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minyoongijjangjjangmanboongboong · 6 years

Text

Arranged Chapter Fourteen

Description: Y/N is a struggling student in Seoul: working multiple jobs, living in a broom closet apartment, and often sacrificing her dignity for the sake of her livelihood. What happens when a handsome stranger presents her with an offer she cannot refuse at the moment she needs it most?

Pairing: Min Yoongi x (f) Reader

Word Count: 6,752

Tags: Non-Idol!Au, Chaebol!Au, Company!Au, Arranged Marriage!Au

Warnings: Coarse language, although not frequently

A/N: Hiya! Here’s the next chapter. I think you guys will like this one! We are very rapidly approaching the end of the story which is so bittersweet for me. This story has afforded me so many opportunities and experiences I would have never had otherwise, and that’s all thanks to you guys. So truly, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for the support and love. It’s been so overwhelming in the best way. Please shoot me a message if you’d like! I love to chat with you, so don’t be shy. I should be online at around 5 PST or so! And if you have any issues, feedback, critique, questions, or anything don’t hesitate to let me know!

Also! If you didn’t already know, I’ve created a one question poll/survey to see which member I will write about next since I want to give you guys what you want! And, along with that, I am considering for the next fic only updating once a week to give myself some more time to make everything polished. How would you guys feel about that?

Here’s the poll! I’d really appreciate it if you guys took the time to vote:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YN9TDQT

–Mercury

Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three, Chapter Four, Chapter Five, Chapter Six, Chapter Seven, Chapter Eight, Chapter Nine, Chapter Ten, Chapter Eleven, Chapter Twelve, Chapter Thirteen, Chapter Fourteen, Chapter Fifteen, Chapter Sixteen (END)

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Jungkook: At least tell me why. Y/N: I already told you. Jungkook: Yeah, you told me a boldfaced lie. I wanna know why for real. Y/N: Shut up. We’re supposed to be paying attention.

I shot Jungkook a sharp look as I sat beside him at the dinner table. My father sat next to his father, the four of us settled at a white table in the Jeon’s vast dining room. He shook his head and busied himself typing again. Our fathers were speaking to each other, Mr. Jeon laughing boisterously at something my father had said through clenched teeth. I could scarcely look at either of them.

Jungkook: You don’t get to just decide we’re gonna go through with it and not tell me the real reason why.

I shut off my phone and made a show of placing the dead thing on the table between us, turning slightly to look at Jungkook. “Say, Jack what exactly are we doing here?” asked Jungkook, still looking at me with a challenging glint in his eyes.

“Well…we’re discussing what we’ll do moving forward,” said my father, furrowing his brows.

“And that is?” asked Jungkook, turning to face our fathers.

Jack raised his eyebrows and Mr. Jeon cast a warning glance at his son. “Well, uh…we’ll need you both to sign the registration document and uh…a few other things.”

“But what about Y/N’s marriage to Yoongi?” asked Jungkook.

“That was one of the things we need to discuss, Jungkook,” said his father with a pointed look.

Jungkook shrugged his shoulders and crossed his arms. “I’m sorry, but I just don’t see the point in us being here. Seems like all the decisions have already been made,” he said, smiling. I noticed then that the guy had a way of saying frustrating things with a smile, making it impossible to chastise him for it. My father shook his head. “I assure you, that’s not the case. There’s a lot we need your opinions on.”

“Our opinions?” asked Jungkook with a chuckle. “Well, if it’s just opinions I’m sure they won’t count for much.”

“Jungkook,” I hissed under my breath, shaking my head.

My father stared at me and I thought I saw a flash of…guilt? How dare he be guilty? “I’m surprised, Y/N,” he said, turning to me with a grin. “Normally, you’re so uppity about these things.”

“Jeon Jungkook,” said his father, his voice stern.

“And where’s Mom, huh? What’s she up to with all of this?” asked Jungkook.

Was he doing this to punish me for turning off my phone? For lying? I pinched his thigh beneath the table, but he easily swatted my hand away. Surely, my father wouldn’t penalize me for the actions of Jungkook…right?

“Your mother is busy meeting with other company wives for their monthly dinner,” he said. “You know that.”

“Will Mrs. Min be there? Is Mom gonna gloat?” asked Jungkook. It seemed that something long-dormant in him was beginning to sever, leading to an inevitable snap.

Mr. Jeon opened his mouth to speak, but I beat him to it.

It seemed none of us in that room were too keen on bearing witness to that snap.

“Jack, I think we need to be excused,” I said without so much as taking a glance at my father.

“But…you’ve hardly touched your dinner,” he said. “And there’s so much to discuss. Like the matter with Yoongi and-,”

“Jungkook, let’s go,” I said, grabbing his arm and yanking him to his feet.

Despite standing taller than me, he was remarkably pliable under my hands, almost like a child about to be scolded. I led us down the hallway and out into the backyard where the sunset painted his pool lilac. “What the hell?”

He rubbed his arm as I released it and shrugged. “You’re lying to me and I’m not about to let you ruin your future without at least knowing why.”

“I told you why. My dad needs your dad’s financial support. What more do you want, Kook?” I asked, scoffing. “Listen, you don’t understand. Sometimes…sometimes you have the be the responsible one. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices for-,”

“For your dad who’s never been around?” asked Jungkook with a humorless laugh. He adjusted his black button-down and rolled his eyes. “This isn’t the Y/N that I know.”

“Yeah well maybe that Y/N is gone.”

At this he paused and stared down at me with wide, startled eyes. “W-What?”

“Maybe she died. Maybe she couldn’t handle it all and she-,”

“She’s not that weak.”

I shook my head, crossing my arms. “She’s weaker than you think.”

“Then she should talk to me. I’m weak too, but maybe together we can-,”

“We can’t.”

He guided me to the grassy lawn beside his swimming pool, the two of us sitting together like we had many times before. “How do you know?”

“You know,” I said with a chuckle. “My father is an alumnus at Seoul University?” I asked, my heart aching as I thought of it. “He’s involved in universities, grad schools…middle schools.”

“What does this have to do with anything?”

“He…,” I said with a wry smile. “He’s ruthless. He may have been vulnerable when your dad met him, but he’s turned into a viper.”

“So? There are tools that kill snakes.”

“Jungkook,” I said, turning to him. His expression was soft, helpful, almost pleading. “You can’t kill a snake when it’s got someone you care about all wrapped up. You’ll end up hurting the person too.”

“He’s blackmailing you with someone?” asked Jungkook.

I shook my head. “Forget it. Just…I’m here. That’s what’s important. I…I made my choice.”

“But…don’t you deserve to be happy too?”

I ran my hands through my hair and fought the familiar tightness in my chest. “Not at the expense of someone’s livelihood.”

That night instead of going home with my father like he’d suggested, I decided to spend some time alone. Jungkook insisted I stay at his house instead, said there was no reason for me to stay with my father at such a tumultuous time, but I’d told him no. If I stayed with him, I wouldn’t be able to keep my thoughts and emotions to myself. I caught a bus eastward, much like I had before. And I got off near my old apartment, much like before. I then found my way to that park, to the swing set. Much like before.

Except that nothing could be the way it was before. I sat down and kicked lightly, swaying back and forth. The moon was obscured by clouds, tinted grey by the lights of the city below. I watched that blanket of sky, a suffocating duvet overhead, and remembered the way Yoongi had looked beneath the grey comforter on his bed. His cheeks were flushed from crying, his lashes dusting his high cheekbones as he slept. His dark hair, his cool fingertips on my arm, his slightly parted lips. I longed to see it again. I could almost feel his smooth, warm skin if I shut my eyes and tried hard enough.

But when I opened my eyes I was met again with reality. Cold, dark, lonely reality. Yoongi’s words were forever burned in my memory. Everything I touch rots. A pain began to swell in the pit of my stomach. How could he think something so tragic when he’d planted flowers in my heart from the moment we met? When he’d breathed life into my days and filled them with color? A horrible moment passed in silence as I thought of this, watching a few cars whiz past me.

And then I heard a whisper from somewhere nearby. Startled, I whipped my head about to take in my surroundings. The world was navy blue around me, but I could see no one. I looked around just long enough to feel comfortable that I was alone before turning back towards the street to continue wallowing in my own self pity.

Until I felt a sharp jerk on my shoulders and screamed. “What?” shouted Hana’s unmistakable, joyful voice through laughter from behind me.

I turned around to face her and shook my head. “What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you know not to sneak up on people? Are you crazy or something?” I asked, placing a hand on my chest to feel the hammering of my startled heart.

She laughed. “They say you’re not supposed to come up to a horse from behind or it’ll kick you.”

“Then I’m a horse! Consider me a horse!” I exclaimed, throwing my hands up.

Again she laughed and came around to join me on the swings, just like Namjoon had. “How have you been?” she asked.

My eyes widened before I cleared my throat and looked away, back to the sky. “I’m okay.”

“You’re not.”

I sucked in my breath and nodded. “I’m not.”

“Namjoon…he’s been…he’s been spying on us,” she said.

“I know.”

“I know you know,” she said with a deep, heavy sigh. “I just…I wanted you to know that I’m not going to talk to him anymore. He really, really hurt me.”

I turned to face her and nodded. “I’m so sorry.”

She smiled and tossed her dark locks over her shoulder. “Why should you be? You didn’t do anything. He’s the one who chose to help your dad.”

“But it’s my dad who hired him,” I said. “My dad who targeted you, my dad who-,” I began, but stopped. If I told her what was on the line, she would convince me to go back to Yoongi. And God knows I didn’t need much convincing to do it.

She’d be outraged if she found out. But not on her own behalf — on mine. And that was why I had to follow through with it. Because I knew, deep in my heart, she would do the same for me.

“But it wasn’t you.”

I looked at her and saw a soft comfort in her dark eyes as they bored into mine. “I’m ashamed to be related to the person who hurt you.”

She smiled and reached her hand out, clasping her fingers with mine softly. “You’d never hurt me.”

I shook my head. “Never.”

“Where are you staying tonight?” she asked.

Could she tell from my face that I had nowhere I wanted to go? That I’d exiled myself from the only place that felt like home? “I…I don’t know yet.”

“Well, I know. Stay with me tonight. You can sleep in my room and I promise I will kick you out first thing in the morning. You won’t even be freeloading. It’s…a sleepover!” she said with a laugh.

I smiled. The thought was too enticing to deny. “Okay,” I said softly as she pulled me to my feet and we began walking, talking easily, towards her house.

“Y/N!” called her mother, Mina, from the kitchen when she heard my voice. Hana lived in a modest family home in Itaewon, a stout brick building with one story belonging to them and one story overhead belonging to the Jungs. I’d only been over a handful of times, but Mina always made me feel like family. She poked her head around the corner and laughed, waving her spatula in the air, flicking her dark waves over her shoulder and revealing the fine lines around her mouth as she gave me a wide smile.

“Hello Mrs. Park,” I said with a smile.

She shooed me with her spatula and gave me a stern look. “You call me Mrs. Park one more time and I’ll hit you with this. Don’t age me!” she called as she turned back to the kitchen.

Junho, Hana’s father, peered around the wall to the kitchen at me, his white dress shirt splattered with batter. “Oh hello! Are you here for pancakes?” he asked with a grin. He was a short man, shorter than both Mina and Hana. But he made up for his height with his booming voice.

I glanced at Hana, already untying her laces, and she only shrugged. “But it’s,” I paused to consult the watch on my wrist, “It’s ten.”

“Perfect time for pancakes,” said Junho with a boisterous laugh before he too disappeared into the kitchen with his giggling wife.

Hana patted the back of my leg as she continued to struggle with her shoes. “Come on,” she said. “Take off your shoes so we can help my parents.”

I flushed and nodded, leaning down to remove my loafers and set them primly beside her tennis shoes. We walked into the home and I saw on the couch Hana’s littlest brother Dohyun watching her thirteen-year-old brother Hyungmin played Call of Duty on the TV.

“Hyun! Min! Say hi to my friend at least, you cretins!” called Hana with an exasperated sigh.

The boys turned around and gave me the barest of hellos before continuing with their game on the slouchy brown sofa. We wandered into the kitchen where Hana placed a kiss on her father’s cheek, and then her mother’s. She stretched her long arms above her head and turned to me, flashing her eyes wide to urge me into the small room. I stiffened before entering and smiled shyly as her parents gave me a few chuckles. The walls of the kitchen were outfitted in tons of photographs, some of Hana, some of Hyungmin, a few of Dohyun when he was a baby. There was one that made me look away though: a photo of Hana posing with her high school diploma next to Hyungmin holding his elementary school diploma.

I looked instead at her parents as they joked and laughed in the kitchen, Mina flipping fluffy pancakes while Junho labeled uneven scoops of batter into measuring cups and lined them up, three at a time, for Mina to grab with her messy hands.

“How can we help?” asked Hana, glancing at me with a smile.

“More flour,” said Junho as he focused on scooping the batter into his next measuring cup, this time a red 1/4 cup measurer. “Batter’s too runny.”

Mina gaped at her husband and placed a hand on her hip. “Excuse me, the batter is perfectly fine.”

“It’s runny.”

“Are you the one cooking them?” asked Mina, raising a brow.

Junho glanced at her before continuing to measure and scoop. “Whatever you say, dear.”

Mina smirked and looked over her shoulder at me. “Y/N, sweetie, could you just get some plates from the cabinet to the right of the fridge?”

I nodded and quickly attended to her request. I reached for the plates, but was distracted briefly by a few of the quotes the family had scattered about, pasted letter by letter onto the beige kitchen walls. Some from the Dalai Lama, some from Ronald Reagan, and one…

For me, being vulnerable is asking for help from other people whatever it may be. Mason Jennings.

I blinked a few times at the quote before Hana gave my shoulder a light smack and my attention was again seized by my task. I grabbed the mismatched plates and settled them beside Mina’s floury work station. She smiled her thanks and returned to flipping the last of the pancakes.

“Is that all you need? I was hoping we could at least flip a pancake or two,” said Hana with a sigh.

Mina turned to her and rolled her eyes as her daughter propped herself up onto the counter, letting her heels bounce against the bottom cabinet. “We have a good system going in here. If you want to help, then leave instead of being distracting.”

Hana gasped and looked at me. “See how cruel they are to me?” she asked me.

I raised my eyebrows and shrugged. “I mean…she has a point. At least I grabbed some plates,” I said with a mischievous smirk.

Hana pointed a manicured finger at me. “Traitor.”

“Come on,” I said, hovering in the doorway. It was clear her parents didn’t need our help. “Let’s go find someone else to bother.”

She tossed her head this way and that as if pondering it, and shrugged, hopping off the counter and trotting behind me as I led the way back into the living room where the boys were shouting at the TV.

“What do you think they’d do if I just…unplugged it?” asked Hana in a whisper beside me.

I chuckled and shook my head. “I think we would need one less plate for pancakes.”

She glanced at me before nodding and choosing instead to hop over the back of the sofa and landing in a heap between her brothers who yelled at her in protest, insisting she would ruin Hyungmin’s roll.

I smiled fondly after them.

And I told myself I would not regret my decision.

We ate pancakes together while watching Tazza, but only for an hour before the boys had to go to bed. Hana’s parents followed suit soon after, leaving Hana and I to sit in the dimly lit living room together, silence descending around us as the movie played on. I wasn’t paying much attention to the film, and was mainly focusing on not nodding off. It had only been a day since my life imploded, and it was the first day of work I’d ever skipped without calling first. I assumed Yoongi wouldn’t want to hear from me. That letter I’d left…it had settled atop the piano with the weight of finality. I was sure he expected no less.

“You and Yoongi…,” said Hana slowly, as if testing the water.

An acrid feeling filled my stomach at the mention of his name. “Yes?”

“Did you…leave?”

I turned to her. “Yes,” I said.

She furrowed her brow and huffed a sigh. “I don’t get you,” she said, then smoothed the hair out of her face and gave me a serious look. “I mean it. You say you love him and you leave. If you love him, why would you ever put something above that?”

I smiled softly. This was where our minds diverged it seemed. “Unfortunately, there are many more important things than being with the person you love. Life is fickle like that I think.”

She shrugged. “You know what bums me out?”

“Hm?”

“I liked Namjoon,” she said with a scoff. “I like…really liked him. From way before this whole thing with your dad started.”

I peeked at her as the inky glow of the TV set her soft features alight. “You did?”

She nodded. “Mhm,” she said. “Enough to give him a chance to explain himself.”

“You did that?”

“Didn’t you give Yoongi a chance to explain himself too?”

I flushed as I remembered the previous night. Of course I had… “Fair enough. Continue.”

She chuckled. “He said your father approached him after the articles came out. He must have researched the music store and found out that Joon was the owner’s son,” she said.

“Someone I would have trusted.”

“Yup. And someone who, coincidentally, was there when you and Yoongi met. One of the only people,” she said. “And he had just been offered a job at Yoongi’s company. Another convenient coincidence, said Joon.”

I nodded. “Makes enough sense.”

“He said he was in your ear for a while. Remember the day he told you to come and talk to me? The day we met at the music store and your father mysteriously popped up?” she said.

“Namjoon,” I responded with a laugh. “Of course.”

“And the time you were alone at that park, stressed out and sitting on that crusty swing set,” said Hana with a laugh. “He told me that he told you to give your dad a chance that day.”

“He told you about that?” I asked.

Hana nodded. “I gave him the time to talk, so he told me everything.”

“Oh,” I said slowly as I took in the information.

“He told me that you went there that day after meeting with your dad. He said you’d probably go there when you were feeling upset,” she said, taking a look at me.

I glanced away and rubbed the back of my neck. “Ah…yeah. I mean, I’ve kind of started to like that place. It’s quiet. And I can be alone, surrounded by familiar things. I can pretend I’m home.”

“But that’s not home for you, is it?” she asked, then laughed. “Forget I said that.”

I blushed. “Well…you’re not wrong,” I said as a thought hit me with a forceful jolt. “Wait, is that why you were at the park tonight?” I asked.

She raised her brows and looked away, back towards the movie. By then, neither one of us knew what was happening and I suspected neither one of us cared much. Hana’s slender hand raised to brush her hair over her shoulder, although it was barely long enough, and she gave a shrug. “Your phone was off when I tried to call you earlier today.”

I startled and grabbed my cell phone from my back pocket, checking to see for myself that it was indeed turned off. “That was because of Jungkook.”

She shrugged again. “I wanted to give you some time to process. Right when you found out, that’s when Joon called me and we met up. I didn’t want to bombard you right away, but I’m worried I might have waited too long…,” she said.

My eyes grew wide. “What do you mean? Too long how?”

She inhaled sharply, pulling her knees to her chest. “When I said Namjoon told me everything, I mean…everything,” she said.

Oh no. No, Hana wasn’t supposed to know. If she knew then she’d tell me not to do it. She’d make a martyr of herself. I couldn’t bear the thought of my best friend putting herself on the line just so I can date a boy I like. It was too frivolous, too selfish. But she wouldn’t meet my eyes. Instead she stared ahead, much like Yoongi had the night before.

“He told me that your father wanted to use me as blackmail, and that he’d been gathering information on me to give to him,” she said finally, slicing clean through the palpable layer of tension between us.

I crumpled. “Hana, I-,”

“And you didn’t even come to me,” she said, turning to look at me.

I shook my head at the painful expression on her face. “I didn’t want to burden you.”

“Burden me! For Christ’s sake, please burden me. We’re friends,” she said, then chuckled. “Or at least I thought we were.”

“We are, Hana! You’re one of the most precious people in my life.”

She glanced at me and nodded. “What bums me out isn’t that Namjoon lied. It’s not that I liked him and he sold my secrets to someone who wants to hurt my best friend,” she said softly against the sweet scented nighttime air. “It’s that whenever I try to be a friend to you, you push me away. It’s like…like you have this idea that you’re the only one who can fix things. Like you have to face it all alone.”

I shook my head. “Hana, that’s not it-,”

“Yes it is. Otherwise you would have told me when your dad threatened Hyungmin and me. You would have called me and talked to me about it, like a friend,” she said, looking at me with sternly set brows. “You wouldn’t have taken the burden alone.”

“But Hana, it’s not your burden,” I said, my voice pleading as I scooted closer to her.

She shook her head. “But it is. Did you even think how I would feel knowing you were choosing my future for me? I’m just as involved as you are. And so is Jungkook. And so is Yoongi. You can’t shoulder this burden alone. You have to let us help you.”

“Hana, that’s so selfish. I can’t bring you guys into it-,”

“We’re already in it!” she said with a laugh. “You can’t bring us in, Y/N. We’re here to begin with.”

I remembered suddenly what Yoongi had said. He felt like he would be wronging Eun by letting her close to him, knowing that she would only be hurt, knowing that his happiness wasn’t worth he price of hers. How naive I had been to think that he’d made a foolish choice. How naive I’d been to pity him for his sad, foolish choice. I understood him deeply, but I found a loneliness in that understanding too. A profound loneliness, the kind the pervades the skin and flesh and seeps into the very center of you.

“You can’t save everyone alone. We all need to save each other,” she said gently, taking my hand. “What made me sadder than anything, sadder than Joon and your father’s threat…what made me the saddest was that you locked yourself away in a place where I couldn’t reach you. No one can. But I want to.”

I sniffed past the tears building in my chest. God, was I sick of crying. She opened her arms wide and, without a second thought, I collapsed into them. That quote in the kitchen, the one Hana knew I would see. Her parents helping each other make pancakes, her younger brother helping the older get through tough areas of his game, her offering to help Mina and Junho…

She’d wanted me to see it all. She’d wanted me to notice how people act when they care about each other.

She wanted me to see that asking for help wasn’t a burden, but a sign of trust and love.

“You don’t have to fight the world alone,” she said against my hair as I clutched onto the back of her shirt. It had been a long, long time since I’d felt like I could depend on someone else.

I remembered that conversation Jungkook and I had had. About wanting to run to your parents when you’re young, to run to them and ask them to make it all better for you. Perhaps when we get older, we don’t need to stop searching for those pillars of strength in our lives, we don’t have to deal with the hardships alone, but rather collaborate and face the obstacles together as a stronger front.

I shook my head as I held on tighter, burying my face in her shoulder as she continued to pat my back gently. “Hana, I’m so sorry,” I whispered, my voice quaking and cracking as it hit the cool air.

She chuckled and it vibrated against my ear. “I forgive you.”

Jungkook had said he felt like he was drowning in cold water, all alone. And what has I told him to do? “I…,” I began, but paused to collect myself. “I need help,” I said quietly.

She nodded and ran her fingers through my hair softly. “I know. And we’ll figure something out together. All of us.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

“But not now. In the morning.”

“In the morning,” I repeated as we both backed away and she carefully tucked my hair behind my ears. “We’ll find a different path.”

“Together, right?” she asked, raising her brows.

I smiled slightly. For the first time in days, I felt a swell of hope in my chest instead of that bracing emptiness. “Together.”

“Is she dead?”

“No, she’s breathing.”

“But she looks dead. Look at how she’s laying there.”

“Hyungmin, Dohyun, what are you doing?”

“It’s your friend. I think she’s dead.”

“She’s not dead, you idiot.”

“Hm…maybe we should check?”

I groaned and rolled over onto my side, wincing against the voices. But before I could fall back asleep, I felt a heavy jolt, and then rough jostling on my body. Suddenly fully alert, I sat upright to find Hana, Hyungmin, and Dohyun jumping on the couch where I previously slept, bouncing beside me, smacking my legs and stomach with their wildly flying limbs.

“Ow!” I called out, scuttling to the far corner of the couch where, predictably, the kids and their ringleader bounced ever closer, closer, closer until-

“Hyun! Min! Hana!”

I turned to the kitchen to see in the doorway Mina with a steely expression, her jaw set and eyes like cool black metal as she shot each of her children a glare. “Is that any way to wake a guest?”

“We were making sure she wasn’t dead,” said Dohyun as he hopped agilely off the couch and onto his feet beside me. He gave me a grin filled with complete with a missing front tooth and laughed. “Good morning, Y/N!” he called before bouncing towards the kitchen where his mother stood, still glaring.

“Hey, I’m trying to teach them to look out for their neighbors,” said Hana with a smirk my way as she leaped over the back of the couch and squeezed between her mother and the doorframe to get into the kitchen.

“Oh yes, how could I have been so silly? Of course. You were teaching a seven-year-old and a thirteen-year-old to jump on a person if they’re dying. A valuable lesson,” said Mina with a sigh. “Min, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Hyungmin shrugged as he joined his brother and mother in front of the kitchen. “I knew she wasn’t dead.”

I chuckled as I struggled to pull my hair out of my face. I’d slept well, better than I had in a few days, and had awoken, although suddenly, filled with energy. The sun was shining brightly through the gingham curtains leading to the fenced backyard and I could feel it sitting warmly on my exposed calf. Just a little sunlight was enough to energize me.

I stretched my tight limbs and smiled at Mina. “Good morning,” I said softly to her with a slight bow.

She chuckled and patted Dohyun’s head as he trotted into the kitchen to join his sister. “You look pretty well rested.”

“All things considered,” I said, standing and stretching my hips. “I am pretty well rested.”

She smiled. “That’s a relief. Come into the kitchen, let’s get you some strawberries or something.”

I returned the smile and followed her into the cramped room, filled with two young boys fighting over a jar of brown sugar for the top of their oatmeal and one young woman eating a cold slice of pizza with wide eyes. “So what’s the plan for today?” asked Hana, chewing on a chilly piece of pepperoni.

I grinned at her as Mina handed me a carton of fresh strawberries, picking the reddest, juiciest one and popping it into my mouth. I chewed for a moment, my eyes locked with Hana’s. It had been a long, long time since I’d felt this confident. “We’re gonna go see a friend of mine.”

She raised her brows at me. I watched the cogs in her head turning as she struggled to understand what I meant. But slowly, her thoughts became clear and a smirk overtook her features. She hummed, taking another bite of pizza. “I’ve never been to a mansion before,” she said with a chuckle.

“Open up, JK,” I said, banging on the door to his game room, Hana standing behind me, scrolling through her phone with absentminded nonchalance.

“Ugh, one minute. Why the hell are you here so earl-,” he grumbled as he opened the door, then paused when he saw me. His eyes went wide. “You look…good.”

“Ew, stop flirting in front of me,” said Hana with a theatrical gag. Jungkook flashed his eyes towards her and his brows furrowed. “Who’s that?”

“That,” said Hana with a pointed look, “is Y/N’s best friend.”

I chuckled. “Her name is Hana. And we’ve got some things to talk about.”

“We do?” asked Jungkook, his gaze flashing nervously between Hana and me. I smiled and nodded my head. “Let’s go inside,” I said, pushing him backwards by the chest into the game room.

The place was darker than it usually was when the door clicked shut behind us, meaning he’d probably slept there the night before. The room smelled like pizza rolls and banana milk: an unpleasant combination. I scrunched up my nose and padded to his windows, tossing the heavy blackout curtains aside, letting the fresh morning sunlight pierce the musky darkness. Jungkook squinted against it and let out a low, displeased moan.

“God, who are you right now?” he asked. “Last time I saw you, you were mopey and talking about snakes.”

“I’ve risen from the dead,” I said, chuckling as Hana pried one of those big windows open, sweeping her hands around to guide the stale air outside. “The old Y/N is making a comeback.”

He met my eyes with strain and chuckled. “Finally,” he said. “But…does that mean you’re finally ready to fight back?”

I took a few steps towards him, scruffy in the morning light and still squinting slightly, and patted his shoulder. “Sure does.”

He smiled brightly and turned his head towards his beanbag chairs. We both collapsed into them, with Hana falling just behind. She stared at me for a moment before looking at Jungkook. “So…you’re the one in the articles,” she said.

“Those articles were taken down,” he said, pouting.

Hana smirked. “I took screenshots.”

“Delete!” he shouted, reaching across my lap to lunge for Hana’s phone. “Delete them-,”

“Down, boy,” I said, pushing Jungkook back to his beanbag. “Now is the time for scheming, not fighting.”

Jungkook grumbled and pouted as he stared ahead at the blank projector screen. “Alright. Then let’s scheme.”

I cleared my throat. “Well…Yoongi never signed our marriage documents. It’s not officially registered. And our contract was never valid without his signature. Our fathers probably know this, since they’re probably keeping updated records on us,” I began, heaving a deep sigh. “Which means…,” I hedged, giving Jungkook a smile.

His eyes lit up. “It means that if he were to sign them…,” he said.

“Then it would be official. Which means…,” I followed.

“Can you guys stop?” asked Hana with a groan. “Just say it plainly so I can understand. Jesus.”

I chuckled. “If the marriage becomes official, then there’s not a lot Jungkook’s dad can do about it besides try to get it annulled.”

“Which he can probably do,” said Jungkook with a frown. “I was following you for a second, but now you lost me.”

I nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll explain everything.”

“Then do it! God, enough with the drama,” said Hana, leaning back in her beanbag chair until she was practically one with it. “One good night of sleep and you turn into Sherlock Holmes or something.”

“If I am married to someone else before agreeing to an engagement with Jungkook, then the betrothal becomes completely void,” I said with a smirk. “It means that if Yoongi signs those papers, we’re insured.”

Jungkook shook his head. “But the document about our betrothal is already written and signed,” he said.

I nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. But Yoongi said something the other night that really interested me.”

“That being?” asked Jungkook, leaning closer to catch my every word.

“Those documents on our betrothal,” I began with a smile. The plan I’d started cooking at Yoongi’s apartment was fully baked now. “They’re private records, not public.”

“Okay?”

“Jungkook, they’re basically untraceable. There’s no way to prove that they existed and weren’t just drafted on the spot to get my marriage dissolved,” I said with a laugh.

Jungkook nodded rapidly as the pieces began to fit together. “So, it’s meaningless?”

I tilted my head to the side. “No, not entirely. If Yoongi doesn’t sign the papers, the document is still pretty powerful. It just becomes suspicious if the marriage becomes official. It makes things harder for your dad.”

“Oh,” said Jungkook. “Then why are you still smiling like a crazy person?”

I tried to wipe the knowing smirk off my face, but it felt rooted in place. Talking with Yoongi that night had been far more illuminating than I thought it would be. “Jungkook, a document needs consent from both parties to be considered legally binding.”

He nodded. “Alright. So what?”

Hana chuckled by my side. “Oh no way.”

“Remember how our fathers made us have dinner with them last night? And it felt like…I don’t know, like they had something they wanted to talk about really bad?” I asked, peering from Hana’s smiling face to Jungkook’s confused one.

“Yeah? What about it?”

“We’re legal adults Jungkook,” I said. “That document was binding when we were minors. Now in order for the document to mean anything, we both need to sign it.”

“We…we what?”

“We have all the power here, Jungkook. They just want us to think we don’t,” I said with a laugh. “They need our consent, otherwise-,”

“The document is just a piece of paper.”

“Exactly.”

“So…if we just don’t sign,” said Jungkook as a smile began spreading across his face. “Then we’re off the hook?”

“We are,” I said softly, glancing at Hana as she sat grinning at my left side. “But Hana isn’t.”

Jungkook sighed, clearly frustrated, and shook his head. “Then what do we do? We’re just as stuck as we were before.”

“Not quite,” I said, letting the sunshine dance across my skin. “By all legal standards, Jungkook, you and I aren’t betrothed,” I said. “That makes me a single woman. But if my marital status were to change…”

“There’d be nothing they could do besides try to convince you to divorce,” said Jungkook.

“Which I can’t do without Yoongi’s consent,” I said with a laugh.

Jungkook began to laugh with me, shaking his head in disbelief. “This is some complex psychological warfare bullshit,” he said.

“More complex than Overwatch?” I teased.

“God, shut up about Overwatch already,” said Jungkook with a groan. “I don’t even play it that much.”

“Were you playing it last night?” I asked.

He was silent and Hana’s flitting laugh filled up the room. “Only for a few hours,” he murmured. “Anyway, I get all of this, but I don’t really know what we’re supposed to do now.”

I grinned. “Nothing,” I said. “That’s the thing. If we keep avoiding the signing, then in theory we can stretch this out as long as we need to. Keep acting normal, pretend we’re okay with the betrothal, the whole nine yards.”

“Then that means the only thing we need now is…,” said Hana, thinking.

I felt my chest tighten as I thought of it, but before I could say a word my phone began to buzz in my back pocket. I fished it out and when I read who was calling my eyes went wide. “Yoongi,” I finished.

Hana looked at me, startled into straighter posture as she tried to crane her neck to see my phone. “Are you gonna be okay?”

I nodded. “I’ll be fine. But Jungkook,” I said, turning to him. “If I’m going to go to Yoongi, I need you to make sure our fathers don’t find out. That would ruin everything.”

“How would I do that?” he asked.

I shook my head. “That’s the only answer I don’t have,” I said, glancing tensely at my phone, still illuminated with his name. “I…I gotta answer this. Jungkook…I’m counting on you,” I said, nodding at him as I stood to my feet and rushed towards the door, Hana following close behind.

“Wait! I don’t know what to do!” he called.

I shrugged and waved my apology before jogging out the door and down the stairs. I only had a few seconds left before Yoongi’s call went to voicemail, and I wasn't sure he’d answer if I called him back. But I was certain I couldn’t answer the phone in this house. Tense, I looked around for any prying ears or eyes and saw out of the corner of my eye movement in the hallway leading to the kitchen. I saw the call coming through, and knew any second now it would be over. I had to risk it. Just as I reached the front door, I tapped the answer button and pressed the cool phone to my flushed cheek.

“Yoongi…,” I whispered.

#bts #bts fanfic #bts fanfiction #min yoongi #yoongi #suga #yoongi fanfic #bts reactions #bts au #bangtan #arranged bts fanfic #bts imagine #bts scenarios #bts reader insert

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deathberryhime · 7 years

Text

Tipping the Scales

((the unecessary AU nobody asked but still going to get)) ((I’m uploading this here as well; someone said they wanted updates here so--)) ((also in ffnet // ao3 ))

Chapter 01; starting point

She was particularly careful when she went out that morning. Barely dawn with only a few people out and about their usual business. But she didn’t worry about them. Oh no, she didn’t. She managed to flatten herself on a wall just in time for the two guards to pass.

Security had tightened significantly. Last night had been one of the worse raids they’ve had. The dragons had come with such flurry they barely made it. Between dragons one week and pirates the next, she didn’t know how they managed to stay standing. Because it wasn’t just sheep and fish they’ve kept losing; two children had been taken by the pirates last week and four people had burned in last night’s fire. It drove panic all over the island, so the Chief had taken precautions. Thus the guards. Carefully she tiptoed her way through the limited shadows, pausing only when guards came her way.

It was annoying really. Not even when the twins had burned down the storage units did they have that many guards patrolling around. The Chief had said “unknown hooligans” but everyone knew it was the Heirs’ fault. The yak-dung bomb had been Tuffnut’s signature move. She had been present in through all experimentation. Unfortunately. All the lye soap in the Archipelago couldn’t wash away the smell. Even now, three years later, she caught herself smelling of yak. And seeing as her house was near the fishing huts, it was really suspicious.

She was two steps away from the wall separating village and forest, when a hand fell on her shoulder. She screamed, turning and swinging her axe to the culprit. Two screams echoed with hers.

“What the Thor are you guys doing?!” she yelled as two matching grins appeared, “I could have killed you!”

“Hey, you’d do Dad a great favor!”

She raised a brow at them, “Why? Did you throw fish-guts in his bath again?”

Tuffnut Thorston gave her a devious smirk, “Maybe. But really, he’s overreacting. Like, really. It’s been twenty years; he should be used to us by now.” By his side, Ruffnut Thorston matched his look.

“Where’re you off? It’s way too early to walk around the village.” She blinked and her grin grew, “Or are you just coming back? Why, Astrid Hofferson, I never knew you had it in you!"

Astrid rolled her eyes as Tuffnut shot a confused look at his sister, “I’m doing training, not that, Ruff.” She huffed and shouldered her axe, “Besides, if I was, you’d be the first to know. I need my cover story to be legit.”

Tuffnut shot the two another confused look, “Dunno what you two are smirking about, but I’m loving this side of you, Astrid. Ever since you came to our side it’s been awesome.”

“Well, Ruff did promise she wouldn’t let you blow up the fishing huts anymore, so really I had no choice but to sacrifice myself.”

“Ah, so that’s why she never lets me go there unattended.”

“That and the last time you did the village had to go a winter with only yak jerky.” Ruffnut told him with a shudder, “Dad was a sourpuss all winter. Don’t wanna have that again.”

“Wasn’t my favorite winter as well, Tuff.”

Tuffnut gave a dramatic sigh, “Okay, alright. No more blowing up food units! Sheesh, you people are boring.” His twin sister chuckled as Astrid shook her head, “So, where you off to?”

“Told you, training.”

“Cool. Mind if we tag along?”

Astrid groaned, “Yes, I do. Last time you came with me I did everything but train. And Finn doesn’t want me to be rusty.”

“Ya know, your uncle could take that stick out of his ass every once in a while.”

“I think that’s really impossible. It comes with the job description.”

“Huh. Didn’t know being a general meant you have a poll in your ass.” Tuffnut said leaning at the wall.

“Yeah well, apparently being responsible for the safety of the leading family takes a lot out of fun time.”

Tuffnut gave a dramatic gasp, “That’s terrible! We’d never do that to you!”

She gave the male heir a wry grin, “I know that, Tuff. Perks of being your bodyguard!”

“Of course! But we consider you family as well.” He said with a shrug, “I mean, who else can put up with Ruff’s table manners than you?”

“Not to mention, Tuff’s sleepwalking!”

“Our yak-tipping!”

“Or our boar pit extremes.” Ruff cringed under Astrid’s glare, “Yeah, those hadn’t been our greatest moments.”

“In our defense, the mud wasn’t wet enough.”

“I almost died getting your asses out of that pit.”

Ruffnut winked and shot her a grin, “Like you said. The perks of being the Thorston Bodyguard.”

Astrid groaned and rubbed the bridge of her nose. True, ever since she became the twins’ official bodyguard at fifteen, there had never been a quiet moment in her life. Either wild boars chased her to trample her to the ground, or an angry Viking mob that had enough of yak-dunk in their baths, or a wild dragon that wanted to kill the two devils –in association her as well– for interrupting his nap. The Chief spent those days puss green, and her uncle chewing her ear off to keep the heirs in line.

Astrid sighed and turned around. They were insufferable, always fooling around and messing everything up, annoying everyone to the point coups were organized to send them off to exile, not to mention they were always the ones behind every little disaster in their monotone life. But… She threw them a look above her shoulder; I wouldn’t change them for the world.

“You should go home, and get ready. You have your own training as well.” She grinned at their groans, “I’ll come find you after training. It’s yak-tipping day, isn’t it?”

That seemed to perk them up, “Yeah, it is, isn’t it? Well let’s go, sister! The sooner we finish heir duty, the more we’ll have tipping those suckers!”

“Then lead the way, dear brother of mine!” Ruffnut said taking her brother’s elbow, “Have fun destroying trees, Hoff!” and with that the twins were off.

It took her a minute to finally move. She had to be sure they were actually gone before she jumped over the wall. As she pushed her way through the dense forest, she felt her insides twist. Guilt had been her best friend all these years. She told herself that secrecy was necessary, that lives would stay the same, and that people wouldn’t be in unnecessary danger because she couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Still, it never seemed to go away. Rather it wrapped around her and gnawed like a rabid dragon on her mind. She reached the rock formation and took a sharp left turn to a hole concealed by thick moss. You’d miss it unless you knew it was there. It was the perfect hiding spot.

It was as if walking into another world; a small cavern that led to an open space, rocks and moss creating the pretence of curved walls. The roof was open as water rained from above, creating a small waterfall and then to a lake with crystal clear waters. As if alive, the water flowed around the small space falling through a rock path creating a small river that led to the open waters. Ice stuck at the smalls of the opening, some falling through and over to the rock formations that surrounded the small lake. Ice and snow glittered from the stray sunrays that fell through the opening, but also from the sparkling amber that stuck on the walls.

The first time she had encountered this hidden cove, she had been thrilled, and soon had adopted it as her own secret space of relaxation, somewhere she could –besides her own special spot between cut up trees north of the island– get lost in her own world away from the village’s prying eyes. Ever since she graduated dragon training, it was as if she was under scrutiny; her uncle proudly pushing her for more, the Chief putting her in charge of the twins’ safety, and the village holding her up for greatness, having more and more expectations for her. That might have been her fault as well, seeing as she had scared and amazed everyone with the fact that she had fought off the dragon that had swooped her off during a raid, and then returned safe and unharmed a week later. Everyone had thought she was a ghost, or a draugr coming to kill everyone; it also didn’t help that the twins had spread rumors about her either truly being a draugr that had sneaked in to kill them all, or that she had single handedly killed every dragon that there was. Seeing as the raids had stopped for a significant amount of time then, the village had believed it.

That had been five years ago. Five years since she was taken to her death, and four years since the raids had started again with far more fervor.

It had also been five years since she had learned the truth.

Heavy steps echoed behind her and she turned with a smile, “Sorry I’m late! The twins caught me sneaking. I had to shake them off.” Astrid crouched by a boulder and pulled her pouch and axe off. Slowly, she rolled the pouch and carefully laid out the few pieces of chicken she had managed to sneak out from last night’s meal, “I brought your favorite, but it’s not much.” There was a huff and she rolled her eyes, “Well, I can always take it back.” There was a low growl as she tried to close the pouch and she grinned, “Thought so.” Another huff made her laugh. She grabbed a piece and threw it in the air. Her companion caught it easily, “I know you’ve been cooped up here, but the weather was awful and I couldn’t sneak out. It’s been so hectic lately, I can barely breathe.”

Her companion gave a low whine and came to curl around her. Smiling, Astrid passed another chicken piece, “The village is getting ready for winter –not that it’s any different than everyday seeing as it’s either snowing or raining or both. We are way up north, even for normal Viking standards.” Her companion gave her arm a nuzzle and Astrid happily nuzzled back, “There’s also this Thing happening, a Chieftain meeting, and I’ll have to attend as well.” There was a grumble and she huffed, “Well, I don’t like it either. But since Ruff and Tuff have to go, I have to go as well. It’s part of the whole Thorston Bodyguard experience!” she said rolling her eyes. Her companion cooed and pushed her arm, in return Astrid gave a scratch, “I know, I know. I have to keep the safe. Thor knows I am the single person qualified to do that. It’s just…” Then she sighed, “It’s gonna be a whole week away from here, and I don’t like leaving you all alone. The Thing is further south and the waters are full of crazy, Viking eating dragons and the people aren’t that nice either.”

Her companion blinked at her and shuffled closer, curling their body closer. Absentminded, Astrid pulled another piece of chicken, “Everyone is going to be there, it’s going to be intense.” Astrid could almost feel the raised brow –was that even possible?– her companion threw her way, “Oh, don’t look at me like that! I’m not itching to see him, either!” Astrid huffed, “He has changed you know. I’ve heard a whole lot of rumors from trader Johann. He got through his dragon training and finished with honors! Dragons run when he’s around. The Dragon Conqueror. The Pride of Berk! That’s the name he goes by now!” she growled as her companion watched her crush the tender chicken between her fingers, “Last I saw him, he was a fishbone, barely able to carry a sword! Did you know once I had to tie his axe on his hands and wrists because he was afraid to disappoint his dad? And then he goes from that to Dragon Conqueror?! How is that even possible?” She threw the crushed chicken to the pouch, “I-I heard what he did at his final test. He… He brought down a Monstrous Nightmare under a minute. A-And Johann told me he… he brought down a Night Fury right before he started dragon training.” At that her companion blinked in surprise, “It’s true. Johann might be a complete fable, but he never lies. How…” Her fingers curled on her wrist as she tried to swallow the bile in her throat.

“He was so gentle. He was kind and selfless and caring, and the only thing he wanted was to make his dad proud of him.” Her companion cooed and Astrid gave a snort, “I imagine his Daddy now is proud of his dragon murdering son.” There was a grumble and Astrid threw her hands in the air, “I literally learned a day after! And I didn’t even finish it either; you wouldn’t be here if I had!” There was a huff and Astrid rolled her eyes, “It’s been five years, you can’t still be holding it against me!” There was a low growl, “I gave you a small scratch before you took off. You literally almost took my whole arm off! I still can’t raise my left arm over my shoulder.” There was a whine and Astrid sighed, her hand closing around her friend’s face, “Don’t do that. It wasn’t your fault. I was an idiot, I tried to kill you. You were protecting yourself. I don’t hold it against you.”

And she really didn’t. It might ache during winter, and the scars over her shoulder and chest ache when it was either humid or raining –which was everyday– but she’d never hold it against her friend. It had been dark times then. Dark and far in the past, and Astrid wanted to keep them there. There was no point thinking them over. If she did, she’d missed all that is to pass, as another friend had told her once.

“But he… He has no excuse.” She didn’t really expect him to stay gentle and naïve all his life, that was a bit too good and optimistic, but she hadn’t expected this. Truth to be told, she thought she would have been the one that had the fame and reputation of the best killer of the Archipelago. She wasn’t jealous, far from it. After that raid her life had took such a turn she couldn’t see herself as a dragon killer. She took a look at her companion –her best friend, and smiled. Beautiful blue scales glittered and shone over her large body; a crown of pale horns gave her a regal look and spines over her back and down her colorful spiked tail, sprinkled with lighter blues and golds. A soft underbelly and two muscled legs she stood proud on with hawk like claws. Her friend shook her body –her neck straining up giving her a peak of the pale scar on her neck– and ruffled her wings sprinkled with rings of blue and red. She was a beauty; even by Deadly Nadder standards, she was beautiful. And she knew it.

Astrid laughed and leaned back at the warm body, raising the last pieces of chicken for her friend to eat. Stormfly was vain, proud, regal, took no shit from anyone –dragon or Viking– and loyal to a fault. Whenever she looked at the dragon it was as if looking at her reflection. She smirked when the dragon started preening; well, she wasn’t that vain… She started laughing when Stormfly picked up her braid, loosening some locks and tightening others. She had a lot of practice over the years, and now she knew how Astrid liked her braids. Sometimes she’d tie her braid a bit too tight –usually during training– only to have the dragon stop her to fix her braid. It had always fascinated Astrid how Stormfly could use her beak and not chop her braid in half or tear her hair out. Gracefulness was something else the two shared.

“Are you done?” Stormfly gave her a huff, “Well, you wanted to go for a flight, but if you just wanna hang out here–” she was up and trilling before she could finish. Astrid chuckled and reached over the boulder, pulling furs and belts that gently she weaved around Stormfly’s back. She tied the belts tightly around her friend, and moved to tie her pouch and axe on the back. Then with a leap she was on Stormfly and out of the cove in seconds.

Stormfly was enthusiastic. The thrill of being out from the cove and up into the fresh air taking over, making her shake and fly with great speed. Astrid clutched at the belts as Stormfly did a loop and barrel rolled higher. Astrid laughed and Stormfly clicked and trilled. They weaved through the clouds, droplets catching on her fingers as the air froze her face. She loved this feeling; freedom. She always felt as if nothing could stop her up in the clouds, flying with Stormfly as high and as fast as they could; she felt as if she was born to be up there. She had become addicted now. She was sure she couldn’t live without this in her life. Astrid looked at her friend’s bobbing head; she was more than sure she couldn’t live without Stormfly. They were one the same. Stormfly completed Astrid, and Astrid completed Stormfly. She felt as if she’d found her own soulmate when she had stared into her gleaming gold eyes five years ago.

Stormfly keened and everything flipped. She folded her wings and Astrid took it as a cue to tighten her grip on the belts holding her secure. They started to drop, ripping through the air and clouds. The ocean came towards them in astonishing speed and Astrid screamed and laughed when her eyes squinted from the air, right before Stormfly opened her wings bringing them to a glide right above the freezing waters. Stormfly trilled and croaked in excitement and Astrid laughed and straightened in her seat, spreading her arms and breathing in. Clicking her tongue, Astrid tighten her thighs around Stormfly’s back, as her friend spread her wings and rushed into the skies again.

Oh yeah, she was born for this.

It was well into noon when she came back to the village. A few people greeted her with a wave, while others threw her looks of pride. The small ones looked at her as if seeing a hero of an Edda. She forced a smile on her face, greeting the villagers back, and hoping it didn’t feel as awkward as she felt. As fast as she could she made a beeline for the docks.

“There ya are! I was afraid a dragon swooped ya up again!” Her aunt smiled just as she stepped on the docks.

Astrid forced another smile, “Well, that would have been unfortunate.”

Her aunt whipped her hands on her apron and laughed, “Unfortunate dragon! It would have ta carry ya all over to its nest!” she gave Astrid’s stomach a poke, “With the way ya been eating lately, I pity it already!”

Her aunt must be the single most observant person in the whole Archipelago. Then again, she managed once to sniff out her uncle’s pipe even before he started smocking again, Astrid shouldn’t be too surprised she would notice about the food. She was the one cooking it after all.

“Shouldn’t you be at the Hall? What are you still doing here?”

Ingrid frowned at her niece, “The fish hadn’t been enough for the stew today.” Then she raised a brow, “Something that ya promised doing yesterday, if I recall correctly.”

Astrid barely stopped her cringe, “Training took a little more than I expected.”

Her aunt stepped forward and took her hands to inspect them. Rough fingers, blisters and welts created by gripping the leather belts a little too tight had made her hands raw and red. With any luck, her aunt would think she’d been arms deep with axe throwing training.

“I’ll have ta talk ta Finn. This is going ta destroy your hands if ya continue like this.” She reached into her apron and pulled out a closed cup, unscrewed it and gently rubbed the ointment on the welts of her palm.

“He’s not going to budge. And he’s right. With winter coming I’ll rarely have time to train or practice, and with the Thing a week away, I’ll doubt I’ll even sleep.”

The frown on Ingrid’s face pulled the wrinkles around her eyes, “He could cut back the hours. It cuts into your other duties, sweetie.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be alright. I’m a Hofferson after all!”

She saw right through her smile, “I’ll still talk ta him. Now! Help me with this basket! Have ya eaten yet? It’s lunch time, so let’s go ta the Hall and I’ll give ya a hefty bowl! Perks of having the official cook as your aunt!”

The rest of the day had been a blur after that.

A nice broth had been served and she had eaten at the company of the twins that had sauntered in groaning and moaning about boring lessons and logistics. Then, they promptly dragged her over the village, mischievously pranking everyone –with the exception of their own mother of course, that woman was lethal when angered– and then she had followed the Heirs all over the Cliffside where the yak-tipping commenced. Twenty yaks and many curses and screams from the herder later, they had gone back to the Hall for dinner. After a small food fight she had to break before the glaring elders came over and teared them a new one, the conversation slipped towards the preparation for the Thing.

“Dad said we’ll take four ships. Two for us and two for what we’ll drag along.”

Astrid frowned at that, “Two ships for provisions? That seems a bit extreme.”

“A nah, it’s not provisions for us. More like gifts for the Meatheads.” Ruffnut said sucking on her spoon, “Dad said that some barrels are for the treaty, while the rest are for the rest of the chieftains.”

“Have they told you what the Thing is going to be?”

“Nope. Dad doesn’t really tell us until before we reach land. Must be because of that one time, I suppose.”

“You literally jumped into the waters and swam back home, Tuff.”

“It was logistics, Hofferson. I hate logistics, I hate numbers. Why did we even invent them in the first place?”

“There, there.” Ruffnut said rubbing her brother’s back. Astrid raised a brow while Ruffnut grinned, “Easy bro. Here, have a small break to ease the tension.” Then she promptly slammed his head in the table. Several people looked over and Astrid rolled her eyes when Tuffnut stood back up grinning and asking for more, “But back to the point. Dad will tell us when we reach Meathead Isles. But if I had to guess, it’ll probably be about that.”

“Oh, yeah. That.”

“That?” Astrid asked.

“Yeah, that.”

“And what’s that?” she asked folding her arms.

“Can’t tell ya, sorry.” Tuffnut said before Ruffnut cuffed his head.

“But because it’s you, we’ll tell you.” She said leaning closer to Astrid, “It had been a slight matter that had caused an uproar during the Thing last winter. The Bogs brought it up and there was a fist fight right after and it was so awesome.”

Astrid rolled her eyes at her giddy friend, “Ruff, to the point.”

“Right. So you know how the Bogs are like these wild pirate Valkyries or something, and have sailed all over the Archipelago. Well, last time they did, they saw a flock of dragons.”

“A flock of dragons flying over the Barbaric Archipelago, which is known for being nose deep infested with Viking eating dragons for three-hundred years? Wow, who would have known.” Astrid deadpanned.

“Yeah, that’s what everyone said at first. But then it wasn’t just the usual flock that ups and raids and leaves. The dragons were flying in formation.” At that Astrid frowned in her seat; she didn’t like where this was going, “But that wasn’t what created the brawl. The Bogs said that there were people riding them.”

Oh yes, Astrid didn’t like this at all.

“That’s yakshit.” Astrid said and prayed to Odin they wouldn’t notice her trembling hands, “That’s impossible. No one can tame a dragon, more so ride one.”

“And that’s what everyone started saying and then the brawl begun.”

Astrid frowned, her mind racing as she thought it over, “Have there been any other reports like that?”

“Yeah.” Tuffnut said, “Dad had a few scrolls sent over that we stole. Said there were dragons flying in formation all over south. Bogs, Meathead, Uglythugs, even Berk had sent a scroll. Their fishermen had seen four dragons flying west of Berk.”

“Did they identify the species?” she knew she was asking many questions and by the way Ruffnut’s eyes narrowed slightly Astrid knew she was cutting it short. The twins might be idiotic at times, but they weren’t by all means stupid, “If we identify the species, we can calculate and set a perimeter on where the dragons will go to feed, the habitat, and which island they might frequent.”

“Doubt that would work though. They have riders. They could go anywhere.”

“Not quite.” She said to Ruffnut, “Dragon lovers put their dragon’s needs first. It is possible I’m wrong, but there are islands that are native to dragon species, so they could go there.”

“How do you know that?” Tuffnut said impressed and Astrid rolled her eyes.

“It’s literally the first chapter of the Dragon Manual.”

“Never read the first chapter. Went right into the dragons that can do the most damage.”

Ignoring her brother, Ruffnut answered, “It didn’t say. But there could have been more scrolls. Dad caught us and we had to scram.” Then she scratched her chin, “If that’s what they’ll talk again, I’ll mention it.”

“Just don’t say I was the one that thought of it. Not only you will get into trouble, but you’ll discredit the Chief’s confidence. Plus, it’s time you started showing off those big brains of yours.” Both twins lurched at that.

“How dare you say we are smart! I thought you were our friend!”

“Tuff, I will punch your teeth out.” Astrid said rolling her eyes, “You guys plan your pranks with such details it’s literally terrifying when it works. That takes brains, and I know you both just don’t want to show it because that would mean more duties and meetings.” At their glares she raised a brow, “And I know for a fact that you already have fixed up a trap, Tuff, and probably which route the dragon riders are mostly taking, Ruff.”

There was a moment of silence, before they both groaned and slumped on the table.

“Last report said they were seen on Meathead waters. But they’ve been using the Bog-Burglars’ routes a lot, so my next best guess would be…” Ruffnut paused only for a second, “Breakneck Bog.” she said into the wood.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if we caught and had them help us catch and tame the dragons? Can you imagine what we could do on the back of dragons?” Tuffnut whispered at them as he continued crying and mumbling about epic explosions and extreme dragon riding.

Astrid smiled at the twins before bidding them good night and leaving them at their own thoughts. She had her own to focus about. She reached her house and went straight to bed. It helped that no one was home yet; she couldn’t deal with her uncle asking about her training routine when she had more pressing matters to worry about.

Dragon Riders.

Not even one, but four if what Tuffnut had said was true. Four dragon riders; Astrid shuddered. How was it possible? How had they managed to do it? Did someone help them? Very doubtful seeing as she only knew one other person capable of riding a dragon yet avoided Vikings like Odin’s scourge. But the Archipelago wasn’t alone in the world. Further south there were lands where people fought, captured and locked dragons in castles and dungeons, and eastern lands held tales of dragons living in peace among people who held them in high and well respected positions. Maybe, they were people from the east. Maybe people that learned of their recent dragon raiding problem and wanted to help.

A flash of black hair, dark pelts and a mad grin came in her mind. Astrid shivered. There had been rumors. Her friend up north had told her of ships with black sails and vast armies knee deep in blood. Of a cruel man that led people and dragons to war. An old tale came in her mind as well, one her uncle Finn had told her when she first became the twins’ bodyguard. They had been sitting by the fire, drinking mead, and her uncle had spoken of the man that still haunted both his and their Chief’s dreams.

“He had come from the shadows and demanded they bend the knee. When refused, fire rained from above, taking form of steel clad dragons.”

He said he didn’t remember much from that night. He had gotten badly hurt rescuing their Chief along with another one; a flaming pole falling on his back melting armor and searing clothes and flesh. Uncle Finn had shown her the nasty scar that took his entire back. A reminder, he had told her, to never underestimate your opponents and always be ready for everything, even the impossible. The story had been carved in her mind giving nightmares she was too proud to confess. The Hoffersons were a proud and fearless clan; that’s what her uncle had always told her. But everyone had monsters. Her uncle’s had been that man. Hers had been that tale and its reality; and now, those Dragon Riders.

Astrid bit her lip. She had so many questions, but it would be too cruel to ask her uncle to revisit his past scars; she knew he still had terrors and that his scar still ached when something reminded him of that night. No, she’d stir clear of her uncle. He didn’t have to know. And he shouldn’t. Not ever.

Drago Bludvist.

She’d ride north bright and early tomorrow. She had questions, and only one person could answer. So she’d go to her friend to talk about the Riders and if she should approach them. They would have to also talk about the fact that maybe they weren’t all that friendly. That maybe that man was finally on the move, making his promise real to take the Archipelago for his own.

And just maybe that they should prepare for war.

#this is long #so damn long #tipping the scales #fanfiction #ffnet #ao3 #httyd #astrid #stormfly #slowburn hiccstrid #berry writes #berry writes fanfiction #httyd2 #au #alternate universe #dragon riders!au

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topimagines · 7 years

Text

Couples challenge Part 1

You were a Youtuber before you met Josh and Tyler. Your channel was a little bit of a lot. You did makeup, DIYs, challenges, and covers of your favorite songs. One of the songs being Truce by twenty one pilots. 3 years ago just after posting the video your twitter blew up with your fans saying that Tyler Joseph tweeted a link to your video. You looked in your twitter inbox to see that Tyler and you guys became friends. Fast forward 3 years to where you are now. In your apartment with your boyfriend Josh of 2 and ½ years and your best friends Jenna and Tyler. You were setting up your camera in your living room to make a couples tag with them. Earlier that day you tweeted you fans asking them to ask you guys some questions. You each chose 3 to answer. You: “What’s up guys. It’s me Y/N and as you can tell I’m not in my normal filming area. Yes that’s because today I’ll be making the very requested video. The couples challenge.” with that Josh, Tyler, and Jenna sat down with you on the big couch. “Thanks for doing this guys, my viewer really wanted to see this.” Josh: “No problem Y/N anything for you.” You: “I was saying thanks to Jenna and Tyler babe. You were doing this with me no matter what.” Tyler and Jenna laughed at you sass while Josh put on an offended face and them kissed you. You: “Okay so here’s what we’re doing. Everyone has 3 questions they picked off of twitter that you guys wanted to know about our friendships and relationships. Once this video is up I’ll be posting a twitter poll and you can go and vote on who’s your favorite couple. If Josh and I win then Tyler and Jenna have to get a tattoo of Josh and I’s choice and vise versa. So what do you say we get started? Jenna let’s start with you question first.” Jenna: “Okay so my question is were Jenna and Y/N fans of twenty one pilots before meeting them or did they not know who they were? Well I can say for myself that I didn’t know who they were but once I heard them they were amazing and I fell in love with the music and Tyler.” You: “Well I heard of a few of their songs through a friend, but I wasn’t a fan at first. Don’t get me wrong the music was and is great I just wasn’t into it right away. But then I did the cover to Truce and Tyler reached out to me saying he wanted to meet me, now look where we are.” You answered the question with a huge smile on your face thinking back to how your friendship with the 3 of them was the best thing ever. Tyler: “Well I couldn’t help but meet you. Your voice was so amazing, plus Josh couldn’t get his eyes off of the video of you. I even caught him in his bunk watching all of your videos. He was your biggest fan.” Josh began to blush slightly. Tyler: “Okay my question was how do all of you get along on such a small bus for months at a time? Honestly we’re like best friends. We only ever really fight about if we should get Taco Bell or Chipotle.” We all laughed realizing how true it was. Josh: “this question was interesting. What is your favorite song of twenty one pilots’ does live? Mine is probably trees because I love getting to interact with the people in the pit at our shows. Y/N has never told me what her favorite one is so that’s why I chose this question.” You: “I honestly can’t really choose but I really like Holding on to you because i know every word to that one.” Tyler: “She's not kidding, I think she knows it better than me. My favorite is constantly changing but I’m not really looking to get a tattoo that Y/N and Josh pick out so I'm going to say Tear in my Heart because I wrote if for Jenna. Because we're the better couple. Vote for us.” Jenna: “My favorite is truce because it reminds me of what brought Y/N here in the first place.” You smiled towards her. She was so sweet and you guys were like sisters. You: “Next question is when are Josh and Y/N getting married?” You looked at Josh who smiled and then looked into the camera again. Josh: “Well since everyone is asking I think it’s time we tell them…… we’re not getting married yet. Not until Tyler and Jenna have a baby.” Jenna: “Woah slow down there Josh we just got married not even 3 months ago. My next question is kind of personal but I couldn’t stop laughing at it. Y/N and Jenna what were your thoughts when you saw your your men pantless in front of people at the Grammy’s. I didn’t know it was even happening until I heard Tyler unzipping his pants as nominations were being called and when they were up there Y/N and I kept laughing at them and people’s reaction to them” You: “yeah I had no idea about it until Josh was stumbling to get the pants off in the aisle. Jenna and I were trying so hard to pay attention to the speech but it was way to hard to focus on the words when all I could see what Tyler’s name on my boyfriend’s leg.” Josh: “I kept looking at Y/N and she was practically falling out of her seat ad later her grandmother called to congratulate us and asked about my tattoo.” You all laughed looking back on that night. It was the best night you had in a long time with the 3 of them. Tyler: “Who has Josh and I met that has made you jealous?” You: “Easy Brendon Urie. I’ve love him for so long and when me and Josh started dating he sent me pictures of them hanging out to rub it in my face and I’ve hated Josh ever since then.” You lightly punched Josh in the arm while you joked around. Jenna: “Tyler met Y/N before I got to meet her, that made me kind of jealous because I watched her before they even knew about her.” Josh: “Have you ever read any fanfiction about twenty one pilots? I mean since me and Tyler write most of it yes.” Josh and Tyler joked “No seriously I haven’t, because it scares me what fans actually think were like when we’re not performing.” Tyler: “I agree some people can go pretty crazy while writing them and some people have a talent for writing so I’m not judging them but seriously calm down guys.” Jenna: “Oh yeah you guys definitely don’t want to read it. It gets pretty intense sometimes. Y/N and I read it sometimes while we’re at home and you’re on tour. Some of them make you want to cry and others are just psychotic.” You: “What is one thing you hate that me and Jenna do while we’re on tour with you?” Josh: “Not that I hate that you two get along so well but you guys hang out more than you hang out with us sometimes.” Tyler: “True. Sometimes I think you stole my girl from me Y/N.” You: “Well it’s out now me and Jenna are leaving you for each other bye.” You and Jenna both stood from the couch for a second before sitting back down and laughing with Tyler and Josh. Jenna: “If you had to describe your girlfriend/boyfriend in one word what would it be?” Tyler: “Dime-piece wife.” Jenna: “Tyler that’s more than one word.” Tyler: “Not if you say it fast.” You laughed at the two quietly as you thought about how to describe Josh. Jenna: “Tyler is adorable, he’s like a little kid. That’s another reason we can’t have kids right now. I have to raise Tyler first. Y/N what about Josh?” You: “Oh god, in one word i have to describe this man.This is tough. How do you describe something you love so much in just one word. I guess Josh is Jishwa. It’s a term not many know the definition to. It means hot, kind, loving, funny, and you have to be Joshua William Dun in order to be called a Jishwa.” Josh: “Well Y/N is hilarious. She just exaggerated her response to try to persuade you guys in picking us as the better couple.” Tyler: “So my last question is would you ever have Y/N join you to sing on stage? I’ve offered once before but she said if I ever made her do it she would skin me alive. That’s gone side of her you guys never see. She can be really intimidating, I know she was kidding but still she scares me sometimes.” Josh and Jenna were laughing and you glared at Tyler. Josh: “It’s good to know that my girlfriend scares people. Okay this question was good if your house was on fire and you could only grab 3 things what would they be? I would grab Y/N, because she’s always with me, Tyler if he’s in my house, and Jenna if she was there too. But if they weren’t there it would be Y/N, Y/N’s camera, and her tripod. She couldn’t live without making videos.” You: “Good choices. I would grab my blanket, Josh’s drums which would be unrealistic but I’m still trying to win you guys over for that vote, and probably a box of cereal because Josh and I are always hungry.” Jenna: “I would grab realistic stuff like my phone, shoes, and a jacket.” Tyler: “my ukulele, Jenna, and my piano.” You: “This is the last question for this video are you ready? What is your favorite thing on tour to do with everyone? After concerts we get food a lot of the times from these amazing places that fans recommended to us.” Tyler: “I like the show.” Josh: “Wow Tyler. I like being able to hang out with Y/N all the time. Especially when she gets hyper and just wants to be like a kid and run around.” Jenna: “She gets that way sometimes. It’s like someone give her too much sugar and she can run a marathon. I like when Y/N and I get to go shopping and have time away from these annoying people.” She gestured towards Josh and Tyler. You: “Okay that’s it for today. I’ll post the poll on twitter for you to vote once I post this video. Thanks for watching and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and leave a comment down below. I’ll see you all next time. BYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.” With that you stopped the camera from filming. “Well who do you think is going to win?”Jenna asked. “I don’t know. I mean they love you and Tyler but then everyone love Josh. I guess we’ll have to see. I’m going to start editing the video tonight so it will be up tomorrow. May the best couple win.”

#josh dun imagine #tyler joseph #jenna joseph #twenty one pilots #top #twenty one pilots imagine

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