered as she watched him turn away, his footsteps echoing in the silence as he walked out of the room. She was alone, bound by his love and imprisoned by his actions, lost in a sea of confusion and despair. The days stretched into weeks, and y/n remained trapped in the suffocating confines of the apartment, confined to that dark, desolate room. The air hung heavy with dread, a palpable sense of fear permeating every corner.

Beomgyu's silence weighed heavily on y/n's mind, a constant reminder of the darkness that lurked just beyond the walls. She could feel his presence, a silent specter haunting her every thought.

Meanwhile, y/n's friends continued to visit, oblivious to the horrors that lay hidden beneath the surface. Felix held her close, his touch a suffocating reminder of the prison she found herself trapped in.

As the weeks turned into months, the memory of what had transpired between y/n, Felix, and Beomgyu began to fade, replaced by a facade of normalcy. But beneath the surface, the darkness lingered, a constant reminder of the horrors that had unfolded.

Despite the whispers of doubt that echoed in the recesses of her mind, y/n remained steadfast in her love for Felix. She couldn't bear to leave him, couldn't imagine a life without him by her side.

And so, she remained trapped in that dark, suffocating apartment, her love for Felix eclipsing the fear that threatened to consume her whole.

As y/n's friends visited once again, the atmosphere seemed strangely normal, belying the darkness that lurked just beneath the surface. BangChan, ever the jokester, couldn't resist poking fun at the empty room, suggesting it could be turned into a nursery for a future addition to the family.

"Come on, you two lovebirds," BangChan chuckled, nudging Felix playfully. "You've got the perfect setup here for a little one."

The suggestion elicited laughter from Yeonjun, Chanbin, and Wooyoung, their joviality masking the underlying tension that lingered in the air.

Felix joined in the laughter, his eyes twinkling with a hint of their former brightness. "Maybe one day," he said, squeezing y/n's hand affectionately.

Y/n giggled, her laughter tinged with a sense of innocence that belied the horrors she had endured. "Yeah, maybe one day," she echoed, her voice filled with unwavering love and devotion for Felix.

But amidst the laughter and jest, Beomgyu remained silent, his laughter forced and hollow. Despite y/n's apparent calmness, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at him from within.

The conversation shifted, and the room filled with nervous laughter, each chuckle echoing like a sinister omen. Beomgyu's eyes couldn't help but linger on y/n, his heart pounding with concern for her safety. Despite her outward composure, he sensed a dark shadow looming over her, a silent menace waiting to pounce.

Felix, ever perceptive, noticed Beomgyu's unease. While y/n chatted with BangChan and the others, Felix approached Beomgyu, a sly smile playing on his lips, betraying his sinister intentions.

"You seem troubled, Beomgyu," Felix remarked, his voice dripping with malice. "Is it our dear y/n that worries you? She's changed, hasn't she? But fear not, my friend, she's in good hands."

Beomgyu's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening as he met Felix's sinister stare. "What have you done to her?" he demanded, his voice barely concealing his anger.

Felix's smile widened, his eyes gleaming with a darkness that sent shivers down Beomgyu's spine. "I've merely shown her my love and affection, like I always have,” Felix replied cryptically. "And as for you, Beomgyu, remember your promise. Keep silent, or face the consequences."

Beomgyu's fists clenched at his sides, his resolve hardening. "I'll never stop watching you, Felix," he vowed, his voice laced with determination. "And I'll protect y/n from whatever darkness you've unleashed."

Felix's gaze turned icy, his smile morphing into a chilling smirk. "Oh, Beomgyu," he taunted, his voice low and menacing. "You underestimate me. If I can't have y/n, no one will. And I won't hesitate to silence anyone who gets in my way, not even you."

As Felix approached y/n, his eyes gleaming with possessiveness, Beomgyu's heart sank. He could sense the darkness enveloping y/n, consuming her with every passing moment. Despite his growing unease, Beomgyu knew there was nothing he could do to save her from Felix's clutches.

BangChan, Yeonjun, Chanbin, and Wooyoung welcomed Felix with open arms, oblivious to the danger lurking beneath his charming facade. Beomgyu forced a smile and joined the group, his heart heavy with dread.

Throughout the evening, Felix's grip on y/n tightened, his possessiveness becoming more apparent with each passing moment. Despite the laughter and camaraderie, Beomgyu couldn't shake the feeling of impending doom.

Suddenly, Felix's demeanor shifted. His smile faltered, replaced by a cold, calculating expression. Without warning, he turned to Beomgyu, his eyes burning with malice.

"You think you can keep y/n away from me?" Felix sneered, his voice dripping with venom. "You're nothing but a pathetic bystander, Beomgyu. You can't save her from me."

Beomgyu's heart raced as he met Felix's gaze, his hands trembling with fear and frustration. He knew that intervening would only lead to disaster, yet the thought of leaving y/n in Felix's clutches tore him apart.

"You're wrong, Felix," Beomgyu retorted, his voice tinged with desperation. "I won't let you destroy her."

Felix's laughter rang out, sending shivers down Beomgyu's spine. "You can't stop me," Felix taunted, his eyes gleaming with malice. "She belongs to me now, and there's nothing you can do about it."

With a heavy heart, Beomgyu left their apartment. He turned back and watched as Felix tightened his grip on y/n, and closing the door in Beomgyu’s face. He knew that their fate was sealed, trapped in a web of obsession and despair. Beomgyu was left alone, consumed by guilt and helplessness. He knew that he would forever be haunted by the memory of y/n, trapped in Felix's clutches, a prisoner of his twisted love. And as the darkness closed in around him, Beomgyu could only pray for a glimmer of hope in a world consumed by shadows.

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punsmaster69 · 2 months

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20/FEB/20XX

papyrus adjusts the collar of my undershirt, and tugs at the edges of the argyle sweater he's summoned for me from the dark, unorganized depths of my dresser.

"I'M AWARE THAT YOUR STANDARDS REGARDING FORMAL ATTIRE ARE PARTICULARLY LOW..."

he straightens my collar a bit more.

"BUT EVEN AN INDOLENT SKELETON SUCH AS YOURSELF SHOULD TRY TO LOOK AT LEAST SOMEWHAT PRESENTABLE ON YOUR FIRST OFFICIAL DATE WITH YOUR NEW GIRLFRIEND!"

that word, which he hasn't let me correct him on.

that word, which i don't have proof to still deny being right or wrong, just yet.

"valentine's day doesn't count, huh?"

"OF COURSE IT DOESN'T!"

"NOT IF THE OFFICIAL PARTNER TITLE ONLY CAME ABOUT MID-PROCESS OF THAT ONE."

hands on hips, leaned forward; he discerningly stares at my collar for a few more moments. i push his hands away as he reaches for it again.

"it's definitely fine, bro."

replacing his hands to where they were on his hips, he steps back.

"...I'LL HAVE TO IRON THAT SHIRT LATER."

giving my appearance one last inspection -

crouching in front of me to pick a ball of fur from my shoulder.

-papyrus deems my attire now "date" ready.

"YOU STILL SEEM ANXIOUS."

"I CAN LEND YOU MY DATING MANUAL IF YOU'D LIKE!!"

"..i'll be ok. thanks for the offer, bro. and for all this."

i gestured to the outfit.

"SHE'LL CERTAINLY BE IMPRESSED BY YOUR OUTING-RELEVANT LOOK!"

with a proud stance.

"should one usually have a specific outfit for going to a café?"

"WHAT? OF COURSE YOU SHOULD! A PREPARED SKELETON HAS AN OUTFIT FOR EVERY OCCASION!!"

poking his exposed sternum through the slit at the top of his shirt, i looked him straight in the sockets.

"what's the occasion for this one?"

breaking the stare, his gaze fixated itself anywhere else as he repressed a flustered look.

"I-IT'S JUST A REGULAR OUTFIT! FOR DOING REGULAR ANYTHING-THINGS!! EXPLICITLY NON-SPECIFIC."

"did mtt put you up to this?"

"NO!"

at his side this time, i poked the shiny star design across the black fabric of the shirt.

"seems like a very 'mettaton' choice."

"HE DIDN'T PICK THIS OUT FOR ME."

"did you pick it out for 𝘩𝘪𝘮?"

"A-"

entirely freezing.

"N-NO!!"

"METTATON AND I ARE BOTH FASHIONABLE MONSTERS, OUR FASHION STYLES ARE BOUND TO OVERLAP SOMETIMES!!!"

"so where're you two going toda-"

papyrus shoved me to the front door.

"YOU'RE JUST STALLING!! GO, ALREADY!!!!"

"ok, ok. have fun with your crush-"

the front door was slammed behind me. i heard a side window open, followed by the fading sound of a skeleton running off somewhere.

——

i read the page.

i read the page again.

i read the page a third time.

i realize this isn't working.

instead of reading the same page over and over while hoping the words suddenly stick this time, i set aside my book and pull my cup of coffee closer. i pretend like i'm taking a break to watch the town through the window.

when i look up, she's doing the same.

"Not a very busy day, is it?"

"it's hard to say small towns ever are."

"True as that may be, it really is too nice for as few monsters to be about as there are."

"yeah, why isn't everyone outside enjoying the sun? like us?"

"...Our plans were made 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 knowing of the weather's plan to be nice. We do not count."

"our plans to sit quietly and read?"

we both turned our heads to our set aside books.

a smile crept across her face.

"...It seems neither of us were 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥-y for sitting quietly at the moment, were we?"

"don't have the 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦-ience for stories right now, unfortunately."

"I must confess - I was reading a while before you arrived."

"late, sorry."

"Fashionably late."

i flicked the collar papyrus was so set on straightening this morning with my thumb.

"paps insisted i be."

"Oh? Has he been attempting to adjust your wardrobe? It would explain the shift in clothing choices lately."

i decide that's why.

"yeah, he says i should try to look 'at least somewhat presentable' on.."

deciding immediately on a word change -

"somewhat presentable with you rather than just having my jacket n' shorts all the time."

"With me?"

"how i'm constantly embarrassing such a pretty lady with my drab attire in public, y'know."

"I would not consider your... 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 dressing style embarrassing. In anything you wear, I find you to be just as charming."

maybe my face got a little warm.

"..Though."

she leaned to the side to see around the table, so her eyes could make their way up the entirety of my outfit. extra effort was made to ignore how long it felt like her gaze lingered.

"I certainly approve of Papyrus' choices today. Cannot complain in that regard."

"..maybe i oughta take some more of his suggestions then."

"It is good, of course..."

she made an obvious once-over at my outfit again. i distracted myself by tapping my coffee cup a few times and taking a long sip.

"..But I wonder if it would look even better on my bedroom floor?"

coffee came out of my nose.

my reaction sent her into a laughing fit.

"Hehe- Sorry, sorry. I had heard that one recently and the chance to use it now was much too tempting."

"speakin' of floors, that..."

hiding my face with my hand was all i could do.

"heh, definitely floored me."

"Apologies again."

"s'alright. it was a good one, i'll give you that."

taking a deep breath and shoving my hands into my pockets.

"inserted with appropriate timing and all."

something in my pocket brushed against my right hand.

"Well.. 'appropriate' is subjective."

peeking at the object, i stopped.

"It wasn't really 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 in any manner."

i stared at the text on the object in my right hand.

"COUPLE'S DISCOUNT BRACELET" stared back.

"..Sans?"

my attention was snapped back to toriel.

"sorry. what's up?"

"Have I made you uncomfortable? I'm very s-"

"no, it's..."

opening my hand on the table to drop the rubbery bracelet between us.

toriel's eyes widened before she sheepishly pulled her matching one from her pocket.

for a guy without a stomach, it sure did feel like butterflies.

the question i've been too cowardly to ask outright gnawed at me.

i stuttered... 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 out.

"......a-are we..?"

tori undid the rubber latch on one of the bracelets and connected it with the other. keeping eye contact with me, she tugged on the interlocked bracelets and cocked her head slightly.

i nodded.

turning the bands over in her hands, toriel contemplated something.

"...I would like for you to be able to ask."

"if we're-"

"To be partners."

everything in me felt like it had been paused.

i couldn't get any words to come out.

all i could hear was my soul racing.

i clenched my fists, and...

"......"

couldn't look her in the eyes any longer.

she put her hands over my own.

"Then I will wait for you."

#undertale #journal #sans #papyrus #sans and papyrus #skelebros #papyrus and sans #papyton #toriel #soriel #sans x toriel #toriel x sans #got distracted for like an hour galfway through writing this making papyrus ascii art #anyway sorry i'll post the other chapter sometime later

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weirdly-specific-but-ok · 20 days

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Hello my maggots (especially the tumblr maggots whom I haven't seen on Discord recently), I've missed you so much and I'm sorry I haven't been posting the past few days.

It appears I used up all my XP in being a Funny Little Guy and left none for health (I'm not a gamer. I don't know why I tried that joke. The most experience I have with XP is learning Italian on Duolingo).

And I'll probably be taking a break for a few days more. Why?

Well, no, unfortunately, not love.

It's that stupid motherfucker, Tommy the Haematoma of my ankle.

But Asmi, you ask, didn't you fall down the stairs more than a month ago?

Why yes, yes I did. And out of that, two weeks were spent in bedrest/floorrest/whatever you call not being allowed to walk at all.

But thanks to the wonders of our Lord and Saviour Bildaddy, I am now resigned to two more weeks of bedrest.

WELL FUCK YOU TOO, BILDADDY. TO THINK I USED TO HAVE FAITH IN YOU.

But yes. A bloody fracture would have healed sooner than this. But no no no not Tommy and his buddies called weakened and swollen ligaments and heightened nerve sensation (not as catchy as Tommy, are they?) who are here to overstay their welcome like a couple of Indian aunties dropping in during festival time to gossip.

Now, I'm not someone who exercises, okay. Au contraire. I'm more sedentary than the coins that Crowley superglues to pavements.

But I did like being able to at least walk around my room to pick up my art supplies. Or go to the kitchen for a snack without maneuvering a cane (Kaz Brekker era coming up for realsies) (but less sexy and more legless chicken style). I also now can't really go outside unless I'm staying in the car. The car hurts, too. So I have only attempted that once. All hail.

So that is how I have come to be resigned to spending two more weeks (after already spending two) in bedrest and pain during the month before my birthday in the year 2024 of our Lord and Saviour Bastard and Damner Bildaddy.

It does tend to lower morale a bit. And I'm kind of active on the Discord server (I need to be, because otherwise my social interaction comes to a grand net total of 0) (just like the number of times Crowley and Aziraphale talked after Season 2) (ahaha sorry).

But being on Tumblr I feel like I should be making posts and I start getting stressy about notes even though I know I shouldn't. And thus my absence the past few days, and probably for a few days more.

C'est la vie. So it is farewell for now (I say dramatically about a few days break).

But don't worry my maggoty loves, I shall return with chaos. As usual. And I'll still be on Discord unless the pain gets really bad. I love love love love love you so much.

At the end of 2023 I wished so bad that I wouldn't be alone anymore and now I'm not. And so neither are any of you. Like that meme said, we're not a fandom, we're a deeply unwell family. Applies both to the Good Omens fandom and to my own. My fans are rather more incestuous, but that's part of our, er, charm.

Sending you all the hugs and forehead kisses and love that you're okay with. I'll see you soon.

Meanwhile, I want you to promise to cause chaos on my behalf. Keep the Good Omens tag trending. Make cursed headcanons. Try not to murder anyone. Byebye, my little maggoty fly larvae.

#good omens #good omens fandom #good omens mascot #weirdly specific but ok #asmi #maggots #crowley #bildaddy #the little fuck #life update #taking a break #fuck you tommy #i love you maggots #why? love.#neil gaiman

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adastra121 · 4 months

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Alon the Stray Hound

I redesigned my Touchstarved Hound!MC to have more of a showman-y vibe, since they’re a magician. Do you believe in the heart of the cards?

Pronouns: Usually uses She/They, but they’re honestly fine with any pronouns Birthday: November 30 Height: 4’11 / 150cm Personality: So a bleeding heart, unwarranted hero complex, and astounding immaturity walk into the Wick and see that their good friends, dignity and self-preservation couldn’t make it… Likes: Street food, dancing, rowdy taverns, making friends, pranks, adventure Dislikes: Rules, rich people, rainy days, boredom, bullies Fatal flaw: Would turn her self-destruction into a joke, but hey, at least it’d make for a decent stand-up routine in hell Other: She has a terrible singing voice that was once mistakenly reported as a Soulless attack — by the end of the song, the neighbours probably preferred a Soulless attack. Quote: “Look, buddy, I’m no stranger to failure — ideally, you don’t, but if you do, best to have fun with it, yeah?”

More about them below:

Alon is cheerful, mischievous, and outgoing. They love to make new friends wherever they are.

She’s restless, never stays in one place, and fidgets a lot, so she practised sleight of hand from a young age. It came in handy haha for thieving, but they’ve also become quite good at street magic. It’s not the real thing, of course, but it opens up busking as an option to earn coin (and get close enough to unsuspecting rich folks’ pockets in the process)

They specialize in street magic, which combines close-up, stage, and platform magic. They also do escapology (good at picking locks and getting out of sticky situations) and comedy magic (they don't shut up).

She has a lucky deck of cards that she usually shuffles and fidgets with.

As a trickster and magician, she tends to use tricks, jokes, and the unexpected in confrontations. They’re hard to catch, easy to miss—

Her fighting style is summarized by that one clip with RDJ as Sherlock where he keeps discombobulating his opponent (give or take ten hours).

Unlike my other MCs, Alon has no specific reservations about Monsters. It’s kind of hard to when you’ve been threatened, abused, and betrayed by humans your entire life. Like, at that point, what worse could a Monster do to you? Anything they try, you guarantee a non-Monster already attempted.

100% the kind of person to, at someone pointing a knife at them, go, “Well. This night just took a sharp turn.” or “What’re you gonna do, stab me? …Damn, they actually stabbed me.” *surprised pikachu face*

They have a knack for breaking into places they shouldn’t be, like a persistent raccoon that keeps finding its way into your trash or attic. Back with their old crew, she was usually the one who could squeeze into the tight spaces as the smallest thief. So yeah, the Senobium being locked to outsiders is a bit of a hiccup in her plans, but they’re not deterred.

You’d think Alon would be more reserved and distant because of their curse, but they’re actually a very physically affectionate person

Not to say they’re not cautious about it — she always keeps their hands bandaged or covered — she’s just found ways to give people physical affection without the use of her hands. They’d jokingly bump shoulders with someone. They’d lean on someone to physically comfort them. They nuzzle their head against their loved ones.

She doesn’t usually let strangers initiate physical contact, not necessarily because she’s uncomfortable with it, it’s usually for their own safety. Strangers don’t know them well enough to know her hands are off-limits. But if she’s known you for a while, she welcomes the physical exchanges.

They distance themself in their own ways. She hides pain or discomfort with jokes and charm. Good luck getting them to be serious about something she absolutely does not want to address.

Like their old crew’s betrayal. Some of them, they’ve known since they were a kid. They grew up together. And yet, when it came down to it, she wasn’t worth more to them than a fat purse of coin. “At least it was a fat purse of coin. Anything less and damn, they’d have really hurt my feelings!”

Direct questions about their cursed hands usually lead to jokes and misdirection, I wonder if you caught that, by the way:

“Want to tell me what’s up with the bandages?” “What bandages?” “Okay.”

“Pffft, you believe hands are real?”

“You’re looking at the aftermath of a super embarrassing tattoo I got one night while drunk as shit. Highly recommend the artist, though. Y'heard of Rahim?”

“Important piece of cooking advice, don’t put out grease fires with water! …Oh, that has nothing to do with my bandages, it’s just a good tip to remember.”

“I’m saving them for marriage.”

“Bad case of halitosis.” “That’s an oral condition.” “…Real bad case.”

Aside from that, she’s rather open and wears their heart on their sleeve for any potential new friend.

Eridia is a new beginning, a new world far away from the walls she's always known. It's supposed to be all she's ever wanted, but beyond the excitement of a new adventure, she feels so alone it's almost paralyzing.

They go back to the dream they've had since childhood, they go back to focusing on finding a cure, and they keep moving forward because if they stop for even a second for the grief and loneliness to catch up to them, they don't know if they'll survive it.

Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius

MBTI is ENFP

Enneagram is 7w6

I also updated their character playlist. I associate her with more energetic music, like electro swing, songs that you could hear someone running away from the guards to:

“Monsoon Nights” by Sekai no Owari

“One Jump Ahead” by Brad Kane

“All Star” by Smashmouth

“The Hand that Feeds” by The Crave Wives

“To Noise Making (Sing)” by Hozier

“Curses” by The Crane Wives

“Tears of a Clown” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen

“Good Life” by OneRepublic

“Lost Boy” by Ruth B

“On Top of the World” by Greek Fire

“Good Riddance” Cover by Annapantsu ft. IdrysLTS

"Tavern Crawl" by Runesmith, JoCat, Annapantsu and friends Okay, I have, like, a vision. Alon is giving a tour through Eridia’s best spots. The first tavern is the Senobium’s gates. The second is Elyon's brothel (mostly because of the singer being unable to pay and how fitting “Rail-Away” is for a brothel). The third is the Seaspring (“Don’t be surprised by what lurks on inside and really, don’t fight it. Believe me, I tried.” to describe our pal Ocudeus). The last one is the Wet Wick and it’s their favourite because it’s got the Bloodhounds, always ready for a show (“This tavern’s my favourite, it’s got its own band, and they’re always more than happy to lend me a hand!”)

Here’s their new full character design!

I changed it from the original, which had a more swashbuckling pirate feel, since I wanted to incorporate more of the magician and performer aspects of Alon into their design. …It’s giving Wonka, lowkey. I did consider giving them a top hat but…yeah. XD

As with my other MCs, I incorporated their backstory symbol into their design. In Luneth, the Unnamed symbol is in her bodice. In Jin, the Alchemist symbol is in his medallion and spellbook. In Alon, the Hound symbol is in their cards.

I also tried to include the specific shapes of each backstory symbol in each MC so Jin’s design has a bunch of circles, Luneth’s has diamonds, and Alon has several triangles.

Here are the bios of my other Touchstarved MCs:

Luneth the Reluctant Unnamed

Jin the Abandoned Alchemist

#touchstarved #red spring studio #touchstarved game #touchstarved oc #touchstarved hound #alon the hound #alon the stray hound #my oc #my original character #character bio #character profile #traditional art #my art #if we assume that all my touchstarved mcs' clothes were given to them by kuras #we can tell who his favourite and least favourite is XD #alon's the only mc of mine who didn't listen to him in the demo and tried to get up immediately after he told them not to #I originally assigned them as my fail run mc so I can pick all the funny choices even if they're the wrong ones #it's why I make all the jokes like they have negative rizz and they're speedrunning toward vere's bad end #but then I liked the potential for them with mhin and I'm going to try really hard to get a good ending so #joke's on me I guess

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vaya-writes · 5 months

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Not Quite A Life Debt - 1

A handful of f reader insert scenes with m demonic love interests. Fluff, hurt/comfort, and smutty shenanigans that lean kind of poly.

You (kind of unnecessarily) tried to save Ludwig's life. Out of pity, he lets you crash at his place for a few weeks after. It probably wouldn't be so bad, but he doesn't live alone. Reader stays with the triplets until she gets back on her feet. Smut, family shenanigans, and possibly even romance ensues.

Here's my next excuse to write about eldritch-spouse's triplets. This first chapter is a different style to my usual stuff. A succinct little retelling of the events that lead up to this story. The rest will be a bit smoother. 800 words.

Content warnings for this chapter include alcoholism mentioned in passing, risk of danger to reader, injury to reader (serious in real life, but here in fiction, depicted as mild), and brief hospital visit. Divider by firefly-graphics.

Masterlist - A03

The way you meet Ludwig is kind of stupid.

You’re living in some backwater town. Working (and living) in a hotel. It’s not a nice place. Bigoted. Incredibly. Let’s be honest, it’s a sundown town. And things are serious enough that when a clueless red demon has the gall to check in, you know things are going to go badly.

You didn’t realise how badly. Because somebody sets the hotel on fire. Yeah. It’s pretty extreme, but nobody was in serious danger. Except you. And this demon.

I mean, he wasn’t really in any danger, it’s just a bit of fire, but you don’t know that.

Long story short, you run back inside to help, when nobody else lifts a finger to put out the fire. Your town is quite rural, and there’s no local fire brigade. So, in your eyes, this demon is fucked. He’s trapped inside. Nobody cares if he lives or dies. Except you. You do the brave thing. The stupid thing. You run back into the building. Find his room. Have to break his damn door down with a fire axe.

All the while you’re standing in acrid smoke, hacking up a lung, and dizzy from smoke inhalation. Like I said, you were stupid.

He’s fine. Obviously.

He’s passed out drunk. You’d be mad, or at least exasperated, if you weren’t so panicked by the situation. You have to shake him awake. Slap him a few times, really.

Finally, he wakes. Takes stock of the situation. Looks at you like you’re crazy, or at least a little bit stupid (it’s deserved) and drags you outside.

He’s about to dump you by the gathering bystanders when you pull him back. Struggle to explain that, hey, this fire was an attempt on his life, he probably shouldn’t go towards the crowd.

Ludwig is a little bit brighter than you. Everyone saw you run back into the building. Everyone knows you tried to help him. You probably shouldn’t go towards the crowd either.

So, he sighs. Picks you up. And goes rift hopping.

You lose consciousness. When you wake you’re in an unfamiliar hospital. In an unfamiliar city. That big red demon sitting beside you is the only thing you do recognise.

You’re treated for smoke inhalation. There are x-rays. Oxygen masks. Even a few blood tests.

Speaking hurts. But it could have been worse. The smoke could have been more noxious. Your airways more fried. It could have been far, far worse. But it’s not.

And through it all, Ludwig stays by your side. He still treats you like you’re stupid, from time to time. Looks at you, shakes his head, and turns away with a huff. Amused or exasperated, you’re not quite sure.

When you ask why he’s still here, he looks at you with a raised brow. “You tried to save my life. And I’ve whisked you away from home. I should take you back when you’re done, at least.”

Then you have to explain to him that you have no home. That you’d lived in the hotel. That your possessions were surely toast. And that you had no friends or family there to rely on. Or anywhere really, but that’s neither here nor there.

Some other things happen. It’s mostly paperwork. Getting discharged is a bit of a shitshow. They’d disposed of your clothes, and you’re left with nothing more than a flimsy hospital gown and what had been in your pockets when you’d arrived. (Your phone. Your wallet. Thank fuck.) There’s a prescription or two you have to pick up as you leave.

The demon is silent through it all. Considering his options. Considering your options really. You don’t interrupt him. It’s not in your nature to ask for strangers for help. Not with anything so large anyway.

But he makes his decision. Grabs you by the wrist before you wander away from the hospital. Offers to help you, for reasons you can’t fathom.

And that’s the absurd story of how you met Ludwig. And how you subsequently ended up crashing on his couch for the next few weeks.

#vaya writes #monster romance #eldritch-spouse #demon romance

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spinningbuster98 · 2 months

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youtube

I must confess that, for the longest time, I did not have the best of times with Sotn.

You see for as much as people often say that this game is piss easy I used to actually have quite a bit of trouble back during my first few playthroughs. The Colosseum, Olrox, the Inverted Castle, the Clock Tower, I used to get my ass kicked quite a bit, which caused me to grow resentful towards the game.

As the years went by I gradually realised that it was mostly my fault. There was a time when RPGs were the bane of my existence, I could not get into their mechanics and Sotn's rpg mechanics were no different, moreso due to the fact that this is not a turn based rpgs but something more akin to an action rpg. I used to do some absolutely baffling mistakes. I kept forgetting what items I had in my inventory, like if I had specific armors or weapons that would be better for certain circumstances (like lightning armor to defend against the lightning attacks of Galamoth for example), I kept forgetting to use spells strategically, instead I kept trying to attack enemies with my regular weapons and sub weapons which made the Inverted Castle harder than necessary. This stuff frustrated me and when I get frustrated I play even worse

One example is my first experience against Beelzebub: I could not defeat this rotting bastard because I could not figure out how to reliably hit his head without getting pelted by his flies. I died a lot and ragequit

...then I realised I could dodge his flies by using the mist form, which I had but didn't think to use during combat encounters. And that there are a bunch of platforms in the room leading right beside Beelzebub's head. And that I could use spells like Soul Steal and Tetra Spirits to deal with him easily. Oh and that there's an Axe Subweapon right outside his room, ideal for hitting targets too high up to reach.

I, as a player, have always been shit with multiple choices. I'm the kind of player that, once he finds a solution to a problem, will keep using that solution without searching any better alternatives, and if I can't find a solution then I will keep hitting my head against that brick wall until it breaks. Sotn being a game that gives you a million different ways to approach things sort of...disoriented me you could say

But this is the reason why I've come to technically disagree with the idea that Sotn is an easy game. The game actually has several moments that can and will easily kill first time players. I'd say that Sotn is more easy to break than just plain easy

This game gives you so, SO many ways to break its difficulty in two if you have even a little sense of exploration (which is needed anyway to even progress through this game)

And I'm torn

On the one hand I technically prefer how future games will gradually attempt to better balance the difficulty, and I don't think I'd want another game that handles it like Sotn does

On the other hand however I love it when games reward my efforts by giving me overpowered tools. One of my favorite things in Classic Sonic games is abusing Super Sonic, which I love to do mainly because it's my reward for completing the games' Special Stages. You get to break the game because you were good enough to complete an extra challenge

Sotn is similar in this regard, since you usually have to either find its most game breaking tools...or they're just straight up secrets

You have to find the Holy Rod on your own if you want to break the first half of the game, you have to find Alucard's equipment in the Inverted Castle to get through that place more easily, you either have to find out on your own or look up on the Internet that you can use late game spells early on

And while most people claim that this game's difficulty is due to the developers being inexperienced with this new style...I think this was at least partly done on purpose

Do you think that putting stuff like the Crissaegrim or the Alucard Shield was an accident? Or stuff like this?

Remember: Sotn was purposefully made easier than the Classics to be more accessible, so I genuinely believe that most of this balancing was by design, in fact I think that Sotn is quite literally not properly designed to be chellenging.

Even if you go out of your way to not equip anything on Alucard to make him as weak as possible you'll find that the game just becomes frustrating, at least to me, as the enemy placement is often far too cluttered for you not to wear armor to mitigate most of the damage and bosses especially either barely try to attack you seriously (Cerberus) or their attacks barely follow any pattern and barely feel like you can reliably dodge their attacks without specific tactics. It just doesn't feel anywhere close to as deliberatly designed as the Classics in this regard, everything feels designed knowing that you're going to steamroll over everything using OP equipment

Sotn, to me, is the equivalent of a power fantasy: it's not about having a challenge, it's about doing short work of the opposition in spectacularily overpowered and flashy ways, because you're playing as the son of the Dark Lord himself and he does not fuck around (and of course Richter himself has his peculiarities though I'll probably mention him next time)

I'm personally a bit torn over how this impacts exploration: ideally you'd want to explore in a game to get more powerful in order to more easily handle challenges. But since Sotn gives you such over powered tools you can basically ignore most weapons and armors. Even stuff like Life and Heart ups can be mostly ignored, which makes exploration, partly useless

But at the same time, as I mentioned, it's through exploration that you gain some of these tools in the first place and I believe that, at its best, Sotn's exploration can actually be even better than Super Metroid's!

In that game, other than the plethora of item expansions and the mostly progression required upgrades the only truly unique stuff you can find completely on your own were beam upgrades

Here not only is it completely up to you to find the most broken weapons, stuff like the various extra powers for Alucard's transformations and the gravity boots feel more rewarding to find as they influence his movement in big ways and are generally more exciting that just having a different beam weapon

#akumajou dracula #castlevania symphony of the night #my gameplay #Youtube

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hannahssimblr · 4 months

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Chapter One (Part 3)

I am sitting in a café on Patrick street with a sketchbook on the table. Fintan, the manager, has provided a free coffee while I work, remembering the way I like my cappuccinos without any chocolate on top, and apologises for the latte art when he carries it down to the table.

“These new waitresses.” He says to me quietly. “They can’t do those wee hearts and leaves the same way that you could.” Watching them scurry around in their aprons makes me feel wise and important, like I know something that they haven’t learned. I’ve been here, I’ve worked this shift and I survived it, and they will too, they just don’t know it yet. I go back to my sketchbook.

I can’t decide which design I like best. One says “Life is better with good coffee” in a looping font, and the other says “Let’s take a coffee break!” In this retro cartoonish style. It’s not usually the kind of art I would make, and I would be embarrassed to tell anyone from college that I’m doing something like this, but I privately enjoy the process. Fintan says he likes both designs, and I can choose whichever I want, so I go with the second. I finish my coffee and then start drawing the outline with white liquid chalk pens.

There’s a young man sitting near the window who’s been watching me work for a while, and I’ve been pretending not to notice him. Perhaps I want him to think that he’s being more subtle than he is so as not to make him embarrassed. Or perhaps I’m afraid that if I look him in the eye he might take it as a signal to come over and talk to me. I don’t look, but eventually he comes over anyway.

“Hi there, I was just watching you work over there, you’re doing a nice job.”

I glance up at him from the floor. He’s not from Offaly, he doesn’t have the right accent. Perhaps he’s from somewhere up north. He doesn’t look like he’s from here either, as he’s bravely chosen to step out in a pair of slip-on Vans and an oversized beanie hat, even though it’s about nineteen degrees this afternoon. I want to ask him is his head not boiling, but I just thank him for his compliment instead.

“I’ve never seen someone actually doing this kind of work before.” He continues. “It’s always just kind of there one day, like, poof.” He does a hand gesture like clouds of smoke have burst from his palms. ‘I’m just a bit interested by what you’re doing, and even more by the fact that you’re doing it in reverse.”

“Yeah I never anticipated that it’d be so difficult to write words backwards. I suppose now I’m thinking that I should have done a sketch on the outside of the window first and then rubbed it off later.”

“I see what you mean.” He rocks on his heels with hands in his pockets. “Would you like me to get a coffee for you to drink while you work? Might keep the energy up and the head working.”

“Oh, thanks a lot, but actually the manager is keeping me fed and watered today, so you’d only be wasting money on me.”

“I see.” He pauses like he’s trying to think of something else to say. “My name is Geoff, by the way.”

“Evelyn.” I say back, not really sure why I felt the need to go with my full name, like it’s a protective shield against him. Against Geoff, the very nice man who’s not doing anything wrong. I have a distant thought that I’m probably still a bit fucked in the head since Dean, and then I quickly try to stamp that thought out and think about something else.

“That’s a nice, old fashioned name.” He comments. “You don’t meet a lot of Evelyns around the place anymore.”

“No, I suppose it’s a bit granny-ish. It’s actually an old family name, I don’t know if I like it that much really.”

“I like it.” He insists. “It’s very pretty.” And so are you seems to hang in the air after he speaks. I turn back to what I’m doing, rubbing out the crooked “O” I’ve drawn with some soapy water and going in for another attempt at it.

“Are you from around here?” He wants to know.

“Yeah, I am. But I don’t really live here anymore. I go to college in Dublin so I won’t be around much after this month.”

“Ah cool. I’m not from here either. I’m from up in Monaghan.”

“Miles away.”

“Yeah. I actually work here now, but I’m up and down to Dublin the whole time. Have to pass through on the bus to get home, sure.”

“That’s the thing about Dublin.” I say. “Everyone has to pass through it, against their will usually, I imagine.” “Yes, the horrors of Busaras station. I know it so well.” Geoff laughs. “Here, I’ll leave you to work, but if you change your mind about the coffee, give me a shout.”

I smile, and he goes back to where he was sitting. I don’t look in his direction once, but I feel his eyes on me the whole time.

About half an hour later he leaves, and as he does he quickly, awkwardly hands me a folded piece of paper. I look at it in surprise. “Oh.”

“Nice to meet you.” He says, blushing, and dashes out the door. I leave the note there for ages. I finish doing the window first, and then I clean up my workspace and wipe the floor after me. Then, when there’s nothing else to do, I take it and fold it open.

Hello Evelyn,

Just a note to say that you’re completely gorgeous.

I’d love to meet you in Dublin sometime and buy you that coffee.

Geoff (From Monaghan)

His phone number is scrawled at the bottom.

I take the note along with all of the kitchen roll I used to wipe down the window and toss it all into the bin in one go. Then Fintan tells me he likes what I’ve done and hands me fifty euro from the cash register. I walk away with a small, satisfied smile on my face, knowing that now I can say I’m a real artist.

Beginning // Prev // Next

#lucky girl part 3 #poor auld Geoff

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wild-karrde · 1 year

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In Command - Part 1

Master List | Next Part

A/N: ALRIGHT, WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN! For those of you reading this story for the first time, this was my first fic in about a decade. I've written a lot since then (including three complete sequel fics with more planned), and my writing style has changed quite a bit, so I wanted to circle back and see if I could do this fic more justice. Rex and Senna are my favorites, and it's been a blast to revisit their origins to see if I can improve upon them. This go-around, I'll have the incredible @teletraan-meets-jarvis beta reading for me, which is also going to make this a better story (fun fact: TJ and I first connected over this fic). Anyway, whether this is your first time reading this fic or not, I hope you enjoy this re-write!

Chapter Rating: T (entire work is rated E, but M-rated version can be found on AO3)

Warnings: language

Word Count: 4.2k words

Sunlight filtered in through the thinning curtains, chasing the last traces of sleep from the captain’s mind as he slowly opened his eyes. Lothal’s lone sun twinkled through the weave in the curtains, casting dancing shadows across the small bedroom. He could already hear children outside in the street and the sound of the morning’s first speeders making their way further into town. Rex stretched his arms over his head, rolling his ankles under the blanket as he inhaled deeply, feeling his muscles tense and flex. He sat up in the bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes and rolling his neck, which popped satisfyingly. His fingers raked through his blonde curls, which he’d allowed to grow beyond the buzz cut he’d sported during the war. He was sure that any of his brothers would tease him that his hair was hardly long, but it was longer than Rex was used to, the length being more comparable to the regulation haircut Cody, Fives, and millions of others had sported, although less militaristic in its styling in an attempt to blend in. If nothing else, his blonde curls hid the scar on the right side of his head. It was a reminder he didn’t need to see every time he looked in a mirror.

At least the dreams hadn’t come last night. He hadn’t seen the faces of countless brothers lost, friends betrayed and presumed dead. Rex rubbed his hands over his face before glancing over to where his commlink was resting on the nightstand. There was no blinking light to alert him of a waiting message, and he sighed. He went through this same routine every morning, but the disappointment each time never seemed to abate.

She’ll call when she’s ready. For now, you just have to trust that she’s safe. Ahsoka has always been good at taking care of herself.

Hardly a day went by where he didn’t think of the young Togruta he’d come to view as a younger sister, hoping she was safe. While he had been eager to carry on the fight after the fall of the Republic, Ahsoka had needed time to grieve, unsure if there was any fight left in her, and he had chosen to respect that. She’d fought in a war and watched thousands die before her sixteenth year. She’d felt abandoned by the Jedi, and yet still returned, only to watch her men turn against her and lose everyone close to her yet again. Of course she was tired of it. Of course she needed time. He never doubted her competence or her ability to survive, but that didn’t make him any less worried about her.

The sound of ceramic tinkling in the kitchen outside of his bedroom drew his attention, alerting him that his companion was already awake, and judging by the sharp smell wafting past the door, in the middle of making another offensively strong batch of caf. He sighed.

She’s at it again, I see. Time to go face whatever chaos she’s created this morning.

Rex clambered out of bed, replacing the sheets, pillow, and comforter with his usual military precision, creased and folded back without a wrinkle in sight. Some habits were impossible to break, even after almost a year. He yanked on the pair of grey trousers he favored, buckling his belt and holster across his hips before pulling a loose-fitting light blue shirt over his shoulders, the worn fabric grazing his skin as the hem fell to his waist. While the civilian garment should have been far more comfortable than his armor kit, it left him feeling constantly exposed, a feeling he didn’t particularly care for.

He picked up the beat-up DL-44 from where he’d placed it the night before on the nightstand, turning it over in his hand for a quick inspection before he tucked it into his holster. The weight of the blaster still felt off in his hand, but with practice, he had grown more accustomed to it. He had never been a poor shot, but the unfamiliarity of the weapon concerned him, and he felt that he couldn’t allow for even the most minor mistakes at this point. Not with what was on the line. The war had been a constant threat to his life, but this was an entirely different sort of danger, with him embedded deep in enemy territory with a complete stranger as his partner.

Rex hoped that the information that they were planning to glean would prove to be worth the risk in the end. It still felt like they were chucking pebbles at a giant, hoping to somehow make a scratch, but he had to believe that in time, things would grow. The rebellion would spread. There had been rumors of uprisings across the galaxy, most of which had been quashed easily by the Empire, but that could change. It had to.

All it takes is one victory. And then another. Until then, we don’t stop fighting.

He had to believe that winning was a possibility; if not, then what was the point of going on? Rex was a soldier, loyal to a Republic that no longer existed, loyal to friends that were mostly dead, and now, loyal to a rebel faction that was outmatched in almost every way. Carrying on the fight seemed the best way to honor those that he’d lost in the hopes that those that were still alive might know the peace he and the rest of the Grand Army of the Republic had promised to deliver.

He paused at the door and listened to the silence on the other side. The quiet always made him nervous. Did she go back upstairs? Closing his eyes, he could still smell the caf, and then he heard a sigh and the shuffling of feet, barely perceptible through the door.

Nope. Still down here. Great.

Taking a deep breath, he pushed through the door for another day.

She had her back to him, staring out the kitchen window, a steaming mug of caf in her hand. The steam rose over her bare shoulders, and her dark blue sleeveless tunic hung down her back, slightly too large for her, but cinched at her waist with a belt. He could see her blinking data pad tucked into its slot at her thigh. There were new bandages wrapped around a few of her fingers, and he briefly wondered if they were soldering burns, cuts, or from some other mishap. Her dark brown hair was piled on top of her head in a mess that more resembled a loth cat nest than the sleek military buns Rex had become accustomed to from the female officers he’d served alongside the war. She’s a civilian, he reminded himself. You can’t expect her to hold herself to the same standards.

Although some standards wouldn’t hurt. Just a minimum of decorum.

Rex had never necessarily been a stickler for the rules or regulations, but he had no doubt his counterpart wouldn’t have lasted a day had she served in one of the civilian factions of GAR. He’d never commented on it before, but she was a downright slob, and it nagged at him even if he remained silent. The hairdo, ill-fitting wardrobe, and general clutter that followed her around seemed to perfectly encompass the technical specialist and her way of doing things: a fly-by-the-seat of your pants mess that still somehow got the job done.

He noted the second mug that was already sitting out for him alongside the sugar bowl and carafe of cream that she had undoubtedly used to make her drink more palatable. He never understood why she made it so strong only to add so many different things to it in order to be able to drink it. Even though Rex had always preferred his caf black, he could just barely tolerate the way she brewed it most days.

She turned, her bright blue eyes widening slightly in surprise as she snorted into her mug, slopping some of the liquid down her front. “KARK! Good morning. You startled me, Re – sorry.” She cut herself off before she finished his name, clearly bracing for a scolding.

Unable to stifle his reaction this time, Rex sighed in frustration. “How many times do I need to tell you to not use our real names here? You’re going to slip up and get us both killed,” he grumbled. “You’ve got to get used to saying it, and I have to get used to responding. We need to keep up the ruse here. Otherwise we run the risk of accidentally mixing things up when we’re out there and within earshot of Imperials.”

She dipped her head in apology, a slight mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Understood. But I uhh… thought you hated the name Lon anyway.”

“I do, but I understand what’s necessary for us to stay alive, Valla.” He emphasized her false name, dragging the syllables out, his eyebrows furrowed in a deep scowl.

She rolled her eyes, sipping from her mug again. “Fine, fine, Lon,” she bit back, mocking his emphasis. Reaching over, she slid the empty mug across the counter towards him.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye as he caught the mug just before it slipped off the edge of the counter, reaching for the caf press and pouring some of the nearly-black liquid into the mug. “You’re careless,” he stated flatly, trying to keep his nose from wrinkling at the incredibly bitter smell.

“And you’re uptight,” she muttered into her cup, tipping the last of the contents into her mouth and wiping her lips with the back of her hand. Somehow, she already had grease on her wrist, and it smudged across her face.

Rex ignored the comment, bracing himself mentally for the first sip. He could hardly complain since she’d woken up before him. In fact, taking a closer look at her, he noticed the bags under her eyes and the droop in her shoulders. Her posture had always been terrible, but it seemed extra slouchy today. Her neck was tipped forward as if her head was almost too heavy to hold up, and her shoulders were hunched at such an extreme angle it made his spine ache just looking at her.

Perhaps she didn’t even go to sleep last night. Got wrapped up in another one of her science projects again.

She interrupted his observations as she reached across him to pour herself another cup. “So what’s the plan today then? Do we get to leave the compound?”

Her eagerness to step into danger read as naivete to Rex, and it annoyed him. It normally was an indication that the person didn’t fully comprehend or appreciate the situation they were in and didn’t understand how easily it could all fall apart. Frustratingly, it seemed no matter how much Rex preached caution, she ignored every warning, still nagging him to let her be more directly involved. But he didn’t trust her yet, and she’d done nothing to earn it in their short time together. How he’d gotten paired off with her to begin with was beyond him, but he’d been assured that their skill sets were the perfect complement for this particular venture.

She wouldn’t have been my first choice. Or second. Or tenth.

Even with all of his concerns and issues with her, he had to admit that while her methods were unconventional, they had been successful, at least so far. He once again wished there had been more in her personnel file to reveal her background and where she’d gotten her technical prowess, but it had been almost empty. It mentioned her engineering coursework she’d completed on Naboo, her estimated birthdate, and a few other facts and tidbits that weren’t particularly relevant to the work they were doing, but other than that, her background was a mystery, and that concerned him further.

No personal history means no work experience. No military service. Hardly any travel beyond her home planet. It’s like she’s spent the few decades of her life hiding out in her workshop and never setting foot outside.

Abandoning his misgivings for the moment, he turned to her. “You’re not going anywhere. I’ll head out to do some recon work in the area, but you need to stay on the waves here. We have to establish a baseline of what Imperials are stationed here and who’s responsible for what before we can start having any interactions that are worthwhile.”

She dumped another few scoops of sugar into her cup, her face pinching into a borderline pout as she reached for the cream. “I’ve spent the last few weeks doing nothing but that.” Rex’s face remained impassive, and she sighed dramatically, seeing that there would be no budging him. “Fine, but at some point, we should probably go out together at least once. We are supposed to be a newlywed couple after all. Otherwise people are going to think you murdered me and buried me in the backyard.”

“The thought has crossed my mind,” he muttered under his breath.

“I heard that,” she said, shoving past him, sloshing some of the bitter liquid dangerously close to the edge of his mug. “Fine. If you need me, I’ll be in my cave.”

“As if you’d be anywhere else.”

She muttered something under her breath he didn’t catch in response. He listened to her tromp up the stairs, her boots falling louder than they feasibly should for a person her size. Turning his attention back out the kitchen window, he watched the dust swirl in the early morning winds as he finally took a sip of the caf. The bitterness overwhelmed him, and his eyes watered as he grimaced, exhaling sharply out of his nose before he managed to choke down the mouthful.

Can’t say I’m not awake now. But that’s as much as I can stand of that.

He took a look at the remaining caf in the cup, and with a deep sigh, walked to the back door of the dwelling, punching the unlock button. The door hissed open, and he stepped outside, dumping the remaining contents of his mug on the potted plant closest to him. It had started to wither after just the first week they’d been here, presumably because it was his regular disposal spot for the caf he couldn’t tolerate, and he had to hide his smile every time his partner made a comment about how she couldn’t figure out why it was dying. “Sorry” he whispered to the plant before stepping back inside and shutting the door behind him.

---

Senna stepped into her “cave”, smiling to herself as some of the tension from the conversation with Rex evaporated. If one were to judge by the layout of the dwelling, this room had likely been intended to be an extra bedroom or perhaps an office. However, Senna was using it as a storage space for piles and piles of tech, tools, and junk that also doubled as her command center. Spare parts of hardware that she’d collected were strewn around the room in various states of repair, and she carefully picked her way to the desk tucked into one corner. Pushing some loose wire and her soldering tool aside, she settled her mug of caf within reach and slipped the headphones over her ears, punching on the holo computer’s power. The hum of the system booting up gave her a warm feeling in her stomach, and she grinned. “Good morning, baby. Ready for another fun day of foiling the Empire?” she asked quietly.

The computer beeped cheerily in response.

She tuned into the comm transmission frequencies she had identified as the ones most frequently used by the Empire, opened a notes application, and after masking her location, she logged into the Imperial database using the false credentials she’d been given prior to the mission. Tapping a few keys, the audio crackled into her earphones, and she leaned back in her chair, taking another swig of her caf. She grinned triumphantly as the first voices came in clear. She’d been up the entire night tweaking the modulator to try and increase the audio’s clarity, and it appeared her hours of cursing and the two electric shocks she’d experienced hadn’t been in vain. Idly, she picked at the fresh bandages on her fingers before shaking her head to clear her mind.

Alright, let’s get started.

Yanking the datapad from its pouch on her hip she began scrolling through the news feeds, searching for anything noteworthy that she could feed back to the captain. Lothal was an Outer Rim world that had largely been untouched by the war, but in the last few months, Imperial activity had skyrocketed. It couldn’t be denied that the planet was drastically in need of help after several large hits to its economy from drought and famine that went unaddressed during the war, but the new activity went above and beyond the standard aid that would normally be expected from the central government. And what’s more, it seemed that central government knew very little about what was actually planned for Lothal. The sudden uptick in activity had drawn the attention of many in the Imperial Senate, and while the inquiries of those attempting to have some insight over the Emperor had stalled, some back channel information had led to Rex and Senna being sent to investigate, although their activities were anything but sanctioned. Senna still wasn’t entirely sure how many in the Senate she still trusted, but from everything she’d seen at the mission briefing, this source was considered to be as reliable as they come, and that would have to be good enough for her.

Halfway through an article about the new job postings at Pryce Mining that were allegedly coming due to the Empire’s increased presence on Lothal and its need for resources, she felt a warm prickling sensation on the back of her neck. She slowly turned to find the captain standing in the doorway. He’d thrown a waist-length cloak around his shoulders and had hidden his blonde hair underneath a wide brimmed hat. He seemed pleased and perhaps slightly smug about the fact that he’d snuck up on her.

She spluttered again in surprise, choking on her caf and ripping off her earphones. “Would you STOP doing that? Just make some noise or something when you’re moving around, for Maker’s sake.” She dabbed at the caf she’d splattered down her front with a filthy rag from the corner of her desk. She knew it was a lost cause, and that this caf stain would join the other one from earlier along with countless grease marks and other mystery stains. Tossing the rag aside, she glared at Rex, who smirked as he leaned into the room, not daring to try and place a boot among the mess.

“How do you even function in here? I’ve seen cleaner bantha pens.”

She huffed in annoyance. “Did you actually need something, or are you just here to criticize how I do things?”

His smirk faded as he straightened, eyebrows furrowing again into what seemed to be a perpetual frown. “I’m heading out. Do you need me to grab anything?”

“I’m almost out of sugar again,” she replied.

“Can’t imagine why.”

Senna’s annoyance deepened. “If you’re going to give me shit, then why ask?” When he didn’t say anything, she rolled her eyes. “Would you just pick some up on the way home please? And we could use some more noodles.”

“All you eat is noodles.”

“They’re easy.”

“Fine. Noodles and sugar it is.” He turned to leave. “Try to find something useful for us to go on today.”

Her attention already back on her datapad, she waved a hand at him absently. “Yeah, yeah.”

Appearing to suddenly remember something else, he turned back one more time. “It would also be nice if I had a speeder bike that was usable to get around on.”

She looked up at him through her eyebrows. “You have one.”

“It’s in pieces outside.”

“I put it mostly back together. You’re welcome for the improvements I made, by the way. The fluid lines were super worn out and caked with sludge.”

“I walked by it this morning, and the brake compressor cables are still dangling loose on the side. I think it’s safe to assume those are important.”

She sighed. “Yes alright, I’ll get to it today. Any other technical upgrades you require while you’re out?” she asked mockingly, her patience continuing to wear thin. She didn’t like to be bothered when she worked.

“A working comm would be nice,” he replied.

Senna had absolutely noticed the commlink that never seemed to move from Rex’s nightstand, and for a moment, she considered mentioning it. But, the captain had a particular way of operating, and ultimately, she found he really hated having to explain things when she asked questions. If he hasn’t brought it up, then maybe it’s best not to ask. It’ll save me a painful conversation filled with more annoyed glares and disappointed sighs from him anyway. Turning in her chair, she dug under a pile in one corner of the desk, pulling out a scratched up comm and tossing it to him. “That should work.”

He stared at the item in his hand with obvious concern. “Where did you even get this?”

“One of our neighbors threw it out the other day. Couldn’t believe it. All it needed was some wiring replaced. It should work. Go on, power it up.”

Rex clicked on the commlink, and she grabbed her own device, holding it up to her lips and whispering, “Go get me some sugar for my caf, Lon.”

Rex didn’t bother to hide his exasperation as he clicked off the device and tucked it into his belt before turning on his heel to leave. “Stop going outside and picking through people’s trash. It’s strange and could draw attention.”

“I think you mean ‘Thank you, my wonderful fake wife! You’re so resourceful and good at anticipating my needs’!” she called after him. All she got in return was yet another sigh and some muttering that she couldn’t discern. A few moments later, she heard the front door of the dwelling hiss shut and turned her chair to watch out the window as he strode away, losing sight of him as he turned the corner and disappeared behind the outer wall.

Shrugging back into her seat, she pulled one of her feet up onto the chair cushion and rested her head on her knee as she continued scrolling through the comm channels, making notes about which Imperial officer was saying what. Over the last few weeks, she’d been able to identify a good chunk of the command infrastructure that the Empire had put in place on Lothal. She had mapped out the command hierarchy and who was responsible for what tasks, but even with all of that information, she still hadn’t managed to impress the captain or even satisfy him in the slightest. She wasn’t sure exactly what was gnawing at him or why he took such issue with her, but she had decided to not be overly concerned with it.

No one had explicitly told her he was a clone, but it had been apparent to her from the start, and once he’d introduced himself as Rex, she knew exactly who he was, but had never let on. He had made some references to being a soldier during their always-brief interactions, and so she assumed he was fine with her knowing that he was a clone, but she had never pushed the conversation further. The darkness that would reach across his face when the war came up and he became lost in the memories made it abundantly clear to her that it was not a topic he liked to revisit. She’d noted the light scarring on the right side of his head before his hair had grown long enough to cover it. She’d heard the rumors that some clones had removed their inhibitor chips, but again, it was not a topic she wished to broach, for both of their sakes.

The end of the war had come as a shock to everyone, and it wasn’t something she wanted to discuss either. While the outcome of the war had never been certain for anyone, never in her wildest dreams had Senna imagined this would be the result, the Republic gone and replaced by the Empire. She had to imagine Rex hadn’t either; it was apparent that something still haunted him, and while she wasn’t sure she wanted to know, she certainly had her suspicions as to what that was. She had heard him yelling himself awake sometimes at night while she was upstairs tinkering and had always opted to pretend the sound didn’t make it to her. She assumed he’d done the same when she woke up screaming. The war was over, but the nightmares persisted, which was why she often chose caf and her work over unconsciousness. Her bed was too soft compared to what she was used to sleeping on anyway, and when she was stooped over a broken piece of hardware, the sparks of her soldering iron seemed to stave off the fingers of darkness that reached out to drag her back into her nightmares.

At least awake, she had some control.

Tag List: @seriowan @partoftheeternalsoul @rosmariner @misogirl828 @ellichonkasaurusrex @zoeykallus @the-sith-in-the-sky-with-diamond @gjrain20-starwars @dsburnerblog @staycalmandhugaclone @redheadgirl @fordo-kixed-rex @wizardofrozz @ariadnes-red-thread @moonstrider9904 @rain-on-kamino @ladykatakuri @sleepingsun501 @ladykagewaki

#karrde writes #in command #star wars #the clone wars #tcw #fanfiction #fan fic #captain rex #OC Senna Aven #captain rex x ofc #captain rex x oc #captain rex x original female character #slow burn #angst #fluff #romance

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dbgdbw · 2 years

Text

외전 1화

Extra 1

‘A swimming pool, huh—how long has it been.’

Since, in Hong Kong, only Chirpie had gone into the water. It would be the first time since the time I’d learned to swim, prior to regressing. Apart from that, there’d been a time I’d gone playing in the water with everyone else as a little kid. And then, I’d never had the leisure to be able to go on my own. If only there’d been a bit more leeway, time-wise and monetarily; it would’ve been nice to have been able to do a variety of activities with my dongsaeng, when we’d been younger. I felt regretful about it once again.

“Ahjussi! Are you all ready?”

A loud voice sounded from outside the door. So impatient.

“Hold on just a moment!”

There was a dressing room near the swimming pool as well, but they’d said that it’d be fine to change in our rooms before going. A private room definitely won out over a dressing room in comfort. I took the new swimwear I’d bought out of my carrier bag.

‘It’s just like regular clothes.’

I was pleased. I’d thought that rashguards only came in a fitted style, but there was a surprising variety that were available. And from among those, the one that had appealed to me the most had a top that fit like a loose t-shirt. That it didn’t stick to me was convenient, and it hid my figure as well.

‘It’d probably be best to cover up the scar.’

Yoohyunie had already found out, and I could always tell the others that it was a scar I’d had since I was young, but was there a reason to make them worry unnecessarily. What if they attempted to heal the scar completely. Not to mention that the location of the wound was a bit risqué, too.

“Hyung, you’re gonna wear that?”

My dongsaeng, who had approached at some point while I’d been taking off my top, asked me while making no move to conceal his unhappiness.

“Ah… Should I wear something else?”

“Mn. This suits you more.”

Yoohyunie said, bringing out a zip-up rashguard. This dongsaeng who always defaulted to the same thing as hyung, he had said the same when we’d gone shopping for swimwear. But none of the loose-fitting t-shirt styles in that shop had fit Yoohyunie.

The circumference had been alright, but all of the shoulder widths had been too narrow. As a result, what he’d ended up buying instead had been a zip-up rashguard. Even if it wasn’t as good as the t-shirt, it was still pretty roomy, and more than anything, the zipper made it comfortable to wear. Comfortable clothes were the best, after all.

“Yeah, alright.”

I took the hooded zip-up rashguard Yoohyunie had taken out.

“You hurry up and change too. Yerimie might break the door down.”

The bottoms came down to slightly above my knees. A longer style would feel too constraining, and it would be difficult both to wear and to take off. An outfit that just resembled a hooded zip-up and shorts really did appeal to me the most(1). It didn’t even look like swimwear.

“Kids, come here.”

Velare wrapped around my arm, and Chirpie settled into my embrace as well. However, though Peace had followed along, he didn’t seem to have any intention of being held like usual. Had he realized we were going to the pool.

“Would I let you fall in the water.”

- 끄앙.

“Though swimming together would be nice.”

He was too quick on the uptake. I’d wanted to get a picture of Peace swimming with Chirpie and Velare riding on top, though. I’d even brought a waterproof cellphone case in preparation.

“Where’d I put that waterproof case.”

“Here.”

Yoohyunie held the waterproof phone case out towards me. Seeing me holding Chirpie with one arm, he slotted my phone into the case for me. He hung the lanyard attached to the case around my neck.

“That must feel constricting.”

My dongsaeng was wearing the same zip-up rashguard, but unlike me, it’d been left unzipped. We’d made sure to buy the right size, but it looked like it’d still be a bit too tight if he zipped it up. He should’ve worn just the trunks only instead.

‘Though there was a time when I’d carried him around.’

Seeing how big he’d gotten, I’d occasionally feel peculiar. No matter how much he might’ve shot up, since he was still younger, it’d been difficult for me to imagine him outgrowing me way back then. I’d never thought he’d get this big, even when he was in elementary school.

The growth spurt he’d encountered in middle school had been quite impressive. Since he’d still been growing at a rapid pace when he entered high school, he probably would’ve surpassed 180cm even if he hadn’t Awakened.

Thinking back to how well I'd fed him, it really made me feel gratified. He’d grown up well.

“Ah~ juh~ ssi~”

“I’m coming now, coming.”

If you kept that up, you might get stuck sounding like a broken record.

---

“The weather’s nice, too!”

In high spirits, Yerimie stretched out both arms way overhead. Yerimie was wearing a rashguard, too. Did people not wear swimsuits nowadays, like before? It was a loose-fitting half-sleeve top plus shorts set. Taking off in a run,

Splash.

She entered the water. Her form maneuvered underneath the rippling waters with the ease of a mermaid, before shooting back up and breaching the surface. And as the water was sent soaring alongside her,

“Ah, this feels great.”

It swirled up around Yerimie to hold her aloft in the air. The water droplets around her reflected the sunlight in a dazzling dance.

“Hyung-nim, why’re you all bundled up like that?”

It was Moon Hyuna’s voice. Turning my head, I saw Moon Hyuna dressed in a bra-top rashguard and, of course, shorts as well. Wow, look at those muscles. Yeah, it’d probably feel too restrictive to wear a tee like Yerimie. Especially her shoulders and arms, they were no joke. Though, it was only natural when you thought about how her weapon of choice was a giant spear.

…I was kind of envious.

“Unnie, let’s have a match!”

“Aye!”

Grinning, Moon Hyuna leapt into the swimming pool.

The swimming pool area consisted of a large pool in the center, and a long river-style pool that encircled the perimeter. As the swimming pool spanned a wide expanse, the outer lane’s length was substantial as well. Yerimie and Moon Hyuna moved to the end of the long pool.

“Ahjussi, give us a signal please!”

“‘Kay. If you use your Skills, it counts as cheating.”

In a worst case scenario, the pool might get obliterated. We’d need to be careful. As the signal dropped, the two of them took off. Yerimie was fast, but without her Skills, besting Moon Hyuna was naturally difficult. The gap in height and muscle mass was pretty significant. Even then, the distance between them didn’t widen overly much, and she seemed to be gamely hanging on.

“Yoojin-ssi!”

“Yoojin-ah.”

While I was spectating the swimming match, Noah and Myungwoo arrived at the pool as well. The two were only wearing swim trunks. Myungwoo needed no further words, and Noah may have been a support-type, but since an S-rank was still an S-rank, well… I’d done well by wrapping up, after all.

“The rest seems to’ve done you good, your complexion looks healthier.”

“Turns out that rest is necessary too, after all. Though Ismoire seemed to be a bit sulky about it.”

Myungwoo said, smiling. It being a vacation, he’d decided that he wouldn’t be doing any work until he returned to Korea. Adding that the sauna water quality at this place had been great, he promptly entered the swimming pool. Myungwoo was good at swimming too, huh.

“Here, Chirpie, Velare. Or is it too deep?”

I was apprehensive, but Chirpie leapt into the water first. It had a flight Item, so it should be alright. Velare started swimming towards Chirpie, who was bobbing up and down on top of the water. Perhaps because she liked water to begin with, she was swimming smoothly and effortlessly.

I quickly took a picture of the scene, and recorded a video as well. How adorable they were.

“Peace… is a no, as expected, huh.”

- 끼양.

Having made his way on top of a pool lounge chair at some point, Peace let out a thinner cry than usual. Yes, what could I do, if you didn’t want to. Enjoy sunning yourself, at least.

“Yoohyun-ah, aren’t you going to get into the water?”

I asked my dongsaeng, who was standing next to me. Why was he only watching.

“I don’t know how to swim.”

“That so? You were floating so well in the ocean, I thought you knew how already.”

“Since floating is easy.”

Huh. Then again, I did know how to float, too. At any rate, I got into the water first. It got deeper the closer I got to the edge of the pool in the back, until the water in front of me came up to slightly above my waist.

“They say that if you know how to float, then you can learn how to swim in no time. Come in, hurry. I’ll hold hands with you.”

“Mhn, thanks.”

As Yoohyunie smiled sweetly and entered the water, Noah, who had been standing nearby, spoke up with an embarrassed air.

“I-I do…not know how to swim, either.”

“Noah-ssi too? Are you capable of floating, at least?”

“Um, I haven’t tried before, so I’m not certain.”

Poor thing, so he’d never been to a swimming pool before.

“Please wait just a moment. After I help Yoohyunie, first.”

I had just linked hands with Yoohyunie, when water suddenly rose up at my side. Appearing with a spray of water, Yerimie shouted.

“Ahjussi, don’t get taken in by him! Just imagine, an S-rank saying something like they can’t swim.”

“That’s right, hyung-nim. So long as they’ve got at least B-rank stats, much less S-rank, if you toss ‘em in the water, they’ll start swimming expertly enough on their own in under three minutes.”

Moon Hyuna supplemented, appearing alongside her.

“I can see now, the young master really is a complete vixen(2), huh. The coy act he puts on in front of hyung-nim is no joke~”

“That’s right, unnie! It’s honestly deplorable, watching it happen. Hey, Vixen! Quit wagging your tails, and race me instead!”

What did they mean, calling him a fox. But Yoohyunie didn’t even bat an eye at Yerimie’s provocation. He was as serene as if his ears were plugged. Weirdly enough, the one whose face had turned crimson was Noah.

“I, I’m, I’d, just……”

Bright red up to the tips of his ears, Noah sank down into the water while his words were still intelligible. Not by swimming, but by incrementally slipping down, as though sinking into the depths. Since he was an S-rank Hunter, there wasn’t a risk that he’d drown, but.

‘That kind of thing can happen, it’s fine if he doesn’t know how.’

What was he getting all embarrassed for. But even so, maybe it really would be faster to just try instead of holding my hands.

“Yoohyun-ah.”

“Mhn, hyung.”

As if he was entrusting everything to me, my dongsaeng looked guilelessly back at me. On second thought, learning slowly was fine too. It wasn’t as though he’d be participating in a swim meet or anything anytime soon. That was when it happened.

촤아악, with a rush of sound, water wrapped around my body. And then, in an instant, I was yanked backwards.

“H, huh?”

“Bak Yerim!”

Yoohyunie—who’d had to let go of my hand instead of pulling back, in case I got hurt—shouted furiously. The water, which had retreated a far ways back while still encasing me, transformed into a chair-like shape. If it had been regular water, I would’ve fallen straight through, but somehow it was being controlled into a gelatinous state that could support my body. It felt like an inflatable tube that had been filled with water on the inside.

“Come at me, you insidious Vixen!”

With her feet planted on the g—no, wait, while standing buoyed on top of the water in front of me, Yerimie shouted unabashedly.

“That you can’t swim is a lie, right? It’s clear as day!”

“......”

Hesitating, Yoohyunie looked over at me. Then he answered.

“I can’t.”

“Wow, as expected of Han Yoohyun! But to take ahjussi back, you’ll have to swim!”

Hey, instead of just laughing, please talk them down a bit, Hyuna-ssi.

“Don’t fight here.”

Was what I tried to tell them, but neither of them seemed to be keen on listening. How about some peaceful, um, beach volleyball…that was probably far from being an activity that could keep the peace. Someone bring us some sand or something. That way I could have them do a sandcastle building contest instead.

“Yoojin-ah, you’ve got your share of hardships too, huh.”

Myungwoo said, having wandered over to my side.

“But it’s still cute, right. Since they might get caught up in things, could you bring Chirpie and Velare out?”

Myungwoo moved to collect Chirpie and Velare, who had been bobbing around, and Noah emerged from his submerged state to approach. Standing outside of the pool, Noah asked me.

“Would you like something to drink?”

“Ah, yes. Then, I’d like to request a caffè latte, please.”

“And for you, Myungwoo hyung?”

“A grapefruit lemonade for me.”

As soon as Myungwoo answered, Yerimie’s hand shot up into the air as well.

“A java-chip frappuccino with extra java chip, and extra whipped cream for me! If they don’t have that, then a parfait, and if that’s out, then a caramel macchiato with espresso and whip!”

“An iced americano, please.”

“Beer and anju(3)! The greasy kind, while we’re at it!”

Noah, flinching, froze. All those orders, weren’t they too much. Especially you, Yerimie, I don’t know who’d remember all that. Having caught sight of the flustered Noah, Myungwoo exited the swimming pool. At a ledge that didn’t even have a ladder, he easily lifted himself out of the water with just his arm strength. A stat increase really was nice, huh. How enviable.

“I’ll go with you.”

He was kindhearted, too. From what I’d observed, Myungwoo seemed to enjoy looking after the people around him. Even in the case of the people working at the smithy, he was instructing them diligently at the expense of his own time. I suddenly recalled when we had first met. He’s really changed a lot. Greatly, in a positive trajectory.

Myungwoo and Noah headed in the direction of the bar, and Yoohyunie and Yerimie resumed glaring at each other again.

“Start after the beer gets here, alright.”

Moon Hyuna sniggered, showing zero inclination to dissuade them at all.

“Just this once, I’ll turn a blind eye! I’ll give you five minutes, so ‘learn’ how to swim.”

“Hyung said he would teach me, so give him back.”

“Ahjussi said that he only knows how to float, too. Spare some conscience, Guild Leader-nim-ah.”

“You all seem to be enjoying yourselves.”

Another voice interjected. It was Sung Hyunjae. Having appeared at some point, he approached the pool. Eh, what was with that kimono-style beach robe. Though I’d briefly considered buying one, too, since it looked like a good way to cover up. Except, Sung Hyunjae was only wearing it draped on top.

In any case, hm… He did have a good body. When the difference was that great, it was basically a different realm altogether, so I didn’t even feel jealous. …though, to be honest, I did feel envious. Must be nice, for real. Why did I have to come to a swimming pool, and. Though, maybe it was lucky that Section Chief Song and Kim Sunghan-ssi were absent, at least.

Whether Sung Hyunjae appeared or not, Yoohyunie and Yerimie didn’t bother sparing him a glance, as they were still locked in a contest of psychological contention amongst themselves. Moon Hyuna, too, only tossed out an offer to spectate together and left it at that. Upon seeing that reception, Sung Hyunjae turned his gaze towards me.

The way he was smiling was a bit ominous. When he met my eyes, Sung Hyunjae brought up his hand so his fingertips could be seen. 파직, small sparks flew between them. No way.

“Wait a, hey!”

I quickly snatched Chirpie and Velare into my arms, and activated Eunhae. As soon as he’d confirmed my actions.

파지지직!

Electricity crackled. Blindingly brilliant, throughout the entire swimming pool. Ah, that damn guy, really!

“Oww!” “Ngh!”

“That son of a bitch!”

Though the electrical currents were staggering, it seemed that, for S-rank Hunters, it only amounted to a brief moment of pain or so. Yoohyunie and Yerimie began glowering at Sung Hyunjae, who was laughing haha. Moon Hyuna let out a growl as well.

“Han Yoohyun, a temporary ceasefire.”

“Accepted.”

I heard the voice faintly. Guys, hold on. It’s deep here. I could float, but perhaps because I’d suddenly fallen in. Yerim-ah, your Skill released after being hit with the electricity. And Chirpie and Velare seemed to be clueless about the situation.

“My, but Han Yoojin-goon's matters might be more pressing, it seems to me.”

“Wha—ack! Ahjussi!”

“Hyung!”

- 컁!

My body, which had been sinking downwards, was suddenly snatched upwards. Usually, if you held still, you’d start floating, so why had I sunk instead. Yoohyunie and Yerimie pulled me towards a shallower location.

“Hyung, are you alright?”

“Why didn’t you make any noise?”

“It’s, cough. Since you usually float, if you just relax. If you try to shout underwater, you just end up taking in water and won’t be able to float.”

Even so, had I been too placid. It seemed like the fear resistance had also factored into it. But if I sank all the way down, I could have kicked off of the bottom and surfaced, even if just for a bit.

- 끄앙.

“Yeah, Peace-yah. Even though you hadn’t wanted to go into the water.”

He was all soaked now. Having verified that I was safe, Peace quickly exited the water. Then, eyeing me with noonchi, he slunk behind the flowerbeds for a moment before re-emerging dry and fluffy once more to climb back onto his lounge chair. So he actually could dry himself off on his own, huh.

“It might be best to learn to swim properly after all, would you not agree.”

The perpetrator serenely prattled on, having drawn close. If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t have fallen in to begin with. Just as I’d been about to rebuff the teaching offer that accompanied his yammering about doing it for my Partner’s safety with a no, Yerimie suddenly interjected.

“I can teach you! I’m good at swimming.”

Then, as if showing off, she smirked at Yoohyunie. Yoohyunie’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

“Just now, didn’t you drop hyung in the water because you couldn’t even sustain your Skill. Hyung, come learn slowly with me.”

“Or, should I teach you, hyung-nim?”

…I just wanted to ride a tube and play. Would it be possible to craft a life vest out of Dungeon materials. I could just carry it with me all the time.

“First, let’s rest a bit.”

Leaving the water, I sat down at a bench. From the direction of the bar, Myungwoo and Noah returned, holding the drinks that had been requested.

-----

(1) 후드집업에 반바지로 보이는 후드집업 래쉬가드 + 하의

why do koreans wear rash guard? | korean rashguard CF

other than the significance kr readers would’ve picked up on behind yoohyunie’s unsubtle bid to match with yoojin, another cultural nuance behind the preference towards clothes that lean more ‘beachwear’ versus swimsuits is in part bc of the distinction koreans make between 물놀이 (water+play=’playing in the water’) and actual 수영 (swimming). as yoojin notes when he puzzles over yerimie’s attire (since he’s out of touch, from not going swimming for so long), modern trends for ‘waterplay wear’ in kr is usually ‘rashguard (popular for limiting sun exposure) + bottoms’ (at least in public/’family-friendly’ venues), like in the example listed above. for pool play, yerimie’s style is popular with the younger crowd, as modeled on (ahn) yoojin here, and at places like waterparks, you’ll see everyone dressed similarly even in the water. anecdotally, i’ve noticed that koreans tend to cover up more when at domestic beaches etc., but prefer the more ‘revealing’ styles when overseas on vacation, which leads me to believe it’s cultural expectations of modesty at play (since private parties for twenty-somethings etc are a different matter).

(2) ‘불여우’

expanding on this one a bit, bc it reccurs as one of yh’s monikers. first, a bit of etymological background info on why koreans categorize people (skewing female) as ‘bears,’ since ‘fox’ is more self-explanatory:

Ungnyeo & korea’s foundation myth

of course, what yerimie and mha are using are the colloquial variations of ‘fox’ seen in the present day (cc available for vid links). the association between foxes and this archetype is so prevalent that, under the dictionary entry for ‘홀리다 (to bewitch),’ the examples given are:

which demonstrates how the two are essentially conflated in modern-day usage.

the ‘불-’ sfx denotes a ‘fiery’ proclivity, which leads to a more ‘dangerous’ type of ‘여우’:

because a 불여우 is ^ added to the pre-existing ‘여우’ characteristics. i think people who don’t know that ‘불-’ is supposedly from ‘붉은’ assume that the ‘불’ prefix is either ‘fire (‘playing with fire’ + potential temper)’ or ‘불행 (misfortunate/ill-omened/calamitous),’ bc all of those seem plausible enough given the way the term is used. in short, mha and yerimie are calling out yh for behaving like a fox and “trying to use his wiles on [yoojin]” (“이제 보니 도련님 완전 불여우네. 형님 앞에서 내숭이 장난이 아니야~” “맞아요, 언니! 보고 있으면 진짜 웃기지도 않는다니까요. 야, 불여우! 여우짓 그만하고 시합이나 하자!”)

(3) 안주 → food that you eat while drinking, which is its own category (~’bar food’)

(4) 비치로브 가디건 beachrobe cardigan

+ a comic for visual aid that was provided by one of my lovely proofreaders, which is 100% how this part & the next ch should be read. spoilers for part 2 if u go past the halfway point in (2/3) of the comic.

#외전 #1화 #the s classes that i raised #tsctir #sctir

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