#thank you for existing and making the world a brighter place

[astraystayyh]

My sun

a little something for channie's birthday, inspired by this pic he sent :') basically chan is tired and you're his sun. hurt/comfort.

chan is exhausted. you could sense it before even seeing him- from the way he quietly dropped his keys onto the kitchen table, to how he refrained from turning on any lights on his way to your bedroom; as if trying to minimize his existence, to soften the sounds he leaves on his trail so the world would finally allow him to rest.

or maybe you simply knew from the way your heart constricted in your chest as soon as you heard him open the door to your apartment. you were worried about him all week, sensing that his soul felt a bit heavier for him to carry, harder to care for due to all the work piled up on him.

you hurry to your feet, meeting him halfway at the entrance to your room. his gaze softens the moment it lands on you, with slightly puffy eyes and discheveled ginger hair- he's beautiful, even when he's utterly tired.

"hey, baby," you greet, opening your arms wide for him. he sinks into your embrace, sighing softly when his forehead presses onto your shoulder blade. you rub your hands soothingly across his back, willing the tension in his body to dissipate, to desert his bones and seep into yours. you'd do it all to lessen his load, even if it meant adding onto your own.

"did you eat?" you ask after a while, your hand smoothing down the back of his hair. he simply shakes his head against your body, a slight exhale escaping him and traversing your skin, like stones skipping across a tranquil river.

"let's eat together, hm?" you suggest, gently peeling yourself away from him. "i've made you dinner."

he manages a tired smile in reply, and the light in his eyes still seemed muted to you. but you kiss his cheek and the corners of his mouth tug upward a bit more, and it's a slight progress you'd take.

you lead him by the hand to the kitchen, settling him on the stool before heating up the meal you've made beforehand. you quickly move around, plating the food and pouring him his favorite soft drink. your hand brushes against his shoulder silently as you sit down in front of him.

you both eat in silence, his warm palm pressed against your knee. you didn't always need words to fill your home- your love spoke louder than man-made syllables.

"thank you, honey," chan whispers when he's done, a smile gracing his plump lips. it's brighter, and the light in his eyes sparkles even more when you kiss him in reply. you can't help but press your lips against his again, and again, and again, hoping that with each kiss the lights would gradually turn on within him, one by one.

"you can shower while i clean up, okay?" you beam at him, lips still tantalizing close to one another. he tilts his head upwards, placing a kiss on your nose in gratitude.

some time later, chan climbs onto your bed, the smell of his shampoo tickling your nostrils. he's wearing a black crewneck, the one you've heated up beforehand for him. you hoped that the warmth from the soft material would seep into his soul, igniting candles where the rain seems to have finally ceased.

you retrieve your moisturizer from your nightstand, before straddling chan's lap. he shifts slightly, settling his back against the headboard, allowing you to sit comfortably on his midriff. you scoop a bit of the cooling cream, before lathering it on his skin. your eyebrows are slightly knitted as you gently massage it in, you miss the way chan's eyes glimmer as he looks at you- the shinning lights are back on for you.

he grabs your wrist, halting your movement, before turning it around and placing a tender kiss on your pulse. the ghost of his breath sends shivers down your spine, and you retaliate by placing the tiniest peck on his palm, before trailing up his arm, his shoulder, then his jaw. chan giggles quietly as you pepper his entire face with kisses, making sure that no inch of skin is forgotten.

his face is dewy from the moisturizer, a pink hue tinting his cheeks from your kisses, and he looks so breathtakingly pretty as you finally curl your hand around the back of his neck, lowering his head to meet his lips in a tender kiss.

the seconds swiftly trickle into minutes, not that you'd know of as your mouths move lazily against one another, time no longer existing for the two of you. "i love you," he whispers, as you pull apart, slightly dazed. you gently cradle his cheek, thumb swiping tenderly from his temple to his under eye, "i love you too."

you turn off the light, before settling against his chest. his arms wrap around you, pulling you impossibly closer. you can feel his heart beating underneath you- a steady rhythm that would serve as backdrop to your dreams, later that night. he smells like coconut soap, and a faint whisper of his cologne that never truly leaves his clothes, even after laundry. you lightly untangle yourself from his hold, moving around until his face nestles in the crook of your neck.

"i want to hold you tonight," you whisper, fingers running through his slightly damp hair.

"thank you," he says quietly, pausing to press a kiss to your collarbones. "thank you for being my sun."

his body is snug against yours, a comforting warmth emanating from him to you. holding him feels like embracing the clouds and sinking into velvet pillows, it feels like coming home where all the lights are on, idly waiting for your return.

#i wrote this for the galaxies in chan's eyes and the incredible warmth he emanates. #skz x you #skz x reader #stray kids x reader #skz imagines #skz scenarios #bang chan x reader #bang chan imagines #skz fanfic #skz fluff #stray kids fluff #bang chan fluff #skz hurt/comfort

[angelstate]

Husband!Ghost x Wife!Reader.

tw: sensitive content, read tags before continuing!

Husband!Ghost is at peace when he’s by your side, you made him feel less alone in the world, like the hurt of his past goes away every time he looks into your eyes, you are a remedy for his aching heart and he couldn’t be happier for having found you after thinking for so many years he was unloveable.

you treat him like he is worth something. like he isn’t Ghost, the soldier whose job caused the death of his family, he is Simon, your husband whom you want to build a family with, he can begin to understand how you feel safe enough to wish something like that but doesn’t tell you his concerns.

he doesn’t want to bring you further into that side of him, doesn’t want to make his doubts yours and risk losing you, not wanting to make you get a bad feeling, to think of him what he thinks of himself.

Husband!Ghost believes in a brighter future, and unlimited possibilities of how life would play out for the two of you, how will you look with the passing of time, how beautiful age will look on you, he wants to see you live, wants to grow gray hair with you and laugh about how you finally time catches up to you, making you look old yet beautiful, always stunning in every way.

his young pretty little wife, the reason he wakes up and takes a breath of fresh air, filling his lungs his oxygen and no longer the smoke from cigarettes that worsened his health at a slow but real pace. and he stopped smoking for several reasons, but you are the biggest and most important one, the main one that makes him use his self-control for something more than just managing his emotions, but to have a much longer future with you.

Husband!Ghost was suicidal for most of his life, wanting nothing but the torture of being alive to end sooner than later, he craved the relief of death, the weight of his burdens to be taken off of his shoulders. He was aware of how much of an extreme measure that was, he wasn’t actively trying to kill himself, but carelessness disguised as selflessness gave him free rein to sacrifice himself, to die a hero even though he felt like he was no good at all.

he has never meant to cause pain to those he cherished though, as small as that is, he has no place in his heart for a lot of people either way, his past uses most of it, storing the ghosts of those he loved that he didn’t have the chance to bury, the little space left used to put you in it along with his teammates.

He has you on his mind though, and that is a much more complicated place to get into or leave, his consciousness being his worst enemy and best friend, keeping everything and everyone alive even if they are long gone. but you aren’t gone, thankful, he wouldn’t be able to deal with your death.

but you are alive, breathing next to him, the sweet smell of your shampoo lingering in the pillowcase and sheets, serving him as a reminder of your existence, that he hadn’t imagined you. That you had been just there, right by his side and he would most likely get you back.

Husband!Ghost is good at letting go, at not letting things get to him no matter how disturbing they are, and he is able to keep his composure at all times, breathing in and out before acting out a plan, having overthought the worst of situations late at night, wanting to protect you from the evils of the world even if that was the last thing he did.

He values your peace and your safety, he guards your steady heartbeat so it never falters, so it never stops no matter what. He is tired of death, he doesn’t want to say goodbye to another person, not you, God, please anyone but you.

Husband!Ghost had already lost Johnny, his mother, his brother, his niece, his sister in law and so many more people because the world wasn’t kind, the universe having a personal vendetta against him, dictating that he should suffer and spend the rest of his years with vengeance seething on his chest.

He doesn’t enjoy violence as much as he makes it out to be, he doesn’t enjoy the nonwashable stain of blood on his clothes or the unending heaviness on his chest, he likes the peace and quiet that pristine clothes and a clear mind can grant a person.

and he envies you sometimes, how your hands are clean from violence and how you smile at adversity with confidence that you’ll get past the hardships life gives you, you seem so content with fighting for your happiness, having to use tooth and nail to get to the simplest of milestones because life isn't kind.

Husband!Ghost doesn’t understand a lot of things in this world but doesn't dare to ask questions, not to you, not to anyone. He lives clueless in some ways, emotions not being his strongest point, but he manages, and he tries in silence for you, always for you, everything for you.

And he goes to therapy in secret, not wanting you to know, not because he thinks it makes him look weak, no. He just wants to keep you out of the darkest parts of his life, the ones that keep him up at night, the ones that make him want to kill himself because he shouldn’t have survived.

He sometimes regrets having survived.

Husband!Ghost worships the ground you walk on, remembers every little detail about you, the way your voice turns high-pitched when you’re excited, the way you flutter your eyelashes when you’re about to cry, the way you look away when you know you did something he advised you not to do alone. he has engraved every aspect of you on his head, repeating them in a loophole when he’s struggling.

God how much does he struggle without your continuous presence, it seems unfair of life to part your path constantly, tying a rope around your waist and pulling you away from him every time he is close enough to reach you. He is your husband, so why does life behave so maliciously?

Husband!Ghost loves you too much to bear the sight he has in front of him, and he knows one day the universe would pull you away from him completely, he knew he was doomed to lose you from the beginning, it was only a matter of time before his peace was interrupted by the grasp of a destiny he didn’t want to live.

but right now isn’t about putting blame on someone, on a higher being he didn’t believe in or a destiny he wasn’t sure existed or not, maybe it was all his doing and he’s just blaming a more powerful source to take away the weight on his shoulders, to make his misery easier to carry as times goes on.

he moves closer to you, his steps heavy as he dares in a second of bravery and adrenaline to step closer to you, his heart pounding on his chest in a way that makes him want to throw up but he carries on.

he kneels next to you on the bathtub, his hands reaching under the water to hold your body, limbs unresponsive to his touch. he pulls you out of the water, not caring that his clothes are getting wet, he pulls you on his lap, holding your lifeless body like it’s made of iron, his grip strong and unkind, he can’t bring himself to be kind, and normally such grip would form bruises but the lack of blood flowing through your veins doesn’t make it possible.

He doesn't remember much of that evening, the flashing blue and red colors seeping from the bathroom window reminds him of false hope, and the cold wind hitting his face and your body hidden away by a black bag reminds him of the unkindness of the world he thought often about.

Widower!Ghost looks at your face and he thinks you're pretty, you’re prettier than he remembers as he sees you dressed in all white, your hair styled in the way he remembered you had it on your wedding day, your makeup simple but adding the color on your skin he knew you had lost a long time ago.

and if it wasn’t for the casket and your chest not moving up and down he could’ve sworn you were alive. He stands next to you for a long time, not moving and nobody dares to pull him away. They knew he wouldn’t be able to bear the thought of being away from you when the lifetime he had promised you together would no longer happen.

Widower!Ghost knows you left at your own will, that you left because you couldn’t keep yourself alive any longer and a small part of him is glad you went out on your terms, but the other huge part of him is devastated.

Because he loves you with the same strength religious people love their Gods, his love for you is poetic, it is guttering, it’s a flame of fire that doesn’t stop burning, no matter the amount of water you may pour in it. And he may just be one man but he loves you with the force of a thousand.

Widower!Ghost contemplates leaving the same way you did, he contemplates the repercussions of his action, the “what if” that stumbles upon his plan as he makes it, mind concentrated and focused as he studies his choices, and he thinks about it over and over again. a cycle forming in his head as he loses the light in his eyes before he even makes the final decision.

and it seems cruel to pull you away from him, it feels like a punishable offense to take you away from him with how much he feels for you, with how much he values your existence by his side, the smell of your perfume on the pillowcase, the warmth of your skin on his.

Widower!Ghost feels as if his life had ended when yours did, and it seems only fair in his mind that he stops delaying the inevitable, that he takes the steps he felt fearful of taking when he was a teenager and had things to lose.

this time he doesn’t have anything to lose, you took everything with you when you perished in the bathtub. Ghost takes a deep breath, a mouthful of pills and a glass of water later is everything he needs.

He lays on his bed, staring at a picture of the two of you, his eyes feel heavy but he refuses to close them, not yet at least. He needs one last look at your face, the sound of your voice replaying on his mind one last time before he finally lets go.

God, you always said I love you so sweetly in his ear, he’s going to tell you he loves you too when he sees you again.

#angst #tw self destruction #tw sui ideation #mdni #dead dove do not eat #ghost angst #call of duty #cod mw2 #cod x reader #cod modern warfare #cod mw3 #call of duty x reader #fanfic #cod men #simon ghost riley #ghost x reader #ghost #ghost riley #simon ghost x reader #simon riley x you #simon riley #simon ghost riley x reader #simon riley x reader #ghost call of duty #ghost cod #ghost mw2 #ghost fanfiction #ghost x y/n #ghost x you #ghost x female reader

[ginnyluvstimmy]

his favourite chocolate (willy wonka x f.reader)

[ where willy wonka is exhausted and needs your touch ]

Willy is exhausted.

I could sense it before I saw it: from the way he silently dropped his hat on the furniture in the entryway, to the way he refrained from turning on the lights as he made his way to your bedroom; as if he were trying to minimize his existence, to muffle the sounds he leaves in his wake so that the world would finally allow him to rest.

Or maybe I just knew it from the way your heart clenched in his chest as soon as I heard him open the door to my apartment.

I had been worried about him all week, feeling that his soul was a little heavier to carry, harder to care for because of all the chocolate-making work heaped on him.

(Maybe he was still haunted by the oompa loompa, poor him).

I stand up quickly, meeting him halfway at the entrance to my room.

His gaze softens the moment he settles on me, with slightly puffy eyes and disheveled brown hair: he is beautiful, even when he is completely tired.

“Hey, Willy,” I greet him, opening my arms wide to welcome him.

He sinks into my embrace, sighing softly when his forehead presses into my shoulder blade.

I rub my hands over his back reassuringly, willing the tension in his body to dissipate, leave his bones and seep into mine.

I would do anything to lighten his load, even if it meant adding one to mine.

"You ate?" I ask after a while, as my hand strokes the back of his hair.

He just shakes his head against my body, a soft exhale escaping him and crossing my skin, like skipping stones through a still river.

"Let's eat together, huh?" I suggest, gently pulling away from him.

"I made you dinner."

He manages to respond with a tired smile, and the light in his eyes still seemed dull to me.

But if I kiss his cheek and the corners of his mouth lift a little more I would make a little progress.

I lead him by the hand into the kitchen, placing him on the stool before heating up the previously prepared meal.

I move quickly, plating the food and pouring him his favorite drink.

My hand silently brushes his shoulder as I sit across from him.

We both eat in silence, with his warm palm pressed against my knee. I didn't always need words to fill the house: my love spoke louder than the syllables created by the chocolatier.

"Thanks baby," Willy whispers when he's finished, a smile gracing his plump lips.

It's brighter and the light in his eyes shines even brighter when I kiss him back.

I can't help but press my lips against his again, and again, and again, hoping that with each kiss the lights will gradually come on inside him, one by one.

“You can take a shower while I clean up, okay?” I look at him smiling, lips still teasing close to each other. He tilts his head up, placing a kiss on my cold nose in gratitude.

Some time later, Willy climbs onto my bed, the smell of his shampoo tickling my nostrils.

He's wearing a black choker, the one I warmed up for him in advance.

I hoped the warmth of the soft material would seep into his soul, lighting candles where the rain seems to have finally stopped. I retrieve my moisturizer from the nightstand, before straddling Willy's lap.

He shifts slightly, resting his back against the headboard, allowing you to sit comfortably on his belly button.

I scoop up some cooling cream, before lathering it onto his skin.

His eyebrows are furrowed slightly as I massage them gently, I miss the way his eyes twinkle as he looks at me- the twinkling lights are on for me again.

He grabs my wrist, stopping my movement, before turning it over and placing a tender kiss on my wrist.

The ghost of his breathing sends shivers down my spine, and I respond by placing a small kiss on the palm of his hand, before moving up his arm, his shoulder, then his jaw. The chocolate maker chuckles softly as I shower kisses all over his face, making sure no inch of skin is left behind.

His face is moistened with moisturizer, a pink hue tints his cheeks from my kisses, and he looks so incredibly beautiful when I finally wrap my hand around the back of his neck, lowering my head to meet his lips in a tender kiss.

Seconds quickly turn into minutes, not that I can imagine as our mouths move lazily against each other, time no longer exists for the two of you.

"I love you," she whispers, as I pull away, slightly dazed.

I cradle his cheek gently, running my thumb tenderly from his temple to my eye,

"I love you too." I turn off the light, before settling myself against her chest.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me impossibly closer.

I can feel her heart beating beneath me, a steady rhythm that will be the backdrop to my dreams later that night.

Willy smells like chocolate chips and a faint whisper of his cologne that never leaves his clothes, even after laundry.

I disentangle myself slightly from his grip, moving until his face nestles in the crook of my neck.

"I want to hug you tonight," I whisper, as his fingers run through her slightly damp hair.

"Thank you," he says softly, pausing to kiss my collarbone.

“Thank you for being my favorite chocolate.”

His body is snug against mine, a comforting warmth emanating from him to me. Holding him in your arms is like hugging the clouds and sinking into velvet pillows, it's like coming home where all the lights are on, lazily waiting for him to return.

#timothée chalamet #timmy chalamet #timothee chalamet #willy wonka #willy wonka x reader

[bellamyblakru]

all the future plans we will never make, from a beating heart to the farthest place. you’re already home.

ayman. mi amor. i love you, te amo, je t’aime, ti amo, saranghae, wo ai n, chan rak khun. even in seven different languages, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough. as a small gift for our marriage anniversary, i hope you enjoy my harry styles never released song gifset. you are my home. to be honest, you have been my home for so long. i literally cannot fathom the time before you were in my life—it doesn’t seem possible that i lasted so long. you are one of the funniest, brightest, kindest, most beautiful, most lovely, human beings i have ever met. when i say one day to you, i mean it from the bottom of my heart. you are my friend soulmate. we click so effortlessly—we have since the moment we started talking. you are my inspiration, the reason i can make anything is for, and because, of you. thank you for existing, for making life just that much brighter, for being my light. thank you for sticking with me, even though i know it isn’t a particularly easy task to do. just know that i will love you in every lifetime. okay i have to stop bc i’m already crying and ill be drowning soon. my love, you deserve the world. thank you for letting me be a part of your life. i’m the luckiest fuckin person alive. @its-hyperfixation

#ashley creates #merlin #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin bbc #merlingifs #merthurgifs #pandalikeelf #alielook #xuserann #usernorah #tw glitch #glitch #glitching #I LOVE U AYMAN #WIFE TAG #U ARE MY HEART #muhaha i can post this at exactly 12am #i love love love u #harry styles #already home

[fortune-fool02]

Connection

Leon Kennedy x female reader

Summary: A connection is more than a word.

Warning: Angst. Mentions of struggling to connect, mentions of isolation and loneliness. Comfort at the end.

I wrote this at a bit of a point in my head where it was not the best. Thank you for reading though I'm sorry if it's not the best. I just needed to write this.

I might delete it later on or something.

Please enjoy.

Humans are social creatures. That fact alone was a common one that many understood easily. People had friends, others to share an experience with. Able to form and create bonds over simple conversations and events such as going to a party or even just hanging out somewhere.

From such activities, that person would become fond of their presence. Seek them out subconsciously, a stray text here and there throughout the day or few days. A way to speak even when they weren't together.

It was these things that allowed bonds to form. For connections to strengthen between individuals. How friendships and relationships of all shapes were forged.

Though, for some, such things were dreams. Fantasies equal to distant lands riddled with fairy-tales and promises of something greater. A brighter world. [Name] was one of those who struggled to connect. Ever since she could remember, those around her always seemed to not notice her, despite her best attempts to have them see her. To have them remember her, and feel some form of authentic connection in return. And yet, every attempt failed.

She would watch as the people around her would plan out events with such passion and enthusiasm but never once would turn their head to her, "Hey, do you want to come?" Words she longed to hear leave their lips. Instead, in their place, [Name] was always given a "Sorry, there's not enough room.", "Oh, it's more of our thing.", "Don't worry, we'll invite you next time."

Next time never came around. It was never her turn for anything. Was she doing something wrong?The reflection that would stare back at her would develop flaws, each one carving itself into her flesh, staining her vision until this make-believe thought was as real as stone for her.

At times, it would infuriate her. Other people would form connections and bonds so easily, thick and strong, and yet, she struggled for someone to even remember her name. To have someone send her a text message, asking how she was, rather than her always being the one asking was something that she craved.

For someone to look at her and see her. To wish to get to know her, to care enough. [Name] wanted that. She wanted to be cared for, to be wanted and craved. To be someone's 'special someone'. In truth, no, in her eyes, there was more chance of getting blood from a stone or proving true Divinity exists than such a possibility happening to her.

It would be easier to count rapid passing cars in a motorway than to recall just how many times she had shed tears over this reality. A crater in place of where her heart would be. A hollow point of the soul. Why try to chase after the Sun and blind yourself?

Then there was a shift in this endless, vast existence that she called her own, like a tiny wave in the ocean. A man had relocated to her town. A man of dark hair with thin strands of blonde occasionally peer through, and blue eyes that would put the morning sky to shame.

A man who noticed her. Who took note of her existence and wished to explore her further than just that. Leon almost seemed too good that [Name] was certain there was a motive behind his kindness. She didn't want to get attached. She didn't want to get her hopes up again.

And yet, he didn't let her down. If he said he was going to be there at seven, he would arrive at five minutes to. He would call her. He would text her. Hell, he even remembered her birthday. Something that almost brought her to tears when she awoke that morning to see a 'Happy Birthday' message from him.

For the first time, [Name] felt as if she could be seen by someone. That she was not just some background character in her own life. Leon stood at her front door, a warm smile on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes that would light up the second he saw her. To know that this sparkle and smile was only for her...

It didn't just stop there. Leon would find ways to make her smile. Little gifts that he tailored to her liking, remembering things spoken in past conversations. He would remember important days for her. He would recall events and her preferences.

Leon would remember things that [Name] didn't even recall telling him. For once in her life, she was not the one chasing after those to connect to. Those that she tried so hard to keep around only to be left alone and cold.

Now, he was here beside her. His arms wrapped around her body to chase away that bitter coldness. To reignite that flame in her body that had long since died out.

Leon was here for her. And now, she finally had that distant dream of hers. [Name] finally meant something to someone.

She meant the world and more to Leon.

#leon kennedy #leon s kennedy #leon resident evil #resident evil leon #infinite darkness leon #leon kennedy re6 #leon kennedy re2 #leon kennedy vendetta #leon kennedy x reader #rookie leon kennedy #leon s kennedy x reader

[amournoir]

hello! how are you? I hope you're fine<3

can I ask #11a & #11b of fluff scenarios for Elijah Mikaelson?

thank you🫶🏻

Fluff Prompt | E.M {request}

℘ prompt — late night texts (11a) & phone calls (11b)

℘ warning — fluff

℘ pairing — elijah mikaelson x f!reader

℘ count — 0.9k

The moon cast a soft, silvery glow through my bedroom window as I settled into my pillows, clutching my phone. It had become a comforting ritual—a late-night text or call with him, the man who had captured my heart in a way that felt both surreal and entirely right.

My fingers danced across the screen as I typed out a simple message: Can't sleep?

I pressed send and held my breath, waiting for his reply. It didn't take long for his name to appear on my screen.

Elijah: Indeed. The night often finds me contemplating the mysteries of life.

I chuckled softly, imagining him in his distinguished attire, sat on his grand office chair in his study with his brows furrowed.

Me: Sounds deep. But don't let it keep you up too late.

A few moments passed, and I saw the three dots indicating he was typing.

Elijah: I promise, I'll try not to lose myself in the labyrinth of my thoughts tonight.

His reply came, accompanied by a playful emoji. My heart warmed at his words. Despite his centuries of existence, Elijah had a way of being both dignified and charmingly human.

As our conversation flowed, it felt like we were creating a world of our own, separate from the demands of the daylight hours. We discussed everything from literature to our favorite constellations, sharing pieces of ourselves that we might never have revealed otherwise.

Elijah: Tell me, my dear, have you ever considered that the stars might be the echoes of forgotten wishes?

His words painted a vivid image in my mind. I smiled, my heart fluttering.

Me: I've never thought of it that way, but now I can't help but imagine the night sky filled with whispered hopes.

The conversation continued, moving from dreams to laughter to the occasional playful tease. And as the night wore on, it was clear that neither of us wanted it to end. I started to feel my eyelids growing heavier with each passing minute so I thought I’d rest them for a moment. Before I was fully asleep, my phone loudly rang and jolted me awake. In a rush to pick it up, I accidentally pushed it and it fell but the ringing stopped. I figured it was probably one of my late alarms so I decided on looking for it in the morning, I couldn’t be bothered to search for it now in the dark.

Not seconds had passed when it rang again, the echo underneath my bed made it louder than before. With a frustrated groan and whine, I blindly searched the floor for it. My eyes were still shut all the while. Once I felt it, I pressed the answer button without a glance, clearly this wasn’t my first time.

“Hello? Y/N are you alright?” his voice dripped with worry.

“Eli? What’s wrong?” I asked instead.

“You didn’t respond to my texts nor did you answer your phone. I grew worried.”

I smiled in the dark to myself and calmly replied, “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“Oh.”

“Aren’t you tired yet?" I could feel the sleep heavy behind my eyelids.

“Not quite,” he replied. “I just find myself drawn to the sound of your voice. It's as if the night becomes a little less lonely.”

I hummed in approval at his words and let out a soft chuckle, I couldn't help but feel a rush of affection for the man on the other end of the line.

“I feel the same way," I confessed. "Talking to you makes everything feel a little brighter.”

We talked for a few more minutes, at times we’d pause and the quiet intimacy of our conversation soothed my soul. Eventually, I yawned, unable to suppress the exhaustion any longer. I propped my phone up against my nightstand lamp so he could fully see me and pressed the speaker button. With a few turns, I was now comfortable and ready for bed. I heard noise in the background from his side and soon the view changed from his study to his bedroom. He placed his phone down then seconds later retrieved it and it was clear that he had changed into his nightwear.

“Elijah, I think it's time for me to get some sleep,” I admitted, pulling the cool pillow closer to me.

“Of course, my dear,” He replied. “Rest well, and know that I'll be here, watching, until you fall asleep.”

I felt a sense of warmth and security in his words, and I knew that I could close my eyes with a peaceful heart. I was almost sure that all the peaceful sleep I had gotten in the recent months had been due to him. He had a way of making me feel protected and safe even if we were apart.

“Goodnight Eli,” I whispered softly into the phone, letting the darkness and Elijah’s digital presence lull me to sleep.

“Sweet dreams, my love,” He responded with a smile as he made himself comfortable against the bed’s headboard.

With a contented sigh, I set my phone aside, feeling grateful for the unique connection that bound us. As I drifted into sleep, I could almost hear his voice in my mind, like a soothing melody, promising to be there whenever the night grew too quiet. And so, with the moon as our witness, our late-night conversations and calls would continue to stitch together the tapestry of our love— one text, one call at a time.

🏷️ taglist:

⤷ @mrs-maximoff-kenner @thatfanficstuff @elijahmikaelsontrash @mxacegrey @thatfictionalwh0re @catmikaelson20 @loverswillowed @sweetwrathoflilith @panic-at-the-fiction @iiskittles16ii @original-siphon @hellotvshowtrash @onlyfreds @onlyfredslibrary @imgoingtofreakoutnow @slinthoex @i-love-nora @multiversediaries @decoffinated-vamps @hopester08 @aloneatpeace @hopes-wife @softcoremaybank @klaustopia @dreamingwithrafe @sweetestdesire @cottontears @cottonreads @buckyysdoll @spnandtvdudeservedbetter @impossibleheartflower @madetragic @spike-and-angels-gf

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#request 💌 #aurora’s writing prompts #fluff #aurora.r works #elijah mikaelson x reader #elijah mikaelson #elijah mikaelson fluff #the mikaelsons #the originals

[threadsun]

Anonymous Asks: "Ooh micro/macro with Jack sounds good actually!"

Anonymous Asks: "Jack meets a fairy companion whose body often glows with a soothing light like the sun. Their personal sunshine, there only light of this forsaken world. That can never ever be tainted by the bad people of the world. Thus he must keep them safe. Even if it means putting them in a pretty bird cage or in a place they can never leave from. Dress them in nice clothes that he finds or sews himself. Give them soft kisses and eat them out to show how much they mean to him when they sleep on a pretty flower or on a small doll bed or on his hand. (Bonus points if he attempts to see if they can make a child together)."

Content: micro/macro, implied manipulation, implied stockholm syndrome, implied kidnapping, cum eating, oral sex, multiple orgasms, belly bulge

Jack had always believed in fairies. No matter where the circus went, Jack could be found crawling through fields and searching through forests for a tiny friend to call his own. His parents thought it was sweet, and his siblings thought it was silly, but no one ever stopped him from trying so long as he was back in time to perform.

Everyone stopped laughing, the day he came back with a fairy of his very own. You don’t remember whether or not you went willingly. Honestly, you don’t remember much about those first few years with him at all. You were a young fairy, and he was a young boy, and all that matters is that you two became best friends.

Even now, as adults, you two are best friends. He’s settled in Cloudy Town now, teaching in the school house. And you sit pretty in the gilded cage he so lovingly built and furnished for you, waiting for him to come home from work each day. It’s a boring existence to be sure. The cage is lovely, but you grow lonely without Jack. And the only time you’re allowed out is when he’s around. To keep you from getting lost, of course.

Your pointed ears pick up on the sound of the door unlocking, hopping up from your leaf hammock with a little flutter. Your hands wrap around the thin bars of your cage. Jack is home! He hadn’t gotten the time to come back during lunch, so you haven’t managed to eat since breakfast. But you know the moment he comes in, he’ll feed you!

“Sunshine, I’m home!” Jack’s beaming face pokes around the door as he enters, holding something behind his back. “And I brought you something special for dinner. To apologise for not being here for lunch.”

Your cage door opens and his large hand settles on the bottom of it, palm up. You happily fly into his palm, sitting cross-legged and clapping your hands with excitement as he pulls out a raspberry. It’s huge in your tiny hands, and he pulls you up close to his face to watch you eat it. It’s the sweetest thing you’ve ever tasted!

“Thank you, Jack!” You beam at him, glowing brightly in his hand.

“Ah, you’ve got a little something…” Jack licks his thumb, gently wiping your face with the tip of it.

“Jack, Jack please!” He ignores your giggling protests until your face is clean of juice. You hold his thumb for a moment and kiss the pad. “You’re so silly.”

“I just want to take care of my little Sunshine, is that so wrong?” He carries you over to the bed, setting you on his chest as he lays down.

You sigh softly, leaning against his chest and pressing a tingly kiss to his skin. “Thank you. You always take care of me.”

“You’re my precious little ray of Sunshine! How could I do anything but take care of you?” His eyes soften, finger petting you gently. “I love you.”

Your heart skips a beat, glowing a little brighter as you do every time he says it. “I love you too, Jack.”

“Oh Sunshine,” he beams at you. “That makes me so happy to hear! Ah, but you must be stressed from being home alone all day. Let me help you relax…”

His fingers wrap around your waist, pulling you up to settle against his lips. He kisses between your thighs, chuckling as you gasp and grip his fingers as tight as your little hands can manage. He’s always so slow about it, so gentle and teasing. His tongue comes out to lap at you, the tip of it licking and prodding gently at your hole. You can hear him sigh contently under you, no doubt thinking about how good you taste. He’s always going on and on about it…

He takes his time working his tongue into you. Your hole is so small and tight compared to his large, wet tongue. But you’re more magic than anything, so your body simply stretches to accommodate. And soon enough your stomach is bulging obscenely as he tonguefucks you. You’re lucky his fingers are still holding you up, your body limp in his grip as you ride out orgasm after orgasm.

He can’t get enough of your taste. The cum dripping down his tongue that he drinks like nectar. He promises one day he’ll fuck you properly. But it never happens. He never manages to get any further than eating you out like his life depends on it. His hand around his cock, stroking himself to the sound of your bell-like moans and the taste of your honeyed cum on his lips.

He only stops when he finally cums with a groan. His tongue pulls out of you, giving one final lick to make sure he got every last drop of you. He lowers you to his stomach where his cum is pooled. Finally, you get to have your taste, licking his abdomen clean with dedication. It’s so filling, but always worth it. His sweet cum and salty skin, slick with sweat and his own release.

Your eyes can’t help but be drawn to his softening cock, still so many times bigger than yourself. It looks soft and warm and intimidatingly huge. One day he’ll put it inside of you. And you don’t know whether that thought thrills you or terrifies you. But you’d never deny your best friend anything.

He’s built your whole life for you, after all!

#swwsdj #something's wrong with sunny day jack #sdj jack #sunny day jack x reader #gn!reader #18+ only #sunshine

[cnnmairoll]

H-hello there 🥺👉👈 I really love your hcs writing especially on HSR boys aaaaa I hope you have a good day! I'd wonder of your req are open? If you did, can I request HCs, fic or whatever you find comfortable with this prompt xD on Sampo and naive(?) reader, like, the reader somewhat see Sampo's crimes business and Sampo himself in more... Brighter light? Especially as they know Sampo actively helps people of the Underworlder despite said conman running around his funny ass bad reputation in the Overworld xD I think that's all, thank you in advance!!💕✨

Silver Tongue, Golden Heart

Pairing : Sampo x Reader Genre : Fluff a/n : Sure thing anon! I hope this met your expectation!! Reminder that request is still open ^_^

In the heart of the dichotomous realm of Belobog, where the line between light and darkness was as thin as a whisper, there existed a silver-tongued merchant named Sampo Koski. In the realm where profit was the language spoken by all, Sampo thrived like a cunning chameleon. His roots were firmly planted in the Underworld, yet he was a free spirit, traversing seamlessly between the two realms.

You hailed from the Underworld, a place shrouded in mystery and isolation, where the relics of the Old World lay hidden beneath towering rocky walls. Life down there was harsh, but you had learned to survive and thrive within the labyrinthine twists of its gloomy alleys and hidden enclaves.

The Overworld was a utopian haven, its streets bathed in perpetual spring. The laughter of children echoed through the air as merchants peddled their wares, and the Silvermane Guards watched over the populace with vigilant eyes. It was a world untouched by time, an oasis of serenity.

And then there was Sampo.

He appeared in your life like a whirlwind of charm and wit. From the moment you met him in a bustling marketplace, his grin drew you in, his words weaving a spell around you. He was a conman, a master of illusion and deception, yet there was an undeniable allure to his manner. He seemed to thrive on the dance between truth and fiction, playing the roles of friend and trickster with equal finesse.

The first words he spoke were as smooth as silk, his silver tongue casting a spell that was impossible to resist. He teased and bantered, weaving tales that spun laughter into the very air around you. As a denizen of the Underworld, you had rarely encountered someone so captivating. He offered you trinkets and oddities, each with a promise of making your life easier, more exciting, or simply more bearable.

Sampo's charm was irrefutable, his humor infectious, and soon you found yourself visiting his stall often, drawn by the allure of his words and the hidden gems he provided. His interactions were filled with jokes and stories about his escapades in the Overworld, where he was known to spin his web of deception for personal gain. Yet, strangely enough, you only found yourself chuckling at his tales, unable to condemn his actions like you did with others who engaged in such deceptions.

As time passed, your naivety and his wily nature created a unique bond. His overarching goal, a secret known only to a select few, overshadowed the shadier parts of his work in your eyes. You saw him as a force for good, someone who actively helped the Underworld by sharing information and resources. The fact that he used his skills to con the privileged in the Overworld was secondary to the warmth you felt emanating from his every gesture.

You listened to his tales with rapt attention, caught in the gravity of his words. And as he described his journeys to the Underworld, where he helped those who had fallen through the cracks, you couldn't help but see a glimmer of goodness in his actions.

He went on to unveil his clandestine actions, detailing how he used the profits from his cons to support the less fortunate in the Underworld, how he supplied resources and information that would otherwise remain out of reach. "I might be a swindler in their eyes," he admitted with a rueful smile, "but in your eyes, I hope I'm something different."

And indeed, he was. Your heart swelled with admiration for the man who had seamlessly etched his presence into your life. You realized that Sampo's dual existence wasn't just a contrast but a testament to the blurred lines between good and bad, light and dark. Through his actions, you discovered that heroes and villains were far from being defined solely by their deeds. It was the intent behind them that truly mattered.

You turned to him, your eyes reflecting the sincerity of your heart. "You're more than the stories they tell, Sampo. You're a bridge between worlds, a beacon of hope in the shadows."

He looked at you, his expression softening as if the weight of the worlds he straddled had momentarily lifted. "Perhaps," he whispered, his fingers brushing against yours in a gesture that felt like an unspoken promise.

And so, the dance between light and darkness continued. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink, as you and Sampo strolled through the bustling marketplace. "You know," he mused, his tone contemplative, "sometimes it's the shadows that define the light, and the deceptions that illuminate the truth."

You regarded him, a smile tugging at your lips. "Is that one of your philosophical insights?"

He chuckled, a sound that felt like a warm embrace. "Call it what you will, my friend. But just remember, even in the darkest of corners, there's a chance for something beautiful to bloom."

As the evening deepened, the marketplace transformed into a tapestry of lights, each stall glowing like a star in the night sky. The laughter of children and the hum of conversation surrounded you, a symphony that encapsulated the essence of life. And at the heart of it all stood Sampo, his silver tongue weaving tales that seemed to harmonize with the very essence of existence.

You looked up at the constellations above, the stars mirrored by the glimmer in Sampo's eyes. In this moment, it wasn't just about the divide between realms or the shades of morality—it was about the connection you shared, the bridges you both represented. The line between the Overworld and the Underworld seemed to blur, just as the boundaries between right and wrong seemed to meld.

As the night unfolded, Sampo's stories continued, drawing you deeper into his world, a world where truth and deception danced together like kindred spirits. And in his presence, you found a unique clarity—a recognition that sometimes, the most unexpected individuals could be the ones to lead you from darkness into light, and that goodness could emerge even from the depths of deception.

#˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ mai writes #honkai star rail #hsr #hsr x reader #honkai star rail x reader #sampo #sampo x reader #hsr sampo #sampo hsr #honkai star rail sampo #sampo koski #sampo koski x reader #honkai star rail fluff

[justmochi]

THE PINKS FOR EDEN’S BIRTHDAY 2024

sooyaaa__ 20240214 Happy birthday Eunhye 🥳 You will always be our Lee Kuromi ❤️

jennierubyjane Happy birthday Edennnnnnnnnnn 🍓 There's nothing more fulfilling than being able to watch you grow and overcome so many obstacles. Thank you for existing and being the glue for us 🥹 The world got a whole lot brighter when you were born. I love you and hope your beautiful day is full of so much love. Just like you deserve 💜 I love you~

roses_are_rosie Happy birthday my darling twinnie! It makes so much sense that such a lovely girl like yourself was born on this day. You are made up of so much love and sweetness and I'm so grateful to be able to receive some of that love. I know you're focusing on being the best auntie in the world, but just know that when you're finally ready, we all will be here to support you in all the amazing things you choose to pursue this year (and forever). I love you so muchhhh! Happy birthday, my valentine 💌😚

lalalalisa_m HAPPY BIRTHDAY BESTIE 😘 I hope today treats you so well I'm so fortunate to know you and I'm happy that you're finally at a place where you are truly thriving. You deserve it more than anyone. I love you 💕

#ficnetfairy #chaeden #eunsoo #eunnie #lisen #justmochi: eden #eden.sns #blackpink 5th member #5th member of blackpink #fake blackpink member #fake blackpink oc #fake kpop addition #fake kpop idol #fake kpop soloist #addition to kpop #oc!kpop #oc!soloist #oc!idol #idol!oc #idol!addition

[elvenbeard]

10!

10 - Write about your ship helping each other get ready for the day in the morning. Thanks so much for asking!!! 💜 Aaahhh I love this one, literally made art of them getting ready in the morning together before :DD So this is loosely based on this, or rather, a continuation of it on another morning :D

Morning Routine

“C’mon, time to get up,” V said quietly, fingers trailing down Kerry’s spine. Kerry buried his face in the pillow again.

“Just 5 more minutes,” he muttered, the hangover of the previous night heavy in his skull and bones.

“You said that five minutes ago,” V chuckled.

“Mhhh, highly doubt it’s been five minutes.”

Without any warning Kerry received a well-placed smack on his naked ass. He gasped, in surprise more than in pain, even though his skin tingled and felt hot after a couple of seconds. He sat up only just enough to be able to see V’s face, sporting a big shit-eating grin.

“Hey… that’s my fuckin’ job!” he said with played offense after the initial shock had worn off. He tried to get V back, but he was too slow. V had already rolled out of bed and stood in the middle of his apartment now, the morning sun engulfing him in all his naked glory.

“Catch me… if you can,” he lilted to the tune of “Off the Leash”, and before Kerry could do or say anything, V wandered off towards the bathroom, a little swing in his step.

“Fuck,” was all that Kerry managed to whisper, frozen and staring into the empty apartment living room. His head and chest were flooded by too many emotions all at once, he struggled to cope. A few weeks ago, he hadn’t been sure if he was still capable of ever feeling anything at all anymore. And now…

The shower started running, and Kerry could hear V still quietly humming, a tease and an invitation all the same. One he neither wanted to nor would resist any longer.

“Mind if I borrow your eyeliner again?” he asked as they stood in front of the small sink together shortly after, and V grinned as he ran his fingers through his hair to bring it into its usual bold shape.

“Sure, make yourself at home,” he smiled, voice and eyes gentle.

Kerry reached over to where he knew V kept the thin black pencil. It probably cost a mere fraction of the one he had back at his house – brand deal gift, not even something he’d bought himself. But it created the same results and was a little less scratchy even. Or maybe he only imagined it because it was V’s.

Lately, even though he’d been trying to fight the feeling, everything to do with V made his world a little brighter again. Every little thing he did or said, how he touched him, looked at him, even now as their eyes met in the mirror – it scared the shit out of Kerry. How well they clicked and could exist side-by-side in this crammed little bathroom, just as an example, without getting in the other’s way, taking up too much space, after having known the other for less than a month. Their movements matched perfectly, flowing into each other, V’s hand on his waist as he shuffled past him to grab a towel, how he instinctively moved back when Kerry reached for something on the other side of the countertop without having to stop what he was doing.

It scared Kerry how much he liked V, how large of a part of his life he’d become already. Especially because they both knew that it might as well end very suddenly and without a proper chance to say goodbye.

“What are you thinkin’ about?” V asked, as if he knew Kerry’s thoughts were spiraling.

“Nothin’ in particular,” Kerry lied and put the pencil back down, “No, not true, actually… Wonderin’ how you survived here this long without a decent coffeeshop close by.”

V chuckled.

“No, really, a whole fuckin’ Megabuilding, and no Caliente’s?”

“Maybe the license was too expensive for the poor, poor administration,” V shrugged and took a step back as he put a decent amount of hairspray on his head. Kerry leaned back against the sink.

“Maybe it’s just to wear ya down even more,” he said, “Y’know, make you complacent to just keep payin’ your over-priced rent like a good citizen.”

V snickered and put the can of hairspray back down and checked himself out in the mirror once more. Then he leaned onto the sink as well and looked at Kerry.

“It’s not so bad,” he said, but Kerry shook his head.

“Ah, tryin’ to convince yourself, huh? That won’t work,” he laughed. As he tried to pass him by, V held him back briefly by the wrist and pulled him closer, in the most literal way Kerry had ever experienced it stealing a little kiss from him.

“I can be very convincing,” V said, voice low.

“I know,” Kerry replied with a wink and trailed off towards the couch where he’d left his clothes the previous night. He began to put on his pants and looked out of the window.

“That one over there,” he said, nodding to the penthouse visible across the street, “That one’s ‘not so bad’.”

V stepped closer and followed Kerry’s gaze.

“Yeah,” he said, “And also way outta my price range at the moment.”

“At the moment,” Kerry nodded, slipped into his shoes, then grabbed his t-shirt, “Y’know… I got some contacts in real estate. Could get you a good deal, possibly. Or, dunno. Throw in a couple bucks myself if you wanted to... in exchange for occasional visiting rights or somethin’…”

V smiled, but didn’t respond for a moment, and Kerry feared he’d taken it too far, too soon.

“Or, y’know… Dunno, forget it.”

V still didn’t say anything, and Kerry realized now that it wasn’t because of him.

“Oh… tell me, what’s he got to say?”

“You don’t wanna know,” V shook his head and walked over to his closet, pulling out a dark pair of jeans and a purple button-up shirt, proceeding to put on the pants first and the shirt only loosely.

“Oh, now that’s cruel!” Kerry complained, “Say it! I can take it.”

V sighed, looked for some shoes, then slowly back at Kerry.

“Johnny thinks I’m so lucky that I managed to wrap such a generous sugar daddy ‘round my finger,” he said quietly, “And that I should take your offer.”

“Wow…” Kerry was admittedly taken aback for a moment. Johnny still knew just how to push his buttons to rile him up, hurt him. But even more so, that after 50 years of not having to deal with this kind of bullshit that was more hot air than anything, it still worked so well.

“Sorry, I… shouldn’t’ve,” V muttered and began to button up his shirt. Kerry closed the small distance between them, placed his hands on V’s, to stop him first, then continued where he’d left off.

“Can he hear me now?” he asked, and V nodded slowly, watching Kerry’s hands move along the row of buttons. Kerry leaned in closely, could feel V’s heart beat fast against his fingertips as his hands travelled along his chest. His mouth right at V’s ear he whispered: “Jealous, Silverhand?”

V shivered, then giggled and kissed Kerry’s cheek.

“Think that’s gonna shut him up for a while,” V said, and Kerry hoped he was right. He enjoyed their mornings together too much, he wouldn’t let Johnny taint them, no matter how much of a right he had to be frustrated about this whole situation.

“C’mon, let’s go,” Kerry said and took V’s hand, “Gonna treat ya to the best breakfast menu in all of NC.”

“Oh, I’m so lucky indeed,” V mused and squeezed Kerry’s hand tightly as they quickly exited his apartment and rushed to the elevator in the hopes to make it unseen once more.

#cyberpunk 2077 #cp2077 #cyberpunk fanfiction #cyberpunk 2077 fanfiction #kerry eurodyne x v #kerry eurodyne #cyberpunk v #male v cyberpunk #cyberpunk kerry #otp: to bad decisions #vincent ezaki #my writing #chevvy-yates #answered asks

[possibilistfanfiction]

Hi! I just wanted to say I love everything you write for warrior nun (& butch bea especially!!) If you're ever in the mood to write more ficlets can I put in my vote for something about mary and ray? the part about them made me so happy !

[a little something!]

'don't laugh at me,' you say, coming downstairs from your guest room at beatrice and ava's to where they're sitting and doing a puzzle at the kitchen island. well, beatrice is doing the puzzle, diligently finishing the edges, while ava just kind of sits and stares. it's... kind of ridiculous, but beatrice had been hurt; there's still a bruise on the back of her head, turning green now — painful, and healing — and the brace over a compression sleeve on her leg. but she's only using one crutch now, and the incision down her stomach has knit together fully now. she's a little stir-crazy, you think, but also pretty tired still — and has been relegated from olympic-level judo to things like puzzles, so, of course, ava had come home with ten of them.

'we'll definitely laugh at you,' ava says, looking up with a grin.

'why wouldn't we?' beatrice asks, attention still on the puzzle pieces.

you sigh. you're happy for them — so, so happy — but the two of them together are also the bane of your fucking existence. ava makes beatrice's shoulders relax, makes a big smile stretch on her face, makes her laugh, every single day; beatrice makes ava brighter, which had seemed impossible, but now you watch them in their own home and you ache, you hug them tightly every night before they go to bed while you stay here while your apartment is finalized. they also, however, love to collectively make fun of you. no shooting allowed, in this new world, even though ava would still be fine. whatever.

'i'm — i'm going on a date.'

'oh, we know,' beatrice says. 'ray hasn't shut up about it for days.'

'so you know what we're doing? thank god, i have no idea what to wear.'

ava grins. dangerous. you could kick her off a cliff again, you really could. 'yeah, we can't tell you where though.'

you roll your eyes. maybe you could swipe a puzzle piece when they're at the beach, that would drive beatrice nuts. 'can you, like, advise an outfit, at least? i've worn all black forever but i don't think that's the vibe.'

'yeah, hot mercenary is not the theme.' ava grins. 'but i love shopping. and bea knows all the good spots.'

'okay, but not boring spots.'

'ava has never complained a day in her life about me being boring.' you just let it pan out from there, ava's adoring smile, the familiar scratch to the back of beatrice's head, so soft and careful, the way beatrice's hands still on their puzzle pieces and her chin lifting, just slightly, so ava bends near her, like a willow to water, and kisses her. eventually, beatrice turns to you. 'see?'

'i don't need you making out to know that you're into each other,' you grumble.

'oh, if you want to see us making out,' ava says, but beatrice puts a gentle hand on ava's wrist. 'okay, never mind. but... shopping! bea, do you feel good enough to go? otherwise i'll just facetime you everywhere.'

beatrice laughs. 'yes, i can go. i'll just sit while mary tries things on.' she turns toward you. 'i know it can be — daunting, to figure out who you want to be. maybe it won't be; ava's always enjoyed it.' ava preens. 'but we'll have fun; i'll take you places where there will be stuff you might be interested in. and, at any time, if you want to leave, just say the word.'

'okay,' you relent — you want to look good for your date, and, as you look at ava in her flowy wide-leg pants and especially beatrice, in a favorite, soft crew neck, you realize that you desperately, and joyfully, want to know who you are.

/

as promised, beatrice does take you to stores that have interesting clothes — expensive, not that that's anything you'd worry about at this point — and sneakers you had always wanted when you were younger. beatrice finds a pair of dunks that you think are both very clean and, as expected, extremely boring; you get a few that are more interesting, jordan 1s and 4s and a pair of union dunks. ava knocks over a whole rack of clothes, who knows how, but charms the attendant so much they end up laughing as she helps pick things up.

there are a few more stores, with t-shirts and flannels and perfectly fitting pants. they're fancy, you know, understated and cool, and everyone knows beatrice and ava; they're happy to see them, although everyone is worried about beatrice, who handles things like a champ: she's just fine, a cycling accident in spain; recovery has been easy and she's glad to be out of the house; yes, she wants that hoodie even though — with a laugh — she definitely doesn't need it, but ava will steal it anyway.

you can tell this one is beatrice’s particular favorite, because when ava holds the door for her and beatrice walks through — slowly, but steadily, fairly coordinated with her forearm crutch opposite the big leg brace, one of the attendants shoots forward. he’s, well, beautiful, with perfect braids and and dark skin, cargo pants and a pair of off whites you don’t even want to think about how much they cost.

‘beatrice,’ he says, seemingly torn between grinning and frowning, and wraps her in a careful, familiar hug.

‘hi jalen,’ she says, and then jalen hugs ava too, who smiles into his shoulder.

‘hey bud.’

‘i’ve missed you both,’ he says. ‘how are you feeling?’

‘much better,’ beatrice says. ‘i had a facial and a massage yesterday, and down to one crutch, so i can’t complain.’

‘first, still obsessed with your hair.’ he ruffles the top, and you’re a little floored, because beatrice just laughs. ‘and, secondly, ava, you’re okay?’

‘spick and span,’ she confirms, offering two dorky thumbs up that just come off, annoyingly, as charming.

‘jalen, this is mary,’ beatrice says. ‘one of my oldest friends. mary, this is jalen. he’s a regular at ava’s bar and my favorite stylist.’

‘quite the resume,’ you say, and shake his hand.

he smiles. ‘if only beatrice would add keiko’s boyfriend to that list.’

ava snorts. ‘we would if it was true.’

‘one day.’ he sighs. ‘anyway, what are we here for today? we just got the new aime leon dore crews, beatrice.’

‘while i will be getting one of those for sure,’ she says, ‘more importantly, mary has a date tonight! and, plus, needs some new things anyway. she’s been away on business.’

‘delightful.’ he looks you over. ‘i’m feeling a tasha cloud, arike ogunbowale kinda vibe.’ he smiles, excited. ‘what do you think?’

‘i’m into it,’ you say, your chest warming: beatrice knows you; she loves you; she wants to share her life and all the good things in it. she’s built it herself. she knows who will understand.

‘great! and, please tell me if you don’t like something. my feelings won’t be hurt at all, and we want you to feel awesome.’

‘that — yes,’ you say, a little choked up out of nowhere, and you spare a glance at ava and beatrice. beatrice has settled on a couch, her leg outstretched, while ava looks through some crews and holds them up for beatrice to pick a favorite. ‘that sounds perfect.’

jalen helps you find a few pieces you love, that you can mix and match for a number of outfits. it’s surreal, to get to choose what you want — to wear every day; to wear by the beach; to wear to drinks with your sisters, so in love it’s impossible to really be annoyed; to wear on a date.

eventually, beatrice starts to fade, slumping over on ava’s shoulder on the couch, her eyes fluttering, which makes you laugh — and then jalen too, who understands somehow, that she’s okay. or, at least, that she will be.

ava tells jalen to charge everything to their account; she’d told you when you’d first come that the church pays for whatever they want, and, plus, they have beatrice’s essentially infinite trust fund anyway. you leave with a few bags, but not before you ask jalen where he gets his braids done and he grins and gets your number to send you the information. it’s one of a few in your phone; your world grows every day.

/

'okay,' you say, looking at yourself in your mirror one last time. 'good?'

'you look sexy,' ava says, helpful as always, but bea laughs softly and squeezes your hand.

'you look amazing,' she says, and she really means it. ray hadn't told you much, just that it was casual and no pressure. she's known beatrice for a while now and so, you know, she seems to understand the hesitancy toward big things, a big life. beatrice has one now, and you want one too. it's different, so different than what you thought you would have. but it's not bad; in fact, most of the time it's good.

you tie a flannel around your waist for when it inevitably gets cooler later; you had your braids redone two days ago and your babyhairs are down perfectly. ava is basically vibrating when — endearingly, because she definitely has a key — ray rings the doorbell.

'go, go!' ava says, spinning you by the shoulders in the direction of the stairs. 'beatrice and i are going to ... stay in on your balcony, i guess. right, bea?'

it feels a little like they're your parents or something; whenever lilith visits she trudges along behind them like a teenager being dragged out of her bedroom. but beatrice's smile is gentle and she takes ava's hand. 'yes, i'll make sure that ava gives you your privacy.'

you take a deep breath and nod. 'wish me luck.'

'godspeed,' ava says. 'we definitely won't stay up late waiting on the couch to make sure you get home by your curfew.'

despite yourself, you laugh.

/

ray brings you flowers and you kiss her cheek and she smiles at you, bright in the setting sun, and takes off her sunglasses and opens your car door.

'this is about as lowkey as it gets,' she says, 'but i thought we could get some in n out and watch the sunset on the beach. i know you get to watch the sunset from beatrice and ava's every day, but i have a spot i love that i want to share with you. i brought some craft beer i like, if you want a drink.' she pauses, grips the steering while tight in her hands, and it sets you at remarkable ease when you realize — she's nervous too. she's excited too.

'that sounds amazing.' she smiles and it's worth it; it's so worth it.

she lets out a relieved breath. 'okay, sweet. do you have an in n out order?'

'i've never actually been.'

'god, that's a crime.'

'look, i've only been in california for a month.'

'that's a whole month!'

you laugh at her genuine dismay. honestly, you didn't think you would be staying; you hadn't even brought more than a few days clothes in a duffel when lilith teleported you. you had planned to stay and take care of beatrice and help ava for a week tops. but then, well — 'better late than never, right?'

'so much better,' ray says, and turns on good 90s r&b while you wait in what you think might be the world's longest drive thru, although when you say that ray just laughs. she's beautiful, and your mind drifts slightly when she licks her fingers after finishing her burger, the pink clouds washing over the both of you. there are a few streaks of grey coming into the inky black of her hair, a mess of curls, and you wonder what it might be like to tangle your hands in it. to let her kiss you. to touch her back.

you talk about everything and nothing at once: who you are, but not the worst parts. not yet.

the sun sets and you put your flannel on and ray grins. 'you look really good,' she says.

'thanks. i — beatrice took me shopping.'

'ah,' ray says, 'my favorite activity to share with her. i love when she charges things to her account.'

'it was pretty sweet, honestly. i — well, you knew her, when you first met. getting out of our old line of work, at least for me, it's a lot of just... trying to figure out who i am now. who i want to be.'

'well, if tonight is anything to go by, and how highly beatrice and ava speak of you, who you are is incredible.'

you duck your head, busy yourself with gathering the napkins from dinner and putting them in the bag. you lift your head and the sun sits gold on the horizon behind ray's head. you almost laugh, then, in a little bit of disbelief — the kind of blessing you are just coming to understand. thank you, shannon, you pray. when ray smiles at you, her eyes squinting in the light, you allow yourself to really wonder: there is a halo around her head, some kind of saint, some kind of holy.

you wonder about resurrections and how ava loves so full, how beatrice is quiet and attentive and so deeply herself, now. you wonder about all of it — hell and grace and the rough orange blanket beneath you and the apartment you'd just gotten approved for, the scar along your shoulder from years ago and how often it rains here. you wonder about all of it, as you cup ray's jaw in your hand as gently as you can and ask is this okay? and she smiles — yeah, of course — and kiss her, in the remnants of the sun and the inky dusk setting in over the waves. the tide goes out, and a beautiful woman kisses you. it's a life. it's one hell of a life.

she holds your hand on the drive back to beatrice and ava's house, and when you open the front door ava scrambles up the stairs to, you guess, act like she wasn't watching out the front window, but beatrice still has her crutch and just waves from the couch, nonplussed. ray had walked you to the door and kissed your cheek and heads back to her car with a little wave in beatrice's direction, and you close the door.

'did you have a good time?' she asks, sleepy and looking like she'd showered earlier, comfortable with her leg propped on a few pillows and a heating pad on her stiff hip.

you sit next to her and then ava flings herself in the middle of you. beatrice lets out a little oof but she laughs, and ava climbs practically on top of her without any resistance. you'll never have a love like that, you're pretty sure, in this life or any of the next, because ava is ava — exuberant and unrelenting and desperately kind — but the quietness is good too. the small intimacies. 'i had a wonderful time.'

'good,' ava says, a kind of totality you're just beginning to understand: things are good. things should be good. 'bea has been falling asleep for an hour —' beatrice pouts — 'but, brunch tomorrow, maybe? i want to hear all about it.'

'yeah,' you say, a little overcome, thinking about the sunset and in n out and what it felt like to kiss someone kind after all this time; thinking about what it was like to come back to people who love you, who want you to be happy — your sisters. 'that sounds perfect.'

and it isn't perfect: beatrice is still hurt and grumpy, which makes ava grumpy, but it's beautiful and smells like the ocean and you eat whatever you want, with no plans for the day. it's not perfect, but it is good. it's a home, and a life, and you let yourself wonder about it all as you steal potatoes from ava's plate and she swats at your hand with a laugh, the sun high in the sky.

#wn #warrior nun fic #avatrice #avatrice fic #kinda they're constantly being annoying in the background lol #like annoying moms #prompts #mary!!!!!! no u will never get an explanation as to why she's back simply bc i love her lol just roll w it #THRILLED that ppl care abt her & ray tho lol that's so fun for me thank u #in the #butch bea 🥺🫡 #universe lol

[beanghostprincess]

"Do you sometimes feel like you take up too much space in the world?"

That catches Usopp out of guard, as Sanji breaks the comfortable silence they were sharing all of a sudden. Usopp scoffs at his words, not knowing exactly what to say to an overly thinking Sanji staring at the midnight sea in front of them. "Most of the time I just feel like I don't take up enough space." He presses his hands tighter against the railing of the Sunny, holding himself there for support. "I wish I had more... Presence, I guess. Like you."

Sanji laughs, but it's dry. It makes the sniper's heart ache with the need to pull him close, even if their elbows are already touching. The cook buries his head in his arms. "You don't. You-" Sanji groans with exasperation. "You have presence, Usopp, don't worry. I'm not talking about that."

The sniper shrugs, not really knowing what to do except smacking his best friend in the shoulder reassuringly. "I don't think I do, really." He sighs contently. He is used to saying things like this. The waves keep hitting the ship calmly, and he's sure he could've fallen asleep with Sanji's breathing next to him along with the sea breeze if it wasn't because of his heartbeat moving hard against his throat. "It's different. You are- You are so bright, Sanji. You know how to cook. And fight. And you enter a room in perfect silence and people still know you're there. You don't have to be loud and... And like me. Annoying." His hands start shaking. "I wish I didn't have to try to be noticeable."

The cook looks up from his arm, and Usopp notices his bangs falling from his usual place. Seeing both of his eyebrows it's a rare, beautiful sight Usopp isn't really used to witnessing. It leaves him out of breath every time. "I think you're bright." He keeps staring at Usopp in silence, his cheek pressed against his arm so much it looks chubby. Grabbable. Usopp wants to kiss him. "Of course a light that tries to shine brighter ends up burning people. You are not annoying, you just try too hard."

Sanji presses his forehead once again on his arms, groaning loudly against the railing. The sniper's chest feels heavier now, ignoring his words to focus more on whatever's bothering Sanji. The blush that forms around his cheeks getting forgotten.

The cook always moves like this. He keeps hiding his head in his body. He keeps moving like the whole world is against him. Like he doesn't want to be a bother, when his mere presence is one of the things that cheers Usopp the most. It's weird to see somebody you think so highly of being so embarrassed and regretting his mere existence. It makes Usopp angry at whoever made Sanji think he shouldn't take up all the space he wants.

"I think you try too hard, too. You need to be nicer to yourself." Usopp leans into Sanji's space, kneeling a little to meet his face that's still buried in his arms. "I like that you take up space. I- It's nice to have you around."

And he knows it's not what Sanji meant, exactly. That there's so much more behind he doesn't understand. Stuff he will never get, probably. But it makes Sanji smile anyway, looking up from where he is once again. "Thanks." Sanji moves his hand but hesitates to do whatever he is thinking of. Usopp mourns the loss of a touch he has never had, but he enjoys Sanji's grin anyway. "Even when you don't try to be noticeable, I notice you, I- I see you."

Usopp is fighting the urge to hug him. "I think you're bright too."

And perhaps taking up space isn't so bad when somebody enjoys having you around.

#this came to me suddenly while having a huge breakdown at work #i am projecting? yes. will i do it again? yes. #i love these two so much they're so complex #black leg sanji #usopp #sanuso #one piece

[kiribaabe]

Almost ( A Miguel O’Hara/ Peter B. Parker Father’s Day fic)

Listen, I’m so obsessed with spider dads rn it’s not even funnyyy. Ugh, I just think they’re neat.

Please accept this super belated Fathers Day thing I wrote. Shares and Ao3 comments are really appreciated! Trying to get my writing more traction 🥲

Summary: Peter B. Parker knows that Father’s Day is a particularly… difficult time for Miguel.

He can’t change the past, but he’s hoping he and Mayday can make things a little brighter for him this year.

Tags: hurt/comfort, light angst, General softness. Miguel O’Hara deserves to be a dad, and I’m gonna make him one through Mayday so help me—

Full fic: Ao3

I got some color back, he thinks so, too.

I laugh like me again, she laughs like you.

~~~

"I said no peeking!"

"What? I didn’t!"

"Papa, I saw you! Please just cover your eyes all the way?"

"Okay, Okay, sweetheart. I apologize. They’re closed, see? I can’t see a thing." Miguel makes a show of pressing his eyes shut extra tight to demonstrate to the little girl that they were indeed closed and no further peeking would ensue.

He bites back a small laugh when he finally feels her crawl into bed, feeling the weight of her on his knees. There’s some shuffling, as if she’s taking her time to get into the perfect position before something is placed over his lap.

"Okay, there! Now you can open them!"

When Miguel opens his eyes, a tray of food greets him: A colorful array of cut fruit, eggs, bacon, and chocolate chip pancakes that may or may not be a little bit charred in some places.

He looks down at the spread, shocked, before cracking a smile. "Wait a minute…no way. All this, for me? And you didn’t burn my kitchen down? Look at you! I'm very impressed, Gabbie."

Gabbie snorts a laugh in return, a giddy sound that fills the air like a summer song. "I only caught a paper towel on fire that one time, papa. And I said I was sorry! Plus, look, I made up for it, didn’t I?"

"That you did." Miguel chuckles. It’s a relaxed sounding thing, and the creases in the corners of his eyes brighten along with the motion."Thank you, Mijita. It looks delicious. Uhg, what did I do to deserve a kid like you, huh? Cmere!" Careful not to spill what’s in front of him, Miguel brings his daughter to the side, decorating the entirety of her face with an obnoxious amount of kisses before blowing a fat raspberry on her cheek.

Another squeal of giggles erupts from her, and she embraces the affection for only a split second before she tries to shove the man away. "Eww! Gross! Stop, or I'm not gonna give you your other Father's Day gift!" She threatens.

Miguel hums in response, contemplating. On one hand, he very much wants to draw out more of that bubbly laughter. But, on the other hand, he knows better than to call a bluff from this kid.

She is her father’s daughter

So, he decides to give one last wet, over-the-top kiss at the corner of her eye before he finally pulls away, wearing a smile as Gabbie wipes at her face.

"Fine, fine, you win. Show me, then." He gives in.

Gabbie beams excitedly, and is quick to leap off the bed. She dashes out of the room, only to return a short time later with a little gift bag in hand. "Here, I made it in class last week." She smiles. She returns to her spot in her father's bed, tucking herself in right by his side once she hands it off.

Miguel isn’t very good at hiding his excitement, not that he’s trying to. He maintains his big smile while he rummages through pink gift paper, discarding a near excessive amount before finally reaching the contents he’s after. What he pulls out is a colorfully painted mug, decorated in intricate little dots of red and blue, with the words 'world's greatest brain’ written across the front.

There’s no containing the laugh that gets pulled out of Miguel as he holds it in his hands.

"I think this may very well be the best mug in existence, nena. I love it. I’m going to take it to work every day so they’ll never forget who the smartest person in the room is."

Gabbie beams a little brighter, all too pleased that he seems to genuinely enjoy her gift. She did work extra hard on it, after all. "You’re welcome." She says with a proud puff of her chest. Her dad was the smartest person in the room, so he deserved something that said as much.

“I love you so much, you know that?” Miguel asks. He has no shame or embarrassment for the tears in his eyes or his wobbly smile.

“yeah, I know, papa. I love you too.” After giving her father another quick hug, Gabbie giggles and quickly tries to scramble out of bed before she’s attacked by more affection and kisses.

She isn’t fast enough, though.

—

Transmission log:

Gabriella O’Hara

Age at time of recording: 10yrs

Record: 0551

>>> End Transmission<<<

Read more

#spiderdads #miguel o'hara #miguel o’hara fanfiction #spiderman 2099 #across the spiderverse #miguel o’hara fanart #spider man: across the spider verse #peter b parker #Miguel o hara X Peter b Parker #fanfics #ao3

[buckysmischief]

shadow of mine [1/2]

druig x f!reader

wc: 2.6k

summary: druig was getting bored of babylon, he was ready to take on more adventures. but the shadows in his mind led him down a path, one he never dared to speak out loud (except for maybe to kingo)

an: inspired by the song shadow of mine. i've had this idea in my head for so long & a few suggestions reminded me of it and was inspired to finally write it out! i really hope y'all enjoy :)

also, thank you to @stuckonjbbarnes for literally all your encouragement throughout this whole writing process 💕

masterlist

570 BC

Babylon was getting boring, Druig didn’t understand why they were even still there. There hadn’t been a Deviant around this area in over a year, why weren’t they headed somewhere new? He thought the same thing everyday while walking through the market with Ajak’s voice echoing in his head, “When Arishem says we can go, that’s when we’ll go.”

Today though, today felt different. He didn’t know if it was good or bad, just that the air felt tingly and everything looked brighter. For a moment he thought about asking Kingo if he noticed anything different but decided not to, the last thing he needed was everyone else to start worrying about something that was probably nothing to begin with.

He actually made himself believe that everything was normal, that was until he started to smell.. something. It wasn’t anything he had ever smelled before, he knew that for a fact, yet it smelled like home - a home he had never known.

Druig followed the smell of what he could only described as cosmic just outside of the market area. You were bent down, back toward him, picking flowers. He didn’t know if he should say something or walk away, what would he say to you anyways?

Before he could decide you had turned around, meeting his gaze like you’ve known him his entire existence. “Hi, I’m Yn.”

“Druig..” he muttered, so unlike him. “You’re not from here are you?”

“No, just traveling. I’m not too sure where I’m going, just trying to find somewhere that feels like home.”

There that word was again, home. He didn’t even know what it meant anymore. The definition he once knew was wiped away, but he knew at that moment he would always think of you when he heard it again. “Babylon doesn’t feel like home?” 

“It’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong..” you looked down at the flowers you had just picked and began to intertwine them, “but it just feels like a taste of what home is, what it could be. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” he smiled, “it makes perfect sense. I think you’ve put into words what I could not, actually. Thank you. Um, how long are you-”

“-I actually have to go, my friends are leaving soon. But um, here.. I made you this.” He took the flower crown from you and put it on his head. “Take care of yourself Druig.”

The thought of never seeing you again sent a pang through his chest. His whole world was knocked off his axis and yet he had never felt more aligned. What was he supposed to do with that?

He could use his powers, but that didn’t feel right either. So he did the only thing he could, he brought your hand up to his lips and kissed it. “Safe travels, Yn. I hope to see you again one day.”

It was night time when Druig got back to the Domo, he never wanted to leave this place more than in that moment. Watching everyone sit around the table laughing together, having a good time.. It felt bittersweet. He thought about what would happen if he snuck away in the middle of the night. Would anyone come looking for him? Would Arishem step in? It didn’t matter, he couldn’t just leave.

So Druig did what he did best, he put on a smirk and made a joke at Ikaris’ expense. He’d unpack the day's events another time.

400 BC

Ikaris and Sersi’s wedding ended up being a huge celebration, the whole city celebrated in the streets. For hours laughter and joy filled the air and Druig couldn’t remember the last time he let himself enjoy the company around him.

He was sitting with Kingo and Makkari, watching Sprite illustrate some of the citizens' favorite stories. It was a position he had been in more than a few thousand times, he could probably tell all of the stories word for word in over a dozen languages at this point, and he loved it. Every bit of it, he loved it. 

Druig didn’t always like his fellow Eternals, and he definitely didn’t agree with how certain things were handled, but at the end of the day they were all each other truly had. He had his opinions of Ikaris and couldn’t quite understand how Sersi could stand to be with him, but he was happy for them and that they each found the person their soul called out to. He tried not to think about how loud his screamed.

“Hey, do you want to take a walk?” Kingo whispered to him. 

Normally Druig would have insisted on waiting until Sprite was done, but he needed some space. “Lead the way.”

He was following Kingo when a familiar scent filled the air, but he quickly wrote it off as a mix between the food, flowers, and sweat. Nevermind that he knew for a fact it was none of those things.

They were almost to the edge of the city when he noticed the stars had more of a sparkle to them, but the mead he had been drinking all night did that sometimes. If the air wasn’t so thick he could have sworn at any minute he’d see… you. “Yn?”

Kingo stopped and turned around. He had only ever heard that came come from Druig’s mouth one time over 100 years ago, “What?”

Druig blinked and you were gone. Except, you had been gone for years.. right?

“Druig,” Kingo looked worried for him, “is this all too much? You looked like you were 1,000 miles away back there and, well..”

“Spit it out, Kingo.”

“You said her name. You never say her name.” 

They were far enough from anyone that could hear, but Druig still didn’t feel like this was the place to talk about it. Truthfully, Druig didn’t want to talk about it at all. What good would it do? “I thought I saw her.”

Pity was written all over Kingo’s face and woven into his words, “Weddings always find a way to bring up old feelings. Maybe it was one of her descendants! That’s totally possible, yeah?”

Druig wasn’t sure if that made him feel better or not, even if that did make the most sense. “Is that what you brought me all this way for?”

“You just looked like you needed some air,” he confessed, “you started getting that glazed look over your eyes again.”

“Nah I’m fine, probably just had too much to drink. I appreciate the sentiment though.” 

When they got back Ikaris and Sersi were nowhere to be found and the celebration had started to settle down for the night. The others were all gathered together, ready to turn in for the night. Before Druig followed them he took one last glance around, he swore to himself he could still feel you near. He was disappointed but not surprised to never find you.

If only he had looked a little harder.

1329 AD

What happened the night of Ikaris and Sersi’s wedding happened again a few dozen more times in the last 1,700 years, it was beginning to drive Druig mad.

He wasn’t sure where they were exactly anymore, they had been all over South America the last few months hunting Deviants. It was just the distraction he needed, over the years he noticed that the only times he felt your presence was when they settled into a town. He tried describing your appearance to some of the townspeople but no one ever knew who you were. He also tried getting creative with his powers a few times but not only did it feel wrong, Ajak was never too far away reminding him that it wasn’t his place to meddle with humans. Even though she wasn’t sure about what he was doing she was still right, that also drove Druig mad.

But they hadn’t been near civilization for weeks, they had just been camping out in the forest. Something about travel, something about keeping people safe.. Druig wasn’t too sure anymore. All he knew was that him and a few others weren’t needed and he was going to take advantage of it.

Ajak and Sprite invited him to walk to town with him but he declined. Phastos stayed behind to work on his new invention, he told Druig he was more than welcome to stay and watch but that he needed to be able to concentrate. “I’m actually going to go for a swim, there's a lake not too far from here.”

He had been floating around for some time, literally soaking in all nature had to offer. It was something he always enjoyed doing when he needed to be alone, which wasn’t as often as you’d think considering he more or less lived with nine other people.

“Druig.” It was a whisper, but he had no idea which direction it came in.

He shot out of the water and began to dry off when he heard his name again. “Druuig, come find me.”

The voice sounded so familiar to him but he couldn’t quite place it. That didn’t matter, his clothes were back on in an instant and he ran to where it was coming from. He was running so fast he didn’t notice his fingertips tingling, how bright it was even though he was headed deeper and deeper into the forest where the coverage was thick, or even cosmic air he was breathing in. He just kept running towards his name. 

It had been a few minutes since he heard anything so he stopped for a breather and surveyed his surroundings; he had to be at least three, maybe five, miles from camp by now. There were no signs of any Deviants around, or people for that matter. Was Sprite pulling some kind of prank on him? “Sprite if this is you it’s not funny, I’m not in the mood for your games today.”

“I’m offended,” a voice came from behind him, your voice, “did you forget about me already?”

He turned around and just looked at you, still half convinced it was a cruel trick Sprite had been playing all along and this was the dramatic finale. Needing to know if this was real, he cupped your face in his hands and was delighted when you didn’t shimmer away. “It’s really you.. how?”

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you, not right now.” You smiled, putting your hands over his. “I can’t stay long, but I’ll answer any question I can.”

That frustrated him to no end but he wasn’t going to waste whatever time he had with you, he released his hands from your face and began walking with you through the forest.

“It has been you I’ve been seeing all these years hasn’t it? So why now, and why all the way out here?” There were hundreds of questions to be asked, but those were the only one’s he could think of at the moment.

You grabbed one of his hands, stroking your thumb over his absentmindedly. “I was just checking on you, making sure a Deviant didn’t get you.”

“You know about Deviants?”

“Shhh, let me finish.” You laughed. Suddenly he had a favorite sound. “Like I was saying.. I just wanted to check in on you. As for why here and now, you’re never alone. Do you know how hard it was not to say anything before now? Ajak would immediately know who I am and.. I shouldn’t have even told you that.”

“Ajak? How do you know-? What are you?” He had never been more confused in his life.

You stopped walking, hand still in Druig’s, “You’re smart, you’ll figure it out. Just don’t tell anyone when you do, I’m not supposed to be here and that’ll raise a lot of questions. I can answer why your senses heighten when we’re near each other though, if you want.”

“Oh so that I can know?” He smirked, “Whenever you talk, I’ll listen. Doesn’t matter the topic.”

“We don’t have a word for it, but the humans here do. Soulmates. We’re connected by the cosmos in such a unique way, in a way that we were quite literally designed for each other. We’ve spent every life before this together.” You said it with ease, like it was something you had known and accepted for a while now. He mentally added it to the list of questions he wanted to ask you

You were right before, Druig was smart, but everything you had just said… he knew all of those words and what they meant, but not together. “What?”

Rain started falling through the trees, your sign that it was time to go. “I hate to leave you on that note, but I have to.”

“Wait, one more question.” He pleaded, “Please?”

You paused for a moment, gathering all the self control you had. “Okay one more, but then I really have to leave. Which just so you know, is really hard for me to do when you look at me like that.”

Druig was trying to hide a smile, happy to have another moment with you. No matter how fleeting they were. “If we were made for each other, why are we apart now?”

Your mood went from happy to anger in an instant. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. The obvious answer is Arishem, but then the bigger question is why.”

There was a pause and Druig was going to take full advantage of you not leaving to ask another question, but instead a roar of thunder filled the air. “I really have to go, but I swear to you I will come back and tell you everything I know then. Okay?”

Druig felt like his entire world was being ripped to shreds, how were you just going to leave him after dropping that kind of information on him like that? Information he wasn’t even sure how to understand was possible. He wanted to go with you, everything else going on be damned. Unfortunately he knew that wasn’t a possibility, but he held onto what you said. “Everything?”

“Everything.” You kissed the corner of his mouth and started to back away, knowing you’d see him before he saw you.

It was very rare that Druig couldn’t find the right words to say, not like he had the time to. The rain had started coming down too hard he could barely see five feet in front of him, let alone wherever it was you disappeared to. All he hoped was that you were safe.

His thoughts raced the whole way back to camp. Deviants. Ajak. Soulmates. How did you know about all those things? How were you still alive? The answer was so obvious, but it couldn’t have been true, could it? 

Druig began questioning everything he’s ever known. He wanted to ask Ajak, she had to have some idea of what had just happened. Remembering your warning, he knew that it probably wasn’t a good idea.

The rain had let up by the time he was reunited with the others. Nothing felt the same anymore. If you were what he thought you were, how were you here? Did that mean one day he too would be free of Arishem and his restrictions? Whatever the case would be, Druig tried to find peace in knowing he’d see you again.

part two

#druig x reader #druig x f!reader #druig x y/n #soulmate au #fluff #angst #marvel #eternals

[childotkw]

Oh my gosh, i love your AUs SO MUCH!! I was wondering, for the Off the Beaten Path AU, can we have a snippet of Harry being oblivious/distracted and Albus and Gellert silently fighting for Harry?

Thanks darling 🥰🥰

—————————

It was a peaceful day, Harry mused as he lay back in the sun-warmed grass. He closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth that was burrowing under his skin, and breathed in the scent of the wildflowers that filled the field he was in.

It had been years since he had had the chance to simply…exist. To soak in the world without the suffocating weight of the world on his shoulders. And sure, this misadventure in the past was not ideal - but it was also the first time in his recent memory where he wasn’t being hounded by what seemed like everyone in the world with even the vaguest opinion on his life and what he should or should not be doing.

Instead, all he had to contend with was two young men that would someday grow up to be legends.

Peaceful.

Or at least it had been for a few minutes, because Harry could hear two familiar voices carry over the breeze. One with a subtle Scottish brogue, and another very heavily German.

It had been one of the biggest surprises, actually. That Dumbledore as a young man did not possess the same polished, soft manner of speech Harry had come to know.

Surprising, and somewhat hilarious.

Even now, Harry’s lips were twitching. Listening to Albus and Gellert - because they were Albus and Gellert to him now, rather than Dumbledore and Grindelwald - argue never got old, if only because their clashing accents was endlessly entertaining, and both had the habit of their speech thickening when they got frustrated, which just led to more confusion and misunderstandings.

He sat up, spotting the two men walking towards him briskly. Albus was in front, one arm shoving Gellert away while the other cradled something behind his back protectively. Gellert, seemingly forgetting he was a wizard, was flailing his limbs to try and claim whatever it was.

Harry cocked his head, arms braced on his knees as he waited for them to reach him.

“Harry!” Albus exclaimed, blue eyes shining brighter than the clear sky. He shoved Gellert one last time, hard enough to topple the other, and put in a burst of speed, leaving Gellert behind and skidding to a stop before him.

“Albus,” he returned, amused.

“I made something for you,” Albus said, beaming and ignoring the loud cursing of Gellert as the blond struggled to his feet. “Here.”

Harry blinked at the flower crown presented to him. It was well-made, tightly wound and with an array of bright flowers decorating it.

“Oh, wow, thank you,” he said, reaching out to take the offering, only for Albus to hold it out of reach with a growing grin.

“Allow me,” the redhead teased, leaning down to plop the crown on Harry’s head. Satisfaction blossomed over his face as he stood back up and placed his hands on his hips. “You look stunning, like one of the fae.”

Harry laughed, gently touching the crown and raising his eyebrow at the joke. “Thank you, Albus - it’s beautiful.”

“It’s a bunch of dead plants, hardly something to write home about,” Gellert groused as he finally reached them. His expression twisted oddly when he spotted Harry though - a weird mixture of approval and distaste.

“You come up with something then,” Albus shot back, a smile with teeth on his face.

“I could beat any stupid gift you make easily,” Gellert hissed under his breath, as if that would somehow hide his words from Harry when he was sitting right in front of them.

“Well go on then,” Albus said, waving an obliging hand as if conceding the stage to his friend. “We’re waiting.”

Harry saw this devolving very quickly. Already a red flush was working its way over Gellert’s pale cheeks. He knew denying Gellert’s attempts would led to an argument, so Harry took the path of least resistance. “I would love anything you gave me, Gellert,” he assured, hoping to cut through some of the strange animosity these two seemed to have.

#anonymous #HP #Stepped Off The Beaten Path AU #harry potter #albus dumbledore #gellert grindelwald #gellert x harry x albus

[solarwonux]

Love Letter To Miami || Jung Hoseok 

pairing: fashion designer!hobi x latin f!reader || exes to lovers au

Genre: fluff, angst, suggestive, slow burn, 

W.C: 18k

Warnings: slow burn, angst, lots of Miami references, maybe actually a little too much ( I am not sorry I miss home lol) alcohol, language, mentions of pregnancy, arguing. 

Thank you so much to @astronaut-jin-moon​ for beta reading this. It means a lot!

Synopsis: Hoseok unexpectedly uprooted his life in Miami for a chance to chase his life long dream. But he sacrificed the only thing that kept him rooted...you. 

Now, he’s back home after six years. 

AO3

a/n: Hello, I am back after 672389238 years. If you guys didn’t know I moved to the other side of the world on my own for work. I was supposed to finish this and upload it back in March. But settling down was harder than I expected and other factors came into play around April. So, this story is very near and dear to my hear. 

Please let me know your thoughts. I am also thinking about writing a second part. But again I am a full on adult now so it’s a bit harder to write as much as I used to. Still, I have no many ideas please let me know and thank you for taking the time to read this.

Enjoy!

Miami International Airport is Jung Hoseok’s least favorite place in the world.

It has nothing to do with the humidity seeping through the thick concrete walls, the smell of summer rain all year round. Or the crowds of spring breakers ready to ruin the lovely beaches he rarely frequented when growing up.

No, Miami International Airport is Jung Hoseok’s least favorite place in the world because it means he’s back home.

It’s not that Hoseok hates Miami per se. It’s home to his family and best friends, and how could he hate a place that harbor’s many of his favorite people?

Hoseok’s love-hate relationship with The Magic City has nothing to do with his upbringing, but everything to do with feeling out of place everywhere he went. It’s not like he didn’t fit in. Growing up he was loved by everyone, everywhere. His sunshine attitude and bright smile always managed to make everyone’s day a little bit brighter.

At school he wasn’t the odd one out, nor was he bullied for being different because everyone around him was. His classmates came from different backgrounds and different parts of the world. Some–like Hoseok–came from immigrant families, immigrant parents, or were even first-generation immigrants themselves. They flaunted, celebrated their cultures whenever they could, and spoke their native tongue with pride, not fear.

But yet, it wasn’t perfect. Miami, for many people including Jung Hoseok, was a safety bubble, despite the minor prejudices one would face when regarding the older generations. Still, it was safe and that’s why he needed to leave. At some point in his life, the comfort became almost suffocating. He knew the names of each street like the back of his hand. Even the ones he had yet to discover. Everywhere he went, every party he attended there was at least one person that knew of him.

Hell, even the workers at the Regal Kendall Cinema–the setting for his first kiss at fourteen–knew who the fuck he was.

It always started the same way:

“You’re Hoseok, right? Your cousin told my cousin’s friend, who told my friend’s friend, who told me that you’re studying fashion design right?”

It didn’t make sense to him, because Miami wasn’t the smallest place in the world. (See population of 454,279) Yet, somehow everyone just seemed to know each other?

Hoseok didn’t mind it at first. It’s what he was used to growing up. The local Publix workers loved to pinch his chubby cheeks and coo at him as if he were a doll. (He earned a few free cookies that way). He loved basking in the attention. But after the last New Year’s Eve he spent at home, the excitement he would always feel when counting down from ten and eating all twelve grapes the second the clock struck twelve. Seized to exist.

He couldn’t fake one of his dashing smiles any longer. He couldn’t ignore the growing doubt and regret in the pit of his stomach any longer. He felt stuck. Everything around him was slowing down. He was slowing down. Working at Trendy Studio didn’t fill him up with the same amount of joy it first did when he got the job. When his portfolio and designs were accepted with great admiration and care. That’s when he realized that he had finally finished outgrowing Miami.

So, that night after everyone had gone home and to bed. He stayed up, hovered over his desk, nursing a headache due to all four glasses of champagne he had snuck and practically chugged after his realization. He submitted his work resume anywhere he could find available. The only criteria was that it had to be far away from his safety net; Miami.

Here’s the thing. He was entirely surprised that he hadn’t had this realization sooner. As a child whenever Hoseok dreamed and envisioned his future, Miami, Florida was never a part of it. It was such a clear vision to him. Everything he did, every straight-A, every AP class, every college acceptance letter, every goal and award he received in life was meant to get him out. That is until he met you and his crystal clear vision of his future was replaced by you.

Well, let’s backtrack, it wasn’t exactly the moment he first laid eyes on you. Hoseok had known you far longer than he had loved you. You went to the same elementary, middle, and high school as him. Sometimes you even shared a class with him. To make matters worse, you went to the same ballet studio as his older sister–Jiwoo–did. And for years, until you turned fifteen and spontaneously quit; his mother–bless her heart–would give you a ride to the studio while your parents were too busy running the quaint gift store they named after you. Their pride and joy–next to your little brother of course–and the reason they made the life-altering move from Colombia to Miami when you were just two years old.

Hoseok grew up with you. He always thought of you as Jiwoo’s annoying best friend. He went to every single one of your ballet recitals. (He has no idea how he was able to sit through the Nutcracker every year.) He went to every single one of your dance competitions after you joined the school’s dance team with his sister. He saw you at your absolute worst; the hideous bob cut, the acne, the first time you got your period the summer before seventh grade, and the depressing year after you turned fifteen. He saw it all but never thought about it twice.

So, it surely came to him as a surprise when you kissed him in your backyard the day before the start of a new chapter; college.

After Jiwoo moved out years prior, the two of you surprisingly got closer. You found solace in him and in turn, he found it in you. Talks about hopes and dreams happened way more often than they should’ve, especially when filling out applications together. The two of you planned to move out and far away, but luck was never on either of your sides. Or maybe it was faith’s twisted way of bringing the two of you together, but neither of your families had the sufficient funds to be able to send you elsewhere. The money earned during part-time jobs, or the scholarships weren’t enough. So, at the last minute, the two of you applied for an in-state university. One that was fifteen minutes away from both of your homes, and got in. Staying together with not just each other but with your family and childhood friends.

Inseparable; until death do us apart…or something like that.

The romance didn’t bloom right away. For days you didn’t speak to him. Not even when he was doing you the favor of driving you to school. It wasn’t until weeks later when Namjoon called you out on your odd behavior around his best friend. You budged and confessed your lifelong crush on your best friend’s little brother.

To say that Hoseok’s ego wasn’t inflated would be an understatement. He felt like a King ready to rule a kingdom. It sparked something inside of him that for the better part of his life remained dormant until the night that you kissed him. It only got worse upon hearing your confession, prompting him to do the one thing he could think of, and he asked you out.

Hoseok had only gone on a number of first dates before you, but he made sure to pull out all the stops. The bouquet of roses much to your dismay was the first one. Then came the dinner at The Cheesecake Factory at Dolphin Mall, topping it off with the movie at the cinema just an escalator ride away. He even did the whole fake yawn, arm over the shoulders thing, and paid for the whole night.

No wonder he couldn’t afford college.

You didn’t make the effort to kiss him that night, leaving him utterly speechless and disappointed. For a second he thought he had fucked everything up. After going home he laid awake in bed, thinking of where he had gone wrong. Then his phone vibrated next to him with a text from you thanking him for the entire night. It erased all thoughts of failure and disappointment that he had. His heart swelled in his chest as he read the text over and over and over. Memorizing it to the point of reciting it word for word. Soon he was imagining a whole future with you, settling and forgetting his plans of leaving and never coming back.

It’s crazy how life works because he left. Six years ago to be exact and now he’s back. Not by choice but by obligation as best man to Park Jimin. As much as he wanted to decline the offer, he couldn’t do that to one of his best friends. Especially when it was Park Jimin–Mr. Casanova, Number One Heartbreaker of the 21st Century, Mr. I’m Never Settling Down, I’m Going to Be A Sugar Daddy When Grow Up–Park Jimin. He was finally tying the knot. And of course, it had to be to your cousin–Nathalie–of all people. It doesn’t stop there because to overcomplicate things further, you just had to be the maid of honor.

Jung Hoseok knew the decision he made in accepting the internship with Vogue Australia would have its pros and cons. One of the cons, the biggest one in his opinion, was that he had to move to the other side of the world. He had to make the choice in staying in his comfort bubble with his family, with his friends, with you. Or leave the only life he had ever known behind and start over in a foreign place like his parents did. It wasn’t easy, mainly because the issue lied in telling you.

So he chose not to. Not his best move, he admits, but he didn’t know what else to do. He spent weeks practicing whatever he wanted to say to you in the mirror. Yet, whenever he tried he just couldn’t. You were going through a hard time, and he didn’t want to add to all the troubles you were facing. Though he’s not sure how you finding out through your mother, who was told by his mother in a conversation entirely made up of Korean, Spanish, and broken English would’ve helped. He’s also not sure how refusing to answer your questions when you came running into the airport while he was in the line to check-in would’ve helped either. He also supposes that breaking off a five-year relationship entirely, after walking away and never looking back didn’t help either.

But he did that, and he had six years to repent for his sins. Probably more if Jimin hadn’t decided to switch it up on everyone and get married. He wasn’t ready. Six years away. Six years he spent watching his parent’s age through his phone screen. Six years in which he missed the birth of his first two nieces. Six years in which he secretly texted your mother every once in a while to see how you were; wasn’t enough to prepare him.

The twenty-hour flight wasn’t enough.

Your anger was one of his biggest fears because it was silent until you couldn’t hold it anymore and would explode. You had six years of anger, silently brewing inside of you. All directed towards him just like he deserved, and he wasn’t ready for any of it. Not the last-minute fittings, the bachelor party,  the rehearsal dinner, the wedding. Not the gawking from strangers that somehow knew him. The familiar streets he spent years driving down, or the spring breakers getting ready to destroy his beaches. Not his parents, his friends, or you.

Perhaps, he lied before. Miami International Airport is Jung Hoseok’s least favorite place in the world because it means he’s closer to you and the future with you that he selfishly left behind.  

Spring Break is the worst time of the year.

Not only are the normally overly crowded areas, more crowded than usual. But your hometown is filled with outsiders coming to destroy the most precious part of the city.

The beaches. Or more specially Miami Beach.

Now, it’s not like you actually liked going to the beach per say. There were a lot of factors to consider. For example the heat,  the humidity, and the white sand sticking onto your body like second skin due to the copious amounts of sunblock you’d lather yourself in. But most importantly it was the parking cost at Ocean Drive.

In your humble opinion $8 dollars was too much.

But watching the news during Spring Break broke your heart more than usual. College students let loose littering the streets and beaches. Taking advantage of their week of freedom to get drunk as hell and start destroying property left and right. The beach wasn’t your second home like most Miamians but it still held a special place in your heart.

Why Jimin and Nathalie wanted to get married during the most horrifying event of the year—next to Halloween of course—was beyond you. They’re both spontaneous and a little insane so it was poetically on brand for them. Still, you really wish they would’ve waited at least a week.

“This is going to be a disaster.” You mumble to yourself, slumping back on Jimin and Nathalie’s couch.

They invited you over to discuss wedding plans over pizza and ice cream, which ceased to exist. They had been all loved up in the light pink love seat of their living room, leaving you to witness it like a fly on the wall in pure and utter disgust.

Sometimes you think they do this on purpose. Invite you over with a promise of something only to rub it in that they’re completely head over heels for each other. It’s as if they were telling you to go out and find someone. But it’s not your fault that you’ve tried and all the men you’ve met are complete asshole’s, who don’t understand that in order to be friends with benefits. You have to do the friend part first.

“No, don't tell her yet.” Nathalie says doing a terrible job at keeping her voice low enough for you to hear. Though, you weren’t paying attention to anything they were saying earlier. You are now. And you have a terrible suspicion that they were talking about you.

“Tell me what?” You lift your head up enough to see them. Frozen in their embrace exchanging wide eyed looks and silently yelling at each other.

Jimin groans in annoyance, throwing his head back hitting the back side of the love seat. “I told you, you were being too loud.” He all but whines, throwing an arm over his eyes dramatically.

“I thought she was sleeping.” She retaliates by hitting his chest lightly, making him flinch.

You sit up crossing your arms. “She is still here. What aren’t you going to tell me yet?”

Nathalie clicks her tongue and stands up. “It’s not that important. Only that Hoseok just arrived in Miami and his parents are picking him up.” She shrugs her shoulders in nonchalance, strutting her way to the kitchen.

Oh.

“And he’s coming over later for pizza and ice cream and wedding stuff.” Jimin chuckles awkwardly at the end.

Oh.

With the way he has his eyes completely trained behind you. You know him and Nathalie are having a silent discussion. But that didn’t matter because your ex boyfriend. The person you once loved with all of your heart and you now loathe was coming and they didn’t want to tell you?

“I see.” You fall back on the couch again. Your silence is loud and it’s a little bit frightening at how well you took the news, they seemed to think. It’s indicated with the sighs of relief they both let out simultaneously. What they don’t know is that inside you’re completely falling apart.

It’s the weight of the situation, and you need to come up with an excuse fast in case he shows up in the next five minutes and you’re still here.

“Oh looks like I have to go. I forgot to feed my cat.”

You don’t have a cat and they know that so that excuse is off the table.

“Oh god. I totally forgot that I needed to clean my apartment.”

No, that one wouldn’t work. They know you strictly clean your apartment on Sundays to start the week anew. And it’s Friday night. Fuck!

In the end though, you pick the worst excuse out of the book. “No, it’s Friday. I forgot mom wanted me home for dinner since Danny is visiting from college.” You stand up, furrowing your brows so they know you’re serious. But you know them as well as you know your brother. And they know that he won’t be in town for another five days, which is why he can’t attend the wedding. But you won’t let them see you falter.

Your escape was now or never.

“Babes.” Nathalie sighs, dropping her hands to the side. Her face is morphed into pity and you hate that it is, because you know she’s only looking at you like that because Hoseok was mentioned. “You don’t have to leave, Jimin can tell him to come over tomorrow.”

You scoff brushing her off whilst grabbing your things from the coffee table. “Nah, it’s fine. I have things to do anyway. Joon is having a new artist come in and record soon. So I want to get the paperwork done as fast as possible.” Huh, maybe you should’ve used work as the excuse. It would’ve been more believable. They know you absolutely love your job at RKIVE RECORDS and they know that Namjoon—your boss—tends to overwork you sometimes.  They would’ve bought it in an instant. Plus they don’t need to know that you’ve finished the paperwork before coming over.

“But we still have to discuss the bachelorette party.” She pouts, clasping her hands in front of her begging like a child.

You offer a smile, grabbing your purse. “Drinks tomorrow at my place and we can discuss it then.” You walk towards her, tapping her nose lightly before looking back at Jimin who’s looking at you with equal amounts of pity.

God, when will this nightmare end.

You face Nathalie again, putting one hand over your mouth like you’re about to share your deepest darkest secret with her and use your thumb to point behind you.“We don’t want him to listen to how wild the night is going to be.” You joke, making his ears perk up.

“Hey, I said no stri—“

“Goodbye Jimin, I love you.” You say, stuffing your feet inside your shoes at their entrance. Opening the door before they continue their protests.

Needless to say, you're relieved that Hoseok is not standing on the other side when you do. You have a lot that you want to say to him. Six years worth of things that you’ve been wanting to say to him. But you wouldn’t know where to start. And yes, ignoring him would be impossible, but at least you’d have one more day to get all your thoughts in check.

This wedding was going to be a disaster.

Hoseok doesn’t know what he was expecting when he came over to Jimin’s place but it certainly wasn’t the cold shoulder and menacing glares from your cousin.

The discomfort settled deep within him as soon as he sat on the couch, sipping on the vanilla latte he had bought when exiting the airport. His parents had picked him up, tears filled their eyes as they reunited with tight hugs. Despite the jet lag he was currently experiencing and his mother’s protests to please go home with them so she can cook him the best home cooked meal in the world.

Hoseok still ended up at Jimin’s place, which now he wishes he hadn’t, but he had to attend to best man duties. Something about Jimin wanting to check his best man speech for the rehearsal dinner, just in case.

The trust his best friend had in him was miniscule. Hoseok had reassured the now blonde that he didn’t add anything embarrassing or widely inappropriate to the speech. It was mainly because he wasn’t done with it. But even if he was done, the idea of letting the entire world know that Jimin once had a threesome in a public jacuzzi back in college had not crossed his mind.

Maybe once.

“How’s Australia treating you?”

Hoseok jumps at the sound of Jimin’s voice. He’d been so focused in his thoughts and Nathalie’s glares that he had practically forgotten about the groom in the room.

He clears his throat, “It’s wonderful, I never want to leave.” He responds, setting down his empty cup on a coaster on the coffee table.

Nathalie scoffs before standing up in what seems to be like a protest, making Hoseok’s eyebrows come together at the center of his forehead. His mother’s home cooked meal sounds way better now than before.

Jimin sighs, watching his fiance make her way to the dining room before turning to face Hoseok. “Don’t mind her, she's stressed about the wedding.” He says, offering him an almost forced smile.

Hoseok sighs before leaning into the couch further, his nose jumping at the slightly familiar perfume it picks up. A scent he’s all but avoided for years, but still lives permanently implanted in his brain. It smells like you. Well you mixed with a hint of another cologne. A much manlier one than he’s ever worn, but he doesn’t let his mind dwell on that for too. It’s the only thing that lets him know that you could have possibly been here in the same spot he was in earlier. It helps him understand Nathalie’s coldness towards him.

He can’t stop himself from asking. “Jimin, I’ve been away for six years. I’m not stupid. She was here right? He leans his elbows against his thighs, peering at Jimin sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table.

The blonde sighs before throwing his head back in frustration. Sometimes he wishes his life was easier and drama free. Then again this was better than the new season of The Bachelor. “Naty and her were supposed to discuss bachelorette ideas since they’re both finally free. But she left as soon as she heard you were coming.” He confesses with a long deep sigh and Hoseok can’t help but feel awful.

Obviously he’s not forgotten what he did to you. It’s something that lives permanently rent free in his mind. He was a coward then and a coward now.

“You should’ve told me I would’ve come by another day.”

Jimin smirks only a little. Enough to know that he had been plotting something all along. “Kinda wanted to see the two of you in the same room before the rehearsal dinner. I love the two of you very much but you were the biggest douchebag for what you did to her and she’s obviously still angry. So maybe if you guys met beforehand you would just hash it out here and the rest of the week would run smoothly.” He shrugs in nonchalance that it almost fires Hoseok up.

Of course, he’s not going to admit that out of all the ideas Jimin has had in his life. This one seemed pretty reasonable. The only problem is, that it would've blindsided the two of you if you hadn’t found out that he was coming. And he’s sure that Jimin would’ve had to find a new best man to replace him if his plan had played out exactly the way he wanted it to.

“You’re fucking insane Jimin. Do you want to see me dead?” He says shrugging, leaning back into the couch again. His head swarming with thoughts of you, your smile and your laugh, and he’s come to realize that a part of him is a little disappointed that you weren’t here ready to murder him.

“I mean you deserve it.” Jimin chuckles before shutting his laptop and leaning his arms on top of it. “Your speech is fucking awful by the way.”

Hoseok springs up, arms up in the air in confusion. “Hey! I’ve worked on that thing for three weeks and made the revisions you asked for.” He counteracts. His frustration causes Jimin to finally break into a fit of laughter, making Hoseok pout.

“That’s the problem.” He says after calming down. “It’s too formal now. There’s no personality.”

Hoseok crosses his arms in front of him in protest. “I’m not rewriting it.”

“I didn’t ask you to rewrite it. I’m just saying maybe add something to make it more Hobi. Right now it reads like it was written by the fucking Duke of England or something.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He sighs in defeat.

“I’m telling you he’s not as attractive as he used to be.” Nathalie yells over the sound of your blow dryer. She’s sitting behind you on your bed, scrolling through her many pinterest boards. This one is named Appropriate Bachelorette Party Ideas.

Sadly, strippers dressed as firefighters were officially out of the question. But the penis shaped cake was not. Nor were the little penis straws and balloons. This all being your mom, her mom and Jimin’s mom’s idea. You swore their minds permanently lived in the gutter.

You shut off your blow dryer, placing it on the ground in front of you. “You don’t have to lie to me. Mom follows him on Instagram and she sends me pictures sometimes.” You grin at her through your full length mirror. “I’ve always known he was going to age like fine wine.” You joke, earning an eye roll from your cousin.

“He’s not even thirty. That saying doesn’t apply to him yet.” She shakes her head, turning her attention to her laptop again. “My statement still stands, he's not that good looking anymore.” She mumbles more to herself as she scrolls, making you laugh lightly.

You stand up, your hair half blown out and the other wet and curling. “You don’t have to lie to yourself just cause you’re being loyal to me.” You sit next to her on your bed. “You and I both know that he’s the best looking one out of our friend group.” You say bumping your shoulder against hers.

She looks up in alert, almost as if offended. “I think you’ve mistaken him for Jimin.” She scoffs, eyes full of hearts. This had been an ongoing joke between the two of you for years. Even before Hoseok left and she and Jimin got together. Back then her infatuation with Jimin was nothing but a school girl crush. So imagine your surprise when she told you months after they slept together that they were secretly seeing each other.

It had kept you up all night. Mainly because oddly it made you miss Hoseok. A feeling you had pushed away since the moment he turned around at the airport leaving you in tears. A feeling that returned last night as you met up with Yoongi for the third time in the span of a week. Nothing he did could get you out of your head so after many failed attempts of trying his hardest to give you the big O. The two of you just sat in your bed and talked.

Friends with benefits with more friends than benefits is the best way you could describe your relationship with the well renowned producer. He was a great listener and gave great advice and last night he had told you to just give Hoseok a piece of your mind. Even gave you some pointers. Some that you would take and some that you would totally avoid.

Like having hate sex.

You don’t hate Hoseok. You resent him. Plus wasn’t having sex with an ex something you should one hundred precent avoid?

“Whatever, I’m tired of boy talk Naty. Can we finally start planning before the mom’s take over and give us penis shaped everything.” You practically whine leaning your head against her shoulder, only to have her shove you off.

“Only if you agree to wear the lavender strappy dress.”

“But I can’t breathe in that dress. It’s so fucking tight.” You cross your arms in front of you pouting. She stays unfazed, scrolling through her pinterest board, your eyes pick up on makeshift photo booths. All with different themes.

“Idiot, it’s only for the pictures. Then we can change into our sweats and eat all the sweets.”

“I can’t believe you’re convinced that the moms won’t take us out to the club that day. It’s like you don’t know them at all.”

Nathalie rolls her eyes before putting her laptop to the side and turning to face you, putting both hands on your cheeks and squishing them. “Oh I know what they’re going to do. I overheard my mom and your mom on a three way call with Jimin’s mom the other day while I was over. They have it all planned out. But I’m limiting them to one club, so please wear the dress.”

You sigh, shoving her hands away standing up. “It’s like I didn’t grow up with you. I know one club means like five in your head.” You say walking to your full length mirror and sitting down on the floor again. “Fine, but that means I’m cutting you off after three drinks. I don’t want you hungover at the rehearsal dinner.”

“With how things are going with you. I think it will be the other way around.”

Hoseok doesn’t miss clubbing and he doesn’t miss clubbing in Miami. Most importantly he doesn’t miss clubbing in Miami during spring break.

It’s awful here. E11EVEN has never looked more crowded. There’s barely space to walk, or breathe. The humidity doesn’t help either.

It’s been two days since he’s arrived in Miami. And his days have been filled with fixing his sleep schedule. Helping his mom around the house and staring at the blank document that’s supposed to contain his best man speech.

He can’t write anything. All his best ideas have been turned down by the groom himself. He has no fucking idea how to make something more Hobi. He just is Hobi. Truly, he wishes he never came back home. His days have been filled with nothing but disappointment and memories he’d rather forget. Just last night he went for a walk around the block and ran into your mother walking your family dog, who coddled him to no end. Acting like he didn’t betray her only daughter.

Acting like he was still part of the family.

She talked his ear off for almost an hour and nothing Hoseok did to get away worked. It also didn’t help that your family and his were neighbors. So escaping home wasn’t an excuse because then they’d just end up walking the same way.

It was good to see her though. She still looked the same with some new wrinkles here and there, but still the same.

Now, he’s at a club with Jimin, Jungkook and Taehyung, all celebrating the groom’s bachelor death. Something none of them saw coming. Needless to say he’s overwhelmed. His sleep schedule still needs a good fix and the music is blaring against his eardrums, so he can’t think properly. Though, it’s probably due to the fact that he’s a little over four drinks in and well on his fifth one.

It’s too early to tell if he’ll regret this later on, but a part of him is sensing it already.

“We have to go.” Jungkook yells over the music as he leans over the table with his forearms. The rest of the men sitting in a booth babysitting their drinks with absolutely no energy to go out onto the dance floor unlike the youngest who's been breaking a sweat every time his favorite song comes on.

His words catch their attention and Jimin sits up straighter than before. “Why?” He yells, cupping his hands over his mouth like that’s going to help him with volume. It doesn’t, but somehow the younger male picks up on his confusion.

“The girls are here. I just saw Tae’s wife trying to twerk.” He says turning to face the brunette. “Sorry dude, she kinda sucks at it.” He adds apologetically, earning an eye roll from the man in question.

“Don’t look at her then.” He retorts, crossing his arms in front of him, turning to face the crowd in an obvious search for his wife of three years.

Jimin though springs up fast, standing on his toes with a huge smile on his face. “I knew they were going to come here. This is the club Nathalie and I hooked up in, in the bathroom.” He says like it’s the best love story in the world and not the most unhygienic one. Though, Hoseok can’t judge. Once post break up he had sex with some random girl in a dirty bathroom club. Worst experience of his life. One he will never ever ever bring up again.

“Dude, the whole point of a Bachelor party is to not meet your future wife at hers.” Jungkook yells in annoyance, taking his bottom lip in between his teeth, playing with his lip ring.

“Who fucking cares.” This time it’s Taehyung who speaks, standing up and checking his reflection in the black vinyl wrapped column behind him. No doubt ready to go hit on his wife. It’s entirely obvious that Jimin has the same idea because the second he spots his fiancé wearing a pink beaded necklace with a bunch of tiny penises dangling around it. He’s running out onto the dance floor with Taehyung trailing closely behind.

Jungkook plops down next to Hoseok sighing in defeat. “We’ve lost them, they’re fucking whipped man.” He shakes his head, placing his elbows in front of him on the table.

“Yeah.” Hoseok answers halfheartedly. He doesn’t mean to give Jungkook such a half assed answer but he’s finally spotted you. Finally saw you in person for the first time in six years, laughing at the way Nathalie and Taehyung’s wife jumped when their significant others snuck up on them. Both of them earned well deserved hard slaps against their chest.

You’re wearing the most beautiful dress. Lavender and strappy and it hugs your body just right. He notices that you look a bit more skinnier than before and it makes his heart sink a little because grabbing onto you was his favorite thing in the world. Still you look so good. So damn good that he’s starting to regret ever leaving for Australia in the first place and finally starting to enjoy the fact that he’s back home.

That is until your eyes meet his. And they’re only met with one thing.

Pure solicited rage.

Hoseok gulps and quickly downs his drink. Already mapping out a route so he can get his sixth one.

Jungkook whistles next to him, slapping an arm around his shoulder making Hoseok jump. “I saw that, you’re fucked dude.” He laughs nervously, patting his shoulder gently. The action lacks all the comfort in the world. But it’s a nice gesture? He thinks.

“Trust me I know.”

You’ve managed to avoid Hoseok for a good thirty minutes. After meeting his eyes for a brief second you did everything in your power to disappear, pushing your way to the bar.

That is until a gin and tonic appears in front of you.

“Yoongs, I didn't order this.” You look up. The smirk you’ve come to know well over countless nights of meaningless pleasure, greets you. The cute bartender was the reason why you convinced Nathalie to come here tonight. He was in your bed last night and always gave you and the girls free drinks because of your very transactional relationship with him.

Yoongi shrugs, placing the white rag over his shoulders and leaning against the bar with his elbows. “I know but he did.” He nods his head towards the left, making you shift your gaze in that direction. Only to regret it when your eyes find Hoseok’s behind his yellow tinted shades.

He looks different, a different kind of different. A different that screams expensive. Dripping with confidence. “Don’t leave me here alone, Yoongi.” You rush out. He catches onto the panic laced behind your voice and that only makes him smile wider.

He leans into you, lips hovering over your ears. “Can’t believe you’ve replaced me already. Was last night really that bad?” He jokes, before pushing himself away from the counter and the drink towards you, walking away.

He’s cynical.

You groan, threading your fingers through your hair in frustration. “Don’t do that you’re going to mess up your hair.” You jump, Hoseok now standing next to you leaning against the bar, looking everywhere but you.

“Doesn’t matter, nights’ already ruined anyway.” You sigh, grabbing a hold of your drink and taking a sip. You’d be an idiot to decline a free drink.

“Ouch, that hurt.”

You ignore him, making him fall silent. The music pounding around the two of you, acting as a buffer for the awkwardness floating around the two of you. All the things you’ve been wanting to say to him since that night disappear with your confidence. Drowned out by the two gin and tonics you drank earlier.

And just like always, Hoseok breaks the silence.

At least one thing is still the same.

“You look nice.” He says, leaning in slightly for you to hear him. His glass of whisky sits untouched in between his hands.

“Thanks.” You answer, placing your drink down and finally turning to face him.

Mistake number one.

He looks better up close and unfamiliar which makes your stomach drop a little. Once upon a time you always believed that no matter what. Hoseok would always be someone familiar to you. Now, you’re being proved wrong and because you never admit defeat. You’re blaming it on the alcohol, his simple black t-shirt, light washed jeans and the orange tinted glasses, sitting on the bridge of his nose.

“You too.”

This is awkward. More awkward than what the two of you expected, because a part of Hoseok and you still assumed that everything would be the same. Regardless of what happened. It was a conversation the two of you would often have. Full of what if’s, and false fantasies. That ended up becoming reality.

“How have you been?” This time it's you who breaks the silence, catching Hoseok off guard. That much is obvious since his eyes grow wide. You’ve never been one to initiate a conversation. At least not during the first few months of your relationship. The minute you started getting comfortable with him. Nothing in the world could shut you up and your tangents about everything and anything.

He takes a sip from his drink. And it burns down his throat. Obvious that it wasn’t very diluted. “I’ve been good.” He shrugs, mentally slapping himself because that is what he could come up with? A generic ass answer when he has endless stories about the last six years, that he’s always been wanting to tell you.

“And you?” He clears his throat, setting his glass down and running his index finger over the rim.

You nod, biting down on your straw in contemplation. Small talk was never your forte but it is your fault for starting it up.

You should have run away the second Yoongi placed the drink in front of you. You would’ve dealt with the embarrassment later. It would’ve been better than your current situation.

“I’ve been good too.” You answer, nodding, folding your hands on top of the bar, shifting your eyes from his, to his nose and then the wall of expensive liquor behind the bar.

“That’s good, I’m happy you’re doing well.” He all but whispers and it's amazing how you’re still able to hear him over the loud thumping of the bass. “Do you come here a lot?” Another stupid question. He might as well just publish a whole book series on them, because apparently he’s filled with a lot. Can you blame him? Yes, you can because he didn’t have to come to you. He could’ve stayed with Jungkook and listened to him complain about how he isn't pulling enough girls like usual. Or he could’ve found you.

So, he chose to do the latter. And now he’s regretting it. Only a little bit though. You look so pretty in your lilac dress, your cheekbones, arms and cleavage sparkling with the kind of glitter usually used for music festivals. Letting him know that your kid-like spirit is still alive. Something he feared you would lose on the night he left you broken and pleading on the airport floor.

His guilty conscience will never let himself forget it.

“I don’t.” You finally answer, pushing your drink away. In a different circumstance you would’ve finished it. Now, finishing it would be a mistake because once it was empty he would order you another one. Not necessarily trying to get you drunk. He knew your limit better than yourself, but more out of chivalry.

“Oh, then how do you know the bar guy?”

You should’ve known this question was going to come. Yoongi always made sure everyone knew you and him were somehow intertwined. Whether it was subtly or in the most obvious way possible.

“Work.” You say, like it's the most obvious thing, but then when you spot the confusion written all over Hoseok’s face. You realize that what you just said didn’t make sense at all, so you clear your throat to clarify. “Yoongi is a producer at RKIVE, he only bartends on the weekends for his brother.”

“Ah, that makes sense as to why the two of you are so close.”

“We aren’t that close.” You say, waving him off. It’s a lie, he’ll be able to know that it’s a lie with one look. Which is why you avoid his eyes all together.

“Please he’s basically eating me alive right now with one look.” He scoffs, taking another sip of his whisky. He usually only drinks one but maybe today’s the day he makes some changes. “And he smells like you.” He adds, hardening his face to keep himself from pouting.

“Okay, so maybe we hook up sometimes.” You say, raising your voice a little bit. “Why does that matter to you?”

Hoseok grips his glass with one hand, while pushing his glasses up with his other one. “You’re right it doesn’t matter to me.” He says before standing up from the barstool. Rethinking his choices and reasonings from before. He definitely regrets coming up to you. He was already suspicious about your relationship with the bartender, when he saw him lean into you a little too close for his own comfort. Hearing the confirmation come from your mouth makes him feel even worse. Then again, this is all his fault and his price to pay.

He should’ve just stayed with Jungkook.

The neon lights and cigarette smoke are distorting his reality. Hoseok thinks.

Are your arms really wrapped around his neck, reeling him in? Or is this a figment of his imagination? Is your body so close to his that he can smell the scent of your perfume?

Daisy by Marc Jacobs

It’s still the same and it's driving him insane. Apart from the heat of your body dancing so close to him. His hands are on your waist. Like they belong there, because they once did.

He’s not sure if you're conscious about what you’re doing. If your smile is a fake one or not. If you’re letting the lights, the music, the smoke, the alcohol that you consumed–provided by your kind friend Yoongi–is also distorting your reality. If that’s the case. He should be the bigger person and push you away. You get touchy and needy when drunk, making a part of you want him right now. He knows that when the sun is up and you’re a bit more sober, you won’t want him anymore.

Still, it feels good to be wanted by you again. None of the others that came after you could compare to what you would make him feel back then. What he is currently feeling right now.

On top of the world, wearing rose colored glasses to hide away from his reality.

“Let’s get out of here.” You lean closer to his ear, yelling over the music. A weird remix of Usher’s DJ’s Got Us Falling In Love Again.

How fitting.

He should say no. You don’t want this, he knows this. But his heart is yelling louder than the pounding of the bass against his eardrums. So, he caves into his desires, knowing very well he will suffer during the morning after.

“Okay,” He agrees, pulling you closer, letting your head fall against his shoulder.

Karma is going to come for him just like he deserves.

When Hoseok left, he left everything he could ever want behind. His parents, his sister, his cousins, his dog, his friends and his future with you. That’s why he closed himself off. For the longest time he lived on auto pilot.

Gym, work, home. Hit the clubs every Friday to Sunday and sleep with someone new almost every weekend. There were no feelings involved. He never allowed himself that luxury because they were all left behind when he boarded the plane. He never treated his weekend conquests like they were pieces of gum on the bottom of his shoes. A luxury weekend away in one of those fancy five star hotels. Penthouse suite and all. They dined like kings and queens, took advantage of the room service, mini fridge and luxury spa. He made sure they felt special for at least a little while. And plus there was an unspoken rule. Everyone involved knew that nothing more would come out of the weekend.

So maybe he’s just confused. Or maybe he forgot how to be with someone that he genuinely likes, because you're straddling his lap, with your lips attached to his neck. And he genuinely is frozen with his hands by his side, and his heart in his throat. He only knows that he is still alive because he can smell the alcohol from your breath.

“Why are you acting so weird?” You pull away, flipping your hair to the side and resting your palms on top of his chest. You’re aware that sleeping with your ex is a hard no in the rule book. Especially one that absolutely destroyed you. But tonight you don’t care. Yoongi was an asshole earlier and Hoseok looks so good. Your moral compass might be five steps out the door. But after tonight.

After the wedding.

Hoseok will go back to Australia and you will go back to lying to yourself. Sleeping with Yoongi because you’re trying so hard to avoid the heartbreak Hoseok caused you, instead of confronting it like you should.

“I’m not, it’s just–” He stops, bringing his eyes up to your face. He’s searching, he has that look on his face. The one you know so well because whenever he didn’t know what to say he would just look at you, eyes running between yours and past them, searching for the right thing to say.

“Haven’t slept with anyone in the past ten years?” You quirk an eyebrow.

It finally clicks , his face morphs into disbelief before gently pushing you off his lap, leaving you stunned, confused and a little bit heartbroken. Maybe he didn’t want you after all. The reality check kicked in, hitting you harder than it should have as he rolled his eyes while standing up. It should’ve been your signal to just shut your mouth, but you are stubborn. A fact you and Hoseok know very well.

“Hit a nerve didn’t I?” You sit up on the once perfectly made bed, tugging your knees in and wrapping your arms around them, avoiding his gaze. Maybe you didn’t want to see the evident anger in them or maybe you didn’t want to know the truth. That he actually found solace in someone else that wasn’t you. So you braced yourself for the hit in your gut.

It never comes. Instead he lets out a sigh, the bed dips next to you, making you look up at him again. His angry eyes morphing into understanding as he props himself up against the headboard. “I was nervous about seeing you again.” He whispers, looking down at the white duvet. The tiny stitches serve as his focal point. “I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know if I should say hi or ignore you. I didn’t know if I should go up to you and ask you how you were. Or if I should apologize for what I did even if it was six years too late. But I saw you tonight and I completely forgot myself.” He confesses, shaking his head lightly, letting out an almost soundless chuckle.

“W-”

Hoseok holds his hand up, stopping you from continuing whatever you were going to say. Something he never dared to do when you were together. He always let you speak your mind and get your word in before he said something himself. He valued your opinion and never let you run away from your emotions. But that was six years ago, this is now. And the now Hoseok was completely different in every sense of the word..

“Leaving you behind was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. It wasn’t leaving my mom, dad, Jiwoo or the guys, it was you. I tried telling you many times, but I just couldn’t, because we were talking about getting married and the names for our kids and the nice little house by our parents houses. And it was suffocating. I couldn’t stay here but I couldn’t take you with me either. Your life was already here, that dream that you had of going somewhere else was gone because of me, and the comfort we found in each other. So, I couldn’t tell you and I couldn’t leave you and the only solution I saw was to just disappear.” He finishes, finally looking up at you. He knew what he was going to find and the anger was burning brightly. Even though you were older, you were still the same firecracker he grew up and fell in love with.

You scoff, “You’re unbelievable.” You stand up, fixing your dress, shaking your head. “You’re so fucking unbelievable it makes me want to scream.” You walk up to the window, a humorless laugh escaping your now smudged blood red lips. “I was fucking miserable after you left, and I can’t believe that you’ve actually convinced yourself that you did the right thing by not telling me. Do you think I wouldn’t have let you go? Do you think I would’ve begged you to not leave me like some hopeless little girl? Because you’re so wrong.” You turn around, arms crossed in front of your chest, pulling in tighter for comfort. “I didn’t want to have this conversation now or maybe ever. I don’t want to say something I don’t mean because of all the anger I have towards you that’s just been inside of me for the past six years. But let's have it because you have no idea how much I truly do hate you.”

The bite shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, he thought he was over you. He thought he was healed enough to hear you say the one word he hoped he’d never have to hear come out of your mouth. Yet, there it was, lingering in the air like poison.

“You didn’t do me any favor by not telling me. Instead, you destroyed me. I spent so long searching for answers by myself because you wouldn’t answer any of my texts, calls or emails. All I wanted was some sort of explanation so I could stop the hate that I have for you from growing even further. And I couldn’t, instead I just let it grow.” You wrap your arms around yourself tighter, swallowing hard to keep your voice from trembling due to all the different emotions growing inside of you. “And it took me so long to just accept the fact that you never really loved me as much as I loved you.”

“That’s not true, I–”

You hold up your hand just like he had done to you. You let him have the floor but now it was your turn, “No you didn’t because if you did you wouldn’t have left the way you did. You wouldn’t have pretended like I didn’t exist when I was simply just asking for an explanation that day. You wouldn’t have ignored me because it felt better to not confront your mistake.”

“I couldn’t stay, I was fucking dying knowing I was going to die in a place I never considered home.” He said, breaking his composure, finally letting the screw of the bottle break loose.

“And do you think I ever considered this place my home?” You throw your hands up in the air. “I didn’t go to New York for school because of you, I turned down the scholarship to my dream school because of you but I had somehow convinced myself that because I had you I would always be home even if it meant being stuck in the suburbs of Miami for the rest of my life. It brought me comfort that maybe one day together we could decide to leave everything behind and just go. But we didn’t ever get the chance to explore that topic because you already had a plan for your future and it never involved me.”

“You don’t know how wrong you are.” Hoseok bites back standing up. The bed keeps the two of you apart. He wasn’t oceans away anymore, but somehow he felt even farther from you now that he was in the same room as you. It was stupid to expect that everything was going to be fine. “Even now, after ten years you’re still the only one I see myself growing old with. I fucked up, I was young, but I’ve had many sleepless nights beating myself up about it. I’m sorry, I’m sorry for not telling you, I’m sorry for thinking that maybe your life would be so much better without me. I’m sorry for not feeling guilty after I realized how much happier I was in Australia, but even then I still wish I had you with me. And I will always want you with me.” He breathes out, rounding the corner of the bed, finally standing in front of you.

“I will never stop being sorry, and I know you won’t forgive me for as long as you live. I knew that if I told you I wouldn’t have been able to go, because it would’ve only taken you to tell me to go, to not go. You would have supported me through and through, but it just felt easier to just leave and disappear. I loved you so much, more than everything I have ever loved in my life. But I knew our reality. I knew that phone calls wouldn’t have been enough. I knew that slowly we would drift apart and I couldn’t go through that. I couldn’t stomach the fact that we would’ve become perfect strangers over time, that we would’ve slowly dissolved into nothing. I didn’t want you to be fine and then start hurting over time. I didn’t want to fight and not be there physically to make it right.” He stops in front of you, hands by his side, eyes dropping low in a gentle form of sadness.

“But we could’ve talked, we could’ve figured something out. For a while after you left I just wanted to talk to you and listen to how amazing Australia was. But you pushed me out like I meant nothing, and it fucking hurt Hobi.” You choke out, looking away. You always hated crying in front of him, because he would try everything in his power to make you feel okay.

Right now you don't want to feel okay.

“I know and I will never stop apologizing for it, but don’t you think it would’ve been harder if we just became strangers over time while still being in each other’s lives?”

You shake your head. “I just don’t think it would’ve happened, we always had faith in each other when we were together. Why was this any different? I know we would’ve somehow made it work.”  You suck in a breath, closing your eyes, as the tears slowly fall down. Hoseok’s hand itches to reach out to you and wipe them away, but he doesn’t have the right to anymore. So, he stuffs his hands in his pocket.

“Maybe I just didn’t trust myself. Changes are scary and I was uprooting my entire life for a dream that I wasn’t even sure would come true. I was scared that you’d think less of me if I didn’t achieve it or that you’d get frustrated with me. Or that I would resent you for some reason. I guess it just felt easier for you to hate me.” He sighs.

“I wouldn’t have let you.” You shrug, wiping your tears away. “I would’ve taken the first flight to you if I knew you were having a hard time.

Hoseok lets out a humorless chuckle, angry at himself, “That was the problem. I couldn’t have asked you to do that. I had to start over from scratch but I couldn’t ask you to do the same for me. You were growing and finally doing something that you liked. You were starting to finally enjoy your life outside of me. I couldn’t have asked you to drop the comfort of your inner support system just to be with me, because then you really would have resented me. I know you say now that you wouldn’t have, but it happened to our parents when they moved here. Who's to say it wouldn’t have happened to us?”

You shrug, furrowing your brows into the stubborn look he knew so well. “I don’t know but we would’ve figured it out.”

“We wouldn’t have, it would’ve been something that would have gradually built over time. And I couldn’t lose you in that way.”

You scoff, pushing past him, walking quickly towards the door of his hotel room. You were done, said everything you needed to say. You had no business in staying somewhere you weren’t ever welcomed in. Wordlessly you put on your heels without tying the buckle, and grab the handle of the door. His gaze burns holes into your smooth back.

“At the end of the day you still did.” You say turning the handle before turning to face him again. “It was nice seeing you again Hoseok, I hope Australia was everything you had ever dreamed for.” You open the door as he opens his mouth to say one more thing. He couldn’t let you leave again. At least not in this way.

“I think it’s best if we don’t talk to each other for the rest of the weekend.” You swallow, stopping for a second almost as if you had something else to say but decide against it. “Fitting is tomorrow at 10am, don’t be late or I’ll have to listen to Nathalie have another meltdown.”

That was the last thing you said to him before walking out of his life. It was Earth shattering, everything between the two of you left unresolved and worse. Farther apart than before and it was suffocating. Maybe Miami wasn’t the problem in the first place, maybe it was always him. Either way if this was how you felt when he left you behind. Then truly he was the biggest asshole he had ever had the unfortunate privilege of knowing.

This hurts more than the heaviness of life itself.

Nathalie lets out a deep sigh for the fifth time in the last ten minutes. You had tried to ignore it at first but it was really starting to get on your nerves. Especially because you knew she had something to say and instead of just going out and saying it, she was waiting for you to ask.

Why did everyone always expect you to reach out first?

“If you have something to say just say it.” You mention, looking at yourself in the mirror once again. The sage green, off the shoulder bridesmaid dress wasn’t very flattering on your form. But this wasn’t your wedding, you weren’t there to make a statement in the loveliest gown that made you feel on top of the world. It was once your dream, now you aren't so sure it will ever become a reality.

Nathalie sighs sitting down on the velvet couch with her wedding dress unzipped, gently clinging onto her body. It was tight. The wedding diet she had been on was apparently ruined by Jimin with all the delicious food he had been cooking for dinner recently.

“I saw you leave with Hobi last night, anything happen?”

There it was the million dollar question that everyone and their mothers wanted the answer to.

You sigh, reaching behind you to unzip the dress. It was now suffocating, too tight around your ribcage making it impossibly hard for you to breathe. “Nothing happened, we talked.”

Nathalie cocked an eyebrow, “Only talked?”

You hum, letting out a small sigh of defeat, dropping your arms by your side. “More like fought.” You shrug trying to seem as unbothered as possible. The truth was that after you left you went to see Yoongi. Hoping to let out some steam. But as soon as he saw the state you were in. He brought you inside and let you cry on his couch, while he watched a movie on Disney+.

When you were done, he paused the movie and finally spoke to you, harshly. In a way he had never spoken to you before. A slap in the face but a much needed one. Making you come to your senses. It took everything in you to not call Hoseok again and apologize. But just as you were about to dial his number you realized that you had nothing to apologize for. Everything you had said and felt was valid.

So, you just stayed on his couch, makeup smudged all over your face as you continued watching the movie he was watching. It was where you woke up this morning, joints aching in discomfort, listening to Yoongi’s soft footsteps as he prepared for the day ahead of him. At the sight of you he didn’t say anything, didn’t make fun of your appearance. Instead, he simply gave you a bowl of raisin bran cereal, a meticulous sliced orange and a large cup of coffee. Telling you to drink up and energize since the day you had ahead of you was long.

He was right, it had only been one hour and you already wanted to go home. “Just fighting, not hot and steamy make up–” She pauses for a second and looks around, putting her hand to the side of her mouth “--sex.” She whispers, sending you a mischievous wink.

You roll your eyes before looking at yourself in the mirror again, cringing at how unflattering the color looks on you. “You’re annoying.”

Your cousin lets out a loud laugh before putting her hand over her mouth. “It totally did happen.” She practically squeals. “I knew something must’ve happened, the two of you were practically clinging onto each other when you left and your eyes are so fucking swollen. Must’ve been a wild night.” She rambles, standing up and holding her dress up to her body, jumping in front of you. “You have to tell me everything, was it the same or better than before?”

You close your eyes in frustration, “Naty,” you start, balling your hands at your sides “Nothing fucking happened, we made out for a little bit and then we fought. He practically told me he left to save me from him or some stupid reason like that.” You sigh, looking up at the sky blinking a few times. “He basically hinted that I wasn’t enough of a reason for him to stay and then I left, went to Yoongi’s and now I’m here.”

Her face drops, bottom lip protruding outward. “Well, did you at least sleep with Yoongi?” She cocks her head to the side, making a small smile appear on your face. You know she’s only asking to lighten up the situation.

You shake your head before sitting down on the pink crushed velvet couch of the fitting room. It had only been the two of you for the past hour, the rest of her bridal party had left with your mom’s and Jimin’s mom’s for an early lunch. The two of you stayed replaying that small fantasy the two of you had as children while playing with your mom’s fancy dresses. It had been fun until reality kicked in.

“If you can count sobbing on his couch while he ignored me and watched Thor sleeping with him then yes.” Your smile widens as she falls next to you pulling you into a bone crushing hug, her dress slipping down, revealing her nude strapless bra.

The two of you stay like that, laughing for a while. Recounting the end of your night as best as you could. It was absolutely amazing how much your heart was still broken after six years. Maybe that’s what happens when you truly lose the only love of your life.

“I’m sorry for inviting him.” She whispers after a few minutes of quiet.

You look down at her for a split second before looking up at the mirror in front of you. Maybe the color didn’t look as bad on you as you had once thought. “It’s fine,” you pause before smiling down at her again. “I’ll be fine.”

“Bu–”

“Naty, I survived six years without him. I can make it a lifetime. I'll be fine. I’m okay.” You try to say as reassuringly as possible. Though, you know she’s not entirely convinced she drops the subject before standing up and extending her hands out to you.

“We still have like six hours to kill before the rehearsal dinner. Want to disappear for a while?”

You grab her hands letting her pull you up. “Does it involve ice cream?”

“Is that even a question?” She playfully rolls her eyes and lets go of your hands, before disappearing behind the curtain to the actual changing room leaving you alone in the lobby of the private room.

Maybe disappearing and pretending like nothing was wrong was what you needed now. As much as you wanted to, it would've been impossible to ignore your ex boyfriend for the rest of the weekend. Thankfully you hadn’t needed to see him this morning as Jimin and his groomsmen were in a separate room. Just knowing that he was a door away after everything that had conspired between the two of your hours before. Made you feel uneasy.

You didn’t lie to Nathalie. Hoseok was your past and who knows who your future would be. You had done well surviving without him all these years. A weekend wasn’t going to break you.

“If you want to say something you should just say.” Hoseok says to Jimin who was sitting on the steps of the private fitting room in front of him. Hoseok ignores him, fixing the lapels of his black formal tux. The dainty little sage green pocket square was a bit unsettling to his eyes. Not that he didn’t like the color, it was fairly nice. But he also knew you had been the one to suggest it. Afterall it was one of the color options you wanted for your own wedding.

Jimin’s eyes go wide, almost like he’s been caught. “I have nothing to say, what makes you think I have something to say? I’m perfectly at peace sitting here admiring your handsome features. Has anyone told you that you are handsome? I bet your mom did a lot when you were younger, it must've been nice to grow up with lovely parents. You know I only had my mom after my dad die–”

“Jimin,” Hoseok exclaims, shooting him a glare at his rambling. Jimin did that every time he lied, which is why he didn’t do it often. “I don’t need to hear your life story again. Just say what you want to say before the guys come back.”

Jimin sighs, pushing himself off the floor. “Did something happen last night with you an–”

“No,” he interrupts him before he can finish asking and it throws him off his course again.

“Are you sure? Naty, I and the entire fucking planet saw the two of you leaving last night. Giggling like drunk little teenagers very obviously sneaking away.” He pauses for a second, pinching his bottom lip between his thumb and forefinger, “you know if you guys did something that's okay. Sometimes in moments of weakness between two exes things happen. That’s completely normal, I just hope that…you know… were safe and it was consensual and like the two of you know it was just a one time thing since you’ll be going back to Australia at the end of the month.” He finishes, nervously stuffing his hands into the pocket of his slacks.

His suit jacket had been off for hours and the first few buttons of his shirt were undone, while the sage green silk tie hung untied around his neck. Hoseok was grateful he didn’t have to wear one, it would’ve made walking down the aisle with you in his arms ten times harder than it already was going to be. The unfortunate privilege of him being the best man and you the maid of honor. Ignoring you was simply just impossible that much had been proved to him last night.

Last night. The first sleepless night he had in a while. He wasn’t sure if Jimin’s statement had irritated him or if he was already irritated from his lack of sleep.

Either way, even if Jimin always means well, Hoseok was beyond annoyed now. “We didn’t sleep together, Jimin.” Hoseok looks away from the mirror and at his best friend. “We were going to but I got in my head about it and then we started talking and then we fought. And honestly I might’ve fucked it up more than it already was in the first place.” He says, pulling off his suit jacket. It was hot. Maybe it had to do with the bright lights shining down on the two of them or maybe it was just him.

Jimin stood silent for a second before opening his mouth again. “What did you say, did you apologize?”

Hoseok lets out a bitter laugh before finally deciding that the suit jacket was perfect and shrugging it off, tossing it on the pink crushed velvet couch. It was so annoyingly pink that it actually hurt his eyes.

“I did, but then I couldn’t stop. I tried explaining myself and why I did what I did but I just ended up making everything worse.” Hoseok claims before sitting down on the steps in front of the wall of mirrors. There were at least three versions of him staring back at him and each single one of them looked worse than the other. Reflecting all his inner turmoil perfectly.

He was a fucking mess.

“Do you know how it feels when you hear the only person you have ever loved tell you they hate you and for very valid reasons?” He looks up at the groom, tired eyes shifting into deep sadness. He didn’t have to pretend in front of Jimin. At least not anymore. Nor did he want to because it was honestly getting exhausting. He had lived his life pretending for the past ten years. Pretending that his life was better when only certain parts of it were. Pretending that he didn’t have a gaping hole inside of his heart.

“Did she say that?” Jimin whispered, taking a seat next to his best man.

“She did but she didn’t need to, I already knew she did, but just hearing her say it made it so much more real.” Hoseok sighs and looks up at the ceiling, blinking away the spots of light in his vision and the tears that had started to form.

When he left to australia he had only let himself cry for a full month. He refused to cry after that month no matter how hard life was progressively getting. After last night all he wanted to do was cry and scream and disappear again.

Jimin puts his arm around his shoulders patting him softly. “If it makes you feel better Nathalie and I once broke up and she said those exact words to me. They’re awful, but we made it work and look at us now.” He whispers.

Hoseok shakes his head, looking down at his palms. “We aren’t like you and Nat. We were never meant to be together forever. It was stupid to ever dream that we could ever be each other’s forevers. Once she decides on something, she doesn’t go back. Which is why I know she will hate me for the rest of her life and I guess it’s just something I have to live with. I thought I was helping out by leaving, because I was afraid that I would lose her overtime. But in the end I ended up doing just that and this time there’s no chance of reconciliation, because that is something she doesn’t want.” He finishes, letting the sought out tears fall onto his open palms.

He’ll cry just for now, just for this moment and then he’ll pick himself up again. Just like he had been doing all this time.

Jimin pulls him into a hug. “I don’t believe that’s true. I’m sure that one day the two of you will sit down together and really talk it out. No bad blood between the two of you. I’m sure she doesn’t actually hate you. If she did she wouldn't have gone to Australia three years ago to attend the grand opening of your studio.” He spills in a hushed tone, making Hoseok’s eyes grow wide as he quickly turns to face him.

“You’re fucking with me, I would’ve seen her if she was there.” Hoseok scoffs, pushing Jimin’s arm away before standing up. “This was a mistake Jimin, a friend wouldn’t lie to me to make me feel better and you’re doing just that. I can’t fucking believe you.”

Jimin chuckles before standing up. “You know I’m not good at lying. Naty and I never asked her about it. It was like an unspoken secret the three of us had with each other. But apparently Namjoon was invited and she went as his plus one. When she came back she was so happy and glowing, it was something we hadn’t seen in such a long time. That we decided not to pry any further.” Jimin walks closer to him before putting both his hands on his shoulders, forcing him to look at him. “She was so proud of you. I think it helped her seeing how happy you were. And things just felt lighter after she came back. Naty and I didn’t have to walk on eggshells around her anymore.” Jimin continues, smiling brightly and Hoseok isn’t so sure if he’s just gotten really good at lying in the past six years. Or if he was actually telling the truth.

Either way this new piece of information is so overwhelming that he feels like he’s about to collapse.

“Why wouldn’t she tell me, if she was there why wouldn’t she come up to me and tell me?”

Jimin furrows his eyebrows and opens his mouth but it's quickly interrupted by another voice, making Hoseok look behind him. Namjoon stands by the doorway, a take away bag of coffee in one hand with a brown paper bag of what he assumes is pastries, par to Jimin’s request in the other.

“She knew that if you saw her, you would’ve dropped everything and had gone home with her. And she couldn’t do that to you. She saw how happy you were and didn’t want to ruin your big night by making her presence known. We only stayed until after your speech and then we got on the next flight to Miami.” Namjoon says, stepping further into the room.

Hoseok is at a loss for words. The only thing he wants to do; no, the only thing he needs to do is see you again. He needs an explanation because there was no way that the things coming out Jimin and Namjoon’s mouth are real.

They just couldn’t be. He would’ve known. How didn't he know? Your presence was so big no matter how small you made yourself out to be at times. You always shined like the brightest star in the night sky. He would’ve known if you were there. No matter how many lights were flashing in his face that night, he would’ve still been able to pick you out from the crowd. That’s who you always were to him. His one and only focal point. His light in trying times. And now he feels like complete and utter shit for not being able to find you on the day he desperately wanted to be with you the most.

The grand opening of his fashion studio. He wanted you by his side, showing you off like he always imagined he would. And maybe he would’ve been able to do that if he would’ve found you in the sea of people. Or maybe he wouldn’t have needed to look for you at all because the two of you would’ve been together in the first place.

He needs to see you, so shrugs on his suit jacket and runs to the exit, only to be blocked by Jungkook and his giant shoulders. “Move, I need to–”

“They left ten minutes ago. Told Namjoon and I to tell you guys that they would be off the grid until the rehearsal dinner.” Jungkook states, crossing his arms in front of him. “Plus you have a best man speech that I know you haven’t finished so I think it’s best if you just stay with us.”

“Off the grid?” Hoseok exclaims, his disbelief causing the groom to let out a loud laugh, which quickly catches his attention. “You’re not nervous about this, what if they run away to a different country?”

Jimin walks closer to Hoseok, knowingly patting him on the shoulder. “Off the grid,” Jimin says in quotations, “usually means getting vegan ice cream at their favorite shop in Hollywood Florida. They’ll be back before the dinner, and knowing them they’ll be like ten minutes late just to scare everyone.”

Hoseok rolls his eyes. You and your cousin were never good together, but it was something he had learned to live with. Now, he’s forgotten all the shenanigans he had to deal with when his life revolved around you. “But I need to talk to her.”

“Just wait until she comes to you.”

“But what if that never happens.”

“A lot has changed in the last six years, but not much. She’ll come around just like she always does.” Jimin says before patting his shoulder and disappearing behind the changing room curtain, leaving him behind in disbelief.

He stares at himself once more in the mirror, maybe the sage green pocket square wasn’t as ugly as he once thought. Jungkook and Namjoon awkwardly standing behind him exchanging awkward stares. His heart is against his throat, beating out of time. Feeling a little bit more hopeful once again. He had fucked up six years ago and last night but the next time he sees you and gets to talk to you, he will be sure that he doesn’t.

Afterall you were the only person he will ever be able to love for as long as he breathes.

Some say that when it rains on your wedding day it means goodluck, a sign of fertility and a lasting marriage.

Nathalie was not taking it that way.

“It’s ruined.” She crumbles sitting on the floor with her wedding dress surrounding her, making her look like a giant cupcake. Her half finished make-up is now ruined as the tears pour down her cheeks like the weather outside. “The weather channel said it wasn’t going to rain and now there’s a fucking hurricane happening outside.”

Her mom had stopped trying to calm her down and now it was up to you to talk some sense into her. “At least you decided against an outside wedding.” You say, earning a glare from your over dramatic cousin.

“Has anyone ever told you that you’re the worst?” She sniffles, a small smile appearing on her face. Ever since you were young you knew that telling her that everything was going to be alright would do the opposite to calm her down. Telling her to stop feeling the way she was and to ignore her feelings because there was always a bright side to everything, wasn’t of any help. More so because she always reached that conclusion herself.  So, you always did the opposite, and tried to joke around with her as she slowly came to her senses.

“A few times, most of the time it comes from you.” You smile, leaning your head against her shoulder. Your maid of honor dress was still on the hanger, taunting you.

“Do you think mom is right?” She tilts her head, looking at you curiously with wide eyes and a pout on her lips. “That it’s good luck for it to rain on your wedding day?”

“I don’t know, you know how they are with all their superstitions, but it could be…mom already put an opened scissor outside for it to stop.”  You raise an eyebrow, lifting your head. “But I wouldn’t think about it too much unless you don’t want to run your head up the wall, expecting things to go right or wrong.”

She nods looking down at her intertwined hands on her lap. There was something she wasn’t telling you, something she didn’t want to reveal yet. That much you knew from the way her brows furrowed and the tension in the air. Before you could ask she broke the silence, tears pooling in the corner of her eyes and you were terrified for what was about to come out of her mouth.

“I think she might be right.” She whispers and your curiosity grows. “Not about the goodluck thing but maybe the fertility thing.” She finishes, sounding smaller than before. If you didn’t know your cousin the way you do, you would’ve sure laughed in her face for believing such an outdated old wives tale. Especially because you were usually the one who did. Not her.

You raise your hand up to your mouth, in shock, afraid to confirm what she was hinting at with words. “You’re not–,”

“I’m pregnant, I found out last night after the rehearsal dinner, while you were sleeping.” She says her voice fading out into almost nothing at the end. The realization dawns upon you like a blanket. Everything makes sense. Her dress being a bit tighter than before. Her feeling sick at the dinner after taking a bite of the seafood pasta. Her saying that she had the biggest stomach ache before running down to the small convenience store in the hotel lobby. And the waterworks about the rain on her wedding day.

It wasn’t just the rain it was the fact that she found out she was pregnant hours before she walked down the aisle. “Does Jimin know?” You say, making her roll her eyes. Of course, he didn’t know, they hadn’t seen each other since they parted ways the night before. And she had been avoiding her phone all morning long.

“I don’t know how to tell him, what if he totally freaks out and leaves me at the altar. And then what, what am I going to do with a baby on my own? I can barely take care of a fucking succulent.” She breaks, putting her head in her hands in complete despair.

You rub her back gently, “first Jimin loves you more than he loves life so I don’t think he’d do that and if he does do that then I’ll help you out. After I hunt him down and tear him into teeny tiny pieces.” You try, feeling a small bubble of excitement inside of you. The first baby in the family after many years. And although you could tell Nathalie was terrified, her lifelong dream just like yours was to build a family. It was nice that one of you could at least have that.

“Please feed him to the dogs when you do.” She giggles lifting herself up and hugging you tightly. “I’m so scared, like I thought we at least would have a few years alone together before we added another little life, but I guess God has other plans for us.” She buries her face into your neck, hugging you tighter than before. “It’s going to be okay right?”

“Yes and if it isn’t then you can always count on me.” You whisper, bringing her closer. Only pulling away when there's a knock on the door. The two of you share a confused look until you hear the sound of Jimin’s voice through the wood.

“Naty, your mom, says you’re crying. I know I’m not supposed to see you yet but can you at least tell me you’re okay.” He says in a rush of panic.

Nathalie's eyes grow wide as she pulls away and starts silently speaking with her hands frantically, pointing to the door and then you and then the whole room. From what you can understand she’s telling you to go and talk to him, but honestly you were god awful at charades growing up, but given what she just revealed you could only assume that is what she was telling you. You nod as her hands fall down to her side. She scrambles to stand, tripping slightly over the tail of her dress, as she moves to the side of the room that’s less visible from the door.

You walk to the door and open it wide enough to poke your head out. You lock eyes with the groom to be, as he bites his bottom lip with worry. “She’s alright, right? She’s not getting cold feet right?” Jimin blurts out, running a shaking hand through his already made up do.

A smile appears on your face as you carefully walk out through the tiny open space of the door, closing it behind you. “She’s okay Min, the rain has her freaked out a little but she’s okay. I promise.” You watch as Jimin lets out a deep breath. His hands falling down at his side, in relief.

“Can I talk to her please? I won’t look, I promise I just need to tell her something.” He pleads, pulling his infamous puppy dog eyes and you cave.

You nod. “But don’t tell our moms, unless you want our heads on a stake.” You giggle, causing him to roll his eyes at your dramatics. He’s fully convinced that because you and your cousin are so close in age. Your dramatics have rubbed off on her…and him.

“I won’t.” With that you turn around and open the door wide enough to squeeze through, where you meet Nathalie pacing in the background.“He wants to talk to you.”

Nathalie’s eyes widen as she starts to shake her head quickly. “No, no, no I can’t. I can’t talk to him. I can't. It's too soon. What if I tell him about the—” she pauses, taking a look around before leaning forward and whispering, “the baby.”

You make your way to her, putting your hands on top of her shoulders. “Tell him when you’re ready, but I’ve never seen him so fucking nervous. I think the two of you need this.” You say softly, giving her a tight hug before stepping to the side.

She takes a deep breath and walks over to the door, resting her back against it and opening it a little. “Jimin,” she whispers.

You listen to the little nervous chuckle Jimin lets out before speaking. “Baby,” his hand appears through the little gap. Without hesitation, she reaches out and intertwines her fingers with his, visibly relaxing into her lover's warmth.

It’s an intimate moment between the two of them, and you want to look away, but something keeps your eyes glued on them. Maybe it’s the fact that their love brings you some sort of comfort. Or maybe it’s the longing of having someone like that again. When Hoseok left, you promised yourself that you would never let yourself fall. He was supposed to be the final period of your book, instead he left a comma behind. A sentence you will never let yourself continue.

If it’s not him, then it’s no one at all.

“Jimin, I’m so scared.” You hear Nathalie say, causing your head to snap up in an instant.

Jimin’s hand squeezes hers tightly. “Nothing’s going to change my mind about marrying you. I’d marry you over and over until the end of the world.” He whispers, his thumbs rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles.

Nathalie bites her lip, looking up and resting her head against the door. “That’s not why I’m scared, Min.” She blinks her eyes fast, wielding her tears away. “I-I’m pregnant.” She whispers, tightening her hold on his fingers.

You hear the moment Jimin’s breath gets stuck in the back of his throat. The hold on your cousin’s hand falters. And you know he’s fighting the urge to push the door open and finally see his bride's face.

“Naty, fuck.” He chuckles. “I want to kiss you so badly right now. I never want to let you out of my sight. But I know that if I do that our moms will walk down the aisle with our heads on a stake..” He laughs, making the two of you laugh along with him. “I promise you right here right now, before I promise it in front of our friends and family. That I will love you and our little baby for the rest of my life. I will never stop and I will work everyday of my life to keep falling in love with you over and over again. So, I can wake up with you in my arms and to the laugh of our five children.” He sniffles, and you have to blink back tears when you listen to his words. A part of you wishes you weren’t here, but the other half is happy that you stayed and didn’t occupy yourself with some menial task. Listening to him promise almost the impossible, is enough for you to realize that even though you still hold some resentment towards Hoseok. Even though you still hold so much anger towards him.

He’s it, he’s the end. Maybe it’s finally time to forgive him, and if nothing comes out of it again. It’s okay because at least he will still be in your life.

Nathalie throws her head back laughing. “Slow your roll daddy. I’ve barely carried this baby for a month. I will decide how many children we have by the end of this.”

His loud laughter is heard through the door. “Okay, okay it is your body after all. But like, think about it. Promise?”

She shakes her head in disbelief, scoffing. “I will as long as you promise not to tell anyone? I want to keep this between us for a little while longer.”

“I promise.”

Jimin and Nathalie are tangled up in each other's arms. Jimin has subconsciously been making small eye contact with her stomach. A wide smile appears on his face once he remembers their big secret. You’ve been secretly replacing Nathalie’s champagne flutes with sparkling cider flutes.

It’s fun, it makes you feel like a secret spy as childish as it sounds. And something in you has been awakened since witnessing the moment between the newly wedded couple in Nathalie’s hotel room. And the way the two of them broke down while sharing their vows at the altar.

You’ve been avoiding the alcohol all night, as well as Hoseok, but every now and then you catch a glimpse of his longing stare from your peripheral vision. You want to talk to him, but it’s too soon. At least that’s what you keep telling yourself because you’re scared.

Jimin stands up, doing the whole tapping the knife against the glass flute to grab everyone’s attention. His famous smile lights up the room instantly as he sets down the knife and glass down. “I’ve literally always wanted to do that.” He says, causing the entire reception hall to break out into light hearted chuckles. He clears his throat, “I want to thank you all so much for coming out tonight, honestly this is the best day of my life, so thank you for being a part of this new beginning for Naty and I.” He winks down at your cousin, before looking back at the crowd. “But now, it’s time for the speeches.” He says while looking between you and Hoseok, your nerves are getting set on fire. “I’d say flip a coin to see who goes first, but Hoseok said he wanted to go first before he forgets everything he’s practiced in front of the mirror.” The crowd laughs again, and you catch a glimpse of Hoseok rolling his eyes from Jimin’s side before he stands up fixing his suit and walking towards the stage.

Just like the first night you saw him again at the club. He looks expensive. You wonder what his first reaction to seeing you again was. Does he think you’ve let yourself go? Does he think you look better than before? Or does he not care? You aren’t sure and before you can dwell on it any longer Hoseok clears his throat into the mic, grabbing your full undivided attention.

“Hello…is that what people say before the start of best man speeches?” He tilts his head to the side, earning a few chuckles from the crowd. “Anyway, when Jimin asked me to be his best man I thought one of two things. One is that I was incredibly honored to have been considered, even though I honestly felt like I was his last pick. So, if any of you in the crowd were asked to be his best man first, don’t tell me or I’d actually be super offended.” He says pointedly, shooting a glare, earning more laughs. “And two, I was actually surprised that he trusts me so much, like you guys don’t understand how much dirt I have on this guy. I have years of sneaking out in the middle of the night together while we were teenagers and wild college parties permanently tattooed in my mind.” He sends a knowing wink to Jimin, causing the groom to send a deathly glare back, making the entire room erupt in laughter.

Hoseok rolls his eyes and clears his throat into the mic again. “But maybe I’ll write a book about the shit we used to do when we were young one day. For now, I just want to say to you in front of all our friends and family that I’m proud of you. I know I’ve been away for a long time but the man I am seeing now is not the same man I left behind. I think I’ve witnessed every important moment in your life. From the day you kissed Chloe Ramos during recess  when we were ten, to the night you laid your eyes on Nathalie for the first time. You had called me after a few years of not speaking to one another, except for the occasional ‘I’m alive,’ texts and the memes that remind us of one another. But that night… you said that you met the most beautiful girl in the world, and that your heart literally felt like it was breaking and repairing itself at the same time, like you could breathe again with ease for the first time in years. I thought you were crazy especially when you told me her name. I literally had to remind you that you’ve met her many times before. But you said this time it was different. I think that was the night your heart started to beat for someone else that wasn’t you.” He swallows and looks down at the ground grinning, slightly shaking his head.

This entire time you’ve been holding onto every single word that escapes his mouth. Clinging onto each syllable as you feel your heart speed up and slow down at the same time. Your palms are starting to feel damp and you almost wish that you had had that one tequila shot Jungkook had offered you hours ago. You wouldn’t be feeling anything and everything all at the same time, overwhelming you as you see the love of your life open himself up to a room that once held so much pride and resentment towards him.

“I think I knew at that moment when you cried asking me for advice. I think I knew that this day would come. And maybe I have been writing this speech since that night without me realizing it because even though I rewrote it many times as per your request idiot, it is still the easiest thing I’ve ever had to write in my life.” He pauses, taking a deep breath before settling his eyes on you, making your entire being freeze. “I know this because that night I told you to not make the same mistake I did. Naty and you are perfect for one another. You bring out the best and worst out of each other, but also help each other grow. I had that once4, and I let it go. So, now that I’m here I’ll tell you the same thing I told you that night.” You feel yourself slowly spiraling into nothing, crashing down onto the ground as the tears start to flood the corner of your eyes. “Don’t let each other go. Support each other to the end, even if it hurts sometimes. Be each other’s start and end and if one day you find each other at a crossroads in which you don’t know if you can or can’t continue any longer. Talk to each other with the truth, because I didn’t and I’ve been paying for it since.” He stops, nodding his head in your direction and you feel it first before you can acknowledge it.

Your heart stops and restarts for the one and only Jung Hoseok once again, and you’re sure he feels it too because now the tears are running down his cheeks just like yours.

He shakes his head, clearing his throat. “Anyway, enough of that moppy shit. I’m so incredibly happy for the two of you, and I do expect little nieces and nephews some time soon so you can send them to spend summers with me in Australia.” He winks at the newly wedded couple, who are now melting into each other’s sides. Hoseok raises his glass of champagne in the air. “Cheers and congratulations Mr and Mrs. Park. The love you two have for each other is only seen in fairytales and I’m so happy that I can somehow be a part of this one.” He nods, before bringing the flute up to his lips and downing it in one go.

You’re shaking, and you should get a hold of yourself before you have to go up to the stage and say your speech. But all you want to do is run up to him and hug him tight. So, as he’s approaching the last step of the stage stairs you do exactly that.

It feels like jumping into cold water, but this time you aren’t drowning because he’s holding you just like he did before.

Hoseok doesn’t approach you again until the guests start to filter out one by one.

“I’m upset with you.” Is the first thing you tell him when he is standing in front of you again. You smile up at him and take the hand he had extended out to you. There was an upbeat pop song playing through the speakers. Jimin and Nathalie are locked in each other's arms in the middle of the dance floor, slow dancing and ignoring everyone who comes up to them bidding them a farewell. It was almost laughable, and you enjoyed every single eye roll that came from the couple whenever someone interrupted their moment.

“Really?” He cocks his head to the side as he leads you towards the dance floor. “I honestly had no idea.” He says sarcastically as he places a hand on your waist pulling you close, while still holding on to your hand. You set your arm on top of his shoulder.

“Your speech was so fucking good and it’s not fair. I always helped you out with your papers so when did you get so good at writing?” You joke, swaying against the beat of the song. Thankfully most of yours and Jimin’s family have already gone home. Yet your friends stuck around taking advantage of the fully paid bar and the dessert table. You had kissed the luxury of leftovers goodbye when you spotted Jungkook shoving three scones into his mouth while Taehyung and Namjoon laughed at him, and Jimin recorded the entire thing.

It was certainly going to be going into the blackmail folder they all have saved on their phones.

Hoseok laughs, shaking his head, tapping his fingers to the beat against your lower back. “I had a lot of practice for many years.” He nods, moving a bit faster to catch up to the song. “After I left I started journaling whenever I could and I guess the habit just stuck.” He pauses for a second before looking down at you. “Thank you.”

You raise a brow in confusion. “Why?”

Hoseok spins you around so your back is facing his front and he pulls you close, leaning his head down. “You always told me to journal and I never listened until I was too far away. So thank you, it helped me out a lot.” He whispers in your ear, sending shivers up your spine. Before you can fully comprehend the position you are in he spins you back to face him. His cheeks pink with warmth.

You grin, pulling him down closer to you. “I never knew I’d see the day when Jung Hoseok admitted defeat and say that I am always right.”

He rolls his eyes, chuckling. “Now all I said was thank you, I never said that you were necessarily right.”

You give him a little shove, causing him to stumble back a little bit. “You’re so annoying.”

He smiles instead of replying. He pulls you in closer to him and holds onto your waist tightly, letting his head fall into your neck. This time the song has changed and it’s actually a slow one, from the Latin band Camilla, you know that was one hundred percent your dads doing.

“You were right.” Hoseok finally whispers into your neck. His breath grazes your skin, making the slightest of goosebumps rise all over your body. Before you can respond he keeps talking, with his face hidden within your neck. “I should have told you that I was leaving, instead of doing what I did. I don’t know if we could’ve made it work but at least I would’ve still had you in my life. I loved seeing you live your life, but I hated that you were finally living without me.” He takes a deep breath and lifts up his head, resting his forehead against yours. “I thought what I was doing was the right thing, but seeing the way you reacted two nights ago I knew I didn’t. I’m sorry.” He closes his eyes tightly, digging his fingertips into your lower back. He’s afraid that you’re going to run away from him again.

“I was so angry Hoseok, but I also think that if you hadn’t left the way you did I would’ve settled and just stayed in the spot I was at before. So even though it hurt like hell, I am grateful for it because I don’t think we would’ve been able to grow as people if we were still together. We would’ve learned how to resent each other instead of loving each other.” You say, twinkling your fingertips down the side of his face, before resting your palm against his check, smiling when he leans into your warmth.

It’s familiar yet new and it makes his heart race.

“Just don’t leave me like that again. I can only forgive you once.” You whisper, hugging him close, placing the side of your head against his chest.

His chest shakes gently with laughter as he runs his hands up and down your back. “I won’t, I will never be able to live another day if I did what I did then, and it’s taken a lot of therapy and journaling to be able to finally admit my defeat.” He leaves a light kiss on the top of your head before pulling away, putting his forefinger under your chin and lifting it up so that the two of you are finally looking into each other's eyes. “You were right.”

You smile, nodding your head. Like a winter blanket his warmth wraps around you calming your nerves down. Though things aren’t the same as before it just feels good to have him back. “So what now?”

Hoseok smirks at your question, mischief twinkling behind his calming eyes. “Come with me to Australia.” He says and before you can tell him your hard no because you can’t leave everything you built for yourself behind he finishes his proposal. “Namjoon wants to open a branch of RKIVE RECORDS in Australia. And since you’re his favorite employee and co-founder he was going to send you. So, come to Australia with me please?” He sticks out his bottom lip, almost pouting, making you scoff.

You’re about to pull away from him and speak to the menace you have as a boss, but Hoseok holds you close. “You can network with artists from my company and you never know, maybe you’ll like it enough to manage the Australian branch.” His eyes twinkle with hope and if he hasn’t done a good job at convincing you already he adds. “I just want more time to get to know you as the you now…please give me the chance to do so.” He finishes whispering the last part of his sentence and all you can do is hug him as tightly as possible.

He’s sure you have hugged him today more times than you have in the five years the two of you were together. Physical touch was always his main love language and you hated it with everything in your being. You preferred nice and encouraging words rather than physical touch. So, he learned to only initiate it if you did it first. Maybe that’s something that has changed too, still he hopes that he can find out soon.

“You’re fucking unbelievable Jung Hoseok.” You whisper, pulling him tighter.

“Of course I’ll go to Australia with you.”

a/n pt.2: I hope you’ve enjoyed this. If any of you follow Epitaph just know I finished writing the next part and I am just editing plus I am re-reading the entire thing and making some changes. 

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