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#the last chapters ENDED MEE

diordeer · 2 months

Text

౨ৎ HOW YOU GET THE GIRL PT.2

“remind me how it used to be, pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks… and say you want me” - taylor swift (smau)

contains: charlie bushnell x fem!reader (part 1 here)

description: i just watched an edward scissorhands ballet and its made me reminiscent of my dance days… why did angsty teen me quit!!

Liked by iamcharliebushnell, dior.n.goodjohn and others

yn.ln last little photo dump, with taylor stealing my phone and taking a selfie which is something i never thought would happen?!

tagged iamcharliebushnell, taylorswift

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user1 charlies been REAL quiet since the comment

↳ user2 I dont think its awkward between them bc otherwise she wouldnt be posting them together

dior.n.goodjohn imagine having THE TAYLOR SWIFT hijack ur phone

↳ yn.ln ikr like i mean she can keep it if she wants idm 🤷‍♀️

user3 me trying to figure out if the post is from the mv or behind the scenes

↳ user4 yeeah like it IS a scene but from a phone camera… and they r pretty close

user13 HE WANTS U FOR WORSE OR FOR BETTER!!!!

user5 well, she isnt fighting the dating allegations is she

↳ user6 why would she have to?

taylorswift 😘😘😘

user7 R THEY TOGETHER??!!

↳ user8 i dont think so, just rly close

user9 why is it the end of the photo dumps 😃

↳ user10 probs bc thats all the photos she has from it 🙄

user11 ok NOW get her cast on percy jackson

user12 they better be dating or im going to kms

Direct Messages:

You: Heyy charlie, what was that comment about that walker sent?

Charlie: Ohh did u see that?

You: Yeah sorryyyy!

Charlie: No dont be sorry, it was just walker yk? he goes on about random stuff to annoy people a bit

Yn: So.. its not true?

Charlie: I think it was just a joke 😄

Yn: Oh okayy! Sorry! Are we still on for the weekend then? Maybe we can chat ab it

Charlie: Of course!!!! … whats there to talk about tho?

Liked by taylorswift, iamcharliebushnell and others

yn.ln we in fact had A LOT to talk about

tagged iamcharliebushnell

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user5 why do i feel like we missed a chapter

dior.n.goodjohn if i had to sit through one more session of you two yearning for eachover i might have gone crazy

↳ user6 why can i envision this perfectly

user1 talk about, or kiss about?

↳ yn.ln WOWOWOW

user2 HE GOT THE GIRL!!

walker.scobell i take full credit for this

↳ user4 everyone say thank u to walker!

↳ user3 thank u walker 🙏

↳ iamcharliebushnell thank you walker

↳ yn.ln aint no way charlie, u were in so much denial about his comment its embarassing

↳ iamcharliebushnell 😣😣😣

leahsavajeffries FINALLY!!!

user7 OMGOMGOMG

taylorswift i feel like im a matchmaker rn

↳ yn.ln you are, and a very good one at that

user8 ON VALENTINES DAY TOO? SOMEONE GRAB ME A GUN RN

user9 jokes aside her hairband is super cute

↳ yn.ln its my prized possession, i will wear it any chance i get

Liked by taylorswift, dior.n.goodjohn and others

yn.ln omgomg, still in awe that our how you get the girl music video won an AWARD?! It was all u taylor boo 🩷🩷

tagged iamcharliebushnell, taylorswift

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user1 THE OUTFITS? THE HAIR? THEY ALL ATE SO HARD THERES NOT EVEN A KITCHEN ANYMORE

taylorswift all ME?! u ARE how u get the girl

↳ yn.ln STOP THIS MADNESS

↳ iamcharliebushnell what about mee?? 😣

↳ yn.ln oh! 😄 well ur a guy so…

↳ user3 me he heee

↳ user4 yns so real

sabrinacarpenter ahh congrats!! So well deserved!! 🎉🎉

user2 i cant believe this is real, yn, taylor, and charlie ?!?!

dior.n.goodjohn I WAS ROOTING FOR U!!

↳ iamcharliebushnell I WOULD HOPE SO?!

user5 charlie got the girl and got the award !

↳ user6 that was so cringey

user7 yn and taylor are my new fav duo

gracieabrams YESS!! WELL DONE 🥳🥳

taglist: @highfidelities @lostinhisworld @lizziesfirstwife @auttumnsayshi @silkenthusiasts @taygrls @kidkrowk @kanojous @niktwazny303 @m00ng4z3r

#charlie bushnell x reader #luke castellan x reader #percy jackon and the olympians #smau #social media au #aesthetic #charlie bushnell #in the know #x reader #taylor swift #how you get the girl

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stayxlix · 5 months

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off the deep end. (07)

~(part seven) the last nail in a shared coffin~

pairing: rebel!felix x reader (f)

genre: non-idol au, post-apocalypse/dystopian au. wc: 20.6k

series rating: 18+ **minors do not interact**

chapter warnings: violent mature themes, explicit sexual content (consensual, unprotected sex, oral sex), nightmares, mentions of murder/death, mentions of parent death, mentions of hunger, oppressive government, fighting, weaponry (knife use, gun use), panic, injury, blood, language, a whole lot lot of angst, please lmk if i missed any!!

a/n: thank you all so much for your patience and continued support, it really does mean the world to mee.<3 any feedback, likes, comments, and reblogs are more appreciated than you know. im so excited to share the next part of this journey with you!! as always, i hope you enjoy.♡♡

series masterlist

"fear and love are like interwoven threads—immutable and bound together by celestial forces. the sun and moon navigate the intricate dance of light and darkness for eternity, echoing the delicate balance between the two emotions that every heart must learn."

Felix had always been able to divide fear into two distinct entities.

The first was immediate, tangible. The kind of fear he’d grown accustomed to like an old, unwelcome acquaintance. The kind that crept beneath his skin when he could no longer ignore hunger’s gnawing ache. When he observed the hollow eyes of his companions after scouring the barren landscape, only to return empty-handed. It was the frigid air that seeped into his bones during long winter nights, the kind that set his pulse racing when footsteps echoed too closely in the darkness.

The second was deeper, a phantom kind of fear that stained the recesses of his soul. It was a desperate gasp for air in the suffocating grip of hands that devoured the weak. The cool touch of a steel barrel against skin that bore the marks of a merciless world. It was fear in the phantom weight of invisible chains that had once coiled around his neck—chains wielded by demons from a past that clawed relentlessly at the barriers of his sanity.

It was the dread that he would wake up one morning to discover a void where seven—no, eight souls had once stood beside him. To find his humanity stripped away again, replaced by the savage instincts he had fought so hard to overcome.

The kind of fear that crept into his dreams belonged to the second category.

Nearly six hours had slipped away since the first glimmer of morning light, when you had woken Felix from the nightmare.

"Felix,” your voice—your real voice—not the distorted echo from his nightmare, had called out. Clear and reassuring, summoning him from the depths of his own subconscious.

“Felix, wake up. You’re dreaming.”

His eyelids shot open, pupils dilating wildly as they struggled to adjust. A sharp gasp pierced the stillness as his body surged forward. Disoriented, his hands instinctively sought you out as he struggled to untangle the threads of the nightmare from reality.

"It's okay,” you whispered, fingers gently gripping his shoulder, "you're safe."

You’re safe, you'd said. And those words, while meant to comfort him, had almost caused Felix to laugh, at the absurdity of the idea that he could ever be tormented by a nightmare involving his own harm.

His head lifted, glossy eyes still clouded with the remnants of fear. Yet, relief began to glimmer within their depths. Because your lips were not stained red, there was no blood-soaked knife clutched in his hand, no imaginary blade pierced through your chest.

Felix drew in a shuddering breath, reality slowly stitching itself back together. Piece by piece, thread by thread.

You watched him closely, concern dancing in your eyes as you tried to grasp the torment of whatever horrors he had witnessed in his sleep. And then you’d sighed, heavy with affection and a touch of sadness, before shifting closer.

Your arms enveloped his shoulders and, to his own surprise, Felix didn't resist your touch—though maybe he should have, given what his subconscious had just inflicted upon you. But he couldn’t find the strength to keep his arms from making their way around you in return.

His head dropped to your shoulder, the tension in his muscles easing. Warm touch met cold, trembling skin. The physical contact was grounding—you were grounding. A lifeline anchoring Felix to the reality he so desperately needed to return to.

He strained to listen until the steady rhythm of your heart found his ear. In the stillness, the sound grew and grew until it was the only thing he heard. Every beat was proof that you were real, breathing and alive. But as the moments stretched Felix began to fear that it might slow, that every beat might be the last before an eternity of silence, that he would look up to find a dagger buried in it once again and—

The air in his lungs became thin, his grip tightened, fingers digging into your back. “I couldn’t do anything," his voice rumbled low, muffled by the fabric of your shoulder. And he didn't even know what he was saying but the words had come out trembling. As if the nightmare had lodged itself in his throat, constricting his vocal cords.

“It’s okay,” you hushed, your lips grazing his ear in a soft caress. “It’s just a dream, it can't hurt you."

But it's not about me, he thought. It's not about me, it's never been about me. But it remained a silent confession. Because he could not bring himself to tell you the real reason the nightmare had left him so shaken. A quiet truth that hung heavily in the air, tethered to the gruesome image of you that still clung to his mind.

With a gentle tug, you encouraged him to join you in lying back down. Felix hesitated, his gaze falling toward the cave’s entrance—a reminder of the harsh reality waiting outside. But you cupped his cheek and, with a tender smile and the quiet utterance of his name, convinced him to stay.

Your bodies melded together against the uneven contours of the cave floor. Your fingers threaded through his disheveled hair, tracing the curve of his scalp with each gentle stroke. Another hour might have unfolded as you clung to each other in silence, but it never would have been enough. Time slipped away, ignoring Felix's silent plea for it to slow.

When the rest of the boys began to stir, you shared a hesitant glance. Despite his obvious reluctance for you to withdraw, slowly, gradually, you did. Your fingers left Felix’s hair and his hands slid away from your back. He let you go, eyes following your retreat, and the ache in his chest returned at full force.

As you reclaimed your original spot a few feet away, you stretched, covering a yawn. Your casual expression revealed nothing of the profound moment—the profound night—you had shared with Felix. A night of stolen intimacy, waiting to resurface again in the quiet moments when the world turned its back.

As he drove the motorcycle, squinting against the pale brightness, Felix used the sun’s position in the sky to track the passage of time.

Early afternoon, he figured. Maybe eight hours now since the group had abandoned the safety of the cave. And despite the solace he’d found in your touch that morning, a growing shadow of guilt threatened to consume his mind.

With every hour, the weight of the nightmare's horrors slowly eased, though they never fully vanished. Every time he dared to close his eyes, that agonizing image of you returned—a cruel reminder of the violence he had once been capable of.

The violence that he was still capable of.

Felix had always recognized his nightmares as a manifestation of his deepest guilt. They had always been sinister—disturbing, and yet, this particular nightmare was unlike any he had faced before. Because he wasn't afraid for himself, he'd never been. But he was terrified for you. Of what he might be capable of doing to you.

Even if Felix knew deep down that he could never intentionally hurt you, there was that persistent voice in his head reminding him of every mistake he'd made, every violent impulse he'd ever had.

His fingers flexed on the motorcycle, feeling as though the handlebars would slip through his grasp at any moment. He squeezed until his knuckled turned white, trying to hold on to some semblance of control. Because Felix was acutely aware of his capacity to lose control. Giving in to that dormant beast lingering just below the surface.

As the nightmare replayed in his mind, Felix couldn’t help but wonder if it had also been a consequence of what he’d said to you that night in the tavern—that you would already be dead if he'd had things his way. Such a careless thing to say considering that, even if he hadn’t known it then, his affection for you had existed in those early moments too.

With every jolt of the motorcycle, Felix fought the nausea that settled in his empty stomach. Caught somewhere between the past and the present, the sensation of your arms around his waist served as a physical reminder of how far he'd come since that conversation. How he'd transformed from someone potentially willing to end your life, to someone committed to protecting it at all costs.

Felix killed the engine and dismounted the bike, muscles rigid from hours of tension. Late afternoon now. Half a day had gone by when the group unanimously agreed that it was time for a break.

As he refueled the bike, its exhaust pipes still crackling with heat, he wondered how long he and Chan were going to ignore the diminishing weight of the fuel containers. But the thought was quickly drowned out by Minho and Changbin—bickering over the now unfolded map.

Felix tuned them out, making note of the way you lingered by his side. He sensed the silent inquiry in your eyes, seeking reassurance about his well-being after this morning’s ordeal. But now wasn’t the place or the time to talk about the nightmare. It was still too heavy, too raw, and to be honest Felix wasn’t sure if he would ever be able to find the words to articulate it all.

He didn’t even know where to start.

So, despite the solace he found in the quiet strength you exuded, Felix distanced himself from your side. He sought out a flat rock, its cool surface soothing against the back of his neck as he reclined. The setting sun caressed his face, and if he had summoned the courage to close his eyes completely, he thought he might have been able to envision himself back on the rooftop. To the moment Chan had first revealed the plan for the raid—a memory bathed in similar sunlight, when the breeze had carried the scent of a world that felt unrecognizable now.

Felix allowed himself to wonder, only briefly, if he should long for the simplicity of that memory. At a time when he hadn’t felt much of anything at all aside from his love for the seven boys around him. But even that, he had done his best to dull. The numbness had been a shield, but it was a defense he no longer seemed to possess. Because now, every gust of wind seemed to carry the whisper of your name. The moon, a constant observer of his fondest memories and reflections, couldn't even come close to the comfort he found in your embrace. Even the warmth of the sun on his skin could never compare to your touch. Feelings he couldn’t begin to comprehend had taken place of that numbness, battling the darkness that had lingered for far too long.

With a slight tilt of his head, Felix cast a subtle glance in your direction. He found you seated next to Seungmin a short distance away, and he wondered whether you were truly managing the way you’d claimed you were last night. Maybe it was the weariness displayed in the lines of your face, the slight downturn of your lips, the way your shoulders always seemed to carry an invisible weight—things that didn't escape his notice because he understood them all too well.

Because Felix was beginning to understand you too well, maybe.

After discovering your identity the night of the raid, Felix had done everything he could to convince himself that you were just the daughter of a monster—a pawn in a cruel game. But despite his best efforts, he could never bring himself to see you that way. He'd failed miserably at hating you, he couldn’t even dislike you, and what terrified him most was not just the acknowledgment of his potential to love you, but the possibility that maybe he always had. From the very beginning. From that fateful moment in the alley when your paths had crossed, and your lips had met, and you’d saved his life for the first time.

Of course, he hadn’t known who you were then, he’d had no clue what you might be running from, but he saw the desire to escape it in your eyes. Almost leading Felix to believe that if he'd extended his hand and whispered for you to come with him that night, you would have said yes.

Somewhere nearby, the argument between Minho and Changbin dissipated, fizzling out under the weight of exhaustion or hunger, or the recent encounter with your father's guards—undoubtedly still on everyone's minds.

Felix couldn't help the way his ears perked up when Seungmin filled the silence by engaging you in a conversation about archery, debating the finer points of how to hold a bow. Seungmin—who’d always had a very particular knack for reading the group's dynamics. Whose trust in you was something that hadn't gone unnoticed by Felix, either.

As he immersed himself in the melody of your voice and the subtle accent woven into your speech—how you pronounced words like Minho once had in those first few months after he'd joined the group—Felix allowed his heavy eyes to drift shut.

Even if he'd always been skeptical of it, Felix suddenly found himself clinging to the hope that Chan so fervently believed in—the fragile hope for a better world. And if it really did exist, then he would do anything in his power to make sure you would be there to see it.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had happened—maybe he would try to figure it out some day if he lived long enough—but all he knew for certain was that somewhere along the way, the mere thought of you experiencing harm had become more terrifying to Felix than any of the horrors that had marred his own existence.

And so, he resolved to protect you from the brutality of your world, from the looming threat of the war against your father, and, most importantly, from the darkness that still dwelled within himself.

With a grin, you held the bow aloft. “See? It's all about the grip. If you don't hold it just right, your aim will be completely off."

Seungmin—who you'd quickly come to realize was never one to back down from a challenge—shook his head, streaks of chestnut in his hair catching the sunlight. Rising to his feet, he extended an arm.

“I get that you’ve had official lessons, but you’re missing the point. It's all about intuition and feeling the shot,” he continued as you handed him the bow. “You can have the perfect hold on it any day but if you don't connect with it on a deeper level, you'll never hit the mark.” He mimicked drawing an invisible arrow from the string to emphasize his point.

Intrigued by your banter, Changbin strolled over with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I don't know, I think it’s more about the stance," with a nudge, he disrupted Seungmin's balance, causing him to stumble. Changbin reached for the bow, and a smile tugged at your lips as the two began to fight over it.

A gentle breeze swept over you, carrying with it the faintest hint of distant pine, and your attention was immediately drawn away.

A few strides to your left, Felix lay reclined with his hands resting comfortably behind his head. His eyes were closed, raven-dark locks absorbing the sunlight. To anyone who didn't know the circumstances, he would have appeared content. To anyone who didn’t know Felix, he might have appeared relaxed, even.

Yet, you wondered what might be taking place beneath that calm exterior.

Felix had felt unusually distant since that morning. His glazed-over eyes seemed to wander endlessly, in every direction but to you. Something had claimed his thoughts, and you could only hope that whatever it was had nothing to do with the torture that had unfolded in his past.

You watched as he ran a hand through his hair—a habitual gesture for the boy with the freckles and the stars in his eyes. The boy with a narrative of scars on his back and a tapestry of secrets in his soul. Secrets you feared you wouldn't have enough time with him to uncover.

The muscles in his forearms flexed as he sat up, fingertips trailing across the stone beneath them. The memory of those fingers on your skin from the night before sent a tingle down your spine, igniting that familiar heat between your legs..

A small pebble came tumbling down the hillside behind you, landing gently on your outstretched hand. Startled, you glanced over your shoulder to find Minho and Jisung making their way back down the rocky incline. "Nothing as far as we can see," Minho reported.

The absence of your father's guards on the other side offered a momentary respite, but it was a fleeting moment of safety that you were well aware wouldn't last forever.

“Nothing for now," Jisung added, meeting your eyes as if he had tuned into your thoughts.

"We should keep moving," Chan appeared at your side, taking in the surroundings. "The longer we stay in one place, the more vulnerable we become."

Sure..unless the path ahead leads to an even greater danger.

Unless your father was paranoid enough to figure out where you were headed.

If he'd sent guards after you on a more direct route, you wondered if they might make it to Miroh before you. The thought of them lying in wait in anticipation of your arrival stirred up a new, particularly unsettling, concern. But when Chan turned his focus to you, you responded with a firm nod, tucking away your fears to discuss with him later.

The days were waning, leaving you to realize that summer had quietly begun to slip away. It didn’t take long for the sun to complete its descent below the jagged horizon, plunging the world into shadows once more.

The scattered rock formations took on menacing shapes—their outlines frequently obscured by passing clouds above. Under the veil of darkness, each turn of the wheels became a gamble, increasing the chances of veering off course or stumbling upon unforeseen obstacles.

Amidst the growing danger, Chan's voice cut through the rhythmic hum of the motorcycle as he called for Felix to slow down.

Felix, however, seemed determined to press forward. His muscles tensed, ignoring Chan's plea as the engine roared defiantly. And you had a feeling it wasn't just the desire to reach your destination that drove him, but a reluctance to stop and rest.

To sleep, perhaps.

"Felix,” you urged, leaning in, "it isn’t safe.”

A sudden acceleration of the bike was his only response. It surged forward as if he were trying to outpace not just your words, but the night itself.

You squeezed his waist, a silent plea for him to listen. "Lix—"

In a single, decisive motion, Felix abruptly yanked the motorcycle to the side of the rugged path. With wide eyes, you watched as he stepped down, his movements reflecting restless energy. As the dust settled, he deliberately avoided meeting your eyes, turning his focus to the rover as it pulled up beside you.

"I'll take first watch," he declared, boots crunching on loose rocks as he left your side.

You’d intended to follow him but Hyunjin was quicker. He leaped down from the rover before it’d even slowed to a stop, darting ahead to catch up with Felix.

You watched as they approached the edge of a cliff that lie straight ahead from where you stood. A frown tugged at your lips as your mind went to the twin rings they wore.

I've known Felix a lot longer than you.

As you considered the unspoken dynamic between them, whatever the hell it might be, a shadow fell over the periphery of your vision.

Jisung slipped beside you, his eyes flitting from you to the two figures now seated at the edge of the cliff.

"I spoke with him earlier," you said, eyes tethered to the outline of Hyunjin’s back. "It didn't exactly go well."

"Sometimes Felix gets like this—"

"Not Felix."

"Oh.." Jisung sighed with understanding, following your gaze to Hyunjin. "Hyunjin is protective, especially when it comes to Felix. It's been a long time since someone new joined our group, and considering your.."

"My background.."

"Yeah..that," Jisung mumbled, raking a hand through his hair. “There's history between those two, but it's mostly things that happened before I found my place in the group."

"When did you join the group, Ji?" you turned to face him, dragging your eyes away from whatever was unfolding at the cliff.

Jisung shrugged. "That is a story for another time," he said, flashing his signature grin. "Promise."

You surveyed him for a moment, sensing layers and layers of depth behind his carefree demeanor. His eyes held a narrative waiting to be told, but it was a chapter he wasn't yet ready to reveal. "I'm holding you to it," you replied, and Jisung's smile grew a little wider.

Devoid of any trees or significant cover, the wind howled through the surrounding space, sweeping up from below the cliff where Hyunjin and Felix remained. An exposed campsite meant that, to avoid the risk of drawing unwanted attention, there would be no warmth from a fire tonight. And so, the blankets were spread in a circle on the cold, uneven ground. Pulled close together for warmth.

You settled in, rummaging through your nearly empty backpack, picking at your nails, brushing the dust from your pants over and over again—anything you could to keep your eyes from straying back to the cliff.

Chan claimed the space to your right, handing over a portion of stale bread that was noticeably smaller than usual—a clear indication of your dwindling supplies. But you accepted with a grateful smile nonetheless, pushing down another concern to discuss with him later.

Too much later though, and you may need to start a list.

Unlike the night before, when adrenaline after the chase from your father's guards had fueled the sharing of memories, tonight carried something different. Animated exchanges had been replaced by contemplative silence as the boys seemed lost in their own thoughts behind heavy-lidded eyes. The exhaustion that had been building throughout the day had finally caught up with them, it seemed. And you'd be lying if you said you didn't feel it too.

Your head lifted a bit too eagerly to be discreet when the sound of approaching footsteps reached your ears. A spark of anticipation flickered within you, only to be extinguished as your eyes landed on Hyunjin.

Hyunjin settled down on Chan's other side, their words too hushed for you to catch the details. Slowly, their whispers melted away, a seamless transition from hushed dialogue to the ambiance of rustling blankets and the occasional creaking of the rover.

Your gaze wandered skyward where the stars blinked in and out of view. You watched them for a while, chewing on your bottom lip as you tried to pick out constellations Jisoo had once taught you the names of. Names you had long forgotten, not that it mattered now. Tears pricked at your eyes at the thought of your former best friend, but you didn’t let them fall.

Shifting on your side, you cast a glance at the solitary figure that remained unmoving at the cliff's edge. Moonlight painted his frame in pale shades of silver as he overlooked the expanse below.

The rational part of your mind whispered that you should let him be.

Chan’s body heat would keep you comfortable enough to fall asleep, no doubt about that. And to your other side, Jisung's familiar presence offered an added measure of comfort.

But it was your name Felix had called in his sleep that morning.

And your heart that had a tendency to rebel against the logic in your mind.

You sat up, mindful not to disturb the sleeping figures around you. The water canteen felt light in your hand as you retrieved it from your bag, quietly making your way to where Felix sat. His head turned in acknowledgment as you approached, and although his expression remained guarded, he shifted to make room for you on the beside him on the rocky outcrop.

It gets easier with time.

If this was easier than you didn’t want to know what it had been like for him before.

“You should rest. We're safe tonight,” you said through chattering teeth as the frigid earth seeped through the fabric of your clothes.

Daring a cautious glance over the edge of the cliff, the world seemed to disappear. Swallowed by a pitch-black void, the perilous drop was only discernible thanks to scattered dots of flickering light below—tiny beacons of firelight.

Felix shifted, dangling his legs over the edge. “Any one of those fires down there could belong to them."

Them.

The mention of your father's guards stirred up that uneasy feeling in your stomach. Their pursuit would be relentless, safety tonight would never guarantee safety tomorrow. But as you looked to Felix, you knew there was more to it than that. Something had changed since that morning. The distance he'd kept, the guarded look in his eyes—it mirrored the same intensity that gripped him when he'd faced down the man from his past at Yellow Wood.

And it dawned on you that maybe he wasn't referring to your father's guards at all.

You extended a hand, offering him the canteen. "At least drink something if you're going to stay awake all night.”

Felix pressed the cool metal to his lips and took a long, necessary drink before handing it back. “Thanks,” he said, fingers brushing across your own.

As the minutes stretched, the cadence of his breathing created a soothing backdrop. The heat from his body called out to you, a magnetic pull that made sleep even more inviting.

And the next time you opened your eyes, the world had shifted. Your head had found a resting place on his shoulder, your eyes having closed long before the conscious decision to sleep was made.

"You don't have to stay," Felix murmured, a subtle indication that he'd sensed you stir from the drowsy embrace of sleep. His fingers tugged at your jacket, pulling it snug around your neck to fend off the biting cold. "I'm fine, princess,” he added, making your heart flutter at the nickname. “I just don't want to close my eyes right now."

“Do you want to talk about it?” you asked quietly, lifting your head from his shoulder.

"Not really. It was just a dream," he said. But his voice carried a defensive edge, leaving no doubt that it was in fact not just a dream.

“We don't have to..But I can tell its bothering you,” your brows raised in gentle invitation, urging him to share the burden.

Felix stilled before letting out a breath, a hint of frustration taking over the exhaustion in his eyes. "Why do you care?"

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden question.

You thought of everything you'd been through—the stolen moments entangled within the danger and chaos, the intimacy you'd shared up to that point.

“I thought it was clear.." you replied, looking away. But as your words hung in the air, doubt crept in. Maybe it hadn't been clear to him that it wasn't only physical for you.

Had you even allowed yourself the chance to fully accept that?

"It's not that simple," he muttered, shifting his gaze back to the distant firelight below. He toyed with the rings adorning his hands, and you tried to ignore which one his fingers gravitated to first.

Vulnerability danced in his expression, and for a heartbeat, the desperate wish that life could indeed be that simple was palpable between you.

Felix reached up to claw through his hair, tugging at the strands. When his eyes finally returned to yours, you realized it wasn't frustration you had seen in them moments ago, but something akin to fear.

"Felix.."

And Felix winced—he winced at the sound of his name falling from your lips. A subtle movement that might have been imperceptible to most, but painfully evident to you.

“You should go get some sleep,” he stated, jaw tensing with the effort of holding back words begging to be said. The quiet command held a touch of finality, causing a knot to form in your chest.

You took a steadying breath, the crisp night air stinging your lungs.

And maybe you shouldn’t have, but you said, "I care because I see more than the darkness in you, Felix. Those moments from the past that you think define you, they don't. I know you don't see anything good in yourself, but I do."

You set the canteen down beside him with a resounding clang before rising to your feet. "I care because I see someone worth caring for," you sighed. And then, with a slow shake of your head, you cast a final glance over the vast expanse below before turning to walk away.

Had Felix not been broken a very long time ago, your words that night might have shattered him completely. He fought hard to keep his eyes open, determined to avoid the return of the nightmare, but he fought harder against the overwhelming urge to chase after you.

Too many silent hours stretched before him until the sun would rise. Too much time for Felix to wrestle with the echoes of your words—for him to question exactly when he had begun to fall in love with you, and if it really was going to get you killed some day. Leaving him restless and tormented, alone beneath the sprawling canvas of a starlit sky.

The morning unfolded in a haze, draping the landscape in layers of fog that hung low and thick. Changbin had the map spread out on the hood of the rover, tracing the faded lines that marked the outskirts of District 5. "According to this,” he said, “we should be nearing the border of District 4 soon.”

Beside you, Seungmin leaned forward to catch a glimpse for himself. "What do we know about District 4?" he asked.

Changbin disguised any tension in his shoulders with a casual shrug, and it struck you then that you might not be the only one unfamiliar with the outer districts.

Chan tossed an empty supply bag into the back of the rover. "As we go further, we don't stop unless absolutely necessary," he said. And maybe you would've asked him why, if your attention hadn't been drawn to Jeongin at his side. His slender fingers grasped at the frame of the vehicle, strained knuckles betraying his effort to conceal the pain as he noticeably favored his injured foot.

You walked around and dropped an armful of folded blankets into the vehicle, making a mental note to keep an eye on Jeongin.

While the group prepared to continue the journey, the silence between you and Felix pulled at your thoughts, too. You’d hesitated for a moment before climbing onto the motorcycle behind him. His stoic expression, like always, did an exceptional job at masking whatever he was feeling.

Summoning a deep breath, you nudged the thoughts surrounding him to the edges of your mind. The urgency of outrunning the guards, reaching Miroh, an inevitable confrontation with your father some day—there were far more pressing concerns that demanded your focus.

And so, when the motorcycle roared to life you shifted your arms around Felix, intentionally loosening your hold.

If the freckled boy sensed the subtle change, he didn't let it show.

The moisture in the air hinted at an impending change.

It wasn't long before thick raindrops began to break free from low-hanging clouds. The motorcycle's wheels fought for traction, skidding on the slick terrain. Puddles formed in the lowest areas as the rain intensified, visibility deteriorating rapidly.

Raindrops pelted Felix's leather jacket as he lifted an arm to shield his eyes from the downpour. Casting a fleeting glance behind, you struggled to discern the faint outline of the rover.

Your head snapped forward again as the bike slipped, threatening to lose balance. With one hand, Felix firmly corrected the course of the motorcycle. His free hand reached out unexpectedly, and you felt the warmth of his touch as he intertwined his fingers with yours. He pulled one of your hands further around his waist, ensuring with subtle pressure that your hold around him was secure.

When he lifted his hand, you maintained the grip, fingers securely entwined.

The rain poured and poured, drenching you both. Yet, steady progress was made. You entered a narrow mountain pass, the landscape unfolding in glimpses as you pressed forward.

Steady progress was made, until the ground beneath you gave way without warning—sending the motorcycle into a sudden descent.

Even with his seasoned reflexes, Felix barely had enough time to react as it plunged downward. The air was stripped from your lungs, a dizzying mix of exhilaration and fear coursing through your veins. Your eyes squeezed shut against the onslaught of wind, and you didn't open them again until—with a jarring thud—the motorcycle reached the bottom of the incline.

The impact sent vibrations through your bones, mud spraying in a messy wave as Felix steadied the bike with a foot.

Rain-soaked strands of black hair clung to his forehead when he whipped around to face you, droplets streaming down his face. “Shit are you alright?!” his voice cut through the thunderous pounding of your heart in your ears.

But you hardly registered his words at all.

Your focus was entirely captivated by what lay over his shoulder.

A vast expanse of towering evergreen trees stretched before you. Tall and imposing, they stood like sentinels guarding whatever secrets lie inside from the rest of the world. The branches swayed as if the forest itself was alive, pulsing with energy that seemed to beckon you closer.

You were almost certain that nothing like this had been marked on the map. And it was massive. A beast all its own.

With a scowl, Felix dismounted the bike, boots sinking into the damp soil beneath. As he approached the forest, you turned to survey the steep incline behind you.

The landscape extended high and wide, like a colossal step down in the earth, stretching as far as you could discern through the curtain of rain. As you studied it, the rover appeared at the top. A sudden apparition against the stormy backdrop, the glimmer of its headlights and the silhouettes of the boys appeared as faint outlines.

Blinking against the rain, you took a few steps over to the foot of the incline. As you strained to comprehend Minho and Chan's growing shouts, Felix materialized at your side. His voice joined the chorus in an attempt to shout back however, like them, his words were swallowed by the storm.

Abandoning their efforts to communicate with you and Felix, the boys leaned together to discuss something amongst themselves.

“What are they doing?” you questioned as the rover began to make a cautious retreat from the edge above.

Felix craned his neck, squinting against the rain. "Probably going to find shelter to wait out the storm, I saw a cave entrance not too far back—"

A brilliant streak of lightning slashed across the sky, illuminating the entirety of your surroundings in a bluish-white glow. The accompanying crack of thunder tore through the air, the sheer force of the noise making your heart lurch in your chest.

Felix lowered his eyes, a softness creeping into his expression upon discovering your hand clasped tightly onto his sleeve. “If they’re going to wait it out, we'll do the same,” he said, taking your hand.

He led you across the tree line, to a colossal evergreen. Its base was substantial, the lowest branches forming a natural canopy like the skirt of a dress—large enough for both of you to slip underneath. His grip on your hand tightened briefly before pulling away. “I’ll be right back. I need to get the bike."

Reluctantly, you let go of his hand. "It’s just a little rain, princess,” he said softly before darting back out in the direction of the forest’s edge.

Beneath the the sheltering branches of the evergreen, you huddled closer to its trunk. Rough bark dug into your back as you pulled your knees up. Thunder rumbled overhead, shaking the earth beneath you.

You shut your eyes—counting the seconds, the breaths.

You thought of a refreshing cave spring echoing with deep laughter, a motorcycle ride underneath the stars. You pictured freckles like constellations, dark eyes reflecting the night sky.

Relief flooded your veins when you looked up to find Felix slipping back beneath the branches.

His shoulder brushed against yours as he sat down beside you with a tired sigh. Stretching his legs out, shadows played on his face as he gazed up through the lattice of pine needles above. “You really don't like storms, do you? You had the same look on your face that night in the tavern.”

“I’m fine,” you protested, the words coming out sharper than you'd intended.

“So fucking stubborn,” he grumbled under his breath before shrugging out of his jacket. Every flex of his muscles was accentuated by the wet fabric that clung to him.

Not that you'd been staring.

When he draped the jacket over your shoulders, the urge to protest simmered beneath your skin, a lingering effect of your earlier frustration with him. But it was warm, familiar, and for some reason, his scent was more comforting than you'd ever understand.

So, you said nothing.

Your bent knees found a resting place on his thigh. And beneath the heavy weight of his jacket, the thunder and lightning gradually began to lose their intimidating edge.

When you crossed your arms for added warmth, your fingers brushed against the handle of your mother’s knife. With a subtle flick, you pulled it out and tossed it into the ground. Your eyes traveled from the gleaming blade to the engravings on the hilt, the dried blood in the crevices. And as you watched the rain wash it away, you were reminded that your father's guards weren't the only thing Felix was running from.

There was a different kind of sinister out there—a malevolence engraved into the scars you'd felt along his back. You'd wielded the knife to free him from one of them, but you weren't naive enough to think that there weren't more out there.

The mere thought of how many might be hunting him at that very moment sent a spark of something searing up your spine.

Not fear, or sadness, but anger. A raw, primal hatred that surpassed even the disdain you felt for your own father.

“Keep clenching your jaw like that and your teeth are going to shatter,” his deep voice pulled you back from your thoughts. One of his hands found a resting place on your knee. “What’re you thinking about?” Another ominous rumble echoed from somewhere above, and he added, “Aside from the big scary thunder."

You rolled your eyes, sorting through the myriad of thoughts in your head.

Having to relive what you've been through in nightmares.

What I said to you last night.

What we did the night before.

You took a deliberate breath, the scent of rain and earth filling your lungs, and nudged his shoulder with yours. “You first.”

His head, still resting against the tree, tilted to the side. The way he met your eyes asked, do you really want to know?

When you refused to look away, he sighed. There was a flicker of hesitation in his expression, letting you know he was on the verge of revealing something deeply personal.

“Most of the time," he began, "my memories feel like someone else’s," his throat moved, swallowing down the weight of those memories.

"But there are moments where it all comes back."

Moments.

Moments, as in those nightmares.

Your next thought slipped past your lips, spurred by genuine concern. “Lix, are you okay? Not just after yesterday morning but..I know you've been through a lot, and..”

"I'm fine, princess," Felix managed a small smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. "If you want to know the truth, in a strange way I’m thankful for the nightmares.”

Because I feel like I deserve them.

The unspoken words were written all over his face.

You noticed the subtle tremor in his fingers as they began to tap against your knee. You adjusted your position so that you could look. at him. Really look at him.

His dark eyes, pools of endless regret, met yours. And in them you found a well of profound sadness, a lingering ache from wounds that would probably never fully heal.

A delicate touch trailed from his thumb as he brought it up to caress your bottom lip, gently drawing it back. Your breath hitched in response to the intimate contact. A sigh escaped him as he contemplated..something. And then his thumb retreated, leaving behind a tingling trail of longing in its wake.

"You wouldn't look at me like that, if you knew everything.”

You frowned at his words, at the sudden shift in conversation and the evident self-loathing in his tone.

Before you could come up with a response, his head crashed back against the tree. “When I asked why you care last night, it's because you shouldn’t," he said.

"What do you mean?”

”I mean you shouldn't be worrying about me or my nightmares or any of the shit I carry with me," he answered immediately. "There is so much you don't know about the way I've lived, the things I've done..I am not who you think I am."

“Then help me understand,” you urged.

But there was a flicker of something in his expression that suggested he didn’t believe he was worth your understanding.

“You can’t,” Felix emphasized. A distant look clouded his eyes, a flash of whatever it was that had crossed his features after the nightmare seemed to resurface. “You grew up with servants to meet your needs while the rest of us bled for every scrap of food and warmth. You can’t understand, y/n. And even if you could, it won't change who I am or what I've done. The blood on my hands will never wash away.”

For a moment, the only sound was the relentless percussion of rain on the forest floor. Then, you felt something inside you snap. The princess role, the sheltered naivety that had plagued your entire existence—the pressure from pushing it all down was suddenly released under the weight of his words.

“Is that all you see when you look at me?" your voice was sharp, edged with years of pent-up frustration. "Just a sheltered princess? Do you think that was my choice? You think I’ve never felt pain, Felix? That I haven’t seen things that will haunt me for the rest of my life?”

You shifted, the jacket slipping from your shoulders and dropping to the mud. “And who are you to decide what I can or cannot understand? You of all people should know that there is more to someone than the history they carry.”

Ignoring the bewilderment in his expression, you stood and pushed through the dense branches, pine needles scratching across your face as you stepped into the open forest. Cool droplets splashed across your skin, mingling with the heat that had begun to fill your veins. Your vision blurred with rain and tears that threatened to spill over—the culmination of years spent hidden away, a lifetime of being taught not to care about anything finally starting to unravel.

Footsteps splashed behind you. “Wait—I’m sorry,” Felix pleaded, his hand finding your shoulder with firm, gentle strength. “I didn’t mean to belittle what you’ve been though," he said, stepping in front of you.

He blinked against the falling rain, freckles glistening. "Please, y/n. I see your strength and I see how much we—I need you. And that terrifies me more than anything because—”

He caught himself, choking on the words. The voice in his head told him to let you walk away, just like he had done last night. But Felix was so goddamn tired of acting indifferent to everything around him. Whether it was the lingering tension between him and Hyunjin, the fact that the nightmares had been devouring him for years, or the way he tried to ignore how losing you would obliterate whatever small part of himself he thought might actually be worth something.

He wasn't tired, he was fucking exhausted. And the fatigue of pretending that he wasn't human was killing him.

Maybe it had been for a very, very long time.

And maybe that is why Felix found himself unable to bear it any longer. The accumulation of secrets, and pretense, and hidden emotions, it pushed and it pressed against his chest until it hurt. And it made him want to live—to experience the complete depths of life that he had been depriving himself of for as long as he could remember.

“When I said you were my weakness, princess. I meant it," he confessed, taking a subtle step closer. "There are very bad people chasing me, and they always catch up. They will again, and I can’t stand the thought of anything happening to you because of me. The things they will do to you if they find out what you mean to me," he took a steadying breath, "I'm only trying to protect you, because what I feel for you is..”

His throat bobbed, preparing to continue. But before he could, you lifted a finger and gently pressed it against his lips.

With a feather light touch, you traced a path from his lips to his cheek, to his temple and down his jawline. You stopped to caress the sensitive skin on his neck, as if trying to erase the memories burned there beneath your fingertips.

You felt his warmth, the rapid beat of his pulse.

And you weren’t entirely sure your own heart was beating when you leaned forward to connect your lips with his.

His breath caught, as if not quite expecting it. He kissed you back, applying a tender pressure against your lips before abruptly pulling away. “If you knew what I am capable of—"

“I don’t care what you have done, Felix,” you interrupted, "I. Don’t. Care," you drowned his protests in another kiss, and his lips tasted like rain and longing and everything you were afraid to lose. "I want you, I want every part of you. And if you choose to share your past with me, although I might not fully comprehend it, it won’t change that."

You pulled back and held his gaze. "I am not afraid of you. Pushing me away won't protect me, and I'm not asking you to change, Felix, but I need you to see me for who I am now. Not the person I was expected to be in that palace. I was so broken and alone, and I don't think I even realized it until I met you. And I don't know who I am yet, but I am figuring it out because of you—because of all of you. So don't take that away from me by telling me that I shouldn't care."

As your words settled in the space between you, you decided that Felix had never looked more human to you than he did in that moment.

A lone droplet slid down his cheek, and when you leaned in to kiss it away, the taste of salt lingered on your lips. Revealing something far more profound.

Before you could react, his hands slid to your waist, warm and possessive as his lips claimed yours. He guided you until your back collided with the bare trunk of a dying tree. "I'm sorry," he whispered, thick accent sending shivers down your spine. "I'm not good at things like this, but I care about you, too. Too much, sweetheart. More than I should." The sincerity in his voice resonated with you. He meant the words—truly meant them. "There's nothing I wouldn't do to keep you safe. You know that, right?" he added, thumb brushing your cheek.

And you did. You'd felt it in his touch, when he kissed you, the way he looked at you. You nodded, tracing the contours of his face, "I’m yours, Lix."

The words came out quicker than you could register, but you didn't regret them.

Maybe it made you fucking selfish, to crave losing yourself in him when the entire world was perched upon your shoulders, but you didn't regret them.

"You were always mine," Felix breathed, "before we met, before all of this, you were never their princess," he leaned in, pressing his lips to your forehead. "You were always mine.”

And then, Felix kissed you like he was making up for all of the wasted time before you’d met—for all of the time you would lose when fate inevitably ripped you apart. He kissed you like he had been chasing you through every life before this one, and would follow through every one after.

When he ground his hips against yours, the intensity of his desire was evident in the way he murmured your name. A low, rumbling growl escaped his throat, making you acutely aware of the silence around you. The rain had ceased, leaving only the sounds of your heavy breathing and the occasional rustle of branches above.

When you shifted to grant his wandering hands access to your backside, his boot slipped in the mud. Your lips curved into a smile against his as you realized the absurdity of the situation—how ridiculous you must look shivering and drenched in rainwater, wrapped up in each other like this.

"Smooth," you teased.

Felix responded with a subtle shake of his head, a shy smile playing on his lips. Closing his eyes, he groaned softly and pressed his forehead against yours. "I hate this," he said.

You pulled back, your puzzled expression prompting a low chuckle from him.

"I just wish there was somewhere we could go," he clarified, "somewhere warm and dry," he swiped the lingering raindrops from your cheeks.

"Somewhere we could be alone," you added, lifting your arms to wrap around the back of his neck. "Just us."

Felix hummed in agreement. The desire was reflected in his eyes, a shared longing that resonated between you. But the idea of a place where the two of you could exist peacefully, away from the unforgiving grasp of reality, felt like an elusive fantasy that might always be just out of reach.

Suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, Felix's expression gave way to a surge of profound intensity.

"Some day," he dropped his voice, "When all of this is over, I'm going to carry you back into that palace." His lips found the curve of your jaw, trailing a heated path down. "I'm going to take my time with you, princess," he nipped at the sensitive skin on your neck, causing your core to flutter with anticipation. "And then," he whispered, "I'm going to lay the world at your feet."

You held your breath as he brought one of your hands to his chest, spreading your fingers out over his beating heart. "Its yours," he said, "and I don't care what you do with it."

With your palm still pressed against his heart, a quiet realization rippled through your mind.

You might love him.

You might be a fool to think there was any part of you that didn't love Felix. And maybe you were a coward, too. Too hesitant to say the three little words hovering on your tongue, for fear that you might become addicted to how it would feel to hear them back.

Your eyes widened as another realization crossed your mind—the understanding that, in some way, loving Felix might always have been inevitable.

And you wondered if he had known it long before you.

Don't let me love you.

You hesitated, the weight of the promise casting a shadow.

But when Felix leaned in to capture your lips with his, the pull between you was too strong to resist. Something cosmic, two souls irresistibly entwined. And you only hoped he could decipher the silent declaration of your emotions lingering in the spaces between each breath.

The kiss deepened into something desperate. Heated and sensual as your tongues collided. A soft, needy sound escaped your throat when he slipped his hands underneath your shirt, cold rings making you shudder. Your arms tugged around his neck, urging him to press his body closer.

Curling your fingers in his hair, you pulled firmly, because you knew how much he liked it.

"Are you trying to get me to fuck you in the middle of this forest?" he said, stifling a groan when you repeated the action.

You laughed—a small, lighthearted chuckle against his lips. "A forest? Never. I prefer caves, actually."

He let out an amused scoff. "Is that so? I'd think someone of such high status like yourself would be into more sophisticated places..like closets."

Your mouth fell open in mock astonishment, a smile playing on your lips as you remembered that night at Clé. "What the hell were we thinking?"

"I know what I was thinking," he responded, leaning in to press his lips to your neck. "I was thinking that you're fucking irresistible," his breath against your ear made your entire body heat up. “That every time I look at you, I want you wrapped around my cock. That when we're with the guys and one of them looks at your ass," he moved his hands around to give a firm squeeze to your backside. “Or your tits," he brought his hands up to grope at your breasts, making you moan. “I want to fuck your pretty pussy in front of them until you're leaking with my cum."

A chill traveled throughout your entire body, covering your skin in goosebumps.

"Then why don't you?” you purred, “fill me up with your cum, I mean," you clarified. Although something about the idea of Felix taking you while the rest of the boy watched stirred up something in your core that you’d never felt before.

“You know why,” he groaned. His adam's apple bobbed as your hands traced along his belt, fingers grazing the skin just inside his waistband.

One of your hands slowly slid down, and you weren't surprised at all to find his already hardened cock pulsing through his pants. The hiss he let out turned to a weak groan when you tightened your grip. And god there was nothing you wouldn't have given to be alone with him and a fucking bed. You needed to taste him, to feel his heavy length on your tongue, stuffed inside your aching cunt.

He started rocking his hips into you slowly, pressing your back further into the tree. "Princess," he dragged out the word against your neck, sucking at the skin. You whimpered in response, head falling against the tree."Do something for me?" he asked.

"Anything," you managed to say.

"Jump."

And you did. Without hesitation you jumped into his arms, locking your ankles around his waist. Felix's eyes sparkled as he turned, surveying the distance between the two of you and the tree you'd taken shelter underneath earlier.

He began to step—but not toward the tree. No, toward the motorcycle beside it.

He lowered you down gently in front of the handlebars before putting his hands on them, closing you in. You recognized the glazed over look in his eyes, and you thought it might be your favorite look of his.

You knew what it meant, and you needed him too.

When your lips reconnected it was fervent. Wild, and raw, and vulnerable. His hand found its way to your neck, making your pussy throb when he lightly squeezed. And your moans mixed when his crotch rubbed against yours, pushing your ass against the front of the motorcycle.

Felix groaned deeply, trying to focus on you and not the growing throb in his dick when you grabbed his hand and shoved it to that needy spot between your legs.

"Felix," you whined, bucking your hips into his touch, "fuck me, please. I don't care where we are, just fuck me."

There was nothing Felix wouldn't have given for the chance to take his time with you. To have the luxury of time without interruption, where the whole entire world would simply fuck off for a few blissful hours. Days, maybe.

But time had never been very kind to Felix. So, without wasting any more of it, he helped you shove down your pants and underwear.

And then, his knees buckled.

He hit the ground and immediately began kissing your inner thighs, moving his face closer and closer to your cunt. And it was when he tilted his head to the side, stopping to look up at you, that you knew you were fucked. The pleasure was already building in your lower abdomen and he hadn't even put his mouth on your pussy yet.

Your eyes squeezed shut as you let out a shaky breath when his tongue finally met your folds, licking a long stripe through them. Felix brought one of your hands to his hair, and you were instantly tangling your fingers in the damp locks. He swiped his tongue in a jagged pattern, brushing his nose against your clit because likes the way it makes you squirm.

He mumbled to himself, something about how good you tasted, before his puffy lips latched on to your clit. You were on the verge of tears, hips jerking when he started sucking on the bundle of nerves, flicking at it with his tongue.

You tightened your grip on his hair, shoving his face against your pussy as your other hand reached for the handlebars behind you, feeling yourself getting closer to the edge.

He brought his fingers up and plunged them inside of you with ease, using them to scissor you open as he made out with your cunt.

“C-close,” you stuttered as his tongue dipped into your hole.

He looked up, and the sight of him on his knees with your arousal glistening on his face, was more than enough to send you over the edge.

Your thighs closed around his head, eyes fluttering shut as the pleasure ripped through you. You moaned his name, pussy throbbing and clenching around his fingers as you came.

Felix smirked against your core, slowing his pace to help you work through the orgasm.

And then, before you'd even had the chance to open your eyes, you were being flipped around and bent over the handlebars. Felix pressed the palm of his hand on your lower back, forcing your body to lean over it further.

Your eyes widened, mouth watering when you heard the clink of his belt unbuckling.

"Gonna take you like this,” he growled, the words rumbling out from his chest. And you were suddenly very thankful for the bike, because it was the only thing keeping you upright.

Felix shoved his pants down, just enough to reach for his thick cock. "Feel what you do to me baby?" He tapped it against your ass a few times before using the tip to spread your folds, gathering your slick.

"Felix," you gasped, swallowing hard. "Don't be gentle."

"Desperate little slut," he cooed, aligning himself with your dripping entrance. "My desperate little slut. Always so good for me, so wet and ready to take my cock like you were made for it."

Without warning, he slammed into you. The full length of him, so heavy and solid and filling you up so well, had your eyes rolling back in ecstasy.

"Oh," you gasped when he landed a harsh smack to your ass.

"Feels good, huh?" Felix smirked, chuckling lowly when you began to vigorously nod your head in response.

"Move, Lix," you cried, "m-move, please move."

And although he'd like to make you beg just a little bit more, Felix physically couldn't hold back any longer. He grunted as he set a steady rhythm. "Pussy's so good, fucking sucking me in baby," he moaned, pushing you further over the handlebars. He picked up the pace when you told him to, burying his face into your neck and sinking his teeth into the sensitive skin.

You emitted a broken, strangled moan when he tugged your head back by the roots of your hair, brain growing foggy with every drag of his cock along your walls. He drilled into you until his thrusts turned sloppy and irregular. When you started fucking yourself back on his dick, his hips trembled, stuttering into yours.

"Princess," he panted, breath hot against your neck, slowing his pace to try and keep himself from spilling inside of you. And Felix thought it might just be the hardest thing he'd ever had to do, when you start to beg for his cum. Whimpering incoherently about how badly you needed him to fill you up with his seed.

"Felix," you cried, feeling your second orgasm building, "feels so fucking good, keep going, keep going, I'm g-gonna—" you whimpered, inhaling sharply as you cum again, tears pricking at your eyes as you cream on his cock.

Felix bit his lip as your walls fluttered around him. His deep moans turned into pretty high-pitched sounds. And he was cursing, words you’d never even heard before, when his hips suddenly stilled.

"Ah, fuck—" he shuddered when he started to spill inside of you. He hurriedly pulled out, wrapping his hand around his pulsating length as he finished in his palm.

When you were coherent and able to feel your limbs again, you turned to look at him.

Felix was panting, chest heaving, as he came down from his own high. His hand was covered in his own sticky release. And you weren't quite sure if it was leftover rain or beads of sweat rolling down his face, but he was beautiful. Lips parted, dark eyes blown wide with pleasure.

He looked up, meeting your gaze with a tired half smile, and it broke something within you.

In that split second, you recognized that you might love him even more than you'd thought. And it was a feeling tainted with a subtle undercurrent of fear—the metaphorical nail in a shared coffin.

Because you're pretty sure it is going to get both of you killed some day.

Imprinted on your skin, Felix's scent mixed seamlessly with the clean breeze that enveloped you upon stepping out from beneath the trees—his warmth a comforting presence at your back.

Something caught your eye, bringing your attention to the top of the incline where the rover had returned, its metallic exterior gleaming.

As you surveyed the narrow drop, a daunting realization began to take hold. The slope stretched on in either direction, leaving no choice but for the boys to make their own descent if you were to reunite.

While you contemplated whether or not the angle might be gradual enough to allow for a cautious descent, Chan's voice rang out from above. “Stay back! We'll come to you!"

Felix cast a worried glance up and down the slope. "It's too steep," his lips tightened into a thin line as the tires inched closer to the edge above.

Charged, electrifying silence filled the air, heightening every detail of your surroundings—the engine's low hum, the rhythmic drip drip drip of water from the branches at your back.

"Maybe they should.." you hesitated, searching for an alternative that didn't exist. But it wouldn't have mattered anyway, because your voice was drowned out by the screeching protests of metal against rock.

With a sudden lurch, the rover initiated its descent.

The first tentative movements sent a cascade of loose rocks tumbling down the slope. The vehicle jerked and swayed in tandem with Chan's adjustments to the wheel, suspension audibly groaning underneath the strain.

Just when it seemed it might conquer the descent unscathed, the air was shattered by a stark crunch as one of the headlights collided with a protruding rock.

The impact sent shockwaves throughout the vehicle, a collective gasp escaping the group as Chan lost control.

In a frantic sequence of events, Minho leaned over, grappling with the wheel to help Chan regain traction. Changbin shot an arm out to grip the open frame, and Jisung buried his head in his hands.

Felix took a shuffling step forward, propelled by instinct to help the boys. Your fingers wrapped around his arm, yanking him back as the rover slammed against solid ground at the bottom of the incline.

The collision resonated through the air, leaving each of you speechless.

Jisung's wide eyes met yours, peering up from beneath the curtain of hair that had fallen into his face at the impact. A disbelieving smile fell across his lips, as if the absurdity of the situation had struck him in that moment. And you couldn't help but return the smile, shaking your head in relief as you acknowledged the collective insanity that had become your reality.

Chan's shoulders slumped and he bowed his head, taking a moment to collect himself. A mere ten seconds passed before he straightened his posture. Stepping down from the vehicle, he crossed his arms over his chest, muttering a curse as his eyes narrowed to the broken headlight.

The rest of the boys disembarked following Chan. Changbin pulled the map from his jacket, taking note of its condition before handing it over to him, and the group gathered around their leader in anticipation.

Chan's brow furrowed in concentration. A moment of disbelief crossed his features before he began to shake his head. "This entire forest isn't even on the map," his eyes lifted to sweep across the endless expanse of trees.

An exchange of looks rippled through the group as you waited for his next words.

"We can waste fuel trying to get around it,” he finally offered, "Or..." his gaze returned to the map.

“Or,” Minho interjected, catching everyone's attention, "we go through it."

The simplicity of his statement held a sense of something bold—a willingness to face the unknown head-on.

The forest did represent the unknown..But it had to end eventually. The fuel was dwindling, every one of you knew it, and wasting it in an attempt to find a way around the forest could be just as dangerous as navigating straight into its heart.

A decision loomed, demanding a choice that balanced the unknown with the practical constraints you faced.

Chan looked to Felix, seeking guidance in the unspoken language they shared. Felix, in turn, redirected his gaze to Hyunjin. The exchange unfolded like a ritual, a pattern the three of them had followed countless times before.

Silent affirmation in the form of a single nod from Felix was all it took for Chan to make the decision. “We go through," he declared.

Jisung cleared his throat, placing a hand on the back of his neck. “It can’t be any worse than what we’ve been through so far, right?”

His attempt at optimism, although appreciated for its intent, was quickly overshadowed by the ominous presence of the trees that loomed behind you.

Changbin squared his shoulders, cocking the heavy weapon in his arms. "Too late to turn back now," he caught your eye, and you nodded in silent agreement along with the rest, his voice echoing endlessly in your mind.

Too late to turn back now.

The forest held an ancient energy, a guardian of untold history. The growl of the engines harmonized as they wove cautiously between trees with an undercurrent of something otherworldly, something wild.

The further the group pressed on, the more it triggered an unexpected wave of discomfort in Felix. His chest tightened as vast horizon was replaced by the suffocating confinement of dense foliage. It brought to light an aspect of himself that he hadn't consciously acknowledged before—how deeply he had come to rely on the open sky and the sense of freedom it provided.

As the familiar feeling of being hunted settled in his bones, his eyes darted anxiously back and forth, scanning for shadows that danced in patterns at the edges of his vision. The words he'd confessed to you about who was chasing him echoed in his thoughts, and he half-expected their figures to materialize from the shadows at any moment—

No.

They couldn't have followed the nine of you out here.

The journey, the logistical challenges it would've taken to track your path through the districts..Not to mention that your group would’ve been long gone by the time they'd realized the fate of the man they'd sent after him at Yellow Wood—the man you'd killed to protect him.

The man whose name was enough to elicit a visceral response from Felix, the scars on his back tingling with every syllable as it resonated through his mind.

"They couldn't have," he muttered under his breath. They couldn't have followed you. They couldn't have.

But what if—

"Felix!" your shout pierced his thoughts, snapping his focus back to the path in front of the motorcycle.

Shit.

The wheels jerked violently as he veered to avoid a large ditch filled with rainwater and mud. The bike danced on the edge of disaster, narrowly avoiding the hidden hazard.

Felix’s eyes widened in realization as he twisted around. “Chan, watch out!” his voice boomed, echoing through the trees, but the warning was futile.

The rover was following far too closely behind.

It's front end plunged first, followed by a moment of suspense before the back wheels followed suit—the mud greedily swallowing them whole.

Despite the churning tires, the vehicle was forced into an abrupt halt. A chorus of frustrated exclamations filled the air, Chan's curses cutting through the loudest as he slammed his hands on the steering wheel in defeat.

You and Felix quickly abandoned the motorcycle, hands pressing onto the muddied surface of the rover. The rest of the boys, excluding Chan and Jeongin, joined you in a synchronized effort to push it out.

Muscles strained, boots sank into the earth, the wheels budged slightly, but despite your collective strength..

Nothing.

Chan unleashed his building frustration by forcefully slamming his foot on the gas pedal once more. The engine responded with a thunderous roar—thick clumps of mud scattering in every direction from the tires, still locked in a futile struggle.

"Chan, stop!" Minho called out, covering his eyes as he stepped back.

Thick sludge splattered across your clothes, adhering to every fiber. You rubbed your eyes to wipe it from your face, and when your vision cleared you realized that the situation had transcended beyond mere inconvenience.

The fading daylight had begun to cast eerie shadows around you. The gravity of your predicament sank in—how utterly alone you were, and it was the first time you thought that might be a bad thing.

Jeongin, confined to the vehicle due to his injured foot, swiveled around to observe the group. He put a hand over his mouth to conceal the sound that escaped his lips. However, what began as a tentative giggle soon evolved, bubbling up from the depths of his chest into hearty laughter. "You guys look awful,” he mused, dimples on full display.

The group exchanged glances, surveying their disheveled appearances.

Hyunjin, in particular, appeared thoroughly offended by his ruined clothing. His disgusted expression only fueled the laughter that had begun to grow around you.

Seungmin protested as Changbin (forcefully) pulled him into a hug, smearing even more mud onto his clothes.

And beside you, Felix's perfect face was seemingly untouched by the mess that adorned the rest of him. It prompted you to swipe some of the mud from your cheek and transfer it to his. The act elicited a surprised, but amused reaction from the freckled boy as the corners of his mouth twitched, his eyes meeting yours with a hint of appreciation for the unexpected playfulness.

Even Chan couldn't stifle a small chuckle as he stole a glance at the group through the rearview mirror.

Surrounded by the laughter of those you had slowly come to trust, you were reminded of what had brought you there in the first place—why it was so important to dismantle your father's oppressive regime for good.

Despite the encroaching night, darkness had yet to fully envelop the surroundings. There was still daylight left. One more challenge was added to the list of those you faced, but there was something about the boys and their resilience that instilled a small sense of hope in you. Making you feel as if their collective strength might just see you through the uncertainties ahead.

And if not, well it was far too late to turn back now.

With the ground unsuitable for spreading blankets, the process of setting camp mainly involved finding patches of drier ground to rest.

You observed the deliberate effort each of the boys made to avoid peering at the rover, the eyesore that it was. Chan was the only one who hadn't left its side, his mind undoubtedly concocting some kind of plan to free it come morning. “Hopefully”, he said to no one in particular as he kicked one of the tires, “we’ll be able to get it out after the mud dries.”

Your fingers fiddled with the laces of your boots, tying them over and over again to divert them from scratching at the drying mud on your skin. With each of you reluctant to waste your precious water supply on a mere rinse, you held on to the possibility that tomorrow's journey might lead you to a stream.

A yearning for the refreshing waters of the cave spring developed within you, intensifying with each passing moment. But it wasn't just the longing for cleanliness that fueled your desire to be back there.

Your eyes darted to Felix, crouched down beside you. Absorbed in concentration, his tongue habitually poked out the side of his mouth as he worked alongside Changbin to start a fire. His dark hair was up, a few strands escaping the confines of the tie to delicately frame his face.

You shook your head, refocusing your on Jeongin seated against a log at the edge of the clearing.

Felix glanced up when you touched his arm gently. His eyes followed your movement as you stood, the soft crunch of leaves beneath your boots resonating in the quiet surroundings.

The mossy surface of the log pressed against your back as you lowered yourself down next to Jeongin. "How're you holding up?" you asked, eyes trailing back to Felix as he returned to work on the fire.

"Could be worse," Jeongin replied softly. You pursed your lips, a moment of silence passing between you before he spoke again. "Can I be honest?"

"Of course," you said, inviting him to share his thoughts.

His fists clenched, fingers digging into the soggy grass beneath.

"Please don't tell the others," he began, quieting his voice. "But if we can't get it out," he gestured toward the rover, "I'm worried about slowing everyone down. I just don't want to be a burden if we have to continue on foot, you know?"

"Jeongin you are not a burden," you were quick to reply, "and nobody is leaving you behind. Whatever happens, we'll find a way to get to Miroh. All of us."

When he failed to respond, you reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder. You turned to meet his eyes, and your stomach dropped.

A film of sweat covered his forehead. His complexion had taken on an unsettling pallor, and you guessed that if you were to press your hand to his forehead, it would be burning hot despite the chill in the air.

You fought to maintain a reassuring smile as your gaze swept across the clearing, landing on Minho. He was engrossed in the meticulous task of inspecting and wiping down the remaining firearms with Jisung.

With silent intensity, you begged him to look up.

The air seemed to still as you waited, sounds of the forest fading. When Minho finally raised his eyes to meet your own, the unspoken plea in your expression was clear.

With quick, fluid movement, he excused himself and made his way over where to you and Jeongin sat.

Minho knelt down in front of Jeongin, breaking the tension with small talk as he carefully unlaced his boot. He gently pulled back the bandages to assess the strain on the wound, and despite the stitches holding together well, the surrounding skin displayed signs of inflammation.

Amidst your focus, a sudden grunt of frustration sliced through the air.

Your eyes followed the source of the disturbance to Changbin and Felix. The duo was still locked in a battle with the damp leaves and twigs that refused to ignite—each failed attempt only deepening their shared frustration as the daylight waned.

You stole one more quick glance at Jeongin’s food before rising to your feet. “We need to find dry wood,” you announced.

But you were immediately caught off guard when the deep, resonant timbre of Felix's voice intertwined with Minho's softer tone as they both volunteered to accompany you.

The unexpectedness of Minho's offer left even Hyunjin standing motionless with raised eyebrows across the clearing.

Felix cleared his throat, maintaining his crouched position next to Changbin. A hesitant glance unfolded between him and Minho before he muttered, “Yeah..you two go.”

Minho got to his feet, seemingly unbothered by the reaction he'd caused. Stepping up to your side, he gestured to the forest behind you. "We're losing daylight."

Obviously.

As he strode past you, heading for the trees, you briefly glanced back to the others.

Felix had already returned to the task of trying to coax a spark from the wet kindling. Chan had found his way around the back of the rover—now absorbed in taking inventory of your remaining supplies. Jisung gave you a meaningful look, motioning with his eyes for you to catch up to Minho..

And so, with a determined breath and nothing to lose, you followed the boy from District 9 into the encroaching twilight.

It was as if even the forest held its breath, as if it were sentient and fully aware of the undercurrents of tension between you and Minho.

Silence draped between you, thick and uncomfortable, as Minho guided the way. You glared at the back of his head, making note of the distinctive shade of his hair—gray or perhaps a faded light blue, with grown out roots revealing the natural color underneath.

In District 9, it wasn't uncommon for residents to dye their hair various shades—a symbol of status due to the expense of such indulgences. The gradient of Minho's hair made you wonder just how long he had been away from his home district.

Your home district.

As you considered the shared connection between the two of you, Minho broke the silence. “His foot, its..”

"I know," you replied.

"Infections can spread fast, especially out here.”

“I know.”

Minho sighed in annoyance, as if holding a conversation with you was some sort of burden. “I didn’t want to discuss it with the others,” he snapped.

And it dawned on you that it wasn't the burden of talking with you, but rather the responsibility of his concern for Jeongin that strained his expression. He didn’t want to discuss it with the others because he didn’t want to worry the others. Choosing to confide in you instead.

“What can we do?” you asked softly, although the answer was already clear.

“Not much,” Minho confirmed, “start a fire, boil water to sterilize it with, and..”

"Wait," you breathed, without missing the way he tensed at the word.

Cleaning Jeongin's wound would be a temporary measure. It wouldn't heal the infection, but it might prevent it from worsening too quickly. Which would give you the time you needed until you got to Miroh where there might be medical supplies. Antibiotics, if you were lucky.

And if not..

“Look," your eyes caught on a fallen tree with branches that appeared drier than the rest. Relief, albeit a small thread of it, weaved through your senses. You pointed to it and began to cross the distance, Minho falling into step beside you.

Together, you began to break off the dead branches. The brittle material snapped easily underneath your grip, the silence interrupted only by the sharp cracking of wood as you worked. But your fingers stilled when you caught sight of that thin bracelet adorning Minho’s wrist. The trinket glimmered softly in the fading light. Its delicate beauty contrasted sharply with your surroundings, reminding you you once again of the life you had left behind—the privileges and sorrows intertwined in your past.

You studied the intricate design and elegance of that gold piece..so out of place.

Why wear it out here, where its value could mean a death sentence?

Lost in the depths of your thoughts, you didn't notice the pause in Minho's own movement. His fingers wrapped around a branch while his gaze bore into you, even as yours remained fixed on the bracelet.

In that moment, a daring impulse seized you. Screw it, you thought. The seething hatred you held for District 9 and the memories it carried ran deep, yet a peculiar sense of comfort washed over you in the knowledge that Minho might understand in a way that the others couldn’t.

For the briefest instant, you allowed yourself to wonder if perhaps Minho shared the same longing for someone who understood.

Screw it.

“If I hadn’t already known you were from District 9,” you started, “that would confirm it.” You brought your eyes from the bracelet to meet his gaze as you resumed your work, snapping another branch.

Minho’s own eyes tinged with something darker than nostalgia as he let out a dry chuckle. “There's no sob story to it, if thats what you’re wondering. No lost loved one, no tragic incident. It's just a piece of metal.” His tone suggested a desire to seal off the conversation, end it there. But your intuition sensed the unspoken pain behind his words.

“If it doesn’t have any meaning,” you pressed, “then why wear it? Isn't it dangerous? Valuable things like that..I’m sure people would kill for them out here.”

Minho’s eyes flitted away, as if trying to decide whether or not to continue. “It did belong to my mother,” he admitted, “but I don’t wear it for her. She was a cruel women and she probably still is. I have no love for her memory."

His gaze returned to yours, firm and resolute. “I wear it because it reminds me of why I left.”

Minho’s sudden vulnerability left you wondering what had changed between you, brow furrowing. “Yes, my family is from District 9," he continued, “and they live comfortably while so many struggle to survive. This bracelet is a symbol of that privilege, of the divide."

“Sounds a lot like more than just a piece of metal to me,” you mumbled, eyeing him cautiously.

A brief pause suggested Minho had shared as much as he was willing. His gaze swept over you, scrutinizing the details of your disheveled appearance. He took in the worn edges of your clothing and the mud-streaked lines on your face, before his eyes landed at the spot on your neck where Felix's mark had once been.

You pulled your jacket up, raising your eyebrows at him.

What?

Minho let out a puff of air from his nose, a sort of half-laugh, half-scoff. The tension in his forehead slowly relaxed, the sharp angles of his expression softening. “I spent the majority of my life in District 9, closer to the palace than you might think," he revealed, "and I never once caught a glimpse of you. There were rumors of your existence, but nobody ever saw you."

A resigned sigh escaped his lips. “I hated every moment of my life there—the constant surveillance, the price paid by those who dared to step out of line. And I think I’m finally starting to understand how unbearable it must have been for you to be confined within those walls. Unseen, unheard, without any idea of what was out here," he gestured to the surrounding wilderness.

The stillness following his words was disrupted by the involuntary snap of a branch succumbing to the pressure of your grasp. Your mouth dropped and you attempted to conceal the subtle gasp that followed, praying Minho wouldn't be able to discern the astonishment you felt.

As your eyes lifted, preparing to articulate the thoughts still struggling for coherence in your mind, your attention was captured by movement just beyond his shoulder.

Amidst the foliage, a delicate tendril of smoke curled upward, spiraling into the sky. You followed the trail down to the source, where a barely visible chimney revealed itself through the trees—an apparent sign that you weren't as alone as you had once believed.

You returned to the campsite cradling a bundle of dry branches in your arms. Felix's face lit up at the sight, however his dark eyebrows raised in silent inquiry when he noticed the expression on your face. He accepted the branches as you handed them over, kneeling down beside him.

"Did something happen?" he asked, following the trajectory of your gaze to where Minho was approaching Chan across the clearing.

“We found a small cottage not too far away," you began, helping him arrange the branches. "We didn't get close enough to see if anyone was inside, but there was smoke coming from the chimney.”

A mixture of curiosity and apprehension took hold of his freckled features as you continued. “If someone lives there, there could be medical supplies or something useful for Jeongin's foot."

His eyes drifted toward Jeongin, now dozing off with his head on Seungmin's shoulder.

"He has a fever, Lix," you added with a note of urgency.

Felix swallowed, grappling with your words. "Let's say they do happen to have what we need," sparks flew from the friction of wood meeting wood beneath his hands. He maintained focus, coaxing the flames into existence. "You think they’ll just hand it over to a group of strangers?"

A brief pause followed before he asserted, "They won’t."

"Then we’ll take it,” you answered plainly. Felix’s eyes widened and you emphasized, “Without hurting them.”

His eyes sparkled as the first glimmer of flames emerged, heart-shaped lips curving into a smile. “Well would you look at that, princess," he mused, "you might just be one of us after all.”

The weathered stone cottage stood as an oddity against the wild, untamed forest.

The towering pines devoured the moonlight, plunging the surroundings in velvety darkness. Beside, you, Felix moved as if he were part of the shadows themselves—someone who had adapted to the darkness in ways you could only begin to imagine.

The two of you—along with Minho, Chan, and Hyunjin—had dispersed around the cottage to get a better idea of who might be inside.

Its circular windows were devoid of curtains or cover, as if whoever resided within had nothing to hide from prying eyes. Flickering light spilled out into the darkness as the scent of burning firewood filled the air—an indicator of the warmth within those walls.

Each step Felix took was guided by muscle memory—a hunter’s instinct, as he left no trail of his passage behind. Darkness seemed to seep from his eyes to combat the soft moonlight. The lethal gleam behind them whispered of his past deeds, reminding you that he was the survivor of a world in which he had been forced into the role of predator rather than prey.

Felix pivoted without a sound, hands delicately grasping your arms. His eyes softened upon meeting yours, acknowledging the fleeting startle he'd caused you. "Stay here," he whispered, a soft command. His gaze lingered on you for a moment longer before he turned back toward the cottage.

You watched with bated breath as he approached one of the open windows. His eyes narrowed, catching on something inside, someone, perhaps—

“What the hell is he doing?!” a voice hissed from behind you.

You whirled around, instinctively reaching for your knife.

“Shit, Chan.“

“I said not to get too close,” Chan continued, disregarding the glare you shot him.

Before you could voice your irritation any further, Felix silently returned to your side. His hand made its way to your lower back, a feather-light touch to alert you of his presence. “There’s a man inside. Just one, from what I can tell.”

The sudden crack of a brittle branch underneath a heavy boot had all three of your heads snapping to the left. Minho and Hyunjin emerged from the shadows, their words echoing Felix's earlier revelation about a single man within the confines of the cottage.

"If he's the only one inside, we might be able to explain our situation and ask for help," Chan said.

Felix withdrew his hand from your back, deftly pulling down the bandana that matched each of your own. The fabric slid down the lower half of his face, unveiling tense features. "We don't know who this man is or what he's capable of.”

“What if he seems hostile or refuses to cooperate?” Hyunjin chimed in. As his slender fingers adjusted the strap across his chest, the metallic clink of the firearm secured to his back punctuated the air.

The tension thickened as Chan took a moment to contemplate the options. His hand fell to his own weapon, subtly tracing the familiar contours. "Maybe we should wait until morning,” he suggested. And the words, like always, came out laden with the weight of responsibility. “People can be unpredictable. If we wait until morning it gives us the advantage of daylight and more time to assess the situation.”

Impatience flickered across Minho's features, his eyebrows drawing together. "We can't afford to wait," he stressed, "Jeongin has a fever and it isn’t going to improve on its own. If we wait until morning, even a few hours, it worsens that much more. And it will just keep escalating until—"

"Alright," Chan conceded, features softening at the mention of the youngest. “If we're going to do this we need to be cautious. Charging in blindly could make things worse, not only for Jeongin but for all of us.” He swallowed hard, eyes traveling across each of your faces.

"So, what's our plan?" you spoke up, highlighting your commitment to whatever course of action they chose.

"What if we should just knock," Chan shrugged, "it's a simple gesture, non-threatening..”

Felix scoffed audibly from beside you, the sound startling a bird into flight from somewhere above. “Knock?" he lowered his voice to a whisper, "we might as well hand over our weapons while we’re at it."

"Paint targets on our foreheads too," Hyunjin muttered.

Chan shot each of them a disapproving glare. His hand instinctively rose, fingers tracing the scar along the bridge of his nose.

Although walking up and knocking on a stranger's door in the middle of the night did seem a bit absurd, you understood the rationale behind Chan's strategy—an attempt to approach the unknown with some semblance of diplomacy before considering more aggressive measures.

"I should do it," you offered, aiming to sound as indifferent as possible despite the quickening thud of your heart in your chest. "I might seem less threatening, and he might be more willing to talk if he sees me alone."

All eyes suddenly turned to you. Felix stiffened, but Minho intervened before he could protest.

"She has a point,” Minho looked to Chan, “given the circumstances, if he thinks she’s a woman alone in the middle of the night he might be more inclined to trust her and offer aide.”

Felix's expression twisted into a deep scowl, blatantly directed at Minho. "Or take advantage of her," his voice dropped to a near growl.

"That's why we'll be right here,” Chan offered.

Felix restrained himself from voicing any further objections, yet the discontent on his face remained visible. He was desperate to help Jeongin, too. He acknowledged the necessity of the plan, understood the logic, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Hyunjin shifted restlessly. "What if we wait until he goes to sleep?" he said, turning to you, “approaching his doorstep in the middle of the night might raise suspicions."

“So what, you want to break in instead?” you countered.

"It's not like we haven't done it before," Hyunjin snapped.

Your arms crossed as you locked eyes with him in a challenging stare. He gritted his teeth and ran a hand through his golden locks, a self-assured gesture that—as much as you would rather die than admit it—highlighted the way Hyunjin was objectively quite stunning.

As his gaze held yours, there was a slight falter in the sharpness of his stare. Almost hinting that that he had made the suggestion in a discreet attempt to protect you from approaching the man alone.

Almost.

Feeling the weight of the others' eyes shifting between you and Hyunjin, you drew in a breath. "I'll go," you said, addressing Chan. “There’s no way this ends well if we get caught breaking in. If I talk to him, I might at least be able to find out if he has what we need. And if he refuses to help us then we can do what needs to be done for Jeongin.”

Chan nodded. "Talk to him at the doorstep. If things seem off, call for us. We'll be right here, yeah?"

"Just be careful," Felix added quietly from beside you.

The corners of his eyes creased with worry, but there was trust within them. He reached over to tap on the hilt of your knife, a silent reminder of its presence, and you offered a faint smile in reply.

Aware of the collective gaze fixed on your back, you warily approached the cottage. The sight of Jeongin's fevered state replayed over and over in your mind, propelling every step as you inched closer to the plain, wooden door awaiting your touch.

Lifting a hand, you prepared to rap your knuckles against the weathered surface when an unexpected disruption seized your motion.

Before you could make contact with the door, it began to creak open. The hinges groaned, worn with age, as a sudden brightness flooded out into the night.

Squinting against the intrusion of light, your eyes instinctively dropped to a pair of worn-out leather shoes visible just across the threshold.

“I've been wondering when you lot were finally going to gather the courage to come and talk."

Your head shot up to meet the source of the voice, eyes widening as they settled on the man standing before you. His features were a testament to years spent at the edge of the wilderness. Dark hair, unkempt and graying at the temples, framed a face adorned with a rugged beard. The beard, though not long, carried a battered look, much like the rest of his appearance.

Despite the late hour, there was something peculiar about the way his eyes gleamed, a gaze perpetually attuned to his surroundings. A faint smile played on his lips as he studied your reaction, regarding you with calm curiosity.

Then, in one swift motion, he moved to close the distance between you. You stumbled back, heart drumming a rapid beat in your chest.

“Come on out!” his voice shattered the night, startling you into a breathless pause. He raised an arm and made a sweeping gesture directed at where the boys were hidden, as if he were inviting them over.

Your mouth fell, the astonishment in your own features reflected by each of the boys as they cautiously emerged from the brush.

The man turned, leaving the door open as he retreated back into the dimly lit interior. "You're lucky you found this place when you did," he said, addressing you over his shoulder.

Hesitant to follow, you lingered in the doorway, absorbing the details of the interior.

Stone walls enclosed the space in a large room, a single hallway extending out of view at the other end. The thatched roof was woven meticulously from bundles of dried straw, forming a gentle slope overhead. A narrow opening ushered smoke from the fireplace into the night sky, and an armchair sat facing the flames, a stack of freshly chopped wood at its feet.

Dry wood.

To your left, a small kitchen area was tucked against the wall. The air inside the cottage was rich with the enticing aroma of something savory bubbling above the rustic stove. It was a scent so captivating that it coaxed you to take a step over the threshold.

As the boys cautiously filtered in behind you, the man settled down at a small table adorned with scattered parchment. His relaxed demeanor made it seem as though he were accustomed to welcoming unexpected, armed guests into his home.

Felix took a deliberate step forward to position himself between the man and the rest of you. His eyes drilled into the stranger, scouring for any sign of ill intent. Despite the absence of a weapon, the way Felix stood made it clear that he didn't need one.

Chan hurriedly moved to join him. His hand found its way to Felix's shoulder, settling on the area where the branded mark lay concealed beneath his clothing—a warning touch. A silent caution to tread carefully.

As Chan visibly grappled with the situation, his mouth opened and closed in a struggle to find the words to start some sort of conversation.

The man chuckled, "You're wondering why I've welcomed you into my home."

The boys stood their ground, but not one of them spoke. They just stared, making you wonder if this was the first time they'd been willingly invited into a stranger's home.

The man leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "You’ve been circling my home for the better part of the night. I figure if you'd wanted to kill me you would have gotten to it by now," he said, eyes flicking to the imposing firearm strapped to Hyunjin's back. "But something tells me you didn't come all this way just for a friendly chat, did you?"

“Actually...Uh, sir,” Chan managed to find his voice, but you cringed a bit at the awkwardness it carried. "What we're looking for are medical supplies."

Minho stepped up. "Something to combat infection or fever," he clarified.

The man leaned back in contemplation. He surveyed each of you individually, eyes alight with amusement as if he found the whole situation mildly entertaining.

When his gaze fell upon you, Felix executed a deliberate shift in position. He planted himself directly in front of you, an unmistakable signal that he was fiercely protective of your well-being.

The man's faint smile morphed into a wry, knowing smirk as he looked Felix up and down. "Medical supplies, huh? You all look fine to me," he remarked.

"It's not for any of us," Chan's voice carried a hint of desperation. He paused to gauge the man's reaction before adding, "It’s for our youngest," likely hoping to evoke some sympathy.

The man arched an eyebrow. “There are more of you?"

Minho nodded, "We are a small group, just trying to survive."

"Survival," the man drew out the word, tasting it. “This is not the first time survival has brought strangers to my home in search of help."

"We don't have much to offer in return, but we are willing to trade," Chan offered.

The man's eyes narrowed, probing for sincerity behind his words. "Your friend must be very important to you," he stated, "but trading is not something I require. As you can see, I have everything I need within these walls.”

His fingers began to tap rhythmically against the arm of his chair, an unsettling sound that filled the air as he weighed the value of whatever he was considering.

"Despite that, I will provide you with what you need," he settled on.

A subtle release of tension spread through the room. Minho's stoic facade betrayed a flicker of relief. Chan allowed his posture to ease ever so slightly, Hyunjin withdrew his hand from the weapon strap across his chest.

Yet, amidst the delicate shift in energy, Felix remained an exception. Unmoved by the apparent relief settling in around him, his taut stance, though not overtly aggressive, showed no signs of relenting.

"Go collect your friend," the man waved a hand at the door, "I will shelter you for the night. You're young, exhausted, and it looks like you've been through quite a lot."

Alarm bells should have been ringing in your head.

The whole situation should have been unnerving. And in several ways, it was. But there was an inexplicable aura surrounding the man. Beneath the sly arrogance that colored his expressions, an undercurrent of compassion emerged. As he spoke, you couldn't help but notice the sadness that flitted across his eyes when he took in your group. There was a depth of profound humanity within those eyes—the kind of empathy you had never witnessed in your father—and it resonated with you.

As Chan started to voice his reservations, the man halted him with a raised hand. “I understand the reluctance to trust a stranger. You're cautious, and rightfully so. I see the weapons you carry, I know that you had the means to storm in here and take what you need, perhaps at my expense. Yet, you opted to knock on my door,” he chuckled lightly, shaking his head, "and that tells me something about each of you. Kindness begets kindness. Your group has demonstrated a courage that not many possess. And for that, I offer my aid.”

A stunned silence enveloped the room.

"Thank you," Chan expressed softly, each syllable carrying the weight of collective relief.

While the boys prepared to leave, your focus lingered on the man. A slight limp accompanied his movement as he stood—the permanent mark of an old injury to his left leg.

Felix glided across your path with a gentle brush to your arm, a silent signal to get the hell out of there. He took the lead, aiming to be the first one outside to ensure that there weren't any potential traps or threats awaiting you beyond the door.

Just as you were about to cross the threshold, something prickled at the edges of your senses. A barely perceptible exhale, too close for comfort, brushed against your ear.

The man's raspy voice came as a hushed whisper, intended for your ears alone. “A loyal guard dog you've got there,” he murmured, jerking his chin toward Felix.

You froze.

The blood in your veins threatened to boil at the comparison of Felix to a dog. But there was no malice in his tone, only a recognition of the connection. Almost as if he were measuring your reaction, trying to elicit a response from you.

And so, you willed that surge of heat to simmer.

Suppressing whatever fiery response had been brewing inside of you, you picked up your pace and stepped out into the night.

The decision to regroup and head back to the cottage had been met with skepticism. But, nine against one felt like decent odds, and the weapons your group possessed seemed to tip the scales in favor of the majority.

Upon re-entering the stone walls, you found the atmosphere had shifted. The man—still a mysterious figure with an unnamed identity—was in the midst of preparing something new over the stove.

Shallow breaths escaped Jeongin's lips as he settled into the armchair. The firelight played upon his features, highlighting the film of glistening sweat on his skin.

"I'm making a remedy from the herbs I've gathered,” the man announced from the kitchen. “This will help reduce his fever and fight the infection. Nature provides us with everything we need, if we know how to use it."

He went on to explain the properties of each ingredient he'd carefully measured and crushed. His words suggested a deep connection to the land and its resources. Everything felt genuine enough, and still, your intuition screamed at you to be cautious. A scowl crept across your face as he periodically glanced to you, his earlier comment about Felix ringing in your mind.

The collective watchfulness of the group intensified as the room filled with the soothing aroma of a fragrant tea. "This will help him," the man stated calmly as he poured a cup.

As he approached Jeongin with the steaming amber liquid, Felix's hands clenched into tight fists. The freckled boy focused intently on Chan, as if he were waiting for some kind of signal to release the restrained energy inside of him. The darkness swirling in his eyes hinted that, at the slightest cue from Chan, he would spring into action without a moment's hesitation.

You swallowed. Hard. When the man extended the cup toward Jeongin's lips, a sudden surge of panic gripped you. "Wait—"

Felix flinched sharply beside you, a ripple of tension coursing through his frame. Hyunjin, startled by your interruption, reached for the firearm still strapped to his back. Changbin took an instinctive step forward, ready to shield if need be.

The room held its breath, each of you caught in the precarious balance between conflict and composure.

The man turned, observing each of your faces. A sigh escaped him. A heavy, pitiful sound. And then, he lifted the cup and took a measured sip, his eyes locking onto yours.

“It is safe," he said after swallowing, "I have brewed this remedy countless times for myself." He held the cup out to you, making room for you to take his place beside Jeongin.

Cradling the cup in your hands, the warmth seeped through your fingertips. Jeongin stirred, eyelashes fluttering against the pale flush of his skin as you stepped up beside the armchair.

Feeling the need for guidance, you thought of Chan. Then, Felix. Jisung, an unpredictable force, lingered in your considerations too.

But when your head lifted, it wasn't Chan, Felix, or Jisung you looked to.

Minho nodded in silent reassurance, and it was all you needed to bring the cup to Jeongin's lips.

After he'd taken the last sip of the remedy, you turned and looked the man dead in the eyes as you pushed the cup back into his hands. "If anything happens to him because of this," you asserted, "I won't hesitate to kill you myself."

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Felix's lips twitch upward. And in that subtle expression, you could’ve sworn you detected something that looked a lot like pride.

As the night wore on, something incredibly rare began to settle over your group—a blooming sense of trust. The culmination of the day's events, coupled with the comforting atmosphere inside the cottage gradually pulled each of you into a sense of security.

With Jeongin's condition showing signs of stabilizing, Hyunjin and Changbin decided to venture back to the rover to fetch supplies, too wary to leave them out in the open. Leaned against the armchair, Seungmin was first to fall asleep after Jeongin. Minho and Jisung had found solace in each other's presence near the hearth, where the dancing flames bathed their sleeping forms in a subtle glow.

In the midst of it all, Chan had occupied a seat across from the man at the table. They were deep in hushed conversation, discussing matters out of earshot, but the sound of their voices mingling carried an odd sense of security with it.

You found your own sanctuary nestled discreetly in a corner beside Felix. Shielded by miscellaneous objects and shadows, the position rendered you just out of direct eyesight from the two engrossed in conversation at the table.

The firelight played upon the subtle arch of his nose, the gentle curve of his lips, the way his eyelashes cast delicate shadows on his cheeks. Your hand gravitated toward his, and he responded by entwining his fingers with your own.

"I'll stay up with you," you murmured softly, "wasn't planning on falling asleep tonight anyway."

Felix responded with a soft kiss to your temple before guiding you to lie down with him, finding a more comfortable position. He pulled you into his chest and you raised an eyebrow in silent inquiry, glancing to the others. But the freckled boy only grinned as he pulled you closer.

“Sleep,” he murmured softly.

Succumbing to the moment, you laid your head down against his chest, relishing in the comforting beat of his heart.

As his fingers began to trail across your back in soothing circles, you hesitantly draped an arm over his waist, too tired to care about what the others might think—what Hyunjin might think, when he returned to find you like this.

Your mind drifted as you tried to keep the exhaustion at bay.

You imagined waking up to a rooftop bathed in gentle sunlight. You pictured the soft glow of a lantern in a narrow alleyway, reflecting off of sad eyes that carried so much more when they looked to the moon.

The last coherent thing that crossed your mind was the confession you'd been holding back since the moment you'd spent with Felix in the rain.

You might have murmured his name as those three little words resurfaced in your thoughts, but the boundary between wakefulness and dreams blurred.

A sudden jolt snapped you back from the brink of sleep, leaving you momentarily disoriented.

Still wrapped in Felix's arms, you anticipated to find him awake when you lifted your head from his chest. However, the features that met your gaze were softened by the gentle embrace of sleep. As your eyes lingered on him, you hoped that he would be granted solace from the nightmares tonight.

You brushed a few strands of hair from his face before sitting up, settling into a watchful position. It couldn't be too much longer now until Hyunjin and Changbin returned.

The rover wasn't that far.

You blinked, trying to regain a hold on your surroundings. As your tired eyes struggled to focus, they fell upon Chan. He now sat leaning against the wall next to the door, a testament to his determination to wait for Hyunjin and Changbin. His eyes were closed, head resting back, chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm—likely never intending to succumb to sleep.

A subtle noise caught your attention across the room, where man stood at a small basin in the kitchen, washing the pot he'd used to brew Jeongin's tea. His back was turned to you, the slight limp in his step evident as he shifted on his feet.

Glancing around the cottage, you made note of the various items scattered about. An aged book sat on a small table next to the armchair. Beside it lay an ornate silver necklace, its chain interlaced with dried white flowers that you didn't recognize.

Across from you, a glimmer reflected off of a small chest on a bookshelf, as if it had been purposefully tucked away amongst the clutter.

Your heart skipped a beat as you focused on the lock—at the symbol engraved on it.

So hauntingly familiar..

You squinted.

And then, your heart plummeted. Right down to your stomach.

You were standing before you'd even willed your feet to move, fueled by sheer instinct as your hand found its way to the knife securely strapped to your waistband.

The blade gleamed as you pulled it out. Your footsteps fell light as a whisper on the wooden floor as you approached the man, tightening your grip on the knife's handle to give you some semblance of control.

His hands, still glistening with water, hovered in the air as he twisted his head to acknowledge your presence.

"Why,” you growled, “does that chest bear the symbol of—"

You stiffened as he turned around, wiping his hands on a thin towel. "Sit," he urged, nodding to one of the two chairs positioned around the table.

“No," you lifted the blade and pointed it directly at him, surprised at how steady it was given the tremor coursing through your body. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t—”

"You are correct," he cut you off, "that chest indeed bears the mark of your father's army. But it also carries the weight of my own history."

A chill slithered down your spine as you could physically feel the blood drain from your face. The room swayed around you as you staggered, clutching at the edge of the table to steady yourself.

Despite the shock that painted your expression, the man remained impassive. You stood frozen in place, muscles locked with fear, as he navigated the intimate confines of the cottage to retrieve the small chest from the shelf.

He cradled it in his hands before placing it on the table with deliberate care.

"Sit," he repeated, settling into the chair across from you.

“H-how," you stammered. Your eyes darted over your shoulder to Chan, at the heavy weapon across his lap. But before you could muster the words to call for him, the man spoke again.

“I suspected who you were the moment I saw you standing on my doorstep. Initially, I mistook you for a ghost," he shook his head, voice softening, "the resemblance you bear to her is unmistakable. But it wasn't until this very moment, with that knife in your hand, that I knew for sure."

Without a word, you lowered yourself into the chair across from him.

Pleased with your reaction, the man reached beneath his shirt to reveal a necklace with a dangling key. He used the key to unlock the chest, extracting a worn cloth from within.

The cloth was unraveled to reveal a blade. It was identical to your own in size and shape. Yet, despite the apparent resemblance, the engravings told a different story. Crimson red flowers adorned the handle of the knife in his hand, a stark contrast to the white blossoms etched into your mother’s.

“A lifetime ago," the man cleared his throat, drawing your attention away from the twin blades. "I was a commander in your father's army. But in truth, I was more than that. A confidant, an advisor, and dare I say, his friend. Your father was never entirely sound of mind, even in his youth, but power has a way of magnifying the cracks in one's sanity. ”

He swallowed thickly, as if the following words were difficult to articulate. "I cannot absolve myself either," he confessed, "in the pursuit of my own power and blind loyalty, I too committed unspeakable acts. I followed orders without question, turning a blind eye to the suffering we caused. I assisted your father in making the decisions that stain his hands—decisions that haunt me still.”

"Stop," you croaked. Your chest tightened as you grappled with a rising tide of nausea. And you questioned whether your legs would even hold you if you tried to stand. "How is it even possible that we found you.."

The ghost of a smile crossed his lips. "Fate, my dear, works in mysterious ways," he answered, "and it seems to have conspired to bring you here tonight, to hear my truth."

After a brief pause, he redirected the conversation. "Many years ago, there was a woman, a guide of sorts, known for leading those from the outer districts to District 9 in search of a better life.”

Hira.

As best as you could, you veiled the flicker of recognition that sparked within you at her mention.

“Your mother was amongst those brought to District 9, to the palace. The moment your father laid eyes on her, he was consumed by a new kind of obsession. Within a week they were married. And the world, entranced by fear of his power, did not dare question it. He bound her to him—not out of love, but in the twisted grip of an obsession with her determination, her beauty, and her strength. Of course, there was also a dire urgency to ensure that his lineage persisted, rooted in the truth that only his bloodline could unlock the secrets of a hidden sanctum nestled deep within in District 2."

"Miroh," you whispered shakily.

He offered a solemn nod. “Your father saw your mother as a means to an end. He stripped away her dreams, her hopes, and caged her spirit. Yet, in the shadowed corridors of the palace, I came to understand her," a wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "She was resilient, even in the face of cruelty. During the stolen moments we shared, she taught me about the outer districts and those we had oppressed. Through her, I learned not just about the struggles of these people, but about love, kindness, and hope.”

The sigh he let out carried the weight of a lifetime. The pain and the tenderness in his words echoed as you recognized that these were the most intimate details anyone had ever shared with you about your mother.

"Months later," he continued, "your mother entrusted me with a secret that would alter the course of our lives. I saw the fear in her eyes when she told me she that was pregnant—the fear that your father could pose a threat to the life growing within her. The following morning, duty dictated that I embark on a routine scouting mission in the outer districts. While I was there, my heart drove me to make a harrowing decision," he closed his eyes and took a steadying breath. "I slit the throats of the guards who had accompanied me. I burned their bodies beyond recognition, and in doing so I faked my own death. I built this cottage and the plan was simple—return for your mother, liberate her from the clutches of your father so that she may raise her child in peace. However, a year elapsed before the circumstances permitted my return. When I finally slipped back into the heart of District 9, under the cloak of darkness, it was only to learn that she had.."

He trailed off, unable to utter the painful conclusion.

Your stomach churned with the deep, unresolved ache tied to the memories of your mother. At the thought of her existence being shrouded in some kind of tragic narrative, and the the crushing realization that you would never know the full truth of her journey because she was gone.

The man's eyes fell to the blade in front of him, fingers tracing the engravings as if seeking solace in their familiar touch. And you didn't even know if you could believe a single word he'd said, but you wondered if he was the one to have given your mother the counterpart.

“I loved her, your mother,” his voice broke. The words hung in the air—dense, and fractured, and he did not look up as he continued.

“I loved her deeply, but in our time spent together I never summoned the courage to tell her those words. I believe she knew it, I know she did, and yet, it haunts me still. It always will. More than anything.”

The sorrow and regret etched on his face told the story of a lifetime's worth of remorse. It was a familiar expression, the same torment you had seen in Felix's eyes countless times before.

You glanced to the freckled boy, his silhouette barely visible in the dying firelight.

And then, another realization struck you. With a tremor of uncertainty in your voice, you turned back to the man. “You and my mother..Did you ever..Is there any chance that you could be my..” the words faltered with the possibility of a truth too profound to fully grasp.

He brought a hand up, rubbing at his face. "I don't know," he shook his head, "your mother and I were together before I left, once. But there is no way to know for certain until you reach Miroh. If you cannot open the lock, if it is my blood that runs through your veins instead of his, then I have damned us all."

The man fixed you with an intense stare. "If he finds you before you reach Miroh,” he quieted his voice to a gravelly whisper, “if he finds you, if the rebellion fails, he will kill them all—“

"I am not afraid of him," you croaked.

"You should be," he warned, "You should be terrified of him. Because he will save that one," he nodded his chin in Felix's direction, "for last. He will draw it out because of the way you look at him. And he will savor it until the bitter end."

His eyes bore into yours, urging you to understand the gravity of his words. "If you love that boy, tell him. Even if you think you may love him, tell him. Before it is too late.”

It was then that you registered the hot tracks of tears on your cheeks.

You were going to be sick.

As the vivid, gut-wrenching image of Felix suffering at the hands of your father seared through your mind, you were going to be sick.

You pushed the chair back, stumbling to your feet.

Desperate to put physical space between yourself and the cruel fate that had been painted before you, you burst outside, gasping for air.

As you doubled over, clutching at your chest, the rhythmic echoes of footsteps reached your ears. There were tears streaming down your cheeks when you turned around to confront the man, ready to demand answers.

But it wasn't his figure that stepped into the dim light seeping from the door.

As Felix took a cautious step forward, the expression he wore told you he had heard everything. Including the very unsettling possibility that your blood might not be the key to Miroh—that the hope every single one of you had clung to might always have been nothing more than just a fragile, fragile illusion.

"What if my blood doesn’t work?” you choked out through tears as he closed the distance between you, the weight of his gaze holding you in place.

"We don't know for sure yet, okay?”

"Felix," you pleaded his name like there was something he could do. As if he weren't just as helpless as you.

"I will not let anything happen to you," he whispered as his arms enveloped your trembling shoulders. "You're okay. We're okay,"

You shook your head, closing your eyes as Felix gently lifted your chin. "I will not let anyone hurt you," he vowed, traced the path of your tears with his thumbs.

But Felix could sense the panic tightening its grip on you, rendering your breaths shallow and uneven. The ache to alleviate your distress clawed at him. He would've done anything to make it stop. And so, in that vulnerable moment he summoned the courage to articulate the only thing he had left to offer.

“I love you,” he whispered, “I love you, princess. No matter what.”

Felix closed his eyes and pressed his forehead against yours. He reveled in the feeling of his own admission, and it was something even fear could not outweigh.

You breathed him in.

You knew this would not last forever with him. Nothing ever does. And you wondered if you will ever be able to accept that, even when you no longer have a choice.

But in that moment, Felix was there. You extended a hand, and he was warm. He was real, and he felt more like home than anything ever had.

You loved him too, and it was a feeling you did not dare let go.

Part 8 coming soon..

thank you so much for reading<33 if you would like to be added to the taglist please don't hesitate to let me know :)

taglist: @astralis-is-typing @skz-streamer @vixensss @yangracha @toplinelix @lixiesw1fe @slytherinatheart @hash2013 @skzswife @xosugardoll @sunnyhonie @skzcollision @hydroyaksha @l1xvanter @nimx9 @ilychee08

#lee felix x reader #felix x reader #lee felix au #stray kids au #skz au #stray kids x reader #skz x reader #stray kids angst #skz angst #lee felix anst #felix angst #skz fanfic #stray kids fanfic #felix smut #lee felix smut #stray kids smut #skz smut

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starryalpacasstuff · 4 months

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Last Twilight Ep 9; The conclusion of Mee's story

Mee's story was such an amazing addition to Last Twilight. I've explored the parallels in the stories before here, and this episode marked the conclusion of Mee's story. I absolutely loved that the book was actually written by a father who's daughter was going blind. Much like we enjoy and find comfort in queer allegories made by queer creators, Day found comfort in David's writing.

I forgot to get a screenshot of the exact dialogue, but in the last leg of the story, Mee seeks out the Last Twilight mountaintop in hopes that it will break the curse. Day seeks out the mountaintop too. to see the place that brought this story to life, to know what the author saw, and to have one more memory for himself for when he loses his sight.

We see them enact Mee's journey within the book, also mirroring the journey David would have gone on when bringing his daughter to the mountaintop. Mhok reads the story that David wrote, travelling with Day as David would have travelled with his daughter, the inspiration for Mee.

Side note, Day's happiness when realizing that Mee was based off of someone very similar to him is understandable. There's nothing better than finding others who are like you, especially when they're behind works you see yourself in. It functions both at face value, and as a queer allegory.

Then, of course, they reach the mountaintop. and Mhok reads the ending of the book, in which Mee is bathed by the sunlight and turns to stone, never to fade away again. Mhok doesn't like the ending, it's too abrupt, too sad. He doesn't understand why Mee's life has to end there, why the author would choose to end the story of a girl inspired by his daughter in this way. But Day gets it. As he's sitting with Mhok at the mountaintop, he understands what it's like to want to be trapped in a moment forever. (This also says a lot about their characters, and how they view the world differently)

In the end, Last Twilight didn't come. And sure, there's some 'the journey was more important than the destination' stuff here, but it's also about Day finally accepting that his sight is gone for good. I've talked before about how Mee no longer chasing after the sun paralleled the end of Mhok and Day's relationship as caretaker and caretakee(?), and I think that Mee turning to stone parallels this point of Day's life somewhat similarly. Mee would never fade again, but she would remain a statue forever, a fate viewed to be just as bad, if not worse by many. Day has become fully blind, a fate viewed as far worse than his vision before. But maybe, this could lead to a new chapter in his life, where he could be free of the small, torturous part of his brain that refused to believe that his sight wasn't coming back.

So yes, maybe it was better to end the story this way. Day may be fully blind, but he has Mhok to ensure that Day never fades away again.

And it's ok that Last Twilight never came, because he saw it anyway, and the last thing he ever saw was the face of someone he loved, the face he wanted to be the last thing that he ever saw.

Mee's story could be seen as tragic, yes. But to her, turning to stone, trapped in a wonderful moment for her to treasure forever, this was a fate far better than chasing after the sun forever, forever afraid of fading away.

#if this seems incoherent and messy thats because it is and I apologize #i have more thoughts but the thoughts to text converter part of my brain seems to be permanently damaged #hope this makes sense because i rewrote it like thrice because i couldn't get it to make sense #last twilight #last twilight the series #last twilight meta

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misguidedasgardian · 22 days

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The Lifeaters (II.9)

IX. Basili(s)k

MASTERLIST

Chapter Summary: All eyes turn to you

Pairings: Draco Malfoy x Fem!Reader (platonic)

Warnings: Cursing, magical objects, Mugglephobia, classism, charms and curses, people getting petrified, might miss some warnings

Wordcount: 1,8 k

Notes: In this chapter there is some sort of breaking point for reader, you will know, let’s discuss it by the end…

“Students are getting petrified and almost killed and I can’t believe we still have to study for these stupid exams”. grumbled Matthew

“Quiet Gaunt”, groaned Snape from the corner

The entirety house of Slytherin got study time at the library at this hour

Potions, Defense against the dark arts, and charms you could do, now… Herbology? was proving to be a… spine… in your butt, alongside Transfiguration

As you finished a parchment on taking care of a plant you couldn’t even pronounce the name of, you sighed loudly

You never thought you were wishing the school year to end, you were barely days before your first exam, you just wanted it to start over, no chamber, no slytherin heir, no fear, no nothing

You hoped that whomever did this was caught, because you didn't believe it was Hagrid

Something didn’t add up

You were feeling inclined to believe that they had the wrong person, and taking out the headmaster at the time seemed to you like not the best of ideas, Dumbledore was powerful, everybody knew that, so taking him out now seemed like the wanted to make the situation worse

But uncle Lucius wouldn’t…

Oh he would, he wanted to get rid of all muggleborns

But you were also scared of finding out who it was behind this, what if it was someone you knew? That you cared about?

But what could you do to help? The only thing you had was a theory of what that thing in the chamber would be, nothing else.

No suspects, no strange behavior, nothing, maybe prove that Draco and a few others weren’t the one, and that’s it.

You just hoped this could be turned around before someone gets really hurt, or worse, killed.

“How were you doing in turning a rat into a clock?”, asked Draco

“Bad”, you whispered, “McGonaggal told me she didn’t know if this hurt the mice, and I have been feeling guilty”, you muttered, “but I managed to turn a little rock into a pocket watch”

“That’ll do”, he said with a soft smile

“I’m gonna fail… last year I couldn’t manage to turned that into the box without the whiskers”

“Me neither”, whispered Blaise

“Shhhhttt!”, this time it was Mrs Pince, the Librarian

“I having trouble with potions”, said Blaise, looking at you decisively

“How do you do in Herbology?”, you asked back

“Fairly well”, he said back

“Nice, then, I’ll help you, you’ll help me”, you said with a soft smile, Blaise smiled at you too and nodded his head

“I need help too”, said Theo, leaning into you. And you only looked back at him frowning, thinking if you should forgive and forget

“You can come along”, you said finally

“Great, mee too”, muttered Matthew. Everyone did poorly in potions

“Alright, Draco and I have potions, I’ll prepare notes, Blaise has Herbology, Matt how do you defend yourself in Astronomy?”

“I don’t”

“Great, I’ll tell Daph”

“She thinks its Astrology, she can’t stop talking about the greek horoscope”, he responded

“Ah sh-...”

“Ssshhtt!”, shushed Mrs Pince, Snape slapped the back of Matthew’s head, who was closest to him.

“Let’s talk about this later”, you suggested, and everybody agreed

“Did you hear? tonight the people in the infirmary will get unpetrified!”, said Blaise

“Good, maybe some of them saw who did this and they can end this!”

You felt relieved, even though the mood on the table sour over this, still, you only wanted things to be the same as last year! like they used to, where nobody cared about your blood statues, and there was no monster wanting to kill people

That very afternoon, around six, you were getting ready to go back to your common room, when you decided to ask Snape for a special plant you were going to need to teach the others how to make the potion for the exam.

So you were preparing what you were going to say, in your mind, not to bother him, or upset him, but to prove that you only wanted to improve yourself….

You knew you shouldn’t be walking out there alone, but if you already encountered the monster a few feet away once, the chances of that happening again were terribly low, right?

But as you turned a corner, something invisible grabbed you from both arms, you screeched bloody murder, but Potter and Weasley uncovered themselves.

“What are you doing?”, you asked, alarmed, they check everyone but the hallway was deserted

“It’s you!”, Harry said

“Excuse me?”, you asked back, who do they think they were to grab you like that?

“You are the heir, you are the one who has been petrifying people”, said Weasley

“I am not the heir of Slytherin”, you said slowly, as the two knuckleheads “confronted” you, releasing yourself from their greasy hands, they tried to grab you again, but you took out your wand, raising it to them, making them retreat

“You are going to petrify us too?”, demanded Potter

“Do you really think I would be capable of something like this?”, you asked, lowering your wand but still keeping it tight in hand, you couldn’t believe what you were hearing, after how concerned you had been for everything that was going on.

“You are a pure-blooded Slytherin, Draco is your best friend”, said Potter with a tone you didn’t enjoy, accusatory, with an air of self-righteousness and entitlement

“And your last name means…”, started Weasley

“I know what it means”, you said bitterly, your eyes not leaving Potter’s, “it means Basilisk, a magical creature that is a huge snake, but do you also know that it means a sweet little herb that I love to put in my pasta…”, then you quiet yourself

You were right!

Your suspicions were correct! there was a Basilisk in the chamber!

“Of course you are, you are the one that

“The chambers of secrets hides a basilisk”, said Harry, and you looked at him wide-eyed, “and you are the one controlling it”

“I’m not!”, you defended yourself, angrily

You were angry

You couldn’t even turn animals into things and these ding dongs thought you could actually try to kill students? or even petrifying them? Why? because of what your last name sounded like? because of what your house and friends were? your pure-blood status?

“You will blame this on me?”, you asked them angrily, “I’m not the heir of Slytherin”, you said firmly, then you looked at Potter, “I’m not the one who can talk to snakes Potter, that’s you!”, you said back, “and you have the pure-blood status!”, you said pointing at Weasley

“Prove it”, demanded Weasley, and you looked at him

“Excuse you?”, you asked back, he pointed his broken wand at you, and you pointed your wand at Harry, Weasley has been throwing back to himself spells all year, anything he was going to throw at you he was going to receive tenfold

Potter pointed his wand at you

“For all we know, you could be lying, and you can talk to snakes”, he said back

“I cannot…”, you let out an exasperated sigh, “how I’m gonna find a snake to prove to you that I can’t talk to snakes?”, you asked back, “Not even my grandfather can talk to snakes”, you said like that would prove anything, but they didn’t know the man, “I don’t know of anyone that can”, you continued, “except for you”, you threw back on his face.

Oh how you wanted to blast their faces off

You were so angry

So angry you could cry

You wanted to give them the benefit of a doubt, you even felt bad for Potter, but he was an entitled idiot, who thought he could just point his finger and for what? for having a scar on his forehead?

“I don’t have to prove anything to you!”, you said

“Draco told us, he even thinks it's you!”, said Ron

“Excuse me?”, you asked back, “he would never tell you that”, and then you remembered, “it was you both! that night! you did sneak into the common room!”, they exchanged looks

“He said he thought it was you!”, responded Potter

“You left me on that bathroom floor!”, you snapped back, “what? Did Granger make herself look like me? you charm me into falling asleep?”

They did know what to say, but you were furious

You had never done anything to them, not personally, you had barely spoken to them, and they treated you like this? they cursed you and made you sleep, they sneaked into your common room! your sacred place!

“I saw that thing in the bathroom that night! it almost caught me!”, you screamed, angry, sad and scared, “piss off! both of you!”, you tried to walk past them, and they left you, “if I ever see you near our common room ever again I will disappear all the bones in the four of your legs!”, you threatened, and they looked really scared, “I’m done with the both of you!”

“STUDENTS MUST RETURN TO THEIR COMMON ROOM IMMEDIATELY! TEACHERS COME TO THE SECOND FLOOR”, The voice of McGonagall resounded on the hallway

They saw your desperation, or that is what you thought, because they took a step back from you. You paid no mind to those clowns, you went back to the common room, with no ingredients for your potion

You looked back over your shoulder, but they weren’t there, you whispered the password hoping it would work and it did, the serpent coiled and showed you the door to the common room.

You went down the stairs rapidly, so angry you were fuming through your ears

But it all disappeared when you saw your friends on the sofas, talking, chatting, laughing

“There you are!”, said Draco, who saw you immediately, “we were getting worried!”

“Did you get the ingredients?”, asked Blaise, you shook your head, “it doesn’t matter! we can try tomorrow!”

Draco signaled you with his hand, and you sat by his side, he surrounded your shoulders with his arms and draw you against him

“You don’t think I’m evil, don’t you?”, you asked him, and he looked back at you wide-eyed

“You? evil?”, he asked, “Oh Salazar, you are annoyingly good!”, he groaned, making you feel good for the first time in the day, you cuddled into him, hugging him tightly

After chapter notes: I read somewhere that because Slytherins were treated like criminals, they became one jeje, so this was a breaking point for reading, being so afraid and almost being attacked, have “good intentions” and then getting blamed for something she out of all Slytherins found awful… so… this is it jeje, she will be more mean from now on, its all part of the character development I hope I can accomplish

#misguidedlifeaters #harry potter #harry potter and the chamber of secrets #harry potter fanfic #harry potter fanfiction #draco malfoy #reader insert

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female-eren · 5 months

Note

What is your opinion on jeankasa? I know its the butt of a lot of fandom jokes but personally I really like it and I think they make a lot of sense together - they both have dream of domestic life, raising a family, that kind of thing. I think they have a really interesting dynamic with a lot to explore. Again Jean is the butt of a tonne of fandom jokes lmao but he’s always been super respectful to Mikasa (Unlike Eren I love him sm but lets be fr) and I also love how he doesn’t hesitate to call her out on a couple different instances on s4 despite his crush, he’s really in tune with reality, like he’s so head over heels but also a potentially very grounding force for her

2/3 (same anon) Also your thoughts on AruAni? I loved it even in S1. I hate when people say it’s random because the seed was planted back then !!! Like it’s very subtle but like…. ofcourse it’s going to be like that given the kind of character Annie, especially, is. They definitely could’ve been handled better in S4, but I think that goes for pretty much everything in the latter half of S4, everything was a bit rushed and packed in all at once

3/3 Also I love all your takes on Aot and Fem!Eren!!! Which brings me to I genuinely hate when people joke about Eren being an incel and I hate how dudebros who be like “mee!!” to American Psycho and Joker and shit have adopted Eren. Like no… he’s for the girls. Eren is #1 woman respecter unironically…He was on the frontlines fighting for womens rights I was there I saw it

Hiii so sorry I've taken so long to answer this ask. Thank you!

I love making fun of Eren but the sigmachadbatemanjoker males don't understand and never will

Regarding jeankasa... I honestly don't like it. I agree with you that Jean is a good character and a good person, but I think that ship and especially it being more or less endgame (at least in the manga) comes from the classic case in a lot of male-authored stories, ie that because a male character is in love with a female character, obviously they end up together. His desire is the only necessary building block of the relationship, her purpose is to be desired and since he desires her, it's basically her duty to be with him.

Also this meme lol

I also think my unenthusiasm for any Mikasa ship (Eren x Mikasa, Jean x Mikasa etc) come from how poorly I think Mikasa herself was handled. Even if she was given somewhat more personality in the manga, she still had basically zero development. The half-assed last chapter and the shoehorned theme of "love" and Mikasa being the one to free Ymir the Founder didn't help. Mikasa as a person is in essence passive and stagnant. She hasn't ever had any goal besides "be close to Eren". I think that if she was given an arc of, for example, travelling to Hizuru and earning an education or accompanying Historia on negotiations with other world leaders would have expanded her character and given her something else to do. Exploring Mikasa's relationship with anyone other than Eren and Armin would've been interesting, even if I love the original trio. I would've really enjoyed seeing Mikasa use her strength and intelligence for something else, and develop interests and motivations separate from Eren. Had she done these things, I think both her relationship to Eren and Jean could've felt more... I don't know, like they had substance?

AruAni I do find cute in some ways, although I'm not really a shipper when it comes to AoT (goes for all ships in this series tbh). Especially in S1 I thought Armin and Annie had potential. I think Bertholdt's memories complicates the relationship, and the character assassination of Armin in S4 really sours the character and the ship for me. I also found the treatment of Annie strange. There's zero animosity in this group. The last time most of them encountered Annie she murdered dozens of people in really awful ways in front of them. She wrecked a city. Not even Connie seems to resent the Warriors at all, and while I found the pie-eating scene both funny and actually realistic (it's absurd, and due to the extremely complex emotions and experiences surrounding the scene, Connie's absurd reaction actually feels believable to me), I also think giving us JUST the pie scene isn't enough.

I also like Hitch and Annie. love this pic though

I think those are pretty much my thoughts rn. I hope to get more asks about aot :-)

#attack on titan

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zizz-asdf-re-r-o-u · 5 months

Text

ch 13 predictions/hopes

aaayyye so nu carnival announced ch 13 is coming soon. and its not a affixed with part 1 or 2, so maybe it'll be a whooole chapter?

I guessed here who might be the next new clan member, but now I'm going to write what i HOPE happens in ch13. i don't think i'll be able to predict cause usually I'm wrong, but here's what i hope happens.

The tweet says: "Just as disaster was averted in the Water Territory, there arrives the alarming news of a forest collapse. Behind the relentless disasters, someone's hidden past gradually comes to light." And we last left off news of Dead Zone growing into the Wood Territory + Morvay still missing + someone named Kolt broke into Rei's cabin.

Some patterns I noticed: since Dante was introduced, new members, clan or otherwise, had 1.5 whole chapters (not including the "parts") dedicated to them and seguing into the new character. So Dante was ch 9, but involved with 10 that (re)introduced Rin. Rei was ch 11 but heavily involved in ch 12, and the end of 12 dropped Kolt & his group. If they continue this pattern, that would mean 13 should introduce a new character + new H scene. However, I feel like that would be a disservice to the plot and characters + why would they introduce a new member right before the big 3 winter event?

As for Kolt and his gang- Rin 1st showed in ch7, but didn't make an impact until ch 10. Kuya also technically appeared in ch 5, but didn't make a formal appearance until ch 6. If Kolt or his gang are not clan members, they might show up in a different future chapter. But if he or one of his gang is a clan member, then whoever it is might get involved in ch 13.

So, what I'm hoping instead is: this will be the return of Quincy and Kuya in the Wood territory. There's several characters who have very hidden pasts- Rin, Garu/Karu, and Rei. At bare minimum, I think we'll get a formal reunion between Quincy, Kuya, and Rei bc we've only had partial reunions during events. Most importantly, Garu/Karu and Rei have not interacted yet at all and I have a feeling Rei might know answers to Garu's whole deal. Kuya, Rei, and Blade (re)meeting "for the 1st time" officially (assuming Rusted Nation happened after the main storyline) would be interesting cuz Kuya and Rei technically know how to deal with the Dead Zone based off their experience in Saia. So that's it for ch 13 predictions.

Now here's a FURTHER reaching prediction:

Morvay seems to be doing fine on the rare occasion he appears in events. Rin doesn't seem to be a threat anymore and Huey is still clearly missing from Klein. I can't tell if the Dead Zone is still a threat. If these side events really do happen after the "main storyline", that would mean that Rei meeing up with Kuya, and possibly Garu and Blade, would be the kick off of actually solving the Dead Zone/gemstone problem.

#nu carnival #predictions #personal #nu carnival theories #nu carnival predictions

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eerna · 1 year

Note

I don't want noragami to end because that would mean catching up where I left off and get to know how it ends. I have been avoiding the pain of whatever the fuck is going down rn and i don't want to know TnT plssssss it will hurt mee

Idk where you stopped, but I feel your pain and envy your brains. Personally I recommend reading up to chapter 74 and stopping riiight halfway through the next-to-last page <3<3<3<3 that way the series ends on a high note and everyone is happy and together <3<3<3<3<3

#eernask #eernanon #eernask talk noragami

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letskadagetke · 2 years

Text

Permanent Rings

Taehyung x Fem Reader

Chapter 1

Masterlist | ->

TW: Curses, reader feels many stuff, feeling body is not too good or will get judged.

Summary: So because you're at the "age of marriage," your parents decided to get you a husband who they find perfect, but of course he's not bb. So good luck bro.

"Good morning!"

Instead of hearing your annoying alarm ring, you heard your mom. Groaning at the fact you had to get up annoyed you.

Answering the call you grumble a hello.

"Hello dear, did I wake you?"

It was your mom, she rarely called, either she came over unannounced or just texted.

"Yes, what's wrong?"

"Well, can you come to the house, there's something pretty important to know and, oh! Come in something presentable. Bye~,"

With that she ended the call and left you confused, either way, you dressed up in jeans, a black satin top and heels, letting your hair down and coming over to your parents house.

As you arrived home, the nostalgic feeling of home came over you and you immediately relaxed.

"Eomma?"

You called out and found them preparing meals and had breakfast on the table.

Your dad came back from his room and was wearing a familiar shirt that you remembered.

Back when you dated this one guy, your dad wore a sage sweater. He always thought of that sweater as a good luck sign to others. But of course, some good things never last. So when he heard you broke up with the guy, he felt hurt.

Not only for himself, but for you.

"Hey YN, good morning dear." Your dad welcomed you with a hug and gave you a plate with toast and jam.

You sat down and started to eat, and your mom entered the kitchen with trays and ingredients.

"Hello dear, can you do me a favor and help me?"

You nodded and put down your plate, too tired to ask or argue.

"Look dear, me and your dad talked a couple days ago and a very nice family is going to visit us." She said, getting the kettle to boil the water.

"Okay, who?" You asked, taking a bite of the food she made.

Going downstairs to help your mom, she was cooking some japchae and bibimbap and many other dishes.

"Eomma, you want help?" You asked, standing next to her, trying to get a bite of the japchae.

"I just finished, go put everything on the dining table, I'm going to do my makeup." She said, running to her room.

Looking in the reflection of the pan, you felt lazy to put on makeup and got the food out and successfully got to eat some of the japchae.

4:49 pm

Placing all the dishes on the table, the bell rang and you ran over to the door and looked in the eye hole.

Running to your mom you said,"Mom! There's people at the door,"

She ran to the door and opened it.

"Hello! I'm so sorry for the wait, uh, come in!" She said.

A family came in, a mother, a father, and their son, but God damn their son is hot. His eyes were cold, and everything about him made you shiver. His gaze pierced through whatever he looked at.

"YN, I'm Taehyung's mom, it's so nice to finally meet you." The mother said, greeting you with a hug.

"Thank you, it's great to meet you too." You said, hugging her back.

Shaking hands with the father and sharing some small talk, you and Taehyung met face to face. He looked at all your features, the moles, and your details. Swallowing your fear and shaking it off, you put your hand out to shake.

"I'm YN, it's nice to mee-" "I know who you are, and I'm Taehyung." He said, shaking your hand bitterly.

"Oh, sorry,"

Already dreading to continue with the day, you got to the dining table. The one thing you'd enjoy.

You guys went and ate, but you didn't even enjoy the food. You felt watched everytime you blinked, breathed, ate, anything, you still felt watched.

Looking up from your plate, you were met with Taehyung's eyes.

Looking down at your plate again, you felt scared. Not scared as in, your gonna die feeling. No, more as if, you were being judged.

Taehyung's mother then cleared her throat.

"So, YN, the reason why we're here and had you and Taehyung meet was because you two are getting married next Tuesday! Isn't that exciting?" She asked.

Your heart stopped beating, thoughts rushed in your mind, and you began to tremble. Taking a deep breath.

"I, uh, I mean, we don't even know each other though." You said, playing with your food.

"Oh, we know, you guys are gonna be spending time together until your wedding. Okay?" Your mom answered.

"Oh,"

You had no words. You were speechless, you could say. You were fine with your parents picking out schools for you, majors, jobs, and colleges. You didn't have a word in it, but it was temporary. You'd get out eventually. But, this is something no one should have a word in besides the people wanting to get married. Was it weird that you wanted to cry? Maybe yell? Maybe run away? Why?

They continued talking and laughing as if this was all normal and they were doing us a favor.

You lost your appetite too, God, they somehow knew how to fucking ruin food.

"Oh, and tomorrow you and Taehyung can go house shopping and maybe go to the park. Have some fun," Taehyung's dad said. You gave him a small smile and nodded.

You put the plates away and boiled the kettle.

Overhearing all the conversations, on the wedding, preparations, houses, jobs, and more shit.

Pouring the tea and giving it to your parents and Taehyung's parents, you wanted to go to your room and then your dad finally said some words.

"Where are you going YN? Aren't you gonna stay?" He asked.

"I was just gonna put something upstairs," You said.

"Okay, come back,"

Going up to your room and looking at yourself in the bathroom, you felt weird.

You kept on asking yourself on why that family came over, or why did there son came, and why are you marrying him? Why, why, why?

Washing your face with water and coming out, you met up with that guy again.

"Yes?" You asked.

Waiting for a response, you got a cold stare instead.

"Hello?"

Waiting for a response, his eyes traveled up your body, you noticed him checking you out and followed where his eyes were looking at. They stopped at your lips instead of what you were thinking of.

"Um, I-I going to join them," You said, getting past him.

You noticed how his mouth curved a bit. Feeling your cheeks heated up, you went downstairs and Taehyung followed behind.

"Ah, YN, come sit." Your mom said.

Doing as she said, later on Taehyung sat next to me.

You didn't know how long time passed, but you were bored out of your skull.

Looking at the time, it was late. It was fucking 8:11.

You felt like shit, your stomach had hurt and you wanted to go back to finish your food, but you felt maybe if you ate, he'd say something, maybe call you fat, skinny. What if his parents said something? What if my mom says something? She always does.

"YN, dear, are you alright?" Taehyung's mom asked.

"Yeah,"

"Why don't you and Taehyung go get something to eat?" She asked.

"We just ate though," You said.

"Let's go, I'm a bit hungry." Taehyung said, standing back up.

"Go have fun," Your mom said, smiling.

Taehyung stood up and you followed behind.

"Which one is your car key?" He asked.

Pointing to yours, he took it and you and Taehyung left to the car.

He started the engine and started to drive.

"So, where are we going?" You asked, you trembled.

This person, who you didn't know anything besides his name is driving you and you don't want to die tonight.

"Parking lot,"

"Oh, okay."

Could've chosen a mall, restaurant.

But the parking lot?

God, you were dreading the wedding day.

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borathae · 11 months

Note

Tae redemption arc BEGINS! He’s suddenly got a lot of remorse, insight and empathy for everyone other than Jimin and himself when it comes to him, but at least he seems to be getting there?

😭😭😭 Poor sweet Yoongi!!! I want to put him in a cozy warm room in comfy clothes (and since those videos) RUB HIS TUMMY until he purrs.

I’ve been thinking for the last couple weeks about the future after MV trying to figure out where everyone would live. Idk why but their living arrangements are important to me lol. So as a distraction, can you tell us what magnus vasistas is?? Those witchy trinkets and books were 🫣

IT FINALLY BEGINS AAAAH!!! Besties, yall are gonna love our Tete again very soon I promise 🥺

😭😭😭 Poor sweet Yoongi!!! I want to put him in a cozy warm room in comfy clothes (and since those videos) RUB HIS TUMMY until he purrs.

*chants* TUMMY RUBS TUMMY RUBS TUMMY RUBS GIVE THIS MAN TUMMY RUBS!! Also serious, lifesaving question. Do you think he'll giggle when you blow raspberries on his tummy? BECAUSE OMFG

I’ve been thinking for the last couple weeks about the future after MV trying to figure out where everyone would live. Idk why but their living arrangements are important to me lol.

I think their end goal is to return to their castle and then live their all together in each of their wings 👀

So as a distraction, can you tell us what magnus vasistas is?? Those witchy trinkets and books were 🫣

Magnis Vasistas means "great nothingness" in Latin and basically of Tae opened that book he would have been sucked into it. So the booked contained the Great Nothingness which will capture whoever is dumb enough to open the pages FJADJFJ ALSO OMGMG THANK YOU ISTFG WRITING ALL THE WITCH AND VAMPIRE LORE IN THIS CHAPTER FUELED MEE

#asks: magnus venatio #asks #whiptoes

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ngmn2002 · 2 years

Text

I don't like this.

She is supposed to be so ladylike, kind, and supposedly wants to help Nene, be friends with her and doesn't have any interest in harming her, right?

In the picture above, she said she is just doing what Tsukasa ordered her to do, and she would like to save Nene if it was up to her. So, she is acting on Tsukasa's orders then….. let's see.

What she did in the last chapter and the chapter before it. Let's start with.....

Her behavior… rubs me the wrong way in the last 2 chapters.

Let's start with chapter 94.

A quick note, as it's shown above, she is acting on her free will. Without Tsukasa knowing. Everything that happened from that moment on, Tsukasa doesn't have a thing to do with any of it.

She is acting on her free will there. Doesn't want Tsuaksa to know a thing about what she is doing. Meaning, He has nothing to do with what she is doing from that moment, up until the end of ch 95.

Alright now, with that out of the way.... let's start with the first thing she did that I didn't like.

Isn't she supposed to be so ladylike? Isn't it so rude to go and attempt to tell others' secrets from behind their backs to some other people, as if it was fine and good? We know Amane doesn't want anyone to know about his past. Not even Nene for now.

He asked her to wait and someday, HE will tell her. It's not nice to go and tell others' sectes without them wanting it or knowing about it. It's so rude. Where did the lady manners go? - I'm so glad Nene didn't ask her about that. I don't want to hear the twins' story from anyone other than them.-

This is what I want. To know about the twins' past from them 'only'.

(Even if it didn't happen, it didn't erase her willing to talk about the twins' past so freely if Nene asked about it.)

*Does she even know about their full past? I doubt it. Why would she? She doesn't fit in it up to my knowledge until now. *My personal opinion.*

Now, let's get to what I said before, Tsukasa didn't order Nanamine to go to Nene, talk to her or whatever. She did that herself, on her own free will. Why…? I'm not sure. She will get something out of it it seems.

In fact, she is the one who ordered Natsuhiko to get No. 6 (both when he told Kou to help him capture No. 6 and in bringing him once again to his boundary to meet Sumire again.). She herself returned Sumire there as well. Supposedly, as Tsuaksa wants.

But, What Tsuaksa wants, is for Nene to destroy Sumire herself. Not for No. 6 to do it.

I explaind all of this in another post. To put it short here, Nanamine is the one after No.6 and Sumire meeing again, she knew about what was going to happen with them (No. 6 destroying Sumire himself), and she planned to have the talk with Nene accordingly. And that's why she was there in the first place. She knew everything that was going to happen and took the opportunity to have her *talk* with Nene.

Now, let's continue with the 'I don't like things' she did.

After her plan went so well, she had her *talk* with Nene.

She ended up taking her to where Sumire and No. 6 were.

She wants to be friends with Nene and to have a good relationship with her, right?

Why would she choose to break her heart and to take her to see this sight, while knowing full well about what happened there and having seen it by Kokujoudai before?

Is Nene just a toy to her? Her feelings mean nothing?

Nene asked her to take her to Sumire… and she did without hesitation? She said she is sorry back when they sent Nene to the 'nowhere' while knowing she will be fine at the end. And now, she feels nothing to talke her to see a sight as horrible as this? She knows Nene cares for Sumire. What a cruel heart she has. Her face doesn't even show her to be worried or sorry. -She is more than capable of shwing a worried face. She did it at the beginning of the chapter while Nene is even looking at her. the same happened when Nene asked here to take ehr to Sumire. It seems it was just for a moment, nothing more. So, why can't she now? While no one is even looking? Because she wants Nene to see this and she doesn't care? She wants this outcome.

Well, let's say maybe she just did what Nene asked her to. Fine.

What did she do next?

She didn't care and went to explain everything (without caring about how hard it will be on Nene), as if it was just business to her.

You want to be friends with Nene, right? You supposedly wanted to talk to her to help? her? Is this really what you should be talking about? Instead of trying to calm the girl down after what she saw? Or, is it really that you don't care? All of this is business to you, and you want Nene to know this in order for her to be the perfect toy for you?

Next we have this. She went and even expained what makes a yorishiro. Making Nene feel so bad about herself and to have a break down. Did she care?

Did she care? No.

Can you give the poor girl a break? Or is there still more?

Maybe she cared for her a little now? She felt bad to see her broken, crying and balming herself like this? Let's see how she tried to 'comfort' her.

What kind of comfort is that? 'Adding salt to the injury' kind?

She went back to talking about work again. As if Nene was just a robot without feelings. Sheesh! Is this the time or the place? Oh, sorry, I forgot... to her, it is. She wanted Nene to see this, so explaining what she is going to say next will be a lot easier. (talking about Tsukasa being No. 7's yorishiro and about destroying him. Since his case is the same as Sumire's.)

The girl is broken in front of you, and all you did was… "Oh, don't feel sorry. I don't have time to waste on you crying. I have other important things to talk about. I want to tell you who Hanako's yorishiro is. I'm helping this way, right?" 'Myself of course.'

Really, Is this the way you treat someone you claim to care for and want to have as a friend with? Persoanly, I don't think so.

Next, I hate this page for 2 reasons.

The first one is: You're supposed to care for Nene as you claim to be, right? You're supposed to care for her as a friend, right?

Then, what is this?

Ouch… you really don't care for her life, huh? You will still keep trying to force her to destroy the other yorishiros and then to die because of it, huh? How harsh. Then… what was the purpose of you telling her all that in the first place? What was the need of your talk? -Will come back to that later.-

The second thing.

She supposedly was after No.6 and Sumire reunion... because...

..........

Then, Then, why are you standing on Sumire's blood? That's so unladylike, inappropriate and rude for someone like her to do. Even while she is claiming to feel sorry for them. Is that how you show your sympathy? By stepping on Sumire's blood as if it was nothing? Show some respect at least. Doesn't she deserve some? This happened to her because of your selfish wish.

Not only that, this as well.

Are their memories nothing but a toy for you to play with or to break AND sit on? You allow yourself to sit on people's memories?

How rude.

How is that supposed to show me that you sympathize with them? It shows me the very opposite really. That you don't care about them.

While she may really have done what she did for them to meet again and to do what they want for the last time as it was said before. I think the major reason for her doing that is…..

Well, she is the one after the big plan of No. 6 and Sumire meeting again. She knew how things would end up. Went there to meet Nene and have a talk with her, then led her to where Sumire and No. 6 where.

Maybe she really wanted to teach Nene a real-life lesson. (What makes a yoridhiro. How can a yorishior that takes the form of a person be dealt with, Tsukasa is a yorishiro of that tybe.) She wanted to reach to that point. She wanted to let Nene know how she is supposed to deal with Tsuaksa. Whether to do the job herself or to let Amane do it just like No. 6 did. She showed her a real-life lesson about all that. owtch….

What a lesson.

She went and said to her that she must destroy Tsukasa herself if she wants to protect Amane/ No. 7 (the one she loves) from the pain that will come to him if he himself did that. And in order for what happened with No.6 not to happen to him too. -I don't believe it. Why would she even care for him? Or Tsuaksa?-

I don't think she really cares for either Amane or Tsukasa. She just wanted to let Nene know about it for some reason…. that will benefit her? Maybe just in case if Amane wasn't able to harm Tsukasa, she can have Nene to do it. After all, she wants the 7 yorishiros destroyed in order for her to be free somehow.

Then we have this.

You will have her do the job no matter what, huh? Then, you really don't care for her. Let her do the job and then die.

She is just using Nene as I see it. Nene seems to be a toy in her hands. And she is doing all that on her own free will, she hurt Nene so bad. And Tsuaksa doesn't have a thing to do with it. Where did this go?

I don't believe any of it now.

So, Tsukasa is no longer included? What is going on? I thought they were a trio? ………………..

It seems Nanamine is after something for herself. Natsuhiko, as always, ready to do whatever she wants without thinking for even a minute.

The two are up to something. Just the two of them it seems. ..............

*******

A moment of truth……

After the last few chapters, my way of looking at Nanamine has really changed. I used to see her as caring and doesn't know how to show emotions that well, and underneath that calm face, lays a kind heart, but… I don't think so now.

Well, it's up to the future chapters whether to make me stick to this way of looking at her or to return back to respect her like I used to before. I'm waiting for her backstory now. Maybe it will change a lot of things. Maybe it will make me understand why she is this way, why she was so cold and harsh toward Nene in the last chapter, the cold way she treated the No. 6 / Sumire situation with after it happened, etc.

But, for now. I guess I will see things this way.

#things I don't like #jibaku shounen hanako kun #jibaku shonen kanako kun #toilet bound hanako kun #hanako kun #jshk #tbhk #nanamine #yashiro nene #nene yashiro #yugi tsukasa #tsukasa yugi

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chikaella · 2 years

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anyways.heres part one of that wattpad fangan infodump

Prologue:

The protagonist, Kuro Baiorin, is the Ultimate Violinist, but instead of Hopes Peak this takes place in Nozomu Academy. And as all good protags do, she meets the cast and stuff like that. here we go

Tama Damu, Ultimate Basketball Player (he)

Gin Kagakuro, Ultimate Scientist (he)

Ichika Odoriko, Ultimate Ballerina (she)

Reina Shitateya, Ultimate Fashion Designer (she)

Haru Hana, Ultimate Gardener (MEE <3) (they)

Toshiro Joboshi, Ultimate Hatter (MY BOYFRIEND <3) (he)

Kei, Ultimate ??? (edgy emo bastard) (he)

Ryuto Gijutsu, Ultimate Hacker (he)

Mei Tanoshi, Ultimate Rollerskater (she)

Akito Akaibara, Ultimate Actor (no he is not a blackened) (he)

Arashi Tsuyoi, Ultimate Collector (she)

Hinami Kieirna, Ultimate Linguist (she)

Mizuki Kureizu, Ultimate Escape Artist (she has 2 ultimates, one cover up Ultimate & a real one you discover at the end. her cover up ultimate is ableist so I’ll pretend that we always knew she was an escape artist, it’s not a very big part of the story.) (she)

Okashi Mimu, Ultimate Memer (it’s silly but shhh) (he)

Nanako Supure, Ultimate Spray Painter (she)

The class meets Monokuma and he’s like “yeah u homies r in a killing game prepare to die lol” and the class is like “no we wont die we wont kill we will hope!!!” but like in a mature way

Chapter One:

The morning of the first day— Kuro walks in on Arashi and Mizuki fighting. According to everyone else, Mizuki found entertainment in the idea of a killing game. Arashi understandably got pissed off by this and believed Mizuki was a freak, and the two got into a fight. Tama and Kuro get Arashi off Mizuki and Mizuki points out how this is an ultimate confinement and they need to kill eachother. Kuro gives a hope speech and everyone settles down. Also Mizuki is obsessed with Kuro so she listens to Kuro more willingly. Kuro is kinda creeped out by Mizuki’s

Toshiro cooks breakfast for everyone. He presents an excellently done dish that is much better than anyone else could cook, and acts very kindly. Kuro notices how Toshiro is like a “mom friend”, in a way. They continue to notice Toshiro’s kinder mannerisms in the way he resorts to calling everyone by their last name, and even allows Ryuto, who is an orphan to call him dad after Ryuto accidentally did so. Toshiro then brings up their killing game situation (although in a much more polite way) and the class unanimously agrees not to listen to Monokuma and not to kill (which obviously doesnt happen but yk). Also they start calling Toshiro ‘Shiro’ <33 Btw shiro is 6’4 so do what you will with that information

Nanako mentions how empty and plain the fitness room is, and tells everyone she’s going to redecorate it later at night. However, the class is worried after hearing Monokuma’s threat of a killing game, even after Nanako insists that she’ll be fine. Gin and Ryuto program an enforced security system around the fitness room and Tama is kept outside the entire time Nanako is painting to ensure that she won’t die.

Spoiler alert Nanako dies and everyone freaks out bc yk. she’s freaking dead man what do we DO

The class pulls it together and starts investigating and stuff and when trial time is announced, everyone is very much freaked out by dead portrait of Nanako

Kuro, Kei and Ryuto solve the murder as everyone else is basically useless and find out together that Okashi is the killer.

Okashi’s motive was actually rlly deep surprisingly?? His motive was that since he’s the Ultimate Memer his life purpose was making people smile and he was always happy whenever his memes made his sister laugh in particular. He killed because he would do anything to see his sister smile again . poor guy

Okashi tearfully accepts his death while reassuring Kuro that it wasn’t her fault (Kuro thinks Okashi now having to die is her fault), and then Okashi dies so uh. rip okashi

Kuro proceeds to pass out right after his execution and wakes up in the nurses office. Next to her is soup that Toshiro made, and as she cries over Okashi’s death and the guilt of feeling it was her fault because she was the one who discovered he was the killer, Ryuto and Mizuki assure her that without her they’d be dead and yk. words of encouragement yeah???

Also theres this thing called purgatory and all the dead people go there and Nanako forgives okashi for killing her and yay friendship

Chapter 2:

•Everyone gathers to eat breakfast that Shiro made, & thankfully it’s much calmer than the day before. The class noticed Akito and Hinami aren’t present, but before they can worry too much, and the two of them walk in with a stack of papers. They explain they are going to be hosting a play to cheer everyone up after the events that occurred the day before (Nanako & Okashi dying). Kuro is set to play the violin, Ichika’s the main character, Reina is the costume designer, Akito and Hinami are the writers and directors, so on and so forth. Also Akito is a theater kid and keeps freaking everyone out w Heathers refrences. Monokuma gives out the motive videos showing their deepest desire and everyone kinda just ignores them. Kuro watches hers, and it tells her that if she kills, she can stop being a violinist and instead just live normally. Kuro acknowledges that while she doesnt really hold any major interest toward the violin, seeing ppl smile bc of her performances makes it worth it or wtvr smth like that • Kuro, Ryuto & Mizuki then head off and the three see Kei in the library and he’s reading “History of Hopes Peak Academy ''. None of them know what Hopes Peak is, but the name sounds familiar to Kuro. They also unlock another floor of the school as the class trial reward

• Eventually, Kuro, Ryuto and Mizuki leave Kei in the library. After wandering around for a bit, they find the Ultimate Gardener’s lab. Haru’s not in there, but they notice a shed. Monokuma pops up and tells the two that the only way they can get in the shed is by going to Haru and getting the key from them. While the shed has useful garden stuff, it also has saws and axes and its a pretty good place to hide a dead body ngl

The trio go upstairs to a storage closet but discover from Haru that it can only be opened by people who’ve unlocked their Ultimate Lab (Haru, Gin, Akito, Hinami). The trios like “thanks 4 the info” and Harus like “yeah sure” and this is not important at all in future trials. They try to visit Hinamis Ult Lab, but she refuses to let them in. Mizuki offers to just break in when shes not there, but Kuro and Ryuto manage 2 convince her into respecting Hinamis privacy. At dinner, everyone confirms at least two people has seen everyones ultimate lab and they’ve all explored every part of the school they can, and everyone heads to bed.

Anyways its play day!!! Everything is going pretty smoothly and chill and the play is great. Reina is even being a little bit nicer awwwww 🥺🥺🥺 Then there’s some walking heel noises and everyone assumes thats just Ichika walking off stage but then when they open the curtains. Ohemgee Akito got crushed by the chandelier (rip theater kid)

The trial goes on and everyone thinks its Ichika bc of the heels, but then its revealed it was actually just Hinami wearing Ichika’s heels as a way to try and frame Ichika. They figure this out bc thanks 2 Gins autopsy, they manage to discover that Akito actually died of poisoned tea and not being crushed. The cast then realizes that Hinami is the culprit bc she had given Akito tea earlier

When asked her motive, its revealed that Hinami.is actually some girl named Arisu

uh so basically, the actual Hinami had died in a plane crash a few years earlier. Arisu happened to be a rlly big fan of Hinami and was devastated when she found out. Arisu tried pretending she was Hinami, and shockingly the public actually bought it. She was forced to live as Hinami for the rest of her life and leave behind her identity as Arisu (Arisus actual ultimate is identity thief btw!). Akito had discovered this and was going to reveal her identity and Arisu decided to kill him, not only bc she didnt want her identity revealed just yet, but also because her motive video told her that she would be able to stop pretending to be Hinami & finally be herself. Kei is all like “ur a bitch shame on you u r so bad” and everyone else is like “kei wtf” and then Arisu dies

Akito & Arisu meet in purgatory & they forgive eachother and yay happiness

—

if u read thru this entire thing i love you & ur so cool. ill finish this.one day

#if any of ygs want the link to the actual book lmk 👍

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whatstruthgottodowithit · 1 month

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The Other Evans Girl [Part Forty One]

Fandom: Harry Potter [Marauder’s Era]

Pairing: Sirius Black x Original Female Character, Sirius Black x Daisy Evans, James Potter x Lily Evans

Characters: Sirius Black, Original Female Character, Daisy Evans, Lily Evans, Remus Lupin, James Potter, Harry Potter, Severus Snape, Minerva McGonagall, Alice Fortescue, Frank Longbottom, Marlene McKinnon, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix LeStrange, Walburga Black, Orion Black, Jasper Thicknesse, Barty Crouch Jr, Mulciber, Walden McNair

Word Count: 3291

Rating: Mature

Summary: Hogwarts is a safe haven, a home for many, but it’s often a place where heartache, love and complex emotions dwell and none know that better than the Marauders. Lily Evans just wants to make it out as a successful witch though the oncoming war and the ongoing advances of James Potter threaten that. Daisy Evans, her twin, has other goals. Join the Evans sisters as they make their way through Hogwarts, prepare for war and eventually find love.

Tags/ Warnings: Hogwarts, Friends, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Marauder’s Era, Teenage Angst, Babies, Weddings, Dating, Crying, Loss of Virginity, First Wizarding War, Love, Kissing, Teenagers, James Potter is a bit of a dick, Hogsmeade, 1970s, Fighting, Loss of Parents, Grief, Babies, Injuries, Gore, Harm, Christmas, The Potter’s Mansion // Daisy’s Dress // NYE Lily’s Dress // NYE Daisy’s Dress // Lily’s Ring // Daisy’s Ring

Notes: Okay so I’ve been working on updating this and I’ve finally gone through all the chapters already written before I start writing more. It’s changed a lot so I’ve decided it’s just better to completely re-upload it.

If you want tagging let me know

LINK TO AO3 // LINK TO PINTEREST // LINK TO ALL PARTS

Daisy hated detention, absolutely detested it. Of course James took to their weeks’ worth of detention like a duck to water despite rarely being punished these days, something Daisy was sure Lily was a factor in. But for her detention was a hard slog as her nights were robbed from her with whatever inane task McGonagall chose to allocate them that day. The dreadful thing was that the tasks didn’t require much attention which meant she couldn’t keep her mind away from having to tell Lily about going home for the summer. It was coming far too soon and was made more obvious to her as exams crept ever closer announcing the end of term. In the first few days James and Sirius had nagged her to get it over with but every time she looked at her sister she found that she couldn’t get the words out, her grief wrapping itself around her words and pulling them back down in`

to her chest. She would tell her, she just needed time. Which she found was not on her side as she watched James call defence club to attention and announce this was one of the last meetings before the end of term.

‘What why?’ Penelope said, her voice the first to call out from the group.

‘Because everyone’s going to be busy for the next few weeks,’ James said.

‘So?’ Penelope protested.

‘Yeah we’ve got a few weeks before summer,’ Rudy Scrimgeour reasoned.

‘Yeah and we’ve a million exams to do,’ Lily said.

‘Lil’s right and by the time they’re done it’s summer anyway,’ Remus chipped in, stirring Daisy’s nervous stomach with his reminder.

‘So what then? Do we just stop learning?’ Penelope scoffed.

‘Of course not,’ Daisy said, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. She had done very well at playing the cool girlfriend even if Penelope hadn’t made it easy seeing that she had done everything in her power to ensure Sirius was her only friend in the group.

‘There’s nothing to stop you practicing. Any of you,’ James said.

‘They’re right,’ Frank said, ‘because as fun as it is to learn all this stuff, us seventh years haven’t got time to do extracurriculars.’

‘Frank’s right,’ Terry Bones agreed, ‘besides you lot are gonna be coming back so it’s hardly like this is the end for you is it.’

‘Look it doesn’t have to be the last meeting today,’ James reasoned, still seeing a few disappointed faces.

‘Yeah we could probably squeeze one in just before the end of term but for now we’re probably better off having a break,’ Marlene added.

‘Well then no point wasting time then right?’ Pierre asked, receiving an appreciative smile from the group leaders who started to coordinate what this meeting would be covering.

Sirius however couldn’t help but notice Penelope didn’t fall in line quite as quickly as everyone else. He’d been watching her from the sidelines perplexed by just how firm she’d been in not wanting to finish the club just yet. If anything he didn’t want to either but when the others had brought it up he realised they had a point and despite himself he couldn’t help but want to put some effort in this year considering he’d applied for the auror course and was yet to hear back.

As everyone dove into what they’d be doing he moved through the crowd towards Penelope, coming to stand by her side and offering her a sympathetic smile. She smiled back at him glumly. That was the other thing that perplexed him. That no matter how unfairly he’d treated her, stringing her along however unintentionally, they’d become friends. He hadn’t intended for it to go that way but she seemed to gravitate towards him yet not in a romantic way. No, he reasoned to himself, if he’d had sensed any lingering feelings he would’ve removed himself from the situation and forced her to buddy up with someone else, but there wasn’t anything there. No, their little dynamic was nice, familiar even.

He waited for a moment, glancing at her as she listened over the crowd to what James was telling them to do. She wasn’t looking at him, the sympathetic smile she’d given him now replaced by a tightness to her jaw that indicated her irritation was still present. Sirius folded his arms across his chest and cleared his throat, capturing her attention in an instant and making her eyebrow raise.

‘You okay?’ he asked.

‘Fine,’ she replied tightly, ‘why?’

‘You just seemed upset,’ he said, the scrutiny of her gaze making him feel uncomfortable so he looked back towards James who was explaining the theory behind how to produce a patronus charm.

‘It’s just a shame about the club,’ Penelope said quietly, her eyes also locked on James, ‘I like it here.’

‘Me too,’ Sirius said, the honesty in her voice enticing him to look at her though she kept her gaze forward. She didn’t look angry anymore, if anything she looked sad, her melancholy making her look younger somehow, ‘we all do but with exams it’s probably best we have a break.’

‘Yeah, yeah you’re right,’ she said, finally looking up at him. As she did Sirius couldn’t help but stare feeling something was off but he didn’t know what. Did her raven black hair look lighter? Her electric blue eyes duller, almost grey like his own.

‘What?’ she asked self-consciously as he ogled her.

‘Nothing,’ he mumbled, unable to place what was wrong.

‘Are you sure? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,’ she reasoned.

‘I’m fine you just looked…different,’ he said, now feeling self-conscious himself for having been caught staring at her.

‘Really?’ she asked, panic lacing her tone. Sirius didn’t respond, he didn’t know how to, which is why he was glad when she answered for him, hurriedly saying, ‘it’s probably because I’m not feeling too good. Actually I think I better go to Madam Pomfrey.’

‘Are you sure?’ he asked.

‘Yeah, um see you later,’ she said, slinking through the crowd as he muttered goodbye. He watched her go unable to place his finger on what it was about her that felt different, but as James called his name and beckoned him over to help he put it to the back of his mind.

Yet it wasn’t at the back of Daisy’s mind as she watched Penelope hurry from the room. She hadn’t been listening, she was too far away for that, but she had been keeping a close eye on the pair, cool girlfriend reputation be damned. She didn’t know why it intrigued her so much. She knew there was nothing between them and yet she couldn’t help but have a curiosity about Penelope or rather why Penelope was here. Of course there was the obvious, she was muggleborn like Daisy, but given how she’d reacted when the pair of them had gotten together it just didn’t sit right with the blond. Especially not how she was happy to try and befriend Sirius. Which was probably why she found her feet following her, grabbing her bag she’d left by the door so that she had a reason to do so.

‘Penny!’ Daisy called as she hurtled down the stairs, the sound of footsteps not so far ahead of her. She hoped she’d wait for her to catch up and as she reached the bottom of the stairs and spotted a figure standing just outside the alcove she thought she had and lunged forward to stop her.

‘Penny wait you’ve forgotten your bag-’ she said grabbing the figure by the shoulder though as they spun around she found it wasn’t Penelope, ‘oh it’s you.’

‘Nice to see you too,’ Regulus said, rolling his eyes before he yanked his arm out of her grasp.

‘What are you doing up here?’ she asked as he pulled away from her, irritably adjusting his cloak so that it pulled around him fully. Daisy wondered why he was even bothering to wear the damn thing, the sweltering summer heat leaving her own skin muggy from where she’d run downstairs.

‘Funnily enough Slytherins are allowed out of the dungeons once in a while,’ he said drily, ‘besides I could ask you the same thing.’

‘Nothing,’ Daisy lied, a little too quickly. Regulus’ steel grey eyes narrowed, watching her sceptically. Yet she didn’t cower to him even if her poker face had been poor.

‘Sure,’ Regulus replied, ‘don’t worry I’m sure whatever you were up to isn’t anything more exciting than having a quick fumble with my brother in some random broom cupboard.’

‘You know Sirius. Surprised I can catch my breath,’ she mocked.

‘You’re so funny,’ Regulus snipped.

‘Well there must be something your brother likes about me,’ she replied, ‘you probably would too if you stopped being so narrow minded.’

‘And you’re what? Loving and non-judgemental to all?’ Regulus snorted.

‘Yeah well when your mates try to kill students for fun it kinda makes it hard to like you. Still I suppose it’s not all bad given how tremendously shit they are at executing a plan,’ Daisy laughed.

‘You sure about that?’ Regulus sneered, halting her laughter in its tracks.

‘What?’ she asked, a nervous feeling in her stomach which worsened as Regulus shook his head and attempted to leave. She didn’t let him though, grabbing him by the cloak and stopping him from moving, ‘no go on spit it out.’

‘Dais where are you?’ Marlene’s voice echoed off the stone staircase as she appeared at the alcove, clocking the pair of them, ‘oh.’

‘Not be a minute,’ Daisy said hurriedly though as she turned to look at her friend Regulus shook out of her grasp, ‘where are you going?’

‘Leaving,’ he said simply, evidently not caring about how demanding her voice had gotten.

‘What are you on about?’ Daisy pressed following him as he headed up the corridor. Regulus kept his eyes forward, ignoring her as she harped on at him, his jaw clenched. Daisy didn’t care. Not when he’d hinted at the suspicions she’d been having since they’d caught the Slytherins. She had wanted to be wrong, to think that they’d caught them up to whatever they were going to do but now it felt as though she had been right, that Regulus was confirming she was right to have doubts.

‘Dais,’ Marlene said nervously.

‘Just a minute,’ Daisy snapped but in her distraction he’d gotten away from her and was now too far up the corridor for her to chase not that it stopped her from shouting, ‘Regulus what are you on about?’

He was by a closed door, his hand on the knob as he had prepared to go through but at her calling he paused. He seemed to be deliberating something, his mind whirring behind familiar grey eyes as he thought of what to say. After a beat he sighed and said, ‘let’s just say I’m not the only one who has noticed where you and your boyfriend have a quick fumble.’

And with that he flounced through the door and out of sight leaving Daisy’s mind spinning in the process. What did that mean? Of course she’d suspected they’d been keeping tabs on them. It was what they’d been doing after all but did they know about the club? Were they planning something? If they were most likely it’d be for her or James given they were the ones that usurped their original plans.

‘What was that about?’ Marlene asked, appearing at her side when she failed to turn around.

‘I don’t know,’ Daisy said grimly, ‘but it’s not good.’

✵✵✵

Over the next couple of days Daisy found herself torn though granted it was mostly about what to fret over - Lily or Regulus. It had gotten so bad she found her worries only leaving the forefront of her mind when faced with mountains of revision. Though she knew she had to tell Lily soon she was now in a constant debate whether or not to tell the group what Regulus had said. After all it could’ve been an empty threat, a bruised ego spewing bile, and yet she felt something niggling her. It didn’t help that whenever Regulus’ name was thrown in the mix whilst talking about the Slytherins or death eaters Sirius grew quiet. He never expressed it out loud but Daisy could see the sadness in his eyes thinking of the path his brother was headed down. So for now she was keeping quiet. At least until she knew what they were up to besides it wasn’t as though they were due another club meeting for at least a week or two.

Fortunately that was easy to do as she arrived at breakfast Sunday morning and spotted James in the middle of a staring contest with a letter. He didn’t look up as she took a seat opposite him, sliding in beside Sirius who placed his hand on her thigh the moment she was seated. Instead he kept his eyes glued to the envelope which was propped up against his goblet of pumpkin juice.

‘What’s that?’ Daisy said curiously as she grabbed a piece of toast from the rack.

‘My letter from the auror’s board,’ James said, finally looking at her.

‘Oh cool!’ Daisy said excitedly, ‘what does it say?’

‘He doesn’t know. He won’t open it,’ Sirius said through a mouthful of cornflakes.

‘Why not?’ Daisy asked incredulously.

‘Search me,’ Sirius said in a manner that suggested he’d already gone over this conversation a million times before she’d gotten there.

‘I thought you didn’t care if they don’t want you,’ Daisy reasoned, remembering all the bravado he’d given at every step of applying whilst Lily worried on his behalf.

‘Well I don’t,’ James lied, ‘obviously it’s their loss if they don’t but…’

‘Lilys made you worry,’ Daisy finished. At that he looked up, chewing nervously on his lip which confirmed the sentiments were true. Daisy sighed.

‘I’m not worried,’ he started, ‘it’s just she’s been so excited for me to get onto the course and well this is the first step I don’t want to disappoint her.’

‘She won’t care if you don’t get in,’ Daisy said smiling as James threw her a pointed look, ‘okay that’s a lie she definitely will but only because she knows how much it means to you. Besides, you're worrying and you don’t even know if there’s anything to worry about yet.’

‘Oh yeah? If that’s the case why haven’t you told her about not wanting to go home for summer,’ James challenged.

‘Don’t take it out on her mate,’ Sirius warned. At that James realised he’d gone too far and his face grew sheepish as she said, ‘sorry.’

‘It’s alright,’ Daisy smiled, ‘and I am going to tell her soon I promise. I’m just trying to find the right time. And anyway at least I know she might not take my news so well. You don't know anything until you open it.’

‘She’s got a point,’ Sirius agreed. James looked between them and then sighed before he reached forward and grabbed the letter, opening it up and scanning through it quickly.

‘So?’ Daisy asked after giving as much time as she could bear to wait.

‘I got an exam,’ James said, beaming at her as his nerves disappeared.

‘Well done mate,’ Sirius replied.

‘Pads is right, well done!’ Daisy smiled, looking at Sirius as she added, ‘we just need to get yours now and we’ll be set.’

‘Well actually I already did,’ Sirius said.

‘What? When?!’ Daisy gawked.

‘This morning. I was checking Regulus’ post again, there was nothing in it as per,’ he said.

‘Never mind that,’ Daisy persisted, too impatient to think of the Slytherins right now. Not when this was the only thing she’d felt good about in the past few days. Sirius shrugged and said, ‘I got one too.’

‘Sirius, that's amazing!’ she said leaning to cuddle into his side for a moment before pulling away and saying, ‘we should celebrate!’

‘Dais it’s just an invite for the exam,’ Sirius said quietly.

‘I don’t care. It’s a big deal we’re celebrating,’ she said firmly and after a quick glance at one another the boys nodded along knowing there was no point in telling her no.

✵✵✵

Given the fact everyone was swamped with revision Daisy’s celebrations had been restricted down to just hanging out in the attic for the night much to the boy's relief. Still she tried to make it a little more special by producing a cake she’d gotten from the kitchens that had ‘Congratulations’ smushed across it. She didn’t know why she was going all out over such a little thing. Obviously the boys had a point, seeing as this was only the first basic step in becoming an auror and there were a load more obstacles they had to come, but given the way of the world and all of her worries she couldn’t help but want to cherish the little things.

Still as fun as it was, it didn't stop a new school week from coming ever closer and so around eleven pm Lily decreed that they should head to bed and after tidying up the attic they checked the map and confirmed that the coast was clear to sneak back to Gryffindor tower. Whilst the boys took the lead the girls brought up the rear, chatting quietly about the first exam of the season which was transfiguration on Tuesday.

‘I definitely think that there’ll be a question on Gamp’s law so you should definitely recap that,’ Lily said.

‘I looked at that the other day I think,’ Daisy said.

‘Good, because I think she’ll make it worth a few marks,’ Lily said, as she pushed her hair back from her face, running her hand across her ear as she did which caused her eyes to go wide as she said, ‘oh my God!’

‘What is it?’ Daisy said, pausing as she realised her sister had stopped in her tracks.

‘My earring is gone,’ Lily said.

‘What?’ Daisy asked.

‘My earring,’ she said panicked, ‘the earrings James gave me for my birthday.’

‘Let’s have a look,’ Daisy said, pushing her sister’s hair back so that she could see her now bare lobe.

‘It must be upstairs,’ Lily said nervously.

‘When would it have come out?’ Daisy asked.

‘Well James and I were never mind,’ Lily mumbled, flushing bright crimson as she realised what she was going to admit to. Daisy rolled her eyes and diverted the conversation away from the elephant in the room as she said, ‘well let’s just go and look for it.’

‘No, James can’t know I’ve lost it!’ Lily bit back.

‘What are you two doing?’ James called, snapping the pair’s attention to where the boys were watching them suspiciously.

‘Nothing we just-’ Daisy started though she didn’t know where her answer was going and neither did Lily which was why she interjected and said, ‘Daisy’s lost her ring.’

‘Yeah,’ Daisy said, glancing at her sister before back at the others, ‘must’ve slipped off in the attic. We were just gonna nip back and look for it.’

‘Want us to come?’ Sirius asked, his eyes trailing down to Daisy’s hand which she shoved in the pocket of her jeans quickly hoping he hadn’t spotted the ring that was still definitely in place.

‘No it’s alright,’ Lily said, ‘I’m sure we can find it.’

‘Are you sure?’ James frowned.

‘Yep,’ Lily said, dragging her sister as she turned towards the attic, ‘only be two minutes, right Dais?’

‘Yeah,’ Daisy said. fighting the urge to roll her eyes as Lily tugged her along. The boys were still watching, suspicious due to their shifty behaviour but she threw them a smile in the hopes to reassure them and said, ‘see you back the common room yeah?’

She only managed to see Sirius nod in recognition before she was yanked through a door towards the attic. Once they were through, Lily released her grip on her sister who straightened up, smoothing her t-shirt out as she said, ‘subtly done Lil.’

‘Sorry,’ Lily said meekly, ‘I just don’t want him to know I’ve lost it.’

‘By the sounds of it it’s his fault it’s missing,’ Daisy said, ‘he should be the one wading through couch cushions.’

‘It shouldn’t take long I think I know where it might’ve gone,’ Lily explained. They were on the corridor to the attic now, the alcove just around the corner only as they turned down it they found they weren’t alone. Standing by the door just across from them was Penelope Fulton. Given the lateness of the hour the girls were surprised to see her but it was nothing compared to how startled she looked. Daisy thought for a moment it was due to Lily’s prefect status but it wasn’t as though she could do anything, she wasn’t on rounds and to pull someone up on breaking curfew when the pair of them were doing the same wasn’t going to wash. Nevertheless her panic didn’t fade and without a word she scurried through the open door, slamming it behind her harder than expected. Lily watched her go but then turned her attention back to the task at hand and continued her journey to the attic stairs. Daisy however couldn’t shake that niggling feeling.

‘That was weird right?’ Daisy asked, moving quickly to her sister’s side so she wasn’t left behind.

‘Yeah a bit,’ Lily said.

‘Do you think she was up in the attic?’ Daisy asked, ‘I mean it’s not like there’s even anything up on this floor.’

‘Maybe. She probably just forgot something,’ Lily reasoned as she entered the alcove but before she could duck around the statue and head up the stairs Daisy stopped her.

‘Why not come back on the day then? I mean the last meeting was days ago,’ Daisy reasoned, unable to shake that easy feeling inside her though she didn’t know why. After all the attic wasn’t solely theirs even though they’d commandeered it. All members of the club were allowed to go up there but there was something in the back of her brain that made her feel nervous. Lily’s nerves however didn’t seem present, her focus still on the task at hand as she said, ‘maybe she’s only just realised.’

‘But what would it be? Me and Sirius dropped her bag off at Ravenclaw tower. Why would she-’

‘Oh Dais for god sake!’ Lily said exasperatedly, taking off up the stairs with Daisy on her heels, ‘I’ve got more important things to be worried about.’

‘Yeah like how you’re going to find fifty galleons to buy more earrings if we can’t find these,’ Daisy teased.

‘Oh don’t say that,’ Lily sighed.

‘I’m only kidding,’ Daisy giggled.

‘Yeah well stop it,’ Lily said.

They’d reached the top of the stairs now and Lily whipped her wand out from her pocket to unlock the door. Daisy loitered by top of the stairs but as Lily swished her wand and muttered, ‘alohomora,’ the familiar clunk of the door unlocking didn’t come. At that Daisy straightened up because she was sure they’d locked it behind them. Lily didn’t notice there was anything amiss and Daisy didn’t have time to remind her about it because the door was barely open before there was a deafening boom and Daisy was thrown back down the stairs, hitting every step like a rag doll until finally she lost consciousness.

SIRIUS BLACK/SERIES TAGS

@maeisafangirl @mysteriouslydelicateface @caitlin1996 @imthebadguyyy

#my writing #harry potter fic #marauders fic #marauders era #sirius black x ofc #sirius black x daisy evans #sirius black #the other evans girl

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percontaion-points · 7 months

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Lifeblood chapter 8 & bonus chapter 4

Today's review might be difficult for some; reader discretion is advised

Click to see the rest of the snark & image descriptions

Chapter 8

She hands me a white robe with white trim…

Is it really trim if it’s the exact same colour?

When I think of a “trim”, it’s usually an accent colour. It could be the same colour in a different shade (ie forest green with light green). But you can’t do that with WHITE.

“During Elizabeth’s Firstlife, she lost her family at a young age and ended up bouncing from foster home to foster home. She wasn’t always treated well. In her last home, it was so bad she ran away and ended up in all kinds of trouble. Archer was her TL, and he changed her life. When she came here a little over a year ago, she fell hard for a boy named Claus. She felt for him what you feel for Killian. The day you died, Killian killed Claus.”

Once again, I’m sorry that it happened to you. But taking it out on Ten isn’t going to magically bring back Claus; it only makes you look like a jackass.

I’d known Killian had ended her boyfriend’s life. I hadn’t known the rest. I hadn’t known about the horrors of her Firstlife.

EXCEPT THAT HER TERRIBLE BACKGROUND DOESN’T EXCUSE THE WAY SHE’S BEEN BULLYING YOU.

The entire creed of Troika is basically “bitch, go the fuck to therapy”. And yet, here’s Elizabeth, acting like that girl who was mean to you in high school.

My heart pounds as I read the mostly-redacted file, Tenley Lockwood— thick black line—during her escape from Prynne Asylum. After—thick black line—with Archer Prince. Thick black line—with ML Killian Flynn. Thick black line—Prynne Asylum closed down.

The asylum closed down?

Not only were they raping and torturing literaly children in there, they also ended up killing a bunch of them. It’s little wonder that it closed down.

I fought some of my roughest battles outside a Troikan safe house. Looking back, I’m glad they happened. They tested my limits, pushed me to change and to grow.

Not me, looking around for the character growth that “happened outside of safe houses”. Cause the book that I’m reading, Ten was a self-absorbed brat up to the final second of her firstlife.

The Book of the Law says it’s best to date a person selected for us by the Grid. 1) It’s supposed to keep the peace between, well, everyone. No more fighting over a mate, or thinking you belong with someone who would be better off with someone else…

Incels need not apply.

Okay, you’ve convinced me to join. Any system that prohibits horny Indian men sliding into my DMs with a blurry picture of their penis can’t possibly be that terrible.

But then again, my bar is currently at “don’t send strange women pictures of your penis”.

“Killian uses, lies and tricks. The only thing you’re going to get from him...is heartache.”

Chapter 8 summary: As soon as Ten gets out from the shower, Elizabeth corners her and tries to see that Elizabeth is more than simply a bully. However, as I’ve stated, the poor conditions when she grew up is not an excuse for her current behaviour. Especially since she no longer lives in abusive foster homes.

Ten then goes to a record hall, where the narration screeches to a halt FOR AN ENTIRE PAGE so that we can describe the stained glass windows. She meets up with Kayla and Reed, who encourage her to look at Ten’s own book that’s basically her entire life. We only jump into the parts that we know, but the only thing that we learn is that the rape factory baby jail she was in was closed down after the shit Killian and Archer stirred up there. It makes her happy to learn that.

She also learns some more info about Dior, but this is mostly glossed over to the point where I legit don’t know why the author even bothered. The only thing of value is that Dior is trying to get out from her contract with Myriad, which is why they’ve infected her. Kayla says that they can’t begin turning away people, or else it’ll set a dangerous precedent.

She goes home to meet up with Victor, where they discuss how they can convince everybody to vote for Archer for “resurrection”. He tells her that everybody wants to resurrect another conduit, but he think that he can lean on the “only Archer can help cleanse Dior of her darkness!” Ten isn’t certain that this is the way to go, since she could end up cleansing Dior before the vote.

The next day, they put on their shells and go down to await further instruction. It’s here that we learn exactly why Dior shifted to Myriad: her father had a spinal injury, and was taking months to heal. But when Killian promised her that her father would “walk out of the hospital today”, she signed with impatience. He did walk, only to collapse outside of the hospital doors, where he then died.

Before they go, Elizabeth warns Ten not to try to make contact with Killian while they’re down there. Ten tries to be nice, but Elizabeth is basically a walking example of “this is why you shouldn’t engage with bullies”. That being said, Elizabeth also kind of has a point: you shouldn’t trust people who have a long history of being backstabbing liars who lie.

Bonus chapter 4

Help her discover the satisfaction of getting even.

Might Equals Right!

Sir Zhi Chen

Bonus chapter 4 summary: Zhi tells Killian that his spy reports that Ten will go visit Dior today. Killian says that he can win Ten over if he shows up with Dior’s dog, Gingerbread, so Zhi agrees to release the dog to Killian.

Zhi goes on to say that the woman who was looking into who Killian’s mom is now was killed in battle, so he’s taken this over.

And then he continues on to say that Killian should bring Sloan with him to meet Ten. That Killian could goad Ten into getting revenge against Sloan for having murdered her.

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gabelish · 1 year

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N E O N M O O N L I G H T

R a m o s F a m i l y

Camilo Ramos

Already talked about this guy at length but he is the best. His only motivation is to keep his family safe; he has a largely negative opinion of America, despite being born here, because he has never gotten to visit Mexico, and knows he never will, because of the Alcázars. He dislikes having to speak in English as well, which he considers a cold and clinical languages (he's kinda right) and claims to only "think" in Spanish. This softens as he gets to know Xavier, who is essentially the only white boy to ever say his name right (Ca-MEE-lo; most non-Spanish speakers call him ca-MILL-o which he hates) and put in the effort to speak Spanish.

He doesn’t hold resentment for his grandfather exactly, but he does hate the fact that their family has been running from the Alcázars for three generations. He might just be brave/stupid enough to try to end his family’s problems by himself.

His father is a full-blooded Alcázar and his mother is half Alcázar, meaning he is 3/4ths Alcázar, even more than his mother, something Rafael attributes his grandson’s hatred of the U.S. to.

Marianela Ramos

Camilo's aunt, Emiliana’s half sister, and the owner of Cocina Ramos. She primarily raised Camilo while his mother struggled with addiction when he was young, and then again after she disappeared during his teens. She once told Camilo never to date "crazy white girls" which he took to heart. She never realized he would find himself the most unhinged (affectionate) white boy imaginable.

Viviana Ramos

Camilo's younger, half sister, 17. She wants to be a Spanish language poet. Aware that Camilo is being forced to work as an unlicensed doctor for the O’Shea Clann but Camilo refuses to allow her to get involved (stupid boy).

Isabel & Erica Ramos

Twins, about to turn 15; Camilo’s half-sisters and Vivana’s full sisters; neither are allowed to do much because Camilo would never put his sisters in dangerous situations.

Leon Wilkes

Married Emiliana Ramos years ago and had Viviana and the twins together. Since his wife’s disappearance he has raised the girls mostly by himself, with the help of Marianela.

Emiliana Ramos

She’s had a hard life—having Camilo with a guy she didn’t know was an Alcázar when she was 15, struggling with substance abuse, getting clean and meeting Leon and having the girls, then disappearing one night 7 years ago and hasn’t been heard from since.

Rafael Ramos

Born Rafael Vásquez, once he fled to the states when Marianela was 6 yo and Emiliana was 6 mo, he changed his last name to his mother’s. Ever since a brush with death during early childhood, Santa Muerte has given him prophetic dreams—following a vision of hers is what allowed him to escape the Alcázars. Of course, and somewhat comically, his daughters and grandchildren do not believe in his visions, thinking he is just an old man saying some weird shit. It doesn’t help that these visions are often symbolic—Camilo appearing as a common kingsnake, the Alcázars as rattlesnakes (common kingsnakes are IMMUNE to rattlesnake venom and they eat snakes), Xavier as a coyote (double meaning here with the coyote slang word and smth smth “coyotes carry you safely home”), etc. so no one except for himself ever has any idea what he’s talking about.

In a partially comedic scene, Rafael catches Camilo making out with Xavier one night and Camilo didn’t exactly expect his grandfather to say something homophobic, but he really didn’t expect him to start saying “the coyote who devours lead is finally here; does the serpiente know well enough to hold him close?” basically Rafael knows Xavier is going to literally take multiple bullets on multiple different occasions for his grandson, and he also knows his grandson has a habit of pushing people away and trying to go it alone.

the Moonlight trilogy might be primarily from the perspectives of Camilo and Xavier, but it is Rafael who gets the prologue chapter (showing him driving through the Sonora bound for San Ysidro with his daughters in the back seat), and the story is really all about the chain of events Rafael accidentally set into motion when he married an Alcázar. His whole backstory is enough to warrant its own novel so I won’t get into any more details of his past because Christ alive this man (affectionate) *chefs kisses*.

#camilo ramos #rafael ramos #marianela ramos #emiliana ramos #viviana ramos #isabel ramos #erica ramos #leon wilkes #neon moonlight #moonlight trilogy

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