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cinnajun · 10 months

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ᵕ̈ ೫˚∗: 365 days | pgw

summary | the first year of your relationship with park gunwook, quantified by 12 separate events.

genre | park gunwook x fem!reader, high school!au, very slice of life, fluff, angst, y/n is bisexual, roughly 1 month has passed in between every part

warnings | jealousy + attempted sabotage, the horrors of girlhood (insecurity, slight mention of beauty standards, comparison)

wc | 12.7k

a/n: if you listen close enough you can hear me screaming in agony ++ can someone please remind me how to think up ideas that don't require several thousands of words

ft. youngeun and yeseo from kep1, boys planet/redstartz junhyeon, ppl i made up

i. confession

Tears bunch in your eyes as you sit behind your school building, the intensifying heat of spring embracing you like a warm hug. You feel devastated like someone had just stabbed you through the heart and left you to bleed.

“I think you’re overreacting, [First].” Youngeun’s voice is gravelly over the phone yet still uneasy, overall impacted by the sound of her gym class. Yeseo, who’s sitting next to you, hummed, although you weren’t sure if she was agreeing with Youngeun or not. “I mean, is it so bad he knows? It was bound to happen, probably.”

“Well, no, it wasn’t,” you stuttered, trying to keep the urge to sob and scream at bay. “And, to be fair, that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried about what else Yukyung was telling people without me knowing.”

Youngeun begins to speak but doesn’t get more out than a squeak, and you can almost imagine her opening and closing her mouth in an instant. Yeseo picks up the slack, saying, “Well, it’s worse to assume than to deal with the facts. Yukyung, for whatever reason, told Gunwook about your crush on him and showed him the texts, and it’s getting out among our classmates. In my opinion, there’s one course of action you should take.”

“Which is?”

“Youngeun tells Gunwook that you want to talk to him after school, and then you talk to him after school.”

You groaned audibly and Youngeun gasped, presumably in horror. You stared at her in exasperation, letting a single tear fall down your face. Yeseo wiped it off with her cardigan’s sleeve, frowning at you. “I mean, the worst that could happen is that he doesn’t feel the same way and you feel embarrassed for a couple of months. And we all unfriended Yukyung pretty much instantly, so she won’t be around anymore.”

“Doesn’t matter, still happened,” you replied. “I don’t want to see him ever again. I’d rather die than see him again.”

Yeseo put a hand on your back, while Youngeun yelped at the sound of a basketball hitting the closet she was hiding in. “I’ll ask him, and you’re gonna do it, [First]. You can’t skip a week of school during the first week of school.”

“Who said I was going to skip?”

“Every time you’re minorly embarrassed by something you skip school,” Yeseo said, looking at you like you were insane. “Like that one time you got a bad score on our math midterms during our first year and the teacher asked you what happened in front of everyone, so you skipped 2 days and sulked in your room.”

“That was warranted,” Youngeun commented, which caused Yeseo to glare at the phone. “But! Not the point. For all you know, Gunwook could like you back, and you’ll be able to say you had a boyfriend in high school. Right?”

“The chances of that are incredibly low,” you whined, drawing your knees up to your chest and burying your head in between them. “We’ve barely even talked. We just sit kind of next to each other during our cram classes, and that’s it.”

“He could be delusional too!”

“Are you calling me delusional?”

“The bell is about to ring,” Yeseo cut in, grabbing your phone out of your hands. You immediately popped out of your fetal position, reaching for it as quickly as you could. “Youngeun, leave the supply closet and ask him, please. Pick a location and text the groupchat. [First] and I have to go back to the classroom so we don’t get in trouble for skipping our study block.”

With that, she hung up and left you to your devices. The day passed agonizingly slowly after that, and you found yourself struggling to focus on anything your teacher said. At some point during your study block, Yukyung had left, leaving you alone at your desk with no seatmate to annoy or watch (not that you wanted her there, anyway) for the day. That was likely out of embarrassment, too, as now your classmates, who generally liked you, weren’t as sure on how to deal with the newfound information.

The only other thing worth noting was that, during your 5-minute break in between classes, Yeseo told your homeroom teacher what happened and she approved you switching hers and Yukyung’s desks after school, but, other than that, you felt your sanity whittling away by the minute.

Youngeun had haphazardly chosen a tree behind the gym, typically reserved for successful confessions, because she’d been staring at it out the window as she talked to Gunwook (which she described as the scariest conversation of her life) and didn’t know where else would work.

According to her, he’d blushed as she asked, accepting on the pretense that it wouldn’t take long because he promised his older brother that he’d get dinner with him that night. Initially, you lamented over the fact that you wouldn’t have anyone to stare at during your after-school classes, but it quickly dawned on you that he thought you were going to confess to him (which was true—you were going to confess to him).

Then, when you got done with class for the day, one of your classmates—Gyuvin—hit you on the shoulder on the way out with a quick “good luck!”

It took Yeseo dragging you to the gym and offering you $20 and a free fun drink afterward for you to get used to the idea you were doing this, and about another 3 minutes of you panicking at her in a hushed whisper while she told you to get over yourself. Then, Youngeun sprinted over, panting and still half in her gym clothes.

“You didn’t change after gym?”

“Not the focus! You’re actively making him wait!” she choked out, apparently exhausted from her mad dash. You rolled your eyes, dropping your bag down next to them and taking a deep breath.

“If I throw up on him, I’m going to kill you.”

With that, you began your death march to the tree, where Gunwook stood, scrolling through his phone. The sight of him made your stomach explode with butterflies, which you tried to shut down given your (supposed) fate of rejection. You were mentally preparing yourself to be in turmoil for the next few days, but deep down, all you wanted was to rewind time to when you told Yukyung about your silly, little crush and stop it from ever happening.

Your crush on Gunwook was never meant to go anywhere but your brain, and now you were walking up to him, about to pour out feelings that were half-manufactured by Yukyung convincing there was a future that would come with them.

“Hi,” you managed, causing Gunwook to spin around and shove his phone in his pocket.

“Hi,” he replied, scratching his neck as if he was unsure what to do with his hands. “Um, how are you?”

It was a stupid question, and you could tell he knew that. Of course you wouldn’t be doing well—one of your best friends told the entire world (him, and then one of his friends leaked it to the rest of the school) your entire life story (a single crush).

“Could be better.”

“Yeah.”

You looked off to the side, seeing Gyuvin and Junhyeon, who you knew were close to him, watching from a second-story window in the school building. You tried to ignore it, but you knew you’d hyperfocus on it now.

“Look, I’m sorry,” you finally breathed out, twiddling your thumbs. “Yukyung—I don’t know what to say that you don’t already know. I guess I have a bit of a crush on you. Sorry.”

“Sorry? Why are you sorry?” he asked, sounding genuinely perplexed. You looked back up at him, shrugging.

“Well, it’s weird. We don’t really know each other, and then a girl you don’t know very well is suddenly telling you that I’m head over heels for you.”

“You’re not?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say it that way, no. Just a crush. Not much else.”

You thought there would be a weight off your shoulders once you managed to say it to his face, but it was, quite literally, the opposite. Your stomach was tightening up and your throat was closing, but you didn’t move, just staring him in the face.

“So it would be awkward if I professed my undying love for you right now.”

You flinched at that, frowning. “That was kind of mean.”

Gunwook’s face dropped when you said that, and he shook his head rapidly. “No, not—I wasn’t making fun of you, I swear. I promise. It was a bad way of saying I have a crush on you too. Sorry. Uncalled for. Didn’t mean it.”

The words fell from his mouth like an avalanche, and all you could do was stare at him in awe. “Wait, really? Why?”

“Why? I don’t know. We spend a lot of time together, even if we don’t talk often,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “We were in the same class for our first year, then we started at the same cram school, and now we sit near each other. You’re entertaining to watch when you’re taking notes.”

“You stare at me in class?” you asked, genuinely shocked at his admission. You thought you stared at him enough during the same classes that it was impossible he could’ve been doing the same thing. Apparently, he was good at catching you when you weren’t watching his every move. “Creep.”

“Like you don’t? If I’m a creep, what are you? You’re way worse than I am,” he replied. “Whatever, it doesn’t matter. What now?”

You tapped your chin, looking back over at the window Gyuvin and Junhyeon had been in. They were gone now, presumably to meet Gunwook when your conversation was over. “We could try being a ‘thing.’”

“A thing?”

“I don’t think we know each other well enough for like—I don’t know, for me to call you boyfriend,” you replied. “So we can just be a ‘thing.’ No strings attached! And we can go on a date or two. Maybe.”

“A date or two? Whereabouts?”

You smiled, and he did too; you were shocked at how well he managed to goad information out of you. You tended to say things but never follow up on them, not unless you were pestered over and over again—it had taken Yeseo nearly a year to get it down.

“Do you like the zoo? Recently, I’ve been wanting to go to the zoo. They have a new baby bear—cub?—that I wanna see. Perhaps on Sunday? Are you free then?”

“I might be free on Sunday,” he said, handing his phone out of his pocket. He unlocked it, pressing a couple of buttons before handing it to you with an empty contact screen open. “How about we talk about it later? I’m late for meeting my brother.”

You typed in your name and number, sending yourself a quick text so you’d be able to initiate if you felt he didn’t text you fast enough. “Sounds good to me. I’ll see you later. Tell your brother I said hello.”

“Okay, sounds good,” Gunwook chuckled. He reached out and ruffled your hair, giving you a wide, bright smile that could’ve overpowered the sun if he tried hard enough. “I’ll see you later, so we can start our ‘thing.’”

“Yup, bye-bye. See you tomorrow.”

ii. lunchtime

You and Gunwook, mostly on purpose, don’t spend a lot of time together at school. Sometimes, you say hi and smile at him when you walk into his classroom to grab Youngeun, but, other than that, you keep it separate.

For one thing, it makes it easier to keep it “no strings attached,” as you’d proclaimed the day Yukyung briefly ruined your life, but it also was somewhat fun for you and him to not address what happened. Thanks to Gyuvin, half—if not all—of your grade had heard about it, and someone had spotted the both of you under that god-forsaken tree, but you hadn’t said a thing.

For you two, it was like nothing had happened, and, for everyone else, it was like a bomb they were just hoping would go off. It was fun—like you were living out a cliche, teen drama.

So, when Gunwook sauntered into your classroom in the middle of your lunch period, proudly holding a bottle of special juice you briefly talked about wanting, you were somewhat shocked. For the most part, you weren’t mentally prepped to interact with him during the day, especially as Yukyung watched on with her new couple of friends from the corner of the room.

You, Youngeun, and Yeseo stared at him as he approached, Gyuvin following close behind. He put the drink down in front of you, a proud smile on his face. “Look,” he said, gesturing towards it, so you looked. It was a brand of juice—they advertised it as a “smoothie,” but it was just slightly thicker juice—that you’d enjoyed a lot on a trip to the United States that you’d gone on a while back.

You hadn’t seen it once in Korea, even after taking Yeseo with you to search for it for hours. “Where in the world did you get this?” you spluttered out, picking it up. It was chilled, too, as if he’d been keeping it in a refrigerator (or, an insulated lunch box with an ice pack in it).

“He didn’t,” Gyuvin snorted, putting an arm around Gunwook’s shoulder. “Junhyeon did while he was in Busan this weekend.”

Gunwook hit him hard on the chest, clearing his throat. “Do you like it? Are you excited?”

“The right flavor and everything,” you replied, a surge of joy running through you. “Thank Junhyeon for me, okay?”

Gunwook scoffed, mumbling, “It’s not like I didn’t pay him back twice the price or anything,” under his breath. You held up your fist, to which Gunwook stared at it, somewhat dumbfounded.

“What?”

“You want a fist bump from me?” he asked incredulously. You nodded, exaggerating the movements to make it seem like he was missing the obvious. So, he bumped your fist with his, shaking his head. “See you after school, [First].”

“Yup, I’ll see you.”

And you watched him walk out, Gyuvin in tow—and, from the corner of your eye, you saw Yukyung watching his every move, up until he left the classroom.

iii. field trip

The third-year field trip was something you’d looked forward to for a long time—as a way to force students to take a break from their studying, your school sent all the first years to some fun location, paying for most of it with donations they got from alumni and parents.

This year, they’d had the bright idea to send you all to Hawaii, which had been both shocking and exciting. The farthest they’d ever sent anyone was Jeju, and that was a few years ago; but, they’d got some huge donation this year and decided to splurge.

So far, the trip had been fun, for the most part. On the airplane, you’d forced Gunwook to sit next to you so that you could hold his hand every time the plane shook (he’d laughed at you over your fear of turbulence, but you were too aware of the fact that he was rubbing your hand with his thumb to care). Almost all of your classmates, to whom you had not disclosed the nature of your “thing” yet, had stared at you every time they walked past. About halfway through, Youngeun, who’d volunteered to be the third wheel, leaned over and told you she was pretty sure the news was making its way down the plane, and people were getting up to fact-check it for the row members.

“That’s stupid,” Gunwook laughed, pulling your hand onto his tray table. “Doesn’t everyone know [First] is just afraid of planes? Nothing else going on here, not at all.”

Then Yeseo had popped her head above her seat and turned around to face you, an eyebrow raised. “Have you two kissed yet?” she’d asked out of nowhere, to which you shrugged.

“Why would we kiss when nothing is going on?”

Then, upon arrival, you and Gunwook had sat next to one another on the bus to the hotel, to which you’d promptly fallen asleep on his shoulder (since you didn’t sleep much on the plane) for the entire ride. You woke up to him holding your hand again, scrolling through his phone haphazardly.

After that, you’d had all eyes on the both of you—when you got to the hotel, while you were listening to your teachers give instructions, while keys were being handed out. And, as a result of what you assumed was anxiety over not knowing English, Gunwook and his two friends, Junhyeon and Gyuvin, followed you, Yeseo, and Youngeun around for the entire trip.

Then, on the third day of the trip, Gunwook asked if you’d want to go on a date with him. The idea was silly to you—not because you didn’t want to, but because you were two teenagers going on a date on your almost-all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii.

That’s what you were doing now. It was the day before you were to head back home, and Gunwook had, for lack of a better word, taken you out. To a fancy restaurant—where he made you translate the entire menu and order for him—and to get some sort of fancy pineapple dessert afterward. Now, you were strolling on the beach, watching the sun fall below the horizon slowly but surely.

“How much longer until curfew?” you asked, turning around to face him. You continued walking backward, lacing your hands together behind your back.

“About half an hour. We’re close enough to the hotel that we don’t have to start walking back now, but we should think about it soon.”

You hummed, stopping abruptly. You faced the shoreline, listening to the sound of the waves draw in and out like breaths from a sleeping person. It was so alive, yet not at the same time, and it mesmerized you; you’d never seen an ocean like this before.

“You look pretty tonight,” he mused, staring at you rather than the ocean. You scoffed, rolling your eyes at the comment.

“Look at yourself in the mirror.”

“I’m not pretty, I’m beautiful, thank you very much.”

A question was bubbling up in your throat now, much like the water in front of you. You felt a surge of anxiety wash through your stomach, and you were mentally transported back to that tree from a couple of months ago. The pure embarrassment you felt was gone and replaced with a sort of hope that was more painful than uplifting, as if it was a glass cup teetering on the edge of a table.

“I have a question,” you started, banishing the unease from your stomach.

“Oh, yeah?” he asked, raising his eyebrow. He wouldn’t look away from you, no matter how much you tried to focus on the sight in front of you. A crooked smile bloomed on his face which should’ve quelled your worries in an instant, but, for some reason, it only made them worse. “I suppose I have an answer for you.”

“Do you?”

“I just might, if you manage to ask the question.”

“Okay, here I go,” you said, mustering up all your courage and turning to face him. His eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and you immediately felt discouraged just looking at him. He was right—he was beautiful, almost impossibly so. Yet, here you were, boring and average, barely even able to hold a T to him. Plus, the only reason you were even here was because someone you’d considered a best friend had told him you liked him, and now you were getting into your head over something that was long over.

His smile dropped a bit when he (most likely) realized you were panicking a bit, but he didn’t say anything, simply waiting patiently for you to continue. You forced yourself to regain focus, shaking your head as the image of Yukyung permeated in your mind. He grabbed both of your hands as a way to help soothe the worry, and it worked as well as it could, pulling you back into reality.

“Do you want to be my boyfriend, maybe?” you finally asked, watching as his face lit up against the sun.

“Do I?” he asked back, allowing himself to smile fully. “This is the best question I’ve ever been asked. Seriously.”

“Seriously?”

Gunwook giggled, swinging your hands around a bit. “Can I kiss you? Pretty please?”

“Can you?” you mimicked, feeling the heat rising in your cheeks. Gunwook giggled again, leaning down and pressing a kiss to your lips. It was slow and sweet, his lips soft and tasting slightly of the pineapple you’d had earlier. He laughed and smiled through the entire thing, squeezing your hands in delight before letting go and wrapping his hands around your waist. As cliche as it was, you draped your hands around his neck, starting to giggle too.

When he pulled away, he leaned his forehead against yours, still chuckling in delight. “This is so exciting,” he said, rocking you back and forth on the sand. “I’m so excited. I feel like I’ve been waiting for this for my entire life, you know? Even if I’ve only known you for three years. I can’t explain it—it’s unexplainable. I’m so excited.”

“You know what, I’m getting the idea you might be excited.”

And Gunwook shut you up with another elated kiss, ending your night in an impenetrable wall of pure joy.

iv. sleepover

Your parents were adventurers and you decidedly weren’t, which often meant you had your house to yourself. It was nice, mostly because it allowed you to spread out all your study stuff on the dining room table and do all of your work right then and there without your parents talking to you every 20 seconds.

Sometimes, though, things didn’t go as planned, and you had to do things you didn’t want to do. Namely, spend the night in the house completely alone. Every creak or thump made your heart beat out of your chest, which ended up in you taking a knife and a flashlight through the entire house with the emergency number pre-dialed.

Oftentimes, it ended with you not sleeping and then having to miss school because of over-exhaustion.

You were sitting in your living room while on the phone with Gunwook (he claimed you were moral support for his studying) when your mom texted you, the message starting with a bunch of emojis, which was her way of beginning a message with bad news.

“Oh god,” you said, cutting through the hour-long silence you’d maintained with your boyfriend.

“Huh? What’s up?”

“My mom texted me. There’s some huge accident on the freeway, so they’ve got the entire thing blocked off. Traffic is awful on other routes so they’re just going to pull off to a motel and sleep there tonight.”

“Oh no,” he said, and you could tell he was preoccupied with whatever math problem he was doing. “House to yourself, I guess?”

“I’m glad it’s Saturday,” you said, frowning. “I’m not gonna get any sleep tonight.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t like being completely alone in the house. I’m convinced someone’s gonna come in and kill me.”

“Hmm,” Gunwook hummed, pausing briefly. “I could come over and stay the night? I’ll leave early in the morning so they don’t find out I was there.”

Realistically, you knew you should say no because the chance of your parents finding out about Gunwook terrified you, but you had poor judgment and liked your boyfriend too much to turn down seeing him. “Would you actually? It’s kind of late, and I wouldn’t want to make you walk that much in the dark.”

“It’s not that far of a walk,” he said, and you could hear him packing his school stuff already. The sound of pencils clinking against pencils and books closing made you feel all warm and fuzzy—instead of studying for the test that was going to decide his fate as an adult, he was coming to make sure you felt comfortable and safe.

“Oh yeah, because 30 minutes is ‘not that far.’ Just get it over with and tell me you’re in love with me.”

Gunwook cleared his throat at your quip, choking on air. You snickered, finding how flustered he got at the “L-word” quite cute (as if you wouldn’t do the same thing). “I’ll be there shortly.”

He hung up the phone without saying bye, most likely out of embarrassment, which made you feel proud of yourself. And, true to his word, he showed up about fifty minutes later, balancing his school backpack on one arm and another bag on the other. “Do you know how hard it is to jump out of your window with two bags?” he asked, walking into your house as if it was his own. You wondered if he cared about the fact that he’d never actually been inside before, given he’d only ever walked you home, but you assumed his unwillingness to do his usual hello-and-hug meant he was somewhat flustered by it.

“Are you moving in, or something? What’s in the bags?”

“Well, I can’t stay the night without all my nighttime stuff,” he huffed, breezing past you and dropping his bags off next to the stairs. You watched him look around frantically, and you somewhat assumed that he’d hung up on you because he’d realized what exactly he had suggested and had no way of backing out of it now (you hoped he hadn’t even thought about backing out).

“You’re such a diva,” you scoffed, shuffling back into your living room and returning to your position on the couch. He sat next to you, leaning against the armrest and putting his legs on top of yours. You rolled your eyes, picking up the remote and pressing play.

“So, what are we watching?”

“Whatever romcom was playing when I turned the TV on,” you replied, keeping your focus on the screen. Suddenly you were feeling embarrassed even though you’d been feeling so egotistical a second ago, as you were realizing you were in more danger here than he was. He’d successfully snuck out (or so he said, but you were pretty sure he probably told his mom and then snuck out the window to avoid his dad finding out), but your parents lived here, and if they got here before you were expecting them, it was over for you.

It dawned on you that you needed to find out when they were planning on getting back, so you wrenched your phone out of your pocket, furiously typing to your mother. Gunwook noticed, pointing at you and laughing. “You were so high and mighty a second ago, and now look at you. Somebody realized they’re going to be in bigger shit than I am.”

“Shut your mouth,” you hissed, watching the little bubble that indicated your mom was typing.

“Maybe we should send her a selfie, huh? Just so she knows a random teenage boy that she doesn’t know is in her house,” Gunwook continued, sucking all of the confidence you’d once had out of the air. “She’d be super excited, right?”

“If you’re not out of my house by 5:30 tomorrow morning, I’m going to break up with you,” you announced, glaring at him. He made a face at you, shaking his head.

“Be glad I like you so much. Waking up at 5:30 is brutal. I didn’t even do that when Gyuvin got his appendix out and texted me thirty times to ask if I’d be there when he got out of surgery.”

“You liar, Gyuvin literally told me that you showed up with flowers and a get-well-soon card.”

Gunwook blushed at that, clearing his throat. “Okay, whatever, fine. Let’s just watch the movie.”

The two of you got about twenty minutes of the romcom in before he checked the time and announced that you were both going to sleep. You said he could go on his own—midnight was early for both of you, and you weren’t the one waking up at 5:30—but he got all whiney, turning the TV off and picking you up from the couch.

You’d gone through the motions of your nighttime routine together, with Gunwook’s being about fifty steps longer than yours. You ended up sitting on the floor while he put on a million serums and waited thirty minutes in between each one, claiming it was to “let each product soak into his skin.”

You texted Youngeun and Yeseo about it, not thinking about the implications behind waiting for him to finish his skincare routine. Immediately, they began blowing up your phone, and you promptly muted your group chat and their individual text threads, not wanting to deal with the onslaught of questions they were likely unleashing onto you.

Then, you looked up to see Gunwook putting on a lip mask. Knowing it was probably the last step in his routine, you hopped up from the floor, staring at the small, pink container that the gel lived in. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to try that out,” you said, not thinking about it too hard. “Is it nice? Does it work?”

“Shouldn’t you know better than anyone whether it works or not?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. You slapped him hard on the shoulder, causing him to yelp in pain. “Okay, geez, yes, it works. Do you want to try some?”

“Oh, can I—”

Before you could even finish your sentence, Gunwook leaned down and kissed you somewhat hard, almost causing you to stumble back a bit. Either way, you almost immediately broke it off, incredibly flustered at the act. You slapped him again, although this time it was a million times weaker. “You’re so stupid, oh my god, you cliche loser.”

“Be grateful I was willing to give you any, this stuff is expensive,” Gunwook said, cackling. He put a bit more on his finger, rubbing it into his lips to compensate for what he lost from kissing you. “I thought you liked kissing me, no?”

“I also like the thought of you getting hit by a train. These things aren’t mutually exclusive,” you huffed, looking to the side. “Whatever. I’m going to my room.”

“Ooh, me too,” he said, draping an arm around your shoulders as you walked past him. He kept himself in step with you, flicking the bathroom light switch off as you both exited the room.

“Who said we’re sleeping in the same room?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. Gunwook laughed in your face, causing you to frown.

“Okay, sure, but one noise and you’ll be prancing into the guest room like a scared dog.” “Who said I had a guest room? Go to the couch.” You wiggled out from under his arm, opening the door to your bedroom and flicking the lights on. Gunwook continued following after you, but quickly walked past you and climbed under the duvet on your bed. Somehow, he’d already plugged his phone in and put his bags neatly in the corner of your room—it must’ve been when he walked out to grab his toner pads from his bag—and had settled into your bedroom quite nicely. You stared at him in awe as he yawned, patting the bed next to him.

“It’s bedtime.”

“For you.”

He laughed at you again, patting the bed once more. You shut your bedroom door behind you, turning your phone’s flashlight on and turning the lights off as soon as they’d come on. You shuffled over to the bed, sliding in next to him and cuddling up to him. He reciprocated, putting an arm on your waist and giggling.

“You giggle too much.”

“Good night, [First]. I won’t wake you up tomorrow morning, but I’ll be out by 5:30. Promise.”

Even though you weren’t tired, you fell asleep like a baby next to Gunwook, basking in the warmth he brought. You were pretty sure you’d fallen asleep before him, actually, but you swore up and down it was because he’d been humming to you and rubbing your back in a way that was more relaxing than you would’ve liked it to be.

So, when you woke up the next morning, the sun barely peeking through your curtains, to find him gone, you felt relief. You groaned, turning over to search for your phone, which was, as always, placed on your bedside table.

You picked it up, barely being able to make out the time—5:01 am. Huh, you thought, frowning. He left earlier than he needed.

And then you looked at your notifications—three texts from your mother.

2:34 am—Hi honey, the motel was uncomfortable and we couldn’t sleep, so we’re getting an early start. I know you get paranoid, and I hope you’re not awake, but texting to let you know just in case you are. Should be there about 4:30.

3:47 am—Update, we’ve hit some early traffic, so probably closer to 4:45. It might still be 4:30 if we’re lucky.

Finally, 4:11 am—We got lucky!!! We’ll be there in 10. Assuming you’re asleep…am glad. Can’t wait to be in my own bed.

You shot up from your bed, suddenly feeling more awake than you’d ever been in your life. With what little sunlight there was, you looked to the corner of the room, clearly seeing two black bags that didn’t belong to you. Then, an extra phone on your nightstand.

Panic set in. You, as quietly as you could, got out of bed, shuffling to the door. With a hand haphazardly placed on the knob, you pulled your door open, cringing at even the slightest of noises. You heard the sound of a glass hitting your table downstairs, and you felt like crying.

Slowly, you tiptoed down the stairs, catching sight of Gunwook, blue sweater on and exhaustion written on his face, sitting across from both of your parents. Breakfast was ready on the table, and Gunwook had a full plate in front of him, but it had barely been touched.

He noticed you first, looking up at you from the table. He looked violently uncomfortable, pleading for you to come save him, and you just about turned around and went back to your room.

“[First],” your dad said, turning his head to look at you. “Why don’t you come join us? I suppose you have a few things to explain.”

v. ice cream

You loved summer for a multitude of reasons—the lack of school, the increase in fun treats, and the overall happiness that came upon everyone during your one month off of responsibility. So, when you caught wind of a fair opening up, you knew you couldn’t pass up going.

Your first invites were Yeseo and Youngeun, since the three of you always spent your summers at amusement parks and pop-ups. But, they’d had the bright idea to invite along your boyfriend and his couple of friends—it would be okay, they said, since there’s three of you and three of them. So, you did, and you were entirely grateful that you had.

You didn’t know Gyuvin or Junhyeon very well before today; Gyuvin tended to follow Gunwook around, and Junhyeon had bought you juice once upon a time, but that was about it. It was the same for Gunwook and your couple of friends, as the most they’d interacted with him was on your plane ride to Hawaii.

Seeing your friends getting along with his warmed your heart, and it had put together a day you would never forget, most likely. About twenty minutes ago, your four accompaniments had made up some excuse as to why they needed to separate from the two of you, which had left you strolling through the fair as the sun was beginning to set.

The sky had erupted into a million different colors, namely pinks and purples, which you were particularly enamored by. You’d endearingly linked your arm with Gunwook’s and you’d been walking through the local artist alley that they’d put up.

“I’m glad it’s cooling down,” you said, staring at a booth where a woman was showing off all of her handmade jewelry pieces, which you found to be quite impressive. “As much fun as a fair is, it always sucks when it’s too hot to enjoy.”

“It wasn’t that hot today, though, was it?” he replied. “I mean, it got warm around 3, but that was just about it. I thought today was relatively tame compared to the rest of the week.”

“Okay, Fireboy, whatever you say. But, for the record, tame compared to the rest of the week doesn’t mean much when it was nearly 35° the other day,” you scoffed. Gunwook chuckled, and you looked over at him, intending on continuing to talk about the heat. But, a booth behind him caught your eye, distracting you from whatever you were planning on saying next.

You unlocked your arm from his, smiling mischievously at him. “Wait here,” you said excitedly, pulling your wallet out of your tote bag. You quickly walked over to the ice cream booth that you’d seen in the distance, the thought of how cold it would be tainting your mind. Even just a little bit of freedom from the heat was enough to sweep you off your feet, at this point.

“What would you like?” the server asked, to which you smiled at her, staring at the menu.

“Um, just two vanilla cones, please,” you said, realizing you had no clue what flavor of ice cream he’d even want. You hoped he didn’t have a terrible disdain for vanilla, but you doubted he did, given you’d never seen him actively dislike any food in your life. You got the amount of money it cost out of your wallet and placed it on the counter, shoving your wallet back in your bag.

The server handed them to you, and you thanked her, turning back around to hobble back to where you’d left Gunwook. And, as you did, you were met with quite possibly the worst sight in the world—he stood off to the side of the jewelry booth talking to someone. Namely, he was talking to Yukyung.

Of course she would be here—before she’d broken your trust, she tagged along on your summer adventures. She was your best friend once upon a time, and now, she was not much other than a bad memory, and she was talking to your boyfriend.

You didn’t know how to describe the feeling it evoked. It wasn’t jealousy—you knew what jealousy felt like, and this was too mellow and depressing to be jealousy. Yukyung looked gorgeous, as she always did, dressed in a pretty, flowy, red sundress that just barely brushed against the tops of her shoes. Her makeup was perfect and rosy to match the dress, and she’d braided white ribbon into her hair, which you thought made her look even more elegant than she had before.

Oh, you thought, biting your lip. This is inadequacy.

You watched them talk, and you watched the way she smiled and the way he seemed uncomfortable just from the way he stood. For a brief moment, you thought they even looked a bit good together, but that thought was quickly washed away when you felt ice cream drip onto your finger.

When you looked back up, she was gone, and Gunwook had gone back to lingering. You shook your head, jogging up to him with a smile. “Happy summer,” you said, handing it out to him. He smiled back at you, taking the ice cream cone from your hand.

“Thank you,” he said, taking a big bite straight from the top. You widened your eyes in shock and your face distorted into one of disgust.

“You bite ice cream?”

“And what about it? Do you have a problem with it?”

“Yeah, actually, I do. That’s weird and strange.”

“You know what else is weird and strange?”

“Huh?”

“The fact that you’re letting your ice cream melt all over your hand.”

vi. overwhelmed

You’re wondering how long you can get away with staying in the bathroom before someone notices that you’ve been gone for much longer than you were expecting. You hug your knees to your chest, playing a mindless game in hopes it’ll calm you down at least somewhat.

You knew this would happen at some point—every upperclassman you’d talked to told you that, in the months approaching your college entrance exams, your mental health would plummet. From panic attacks in the bathroom during math classes to not being able to fall asleep until four in the morning.

You just underestimated how much it sucked to feel like this in the first place. You’re no stranger to stress, that much is certain, but this was much more real. And, this sort of panic hit you anywhere and everywhere—including Gyuvin’s birthday party.

Briefly, you glanced at the time—8:02. You’d been in the bathroom for about 10 minutes, and nobody had come looking for you yet, which was good. The bad news was that you weren’t any closer to calming down and were feeling utterly helpless.

As if you’d jinxed yourself, Gunwook texted you at that very moment, asking where you’d gone. You half-assed your reply, saying you were still in the bathroom taking a break from the chaos, ignoring the temptation to ask him to come help you. It would be mean to Gyuvin and him—so, for the sake of your sanity, you’d stay quiet.

Meanwhile, Gunwook stood in one of Gyuvin’s hallways, staring at his phone. Junhyeon had followed him back as Gyuvin was well entertained by Ricky, who he hadn’t seen in nearly a year, and stood next to him, leaning against the wall.

“Things have been weird lately.” Gunwook frowned, reading over your text again and again. Junhyeon tilted his head inquisitively.

“Weird how?”

“Just…I don’t know, she’s been weirdly distant from time to time. Everything will be fine, and she’ll shut off with no warning. It happens no matter where we are, too—if we’re studying, if we’re walking home, if we’re eating dinner. It’s strange.”

“Could it just be test jitters? I know a lot of couples who broke up in anticipation of the test, with plans to get back together afterward. Like Yuna and Jaechan, in class 4. They did that.”

Gunwook’s frown deepend. “I don’t want to break up with her, though,” he sighed, watching as the typing bubble on your end appeared and disappeared. “Would it be weird to look for her? Like would she find that strange?”

“She probably walked off because she didn’t want to take you away from Gyuvin, but Ricky’s here now, so I don’t think it would be a bad idea, per se,” Junhyeon said, patting his shoulder. “But make sure she doesn’t feel bad taking you away from everything. I think Gyuvin would understand. And Ricky wants to meet her, so no harm in making sure nothing’s wrong.”

Gunwook bit the edge of his lip, shoving his phone into his pocket. Gunwook gave Junhyeon a pat on the shoulder, and he nodded, walking back toward the bulk of the party.

The bathroom was behind a bed sheet curtain that Gyuvin had hung up before the party, with a lame “do not enter” sign taped to it. He’d proceeded to give you, Gunwook, and Junhyeon special permission to break the rules, as the three of you had been in the house before and knew which rooms were okay to enter and which ones weren’t.

The door was closed and the light was on, which meant you’d gone out of your way to go to the off-limits bathroom, where Yeseo and Youngeun wouldn’t be able to find you. He frowned, raising his hand to knock on the door.

Then, he heard a small sniffle behind the door and stopped. Gunwook had never seen you cry—early into your relationship, you’d told him you weren’t a crier, and not many things pushed you to that point. At the time, it had been relieving, as he didn’t know you well enough to even attempt to comfort you.

But, now a good three months had passed, and he still had no clue what to do, which made him feel more stressed than relieved. Nevertheless, now that he knew, he couldn’t just leave you, so he knocked on the door.

Your response was, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Gunwook took that as an invitation to open the door, finding you sitting on the floor of Gyuvin’s bathroom while holding your phone. You weren’t crying, but he could tell you were close to it. He slipped inside, closing the door behind him, and sitting next to you on the ground.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, scooting closer to you so you’d be shoulder-to-shoulder. You shrugged, looking off to the side.

“I’m stressed. You know, with the college entrance exams and graduating stuff, the world is just a lot right now. I didn’t think it would hit here, though, but the number 18 being passed around made me think about it too much. It’s silly.”

“No, it’s not,” Gunwook replied. “It’s okay to be stressed out about something stressful, even if you’re at a birthday party. And it’s okay to tell me because Gyuvin’s friend came to surprise him after he moved to California, so he’s not upset that I’m gone. Okay?”

Your lip quivered a bit, and Gunwook put his arm around you, pressing you into his side. He rubbed your shoulder reassuringly as you sniffled again, obviously having to try harder to keep your feelings in.

At that moment, you wanted to spew everything at him. Your feelings of insecurity towards Yukyung, the stress you felt knowing he was going to get into some fancy university and you probably weren’t, how scary everything was right at this moment.

But, you stayed quiet and chose to burst into tears instead. The moment one tear escaped from your eye, the rest did, too, and you found yourself crying into Gunwook’s chest. He was rocking you back and forth, rubbing your back while you covered his shirt in your tears.

You felt miserable—if you could, you wanted to pause time, run outside, and scream. At what, you were unsure, but you needed it, more than you needed anything else in the entire world. You could only take this for so much longer.

“I’m here for you,” Gunwook whispered, squeezing you gently. “I’ll always be here, I promise.”

You took his words to heart.

vii. wisdom teeth

On day four of Gunwook’s wisdom-teeth recovery, you’d been asked to be his caregiver, which you were okay with. His mom, who was infinitely grateful that you’d offered to take care of her son, assured you that he was technically cleared to go back to normal after day 3, but he was still feeling a bit wonky, and his pain medicine enhanced the wonkiness.

Your jobs were as such: make soup or mashed potatoes when he asked, remind him to clean his wounds if he forgets, and hang out with him. You found the list quite easy and told his mom that you’d make sure he was all good and cared for.

You underestimated, however, how needy your boyfriend would be. The moment you’d walked into his bedroom to wake him up, he attached himself to you, whining about how much he’d missed you over the past few days. He spoke as if you’d gone off to war and left him behind with your nonexistent children, insisting that your absence had ruined his life.

After you managed to make him brush his teeth, spray salt water into his mouth, and eat his breakfast (a bowl of yogurt), he passed out on the couch, leaving you to do whatever seemed appealing at the moment. Initially, you spent your time scrolling through all the selfies he’d sent you of his face all swollen and puffy, which had got you giggling. Then, you had the bright idea to help

You started by slightly cleaning his room up, feeling pretty good about yourself as you washed his clothes and his sheets. In your mind, you were building a resume to ensure his mom liked you, and you were going to earn extra affection from it, so you didn’t care about the repetitiveness at all.

About halfway through your cleaning adventures, Gunwook appeared in the doorway of his bedroom, staring at you folding the load of laundry you did. “How are you?” you asked, continuing to fold his t-shirts.

“Have I ever told you that you’re perfect?” he mumbled, shuffling over and draping himself onto you. He wrapped his arms around your waist and shoved his face into your neck, nearly knocking you over by putting his entire weight on you without warning.

“Only every day,” you replied, giggling. “Seriously though, how are you? Anything feel off or more painful than it did before you napped?”

“No,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to your neck. “Stop sounding like my mom. It’s weird.”

“What do you want me to say? ‘I hope you get dry socket?’”

“It’s better than mom-speak,” he replied. “She’s going to love you after today. Not gonna shut up about it.”

“That’s the entire reason that I’m doing all of this.”

“And not to help out your hurting boyfriend? You’re terrible.”

You scoffed, finishing folding the rest of his clothes. “Are you hungry?”

You patted his arm and Gunwook unattached himself from you, letting you turn around to face him. He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. “No. I’m so glad you’re here. I missed you a lot.”

“Did you?”

“My mom said I cried about you being at school right after I got out of surgery,” he replied. You widened your eyes, not expecting him to be that forward about it. “I don’t like being away from you for so long. I hope we never, ever separate.”

You smiled, half-heartedly punching him in the shoulder. “I hope you stay this nice even after you feel fully better.”

Gunwook gave you a serious look as if he was thinking hard about something. You waited awkwardly, staring at one another as he sounded out whatever he was thinking in his head. “Over the past few days, I’ve been thinking a lot about something.”

“Which is…?”

“I’m going to say something,” he said, putting his hands on your shoulders. “I’m not expecting a reply. I just need to say it. I’ve thought about it a lot.”

“Okay, go on ahead. I’m listening.”

He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as if whatever he was going to tell you was stressing him out. It made you get a bit anxious, wondering if he was going to break some terrible news to you. “Over the past couple of days, I’ve missed you a lot, more than I missed Gyuvin and Junhyeon combined. And it was hard only being able to talk to you through texting, even though I only text my friends for days on end sometimes. And it got me thinking about everything, you know? Because it’s all I’ve had to entertain myself since I got my teeth pulled.”

“Right.”

“I love you, [First]. A lot. And it’s okay if you’re not ready to say that yet, I get it. But I do. Truthfully. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.”

It felt like a rock was stuck in your throat. You opened your mouth expecting words to come out, but they didn’t—so, you just stood there, staring at Gunwook. He stared back at you, eyes glossy from tiredness and cheeks pink. You weren’t ready—the words were so big and so scary, and it wasn’t that you didn’t love him, you just couldn’t find the words to say it.

Your solution to this was to engulf him in a hug, latching to his waist like you’d done a second ago. No words were needed as he did the same, and, for a while, you stood there, enjoying one another’s company.

viii. mirrors

You don’t remember the last time you’ve felt this gross when looking into a mirror. The dress you’re wearing is gorgeous—it’s long, flowy, and summery, the type of dress that doesn’t look bad on anyone. Yet, staring at yourself right now, you feel utterly disgusting.

It’s the same type of dress you saw Yukyung wearing at the fair, and, when you look at yourself, all you can do is compare yourself to her. Even when you were best friends, this was a problem you had, but it wasn’t nearly as awful when she made you feel safe and loved. Now, it felt threatening and nauseating.

Gunwook knocked on the door of your dressing room, causing you to wince. “[First], are you done? Can I see?”

“Yeah, sure. One second.”

You quickly retied the bow around your waist, hoping it would make you feel a little less awful. It didn’t have the intended effect, but you turned around anyway, opening the door to the dressing room. Gunwook’s expression bloomed into a smile the moment he saw you, but, instead of feeling loved, you only remembered the way he looked at Yukyung with slight disdain at the fair while she wore the same thing.

“You look so beautiful,” he said, which caused you to subconsciously frown. He noticed immediately, his smile morphing into a frown to mirror you. “What’s wrong? Do you not like it?”

You turned around, staring at yourself in the mirror once more. “I don’t feel pretty in it,” you said, trying to be as upfront with your emotions as you could. You saw Gunwook’s jaw drop in his reflection in the mirror as if he couldn’t believe what you were hearing.

“How in the world could you not feel pretty? It fits you perfectly, and it’s entirely on theme for your cousin’s wedding. You look gorgeous, I swear. Everyone would agree with me.”

“Are you sure?” you asked, hoping and praying that, if he said it for a third time, the image of Yukyung in your mind would miraculously go away. He nodded earnestly, making the most serious look you’d ever seen him produce.

“One thousand percent. And I’m not just saying it because I’m your boyfriend, I mean it. You look beautiful, and every other synonym of beautiful. I’m serious.”

You nodded, fabricating a smile so you could take it off and put your sweater back on. “Okay, I’ll get it then. I’m sure my mom will agree.”

You shut the dressing room door, fighting the urge to slam your head into the mirror. You just pulled the dress off of you, replacing it with your normal clothes and putting it back on the hanger, swiftly exiting the room so you’d no longer be facing the mirror.

After that, you’d tried to escape the mall as quickly as you could, dragging Gunwook through the corridors like you were on a mission. He’d followed without saying anything, but you could tell he was somewhat confused—and you hoped that confusion would go away when you arrived at the bus stop just as it arrived.

Gunwook knew you better than that, though, shooting you multiple inquisitive looks for the duration of your bus ride. And, the moment you got off, he whistled a small tune, which was a clear sign that he was going to bring it up.

“So, what’s up?”

“What do you mean?” You feigned ignorance, hoping he’d get the message and leave it alone. He wouldn’t, though, and it was now a question of whether he meant today only, or why you’d been acting so strange over the past month or so.

“You’ve been acting weird for a while, [First]. Not all the time, just sometimes, and it has me worried. Did I do something? Or is there something you aren’t telling me?”

“I’m just on edge,” you lied, clearing your throat. “Exams are next month. I don’t like the idea that a single test could dictate the rest of my life, and the idea that, if I do poorly, I have to spend another year studying for it.”

“Are you sure that’s it? You seem fine every time we’re studying, and your grades are good. You don’t ask for nearly as much help as you did a few months ago either.”

“I promise. Things will go back to normal next month, I swear.”

“Okay.”

Great, you thought, kicking a rock on the sidewalk. He knew you were lying, and now you had one month to fix your ex-best-friend troubles before you had to face your issues. And, you had no idea how.

You kicked the rock again, and it flew out in the street, falling into a storm drain, never to be seen again.

ix. exams

Before today, you didn’t think your hands could hurt this bad. Nor did you think your brain could hurt this bad, either.

The moment you walked into Gunwook’s room, you drop everything you’re holding, face-planting into his bed. He laughed at you, and you could hear him neatly placing everything he was holding onto his desk.

“How can you unpack things right now?” you asked, mentally praising whoever created mattresses. “I feel like my brain is short-circuiting.”

“I’m good at school stuff, that’s why,” he replied. Outside, the rain that you’d dealt with walking to his house got worse, and you briefly considered the possibility that you wouldn’t be returning home tonight unless one of your parents were willing to drive to Gunwook’s house. “Do you want something else to wear? Other than your uniform.”

“Really?” you asked, hopping out of his bed. He nodded, opening his drawer and taking out a t-shirt and pair of sweatpants.

“They’ll probably be a little big,” he said, handing them to you. You waved him off, shaking your head.

“They’re not this god-awful uniform, so they’re winners in my book.”

You practically skipped out of his room and into the bathroom, changing into the pajamas he’d given you hastily. They were soft and smelled like the detergent his mom bought (which smelled exactly like you thought Gunwook would smell, back when you just had a delusional crush on him).

Before you went back to his room, you folded your uniform, giving yourself a once over in the mirror. You looked exhausted and you felt it too, overloaded from the hours of straight testing that you’d endured for the sole purpose of going to university. You were so tired you couldn’t even muster the strength to be worried about your test scores.

You shuffled back into Gunwook’s room, shutting the door behind you. He was already laying down, scrolling through his phone and wearing the black-and-white sweater he’d been so obsessed with recently. You put your uniform on top of your bag, which he’d moved to a chair in the corner of his room, before collapsing on top of him and forcing your hands around his waist.

The act caused him to laugh at you before ruffling your hair, kissing you atop the crown of your head. “I’m proud of you,” he said, and you felt his chest rumble as he talked. “I’m sure you did well.”

“Stop being sappy,” you replied, suddenly feeling a lot more tired than you had been. “But I’m proud of you too. I know you did well.”

He hummed, and you assumed he went back to scrolling through his phone, which you weren’t angry about. You had about five minutes before you fell asleep on him, and you were fine spending it in complete silence save for whatever random thought you had.

“Oh, did you see the Yuna-Jaechan reunion? It was, like, dramatic. He gave her some super expensive necklace or something.”

“I didn’t see it, but I heard about it. Junhyeon hasn’t shut up about it. He thinks it’s hilarious.”

“If we’d done the CSAT breakup, would you have bought me a super expensive necklace?”

“We wouldn’t have, but I would’ve bought you the most expensive necklace ever. With Gyuvin’s money.”

“Aw, how romantic.”

It went quiet again, and you felt yourself fading quickly. The rhythmic up-and-down of Gunwook’s chest paired with the rain pitter-pattering against the window was putting you to sleep with ease, to the point where you could barely keep your eyes open.

And then a bright flash and near-immediate thunder awoke you instantly, causing you to flinch hard. Gunwook laughed at you instantly, causing you to feel embarrassed.

“Oh, is someone afraid of thunder?”

“No,” you huffed, closing your eyes again. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Okay, whatever you say. But that jump was pretty intense. I almost thought you were convulsing, was scared that the test had killed you.”

“Fuck you.”

“Good night, [First]. Sleep well.”

Now aware that you were enduring a thunderstorm, the booming noise that came with the rain only added to your sleepiness. Within minutes, you were almost completely asleep, barely able to register when Gunwook laughed at something on his phone or shifted slightly.

“I love you,” he whispered, putting a single hand on your waist. With that, you were asleep and entirely dead to the world for the next few hours.

x. gossip

You didn’t like the way Youngeun was looking at you. She couldn’t keep secrets—it was obvious she knew something, but you couldn’t figure out what exactly she could know.

Yeseo, on the other hand, seemed completely fine, even if Youngeun kept giving her worried glances. She simply drank her juice, mixing her noodles around with seemingly no intent to actually eat them. It was silent at your table, the sun beating down on you as you sat outside the 7/11 you’d all agreed to go to after school that day.

“What is up with you two?” you finally asked, frustrated with whatever was happening. Youngeun winced and Yeseo put her drink down, balancing her chopsticks on top of her bowl of ramen. It was silent for a few moments, and you felt anxiety eating you up.

“There’s a rumor going around,” Youngeun blurted out, causing you to tilt your head. Yeseo crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.

“It’s not a big rumor. It’s small and contained, and it shouldn’t get much bigger, but we don’t want you to hear it from someone random, or to overhear it when you don’t mean to. We don’t think it’s true, but you deserve to know.”

“Okay, just tell me. I don’t need this huge build-up.”

“There’s a small group, and I mean small group, that think Yukyung and Gunwook are dating behind your back.”

You went quiet, feeling your heart drop into your stomach. Realistically, you knew it wasn’t true—from the way Gunwook talked to you to the way he looked at you, there was no possible way that this was true. The part of you that was borderline traumatized by her sudden switch up on you believed it in an instant, though.

“Do they have any proof?”

“Apparently, they see her talking to him a lot. I mean, she doesn’t hang out in your classroom often, ‘cause her new friends are in mine and Gunwook’s class. And, to be fair, they aren’t wrong, she does talk to him a lot, but he doesn’t like it. It wouldn’t shock me if she’s trying to get him to break up with you, but they’re not dating,” Youngeun said, suddenly sounding a lot angrier than she did before. “I’ve seen him shoot her down several times. But people take it the wrong way, I guess.”

“Long story short, don’t believe it, [First]. We both know it’s not true and if you start hearing it from other people, ignore it. Okay?”

Like the world was playing an awful, cruel joke on you, your phone started ringing, and one look confirmed your suspicions. You picked up, hearing Gunwook’s voice come through, clear as day. “Do you want to see a movie tomorrow?” he asked, skipping over the greeting. Intrusively, you thought, would he go with her, too? “I’ll pay. It’s a showing of a Ghibli movie that Yujin said was good.”

“Sure,” you said, feeling Youngeun’s and Yeseo’s eyes burning through you, as if to say don’t you dare overreact about this. “What time?”

You were going to overreact about it anyway, though. You couldn’t do this, at least not with Yukyung—or, at least the thought of her—breathing over your shoulder at every moment. She meant too much to you that your mind was racing through every single thought you’d had over the past few months.

She was your best friend, and you’re pretty sure that, before Gunwook came into the picture, you were in love with her. You spent hours upon hours with her, and now you spend hours looking through the old pictures that you refuse to delete. You’re stuck on her—not in love with her anymore, but yearning for a friendship you lost—and it’s getting in the way of your relationship, and your mind concludes that there’s one viable outcome.

And, now, you have an excuse to carry it out.

xi. her

You don’t have the time to knock on Gunwook’s door before he throws it open. He hugs you immediately, picking you up and spinning you around right there in his doorway, and, for a minute, your mind is clear of all the terrible things that you’ve been trapped with for the past month.

“We did it,” he cried out, putting you back down so he could see your face. “We did it! Oh my god, how could we not have done it? We were always going to get in.”

About twenty minutes ago, both you and Gunwook received an email from Seoul National University that you’d gotten in. After you’d cried for four hours over your good CSAT scores, you nearly passed out at this news, wondering in what world you had deserved this. And, among your caving-in mind over Gunwook and Yukyung, you’d immediately left your house and ran to Gunwook’s.

He cupped your face in his hands, planting a kiss on your lips in utter joy. You laughed, feeling immensely happy for the both of you.

You tripped over your feet as you walked into his house, kicking off your shoes and emerging into his living room. “I never thought this would happen,” you said, pacing around the room. Gunwook watched you from behind the couch, smiling. “I mean, for the last month, I’ve just—I haven’t caught a break. I’ve been miserable every waking moment and now I finally have something to be happy over. Can you believe that?”

You look at him, and you watch his smile drop. You backpedal over what you said, realizing that you’d let your little secret slip; since Youngeun and Yeseo had told you about the rumor, you’d done an excellent job at hiding your panic, acting like everything was fine when it wasn’t in the slightest.

“What do you mean you’ve been miserable?”

You stopped pacing, and the room went quiet. In an instant, you’d knocked the happiness out of the room and brought in everything you’d been avoiding. The breakup plan you’d thought of night after night flashed in your mind, along with Yeseo telling you that you were an idiot for even considering it.

“I don’t know where this came from,” he continued, his voice a bit tight. “But I was under the impression everything was okay. We took the test and you looked better—why wouldn’t you tell me you were miserable?”

You weren’t sure what to say. Your heart was beating out of your chest and you felt nauseated, no longer feeling the excitement of the college acceptance you’d yearned for since you were a kid. “It’s stupid,” you said, your voice small. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll get over it.”

“I don’t know if you understand how that sounds to me,” he said, and you were getting the idea that he also had an issue that he hadn’t been talking about, either. “But we’ve spent a lot of time together over the last month, and you saying that you’ve been miserable the entire time sounds a lot like you saying you were miserable being with me.”

“What? No, that’s not what I meant.” You shook your head, feeling mortified at the idea. “I promise, that’s not it. It has nothing to do with you.”

“Then why won't you tell me? I don’t think I’m entitled to hear anything from you that you don’t want to talk about, but when it’s been torturing you for months, [First], I feel like I deserve to know. Especially since it seems like Youngeun and Yeseo haven’t gotten any of the side effects.”

You bit your lip, closing your eyes. “You know Yukyung was my best friend, right?” Even saying it aloud made tears bunch into your eyes. For the first time since nearly a year ago, now, you were facing something you hadn’t even talked about with your mom. “Like, best friend. We’ve been—we were friends from our first year of middle school. She was my everything. And she threw it all away over—over you, and it’s been hard for me to stomach it.”

Gunwook rolled up his sleeves, leaning on the couch. “That happened in March,” he said, almost sounding frustrated. You knew it wasn’t directed at you, rather, he was probably angry that Yukyung had any say in your relationship even though you’d never even spoken about her.

“It killed me, Gunwook. I didn’t sleep well for a week. I mean, she was telling people things I told her in middle school, running around and painting a picture of me that I didn’t know she had.” You felt exasperated, unsure of how to convey what you needed to without sharing a secret you’d never shared with anyone. “It was hard for me. Even though I was happy about us, I couldn’t get over losing her like that with no warning. And then, I saw her talking to you at the fair, and then Yeseo and Youngeun told me about the rumors, and—”

“Rumors?” he interjected, furrowing his eyebrows. “What rumors?”

“People think you’re cheating on me,” you replied, crossing your arms over your chest. That seemed to confuse Gunwook, as he looked down, staring at the couch rather than looking at you. “It’s just hard, okay? It’s hard.”

“And you couldn’t have told me you felt like this? It didn’t cross your mind, even for a second, to just be honest?”

“Well why didn’t you tell me that she’s been talking to you at every chance she gets?” you rebutted. That caused him to wince, and you watched him realize that he couldn’t say much, either. “It’s not like we’re both innocent, here. So let’s get it over with. Now.”

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” Gunwook said, pushing off the couch and mirroring your stance. “Gyuvin brought it up during our second year before we knew each other. It didn’t cross my mind again until I saw you staring at her when I came in to give you your calculator back. And then—it’s been months and you haven’t said you loved me.”

Every muscle in your body tensed, and it, once again, occurred to you that you could never pull anything over on Gunwook.

“Are you in love with her?”

You gulped, your throat suddenly feeling drier than it ever had. “I was. A long time ago.”

It went silent again, and you wondered if he believed you. “I promise you it’s in the past. It was only during my first year and some of my second, but I got over it when she started dating Seungeon. And they lasted long enough for me to get over it, and we added Youngeun to the mix, so I was preoccupied. That’s in the past. But it doesn’t change that she threw out five years of our friendship without a second thought.”

He didn’t say anything for a couple of minutes, beginning to pace back and forth. You let him think, hoping that your defense was sound enough that he wouldn’t break things off then and there.

“Do you love me, [First]?”

Two months ago, Yeseo had asked if you’d said “I love you” yet. You’d, embarrassingly, had to share that Gunwook had but you hadn’t, which perplexed both of them. And, when they asked why, all you’d been able to tell them was that the last person you’d said “I love you” to was Yukyung, the night before Youngeun called you, telling you everything she’d heard.

“Yes,” you said, nodding. “I do. I love you.”

Right in front of you, Gunwook burst into tears, walking straight past the couch and enveloping you in his arms. “I thought you were going to break up with me for so long,” he choked out, squeezing you so hard you could barely breathe. “I was terrified the entire time, and I thought things got better after the exams, but I couldn’t shake the feeling. I was so scared, [First]. I love you so much that I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

“I love you too,” you said, although it was muffled. “I promise. And I didn’t love her as much as I love you.”

xii. graduation

You were realizing that your claim that you didn’t cry often was quickly becoming a lie. You were sitting on the floor of your room, holding your diploma to your chest while tears streamed from your eyes. Gunwook was staring at you with a mixture of amusement and worry as you rocked yourself back and forth.

“Youngeun is leaving me,” you said, hiccuping. “Both of them are. For Japan. I’m going to have to make new friends.”

“But you’ll still be able to talk? They won’t even be in a different timezone.”

“Okay, and?” you said, hiccuping. “It’s so far. I won’t be able to go to 7/11 with them anymore.”

“We can go to 7/11?”

“That’s different, you’re my boyfriend. 7/11 is a commitment when it’s with you.”

“What does that even mean?”

You let out another Earth-shattering sob, and you supposed that convinced Gunwook to come over and attempt to comfort you. “There, there,” he said sarcastically. “Japan is very far. And you’ll have to pay more to call them. I’m sorry.”

“At least try to sound a little serious!”

“Neither Junhyeon nor Gyuvin got into SNU.”

“Okay, but they’re still in Korea, so you’ll be fine. There’s no train to Tokyo here.”

Gunwook wrapped his arm around your shoulder, leaning his head on yours. “It’ll be okay. They’ll be here over breaks and you’ll get to see them then, right? And you always have the—wait, why don’t you have a picture of us framed?”

“Are you kidding me?”

“No, I’m serious,” he said, pointing to your dresser, which was right in front of you. On top were multiple framed pictures of the three of you, smiling, laughing, and doing other things. “What’s up with that? Am I less important than them?”

“Shut up.”

“No. I’m going to buy a disposable camera right now, and we’re going to take pictures so you can print and frame them.”

You rolled your eyes, wiping away your tears. “Okay. Whatever you say. Even though you’re my wallpaper, and you’re the only number pinned in my text messages, and you’re the only person who’s ever known the password to my phone.”

“You love me.”

“Not when you’re a greedy loser.”

“Aw, I love you, too.”

thank you for reading !

#cinna.zb1 #zb1 x reader #zerobaseone x reader #zb1 one shots #zb1 fluff #zb1 angst #zb1 scenarios #zb1 imagines #park gunwook x reader #gunwook x reader #gunwook scenarios #gunwook angst #gunwook fluff #gunwook imagine

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astaroth1357 · 1 year

Note

That 'Realistic' Summoning act was done very amazingly, it all seems like summoning them is something you should do when you're smart and at the very end of your rope.

Is it alright if we ask how things differ if MC summons them?

Or if a Witch has MC with them for the summoning? (Either as a Friend Way or they Kidnapped them, whatever you feel like you would want to talk about :3

And if not that's fine too!

It's always a joy reading your stuff! )

Ooooh, I like the way you think! 😌

Why MC Can't Have Witch Friends

Building off of my Summoning Headcanons here.

Contents: MC has "Main Character Syndrome" and is always the exception to the rule... most of the time. Very LONG post (because I didn't want to post like three then deal with requests for all of the rest. My inbox still scares me lol)

Scenario: While training in more advanced magic with Solomon, MC made a normal witch friend as a study buddy/fellow intern! Comedy ensures.

~♡♡♡~

MC Summoning Lucifer

*it's 2am on a Wednesday but MC and their witch buddy are just now leaving their alchemy laboratory after cramming for another one of Solomon's tests. Much to their dismay, they see it's raining outside, with water just pelting the pavement outside the windows*

Witch: Seriously?? This wasn’t in the forecast this morning!

MC: *glares at the droplet-coated glass then glances down at the books in their hands* You gotta be kidding...! If I get these tomes wet, Solomon'll kill me...

Witch: That's true, but I mean it's not that bad. I think I know a spell or two that could... Wait, what are you doing...?

*the MC looks away from the phone they were furiously texting on as their friend was speaking*

MC: Hm? Oh! I'm just seeing if anyone can bring me an umbrella.

Witch: You would make someone drive all the way out here just for that...? 🤨

MC: *blinks* Huh? Drive? Oh no, that's not necessary- *their phone dings and they wave it triumphantly* Ah! There we go!

*the MC slides their phone into their pocket before pulling out a stick of chalk from their summoning supplies. Their friend watches with confusion as they begin to draw a circle on the ground, but it quickly escalates to full-blown panic the more that gets filled in*

Witch: Oh. My. Word. What do you think you're doing!?!

*MC looks up from their half completed Pride sigil just in time to see their friend diving for cover behind a stairwell*

MC: W-whoa, whoa, what's wrong???

Witch: *points at the sigil* If that's going to summon who I think it is, then what the HELL is wrong with you?? Are you trying to get us killed?! You don't even have an offering!!

*the MC looks utterly mystified as their buddy struggles to at least find their purifying salts*

MC: What? Killed?? Oh no, I know what I'm doing! I've done this hundreds of times, see just watch!

Witch: WHAT-

*the MC completes the sigil and it starts to glow bright blue against the tile floor. They get back to their feet as their friend screams in terror but rather than the rage-filled beast of Pride bursting forth from the ground, a frankly tired-looking man in barely-wrinkled silk pajamas pops into existence holding out a red umbrella...*

Lucifer: *grouchily narrows his baggy eyes at MC as they take the umbrella from his grasp* Should I even have to tell you to be more careful next time...?

MC: *frowns right back and brushes some lint off of his shoulder* I dunno, should I have to tell you to go to bed before midnight?

Lucifer: MC, don't start pushing me today...

*even though it should sound like a warning, Lucifer's voice seems more exhausted than anything, which softens the MC's expression considerably*

MC: Oh, Lu....

*they pull the haggered demon into their arms. running their fingers through his hair and earning a small grunt of satisfaction from him as he melts into their touch*

MC: Thank you for the umbrella, but you didn't have to bring it if you're this tired... Go get some rest, okay?

*Lucifer only grunts again before placing a sleepy kiss on the side of their head. He grumbles out something along the lines of, "Keep safe," before disappearing in a puff of white smoke and black feathers. While the MC inspects their newly acquired umbrella, they hear the sound of their friend scrambling out from behind the stairs, practically tripping over themselves trying to get back to their feet*

Witch: What thE ACTUAL FUCK WAS THAT!?!

MC Summoning Mammon

*MC and their witchy pal are in the kitchen of their shared apartment looking over some old notebooks that Solomon gave them, most of them holding transcribed stories or old conversations with the Demon Brothers. One story in particular has been especially... perplexing to them for about ten minutes now*

Witch: "-and then the secondborn trembled before the mighty thirdborn's trident as he brought it low upon his..." *glances at MC*

Witch: "his, uh..." MC?

MC: *sitting there, staring at the notepage with pursed lips*

Witch: MC, is something wrong?

MC: Wha- *they pull their eyes away from the neatly penned words then force a quick smile* Oh, no no. It's nothing. It just... this account feels a little off is all.

Witch: Really? Didn't Solomon say that he got it from one of the Demon Lords himself...?

MC: Yeah but... You know, I think we should get a second opinion on this. *they start looking for their summoning tools to find their chalk once again* I'm going to bring out Mammon.

Witch: What?? You want to call upon Mammon right now?! *their hand instinctively goes down to guard their wallet* But we could barely afford takeout last night!! 😫

MC: *frowns at them in confusion yet again* Uh... I know that? Mammon will eat leftovers as long as we heat it up right.

Witch: *jaw drops with a pop* Th-at... That wasn't what I meant...! I mean, how the heck are you going to pay his "entrance fee" with just 20 bucks to our name??

MC: *eyes widen sharply* Oh. My. God. You're absolutely right...

Witch: Thank you! Now if you just put the bag down-

MC: I totally forgot about Mammon's gift!!

Witch: His... his what?

MC: His gift!

*MC opens their backpack digs in past the zipper. After a few seconds, they pull up a small, cutesy keychain made with black beads and a crow-shaped pendant*

MC: I found this little thing while we were thrift shopping downtown. Isn't it just the cutest??

Witch: *stares at the dinky little trinket in their hand with growing concern* 😟 U-uh... It's uhm... Uh-

MC: Look, I know what you're thinking-

Witch: -Do you really??-

MC: -but don't worry! *they lift up their phone to show a similarly styled chain hanging from the case, but white instead of black*

MC: They had a matching pair! I know he's going to love it. I'll get him out here in just a second.

*the MC gets up with their chalk while their witch friend watches them go, muttering dejectedly*

Witch: Please don't tell me that actually works for you... How in the world does that actually work for you?? 😰

MC Summoning Levi

Witch: DAMMIT!!

*the shout of their witchy pal reverberates off the drabe apartment walls, sending MC out of their bedroom to investigate shortly after*

MC: What? What's wrong??

*they come over just in time to see their friend toss a ruined cloak onto the couch. The poor garment looks like it's been torn to pieces by a pack of animals, though their friend appears miraculously unscathed*

Witch: I ran into some of Solomon's missing hellhounds on the way home and had to use my cloak as a diversion. Just look what those little hellions did to it!!

*as their pal begins to mourn their favorite accessory, MC takes a couple long looks at it before waving their hand dismissively*

MC: Hey, don't worry about it. I've got a guy just for this!

Witch: A "guy"...? You know a tailor?

MC: Er... Well not exactly. Whenever I need something sewn up, I just call Leviathan.

Witch: ......

Witch: The...

Witch: The Grand Admiral of Hell's Royal Navy...

Witch: ... sews your clothes...?

MC: *blinks then flushes a bit* W-well not all of my clothes... But, you know, if I need something mended he usually lends a hand...

Witch: I didn't even know he could sew...

MC: Well, Levi's actually very talented in a lot of things! I'll even show you, just, uh...

Witch: Just... what? 🤨

MC: Well he's is pretty shy, so let me do most of the talking... And try not to look at him for too long, but also don't actively avoid looking at him either. And I know it's going to be hard, but try to keep up if he gets on one of his tangents because it really means a lot to him when people listen... Oh, and-!

Witch: What are you, his therapist??

MC: *shrugs* Kinda. I'll go get the chalk.

MC Summoning Satan

*MC and their witchy pal are in an out of the way bookstore specifically for esoteric relics and forbidden magical collections. It's an amazing little place, but it's chock full of shelves upon shelves of impossible to decipher titles and mindbending illustrations that have left the two feeling hopelessly lost...*

Witch: This is taking forever... How the hell does Solomon expect us to find anything in here??

*they look down at the small list of books their less-than-prescient mentor asked for, most of which with titles like "Cgfthgnm'o'th" or "Ghatanothoa"*

Witch: I mean, is this an errand or a C-tier fetch quest...??

MC: Ugh!... I swear Solomon knows that I'm no good in these places... Let's see.

*MC sets their summoning supplies down on a nearby table to look for their chalk and, for once, their friend actually seems kind of relieved to have the short-cut...*

Witch: Are you calling for Lucifer again...?

MC: Hm? Oh no, I think I've heard Satan talk about this place before, so maybe-

Witch: 😳 Hold on. Do... you mean that Satan?? THE Satan???

MC: *blinks* Uh... Yeah? Is there another one or...?

Witch: "Is there another one?" Are you for real?? How do I look? Is this presentable?? Shit, is it true that he hates the color red?!

MC: Where did you...? I mean, he likes green, I guess but I don't see-

Witch: WAIT, don't bring him out yet, we need a cat!! I think the café down the street attracts a few strays. I'll go grab one and come right back!!

MC: *holds up their hands to try and keep their friend from running past them* Hold on, we don't need any of that! What has gotten-??

*the MC yelps as the witch grabs them by the front of their shirt and grips the fabric tight, a burning look of determination setting their eyes ablaze*

Witch: MC, DO NOT ruin this for me!! Do you have any idea how well-connected that guy is? How many covens would kill just have someone around who's on his good side?? If this is the first impression I'm going to make, it's going to be a damn good one!

*they let the MC go only to snatch their summoning bag from the table beside them and stuff it under their arm*

Witch: I'll be taking this and you stay right here! I'll bring everything back after I go change into something green and find a spare cat!!

*as they watch their pal sprint out the door with what was effectively their only means of physical communication with the boys, the MC takes a seat at a dusty table and rests their elbows on the surface*

MC: I guess Solomon is getting those books a little late now... 😕

MC Summoning Asmo

MC: Ow!!

*the MC and their witch friend have JUST finished washing up Solomon's experiment beakers and half-eaten plates from his lab, the latter of which look so disgusting you could mistake them for old petri dishes. As the MC dries off the last glass and goes to slide it in place, they miscalculate their finger position and jam their nail right into a stack of ceramic plates*

*they pull their hand back out and they're previously trimmed nail is now broken into a sharp, jagged mess...*

MC: Oh dammit...! I just broke a nail...

*while they inspect the damage, their buddy slides next to them to look at it over their shoulder*

Witch: Huh...

Witch: Let me guess, you're going to call on ASMODEUS HIMSELF to fix it, aren't you? 🙄

MC: What?? No, of course not! I have my own kit for this, thank you very much. 😠

*their friend's eyebrows raise, almost like their impressed that MC is showing at least a modicum of self-restraint*

Witch: Well, well. I didn't think you woul-

MC: Though it IS almost time for him to give me my bi-monthly skin detox treatment so... 🤔

Witch: Are you kidding me??? 🤬

MC Summoning Beel

*the MC and their witching buddy FINALLY have a day off from Solomon's constant pestering lessons. While they discuss their upcoming plans, the news of a big human world fair in the area comes up. Though their friend seems less than impressed, MC immediately latches onto the idea for uh... reasons.*

MC: Okay, okay, I know this how this is gonna sound, buuuut we should invite Beelzebub to go to the fair with us!! 😁

Witch: ....

MC: 😀 .... So, yeah? Is that a yes?

Witch: .... MC. I swear, even you have to know why that's a bad idea... No mortal event is ever going be stocked enough to keep him from eating us-

MC: *GASP* WHAT??

MC: Beel? Eat US?? In a place with that many vendors, that'll be so unlikely. I'm sure we'll be safe!

Witch: Annnnd I just noticed that you left out the part where you're supposed to say, "Oh, he would never do that" to reassure me....

MC: Oh come on, I'm positive that he wouldn’t want to eat us, at least. He's a big softy and he really tries to keep himself in check...

Witch: I fail to see how that makes things any better...

MC: It will. Trust me. Look, Lucifer can send me enough pocket money to keep Beel fed while we're there. Pleeease, just give it a try...!

MC: I've been telling him about cotton candy and funnel cakes for years! He'll be so excited to come with so pleeeaaaase? 🥺

Witch: I think I'm starting to see why they keep caving in to you so quickly.... 😑

MC Summoning Belphie

*it's been several long nights in the shared apartment as MC and their witchy pal have been cramming for another one of Solomon's infamous tests... Despite having the test in the morning, both have long let time get away from them and neither were particularly well-rested to start with...*

MC: Shit, it's almost 2 again...

Witch: Seriously...? *checks the closest clock then snaps their book shut* Great... I think know a restorative spell or two, but there's not a lot of time to... *they stop as they see a sleepy MC reaching for their goddamn chalk again*

Witch: ... Uh, MC?

MC: Mmm...? *they blink their drooping eyes and yawn* O-oh, sorry... uh. Don’t worry about me... I got a guy for this too...

Witch: *frowns* You've got a...?

Witch: 😳 ... No... No, you can't be serious... You are NOT thinking of who I'm thinking of right now, right? Right??

MC: *rubs their eyes* Eh? Um... no? Maybe?

Witch: Do NOT summon Belphegor! No one ever summons Belphegor!! Especially to go to sleep at night!!

MC: Huh...? 😕 Why not? Isn't sleep what he's good at...?

Witch: Yeah sure, if you're looking to never wake up again! Drink some sleepy time tea or something, but keep Belphegor out if it! You're going to get yourself killed!!

MC: What do you...? *they blink then, suddenly, it actually seems to piece together for them for once* Oh. Oh! You must mean that Belphegor...

MC: Don't worry, he promised to never kill me again, so I'm safe.

Witch: That's not the-wait did you just say "again?"

MC: I'm going to bed now. Goodnight...

*the MC gets up and starts back towards their room without answering the question and their roommate calls after them*

Witch: Don't bring him or I'm taking selfies at your funeral, you hear??

~The Next Morning~

*their witch friend steps out into the kitchen, completely drained after having some AWFUL dreams the night before, just to see a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed MC in the middle of making breakfast. Their newly refreshed look is so radiant that they're practically glowing with health*

MC: Good morning~!! Would you like some pancakes? 😊

Witch: ..... I'm trying so hard not to hate you right now.....

MC: H-huh? Why?? 😨

MC Summoning Diavolo??

Witch: So... Could you do it?

*MC and their witch buddy are sitting on the floor of their living room with MC's summoning equipment in front of them. Both of them have their arms crossed as they run through their hypothetical*

MC: I mean, maybe I could... But I dunno. I not even sure where to start...

Witch: MC. You are probably the most successful summoner I've ever seen. I say just go with your gut.

MC: Oh? My gut, huh...? 🤔

*after some quiet reflection, MC grabs their chalk and begins to sketch out a new circle, making it a much larger one than all the rest*

MC: Let's see... we'd need a sigil so.

*they swipe in three long slash marks, then fill them out until look like taloned legs, humming as they go*

Witch: *frowns* Uh... MC? Isn't that just the corporate logo for the Three-Legged Crow?

MC: Yep! I figured since Dia owns the place, it should probably work. 😁

Witch: *blinks furiously* Wait, he owns what-

MC: Forget I said that. Anyway. Now we need the offering! Uhhhmm... *they tap their chin before breaking into an excited grin*

MC: I'll go get some McDonald's!

Witch: What???

MC: Dia loves human world fast food when he can have it, so that ought to work! *they start to gather their things to go out, but stop just before the door*

MC: Oh! While I'm gone, look around my room for my copy of Dark Persona 4! Levi says he's been getting into that series a lot.

Witch: He plays video games too???

MC: Only when he can! Just trust me, I'll be right back! 😁

~Twenty minutes and three orders of cheeseburgers later~

MC: Okay! Almost ready!

*they take a proud step back from their work of ritualistically arranging cheeseburgers, french fries, and ketchup packets on the makeshift summoning circle and... it sure is something. Just as their witch friend is starting to lose all hope that this idea could ever hold water, the MC goes on to add the final touch by plopping the Devil Station game right in the middle of it all. They take one BIG step back and....*

*...nothing happens*

Witch: .... Huh. Well. I guess there's stuff even you can't do-

*the markings on the ground suddenly radiate a light brighter than the sun that gets snuffed out by the growing shadows in the room. It's as if every ounce of darkness surrounding them is attempting to funnel its way towards circle's center, swirling in place like an inky black portal to the hellish depths below. Just as the MC and their friend dive behind their couch for protection, the darkness suddenly dissipates and everything, surprisingly, returns to normal*

Witch: *shakily looks at the wrecked room from behind the couch cushions, pale as could be* ... Wh-wha... what... the fuuu...

*MC's phone starts going off, startling them both, but they pick it up anyway*

MC: H-ello...? O-oh Dia!!

MC: No, no I'm fine there isn't any emergency!...

MC: No, please stay put!! I was just messing around with a friend, but I'll be way more careful going forward!

MC: .... And what would Barbs say?

MC: .... Yeah, I didn't think so, but I'll come back to see you soon, okay?

Witch: *springs to their feet reaching PEAK frustration with it all*

Witch: SERIOUSLY, WHAT EVEN ARE YOU?!?

MC Summoning... Barbatos...?

Witch: MC. This is an emergency.

MC: Yeah but-

Witch: He'll be here any minute. We're screwed!!

MC: Maybe it won't be so bad-!

Witch: I saw him buying JELLYFISH yesterday, MC! JELLYFISH!!!

MC: ..... 😨 What if we disconnect the stove???

Witch: MC!!!

*their friend pulls out their own summoning chalk and shoves it into MC's hands, clasping them closed in a desperate plea for help*

Witch: We have to some kind of meal plan in place or Solomon is going to make us dinner tonight. You know and I know that there's only ONE person who can keep him out of the kitchen at this point. MC, you have to summon Barbatos!!

MC: B-but...! But-!!

*their friend doesn't wait for them to finish before pulling them down onto the ground and making enough room for them to start drawing*

Witch: THERE'S NO TIME!! Do it, MC!! Do it!!

*they lean back to watch as the MC rests th summoning chalk on the ground, but rather than drawing their hand remains perfectly still...*

Witch: MC? What are you waiting for??

*their friend leans over to get a good look at their face, and they see that the MC's forehead is already glistening with beads of sweat... Their hand goes from still, to trembling slightly when they attempt to make their first stroke... only for their grip to snap the chalk in half completely. The MC stares quietly at their hand for a few moments, before setting everything down and pulling out their cellphone instead*

MC: Y-you know, I think I'm just going to call him.... 😥

*as their witch friend watches the being who hugged Lucifer, tamed Belphegor, and (unofficially) summoned the Demon Prince himself, chicken out of summoning this one last demon they know, a single question burns deep down in the pit of their stomach*

"Just how scary is that butler...???" 😰

1K notes · View notes

joelswritingmistress · 4 months

Text

You Scare Me, Professor: Chapter 29

Summary: The reader is taking graduate classes at a local university in the wooded upstate New York. She is drawn to her professor, Dr. Joel Miller, though she is also inherently aware that he has something dark about him that she can't quite put her finger on. As the reader's attraction grows deeper, she has to decide whether to endure the danger or run away as fast as possible.

Pairing: Professor Joel Miller x f!reader

Tori and I met up on my lunch break the following afternoon. I filled her in about the mishap with James the night before and she visibly cringed.

“Ouch.” She made a face. “That was a bold way to shoot his shot.”

“I felt so bad,” I admitted, “I still feel bad.” I twirled a French fry in ketchup and popped it into my mouth.

“Did you tell Joel?”

I nodded. “The night before I had gotten a card that was left on my car with no name. I thought it was this creepy guy Trevor from class.”

“Who’s creepy Trevor?”

“He's just this brown noser type of guy. I saw him lurking behind the building one night when I left and then he, like, popped out of the library stacks at me out of the blue.”

“Red flag, red flag.” Tori made invisible check marks in the air with her finger. “What if he's the lady killer?” That's what the papers and news outlets had branded the person responsible for the two dead women.

“Lately, I think everyone is the lady killer.” I huffed a laugh and shook my head. I changed the subject. “Are you and Derek doing anything for Valentine's Day tonight?”

“We’re going to see an early movie and then going out for cocktails and some apps.”

“Sounds fun.”

“Where’s Mr. Gold Coins taking you?” She asked with a laugh as she forked a bite of chicken from her salad, “Paris?”

I laughed. “We’re going to a place called Lake Kora.”

“Where's that?”

I shrugged and reached for the second half of my turkey wrap and took a hearty bite.

“You didn't Google it?”

I shook my head and continued to chew.

“Do I have to teach you everything?” Tori eyed me and began typing away on her phone. “How do you spell it?”

“L-a-k-e,” I began, smirking at her as she flicked my hand.

“Smartass, I know how to spell ‘lake'. What about the second part?”

“K-o-r-a.”

Tori eyed her tiny screen and began flicking her finger until she seemed satisfied. “Hmm..”

“What?” I arched my neck and she turned her phone part way.

“Looks nice.” She scrolled through photos. “Is he going to put, like, rose petals all over the bed? Feed you chocolate covered strawberries?”

I nearly spit the bite of my sandwich out and the two of us began laughing, drawing looks from other customers in the little sandwich shop.

“Sorry,” Tori whispered with a hand up, still chuckling as she took a sip of her iced tea to compose herself.

“Maybe we can double date some time soon,” I suggested.

“I gotta get a feel for this guy,” she nodded in agreement and poked around through her lettuce in search of a crouton. “What's going on next weekend?”

“His sister is getting married. We’re going to Vermont for the long weekend.”

Tori raised her eyebrows. “Wow.”

I nodded. “I was nervous to go but I met her recently and we hit it off, so..” I shrugged.

My friend pointed her fork in my direction. “If this guy ends up breaking your heart, I'll break his neck.” Tori paused, “Well, I’ll get someone to do it because I probably wouldn't be able to.”

I have a closed-mouth smile. “I hope this is all what it seems; because I'm totally caught up.”

“I know you are.” She nodded, “I've never seen you like this.”

“I know.” I ate another French fry and sipped on my Diet Dr. Pepper. “It's a little scary.”

Tori gave a genuine smile. “I guess life should be about taking chances.. and following your heart.” She raised her styrofoam cup, “To the next step?”

I tapped my cup against hers. “To the next step.”

The ride to ‘up-upstate’ with Dr. Miller late that afternoon had me excited for the weekend ahead. We took the truck, loaded up with snacks and even stopped at a little hockey store to purchase two pairs of ice skates. I couldn’t wait to go ice skating. It had been so long since I’d been but I was sure I’d pick it up again - like second nature.

“Want a coffee?” Dr. Miller motioned to a little shop beside the hockey store, “Or hot chocolate?” He grinned and took my hand when I nodded. We wandered into the shop and the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans hit me like a wave.

My eyes scanned a chalkboard with an endless array of choices. There were your typical French Vanilla flavors and Hazelnuts. And then the list trickled down to pistachio, white chocolate almond, blueberry and peppermint mocha.

“I’ll do a medium black coffee with a shot of espresso,” Dr. Miller ordered. “And a package of the chocolate covered espresso beans.”

When I spotted a banana mocha chocolate espresso, I was sold. Half hot chocolate, half coffee with the sweetness of the banana. Sign me up.

Dr. Miller smiled at me and gently squeezed the back of my neck as I ordered. I leaned into him and our hands found one another’s again after getting our orders and walking out.

“I can’t wait to get up there,” I told him when we got back in the car. I sipped my drink after giving the entrance to the cup a gentle blow and then set it in the cup holder. When Dr. Miller reached for my hand again, I squeezed his. I loved how he had to touch me at all times - whether holding my hand, squeezing my neck, or resting a hand on my knee as he drove.

He popped open the little bag of espresso beans and then reached over, prepared to place one in mouth.

I accepted, purposely sucking the pad of thumb for an extra second and Dr. Miller smiled at me. I almost giggled, thinking about Tori’s comment about the chocolate covered strawberries but I just grinned and looked out the window, relinking my hand with his.

Honestly, I didn't want the car ride to end. Until it did, and the A-frame lake house we would be staying in came into view.

Okay, I'm ready for the car ride to end.

The frozen lake stretched out, what looked like, for miles as he pulled down the long, rocky driveway.

Dr. Miller pulled the truck up beside the house and I got a glimpse of a hot tub on the front deck. He turned to glance at me and I couldn't help but smile.

“Come on.” He nodded his head toward the cabin and opened his door.

I eagerly trailed him up to the rental property. Neither of us bothered to grab our belongings yet. The sting of the cold weather felt refreshing on my cheeks on the short walk to the front door.

Dr. Miller punched a code into a little black box beside the door and a silver key popped out as the front of it opened.

“Do you own this house, too?” I had to ask, but he smiled and shook his head.

“I know as much about it as you do.” He slipped the key into the lock and opened the door, pulling me inside by the hand as he flipped on the main lights. It was like something from Pinterest or “hashtag cabin” on any number of social media outlets.

An oversized television sat above a stone fireplace to the right. A small collection of couches and chairs faced it, only split up by a shag throw rug. Above it hung a giant rustic chandelier. Overlooking the living room area was a loft that was accessible by a winding staircase and beneath the loft, straight ahead, was a cozy, modern kitchen with low ceilings.

“What do you think?” Dr. Miller put his hands on my shoulders from behind, and I reached up and placed one hand over his.

“I think we should stay here for a week.”

“Or two,” he added.

“Or two.” I nodded in agreement and looked over my shoulder at him. “Thank you. This is amazing.. again.”

“Let's get our bags.”

I followed him back to the car and he carried as much as he could, leaving me with just the ice skates that I set down on the couch in the living room area. We unloaded the little bit of food we’d brought up for the short stay and then towed the suitcases up the windy stairs to the lofty bedroom.

“Feel like some dusk ice skating?” Dr. Miller asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

“Is it safe?”

“I've been checking the weather all week,” he explained, “It's been in the teens and twenties.” Dr. Miller nodded, “There were some people out there when we drove up. Should be frozen solid.”

“Well, then, I can't wait.” My hands fell down into his and I bent at the hip to kiss him firmly on the lips. When I slowly dropped to my knees in front of him, working at the buckle of his belt, Dr. Miller looked down at me with a half, closed-mouth grin.

He sighed and arched his hips so I could shove his pants down to his ankles before closing his eyes as he stood back up. “Alright,” he agreed with a second deep breath.

“Unless you want to get right out onto the ice..” I teased.

Dr. Miller opened his eyes again and looked down at me. “It'll still be there in five minutes.”

“Five?” My hand wrapped around him now and I took him partway into my mouth. I guessed longer.

He groaned and smiled with his eyes closed. “Maybe three.”

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER

@untamedheart81 @suttonspuds @cesspitoflove @michilandcof @grogusmum @morallyinept @akah565 @brittmb115 @magpiepills @poodlebae @gobaaby-blog-blog @mermaidgirl30 @mandijo17 @shotgun-shelby @itscatrodriguez-thepearl @macaroni676 @acciowolfstar1 @smolbeanzzz @sarcasm-theotherwhitemeat @bandluvr97

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fetusgooseandjuice · 1 year

Text

I’ll Always Find You

Pairings: Shuri Udaku x fem!reader

Summary: When your girlfriend is sent on a mission that turns out to be a set up, her enemies take the opportunity to abduct you for your talents.

Word Count: 4,131

Your POV:

"Do you have everything you need?" I asked.

"Uh I think so." Shuri replied a little uncertain as she finished getting ready.

The Dora Milaje had just given Shuri notice of a new threat on the outskirts of Wakanda, and now she was suiting up to go take care of it. The Jabari Tribe was currently at war with other tribes, and Nakia was going with Shuri, so I was going to be alone in the palace.

Shuri was hesitant on leaving me by myself, but I insisted she went. She also didn't really have a choice, as it was her duty. But, I didn't mind being alone because it gave me some time to work on the new suits I was making for the Dora Milaje.

I handed the almost forgotten kimoyo beads to her, "And this is why you have me." I teased.

"Ah thank you, baby." she said, putting the kimoyo beads on her wrist as I hummed. She put one hand on the back of my neck, and the other on my waist, pulling me closer to her body so she could lean down to gently kiss me.

I held onto both of her arms as we got lost in each other, completely forgetting about the mission that needed to be taken care of. That was until someone entered the lab.

"Alright you two, calm yourselves. Shuri, we've got places to be. You'll see your baby later." Okoye joked, making her way into the room.

We pulled away and turned our heads. "Must you alway do this." Shuri sighed, playfully annoyed.

"Hey, I was just coming to let you know that the Talon Fighter was ready whenever you are." she put her hands up, defending herself.

"Okay, okay thank you. I'll be right there just go away." she said trying to hide a smile, but failing miserably.

Okoye raised her eyebrow while walking away with a smirk on her face. Shuri sighed and looked back down at me.

"You sure you're gonna be okay here by yourself for a few hours?" she asked softly.

"Yeah I'll be fine don't worry. Those suits are probably gonna keep my occupied most of the time anyways." I smiled up at her.

"Alright, well you have your kimoyo beads right? If you need anything you can always tell me or even get Griot to contact me." her protective nature over me was making itself known.

"Yes Shuri, I have them. Now get going everyone's probably waiting on you." I urged her.

"I'm going, Im going- wait one more kiss." she pleaded and I playfully rolled my eyes as she gave me a deep, passionate kiss.

"I love you." she whispered when we pulled away.

"I love you too. Promise me you'll come back to me in one piece." I made her give me her word.

"I Promise. I always do, my love." she smiled and gave me one last peck before turning and walking out of the room.

I sighed and made my way over to the table I was originally working at before Shuri came to inform me of the situation. I sat down in the chair and picked up my pencil, beginning to sketch out my next step.

~~~

The sun was now almost completely set as I finished my drawing. Admiring my work, I wanted to make a few changes to some parts of it, but I decided to get a snack before I start that because it must've been a while since I last ate considering my growling stomach.

"Hey Griot, what time is it?" I asked the AI.

"It is currently 6:26 Miss Y/L/N."

"I'll take a quick break and then get back to work." I thought to myself.

I exited the lab and made my way into the kitchen, grabbing a bag of chips and water. I sat down to eat and scroll through my phone. I got bored about 15 minutes later, but when an idea for the suits popped into my head, I cleaned up my mess and made my way back into the lab.

I sat back down and began erasing and redrawing the parts I had wanted to change. I was deep in thought until I heard a loud thud. Confused, I looked up and my eyes scanned around the room. No one should be in here since everyone was out.

When I didn't see anyone in the room, I pushed my chair back and stood up, slowly walking towards the lab exit. Peeking my head out, I looked to my left and then the right, but saw no one. I fully exited the lab and started walking down one of the hallways.

As I went to turn a corner, I felt someone grab me from behind. I didn't get a chance to scream because they quickly held a cloth over my mouth and nose. I struggled to get out of their grip until I felt myself getting weaker, eventually passing out.

~~~

Shuri's POV:

We were currently in a fight with the trespassers. They weren't that skilled in battle, there was just a lot of them. I came face to face with the leader of them when they began to speak.

"How's that girl of yours doing, hm?" they suddenly asked.

"That girl- Y/N?" I was confused as to how they knew about her and why they brought her up.

"Is that her name? That information was never really at the top of my priority list while trying to locate her." they said.

"Locate her? What are you talking about? Why are you looking for Y/N?" I questioned angrily. I was getting impatient and concerned about my girl.

"That you don't need to worry about. I would worry about the fact that we're no longer looking for her because we've already got her. Please know that this little fight was never a personal thing, we just needed you out of the way." they smirked before retreating along with the rest of their group, leaving me stunned and speechless.

All of the information that was just given to me was now processing. They needed me out of the way so they could get to Y/N? This was all a set up? It was all clicking.

"Okoye, Nakia, Aneka, I need you to get back to the aircraft right now." I spoke to them using my kimoyo beads.

Quickly making my way back to the aircraft, I ran inside and they were already there waiting for me.

"What happened? Why did they all just flee like that?" Okoye questioned.

I set the Fighter in autopilot to take us home while I explained everything to them.

"I-it was a trap. A set up. We need to get back to Y/N because the leader of that group said s-something about how they just needed us out of the way so they could get to Y/N." I quickly explained and stuttered along the way because I was getting really anxious.

"Wait so they have Y/N?" Nakia spoke up.

"I think so and we don't even know anything about these people or how they managed to get into the palace undetected." I said.

"Okay let's think about this for a minute. Shouldn't you be able to track her kimoyo beads?" Okoye suggested.

"I was already working on doing that, but it's saying that they're still at the palace, and I have no way to tell if she really is there because the security cameras were deactivated." I sighed, feeling defeated

"Okay then when we get back we'll be able to take a closer look. See if there's anything to help us. And there is a possibility that she's still there and this was all just some sick attempt at scaring us, right?" Aneka added.

"Yeah it'll be alright." Okoye reassured, putting a hand on my shoulder.

~~~

When we arrived home, I barely gave the doors time to open before I darted out of aircraft, and inside the palace.

"Y/N?! Y/N are you here?!" I was running down all of the hallways trying to find anything. I paused when I saw something lying on the floor. I walked closer to the object to get a better look and picked it up. Her kimoyo beads.

"She's not here. We checked the other side of the palace." Okoye said as we all ended up in the same hallway.

I sighed and turned around, pacing, trying to figure out what to do next.

"I'll try to get the Griot up and running again to see if he has any information. Can you just check outside to see if there's anything?" I pleaded to them.

"Aneka and I will. Okoye, you stay with Shuri and keep her company." Nakia asked and Okoye nodded before they left to go look outside.

I made my way back into the lab and started working.

"I can't believe the last time I saw her was just a few hours ago." I said quietly and Okoye just let me talk.

"I promised her I'd come back to her, but I was too late. I should've known." I shook my head.

"Shuri, you couldn't have predicted that. I mean they tricked all of us, it wasn't just you. You can't blame yourself, and I don't think Y/N will blame you either when we find her." Okoye said.

"Yeah well I'm the one who left her alone. My gut was telling me not to and I didn't listen. I left her." I whispered the last part.

"It's not your fault. You went to go protect your country, and the threat wasn't what any of us expected." she was trying to convince me that I couldn't have known any better.

"I went to go protect my country when in reality I should've been here protecting her." I said blankly.

She didn't get a chance to respond because there was a loud beep as I had finally succeeded in activating Griot once again. I pumped my fists in victory. We haven't found Y/N yet, but this is a start.

"Griot, do you have any security footage stored in your database from the last 4 hours?" I asked hopefully.

"It appears that I do. I was not deactivated until minutes after the incident. I will now project the footage for you." he said and I silently thanked my ancestors.

He showed us the video and Okoye stood up next to me to watch it too.

I saw Y/N working at her desk when there was a noise that got her attention. She got up and walked out of the lab very cautiously. I observed a figure dressed in all black grasp her from behind and roughly place a cloth over her face. I watched with tears in my eyes as she tried to fight back, but was unsuccessful when she passed out. They must've had some type of sedative in the cloth that caused her to go unconscious. I felt anger wash over me when they slipped her kimoyo heads off of her wrist and onto the floor, carrying her out of the video frame.

"Griot turn it off." I demanded, finding it hard to watch, and it disappeared.

Now that I had a clear video of the person, I should be able to identify them and then find a location. Wherever they are, Y/N had to be there too.

It didn't take me very long to find coordinates. Only about 20 minutes. I had Okoye notify Aneka and Nakia and tell them I needed them to come too. We boarded the Fighter and took off.

~~~

Your POV:

My eyes slowly fluttered open as I regained consciousness. I used my arms to push me to sit up, and took in my surroundings. I was on the floor in a dark room. When my eyes adjusted to the lighting, I noticed that it was a cell made up of glass walls.

My head turned at the sound of a beep and a door opening, three people walked in. Two of them appearing to be guards.

"Y/N! I see you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" a tall man asked me.

I just stared at him. He was crazy for thinking that I was going to talk to him after he quite literally kidnapped me.

"Silent treatment. I see. Well I don't plan on causing you any harm. I just heard you were one of the finest technical designers in Wakanda and I just had to have you complete a small little project for me." he said way too enthusiastically, leaning against a wall.

"I couldn't even think about taking Shuri because well, she's clearly proved her ability to put up a fight, and it would just be too difficult. But you'll do just fine, won't you?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"I'm not making anything for you. You must be out of your mind if you ever thought I would." I muttered.

"Thought you might say that." he looked down and sighed.

He opened the door to the room I was in and closed it, slowly stalking towards me and bending down to my level as I was still on the ground.

"You see I was trying to be nice at first, but it seems like you don't wanna reciprocate, and i've run out of patience. I know I said I wasn't planning on causing you any harm, but i'll fit that into my schedule if it comes down to that." he said sternly, only a few inches away from my face.

I broke eye contact with him and looked anywhere that wasn't towards him, responding with silence. That must've set him off because he then harshly backhanded me, the silver rings on his fingers bound to make bruises appear on my cheek sooner or later.

He roughly grabbed my chin and forced me to look at him, "I gave you a chance and you refused to take it. Now we'll just have to see how long it’ll take you to comply the hard way." he was stone-faced as he turned to walk out the door, the two other men following behind.

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding, and let my upper body fall into the glass so I was sitting propped up against the wall.

Shuri's basically the smartest person in the world. She would've had to have noticed something was wrong, right?

~~~

Shuri's POV:

"Right so you guys all understand what is expected of you, correct?" I just finished going over the game plan with them as we approached the building.

"Yes, your highness." Nakia responded while Aneka and Okoye nodded their heads.

"Stay on your feet and please, be smart. We can’t risk anything because we're not leaving without Y/N." I said looking between the three of them as they nodded.

We went off our separate ways and discreetly entered the building. It was quiet empty considering the fact that they're holding someone here against their will. I opened every door and searched inside, feeling disappointed when Y/N was never in any of the rooms.

I came across another door. I opened it and saw that it led to a basement. As I made my way down the stairs I was automatically met with two men who instantly attacked me.

Like the people we fought earlier, they weren't very skilled, so I took them out easily since there were only a couple of them.

When they were unconscious, I continued my walk towards the end of the hallway and came across a double door. I tried to open it, but it was locked. Looking around, I saw that the door needed a keycard in order to be unlocked.

I ran back down the hallway to the bottom of the stairs and started to look in the pockets of the guards lying on the floor. I came up empty handed after searching the first one, but the second one had a keycard in their pocket.

Grabbing the card and running back, I hoped that it would unlock the door, and it miraculously did. When I opened the door, my heart broke at the sight of my love sitting on the floor of such a tiny, dark space.

"Oh my god Y/N?!" I loudly whispered, disabling my mask with my kimoyo beads, and her head perked up.

"Shuri!" she said and stood up to scurry over to the front of the small room she was in. I darted over to the glass wall that was separating us and my eyes scanned her body for injuries. I noticed a bruise forming under her eye.

"Are you okay? Did they do that to you? I swear i'm gonna-"she interrupted me.

"I'm okay, i'm okay I promise." she reassured me with a small smile on her face.

I saw the door to the room she was in and I tugged on the handled, but it was obviously locked. I thought for a second before an idea popped into my head.

"I'm gonna get you out, okay? Just sit down in the corner back there and cover your face." she did as I told her.

I stepped back to gain momentum in my punch, trying to break the glass. It only took three hits for it to shatter and I sprinted towards her, kneeling down in front of her, gently moving her hands away from her face.

"Are you hurt anywhere else, darling? Is it just that bruise? What else did they do to you?" I frantically asked, turning her head to check her neck, and I started to lift up her shirt to check her torso before she stopped me.

"I'm fine, Shuri. It was just that bruise. I'm okay." she softly told me as I carefully cupped her cheeks, stroking my thumb under the mark so I didn't hurt her.

"Okay well we need to leave now. I'm sure they've already noticed we're here and I've got to get you out of this place.” I said and started to help her stand up until someone else starting speaking.

"Aw wasn't that just adorable." a voice said.

I quickly spun around getting into fighting stance, ready to defend my girl, but relaxed when I saw Okoye, Nakia, and Aneka standing in the doorway.

"You can't just sneak up on me like that. I could've hurt you guys." I jokingly lectured them.

"You? Hurt me? Ha, you're funny." Okoye snickered.

"Uh what she means to say is that we dealt with big boss man for you." Aneka interrupted.

"Big boss man. Really?" I raised my eyebrows.

"How was I supposed to know his name?" she explained herself.

I shook my head with a small laugh, "Thanks guys. I owe you for this."

"Just doing our job, you highness." Aneka nodded at me.

"You guys can head to the aircraft. We'll meet you there." I told them before they disappeared out of sight.

I turned around and saw Y/N standing up.

"Hey, no walking for you, princess." I frowned.

"Shuri I said I'm okay, my legs are working perfectly fine." she tried to reason with me but I shook my head, picking her up off of her feet bridal style and stepping over the glass to walk out of the building.

As I entered the aircraft, I put Y/N down on a table and pulled a chair up in front of her for me to sit in. I asked Nakia to get me the first aid kit so I could treat the bruise on her face.

"So we saw how it happened. You know, how they got you out of the palace. But, we don't know why they were looking for you specifically. Did they say anything to you while you were there?" I was trying to understand why this all happened to her.

"Yeah um. They wanted me to make something for them. I guess they found out about the technology I designed for Wakanda, and they needed me to make something for them. Said they didn't want to take you because it would be too complicated." she explained.

I nodded my head connecting all of the dots with the information that I knew. Nakia came back with the first aid kit and handed it to me, I thanked her.

"How did you know that I was gone?" she asked.

I sighed and stood up between her legs, opening the box and pulling out the things I needed, "The man who took you was the leader of the group that we were in combat with earlier today. They needed all of our best defenders out of the picture to get to you, so they set us up. It was all a trick." I told her as I began treating the cut on her bruise.

Y/N was a very observant person and she could read me like a book. That's why she could tell how guilty I was feeling despite me trying to mask it.

"Don't tell me you think this is your fault, Shuri." she said.

"I can't help but think it is. You needed me and I wasn't there. Plain and simple." I shook my head at myself.

"Shuri, you couldn't have known. I didn't know. No one knew. So don't beat yourself up over this." she whispered.

I sighed and put down the cotton swab I was working with, "I know, I'm sorry. I just feel like I should've been there for you." I put my hand on the side her her jaw and stroked my thumb over her cheek. I tend to do that a lot because I know she finds it comforting.

"Well you found me. You're here now." she said, trying to find the positives in this situation like she always does. I admire that about her.

"I'll always find you, love." I softly told her. She gave me that sweet smile of hers and I couldn't help but smile too. Craving the feel of her lips against mine was an understatement. The last time I got to feel them was before I left and I needed to kiss those lips.

"I love you, sweet girl." I said staring into her eyes.

"I love you, too." she whispered.

I moved my hand to her chin and tilted her head up, giving her slow and soft kisses while my other hand fell onto her thigh. I could feel her relax under my touch as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

We continued like this for a couple minutes until footsteps caught Y/N's attention. I wasn't aware of them yet, so when she tried to break the kiss I just pulled her closer.

"Baby-" she managed to get out in between kisses, pushing on my chest and I stopped.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?" I asked, worried that I did something wrong. I followed her eyes to see what she was looking at.

"I leave for 5 minutes and you can't keep your hands to yourselves?" Okoye jokingly questioned.

I groaned and threw my head back, "Why do you always do this." I whined.

"It's not my fault you didn't consider the fact that you're in this aircraft with 3 other people." she shrugged.

I rolled my eyes at her before she spoke up again, "I was just coming to tell you that due to the weather we're going to have to slow down the flight speed and it's gonna take a little while to get home, so get comfy. But now I see that you already were very comfortable." she teased.

"Oh go away, Okoye." I said, playfully annoyed.

"I'm going, calm down." she said and walked back to wherever she came from.

I turned my head to look back down at Y/N, "You look so tired, darling." I observed.

"So do you." she said and furrowed her eyebrows.

"Well in that case, up you go." I picked her up under her thighs and her legs wrapped around my waist, her arms wrapping around my neck.

I walked over to a couch and sat down with her in my arms, turning my body so I could lay down with my head propped up on the arm of it. Y/N moved herself to lay down on top of me, her legs tangling with mine as her head fell onto my chest.

Her hand went to play with my necklace, and my hand went under her shirt to rub her bare back, lulling her into a deep sleep that would last for most of the ride home.

#shuri x fem!reader #letitia wright shuri #shuri x y/n #shuri angst #shuri fluff #shuri imagine #mcu shuri #shuri #shuri fanfiction #princess shuri #shuri x reader

752 notes · View notes

fluentmoviequoter · 3 months

Text

Blue and Red

Pairing: David 'Deacon' Kay x fem!firefighter!reader

Summary: You are a firefighter who has a unique rivalry with Sergeant Deacon Kay. When you're injured while working together, Deacon learns why the rivalry started.

Warnings: fluff, angst, reader gets shot, Luca is smarter than Hondo, lots of teasing and playful arguments, parts of this are inspired by S.W.A.T. episode 4x7 "Under Fire"

Word Count: 2.7k+ words

Picture from Pinterest

“Well, if it isn’t the fireflies,” Hondo taunts, drawing attention to the firefighters walking in.

“Still upset we beat your team of Girl Scouts?” your captain replies.

Feeling eyes on you, you turn to the side and smile when you see him.

“Sergeant Kay,” you greet.

He says your name, taking a step toward you before asking, “Come to see what a real job looks like?”

“Actually, we were just hoping to steal some of your donuts before going over to the elementary school and inspiring the next generation.”

“Yeah, go tell a bunch of kids how much fun fire is. You must be bored.”

You press your lips together, raising your brows before turning back toward your crew.

“We’re covering for your on-call crew,” you tell Hondo.

“The city should be terrified,” Street deadpans.

“With that haircut out in public, you’re absolutely right,” someone quips.

“Still single?” Deacon asks, suddenly closer to you.

“No, I’m actually engaged to an attorney now,” you answer. “Rich guy.”

You watch Deacon, surprised to see him silent for once.

“Yes, I’m still single,” you admit, saving him from whatever thoughts were rushing through his head. “And I know you are.”

“You can’t know that.”

Turning toward him as your crew prepares to leave, you lay a hand on his chest and pout.

“You’re a cop, Deac. You never sleep at home, and you have no money; I know you’re single.”

Winking at him, you step backward before waving and following your crew back to the truck.

“Call us when you need us!” you yell, saluting Deacon.

He rolls his eyes, freezing as he sees Luca staring at him.

“What?” Deacon asks.

“Nothing, just wondering if you’re on the same page of the rivalry handbook as us.”

“They’re firefighters,” Deacon answers.

“And you’ve been tainted,” Luca says, looking at Deacon’s chest where your hand was.

“You treat her differently, too.”

“Yeah, because she’s a girl, not because I want to know if she’s single.”

“20-David, let’s roll!” Hicks yells, interrupting Deacon and Luca’s conversation.

Deacon crosses his fingers that you have a quiet day, not because he doesn’t want to see you, but because he doesn’t want you in harm’s way.

✯✯✯✯✯

“You’re a terrible person.”

Deacon turns around quickly, surprised to hear someone else.

“Really?” he asks, shaking his head.

“Yep,” you reply, popping the ‘p.’ “Cops are good for one thing and one thing only, but there isn’t a single donut in here.”

“You think these abs happen with donuts?”

You lower your gaze to Deacon’s stomach, smiling when he fights a squirm at your attention.

“Looks like a six-pack of donuts to me,” you answer, falling back against the couch in the S.W.A.T. common area.

“There’s donuts in the break room outside of S.W.A.T. if you really want one.”

“My captain will kill me if I eat a donut. They only keep me around for funding. Apparently, women in uniform get more donations.”

Deacon hums, and you sit up quickly, glaring at him.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Just an interesting take.”

“You know what else is interesting? That you can’t beat the firefighters in the annual competition. Despite the fact that we have a higher number of female competitors.”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” Deacon says.

You hide your smile to storm past him and say, “Interesting take.”

✯✯✯✯✯

“No, it isn’t,” Deacon argues.

“No what isn’t?” you ask, interrupting his conversation with Hondo. “I’m bored,” you answer, replying to their unasked question of why you’re here.

Deacon shrugs before filling you in. “Hondo thinks the firefighter outreach to schools is just to give the teachers a break and encourage the kids.”

You look between Deacon and Hondo, surprised that Deacon is on your side.

“Deacon’s right,” you respond. “It’s not for the teachers in any way, it’s for the kids.”

“Most of those kids don’t become firefighters, they just like to look at the big red truck for an afternoon.”

“This morning, we went to an elementary school and there was a blind kid in one of the classes we talked to. His favorite toy is a fire truck, but he’s never seen one. So, we took him to the side, let him feel every inch of our uniforms, and then took him into the truck. His teacher said he’d never been that excited before, and when we were getting ready to leave, he hugged me and told me that he’d be a firefighter someday. And you’re right, he may not, but the smile on his face when he got to sit in a real version of his favorite toy and find out what a uniform feels like? It’s worth it, no matter the reason.”

Hondo tilts his head as he concedes.

“You’re right. I mean you’re wrong about everything because you’re a firebug but yeah, the kids are important,” he says.

Your radio turns on just as Hicks enters to call Deacon and Hondo.

“We’ve got an armored barricade at a bank,” he says.

“Meet you there. Loser buys dinner and donuts don’t count!” you yell over your shoulder as you run out.

“Firefighters,” Hondo groans under his breath while Deacon smiles at you.

✯✯✯✯✯

You are at the sight and in your turnout gear several minutes before Black Betty rolls up, stopping in front of the fire truck.

“Oh good, the boys in blue are here,” you say, your lack of enthusiasm causing your crew to laugh.

“You need to stay behind Black Betty until you’re cleared to go in,” Hondo reminds.

“Which, based on your track record, is about thirty minutes after the block is burned to a crisp,” your captain replies. “Stop telling us what we know and do your job.”

“Be careful,” you add quietly, looking at Deacon.

He nods, and you move to the back of the truck, readying your gear for entry.

When you hear a steady stream of gunfire, your breath catches. Deacon breached with Hondo and Street while the rest of his team went around the sides.

“26-David, shots fired,” Street’s voice comes through the radio.

Another shot echoes, but it sounds much closer than the first.

“That wasn’t in the bank,” you tell your captain.

“20-David this is Engine 35, there’s another shooter,” he radios.

“22-David, copy Engine 35. Shooter to the West of the bank; stay in place,” Luca responds.

Glancing toward the back of the truck, you see something move and reflect the sun on a rooftop. One of your crew members is past Black Betty's protection, and you don’t hesitate to run toward him, tackling him to the ground just as another shot rips through the air.

✯✯✯✯✯

“20-David, suspect down, code 4 and clear for entry,” Hondo says, standing behind a desk.

“Deac!” Luca yells as he enters the front door.

“25-David, second suspect down,” Tan reports.

“Where was the second shooter?” Hondo demands.

“Roof next door,” Luca answers, trying to say something to Deacon before Hondo cuts him off again.

“Where’d he shoot?”

“I’m trying to tell you,” Luca snaps. “He got two firefighters.”

The world seems to slow around Deacon as he runs out.

✯✯✯✯✯

The gunfire in the bank continues, and you stare at the door, hoping that Deacon walks out completely unscathed. Holding a spare shirt to your side, you lean against the side of the fire truck as your crew moves everything and everyone behind Black Betty.

“We need to get her out of here,” someone says.

“Ambulance can’t get down here until we’re clear and we don’t have the supplies to safely remove a bullet,” a second voice answers.

“I’m fine,” you interject, wincing against the pain as you twist toward them. “You need to be ready to put that fire out as soon as they radio a code 4.”

✯✯✯✯✯

You blame the adrenaline for how conscious and coherent you are five minutes after getting a bullet to the abdomen. When you see Deacon running out, you sigh and slump against the truck, wanting to kiss him and slap him simultaneously: concern and anger mixing in your mind.

“Back up,” Deacon demands, shooing your crew members away and toward the small fire in the bank vault as he pulls a bag from Black Betty.

“You scared me,” you admit when he turns toward you.

His eyes are soft and scared as he looks into yours.

“You’re scaring me too, so we’re even.”

Someone screams down the street, and Hondo and Luca detour before seeing you. Street approaches behind Deacon, and his eyes widen when he sees you.

“I need to move this,” Deacon tells you gently, pulling the shirt from your tight grasp and exposing the wound.

“Ambulance is here, Deac,” Street says, patting his shoulder gently.

Deacon nods, pressing a fresh gauze against you with more pressure than you had. You groan, and he slams his eyes shut as his jaw clenches.

“Gonna pass out,” you mutter, raising a bloody hand to lay over Deacon’s.

“Hey, no, stay with me,” Deacon demands, raising his voice when your hand slackens. “Open your eyes right now!”

You shake your head, barely visible, before the paramedics take you away from Deacon. Or try to.

“Sergeant, we got her.”

“Deacon,” Street says quietly, “Let them take her.”

Deacon stumbles back, standing as he watches them load you onto a stretcher. He nods when they tell him which hospital you’re going to, but as soon as you’re out of sight, his eyes drop to your blood all over his hands and up his sleeves.

“The other firefighter is fine, just a flesh wound,” Luca fills in. “That scream was just some kids, so we’re good.”

“Who was the other injury?” Hondo asks.

Street whispers your name, and Hondo looks at Deacon before leading him toward a nearby patrol car.

✯✯✯✯✯

While he waits in the hospital, Deacon scrubs his hands until they hurt. The rest of his team was called away, but Hicks knew better than to ask Deacon to leave someone alone in the hospital.

“Sergeant?” a nurse asks, holding a door open. “Follow me.”

You look peaceful, asleep in the hospital bed. Deacon hates it. He doesn’t like you peaceful, he decides immediately. Teasing him, testing his patience, being mean to him, that’s how he wants you, needs you.

“The doctor will be by in a few minutes to fill you in,” the nurse says gently. “She’s a fighter.”

Deacon nods, pulling a chair beside your bed and taking your hand in his. Your fingers squeeze his just before you turn your head and open your eyes.

“Hey,” you whisper.

“Hi.”

“Why are you here? Wasn’t there another call?”

Deacon’s brows furrow, wondering how you knew that.

“The doctor said something about it before I went into surgery. Why didn’t you go?”

“I couldn’t leave you here alone.”

You smile, and though your lips are chapped, Deacon thinks you look beautiful. It hit him quickly at the bank, the realization that he needs you. Not knowing if you were okay made him feel like a piece of him was missing.

Blinking quickly, you try to focus on Deacon, but something is wrong. He notices, too, worriedly saying your name. You watch his mouth move but don’t hear anything before your eyes close, and the heart rate machine starts beeping rapidly.

Two nurses and a doctor run in, pushing Deacon back wordlessly and gathering around you so he can’t see you. He does hear the flatline, though, as he realizes he missed his chance to tell you.

“Ow,” you groan just before the nurses laugh.

Deacon’s heart seems to stop as he watches one step back.

“What was that?” he asks her.

“A pretty common reaction to one of the medicines, but when she rolled over, the IV and heart monitors were disrupted. She’s completely fine, Sergeant, just going to be a little sore,” she answers kindly.

“She owes you her life,” the doctor adds on his way out.

When you see Deacon again, you can’t tell if he’s angry or terrified. Either way, you offer a small “Sorry.”

Deacon takes a deep breath before walking to the side of the bed, his thighs hitting it as he looks directly into your eyes. He raises his hands and gently cups your cheeks, bending down toward you.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” he begs, his voice rough.

“I’m sorry,” you say, leaning toward him. “But you scared me too. I heard all those shots and didn’t know.”

Deacon sighs, resting his forehead against yours. He nods before stepping back, taking his previous seat, and placing his hand over yours.

“Do you need anything?” Deacon asks.

You shake your head, asking him if everyone else is okay.

✯✯✯✯✯

“Is he holding her hand?” Hondo asks.

Your captain hums, and Hondo shakes his head.

“This changes things.”

“What are you talking about?” Luca asks with a laugh. “This changes nothing.”

“They hate each other, they’re at each other’s throats daily,” Hondo points out.

“Because they like each other. Cop/firefighter relationships bring out the schoolboy approach: bullying.”

“He’s right, Hondo,” your captain affirms. “Not surprised you didn’t catch on though, playboy.”

“Easy,” Hondo replies.

“Are we going to check on them?” Luca asks.

“Not today. She’s perfectly fine with him,” your captain promises, turning toward them. “And I’ve had a bit too much of your kind today. Enjoy having your regular team back tomorrow; God help them.”

✯✯✯✯✯

“It hurts.”

“Well, you did get shot,” Deacon says. “You want me to find a nurse?”

You shake your head, then stop moving when your eyes land on Deacon’s sleeves.

“You haven’t been home yet?”

“No. Why would I?”

“I was in surgery, you had time. You could have gone right after, too.”

Deacon looks at his sleeves, where your blood stains are a harsh reminder of the emotions Deacon experienced just a few hours earlier. As if he’s back in that moment, Deacon looks to you.

“Help me up?” you ask, interrupting him.

“You’re not supposed to,” Deacon argues.

“I need to. Please?”

Deacon hesitates but helps you sit up before pulling you to your feet, hovering right in front of you, and letting you hold his forearms.

“I’m sorry,” you say quietly. “For scaring you. But thank you for staying with me. I need you.”

Unwilling to miss another opportunity, Deacon whispers, “I love you.”

You smile, but Deacon is more concerned with keeping you upright than your facial expressions.

“I keep going back to that moment when I ran out of the bank and you were just sitting there, covered in blood but watching me; you were alert and up. And as soon as you saw me, you said something, and then that light just went out.”

Deacon takes a breath to continue, but you don’t let him, tugging his forearms to bring him down to your level. He bends without thought, and you kiss him, sliding your hands up his arms to hold his shoulders. Deacon responds easily, moving against you as he moves his hands to your hips. He pushes you back against the bed so you sit. Kneeling, Deacon follows you and stays at your level. As you kiss, your worry and pain seem to disappear.

“You’re pushy,” you tease as you take a breath.

Deacon chuckles, looping an arm around the uninjured side of your waist as he leans toward you.

“But I love you,” you add quietly.

His smile grows, and Deacon kisses you quickly, his smile pressed against yours.

“Even though I never sleep at home and don’t have any money?” he repeats your earlier comment.

“I don’t either.”

“Then we’re a perfect match.”

You laugh, hiding your face in Deacon’s neck.

“The cop and the firefighter… who knew?”

Your smile falls when you sit up and look at Deacon.

“I did,” you confess. “Why do you think I teased you so much? So differently than the rest of S.W.A.T.?”

Deacon suddenly remembers every example of how you spoke to him versus Hondo or Luca; it was always a little nicer, delivered with a smile.

“You’ve known?”

“You didn’t?” you ask with a bright smile. “I guess I’ve got a lot to teach you, Blue.”

“That’s going to stick isn’t it?” Deacon grumbles, moving his hand to cup your cheek again.

“It sure is,” you answer happily. “Because I love you, Blue.”

“I love you.” Deacon’s smile grows before he adds, “Red.”

#david deacon kay x reader #david kay x reader #deacon kay x reader #david deacon kay #deacon kay #swat cbs #fem!reader

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evilhasnever · 1 year

Text

A little Mother's Day drabble, set in the same reincarnation AU as this ficlet by me and this (by @lansplaining)

tl;dr Lan Huan visits Meng Shi to tell her about his intentions with A-Yao

Somehow Lan Huan ended up gardening with Meng Shi today, because the community garden is the only place where he can reasonably intercept her without her son around - and well, if someone is gardening right in front of you, you ought to roll up your sleeves and help.

He has occasionally visited her with A-Yao before, and he got to bask in their easy, comfortable banter even as a bystander. But today he has to ask her something that A-Yao is not privy to yet.

When he approaches her, she smiles with a glint in her eye. “Lan Huan! What a surprise! I’m sorry you have to see me in this state.”

“I happen to think Ms. Meng looks great in dungarees,” Lan Huan replies. “I hope A-Yao will follow her example sometime.”

She giggles pleasantly and stands up from her crouch with a little effort, eyeing him up and down. She seems to have already guessed that he has something to say - A-Yao takes after her, without doubt. “Well, don’t stand on ceremony.”

Rather than stopping what she is doing, she hands him a plastic container. “Help me pick these strawberries. Isn’t A-Yao with you today?”

A gentle platitude, because she likely knows where A-Yao is at all times. Lan Xichen has spotted the mother-son text chats on A-Yao’s phone several times, with a mix of envy and fondness.

He squats obediently and sets to picking the strawberries very carefully. “I am going to pick him up at six today. That’s why I wanted to speak with you before then.”

Meng Shi gives him a curious side glance, just this side of inquisitive. “I am all ears, dear.”

The endearment somehow bolsters Lan Huan’s courage. He had never known Meng Shi… before, only heard stories of her kindness and wit from A-Yao, but he was both relieved and awed to find that she is very, very similar to her son in more than just facial features. The first few times they’d met, he had earned from her the same scrunched up nose, the same squint of polite suspicion that he got from A-Yao when he’d asked him out for the first time.

It had not been quite perfect on the first try. Remembering a past life did not give him perfect insight on the current one; if anything it encumbered him with the fear of messing up and giving himself away carelessly.

During his first date with A-Yao, Lan Huan had learned from trial and error like anyone else. His car was apparently too new (he should have biked!) and his watch was too expensive (it was Shufu’s gift!) and A-Yao had been quietly wary of his intentions. Lan Huan couldn’t blame him, in hindsight. In damage control mode, Lan Huan had asked him if he wanted to split the restaurant bill or if he’d let him take care of it, and A-Yao had relaxed minutely. “You can take it this time,” he’d said. "I’ll pay next time.” Lan Huan had smiled brilliantly in agreement, and the evening had only improved afterwards.

“Are you zoning out thinking about my son? As you should, I suppose!” Meng Shi’s knowing laughter draws Lan Huan back from his reminiscing.

“I apologize, Ms. Meng,” he blushes. “I have a lot on my mind, and it concerns A-Yao as you may have guessed.” He holds out the container full of strawberries and brushes off his knees to clear some of the dirt. “He and I have been dating for seven months now, and I want to ask him to take the next step.”

Meng Shi’s eyes widen briefly and she purses her lips before setting down her gardening gloves and ushering Lan Huan towards the nearby bench. “Have you asked your family already?” she asks, neutrally.

“Not yet,” Lan Huan admits. “Whether they agree or not, I intend to propose to A-Yao anyway. If he agrees, only then I will tell them.”

Meng Shi’s lips quirk up in a smile, a single dimple popping on her cheek. “Why ask me, then?”

Lan Huan folds his hands in his lap, frowning. “I… I want your opinion, Ms. Meng. Do you think he will say yes? You and A-Yao are close. I have not been lucky enough to have such a relationship with my mother, but I admire it. Your opinion holds weight because you have A-Yao’s best interest at heart, as do I.”

Meng Shi observes him quietly for a moment, the declining sunlight making her look older than her years in the half-shade. Lan Huan tries not to think about how close she had come to death only a few years ago. It had been a story like many others; expensive treatment, nebulous chances of success. History almost repeated itself, but medicine had come a long way and her son had not spared any expense to get her treated, putting all of his other plans on hold.

Secretly, Lan Huan had talked to a few doctors and made an anonymous donation through a charitable company, unable to stand aside and do nothing despite his family’s rules about interference. But money could only do so much. He had not been able to hold A-Yao’s hand through sleepless nights at her bedside, or comfort him in any way. They had been strangers, still.

“A-Huan,” Meng Shi says, and Lan Huan startles like a deer. “For the longest time I thought you were too good to be true, and I could not trust you. I’m sorry about that. I have made mistakes in my youth and they have left me… afraid.”

Lan Huan nods quietly. It is not his place to divulge how much (or how little) A-Yao has told him of her life.

“But I believe in the evidence of my eyes,” she continues, patting his forearm with a gentle hand. “You make my A-yao so unspeakably happy, it cannot be a mistake.”

“Likewise, he does,” Lan Huan replies, finding his voice rough with emotion.

“What I want to know,” she continues, careful but not stern, “is how you think you know him well enough to marry, after only seven months. He is too pragmatic and too sensible to jump into something like this recklessly.”

Lan Huan sighs, shaking his head. “If I told you I have dreams of a past life, would you believe it?”

Meng Shi tuts gently and raises her brow. Lan Huan returns her smile, and continues: “Of course not. So it must be fate.”

“Usually people invoke fate when they are not willing to put in the work,” Meng Shi chides, “but you have done right by my A-Yao. Some people have tried to change him, some have tried to advise him, some have tried to take him away. You won’t take him away from me, will you?”

“I would never,” Lan Huan murmurs. “The only thing that would change is that I may visit you with him more often in the future, if it isn’t too much of an imposition. I would… like that.”

Meng Shi smiles knowingly, gently. Lan Xichen remembers the timeless gaze of a deity’s statue, and a shiver runs down his spine despite the warmth of the late afternoon.

“You’re such a good son,” Meng Shi sighs, “of course I’d love to have you.”

With a sharp inhale of breath, Lan Huan reaches up to wipe his eyes. A frail hand beats him to it, Meng Shi’s cool fingers patting his cheek patiently while he tries to get his breathing in check.

“So, how are you going to pop the question, A-Huan? Tell me everything.”

“I-I was thinking of taking him to the restaurant where we had our first date,” Lan Huan says, a little shaky.

“Oh, that’s going to make him so terribly nervous!” She laughs. “Maybe you should bring him these strawberries to mollify him, he loves them.”

Lan Huan smiles and pushes the basket of strawberries back towards her. “Keep them with you, with some luck he’ll visit you to share good news soon. Besides, he’s too clever. He’d know we talked without him, and I don’t want him to suspect anything yet.”

Meng Shi thumbs a perfect strawberry and nods conspiratorially. “Alright, I’ll keep your secret, my dear.”

#xiyao #xiyao drabbles #meng shi #lan xichen #meng yao #jin guangyao #in absentia #but still #mother's day #shiome fic

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wooblrb · 3 months

Text

the law of being friends with a male: chapter one 𓆝 ⋆｡𖦹°‧🫧

genre,, fluff, friends to lovers, slow burn ??,, unrequited love

pairing: junghoon x fem!reader

warnings: y/n is delulu…

masterlist 𓇢𓆸

a/n: ehhh this is chapter one!! its kinda short hehe… :pp the bolded parts are words directly from the manhwa! and the pink highlight is y/ns thoughts ^_^ pls lmk what you guys think so i could improve!

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one day in the beginning of my junior year, my best friend abandoned me.

“im going to go home early and enjoy some yummy food at home~” jiwoon said with a cheeky smile as she packs her stuff up.

“are you serious?! you can’t leave because of that! hold it in for me!~” i whine, trying to get my best friend to stay with me for lunch.

“you know i can’t go to the bathroom in public.. hehe..” she says as she keeps the same cheeky smile and rushed out of the class so y/n doesn’t catch her.

“enjoy your lunch!!!~” jiwoon exclaims, already half way through the hallway

i put my head down, upset that i’m going to be alone for lunch.

'even though it hurts, i’lll have to make it through the day by myself… '

⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ

when i was left to fend for myself in the jungle named ‘the cafeteria..’

“ahh this sucks..” i whisper to myself as i eat alone.

‘i should finish my food quickly and go to class..’ i think to myself as grab a big spoonful of rice and shove in my mouth.

“hi.. is this seat taken?”

my eyes widen as i look up to see a handsome guy from my class pointing to the seat in front of me. i cough and hurry to swallow my food as i nod ‘yes’.

from the moment he sat with me…

“im ham jinsik.. we’re in the same class right? what’s yours? ” he says with a charming smile.

‘ahh right.. the guy with the unique name.’

“im y/n..”

i started to fall in love with him.

⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ⋅

jinsik was funny, handsome, and popular. he obviously wasn’t only nice to me, but i feel like.. i’m special in his eyes…

ever since that day, we ate with each other almost everyday. and we even hung out outside outside of school!

we even sit next to each other in class.. it has to be destiny.

maybe jinsik will eventually feel something towards me…

“y/n do you like anyone?” jinsik asks as he looks at me curiously, waiting for an answer.

my heart beat fast, almost popping out of my chest.

‘could this be the day.. we become more than friends..?’

“huh?! oh.. um yes, i do. how did you know..?”

“ah.. well its because i have one as well… and i want to tell you who it is! and if you’re ok with it.. maybe you could tell me yours?” jinsik says with hopeful eyes and he looks at me.

i blush and look down.

“ok.. who’s yours..?" i fight back a smile and let my face turn tomato red waiting for his response.

“well…. we’re in the same grade. she’s cute and pretty..” he looks away blushing after saying that.

“her smile just.. draws me in.. i can’t help but stare at her beauty. i was probably obvious, but..”

i tuck a strand of hair behind man ear and turn my body towards him.

“jinsik.. i-"

“she’s also tall.. and her hair is very long..’ he continues describing her.

“her name is moon bora and i have liked her ever since middle school. she’s transferring to our school soon..

i turn my body forward and slouch as he continues describing someone who is NOT me.

lets solve this..

jinsik’s crush y/n

long hair medium length hair

tall! short

transferring to our school currently in the same school as jinsik

met in middle school. met in high school

name is moon bora. name is l/n y/n

answer: Y/N IS NOT JINSIK’S CRUSH!

i space out and look out in the distance, slightly upset with the results.

⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ

on this beautiful spring day.. i thought i was going to be the main character in a romance drama.. but this unrequited love was cut short…

on the first episode…

⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ ‧₊˚ ⋅⋅˚₊‧ ଳ

#xikers imagines #xikers fluff #junghoon xikers #jinsik xikers #xikers #xikers x reader #xikers fanfic #kpop #xikers reactions #junghoon x reader #jinsik x reader #marinas wlrd :pp

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mysterious-moonstruck-musings · 9 months

Text

Destiny & Deliverance: Chapter 9

Destiny & Deliverance Masterlist ||| Dieter Bravo X OFC New as of 7/28/2023

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Series Rating: Explicit (18+)

Series Summary: Natalia Cohen is experiencing major life changes, beginning with leaving an emotionally abusive husband. She is learning how to navigate life on her own while dealing with high functioning anxiety, depression, and mild PTSD. Everything is looking up for her. She is a highly respected consultant for a major LA firm, has her best friend, Lauren, by her side, and is on her path to healing. Everything changes when she meets a handsome and broken stranger on a work trip. He turns out to be a well-known actor, with a heart-breaking past. They quickly develop a connection that will forever alter their lives.

Warnings: Themes dealing with mental health, emotional trauma, alcohol use, and discussions about suicide. There will be fluff, tears, spicy language, and smut. This will be a slow burn type of story. Read at your own risk.

Chapter Quote: “He says he’s a friend from New York.”

The next day, I had to go into the office for a few meetings with staff to catch up on where they were with their accounts. I was actually happy about this because I knew it would be a good distraction. I threw my blow-dried wavy hair up into a loose updo, applied a small amount of make-up, and I got dressed in a black pencil dress and blazer. Then headed out the door for my short commute.

Around eleven fifteen, my office phone rang. I heard my assistant, Kerrie, yell that it was Lauren. I picked the phone up.

“Don’t you ever get tired of talking to me?” I said as I answered.

“Don’t be silly. Also, I love your new assistant. I think we’re going to be besties. So, I was thinking…we should go grab some lunch.”

“Well, I’m happy you feel that way and it sounds like I need to tell her to ignore your number when it pops up.”

Lauren laughed.

“As for lunch, I don’t have enough time to go out. I have a meeting at 1:00.”

“Boooo. You suck. Do you need me to bring you anything?”

Before I could answer, Kerrie walked into my office, leaving the door slightly ajar. Her eyes were wide with a shocked look on her face. She was doing a small wave with her hands to get my attention.

“Hold on Lauren, what is it, Kerrie?”

“Umm, there is a gentleman here asking if you’re free for lunch?”

“A gentleman?” I said, confused.

“He says he’s a friend from New York.”

“A friend from New York?” I said, still confused.

She watched the realization set in on my face. I momentarily lost my words. She leaned over toward me and whisper-yelled, “Why didn’t you tell me you knew him!” Meanwhile, I could hear Lauren on the phone asking very loudly who was here. She had clearly pieced it together from the tone of her voice.

I sat motionless, feeling my heart rate pick up. My breathing turned shallow as I broke out into a sweat. I shook my head from side to side and took a deep breath trying to pull myself together.

“Get rid of him. I can’t, I have a meeting.” I said sternly.

I heard Lauren shouting from the phone, “NO! What the hell are you doing! GO WITH HIM!”

Kerrie stood stunned, surprised at my answer. “I can reschedule it for you. It’s just Steve.”

“No. I can’t go.”

Kerrie didn’t move.

“Is there a problem? Handle it please.” I said out of frustration.

Lauren was still yelling nonsense on the phone while Kerrie just stared at me, shaking her head.

“I can’t tell him no,” she whispered with a stubborn look on her face.

The door started to inch open further as Dieter slowly walked in, immediately noticing the phone a few inches from my ear. My eyes met his. He paused and mouthed “sorry” once he realized he was potentially interrupting something. Kerrie’s head swiveled back and forth between us, waiting for someone to say something. I could feel my face tighten and my brows draw together. I’m pretty sure I looked pissed more than anything, but it was actually pure panic. Dieter instantly looked beyond nervous. Lauren was still yelling on the phone, asking me what was happening. I was suddenly feeling over-stimulated between the three of them and couldn’t focus. I put the phone all the way back to my ear.

“Shut up. I’ll call you back.”

I could hear her telling me I better talk to him as I moved the phone away to hang it up.

I looked away from him, lowering my head. I noticed my hands were starting to shake. I gripped the arm rest of my chair tightly in an effort to make them stop.

“What are you doing here?” I said in a rather assertive tone, trying to keep it together. I glanced back up at him. He looked like he was about to say something, but snapped his mouth shut. My tone had taken him off guard. He glanced over at Kerrie, looking slightly panicked himself.

“Mr. Bravo stopped in to see if you’re available for lunch.”

I gave her a pointed look.

“I have a meeting, so no, I can’t. I’m sorry.” I replied as I looked back over to him.

“Steve actually requested to reschedule it earlier this morning. I just haven’t updated your calendar yet.”

My eyes darted back toward Kerrie. She gave me a wicked smile before continuing.

“So, you’re actually free for the next two and a half hours.”

I exhaled, then touched the fingers of my right hand to the side of my right eye that had started to twitch.

“Ok, thank you for that update, Kerrie. I guess I’m going out to lunch then. I’ll be back shortly.” My tone was clipped. I gave her a tight smile, dismissing her. She continued to give me a wicked grin as she walked out of the office, leaving Dieter and I alone.

We sat in silence for a moment, avoiding eye contact. I didn’t know what to say to him. This whole situation had caught me off guard and I was not handling it well at all. Yet I still managed to notice how amazing he looked in his dark fitted jeans and black t-shirt. He had sunglasses hanging from the collar of his shirt.

“I’m sorry, I probably should have called instead of just showing up.”

I continued to stare at him, unblinking.

“I mean, I did try to call several times, but I chickened out and hung up on whoever answered.” he added, sheepishly.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, reached down to grab my purse and phone, and walked toward the door.

“Come on. Let’s go,” was the only response I was able to give him.

I walked down the hallway, noticing several of the ladies staring.

“Don’t you all have work to do.” I said loudly, looking around as I walked through. They quickly pretended to busy themselves while giving sideways glances.

Dieter was following behind me as we went toward the back exit to the staff parking area. When I pushed the door open, Aubrey stepped back from the outside of the door to let me exit. I walked out and her eyes immediately shot up to Dieter, then back to me with a questioning look.

“I’m going out for lunch. I’ll be back at some point,” I said dismissively, walking past without really looking at her. I heard Dieter give a polite hello as he walked past, still following closely behind my brisk pace.

I walked over to my vehicle, hitting the unlock button on the handle twice to unlock both doors, then we both got in.

I started the car, then sat there for a moment and sighed.

“I have a feeling I’m going to face an inquisition when I get back.”

Dieter let out a small laugh, but then stifled it, like he wasn’t sure if it was ok to laugh at it.

“Did you have a place in mind you wanted to go to?” I asked him quietly. I stared out of the front window. Not really looking at anything. Trying hard to keep my breathing calm.

“No. I mean I noticed a place down on the corner if you want to go nearby.”

“I’m not going there.” I said, still staring out the front window. I could feel him looking at me. I slowly turned my head to look at him, not exactly meeting his eyes. I couldn’t.

“I know the owner. I got him fired from his previous place of employment, unintentionally. The company downsized on my recommendation. He doesn’t like me much.”

“Oh…it sounds like hanging out with you might be kind of dangerous,” he said, laughing nervously.

He was trying to ease the tension, but I was so wound up, that wasn’t going to happen. I just gave him a small smile and put the car in reverse.

I picked a small cafe about 10 minutes away that typically wasn’t very busy at this time of day. Lauren and I were regulars, so we usually got pretty good service. They let us sit out on the small back patio that was enclosed by tall hedges. We were the only ones sitting outside, which was probably a good thing, because I didn’t know what was about to happen.

I reverted to old habits, ordering a Long Island Iced tea, water, and a salad with grilled chicken. I had a feeling that I was going to need some liquid courage to get through this conversation. Once we finished ordering and got our drinks, we were silent for a few minutes. Neither of us really knowing where to start. I could feel that my jaw was clenched, I could only imagine what my face looked like. He finally broke the silence.

“Look, I’m sorry I just showed up. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“How did you even know where I worked?”

“Google.”

“I never even told you my last name.”

“I.. I saw it on your security badge. I-It was on your nightstand. I swear I wasn’t snooping or anything.”

I shook my head up and down, I had no argument with that. It has been out in plain view.

His hands caught my attention. They were bigger than I remembered, but the feel of them was still ingrained in my memory. He had the fingers on both hands tracing the grooves on the glass of his drink. He was obviously anxious too. Without thinking about it, my hand went up to my collar bone and started rubbing as I looked around. This was so fucking awkward. He broke me out of my thoughts by grabbing my hand and pulling it to the table. I looked at his hand sitting atop of mine, then pulled mine away gently, sitting it in my lap.

“Did I do something to make you mad in New York? I don’t understand why you’re acting so pissed at me.”

I propped my elbows on the table, putting my fingers on either side of my temple, rubbing, with my eyes shut. I sat like that for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts before answering.

“I’m not mad at you. You did absolutely nothing wrong. I’m just…kind of on autopilot mode right now… trying to keep myself in check. You did catch me off guard showing up at my office. You’re the last person I expected to walk through that door today.”

I opened my eyes to look at him and our eyes met for the first time since leaving the office. I noticed the sadness was there again and he looked like he hadn’t slept well in some time. I felt even more guilt for treating him so badly today. I continued speaking.

“I didn’t have time to prepare for this, so my anxiety kind of spiked on me because I didn’t know what to expect given everything that happened. This is just me trying to manage it. I actually feel like shit for not reaching out to you afterwards. I completely ghosted you; I know.”

“Honestly, that makes me feel a lot better. The way you were looking at me when I walked in, I thought you wanted to rip my head off. I think I officially got the full dose of the ‘fucking scary’ side of you.” He chuckled at himself. I finally broke a smile too, which caused him to visibly relax some.

“I’m sorry, I know, I really do need to work on that. My face kind of has a mind of its own though.” I shrugged.

“So do you want to talk about why you ghosted me?”

“That’s a little more complicated…”

The waiter appeared at that time to drop off our food and refill our drinks. After he walked back inside, Dieter picked up the conversation.

“I’ll be the first to admit that whatever that was in New York freaked me out a little. I’ve never experienced something that…intense before. Honestly, when I didn’t hear from you initially, I was kind of relieved.”

I raised my eyebrows at him, trying to figure out where this was going. He noticed the look on my face.

“BUT, after a few days, I was actually a little hurt by it. I felt like we…I dunno…maybe it's a delusion, but I felt like we connected. You know what I mean?”

I continued to stare at him, trying to digest what he was saying. My face giving nothing away. He looked down at his glass before he continued.

“At the same time though, I’m not sure I’m in a place that I can process and deal with whatever that was. At least I definitely wasn’t at the time. I felt like my fucking soul had been ripped out of me and laid bare in front of you. It was a lot for me and something I just wasn’t prepared for or have ever experienced.”

He understood it more than I ever thought he could. He felt it too. I could feel my chest tightening as my eyes fought to hold back the tears that wanted to fall. I took a deep breath reaching up to grab one of his hands away from his glass. He relaxed further and I immediately felt better as a result.

“Dieter, I…I actually get it. You put that into words better than I ever could have. I felt the same way. It was…overwhelming and scared me too. I think that’s the biggest reason I just left it all in New York. I couldn’t process it. I was seriously so fucked up at that point from my marriage, I didn’t even know who I was anymore. And to be clear, hooking up with random people is not something I have ever done before, so I was a little shocked and embarrassed at myself for that.”

“I was a little shocked at myself too because that isn’t something I do on the regular either. I was worried you thought I was a big man whore after that.”

“Why, because you’re currently one of the biggest celebrities in the world right now and could have any woman you wanted at any time?”

He sucked in air between his teeth and gave me a tight smile.

“So, you figured that out huh?” He laughed nervously.

“Hard to miss your face plastered all over billboards.”

“I’m sorry, I should have been honest about that. I was kind of thrilled by the idea of someone not knowing who I was. It helped me feel a little more at ease with you.”

“I figured. I won’t hold that against you.” I smirked at him.

“So how are you doing these days,” he asked.

“Well, I’m still kind of a mess, but I’m better than I was. I’m still working on things though.”

“Same.”

We sat in silence for a moment, both unsure of what to do with that information. I had to admit to myself that it was good to see him and good to know that he wasn’t mad at me. I watched him for a moment as he released my hand and started to shuffle his food around, my mind playing through all the scenarios this situation could lead to. I was more open to some of them than I would have thought. Dieter raised his head, giving me a questioning look.

“What’s going through that mind of yours right now?”

I gave a small laugh, “What isn’t?”

I leaned my head into my hand that was propped on the arm of my chair and shook my head, inhaling deeply. I wasn’t sure how to proceed. Dieter smiled back at me; he looked as deep in thought as I was.

“How about we just start over? Try to forget about New York. Clearly neither of us are really in a place for anything too serious, but that doesn’t mean we can’t just be friends. Right?” he asked.

“You’re seriously going to be able to forget about what happened in New York?” I asked with doubt in my voice and a small smile on my face.

“Well, no. It’s impossible. Those images aren’t going anywhere, but I can behave myself and just be here for you. However you’ll have me.”

I laughed at him. At least he was honest. I wasn’t going to be able to get those images out of my head either.

“Do you think we can really be ‘just friends’ after that?”

“Look, I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like you’re supposed to be in my life. It’s a feeling I can’t shake, and I think we can be good for each other. If it means it’s just as friends, then fine. I’m cool with that. I honestly didn’t expect anything more and I would love to have at least one friend that’s supportive of me getting my shit together.”

“Alright, so we’re gonna do the friend thing then,” I agreed. Feeling a sense of relief and a little excitement at the thought of him being a constant in my life. He did have a way of making me feel more relaxed. He nodded in agreement.

“So can you text me your number now?” he asked with a smirk on his face and a playful glint in his eyes.

“About that…I actually deleted your number as soon as I got on the plane in New York.”

I covered my face with one of my hands, then gave him an apologetic look through my fingers. He feigned shock.

“I knew if I didn’t, I would’ve called you,” I added.

“Damn, you are ruthless. You didn’t even give it a few days,” he said in disbelief as he shook his head at me. Then he reached over to pick up my phone, quickly held it up in front of my face to unlock it, then went to typing as I gave him a dirty look.

“Excuse you.” I said as he started to laugh, eyes crinkling as he did so.

“I’m putting my number in your phone again.”

A few seconds later, his phone buzzed.

“I’m also making sure I have your number this time. No more ghosting.”

“Oh, trust me, I can still ghost your ass if I wanted to,” I said laughing.

“Somehow, I don’t doubt that.”

The remainder of our lunch was filled with jokes and laughter. It was almost like we picked up where we left off, minus the flirting and sex. I was acutely aware that this was meant to be a friendship and I wanted to be cognizant of that line. I couldn’t cross it again.

Once we finished eating, we drove back to my office. He walked me to the back entrance, then stopped.

“Is it ok to give you a hug?” he asked timidly. I laughed at him and nodded yes. He wrapped his arms around me completely, pulling me in close. His face was in my hair, and I could tell he inhaled deeply. I wrapped my arms around his back and buried my face in his neck, taking in his scent. We stayed like that for a minute, before he kissed the top of my head, then pulled away. Our actions always saying what our words wouldn’t. We had missed each other, more than either of us would like to admit.

He smiled at me before turning to leave. “I’ll text you later this evening,” he yelled as he walked away. I watched him jog across the street to where his vehicle was parked. Once he reached his car, I went inside.

When I walked in, Aubrey and Kerrie were standing in the reception area. They paused and looked at me. They had been watching us through the window. I could tell they wanted to ask me a million questions. I stared at them and rolled my eyes.

“He is just a friend. Don’t get any crazy ideas.”

“That hug lasted a little longer than socially acceptable for a friend,” Aubrey said with a smirk on her face.

“He’s a friend I haven’t seen in a while,” I shrugged.

From the looks on their faces, you could tell they didn’t believe me.

“Anyway, I have things to do, so excuse me,” I said, walking to my office.

My last few afternoon meetings dragged on painfully slow. Through all of them, Lauren was texting me, asking for updates. She was going to be mad that I made her wait all day. It was driving her insane.

When I pulled into the driveway around five, Lauren was there waiting on me. I should’ve figured. I just laughed to myself and shook my head. I pulled into the garage as she got out of her car and followed me inside. I smiled at her and gave her a quick “hi” as she stared at me expectantly. I didn’t say anything else as I walked inside and sat my things down, keeping my phone in my hand. I went to the kitchen and pulled one of those cold coffee drinks out of the refrigerator and offered her one. She was still staring at me expectantly and did not respond.

“Can I help you with something?” I asked her, with a sarcastic tone.

“You have GOT to be kidding me. Come on, out with it! What happened?”

My phone pinged in my hand, and I glanced down at it without answering her. I chuckled, seeing the name that popped up. He didn’t list his number under his name. He put it under “Guy from the Bar”. I unlocked my phone to read his message, still ignoring Lauren.

DIETER: You home from work yet?

ME: I’m sorry, I am not sure which guy from this bar this is. Can you clarify?

DIETER: You’re HILARIOUS. Figured I would get creative to make it harder for you to delete as soon as I was out of sight.

ME: Now who’s the funny one…but to answer your question, yes, I’m at home.

DIETER: Can I call you? I hate texting.

ME: Yes.

I glanced up at Lauren who was looking at me like I had three heads.

“What is happening right now?” she asked. I smiled and shrugged as I walked toward the table to sit down. My phone rang and I answered.

“Hello mysterious stranger from the bar,” I said with a laugh. I could hear him chuckling and I felt it to my core. I was getting butterflies.

“Hello. What are you up to?”

“I am sitting here with Lauren, who looks like she wants to choke me because she has no idea what’s going on.”

He laughed again while Lauren flipped me the bird as she sat down in front of me.

“Who is that?” she mouthed to me. I waved my hand at her dismissively. She sat back in her seat, crossing her arms and eyed me grumpily.

“So, does Lauren know about me?”

“Yes, somewhat. She knows we met in New York. She’s the one I was on the phone with when you came into my office today.”

Lauren smacked her hand on the table with force while saying, “I KNEW IT” very loudly. Dieter heard her and started laughing again.

“That makes sense, I was wondering who you told to shut up.”

We both laughed at my earlier behavior.

“So, what are you doing tomorrow evening? Want to hang out?”

“Well, Lauren and I usually have dinner and hang out on Fridays.”

Lauren perked up, “Invite him over, I wanna meet him,” she whisper-yelled at me. I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that or not. I gave her a warning look.

“What did she say?” he asked, chuckling.

“She wants me to invite you over to hang out with us. Do you think you can handle that? I’m warning you; she’s probably going to interrogate you.”

“I think I can handle it. What time?”

“We usually eat around six, but you can come earlier if you want. She usually helps cook or just hangs out until it’s ready.”

“Cool. I’ll do that. Can’t wait to meet Lauren. I think she and I will get along great.”

“Yeah, that’s my concern,” I said laughing. “You two better not gang up on me. I can see it happening already.”

They both laughed.

“Well, I’ll let you go since you have company, but I’ll see you guys tomorrow. Can I bring anything?

“Just yourself.”

“Alright, text me your address. See you tomorrow.”

“Will do, bye.”

After I hung up, I sent him a quick text with my address. Lauren was still eyeing me.

“So are you going to tell me what happened? Clearly it went well.”

“Just so we’re clear, he and I are only friends. Starting over. So, no suggestive jokes about me and him ok? I don’t want this to be weird.”

“Just friends? Really? Yeah, we’ll see how long that lasts.”

She rolled her eyes at me and laughed.

“What are you gonna wear tomorrow?”

She was gauging my reaction. I shrugged.

“I don’t know, something comfortable. Let’s keep things chill. I’m not trying to impress the guy. Pretty sure I already did that.”

I gave her a wicked smile at my joke.

“Oh, you’ve got jokes now. Ok. I like the funny you. Keep those coming.”

My phone pinged with a text message and Lauren saw the name pop up. She started laughing.

“Is that him?”

“Yes, he said that’s how he put his name in my phone so it would be harder for me to find and delete it as soon as he was out of sight.”

She continued to laugh as I opened the message to check it. It was a screenshot of a map with directions. I stared at it for a minute, my brows knitting together, slightly confused. Another message came through.

DIETER: You literally live four streets over from me.

ME: No fucking way.

DIETER: Apparently so. LOL

ME: That isn’t weird at all.

Lauren was looking at my confused expression. I sat my phone down.

“I don’t think I want to tell you this.”

“What? Why?!”

“Because you’re going to start going on about fate or whatever again.”

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t going to let it go. I sighed, before giving a slight chuckle.

“He lives four streets over from me.”

“I can’t believe you all haven’t run into each other before now. I’m telling you, read the signs woman. The ‘powers that be’ have a plan.”

I shook my head, “Stop that.”

I got up and started straightening up the kitchen some. I should probably give the rest of the house a quick once over, I thought. Lauren got a text as I was running through everything I needed to do. She stood up saying she had to go, mumbling something about having to close the shop that evening because somebody’s kid was sick. As she was leaving, she mentioned how she couldn’t wait to meet her new bestie tomorrow and was looking forward to giving me hell. I gave her the bird as she pulled the door shut behind her, cackling loudly.

I spent the rest of the evening cleaning and prepping for the following day. I had to admit that I did feel nervous about him coming to my house. There was something so personal about him being in my space. You can tell a lot about a person from seeing where they live. I wondered what he would learn about me.

Even though I tried to play it cool with Lauren about what I was going to wear, I was completely stressed about it. I finally settled on dark denim shorts, a white tank, with a loose fit light purple long-sleeved mesh top. It was casual, but cute.

Around ten, I finally decided to call it a night and settled down in bed to watch some TV. Soon after, my phone pinged with a text message.

DIETER: Wanted to send you a quick good night message. Friends can do that, right? Can’t wait to see what you’re cooking for me tomorrow.

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. I wasn’t sure how well this ‘just friends’ thing was going to work out, given our history, but we needed it to. At least for now.

ME: Pretty sure that is acceptable for friends to do…good night. Make sure you rest up. You’ll need it for the interrogation that is sure to come.

He sent me back a thumbs up and a sleeping face emoji.

I laughed at him before setting my phone down. I set the TV timer and turned my nightstand light off. It didn’t take long before I was out.

Next Chapter

Tag List: @rhoorl

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themultifandomgal · 2 years

Text

Sweet Pea- Detention

I’m sat in class next to Kevin when my phone rings

“Shit” I sigh trying to quickly rummage through my bag, trying to find my phone to turn it off

“Ahhh Miss YLN you know my rules with phones, detention after school. Now give me your phone” Mr Adams walks over to my desk and holds his hand out waiting for me to give him my phone. I glance at who’s phoning before turning my phone off, it was just an unknown number. I sigh giving Mr Adams my phone who takes it away and places it into one of his draws at his desk

“YN YLN’s first ever detention, thought I would never see the day” Kevin chuckles making me nudge him with my elbow.

The day goes quick and now it’s time to walk into detention. I take in a deep breath and open the door where my eyes are met with a sea of Serpent jackets and some Bulldog jackets

“What’s the valedictorian doing in detention?” I hear Fangs ask his best friend Sweet Pea. I roll my eyes and sit down at a spare seat at the front of the class room

“Right, enough of you know the rules in detention, but to remind you. No talking, no phones, no music, you can do homework or lines. I’ll provide paper and pens if you need them” Mr Adams tells the room. I open up my bag and take my note book and pens do I can start my homework.

20 minutes later and there’s a bunch of noise coming from outside. Mr Adams gets up from his desk and goes to look outside the window. He sighs and turns back to us “stay here, all of you. I’ll be 10 minutes” Mr Adams walks out of the class room and immediately everyone starts talking, I continue with my homework

“So what are you doing in detention?” Sweet Pea sits next to me

“Does it matter?” I whisper wanting not to get into trouble which only makes Sweet Pea laugh

“There’s no teacher in here, don’t need to whisper”

“Can you just leave me alone so I can get my homework done?”

“Come on. This is the first and only time you’ll ever be in detention, let me have my fun” I roll my eyes at SP “ok I’m sorry. What homework are you doing?”

“Chemistry why?” I fold my arms at SP

“Perfect. You can help me with mine” he smiles at me

“You mean you can copy mine? no way” I shake my head no still with my arms folded. The door opens up again and the Mr Adams walks back in

“Sweet Pea would you like another detention tomorrow?” he asks

“No sir”

“Back to your seat then” that’s when Sweet Pea finally leaves me alone l, he sits behind me and I am able to finish my homework.

There’s only 10 minutes left of detention and I hear a sigh and someone tugging at my hair. Quickly I turn around with a frown and see my hair bobble in Sweet Pea’s hand. I snatch it from him and turn back around in my seat, but then I feel him playing with my hair. Is he plating it? I ask myself.

10 minutes is up and we are finally allowed to leave, but I have to say I was kinda enjoying having my hair played with

“Bobble” he asks and I hand it to him still confused to why he’s French platted my hair, or maybe I’m confused to how he knows how to

“How did you learn to plate?“i ask him to which he shrugs his shoulders

“Look I actually could do with help with my Chemistry homework, i guess I’m asking you to pops, just to help with homework, and I’ll buy you a drink at Pops” Sweet Pea actually looks shy for once

“Errr…”

“Just say yes so I can stop hearing him whining all the time ‘should I ask her on a date? we don’t know each other, Fangs what do I do?’ seriously annoying” Fangs tells me and SP immediately looks embarrassed

“Ok. I’ll meet you at Pops tomorrow after school. I’ll help you with your homework and I’ll hold you to that shake” I smile feeling a little giddy about our none date. I can’t deny he’s handsome and I’ve had a little crush on him for a while now

“Cool I’ll see you tomorrow then”

“Bye Sweet Pea” I turn and walk out of the class room and down to the car park where my car is. Tomorrow should be interesting.

#riverdale imagine #riverdale #sweet pea x y/n #sweet pea x reader #sweet pea imagine

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gale-in-space · 7 months

Note

tell me about your ocs. right now 🫵🏻 i wanna know them

Okay, fuck it, answering this MONTHS after I first got this. Here we go.

Elliot Sparrow, M.D., is my pride and joy. My blorbiest blorbo. He's a flight surgeon and an astronaut with a deep dark secret - he has psychosis.

(Putting this under a read-more because I can't shut up; tw for discussions of medical gore).

His psychosis is pretty gnarly. As a medical doctor he hallucinates all the fun shit; mangled, zombified bodies in patient gowns ambling after him, oozing tunnels of gore where starch-white hospital walls should be, scalpels gliding across his abdomen and needles plunging into his eyes, et cetera et cetera.

Psychosis amongst medical doctors is rare, but not entirely unheard of. But astronauts? Forget it. If you're not the star spanglin' picture of perfect American health, then you can kiss the Astronaut Corps goodbye. And so, he does his damnedest to keep a lid on it and gets rewarded by being flung into space. To the ISS, in fact. Or the future ISS for when our current ISS inevitably crashes back through our atmosphere. Po-tay-to Po-tah-to.

Okay, this whole backstory thing is turning out to be a bit like "if you give a mouse a cookie." Mostly in the sense that I can't shut up once you get me talking about my favorite character that I cobbled together with the tangled mess of sulci and gyri that is my shit-for-brains. So more backstory you shall get. Interlude over.

During his mission as an astronaut aboard the future-ISS, he draws the proverbial short straw and has to walk out into space to replace some of the station's batteries (a very routine procedure that necessitates an EVA - I won't bore you with details).

First mistake. Never step out into space when some alien asshole opens up a freak wormhole outside of your space station with their crazy futuristic technology. Or in this case, do that, because the alternative is staying behind while these terribly rude invaders rend your station in two and you are consequently exploded.

That is to say in plain terms, a wormhole full of malicious aliens spontaneously opens up right next to the ISS, causing it to be the target of an attack and to pop open like sausage meat bursting out of its casing. You follow?

Elliot survives, but the same can't be said for the rest of the crew. He's yanked around on his tether as the station is ripped asunder, and is tossed about in empty space like a ragdoll before being intercepted by the alien ship and falling unconscious. And when he wakes up, he's decked out in alien garb that smells like the inside of a jail cell. This may be due to the fact that he has awoken inside of what looks to be a jail cell.

And he thinks, "well, shit."

There's a bit more backstory - mostly having to do with these weird Marvel-esque powers that he obtains from traveling through a wormhole as a human and not-dying. They have everything to do with his psychosis - when he touches someone, he now has the ability to transfer his hallucinations, his paranoia, and his delusions to the being he is touching - and it feels VERY real for them. Oh, and his eyes glow red while he does that. Because of course they do.

So that's about it. I'm currently playing as him in a campaign that I am DM'ing (yes, I know that's a bit of a no-no - but I really can't help it, I LOVE playing as characters, and I love the theatrics. Sue me).

I'm not going to bore you with details about the campaign, plot, or any of my other ocs, because I've already said way too much and have hit my infodumping quota for the month. But seriously, thank you for this ask, and for the opportunity to talk about my darling Elliot.

#my ocs #elliot sparrow #asks #james tag

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alj4890 · 1 year

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Right by Your Side

(Maxwell Beaumont x MC) in a Choices The Royal Romance one shot.

For @moodmusicmonday 's Luck of the Draw with the song

A/N I fell hard for this song while trying to think of something for it. So many different Choices books came to mind for this but then as I listened to the lyrics over and over, I kept going back to TRR book 2 and the mess with Riley's reputation and how Maxwell stood by her from the very start (and of course the running LOL) So, here's what my Maxwell shipping heart needed from the beginning of that storyline.

Masterlist

Right by Your Side

Riley felt numb that first night at Ramsford. Perhaps she was still in shock from having guards drag her away as if she was the most vile criminal ever to come to Cordonia. Maybe it was because everyone had seen pictures of her in her underwear and they would forever be on the Internet.

Or, was it because Fate had stepped in to keep her from having to make a decision?

She flopped on her stomach when the image of Liam standing before her in the hedge maze came to mind.

I don't need to wait any longer to make my choice. I love you.

Was that fear she felt in that moment? Was she afraid of hearing what her heart would say if he were to actually pop the question?

Was it because the man standing before her was not the one who had been by her side all along?

The one who came rushing to the airport to stop her from leaving?

Riley buried her face in her pillow. Hot tears began to stain the satin pillowcase as she muffled her cries against it. She didn't want to answer that. She didn't want to address any of the thoughts going through her mind.

Then why did I tell Bertrand that I was innocent with Tariq but I am in love with someone else?

She knew deep down that was the truth. That was the only good thing to come out of this horrible night.

She'd finally spoken about what was truly in her heart.

*****************

The next morning...

Half asleep, Riley mumbled for whoever was knocking to come in.

Maxwell poked his head in.

"Hey blossom."

"Hey."

He walked over and sat down on the edge of her bed. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

She pushed herself into an upright position.

"I'm fine, Max."

"Are you fine fine or fine?" He asked.

Riley couldn't help but smile. "I'm definitely on this side of fine fine but not quite there yet."

That dimpled smile of his she adored appeared, lighting up his entire face.

And her heart.

"Good." He crawled across her bed to settle comfortably next to her. "I can't stand to see you with tear streaks."

"It's not my best look." She tried to joke.

He draped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her close. "You know you're gorgeous, but yeah. Tears and your skin do not go well together at all."

She laughed while gently elbowing him in the ribs. "Thanks ever so much."

"Anytime." He jumped to his feet when they heard an all too familiar throat clear from the doorway.

With a disapproving glance to his brother, Bertrand walked in with a breakfast tray.

"What's all this?" Riley asked.

"Breakfast in bed!" Maxwell told her.

"Maxwell convinced me that when a young woman goes through something traumatic, that she needs rest and ample sustenance." Bertrand explained.

"Guys." Riley blinked back tears. "You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble."

"You are no trouble." Maxwell argued.

"Well..." Bertrand paused when Maxwell glared at him. "It isn't necessarily you, that is the trouble."

"The trouble is the situation." Maxwell added to try to smooth over his brother's words. "Not you."

Riley wiped at her tears. "This is why I should go back to New York. Look what happens when an outsider comes here."

She forced herself to look up at them.

"I don't belong in your world."

"You do!" Maxwell argued, jostling the tray as he sat down beside her again. "You fit in our world perfectly."

"Not perfectly." Bertrand corrected. "But we can fix that."

"How?" Riley asked.

"By teaching you everything a lady of the Royal Court would know." He explained. "Once you blend in with the other ladies, we'll be able to find out who sabotaged your moment to become queen."

Riley paled some. "I appreciate that, but I don't want to be queen."

Bertrand grimaced. "Be that as it may, you'll never truly be free to be with whomever you want if scandal is associated with your name. No Cordonian family would allow it."

Riley blinked as his words sunk in. "I see."

"Plus," Bertrand continued. "The Beaumont name has been tarnished because of our sponsorship of you."

"Oh no." She buried her head in her hands.

Maxwell was quick to comfort her.

"Hey, don't worry about us." He hugged her close. "I've made a mockery of the name Beaumont more times than I can count."

Bertrand rolled his eyes over that bit of family history.

Riley couldn't believe that not only was she in what seemed an impossible situation but that she'd somehow also lost her chance to be with the man she was secretly in love with.

"I'm so sorry."

"It isn't your fault." Bertrand gruffly argued. "But we are going to need your help to right this wrong. And," his stern demeanor softened, "you are a Beaumont."

"I am?" She asked.

"You're stuck with us." Maxwell winked at her. "For better or for worse."

"Definitely for the better." She winked back with a tremulous smile. "So? When do we start the lessons?"

"Once you've had a chance to eat and get ready for the day." Bertrand told her on his way out. "Meet us in the ballroom."

"Yes, your grace." She dipped her head in thanks.

A slight smile appeared on his lips. "Perhaps our training won't take as long as I once thought."

He bowed and left her alone with Maxwell.

"Give it to me straight." She pleaded. "How bad is my reputation and how horrible are these lessons going to be?"

Maxwell hesitated, raising his hands like a scale weighing each option.

"Crap." Riley flopped back on her pillows.

"It won't be all bad." He told her. "I'll be there to help you through it and to find ways to escape the boring lessons."

Riley rose up on her elbows. "That takes care of the lessons, but what about when I am back out in public?"

"Tell you what." He reached for her hand. "The moment it gets too much for you, just say the word and BAM! We run out of there."

"Really?" Her smile grew at the thought. "You'll run away with me when a noble is acting like a jerk or I accidentally mess up?"

"Yep." He squeezed her hand. "On my honor as a Beaumont."

"Then I think I can get through this." She sat up straight and began to pour some coffee into her cup.

Maxwell watched her settle in to the breakfast he and Bertrand had painstakingly prepared with a great deal of relief. His room shared a wall with Riley's and he'd heard her crying off and on during the night.

It was a slash to his heart as he thought of her in here alone, probably blaming herself for everything that happened.

Around four in the morning he decided that he was done playing the simple escort. From now on, he would protect her from the direct cuts and slurs that those of his rank would hurl her way.

Even if it meant irreparable damage to his family name, Maxwell would do anything for Riley.

*****************

Madeleine's home...

Riley's stomach churned. She wanted nothing more than to beg Bertrand and Maxwell to take her back to Ramsford so that she could hide there forever. She knew though that if she was to ever have a chance with the man by her side, she would have to find a way to get through this.

Swallowing nervously, she paused in the open doorway of Madeleine's ballroom. Her eyes darted over the familiar faces. Heads were already bent toward each other while fingers pointed at her. The few reporters allowed within the event had their cameras poised to capture the first images of Riley being called out for daring to return.

Just as fear made her legs twitch to run in the opposite direction, Maxwell settled his hand over hers. She looked up and saw nothing but pride in his eyes.

"You're doing great." He whispered, squeezing her ice cold fingers. "Keep your chin up. Here comes, Adelaide."

After the greetings, Adelaide stepped back from the pair, critically studying the way they stood together.

"Don't you make a cute couple?"

Riley immediately jumped on that. "We do, don't we?"

"We do?" Maxwell's eyes widened.

He wasn't certain if he more surprised by Adelaide saying it or Riley agreeing.

"The cutest." Riley added with her first genuine smile of the evening.

Maxwell tried to excuse the conversation as Riley probably needing something to latch on to help stop the gossip of her with Tariq. He didn't mind being the new source that Cordonian's biggest gossip would have spread around before they even walked across the ballroom. If that's the role Riley needed him in now, then he was more than ready to play it.

To prove his point, he kept his hand over the one she had resting on his arm.

"Ready?" He asked when they spotted Liam and Madeleine.

"As I'll ever be." She mumbled, instinctively moving closer to Maxwell. "I really need to talk to Liam and clear things up. Don't you think?"

He hesitated. He knew how much his friend had fallen for Riley. It would hurt Liam to hear she didn't return his feelings. Yet wouldn't it hurt more to wait until he saw her with whomever she was in love with?

"I think you should, just not right now." He barely nodded toward the nobles staring intently at them. "Not with this audience."

"You're right." She released a sigh. "I guess I have to wait. If only he had called me after everything happened, then I wouldn't be so nervous to how he'll react."

What if Liam refused to let her remain in Cordonia? What if he wouldn't let her try and clear her name? She'd never be able to be with Maxwell if that happened.

Lost in her tormented thoughts, she found herself dipping into a curtsy before the royal couple.

"Lady Riley." Liam lifted her hand to his lips, eyes revealing a wealth of adoration for her. "We should talk-"

"To our newly arrived guests." Madeleine finished for him.

"Right." Liam shot a pleading look at Maxwell.

Riley cleared her throat. "Congratulations you two."

Madeleine beamed at her while hugging Liam's arm close against her chest.

"Thank you. Liam is such an attentive fiance."

Riley managed to somehow not roll her eyes. If the countess had any idea that she wasn't wanting him back, then she probably wouldn't put on such a show.

"I can't imagine him being anything less." Riley managed to say with a straight face.

"We really must go greet our other guests." Madeleine told them. "Enjoy the party."

Maxwell released the breath he was holding once he and Riley were left alone. "That went well."

She chuckled. "Honestly I expected her to brandish a scarlet A while screeching for guards to throw me out."

Maxwell's grin brought out her own.

"She'd at least have the decency to wait to do that until they start serving dessert."

"Thank God for small favors."

Maxwell squeezed her hand once more. "Come on. We'll find out seats."

After enduring a brief conversation with Penelope and Kiara, Riley was able to relax for the time being once she was seated between Maxwell and Bertrand. Perhaps she would be able to get through this easier than she expected. She'd hoped to have Hana and Drake on her side, yet they were nowhere to be found.

At least she had Maxwell there to help her wade through this minefield of pompous manners and tradition.

*****************

"One night down." Maxwell collapsed on her bed with an oof.

Riley sank down beside him as she slipped her heels off. "Thanks to you."

"Me?" He shook his head. "Tonight was all you, blossom."

"Yeah, but I wouldn't have been able to get through it without you." She argued.

"We make a great team." He quipped.

"The best." She stressed.

The two jumped when there was a knock at her door.

"You think it's Bertrand?" She whispered.

Maxwell shrugged.

She peeped out the door to see a servant with a vase filled with roses. Taking them without a word, she quickly shut and locked her bedroom door.

"Oh!" Riley buried her nose in the fragrant blooms. "How beautiful! Did you get these for me?"

Maxwell hated that he hadn't thought of doing so. "No. Wish I had."

She set it down on the table, admiring the bouquet.

"There's something wrapped around that stem towards the left." He pointed out.

Riley unfurled the paper. "It's from Liam!"

"What's it say?" He got to his feet to read it over her shoulder.

The pair both felt guilty when they read the new king's heartfelt plea to meet secretly upon his balcony.

"I have to go." Riley folded the note and slipped it into the pocket of her dress. "I have to tell him the truth."

Maxwell felt a new slash to his heart. After these past few weeks of having her to himself, he realized he was falling in love with Riley. He couldn't tell her, since she was already having to let Liam down. The last thing she needed was more stress over her complicated love life. He just hoped whoever she loved realized what they had in her.

"Madeleine placed your rooms as far apart as she could." He explained. "You're not going to be able to sneak over there with all the nobles here."

Riley eyed her window. "There's more than one way out of this room."

"We're on the third floor!" Maxwell exclaimed. "You'll get hurt or worse!"

Riley opened her window and examined her path to Liam's room.

"Riley please. When I said worse, that meant death!" Maxwell pleaded. "Don't-"

She climbed out the window, perched on the edge, and winked at him. "Promise I'll be careful."

"Riley!" He harshly whispered.

He stuck his head out to watch her precarious walk around Madeleine's home. His heart was stuck in his throat when she struggled to reach the railing to Liam's balcony. She swayed somewhat until she got a good grip.

Once he saw her climb over safely, he ran to her bathroom and emptied the contents of his stomach. Maxwell had never been more terrified than he was in thinking he could lose her if she tumbled off the wall. He hoped Liam would realize the dangerous path she took and find another route back to her room. He honestly couldn't take seeing her try to make her way along that narrow ledge again.

******************

"Riley!" Liam rushed to her when he heard her land behind him.

"Liam." She stopped him from embracing her. "We need to talk."

"I know." He took her hands in his. "It's just so good to see you again. I need to tell you--"

"Liam, I'm in love with someone else!" Riley blurted out, unable to hear him say anything nice to her.

The guilt was killing her that she couldn't return his love.

Liam froze. He shook his head as if to clear it.

"I'm so sorry." Riley squeezed his hands before pulling away. "But somewhere along the way I fell in love with someone else."

"Is it Tariq? Is that why he was in your room at Applewood?" Liam asked.

"No! I've never felt anything for him. His being in my room was a big misunderstanding." She explained.

"Then who-"

"He doesn't know how I feel." Riley hedged. She needed to tell Maxwell how in love she was before anyone else found out. "And unless I can clear my name, I won't be able to be with him."

Liam folded his arms and leaned against the wall. His lips that had once been in a delighted smile were now in a firm line.

"Then we must do all we can to help you clear it." He decided.

Riley's eyes burned with tears.

"You'd, you'd do that? For me? After I just..." She lowered her head in her hands while shaking with sobs.

Liam gently took her in his arms, softly shushing her apologies.

"Riley, I want you in my life in whatever capacity you allow." Liam admitted.

It hurt to say he would settle for being her friend. He hoped that perhaps she would one day return his affections as time went on. But for now, he'd do what he could to keep her, protect her, and clear her name.

The two briefly discussed what to do during the engagement tour.

"How did you get over here?" He asked.

When she pointed to the narrow ledge, he paled over the danger she'd placed herself in.

"There is a hidden set of corridors through here." He opened a panel in his room to reveal the path servants traveled in the early morning hours. "At the end of the hall there is a door that opens out into the main loft at the top of the stairs."

"Thanks Liam." She hugged him. "And not just for an easier way back to my room."

His lips curved in a sad smile as he looked at her. "No need to thank me. Goodnight, Lady Riley."

"Goodnight."

*****************

Venice, Italy...

Bertrand and Justin were once again telling Riley how to act to continue to win over nobles.

"We're making progress." Maxwell repeated to her. "Not only with your reintroduction to society but in finding clues toward whoever is behind the pictures."

"Do you think she'll be there tonight?" Riley asked.

"It's the biggest event in town. Everyone will be there which means the press will be there in droves." He explained.

Justin wished them luck once they left the limo.

Bertrand went on inside, giving them a moment alone.

"You okay?" Maxwell asked.

"I..." She shook her head with a laugh. "Honestly, I wish we could get out of here. Go enjoy Venice at night."

Riley looked about, longing to be anywhere than on a mission.

"Cordonia is the first European country I've ever visited. Now I'm in Italy and I wish I could experience it as a tourist." She snorted softly. "An average, maxed out her credit card to get here, tourist."

Maxwell laced his fingers with hers. "You want to run away?"

Her head jerked up to look at him. "Could we?"

"Say the word, and we will use all our training to get out of here." He told her.

Riley couldn't help but giggle over the memories of their early morning runs around Ramsford.

Maxwell began to over exaggerate his stretches.

"Stop!" She burst out laughing, feeling all her tension melt away.

"Gotta get limber if we're to run." He explained with a smile, his dimples deepening over being able to make her laugh.

"You're crazy." She teased. "And I am so ready to call your bluff."

"Not bluffing." Maxwell corrected. "I promised you I'd run away whenever you needed us to." He leaned down, nose nearly touching hers. "So, m'lady? Do you need to run away?"

Riley's breath caught at his face so near her own. She could see all the different shades of blue in those ocean colored eyes of his. She could detect the light splash of cologne he preferred mixed with the cinnamon Altoids he was known to munch on whenever nervous.

She longed to lean forward the few inches and kiss him. She wondered what he would do. She assumed he would be shocked at first. Would he participate in the kiss once he got over the surprise? Would he admit he felt something for her?

Or would she walk away in embarrassment and heartache?

Maxwell realized his mistake the moment he got too close. He should have thought through his actions instead of just going with whatever he felt in the moment. Her face, the one he adored, was already hard to keep from staring at. Now he was able to see every single feature that held his attention.

Her eyes, green as the first leaves of spring, shined with warmth. The freckles that dotted along her lightly tanned skin dusted her upper cheeks and bridge of her nose. Her lips, petal pink with the bottom slightly plumper than the top one, parted as if ready to be kissed.

What would she do if he allowed himself to accidentally (on purpose) lean more forward so that his lips could brush hers? Would she gasp in delighted surprise or would she shove him away in disgust?

"There you two are!" Hana ran down the steps to embrace them, unknowingly breaking the sexual tension developing. "I was worried I would have to go in by myself."

Maxwell and Riley forced themselves back from one another. Both knew they couldn't run away now, especially with Hana so relieved to see them.

"Shall we, ladies?" Maxwell held his arms out to them.

The three got in line to be photographed.

**************

Riley somehow managed to get through the dinner without jumping out of her seat to confront the photographer. Maxwell sat across from her, smiling in encouragement each time her eyes met his. He was the only thing keeping her calm. She wasn't certain how she impressed both the Italian noble and Olivia, barely paying attention to what she said in response to the wine and Cordonia joining the EU. Yet somehow, she'd managed to rack up more points in improving her standing in Cordonian society.

If only it mattered in her having a chance to be with the man she wanted.

Bertrand seemed so proud of her performance. Would he still be if he knew she wanted his brother?

Riley longed to bang her head against the table. She was utterly exhausted from playing the part of a proper lady turned secret detective. She was bored hearing the small talk of the other ladies of the Court.

Then Penelope opened her mouth and asked her about Maxwell.

"What?" Riley bit out.

"Do you think Lord Maxwell would be interested in making a match with me?" Penelope repeated.

Riley glared at the model perfect woman. How dare she even think she could be with Maxwell! Didn't she listen to the rumors that he and Riley were a couple? That that was the reason they were always together now???

Riley was ready to tell her to back off. Then she caught sight of Bertrand off in a corner observing her and somehow tempered her answer.

"No offense." Riley tried to control her voice. "But you're not really his type."

"Oh." Penelope's lips formed a perfect pout made for lipstick commercials. "What is his type?"

"Someone gorgeous. Lots of fun." Riley felt her own heart drop over not being his type. "Someone who appreciates his sweet ways and how he--"

"So someone like you?" Penelope interrupted.

"Me?" Riley stared at her immediate sworn enemy. "Um..."

"Shh!" Hana softly shushed them. "Here he comes."

Maxwell bowed his head to the group. "Ladies? If you would excuse us, I need to have a word with Lady Riley."

"Of course!" Penelope beamed at him then at Riley as she followed the others across the room.

"What was that about?" He whispered.

"I'm not sure." Riley couldn't decide if Penelope was as horrible as she thought. "What's up?"

"Things are quieting down, so now would be a good time to find the photographer and do a little interrogation." He explained.

"Okay." She looked around the crowded place. "And how do we do that without drawing attention?"

"Oh, we're going to draw attention." Maxwell's grin turned mischievous. "Just the kind that doesn't let anyone know what we are really up to."

He led her to a less crowded area where a group of the press were near.

"Your call on what we should do to draw their eyes this way?"

Riley looked up at him as she considered a few options. He could always pretend to be throwing her out of House Beaumont or...

"You should propose to me."

Maxwell stilled. His eyes searched hers to see if she was messing around to only see a shuttered almost vulnerable look in the green depths.

With her hands clasped, she quickly told him he could then pretend to be confessing his love for something else, like gelato.

"Okay." He audibly swallowed.

"I'll give you the signal when I see the photographer." Riley added.

"Sounds good."

He cleared his throat loud enough for some people to glance over at them.

"Lady Riley?" Maxwell gently took her hands in his. "There's something I need to confess."

"There is?" She asked.

He nodded, completely serious at this moment. "I should have seen it happening, yet I was blind to what was standing right in front of me."

"Maxwell, what are you..." She trailed off when he swept down to one knee.

The press surrounded them, each trying to snap pictures of the romantic moment.

"I want to shout it from the rooftops." His smile bloomed. "That I love..."

Everyone waited with baited breath.

"Gelato!" He exclaimed.

Riley choked back a laugh as everyone else expressed their dismay.

As the group left them, grumbling over the lack of drama, Riley spotted the photographer.

"There she is!" She whispered, yanking him up.

The woman noticed the two and took off running.

"After her!" Maxwell nudged Riley into action.

The pair dashed out of the restaurant and down the dark streets of Venice in hot pursuit.

"I can't believe we're gaining on her!" Riley puffed, hiking the skirt of her dress higher to give her legs more freedom.

"I knew our early mornings would be worth it!" Maxwell teased.

They cornered the woman and got a credit card number of the one who paid her for the pictures. This only created more questions for them to find the answers to.

"We did it!" Riley launched herself into his arms, hugging him tight.

Maxwell stumbled back against a wall the moment her body collided with his.

They both stilled, save for their excited breaths. Their eyes met and before either could talk themselves out of it, their lips met in a desperate kiss.

Maxwell's hands slipped into her blonde hair as his lips moved over and over hers, memorizing the taste and texture of her mouth.

Riley kept her arms around his waist, gripping him as close as she could.

They broke apart to catch their breaths, hearts racing with more than just the mad dash across Venice had caused.

"Riley?" Maxwell couldn't make himself ask the question he needed an answer to.

"It's you." She breathed. "It's always been you. I fell in love with you with all the dress fittings and early morning wake up calls and--"

She moaned into the heat of his kiss. Her arms slipped around his neck as his hands drifted down her body.

"I love you." He muttered against her mouth. "So much."

Riley sank into his embrace, her leg wrapping around his hip as they kissed.

"We really need to find somewhere else to continue this." Maxwell groaned when she moved against him.

"My room." She stepped out of his arms. "On the train. Now."

He pulled her close to his side. "You're not worried someone will see and hear us?"

"I hope they do." She paused when it hit her that he might not want that to happen. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you can't be with me until my name is cleared."

"What are you talking about?" He asked, nudging her chin up.

"Bertrand said no family would allow me to be with anyone with my name associated with scandal." She reminded him.

"That doesn't matter with me." His smile gave her hope. "Don't you remember? You're a Beaumont."

Her eyes widened. "You mean..."

"It doesn't matter if we ever clear this scandal up." He pressed his lips to hers. "We can be together out in the open because we're Beaumont's. Let them try and say anything."

Tears sparkled in her eyes. They were for the first time in a very long time, tears of absolute joy.

#Spotify #mood music monday #luck of the draw #choices trr #the royal romance #trr #trr maxwell #maxwell x mc #choices the royal romance #choices the stories you play #choices maxwell beaumont

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dandelion-wings · 1 year

Text

I've long since scuttled it as a One Day Longer sequel (since that's so well-jossed), but sometimes I still rotate the possibility of making a fresh attempt at the fully gen, attempting-to-be-fully-canon-compliant "Jean and Kaeya go after Eroch and his cronies" fic in my head enough for little scenes to pop up:

"I'm going to be made the new Master of the Knights," Jean tells him. "Grand Master Varka is announcing it tomorrow."

Kaeya's eye goes wide, and there's some satisfaction in seeing him rock back in his seat, the smooth veneer slipping. He doesn't know *everything*.

"Congratulations," he says, raising his glass to her. "I take it Master Vilma is no longer holding the position?"

"She's retiring. Effective immediately."

That should be 'under arrest,' but Jean doesn't have the authority for that, or the grounds, or quite the trust built, yet, to be able to ask the Grand Master for all the support she'd need to make it so. All she has is fragmented evidence from the files Eroch hadn't been able to entirely destroy, and a pile of papers in an anonymous hand making implications that Jean can't yet verify. She needs patience and time to build anything more, and the authority of her new position.

"Good enough," is all Kaeya says, his smile wryly regretful.

Jean nods, smiling regretfully back at him, and then moves on to her next point of order before he can do more than start to reach for her empty glass.

"As I adjust to my new position, I will need an adjunct to assist me with my duties." She pauses, takes a breath. "Particularly with an ongoing internal investigation of the Knights."

"Oh?" He raises his eyebrow. "I thought your mandate was simply to investigate Inspector Eroch."

"Officially, yes. But as the Master of the Knights, I will have the authority to investigate any knight I feel may not have acted according to the standards of the Ordo. And I... have reason to fear that there may be more of those in the Ordo than we thought."

She meets Kaeya's eye and sees the complete, expected lack of surprise in it. Those papers had been so deliberately *not* in Diluc's hand, so careful in concealing all the little clues that would have given away his handwriting and turns of speech, that she knows they couldn't have actually come from Diluc.

"Huh. Well, if you need me to suggest any trustworthy adjuncts, I can give you some names."

"Thank you, but there's no need. I know who I have in mind. I understand it's not the captaincy you applied for, but, Kaeya, I would like you to serve as my adjunct for the duration."

"Me? Are you sure that's wise?"

Jean keeps looking at him, holding eye contact, and he goes stiff under her gaze. That had startled him too, though he'd hidden it better this time, just a little twitch before he froze. She's not sure if it's the stillness of a rabbit, or of a snake.

He wouldn't bite her either way. Jean is more certain of that than he thinks he is himself. She wants to tell him that she trusts him. That it doesn't matter where he came from, or what his reasons were, or what have made Diluc turn his blade against him. That all that matters is his blade guarding her back, and his hand supporting her when she stumbles, and a pile of papers appearing on her desk between one night and the next to give her the last clue she'd needed for her report.

But her trust isn't what he wants. Not if he thinks it might be given blindly.

"I don't believe," she tells him, softly, "that there is anyone else in the Ordo who could be any more qualified to know what a traitor among the Knights looks like, or how to draw them out."

Kaeya breathes out, too soft to be a sigh, his shoulders relaxing. "If you're that certain, it would be churlish of me not to accept."

"Thank you, Kaeya." Jean smiles at him, her own relief making her feel heady and light. Or maybe that's the burden of all the rot she's seen lurking in the Ordo's shadows lifting off her shoulders, now that she has someone to share it with.

#fic excerpt #possibly #i have so much to disassemble and stitch together if i ever take a *checks* fourth swing at this #but i'll tag it so i can find it again if i need to #jean and kaeya run this city

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kiliinstinct · 1 year

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Chapter 15:

Rating: T Pairing: Nalu FF.Net || AO3

[Ch: 1] ||| [Prev] | [Next]

Special Notice:

Happy Holidays my dudes! But also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to @phoenix-before-the-flame !! Go Send them some love if you see this. I wanted to have more of my Chapter Backlog done before posting, but I figured that since it’s almost been a full year, now was the time to post! Also special Thanks to Phoenix for being my Beta on this chapter and the future ones. :) Look forward to Chapter 16 - it’ll be posted January 16th, 2023. See you then!

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“Nine of Swords, feeling torment at being separated from your partner?” “I didn’t ask for a reading about my relationship with Mirajane.” “Well, that’s what my Cards are telling me so-” “Check again.”

Cana studied Laxus, incredulous. It wasn’t the first time someone doubted her skill, but the sheer demand of his voice made her pause in reach of her ale. “... excuse me? That is not how this works -” “Check. Again.” His voice hardened, sparks sizzling along his shoulders.

“Oye… fine, as you wish. Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and swiped her cards into a stack again, flipping through with practiced ease. She cut it in two, dexterously shifting through the cards at a speed most couldn’t keep up with before straightening the deck against the table with a satisfying slap. She started again, repeating these motions a couple more times, digging at Laxus’ impatience with every cut.

“Hrm… this is taking too long. Shuffle faster.” “Shut it, Sparky. I don’t tell you how to stand like an intimidating, weather vane; you don’t tell me how to handle my cards.”

“A weather vane-?”

“Yes, a tall, demanding, blonde weather vane- oh here we are!” Cana’s smirk dropped, eyes furrowing in scrutiny at the card she twirled between her fingers.

“... well?” He leaned closer, broad frame towering over her own, but she paid him no mind. “Uh, well, Five of Wands. Reversed. A challenge has been posed for you. You’re wondering how you should act or what you should do. Probably in need of some serious mediation or help making decisions.” “You’re saying I’m incapable of choosing paths for myself?” He bristled, the taste of thunder and lightning growing in the air as he grew tense, ready to stand at any moment to overshadow her. Feeling the static of his magic at the tips of her hair, Cana huffed and popped the cap off her ale with her thumb and took a quick swig. “Look, we’re all human. We can’t always know what to do in our lives, even you. And from what these cards are telling me, there’s one thing clear for you: and that’s you’re conflicted and need to take your time before making any rash decisions.” “Ugh, typical. I wanted to get a read about this situation with the new blondie and all you’re telling me is vague bull shit.” “Hey, if that’s what you take from it, that’s your fault. If you don’t like it, get yourself another fortune teller and leave me out of this.”

The memories of her last card reading echoed in Cana’s mind. A silent reminder for why she hated giving fortunes to some members of her clan. The more stubborn members of her family always expected clear-cut answers that went their way, never accepting how a reading really worked. It was exhausting to deal with.

Knowing she may end up giving a reading to this…Kage only made it worse. How was she supposed to get a guy to talk with her cards? Fake threats? Draw the Death card and tell him, ‘you will die in 7 days!’ If he didn’t know much about Fortune readings, it might work, but the mere thought of misusing her death card like that was irritating. (It didn’t even MEAN that. Ugh-) And her partner for this conversation wasn’t much help either. Taking a final swig of her beer bottle, knowingly disappointed at her lack of foresight in bringing an extra, Cana eyed Erza. The redhead silently led the way, shoulders tense and aura oozing discipline. There would be no fun banter right now, not when Erza took her job entirely too seriously at times. Perhaps it was Erza who really needed a reading instead.. A good, ‘learn to chill out and not be such a stickler for the rules!’ lesson.

Cana rolled her eyes and sighed, as if that would ever work.

“Something troubling you?” Erza asked, interrupting Cana’s thoughts, a terse voice echoing off the stone walls. “That’s your third sigh now.”

Cana resisted the roll of her eyes again and muttered, “Aren’t you observant. Was I too obvious?”

The sarcasm bounced off Erza like oil to water, amusement filling her voice instead, “Only a little. Are you so against the Chief’s orders?”

“I don’t see the point in them.” Cana answered with a shrug, “but I guess if it helps, then it was worth it.”

“Good.” Their footsteps paused, blocked by the barred door at the end. Erza rested a hand on the bar lock and cast a curious glance back towards Cana. “He’s grown less antagonistic over the past weeks, perhaps we’ll make progress today.”

“Let’s just get this over with,” Cana urged, wishing she’d snuck another bottle in with her. This interrogation couldn’t end quicker and it hadn’t even started. Erza nodded, unlocking the latch and shoving the door open to the dim-lit, dusty dungeons. The drops of water trickling from an unknown corner echoed among the thick silence, revealing just how empty the cells were.

Except for the one occupied. The captured mage laid against his cot, whistling to the ceiling before he kicked his legs up, the momentum pulling him up to stare at the approaching girls. His lips curved into a smirk as he waved to them.

“Oh am I getting more company? How generous of the Fairies.” He said, voice full of mockery. “Can we make this one quick? I wasn’t done counting the cracks in the ceiling.”

“That would depend entirely on you, Kage.” Erza replied, voice returning to its earlier, strict undertones. Cana took a seat on a nearby stool and leaned against the wall.

“Sounds like fun,” She said, her own smirk creeping on her face, “meanwhile I’m wanting more booze. Looks like we’re both in a hurry. I think my plan sounds better than yours though.”

He snorted. “I’ve got limited options, so thanks for rubbing that in.” “Aw, no problem. Glad to be of service!”

Kage’s expression soured and Erza cleared her throat, casting a reproaching glance towards Cana. “I’d prefer us not to get off topic here.”

“Ugh, fine.” Cana waved, reflexively pulling her deck of cards out to begin shuffling them. Not for a reading, but as a way to calm her own nerves. “Go ahead, I’ll just watch.”

Erza nodded and made a point of standing directly in front of Kage’s view. “Excellent, let’s get started then.”

Kage groaned and Cana, amusedly, couldn’t blame him. She wondered if a card or two might fall out for him, but shrugged and kept on shuffling.

Halfway across the cove, Lucy struggled to walk up a winding path, wincing as loose gravel and dirt impeded her steps. She did not know the conversations in the keep, or Cana’s current banter with the man incarcerated. Although he was never far from Lucy’s mind when she thought too much on the circumstances of her being here. This morning, the trek along the worn path served as her distraction. And Levy stood beside her, ushering her with each step right along with Wendy who clicked her tongue and kept stopping to check on Lucy’s knee. It wasn’t the easiest of paths to travel, and she wished they had chosen to do it when Lucy wasn’t so exhausted, but Lucy…

Lucy insisted.

She would never improve if she kept taking the easy way out. Leaving behind a little note in her small hut, she knew Natsu would come across it eventually (or Mira) and no one would worry too much about her whereabouts. She wasn’t alone after all and despite the cold of winter, Lucy desperately wanted to see what else was in this small town. Levy, especially, wanted to show her, now that they had met.

“It’s okay if you need a break,” Wendy coaxed, magic emanating from her hand as she ran her fingers upon Lucy’s knee, easing the sore nerves that complained, “In fact, I insist on taking one the moment we find a place for you to sit. Uhm, It’s just, I get that you’ve been feeling better, but you don't want to make it bad again, right?”

“Of course I don’t.” Lucy said, sighing as she looked down, watching Wendy nibble her lip in worry. “I just really want to see this archive Levy was telling me about. Is it true? The idea that you all have this huge building full of books, but rarely use it just astounds me!” “Oh, we- we use it!” Wendy said, pouting, “just not everyone.” “Yeah, Natsu being one of them.” Levy giggled, skipping ahead to find a place to possibly sit, “But Wendy makes a good point. I’d feel so bad if you hurt yourself just to see books with me! Especially since we’ve barely met!”

“All right, all right,” Lucy conceded, a small smile splitting her cheeks. “I swear, I’m fine! But if it’ll make you both feel better, then I guess I’ll humor you.”

Lucy had felt endeared to Levy almost instantly. Once she’d grown more comfortable (and less confused) by their meeting, the two learned they had plenty in common: when it came to sharing tales and hearing them. When the smaller Romni admitted she lived and tended to all the books in their archive, gathering tales (and taking note of oral tradition in the clans) to keep them safe and unforgettable, Lucy couldn’t hold back her excitement. Stories were passed down from person to person in her clan. She had never heard of them being saved in thick tomes and she wanted to see it for herself. Perhaps, she could learn of other places, other myths- and even add her own to it. Levy certainly liked the idea of adding the Celestial Tribe tales to her collection and Lucy felt a need too strong to resist. Her clan could be remembered in more than just memory…

Isn’t that wonderful?

Wouldn’t it have been better if they had lived to see it themselves?

The intrusive thought was swept away with Lucy’s tight smile.

It wasn’t long after that they found a small stump for Lucy to rest at. Wendy clicked her tongue and tutted about, checking on Lucy’s knee (only a scar remained) and tested her reflexes and muscle strength. The pain was mild, offset by the chill in the air and Lucy’s inability to overwork herself without someone intervening. She didn’t allow them to fret long about her, wanting to make it to the archive before the day was over with. ( “Oh stop exaggerating, it won't take that Long, Lucy!” Levy exclaimed in amusement, but allowed them to follow the trail despite her reservations. )

Lucy didn’t care, the smile never leaving her face even as her muscles cramped from the force. She knew it wasn’t a true smile, not with the thoughts that shouted in her head, but Lucy refused to give her inner turmoil away. With an almost desperation in her steps, she urged them to continue onward, wanting to see these protected tomes for herself.

Her smile wouldn’t reach her eyes again until Lucy found herself entering the modestly sized building that smelled of old parchment with dust tickling at her nose. There were no lights upon entry, but Levy made quick work of that, fingers forming odd symbols glowed in soft magic that sent a burst of flames to each candle in the room, lighting them almost instantly. The illumination of book after book and spare papers littered over nearby tables sent Lucy’s heart jumping into her throat.

Wendy coughed and waved in front of her nose, “I think we need to dust more.”

“Erm,” Levy muttered something unintelligibly for a second, her eyes sheepishly dodging Wendy's before she skirted about the room, grabbing a rag, “It’s a little hard to keep this place clean when I’m not around you know- Oh! “She paused, staring at one of the books with a smile, “But my enchantments to keep the books safe are still intact. Perfect!”

This was a new Magic Lucy knew nothing about, but she almost missed the chance to ask about it, so enamored by the books before her. Many looked old, torn at the edges, worn on their cracked spines. Some looked completely new and written in an inky scrawl that she assumed was Levy’s own writing. The girl had stated she wasn’t much of a writer, but transcription and translation were her favorite pastimes. Trailing her fingers along one of the shelves, Lucy took in a deep breath and glanced back towards the two girls currently fussing over the cleanliness of the room.

“How do you cast enchantments?” She asked, eyes brimming with curiosity. “Is that particular to the tribe you’re originally from or is it something anyone can learn?”

Levy grew silent, brows knit together as she considered the question, moving the rag with an absentminded swipe. “Uhm, a little bit of both? Maybe?”

Alarm bells sounded in Lucy’s head and she frowned, “You… don’t know?”

Levy shrugged and her ears turned pink, “Oh! It’s not like that. It’s just.. Erm, well-”

“Levy didn’t come from a former clan.” Wendy answered, voice falling quiet as she looked at the other girl, “Oh, i'm sorry! I should have let you answer.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Levy said fondly as she patted Wendy’s head with a bright smile. “I was more concerned with making Lu over there feel awkward for asking.”

“Oh!” Wendy gasped, “I hadn’t thought about that!”

Levy hit the nail on the head. Lucy stood, mouth agape as her face turned three shades of red. “I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to be rude, I was just-”

“No, No, Noooo…” Levy soothed, dusting off the nearest table to them, “You didn’t know, and it’s not a big deal. I was just, well- like everyone else, sort of orphaned? One of the fishermen in this village found me as a baby and took me in. You can imagine our surprise when I suddenly came into magic. Proof I must have been from some clan, but no idea where! You don’t have to worry about that. My script magic isn’t something just anyone can do, but the enchantments aren’t part of it.”

“It.. it’s not?” Lucy asked. Her teeth bit into her lip enough to make her wince, but she urged Levy to continue while Wendy busied herself at a different table.

“Not at all!” Levy confirmed, ushering Lucy over to the nearest chair next to her. She took a seat and pulled some papers together, fingers skillfully binding them with string left over on the table. “Have you met Freed yet? Or heard about him? He can do it too, though he’s way more skilled than me with it.”

The memory of the Erza’s caravan having their shadow attacker locked away in one of the wagons came to mind. Lucy hadn’t met him face to face, but she did recall the name being passed around. He’d been the one to create the barrier that kept the man enclosed. She nodded and nervously tapped her fingers on the table.

There were so many books to examine, she didn’t know where to start!

Satisfied with her work, Levy opened the bundle of paper’s she’d gathered and quickly pulled quills and an inkwell from her pouch. They tapped against the wood and echoed through the room. It took Lucy a few seconds to realize Levy was looking at her expectantly after that.

“What? Did you say something?” She asked when Levy’s expectant gaze refused to move away.

“Heh, not yet!” She beamed and pointed to the stack, “If you don’t mind, would you want to maybe share one of your stories from your clan? I’d love to keep them safe here for you.”

Lucy flushed, unprepared for such a request. “Oh I don’t.. They can’t possibly be that good to-”

Wendy interrupted, unseen, but voice heard behind the shelves, “the one you told us was GREAT! And wouldn’t you like to have your history saved?”

“Well yes, but-” Was it right to spread those when the people who told them were no more?

“It’s entirely up to you, Lu,” Levy’s hand grasped the top of Lucy’s, pulling her from her uncertain thoughts just in time to realize she’d been grinding her teeth. “ - but, if there really were no other survivors… wouldn’t you like their memories to live on?”

It made sense. Lucy’s heart screamed to share them. Screamed to make them permanent in a world that was soon to forget they had ever existed. The idea was a beautifully painful one and telling her favorite story had been easy enough, right? She could do it again.

Her mind, however, warred against her heart; clashed and beat upon it like tidal waves threatening to drown her. They aren’t here to see it. Aren’t here to share it. What right do you have to -

“...Lu-?” Levy prodded while concern turned her lips down at the edges. “It’s okay to say no-”

Lucy snapped, “No!”

Levy jumped and a thud further behind the bookcases followed as Wendy yelped in surprise. Her fists clenched tight together and she took in a deep breath, “Sorry, that’s not- I don’t mind. I do want to. Really!”

The words were honest, but Lucy struggled with the nagging thoughts bouncing in her head. Levy glanced to where Lucy assumed Wendy was currently cleaning, shrugged her shoulders and waited quietly. A silence Lucy appreciated as she struggled to regain her thoughts. She could do this. The tightness in her heart and lungs was nothing. It didn’t belong there. She’d told this story before, she could do it again. She took a deep breath.

Just when it looked as if Levy was about to call the whole thing off, Lucy’s shoulders relaxed and the faint memory of the night on the trail, surrounded by flames and the others listening to her, filled her mind. She was safe and comfortable then, ready to give them a chance and try her best to fit in.

“I’ll start with my favorite, and the oldest story told by my clan,” She said, motioning for Levy to start writing. The quill was dipped quickly as Levy put the point to paper, waiting with bated breath. Lucy inhaled deeply and was surprised when Natsu’s words entered her mind:

‘The story was great, you know, but sad.’

“It has been said that the stars in our sky were once like us: beings who lived and breathed as they walked the cosmos….”

‘Do you know any happy ones?’

Lucy began her retelling and Levy’s pen danced across the paper, diligently writing.

The ‘discussion’ with Kage was taking too long.

Cana’s bottle had long been emptied and her stomach rumbled with the need to sustain herself with something more than liquid, but still she sat, shuffling her cards. How much time had passed? The entire morning? No sunlight reached the cells and her sense of time was thrown off. Deciding to follow the timing of her stomach, Cana assumed it had already passed noon.

Long passed lunch, and all Erza had earned was frustration and Kage stone walling.

“Come now, Kage,” Erza coaxed, “I’m sure you realize I want you gone just as much as you wish to be. Answer my questions and this will end far quicker than you’re making it.” It wasn’t the first time Erza had implied they would set the Shadow Mage free. Cana wasn’t altogether positive it was the truth, but knew one of their strongest warriors wasn’t the type to lie.

So what other plans did they have?

“Right,” he rolled his eyes, fingers pointing to one of the many cracks on the wall, “That makes five hundred. You Flies really need to focus on rebuilding this dump. If I was anyone else, I could have broken out of these walls, easily.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, those are reinforced with a barrier.”

“Tch, yeah, yeah- I know. Damn bastard already took the air from me twice now.” Kage rolled his eyes, words tumbling off his tongue lazily as he finally met Erza’s gaze from the corner of his eyes, “You ever wonder how someone like that didn’t end up in my clan? He’d fit right in.”

A rumble of frustration escaped Erza and Cana fidgeted with her deck. It felt as if a message was trying to get through, but something was blocking it. She couldn’t feel the right time to draw a card. Cana frowned and watched the others, one eyebrow raised in consternation.

“Besides,” He rolled his shoulders and sighed, “do you take me for some kind of fool? What sort of group just lets a man leave after he tried to kill some of your members?” Erza’s eyes narrowed and he smirked, “See? Even you know it’s ridiculous. So what’s the plan? Cut off my tongue? Curse me? I’m dying to know.”

“Gee, he’s cheery.” Cana commented, practically growling herself. “Why am I here again?”

Erza’s fist shook in barely withheld rage and she sighed, brushing strands of her red hair out of her face. “We are not the type to …” She paused to consider her words, “treat others as your people would.”

“Hah, yeah right.”

The strange message in the back of Cana’s head began to feel like a pulsing headache. The message in her cards practically thrummed with the need to pass it to her. Fingers flicked through the cards and the hunger pains worsened her mood by the second. Erza and Kage’s back and forth continued. Short of torture, the fortune teller wasn’t sure how they’d get anything out of him.

No way would we resort to their level. Cana frowned. The pressure lifted as one card finally slipped from the deck, falling to her lap. Her lips twitched at the sight of it, the magic in her veins shouted the message to her and a snicker slipped from her. Cana held it tightly between two fingers, pressed to her lips in a failed attempt to keep her laughter quiet. She slammed her hands on the table, failing as her voice trilled in laughter.

“Stop, Erza, stop,” She managed through gasping giggles, “you’re not going to like this, but we’re not getting anything out of him today.” Cana snorted, missing the look of agitation that crossed Erza’s face while their prisoner stared blankly from his cell, expressionless.

“Is that not what you’re here for?” Erza demanded, hands clenching into tight fists. “I thought you’d take this more seriously. You don’t need to drink that much!”

“Calm down, that’s not what I’m saying at all.” Though Cana would have loved to have more to drink in that moment, she chose to keep that statement to herself. Fingers danced along her cards, shuffling them quickly in a search for more answers. “If what I just pulled is right, he’s still convinced he’s getting out of here..”

“Are you implying Freed’s runes will fail?”

“I’m implying that he thinks they will.” Cana pressed. She slammed the cards down and rubbed her temples with an exhausted sigh.

Erza’s shoulders sagged, defeated, but the look lasted for only a moment until she whirled back to face Kage. One hand raised to touch the bars, but pressed against a wall that could not be seen. The barrier Freed had created was strong, still warm and buzzing with magic. It would hold. For now, but her eyes went through the barrier, through the bars, and into the dark pupils of her enemy. Kage had the good grace to flinch, inching back against the wall as his bed shifted and echoed through the prison.

She sighed. If Cana was right (and Erza had to quietly admit that Cana rarely was wrong when it came to her readings.), then they would need to be cautious.” We should make preparations just in case, then.”

Cana didn’t bother hiding her jubilation, whooping as she jumped from her chair and prepared to leave. Sweet freedom! If she had bothered to look back as she and Erza closed the doors behind them, she would have seen Kage’s expression fall from fear to outrage.

When Lucy finished her retelling, she couldn’t help, but feel self-conscious. Though she had heard the story already, Wendy had her mouth covered, eyes glistening from emotion as she held back tears. Levy, had an altogether different expression lighting her features. Brows were knit together in concentration as her quill did the final touches to her parchment. Her lips pulled back into a frown as she examined her work, glancing to Lucy and back again over and over. Lucy couldn’t resist the urge to squirm in her seat, wondering if she’d said something wrong.

Levy blinked, realization striking her when Lucy asked timidly. “Huh? Oh-! Oh, I’m sorry!” chuckling, Levy pushed the papers aside and grinned, hoping to ease Lucy’s worries. “There’s nothing wrong. Not at all! I just… well, it’s a very sad story…”

Lucy gnawed on her lip, fingers twitching as she thought back on it, “Well, yes… but not all myths have happy endings.”

“No, I know!” Levy exclaimed, muting herself a second later as her cheeks burned red. “Oops, didn’t mean to shout that. It’s just-” She fell silent, expression fading to concern yet again.

Wendy and Lucy both now waited for Levy to explain herself, but after a few more, tense moments, she shook her head and waved them off. “No, nevermind. I think I’m just stuck in the story is all. Thanks for telling it to me. I’ll make sure it gets a nice binding and fits nicely on my shelves here.”

In all honesty, Lucy felt Levy was avoiding the subject. That something was wrong, but the words couldn’t be tactful enough to speak. It made her mind whirl into theories of what could possibly be bothering her new friend, but the answers just weren’t there. Rather than press for further answers, the conversation derailed to Lucy drinking water, easing her throat after the time she’d spoke. The chatter was low, but amiable. When it was time to go, Lucy’s concerns weighed very little in the back of her mind, settled safely in the security of her new friendship and the promise to see Levy again by dinner time.

“You’re going back down to see Natsu and the others right?” Wendy had asked, holding the door open for her when they left. “I’ll go with you! The gravel is still very loose here. I’d feel terrible if you slipped. Um… oh, see you later Levy!”

If Levy heard the farewells shouted by the two, she didn’t respond with more than a distracted wave, her attention back on the story she’d written down. A sad story about the stars, the moon and the sun. Sad and romantic, but also… something was bothering her. “I don’t get it.” she mused out loud, grabbing nearby thread to start binding the pages together. “Where have I heard this before? Or.. or did I hear something similar? This is going to be bothering me for the rest of the season…."

Perhaps she would do some digging through more of her books today.

“Hmm, I’m sure I have time to look around before dinner.”

While she may be late for dinner, or even skip it, the rest of the Clan would assure Lucy and Wendy both that it was a natural occurrence with her, but that never stopped the strange sense of foreboding that settled in the depths of all their stomachs.

-- Tag List --

@cobblepottantrum @pbfanart @lovelyluce @yuldragneel @mamabearcat @millennial-star-gazer @caandleworks @kaycha1989 @just-another-dream-girl @dlshieldss @ctay21 @gingerthesnap @acidrain1698 @clockworkassassino @caranikki-blog @doginshoe @unwei @moeruhoshi @mykingdomforachocolatecookie @melissa827 @littlejinxed @moonlitstargazerforever @squeep123 @bitch-stole-my-nutella-again @shadyhydrathesnekqueen

#FT Fanfiction #Nalu Fanfiction #Nalu #NatsuxLucy #Fairy Tail #Natsu Dragneel #Lucy Heartfilia #fairy tail fanfiction #see special note for future update notice

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