#they fought for what they believed in their souls was the truth

[frevandrest]

Understanding 18th Century

There's a prevailing problem I've noticed in interpreting frev: people not really understanding that this was 18th century. Oh, they understand it on an intellectual level, but they still apply today's worldview to it. And you can't do that if you wish to understand wtf was going on.

(This is not about anyone here nor a shade at anyone in particular. Just a trend I've noticed, especially in bad takes).

All historical periods have this problem where people interpret things from the point of view of our own time. So that's hardly special about frev and 18c. But a tricky part is that 18c saw the development of things that we still use today (constitutions, voting system, etc.) that it may seem like it's more similar to our world than it actually was.

For example. The voting system. They had it and so do we. Except they were assholes who didn't allow women to vote. (Which is fair criticism, but people often forget that not all men had the right to vote either - so any criticism of exclusion should take that into account. Was it really about women per se, or about their ideas on who can and cannot make a free and rational vote? What is that they saw wrong about women and certain men voting? - Their attitude sure sucks, but if we ask these questions we understand better what was going on vs just going "sexist men", which only explains part of the issue). Or: journalism. They had political slander and so do we. But uuugh, their slander was so openly personal and often ridiculed someone's looks/sexual practices in supposedly serious political attacks - wtf was that? Or: trials. Of course we all know how trials are supposed to be done and what kind of arguments/evidence they should include. The fact they focused so much on character slander is incorrect and ridiculous, and...

Stop. Instead of assuming that they "did it incorrectly", think about: 1) how we do these things today is a product of decades/centuries of development; they didn't have that. They were only inventing it for the first time. 2) They did stuff according to their cultural beliefs. If they focused so much on character assassination as an argument, it means it was significant for their worldview.

You might not like it (and fair enough) but it's not possible to understand what was going on unless we understand how they thought and what they knew and what their worldview was. Which is not easy. It's not simply about knowing the state of scientific thought or what they believed about the world. Understanding how this affected the way they thought and how they interpreted things, or how they build meaning and conclusions - none of that is easy. But we have to question our assumptions, even if we're unable to see things from their pov. Because that's the only way not to arrive at wrong conclusions.

Similarly, many terms what they used had a different meaning to how they are used today (or, at least, they were understood in ways dissimilar to how we use them). Concepts such as despotism, tyranny, dictator, terror; also some seemingly easy to understand terms like "being a moderate" or even "patriotism". If we assume 18th century people used them in the same way that we do, we won't be able to understand wtf they are talking about.

#this is not about 18c or frev specifically #but it's a good example #many bad takes about frev include this lack of understanding #coupled with interpreting past with present #and it's bad #and hey it's not just about frev #royalism too #like i am not a fan of louis or marie antoinette but their actions too have to be interpreted from 18th century worldview #like of course they did stuff that they did #they fought for what they believed in their souls was the truth #natural hierarchies aming humans and the monarch's right to rule etc. #and many of people - not just rich and powerful- also believed that #i don't think any of that is good but it was a worldview they operated under #so to understand their actions we need to know that #or anyone's action #not to excuse it but to understand wtf was going on #because applying our understanding cannot explain it #frev #french revolution

[battlekidx2]

I want to elaborate even further on why I think Alastor’s breakdown in the finale was (at least in part) motivated by the fact that he has come to care about the people at the hotel. A few people have responded to me saying they don't believe he actually cares or asking me about my opinions on certain counterarguments against the interpretation that he cares and I figured it would be easier to just make one post in response. (this is just meant to expand on my thoughts. You don't have to agree. That's half the fun of media interpretation.)

The consistent throughline I keep being told is that his breakdown was purely motivated by pride and loss of control and I do think these were massive parts of the breakdown.

Alastor is very aware of the fact that the situation around him is spiraling out of his control. That the notoriety he had cultivated as an unchallengeable overlord is crumbling. His time away allowed the fear he sowed to dull. He keeps coming face to face with beings that rival or surpass his strength. People who wouldn’t dare question him before are banging on his door. His foothold in the world isn’t secure like it once was and that has him reeling.

Alastor's pride is a driving factor in his actions, but, like I said in my last analysis, I think this is only part of it. I think this breakdown is motivated by the fact that he feels like he’s losing control of himself on top of the situation around him.

I'm going to start with the points/questions I've been asked first then expand on my thoughts after.

The first one I was asked about is the interpretation that Alastor was mocking the very idea that he would sacrifice himself for someone else when he says "Great Alastor, altruist, died for his friends." and I think that would work if it wasn't for the visuals paired with this line.

He literally looks like THIS when he is speaking the line. This isn’t the face of someone mocking the very idea that he would do this.

It was actually this shot that convinced me there was some truth to the words he was saying because it looks like he’s beginning to have a breakdown over the fact that this is almost exactly what happened.

The second one that I was asked about was the idea that he was forced to fight and protect Charlie by whoever owns his soul. But if he was forced to fight in this battle due to his contract why not describe it this way when alone? How could he even leave if he was forced to fight and protect the hotel? I doubt there was a caveat that he could leave the fight if he was seriously injured if he was ordered to fight and protect Charlie and the hotel.

I do think he's at the hotel because of whoever owns his soul, but I don't think it's why he fought or why he helped Charlie get Cannibal Town to aid them through his connection to Rosie.

And the last one that I was asked about was the idea that the demons had to be fighting for love like Carmilla said to Vaggie to defeat the angels and the reason Alastor didn't win was because he was fighting purely for his own interests. Freedom, power, and control.

And, while I think the base idea of this is really interesting (This is a genuinely cool idea!) and could challenge Alastor's more selfish motivations, the show itself doesn't really back this up.

Charlie is the literal embodiment of fighting to protect those she cares about-- she has the biggest heart out of anyone at the hotel-- and yet she doesn't defeat anyone in this battle.

Before she faces Adam all she uses is a shield to protect herself and the other residents. She apologizes to those she hits, while Vaggie finishes them off. When she does face Adam she doesn't beat him. She gets in a good hit, but she isn't able to finish him off. She would have been killed if Lucifer didn't step in.

Plus, Alastor's shield killed multiple exorcists before Adam destroyed it, so I don't think this means he hasn't grown to care about the residents of the hotel or that there wasn't some part of him that was fighting to protect them.

Now to expand on my own thoughts now that I've answered the questions I've gotten, it's not just the final battle/fallout that brought me to believe he had come to care about the hotel and its residents.

The show itself seems to want us to think he is starting to grow “accustomed” (In Alastor’s words to Niffty) to the group with little moments that are played straight like when he sends Mimzy (possibly his oldest friend) away, telling her she can stay if she truly wants to try for redemption, but if she just wants to put the hotel in danger then she has to leave.

When he says he believes in Charlie and wants to mentor her in cannibal town. He even gives her his microphone which is a literal extension of himself to help her.

When he talks to Niffty (who he is clearly fond of) and admits he finds the group enjoyable to be around. He says he could grow accustomed to them after Niffty says she really likes them almost in agreement with her.

There is no sinister undertone or hint of the usual facade Alastor puts on in these scenes.

Like I said above I don't think that the fact that Alastor has come to care about the residents is the only factor in his breakdown or the only reason he fought in the first place (Alastor's blatant overconfidence in his fight against Adam makes it clear pride was a factor. That overconfidence is why he lost that battle). It's a combination of multiple things (his pride, loss of control, desire for freedom, etc), but I do think it's a valid reading that it was a part of it considering all the information the show has given us.

This isn't to say I think Alastor is going to melt and be a team player for the hotel from now on. In fact, I think he's going to lash out against this internal change.

Alastor has always put himself first and in the finale he almost died trying to protect this hotel and it's rattled him. It's challenged his entire self-perception. He doesn’t like that it’s being challenged. That he’s losing control of himself on top of the situation around him. So, he doubles down on his initial goals.

I think this internal conflict is fascinating. I wouldn't have written so much about it if I didn't. I genuinely can't wait to see what they do with it in season 2.

If you feel differently feel free to send an ask, message, or respond to this post. I'd love to hear what other people think! Differing views and connections to characters is what makes media so impactful and fun to consume.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel alastor #alastor #radio demon #alastor hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel spoilers #i really loved this show #I think Alastor is such a fascinating character #this is just a response #I hope this opens a discussion #I like hearing how other people interpreted things #this is just my view of things

[sugar-grigri]

How about an analysis of Dunmeshi's latest episode?

What I find really interesting, and episode 17 made me realize it, is the extent to which Laios and Shuro are the opposite of what they portray, even worse: the image they might portray is actually that of the other.

Let me explain :

How does Shuro see Laios ? As someone stubborn and thoughtless, disconnected from reality to the point of using black magic to resurrect his little sister.

We know that Shuro would have made the same choice, which shows that even if he tries to deny it, there is a point of connection between them.

The key to these similarities and differences is Falin.

What Shuro loves about Falin is the tenderness in her every gesture, her compassion and understanding of every creature, and her smile.

When he sees this monster kill in cold blood, he realizes the extent to which he has lost his loved one, which is why he chooses to kill her to free his soul, thinking he has lost her.

But what Shuro doesn't realize is that he's exactly what he's blaming Laios for: he's stubborn and reckless, not realizing the danger and sacrifices his teammates are making for the sake of this mission.

He's also disconnected from reality, not caring about himself, his hunger or his fatigue.

Above all, and this is very interesting, Laios had said that he hadn't perceived that Shuro couldn't stand him because he was so happy to have him as a friend, that he hadn't detected any of these signals.

Shuro shares this blindness

Shuro repeats that this monster is not Falin, yet he sees her as such, to the point of embarrassment when the monster removes her blouse.

And that's the opposite of Laios, who sees his sister as the monster she is

Like the chimera Falin has become, he sees his little sister calling him and this super-cool monster.

He's the one with his feet firmly on the ground, he's the one who really cares about his team, taking care of himself and those around him through balanced meals.

The one who understands that Falin has many vital points, rather than allowing himself to be overwhelmed by despair, is Laios.

So when Shuro hits Laios, in reality he's not hitting a man who differs from him, he's hitting his own flaws, and his own failure in the situation.

This failure he projects onto Laios, a man brimming with flaws.

Not only does Laios reason with him, but if Shuro ends up taking the wiser path, it's also because he's literally fought against himself.

But it all goes even further!

Shuro realized his feelings, or rather how unique Falin was in her tenderness and altruism, towards every being, even the smallest.

But what set this whole cycle in motion was Falin's self-sacrifice, her own death.

Laios and Marcille are responsible for what follows, but they are not responsible for everything, as Shuro tries to believe.

Shuro refuses the truth

So he doesn't see Falin

He couldn't accept that her tenderness had led to his death

Nor that her tenderness gave way to extreme coldness and indifference

He won't accept his own blindness

So he hits Laios and his extreme sincerity that irritates him so much

Shuro can't see anything in the darkness of this dungeon, he's the one who's lost his footing so he has to get back up again

Laios has accepted to see everything, even the unavowable, the forbidden, the pain.

What Shuro sees in Falin is love

In Laios, what he sees is the truth

In reality, Laios has only told part of the truth; he is the other half.

But if he goes back up, it's not to abandon Falin, Shuro has to face reality, the truth, that Laios was the only one who could save his beloved. It was by fighting that he finally put his trust in Laios. And finally became a friend

#dunmeshi anime #dunmeshi #dungeon meshi #delicous in dungeon #dunmeshi ep 17 #dungeon meshi 17 #episode 17 #shuro #laios dungeon meshi #falin dungeon meshi #marcille donato #falin touden #laios touden #chilchuck #analysis #dunmeshi analysis #dungeon meshi chapter 35 #dungeon meshi chapter 36 #dungeon meshi chapter 37

[deliciousbasementtrash]

Playing Nurse for the Batfam

Summary: you are a nurse working for Gotham General Hospital. On your way home from work, you encounter an injured superhero. You have seen his secret identity. Now what will he do about it?

Pairing: Slowburn Jason Todd x reader, (maybe a why choose with Dick Grayson as well?? Idk tell me what you guys want)

Warning: Adult language, verbal abuse, parental abuse, severe injuries

Word Count: 1.5k

Note: These characters are not my own they belong to DC. The only character that is 'mine' is the reader. I am going to be as nondescript as possible for the reader as well for physical attributes. This is a continuation series; I’m not sure how long it will be. Also for some reason, my replies to comments are not showing up. I’m not ignoring your comments Tumblr won’t let me respond :( But please, please comment I live for it 

Part One: Is that Trash or a Man?

There is calm chaos when working in the emergency room. You get used to the cacophony of beeps and alarms. Of moans, crying, screaming, and arguing. You get used to being on your feet all day and moving from task to task, from patient to patient. You get used to it because there is no other option. People need care and they need it now. You either step the fuck up or switch to a different unit. Or move to a calmer, cleaner, less crime-filled city. Calm wasn’t really my vibe. Maybe externally that’s what I portrayed, but internally my mind craves the chaos of the ER. It craves the chaos of Gotham. And the Gotham ER was an entirely different beast.

I finished nursing school about a year ago. A lot of my peers used it as an out. They went to more stable cities in New Jersey that had better funding and less chance of getting knifed in the staff parking lot. I was one of the only ones that stayed. I definitely was the only one that worked in the hospital. I couldn’t deny the demand for nurses was high, and the paychecks were even higher at Gotham General Hospital. And maybe some small pathetic part of my brain wanted to make the world a better place. I wanted Gotham to be a better place. Every day I worked. I convinced myself that how matter how shitty it got; I was making a difference. Even if it was only a handful of people in the grand scheme of things. 

I could convince myself that I mattered. That everyone mattered. That these people deserve more. They deserve better; they deserve a second, third, fourth, fifth chance. If I stopped trying to convince myself of that I know I would give up entirely. Seeing gunshot wounds, stabbings, overdoses, mutilations, burns, crushings, poisonings, beatings, day after day is a lot like erosion of the soul. Little by little it wears you down. You become jaded and jagged with time. Empathy becomes blame. Hope becomes desolate. Love becomes anger. The only thing you can do is gaslight yourself into thinking you’re making a big enough difference. That you’re helping enough people. After all, the brain can’t tell the difference between truth and irony. You tell yourself so many lies, you can start to believe them, right? 

Gotham City: 16 Years Ago 

“Dad, when is mom coming home?” My small voice asked. I was scared to make Dad yell at me again. I didn’t like it when I made him yell.

“She’s got stage four fucking cancer she is coming out of the hospital in a body bag, y/n.” 

I fought the tears that burned behind my eyes. Dad would get even angrier if he saw them. It was stupid of me to even ask. 

I felt him turn to me. His eyes bored into my skull. Quickly, I looked down at his feet. 

“Have you tried again?” He asked. His tone clipped. I knew he expected a timely answer.

Involuntarily, my fingers ruthlessly picked the skin around my nails. The sting was grounding in a way. 

“No, sir. Well yes, I have tried, but I… I failed,” the last word felt like a hot poker being placed through my throat. 

“Look at me.” Breathing became difficult, but I looked up at my father. He leaned his face close to mine. I could smell Jack wafting off him. “What good are you? What good is having healing powers if you can’t heal your sick mother?”

The simple hangnail became a chunk of missing skin. I lowered my head. Fighting back tears. 

“Sir,” my traitorous voice wobbled as I tried not to cry, “I keep trying but… I don’t think my power is that strong. I can close cuts, fix broken bones, but tumors are… hard.”

My father tilted his head back and laughed. Hard. He grabbed my wrist as quickly as a viper, “If I could put your mother’s cancer in you I would. You’re about as useful as a wet match in a dark cave.” 

I couldn’t help the tears that fell down my cheek. It felt like I was involuntarily waving a white flag.

Gotham City: Present Day

I had to be stealthy with my gift. I couldn’t heal every one of the patients to full health right away. That would lead to suspicion. But if I could help it I could stop the major damage. I would heal internal organs. Replenish blood. Reduce ten fractures to two or one. It all depended on timing and if people were watching me. 

I was walking home from the hospital. I only lived about three blocks away. I got off shift at around 20:49. I didn’t start my next stretch for another three days. And I was milking my walk home. Stopping to smell the roses or whatever. That is normally not a very smart thing to do in Gotham at night, especially as a woman. But part of me didn’t care. 

Earlier, I looked at my phone and frowned when I realized the date. 

Thursday, May 19th. 

My mom died 16 years ago today. Waves of emotion flooded my senses. Anger at myself for not remembering. Sadness that she had been gone more of my life than she had been in it. Restlessness for what my father might do or say. Some years he likes to reach out. Others he doesn’t. But most of all I was feeling reckless. Like I wanted someone to give me a reason. Obviously, I would only hurt someone to defend myself or others. But there was so much anger living in my body, part of me hoped some idiot would try something with me tonight. 

So, I walked home. Slowly. 

Normally, you keep your head down and you keep moving. You don’t look or gawk. You listen out of necessity. I was listening just because I could. It was the normal stuff. Men smoking cigarettes and catcalling. Women were offering their nightly services. Random people either praising or damning superheroes. Drug deals. Graffiti artists. Fights. And of course, people who simply were walking home from work. Gotham had range and was never boring that’s for sure. 

But something picked up on the very edge of my senses. Despite my better logic, I turned toward the very quiet sound. It could have just been rats, but it sounded so familiar. It sounded like a death rattle. The thing you hear just before shit hits the fan and the patient codes. 

Without thinking I ran down the alley toward the sound. At first, it was nothing. Just trash and rats. But then I saw it. He almost blended perfectly in with the shiny black garbage bags. His cape was the same color but reflected the light less. 

“Sir? Sir, are you alright?” I walked hesitantly forward, grabbing my pepper spray just in case.

The man did not answer, he only garbled and coughed. My work brain took over my fear. Instantly I rolled the man over and began assessing him. I suppressed a gasp when I rolled him over and a familiar cowl mask came into view. It was cracked down the middle. His face was bleeding from an unknown location. His breathing was labored and staggered. 

Calmly, I closed my eyes and pressed my hands against his chest. 

Oh yeah. Batman was dying. He had several broken ribs. A pneumothorax. A bruised liver, kidney, and pancreas. His cardiac output was a joke. The man had no perfusion. 

I didn’t think. I didn’t hold back like I do at the hospital. I just healed. And healed. And healed. I healed him down to his bone-on-bone knees, sprained ankle, and fractured wrist. 

God, this guy had a lot of injuries. 

I was close to passing out by the time I was done. I had done too much, ate, and slept too little. My powers were demanding when it came to energy. If I didn’t eat or sleep within 30 minutes I was about to pass out next to bat boy himself.

I gave him one last assessment. After double-checking that he would live and that I didn’t miss anything I finally looked at his face again. 

This time I gasped. Batman was the billionaire playboy Bruce Wayne? I shook my head like I was clearing cobwebs. I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Much like Batman, I didn’t want people to know what I could do. The last time people knew…

Just as I turned and took a few steps I rolled my eyes at my nagging thoughts. 

What if someone sees him before he wakes up?

Reaching into my tote bag I pulled out a black medical mask. I not so gracefully MacGyvered it across his exposed face so that it was covered. And with that, I made my way home.

My cat, Hashbrown, eagerly greeted me at the door. I nearly fell asleep locking it. I bent down to pick her up and gave her a kiss on her perfect little cat head. I ripped my gross work scrubs off, threw them in the wash, and crashed on the couch in my underwear before my brain could process what happened.

I healed Batman. 

I healed… Bruce Wayne?

Part Two, Part Three

#batman #batfam #batfamily #jason todd #dick grayson #barbara gordon #duke thomas #tim drake #damian wayne #bruce wayne #alfred pennyworth #jason todd x reader #jason todd x you #jason todd x y/n #nightwing #red hood #red hood x reader #red hood x you #x reader #female x reader #whump #whumptober 2023 #whump writing

[theapangea]

Missed You Too

Missed You Too

Steve Harrington x reader

Summary: You finally kiss Steve.

A/N: Ok this is one that I posted on AO3 after the end of the last season. Obviously I had to write something good for Steve because they do my boy so dirty!! HE IS NOT SOMEONES SECOND CHOICE!! Hope you enjoy my loves <3!!

The past week was a blur. You didn’t expect your first college spring break to end with you racing back to Hawkins to see the aftermath of what Venca…? One…? Henry…caused. You didn’t want to entirely believe that the Upside Down still existed, that the gate was still open after you all fought so hard to close it time and time again. That’s why you chose to leave Hawkins in the first place, moving across the country to get away from the horrors of that small town. 

But when Jonathan, Will, and Mike show up at your door, pleading for your help to find Eleven, you couldn’t just turn your back on them, not then, not ever.  

You didn’t even know that Joyce, Eleven, and the boys moved to California shortly after you did. No one bothering to stay in touch, mostly you didn’t bother to stay in touch. Almost like you intentionally separated yourself from the people you were closest to. You would never admit it, blaming the lack of communication on school. 

The truth was, you didn’t want to be part of Hawkins anymore. You didn’t want to fear for your life. The scar that Hawkins left on your soul made you paranoid, made it hard for you to live a normal life. Always looking over your shoulder, always ready for a fight. 

The drive back was like riding a bike, you could drive it blind folded if you had to. Everyone thought it would be best if you drove the last bit as Jonathan was barely able to stay awake at this point. The tall, full trees lined the only road in and out of Hawkins. Car after car rushing to escape the town as disaster stuck only nights before. 

Passing shelters, destroyed homes, police and media, all lining the streets trying to make sense of the situation. If only they knew the truth. 

The car swings around the curb, braking suddenly outside of the Wheeler house. You never thought you would be here again, at least not in this lifetime. Pausing, white knuckling the steering wheel as you hear the van door slide open. Mike, Eleven, Will, Argyle and Jonathan exiting the vehicle to be reunited with loved ones again. You take your time getting out of the pizza van, not sure if you wanted to see them, not sure if they wanted to see you .

Finding yourself staying by the van with Argyle. He was new, didn’t know about Hawkins and was thrown into this mess similar to how you all were. How could he continue to want to be part of this? Your gaze drifts down, your chest heaving rapidly. Your feet glued to the ground, unable to move from your spot. 

Closing your eyes, trying to regain a sense of self. It shouldn’t matter that you left then, it should only matter that you are here now . Some relief washing over as you repeat that you are here now, you are here now, you are here now. The held breath releasing as you scan the scene in front of you, the warm breeze picking up making you draw the wild strands of hair behind your ears. 

You watch as Mike hugs his mom, her eyes tender and soft, thanking the gods for him to be returned safely, stating how he is never allowed to leave home again. Her hands never leave his body, afraid that if she lets go then he will disappear without a trace again.

Jonathan approaches Nancy, both unsure of their relationship, both yearning for a solution - but still they hug, the sweet embrace almost made up for the long, angry phone calls and the absence spring break trip. 

Jonathan told you all about his Nancy problems, hoping you would be able to help. He didn’t like your answer of honesty and communication, joking how you were never honest with your true feelings for a certain Hawkins boy. Quietly commenting that you should have made a move a long time ago to get him to move on from Nancy. 

After all this time, you couldn’t believe he was still hung up on her. But maybe he was supposed to move on. Move on to someone who he spent all his time with, to the person he’d drop by at their house unannounced, to the girl who was so tired of the neverending nightmares that she did everything she could to move as far away as possible. Even if it meant breaking the heart of the person she was supposed to end up with.

And there he was…

Boy, was he a sight for sore eyes. The green-blue sweater with the rolled up sleeves to the washed out blue jeans hugging his hips in all the right places. The way his hair was so delicately placed, too messy to be considered neat, too neat to be considered messy. His eyes heartbroken, full of pain and anger. Full of every ounce of love that he is willing to give away in a heartbeat. Your soul aching for him. 

His hand placed on the back of his neck, clearly hurt from the unfolding scene between Nancy and Jonathan. Robin’s hand pressing gently on his back, guiding him away. 

You weren’t surprised that he still had feelings for her. A little annoyed, yes, but not surprised in any way. He would always talk about her, the way she laughed and talked and smiled. And it made you so angry back then. Realizing that the anger never left. 

He hasn’t noticed you yet, his eyes fixated on the ground. Probably hoping to finally disappear. You feel the same. You were two passing ships in the night too afraid to let the other one know you were there, constantly turning off your lights, constantly dropping your sails.

The situation between you both was left pretty rocky. You could never decipher the tension between you both, was it love or indifference? Steve was always there for you and even supported your decision to leave Hawkins, even if that meant never seeing you ever again.

You promised to call each other once a week, which did happen until once a week turned into once a month and once a month turned into dozens of missed calls on both ends. Leaving you both hopeless and alone. Both trying to figure out adulthood without the comfort of a childhood friend.

Before pushing your body away from the car, you look over at Argyle for some sort of friendly relief. After hearing Jonathan complain about you never making a move on Steve, Argyle has been constantly encouraging you since. To not wait for any guy to make the first move, to create your own future. You were surprised at his wisdom.

His kind smile helps ease your nerves as your feet move one in front of the other, your heart beating so loud you can hear it in your ears. The drowning noise of your blood rushing through your body almost makes you want to turn around. Run away like the first time - but you were tired of running. Tired of the ‘what if situation’ that danced between you and Steve. This was your moment and there was no way you were going to turn back. Not this time.

Walking down the driveway, Mrs.Wheeler silently thanks you for helping bring Mike back home safely. Her hand lightly squeezes yours as you pass. Your lips curl, barely a smile forming as your mind is elsewhere.

Nancy watches as you walk by, her body still wrapped in Jonathan’s arms. Her mouth barely parted, maybe she wanted to say something but immediately regretted his decision to make any comment. The strong bond between you both broke when she started to date Steve…then Jonathan. You were civil with one another but you’ve barely spoken a sentence in the past three years. Neither of you wanting to resolve your years-long battle.

Robin’s and Steve’s gaze are on you. Stopping right in front of the pair, realizing you didn’t have a plan once you got to this point. Robin instantly beaming that bright smile that you missed so much. Her hug was intentional, like she was trying to squeeze all the events of this past week out of you. Cleansing you of all the horrors. Your arms wrap around his waist, pulling her deeper, knowing you needed her in that moment. Her comfort washing over you, giving you the strength you so desperately needed. She releases you, arm's length away, her smile inviting and safe. 

Your eyes shifting to Steve. Swearing in that moment that he was smiling but immediately covering it with a cough and a snatch on the nose. 

She squeezes your shoulders before walking away, giving you and Steve a little alone time. Even if that alone time was in front of half your friends.  

“Hey.” You exhale, the tension growing between the two of you. The air suddenly still as his eyes studying your face, his fingers twitching every so slightly. 

In one swift movement, grabbing your wrist, pulling you in for a hug. The instant smell of his cologne filling your head, making you dizzy with the smell of home. No words needed to be spoken between the two of you. He was just glad you were safe, finally in his arms.

You missed him. 

Not just this past week, but for the past 8 months. He pulls you in closer, his body finally relaxing against yours. The breath of fresh air was everything you both needed, everything you have ever wanted, and everything you will ever need. 

In this moment, you were his and he was yours. Everything was right with the world. All the trouble of this past week washes away, your minds clearing, seeing a future with only the two of you. 

You both pull back, speaking in a silent conversation. Neither of you know how to respond in this situation. Both of you felt the buzz, the electricity, the love. 

After all this time, it felt like you never left. The feelings for Steve came crumbling back down. You thought this was your chance, your only chance . Your body makes the decision for you, as your hand wraps around the back of his neck, pulling him down to meet your lips.

Your breath instantly intertwines with his, every inhale pulling him closer and closer. Your other hand balling up into the soft fabric of his sweater as he deepens into you. His hand catching your cheek, his lips soft and warm, gentle yet demanding. The craving of his touch on your skin sends heat waves throughout your body. 

He takes his time, wanting to remember this moment. All the uncertain feelings, all the unfinished conversations, crashing down all around you both. Kissing him was the only way you could tell him everything you had kept in for all these years. 

He pulls back, resting his forehead on yours, pure eyes as he whispers, “I missed you too.” 

~~~

I hope you enjoyed!! thank you for reading and supporting me

#Steve Harrington x reader #Steve Harrington fanfic #Stranger Things x reader #Reader insert #Stranger things #Robin Buckley #steve harrington one shot #steve harrington x fem #Theapangea #steve harrington #mike wheeler #will byers #jonathan byers #nancy wheeler #argyle stranger things

[blue-rose-soul]

"Great Alastor Altruist* died for his friends!"

This scene has been spinning in my brain since Thursday. Like a lot of other people, my first thought was that this was an indication that Alastor had grown to care for Charlie and her friends at the hotel. And it's not because of the words he says. Even if you're watching without subtitles and don't see the quotations around that phrase, it's pretty obvious that he's laughing at the very thought.

"Me? Alastor? Dying for them?"

"Ridiculous."

"Absurd!"

"Utterly laughable!"

No, what makes me think that there might be a kernel of truth there isn't the words by themselves. It's the look on his face as he says them.

This is the part where Alastor's angry snarl breaks and he begins to look genuinely afraid. He clutches his chest. He digs his fingers into his scalp, drags his hand down the side of his face. And that's a perfectly reasonable reaction to nearly dying! It's very human! But I think it's very telling that this expression doesn't settle on his face until he's talking about dying for someone else. Before this he looked more angry than anything, and he lapses back into anger up until he begins talking about trying to find a way out of his deal.

Now, don't get me wrong, I understand why anyone would think otherwise. The thing about Alastor is that, despite how blatant it is, his mask works. Like I stated earlier, I find myself searching every word, expression, and gesture from Alastor for double meaning. Ostensibly, there's no one here for Alastor to lie to**. No one he has to put up an act for. But his smile, which he's already fully admitted is faker than fake, remains firmly in place. I wonder if putting up an act is so second nature to him at this point he can't help but do it even when he's alone. Maybe he tries to fool himself as much as other people.

I believe that he has come to care, but I can't fully believe it. I won't be surprised to be wrong. But there are some scenes that just don't make sense to me if he really doesn't care at all.

His chat with Niffty the night before the extermination, for example. Niffty isn't really someone he needs to trick. He has power over her, whether it's because he owns her soul or because of her blind devotion to him. It's telling that while everyone else is hanging out together, sharing drinks at the bar, Alastor keeps his distance and positions himself above them. At this point, Alastor seems to care about them the way we, the audience, care about them; as entertainment. He's enjoying watching their story unfold up close, but that's all there is to it. He admits to Niffty that one could get accustomed to being with them. Not him though! He's above all that.

Then the battle happens. At first, Alastor's role in the battle didn't require him to assume too much risk. He was on crowd control, limiting the number of exorcists the rest of the hazbins have to deal with at once. And he slayed a not insubstantial number of angels in the process***. But then Adam broke through Alastor's shield and singled him out. It would have been reasonable for Alastor to put some distance between himself and the Lead Exorcist. Charlie did say it was his job to deal with Adam, but as I've already discussed, Alastor really had no hope of winning that fight alone. Maybe if he'd escaped right then and there, or fought Adam alongside Charlie things would have turned out differently. Granted, I don't think his pride would have allowed him to take either of those options.

Regardless, the end result is that Alastor did come very close to dying for a cause that wasn't his. Considering what Adam did to the hotel, Alastor's pretty damn lucky he's not in two pieces here.

Now, I don't think this means Alastor is immediately going to turn around and integrate int o the hazbin family. Immediately after this line where he mocks the idea of dying for Charlie's cause, he gets angry again, leans further into the Radio Demon persona and starts contemplating ways to escape his contract. I think, that like someone recoiling after accidentally touching a hot stove, Alastor's going to pull further away from them. One thing I am certain about is how Alastor feels about his leash; he hates it. He wants to be rid of it. He doesn't know how to do that yet, but he's working out a plan and having Charlie in his corner is part of that plan. Giving a genuine shit about her or the other hazbins is not part of that plan. It's another leash, not as literal as the one connecting him to his patron but just as binding.

Alastor realizing he might actually care about these people may just make him more dangerous to them than if he just didn't care at all.

-

(*The word 'altruist' here being used as a title, not a name. Like something you'd see in a newspaper headline, or on a headstone.)

(**There do seem to be some odd eye motifs in the environment, but at no point does Alastor give any indication he is aware of them or acknowledge their presence in anyway. And I highly doubt he would have said certain things if he believed his patron was actively watching him.)

(***Taking this opportunity to go off topic a bit to call the Vees out on their hypocrisy. For all their bluster about 'taking the fight to Heaven' and how 'pussy' the older Overlords supposedly are, I didn't see any of them on the battlefield. Alastor was. He fought as long and hard as he could. There was nothing cowardly about him living to fight another day.)

#theory #random thoughts #Hazbin Hotel #Alastor #or y'know maybe I'm way off base and he really doesn't care about them even a little #I won't pretend like I've got an impartial perspective #Alastor's my favorite character and a big part of me WANTS him to care #I know he's in no way shape or form a good guy #However I do think that the possibility is there #and don't go telling people that they're idiots for interpreting media differently than you do. that's rude. stop it

[thefallennightmare]

Miracle-seventeen

Pairings: Noah Sebastian x Reader

Warnings/Tropes: forced proximity, slight enemies to lovers, slow burn, smut, angst, fluff, mentions of death, and swearing.

Summary: Reader is the merch girl for Bad Omens. It wasn't what she wanted to do with her life but when her mother got sick with Alzheimer's, reader took a job where she could to help with the costs. She thought it would be a one-time gig but the longer she was on the road with them, the harder she fell for Noah Sebastian; even if he wanted nothing to do with her. She needed a miracle to save her mom and her future.

Author Note: To be honest, I wanted a bit better birthday shout-out to Noah. But the day got away from me so that'll have to do.

Tags: @ada-clarence @nonamessblog @thescarlettvvitch @malice-ov-mercy @crimson-calligraphyx @theoneandonlykymberlee @yumikitten @blackveilomens @cherrymedicine13 @thebadchic @notmaddihealy @jay02bo @beaker1636 @jakekiszkasguitarpick @punk-pr1ncessxoxo @er3nslovergirl @iamdesolate @lma1986 @jessitpwk @themodern-daywednesday @writethrough @bngurngheart @dreams-that-are-anwsered @loeytuan98 @omens-in-reverse @loverofagoodbeard @jay02bo @niicoleleigh

Alone.

Lonley.

Comfortless.

That's what I was. No one to turn to in my time of desperation. No one to comfort me when I was seconds away from a breakdown. No one to pull me out of the darkness that I was so close to succumbing too. The pain was eating away at my heart, gnawing and scraping at the part of my soul that I fought so hard to protect.

Both parents dead.

A brother that didn't care for a relationship with me, only wanted whatever our mother left him.

An ex that hurt me with the things he said. Yet my heart yearned to feel his warm embrace around me, to feel his adoration-filled gaze drink me in. To feel his lips on mine again even if it's one final time.

"Now I believe Y/N has some words to say."

My heavy eyes lifted from my hands that were placed in my lap as I stared blankly at the man on top of the stage next to my mother's casket. He was rambling on about how wonderful my mother was and the life she had created with my and her husband. I nearly vomited in my mouth at that, being one of the few that knew the truth. Everything my mother created was a lie; me included.

I noticed Lana turn her head towards me as she sat in the pew to the right of me but refused to meet her gaze. The small room in the funeral home was packed with everyone who knew my mother but yet, I sat alone in the pew in the front row in front of the stage. It was common in a funeral that the first pew was reserved for the immediate family of the one that died and I was the only one left, hence why I was alone.

No one left but me. What's the point of this anymore? It is even worth it?

A large hand squeezed my shoulder from behind and when I gazed at it, a small tattoo of black angel wings came into view, along with the large array of other tattoos. Peering up farther, I noticed Noah nodding towards me with a face full of concern.

"Angel," he gave my shoulder a squeeze.

I had to blink a few times because I almost forgot that he was here along with Folio, Nick, and Jolly who sat with him in the pew behind me. Turning around even farther, I saw Bryan, Matt, Davis, and other members of the crew that I worked with sitting in the surrounding pews. My cold heart suddenly felt warm and full at the sight of all of them here for me.

"Miss,'' the man on the stage spoke again. "Do you have any words you would like to say about your mother?"

Fucking loads.

Noah gave another squeeze to my shoulder. "You know you don't have to, right?"

"I know," my voice came out broken. "But if I don't, what would these people think?"

"Since when did you start caring about what other people thought of you?," he asked with the corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

I never did until Noah snaked his way into my heart and soul. Now the only person I cared about what he thought about me said some of the most hurtful things ever to me yet here I was offering his comforting touch and gaze. Was I pathetic for allowing him to do this? I told him to stay out of my life and meant it. But the second I saw his bright brown eyes, I nearly melted into him again; like I always did.

Noah was a vice that I couldn't quit no matter how bad it might be for me.

"Uh," I cleared my throat while turning back to the man on the stage. "I don't think I will. We can move on."

He nodded before he told the guests that now they can come up row by row to offer their condolences once more before we headed to the cemetery for the burial process. Once that was finished, we would head back to my house for the wake where I would have to be a proper homeowner and welcome these strangers into my home so they can ramble on about how much my mom meant to them and how they'll be sending me their thoughts and prayers.

A bunch of bullshit. No one knew the truth.

"Dear, you should stand so you can thank people for coming," Lana said as she came to stand in front of my pew.

Numbly, I nodded while slowly standing to my feet. This was the last thing I wanted to do but knew I had to. It wasn't so bad with the first few people who came to shake my hand but after the sixth 'I'll keep you in my prayers. She was a wonderful woman' I couldn't take it anymore and felt my knees about to give way. Until strong arms wrapped around my shoulders to keep me upright and a soft voice cooed in my ear.

"I'm right here as long as you'll let me."

Noah looked at me with pleading eyes and for a moment, I let the anger I felt for him subside and allowed him to stand with me as person after person came by to do the same shit the one before them did. It fell on deaf ears the longer it went on.

Noah still had an arm around my shoulder, fingers grazing over my arm, when Lana came up to me once the last person offered their condolences.

"You must be Mr. Sebastian?" She looked at Noah with stern eyes.

He nodded. "You can call me Noah."

Lana gave him a long once over before turning her gaze to me. "I'm going to head back to the house to make sure everything is set up for the wake. Do you need me to get you anything?"

"No, I'm okay," I gave a small smile to assure her.

"You make sure she makes it to the cemetery then back to the house?" Lana asked Noah.

He pulled me closer into his chest and I wrapped myself around him, letting his warmth quiet the voices in my mind.

"Of course."

The cold October air chilled around my ankles as I stared down at the now filled grave. The crowd of people were slowly dispersing to head back to my house; all but four. They stood behind me as they let me take all the time I needed before leaving.

One the way to the cemetery, I rode with the guys in Noah's car sitting in the passenger seat while he drove. Silence filled the entire car as his hand rested on my knee, his gaze bouncing to me every once in a while. I never once looked in his direction or removed his hand from my knee. The voices in my mind screamed at me to push him away, to tell him to go fuck himself, but I couldn't listen to them; I refused to listen to them. Noah was exactly what I needed right now and if I pushed him away, I was afraid of what I would do.

He hurt you. How can you forgive him for that?

Because he came. He's here right now even knowing I'm pissed at him. Even when I told him to stay away.

But how long would he stay? The Europe tour starts in a few weeks, without you.

I forced the negative thoughts of out my mind with one long, deep breath, to focus on the good. They were here now, and that's all that mattered. But that didn't mean I was ready to completely forgive Noah yet.

"Hey," a hand grasped mine. "You ready?"

Looking over to Folio, I gave him a weak smile. "Is it bad that I don't feel the need to say something?"

He shook his head. "Not at all. You're still full of all that anger. Once it clears, you might find the need to say something. But take your time with it, don't rush the grieving process."

"You guys didn't have to stay," I said while looking behind me to see Jolly, Nick, and Noah still standing there.

Noah gave me a warm smile. "We're not going anywhere, angel."

My heart fluttered but before I could respond, movement over his shoulder caught my gaze and I stilled.

James stepped forward with his hands in the pockets of his jacket. "Alright, which one of these guys is your boyfriend? Or is it all of them?"

"I told you to stay away," I scowled while standing my ground against him.

"You can't keep me from our mother's grave, Y/N. I'm not going anywhere until I get what I'm owed," his eyes sliced into me.

Folio shared a look with Noah, who immediately stepped right up next to me to place a hand on my lower back.

"You alright?" He asked me.

"This is James, my mom's other kid," I introduced, not daring to call him my brother.

James looked between Noah and I, a questioning light beneath the darkness of his eyes.

"So, you're the boyfriend," he muttered.

My lips parted but Noah was first to answer. "I don't see how that's any of your business."

Hearing him not deny James' observation made something twinge in my gut and heart flutter.

"Well," James motioned towards me. "I have some private matters to discuss so if you'll excuse us."

When he reached for me, I reared back behind Noah, who immediately stepped up into James' face.

"Unless Y/N wants us too, we're not leaving," Noah said.

"We have nothing to talk about, James. I already told you that my mom didn't leave you anything in her will. The only thing she left besides her mounds of debt was the house," I spoke over Noah's shoulder.

"I find that hard to believe."

I scoffed. "Why do you care so much? You're clearly doing fine money wise. What could you possibly want?"

"The house will sell pretty fast, great turn around and profit." James shrugged. "But of course, I need you to sign it over to me."

Before I was willing to give him the house for free but now knowing he was only wanting it for the money, I refused. Yes the house held all the bad memories of my mom but it also held the memories of where I grew up with my father; the one who raised me even after knowing the truth.

"I'd rather chew glass," I spoke through gritted teeth. "If my mom wanted to give you the house, she would have."

A muscle in James' jaw ticked. "You probably coerced her."

"How?! She had Alzheimers!" I snapped, voice raising to echoing levels. "I couldn't even get her to remember who she was, let alone have her sign the house over to me! Maybe if you were in her life more, she would have given you something but you only show up when she dies. Like mother like son, huh?"

James made a move towards me but Noah pushed a hand into his chest to stop him in the same moment Folio and Nick stepped beside. Jolly remained behind me and the four of them boxed me in to protect me. Never in my life have I felt more cared for and looked after than this moment right here.

"Stay away from Y/N," Noah threatened.

"Or what?" James scoffed. "Is she worth all this trouble?"

"She's worth more than you'll ever know," he didn't miss a beat.

"There's nothing left for you here James. The house isn't worth anything and for the sake of our mom who's buried beneath your feet, leave me alone. You've been in my life for less than a week and it's been fucking miserable. Do me a favor and go back to Texas. I'd give anything never to see you again.," I said defeated.

Everything from the past week suddenly caught up to me and I wanted nothing more than to go back home and crawl into bed. Except my house was filled with people I didn't want there. The only ones I wanted were standing around me.

James gave us all a glare before spitting at Noah's feet and walking away while calling over his shoulder. "Careful what you wish for!"

I couldn't help but snicker at his words. "How ironic."

Noah's back tensed with anger as he watched James intently walk to his car before driving off. I placed a gentle hand on his back which caused him to look down at me. The fight we had was suddenly fleeting away from my mind and the only thing I wanted was to move past it; of course, after we talked about a few things. I wasn't ready to jump right back into a relationship but maybe take things slow.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

He shrugged while stuffing his hands in his pants pockets. "Let us know if he bothers you again, alright?"

"Okay," I nodded.

Deep down, I had this gut wrenching feeling that this wasn't the last time I'd be seeing James.

Jolly motioned towards the car. "Ready to head back home?"

Home.

It sounded so weird. Going back home to a metaphorically empty house. After the wake, everyone would go back to their lives while I stayed stuck in the empty void of my life.

"Do you think anyone would noticed if I snuck upstairs into my room?" I asked as we all walked towards the car.

Nick laughed lightly. "It's whatever you want to do Y/N."

"I'd rather lounge on my couch and watch movies while eating my feelings away with pizza and ice cream."

"We can make that happen," Folio said once we reached the car.

I shook my head. "You guys don't have to stay. I bet you're all exhausted."

Noah, who remained quiet the entire walk to the car finally spoke. "We're not leaving you, angel. As long as you'll allow us, we're staying."

I knew he had more of a meaning behind those words than the others.

"Can you guys give us a minute?" Noah spoke to the others.

When they nodded, I let him lead me a few feet away so we could talk in private. My heart was thudding so loud in my chest I thought it would burst through like those face huggers in that one Alien movie. A part of me had an inkling idea of what he wanted to talk about and I wasn't sure if I was ready to have this conversation yet.

"I know this might not be the best time but I wanted to apologize; for everything."

"Noah-," I sighed.

"No," he interrupted. "I've already waited to long to apologize. I should have came after you that night you left but I was dealing with my own problems and issues and took it out on you; our relationship. It was wrong of me to say those hurtful things to you and bring up private parts of your life in front of anyone else. I'm an asshole and deserved that slap."

"Can I be honest?" I bit my lip.

When Noah nodded, I continued. "I was mad at you, furious, at first. I wanted nothing to do with you and I thought I'd be fine without you but seeing you here today made all of those feelings for you rush back in. The ones I felt when I first started to work for you. Through the darkness of my life the last week, you were a light I never thought I'd need. It sounds stupid, I know, but it's true. All of you guys showed up to be here for me when you didn't need too."

"Stop saying that, angel. You know we would do anything for you," Noah said.

"I know," I nodded. "Some might think I'm a pushover for what I'm about to say but I don't care; it's what I feel is right. I forgive you, Noah. Can you promise me one thing, though?"

Noah reached for my hand and linked our fingers together. "Anything."

"Promise me that if you have an issue about something dealing with me or my friendships with the guys, we'll talk about it like normal humans?"

"Deal. Now, can you promise to talk to me about things that are bothering you," he playfully shot back.

"Deal," I gave a soft smile.

I could practically see the weight lift off of Noah's shoulders but I still had more to say that could ultimately ruin everything.

"I also don't want to rush into this again. Would it be alright if maybe we take things slow? I've got some things I need to sort out with my mom's death and some things with my past. I'm not saying completely ignore each other but I think, for now, I just need some more space. I still want to see you but not officially. But I'm not saying to see other people cause that's not what I want. Unless you want to, then I guess that's fine. I don't want to make you wait for me. If that makes sense."

I was rambling, nervous that he wouldn't understand where I was coming from. Thankfully, Noah understood because he laid a soft kiss across each of my knuckles.

"Take all the time you need, angel. I can wait for years if I gotta," Noah smirked.

I playfully smacked his chest. "Cheeky, aren't we? Using your own lyrics as a pickup line?"

Noah began leading me back to his car with our still intertwined hands and winked at me. "Is it working?"

I bit down on my bottom lip to keep the grin away but ultimately failed; the grin breaking wide across my face.

We all loaded into the car and Noah began the short drive to my house, cutting through the usually quiet neighborhoods. Only this afternoon, it was lively and loud with families running from house to house as their children wore different arrays of costumes and clutched their buckets of candy.

"Oh, shit," I muttered. "I almost forgot it's Halloween."

October 31st. Halloween.

There was also something else about this day that rang loud bells in my mind but couldn't quite remember. I racked my brain trying to think as I saw Noah shift in his seat while he pulled the car to a stop in front of my house. Suddenly, what I was searching for slammed into me with such force that I had to lean my head against the headrest.

Fuck.

"Thank you for everything, Lana. I don't know how I would have done any of this without you. Truly, I owe you so much," I said while pulling away from our hug.

She cupped my cheek. "Dear, please call me if you need anything. Even if it's just to talk. I don't want you to go through this alone."

I glanced over my shoulder to where both Nick's were discussing what movie to watch while Jolly went about ordering the pizza. Noah was in the kitchen cleaning up the mess from the wake. Everyone had left awhile ago, Lana staying behind to keep me extra company. But as the afternoon wore on into the evening, I told her she should head home. She already spent so much time away from it, no need to stay away longer.

"I'm not alone, don't worry," I smiled while looking back at her.

She nodded behind me towards the guys. "They're good friends of yours, yeah?"

I nodded. "Yeah, they're starting too."

"And Mr. Sebastian?" She asked with a raised brow.

My cheeks warmed as I averted my gaze to my feet. "Just a friend."

Lana hummed. "For now."

With one final goodbye, I slowly shut the door behind her and instead of going into the living room, I followed the noises coming from the kitchen and saw Noah loading the last bit of dishes into the dishwasher before starting it. He wiped his hands on a rag before folding it nicely on the counter then looked out the window above the sink; the moonlight casting a bright shadow over his face. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him, my core twitching with a hunger that needed to be fulfilled; soon.

"You didn't have to do that," I said.

Noah gave me a warm smile. "I'm kind of neat freak so it wasn't a big deal."

I pushed myself off of the wall I was leaning on and walked over to him, closing the distance.

"But it's your birthday," I whispered while looking up at him through my lashes.

"You remembered?" He asked, almost shocked.

"I almost forgot, with every going on today. So I'm sorry you had to spend your birthday at a funeral," I cringed.

It wasn't the ideal birthday, that's for sure.

"I spent it with you, to me it was the best birthday in a long time," Noah admitted with a smile.

"Well," I placed a hand on his chest. "I have to give you your present."

He heart beat wildly underneath my palm but his face never gave way to his nervous state as he simply raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah?"

I nodded. "This is a one-time thing, alright? I meant what I said earlier about taking things slow."

"If I remember correctly, you also said this was a one-time thing about the time I got you off by riding my thigh; now look at us," Noah murmured as he dipped his head towards mine.

My eyes doubled in size as I felt my cheeks warm when I remember that night at the Airbnb. It seemed so long ago, and I yearned to feel that release again with him.

"Maybe I should forget about giving you your present," I teased while taking a step back from him.

Noah's large hands grasped at my hips to yank me back into him, my hands sprawling over his chest.

"Don't tease me angel," he groaned, voice dropping dangerously low.

Licking my dry lips, I stood on the tips of my toes so I could reach him and ignoring the voices screaming at me to stop; I laid a soft kiss on his plump, waiting lips. Noah wasted no time in kissing me back, his one hand leaving my hip to tangle in my hair, tilting my head back so he could get better access to my mouth. Just like the first kiss we shared, electricity shot through my entire body, rendering me numb to his taste and touch. My tongue brushed over his bottom lip before I explored every inch of his mouth. His teeth scraped along my lips as he bit down on it while I pulled away, breathlessly.

"Happy birthday, Noah," I moaned before slipping out of his embrace.

#noah sebastian #noah sebastian and reader #noah sebastian x reader #noah sebastian reader insert #noah sebastian smut #forced proximity #enemies to lovers #slow burn

[catholic-character-tournament]

Round 5 - Catholic Character Tournament

Propaganda below ⬇️

Sister Michael

She drives a DeLorean. She does judo on Fridays. She likes a good statue and despises the French. Her full nun name is Sister George Michael, after the guy from Wham!. She is the fiercest nun you’ll ever come across and, if you’re attending Lady Immaculate College, she’s the woman in charge. So whatever you do, if you’re feeling anxious or worried or just need a chat: don’t come crying to her.

joined the nunnery for the free accommodation?

she does love a good statue it has to be said

She is the headmistress of a catholic school <3

sister michael so reminds me of the nuns who taught me. they're tough and sometimes a little harsher than a woman who dedicated her life to god should be but they're also wonderful people. i had a nun teacher who was 60 years old and would do handstands. another nun (also in her 60s) told me god was nonbinary. another was really mean and made me cry. (so did the handstand nun.) while the catholic girls school is The Catholic Experience, the school wouldn't have been the same for me or the derry girls without at least one nun who seemed to have sprung up out of the ground fully formed, ageless.

Kurt Wagner/Nightcrawler Propaganda:

good lord where do i start. in the animated series he converts logan to catholisism and then fucks off basically thats the main thing he did there. i think one time they tried to make him a demon to explain how he looked but everyone hated that. he sold his soul one time to help his friends out after he died. he and logan have a weird little gay thing. he was a priest one time but he was made a priest by a fake bishop from a religion that hates mutants iirc so he just wasnt a priest. like 3 people have written him in a way i like and one of those is my friend just talking about how they view him.

wow marvel loves making catholic characters dress/look like demons

Kurt is a mutant who was born to mystique who looks a LOT like a devil (technically is half one but that cannon truth isn’t real go back to bed), his mother dropped him off a cliff when he was born and he was picked up by a Romani group/circus (fuck old comics man) however he then narrowly escaped being sold to a freak show and found himself in a small German town. There he met a kind priest, who showed him God, and he quickly grew attached to the idea- However, it wasn’t long before people began labeling him a demon and soon the whole town was against him with pitchforks and fire. Cornered and injured, Kurt thought this might be the end for him- maybe he would see heaven so long after finding it- but he was then saved by Charles Xavier who invited him to the X-Men. AND ITS BEEN SO MANY YEARS AND HE HAS BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH THERE. SO MUCH. SO GOD DAMN MUCH. BUT THE MOST AAAA THING TO ME CONCERNING HIS FAITH HE WHEN HE LITERALLY DIED AND WENT TO HEAVEN BUT THEN BECAUSE OF DRAMA WITH HIS FATHER HAD TO BRING HIS FRIENDS IN WITH HIM FROM THE BEYOND. THEN WITH ALOT OF TROUBLE THEY FOUGHT HIS FATHER AND THE ONLY WAY KURT SAW TO STOP HIM WAS IN A MOVE THAT STRIPPED THEM BOTH OF THEIR SOULS AND PUT THEM BACK ON EARTH. SO KURT CANONICALLY HAS NOW LOST HIS ABILITY FOR ETERNAL PEACE, LOST HIS VERY SOUL, TO SAVE PEOPLE- AND ALSO TOLD NO ONE NOT EVEN HIS GAY LOVER WOLVERINE.

Nightcrawler is a mutant vigilante who looks like a classical demon. He can’t even go to church without people panicking and trying to exorcize him. Despite it all, he’s so full of faith and hope and compassion, and he wants to believe the best of everyone. Also, he’s bffs with an extremely angry Jewish sword lesbian. That has nothing to do with anything, but it’s important to me that you all know that.

What if you were a devout christian and literally looked like the devil? He nearly became the pope, which was a plot by some supervillains that also involved faking a rapture? There is nothing like comics I swear to god.

A catholic who is half demon I don’t think I can better explain a struggle than that. But his character is so relatable to people who feel unwelcome with their congregation because of something that is a part of them but still feeling a connection to the faith. Kurt actively engaged in his faith and shares how his faith helps him through all the things he has faced in life and how he found a home with those of the church who leave the judging to God.

so they made kurt a priest briefly before deciding to retcon it, resulting in nightcrawler actually being part of a plan by villains to promote him to pope then reveal to the world that the pope is a demon. wild.

I have a side blog and a tattoo about him and i really really want him to win

Wisecracking devil-appearing devout Catholic with the Best superpower (teleportation)? HECK YES

German Catholic circus acrobat who looks like a demon & can teleport through a hellish alternate dimension with a puff of sulfur. Character of all time.

hes catholic and his dad is the devil. what could be funnier than that. also hes my silly little guy.

Nightcrawler is the world’s most fun catholic priest. I first was introduced to this kindhearted teleporting acrobat while he saved a boat full of stowaway refugees from inter dimensional pirates with swashbuckling gusto!

#cct polls #tumblr tournament #tumblr bracket #tumblr polls #polls #kurt wagner #x men #nightcrawler #marvel #xmen #x men comics #marvel x men #r5 #the derry girls #derry girls #sister michael

[pherelesytsia]

Who did this to you? - 6

Pairing: Thomas Shelby x female/Reader

Summary: Bruised and broken, Y/N, trapped in a loveless marriage, arrives at her best friend's house, desperately hoping someone will help her, aware she cannot return to the estate of her husband.

Warning: fear, anxiety, Angst, swearing, Fluff

Word Count: 2.3k

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 7

Puddles gathered beneath his shoes freckled by mud. Light flickered. The man was broken, frail, weakened by the weight resting on his shoulders. Thomas had imagined hundreds, thousands of scenarios, had expected the worst, but the sight of his wife beaten and bloody evoked tears and the desire to kill.

Alfie slipped his hands into the pockets of his trousers, did not dignify the Shelby with a single glance, and walked without swearing towards the uninvited guest standing in the pool of dirt, in the remains, the debris of his marriage.

The men exchanged words, quietly, barely audibly, and Y/N tried to read the lips shaping into hush words, but she failed. The pain gnawing at her bones faded away. Her breath quickened. Her fingers curled into the dark leather of the sofa and the healing wounds running wild across her arms tore open. In the shadows, she sought refuge. Blood gushed in narrow lines along her skin. Believing she was trapped in the claws of a nightmare, she fought, opened and closed her eyes, attempted to awaken, and discovered the truth.

Desperately, Y/N searched for a way out. Her clouded gaze darted from corner to corner, but there was no door or open window through which she could escape into the depths of the starless night. Y/N guessed what had happened, cursed herself for her good nature, for trusting the man, fulfilling almost every tale she had heard about him.

Thomas stayed cloaked in silence, listening to the fading noise echoing throughout the endless hallways of the mansion. The yellowish light dimmed by the umbrella kissed his features. Y/N blamed the blood loss, thought the illusion of her husband with reddened eyes was watching over her, a guardian angel of the grey heavens pitying the suffering soul walking on earth. His face was pale, ghastly. The circles under his eyes had darkened. He shivered; the flames could not warm him. The robust fabric of tweed pants clung to his legs and the white button-down was translucent. Y/N´s heart ached at the sight of his eyes bearing the purest form of pain, an untold tale of anguish, a tragedy so terrible that even the most vigorous drowned in a sea of tears.

The Shelby cursed, whispered a bloody murder, hated himself for what he had not done, for not standing by her side to protect her from the unspeakable. Thomas noticed he was drawing closer to the sofa when the loose boards creaked beneath his feet. Wounds of different sizes emerged. The bruises, blue and purple, grew in size. He gulped, imagined, guessed what his wife was hiding under the slightly soiled bandages around her arms and legs. The water in the white porcelain bowl was murky, a pond in the uncharted forest cursed by witches.

Redness painted her cheeks. His eyes were fixed on hers, realised she was undressed, aware Alfie had removed her clothes and had touched her body as sensually and delicately as only a husband was supposed to do. The soaked rag rested on the edge of the table next to the unlabelled bottle and the open box filled with bandages was on the floor.

Hesitantly, Thomas approached his wife, fearing she would flee like a deer from the rays of the car driving past the fields. Wounds and unhealed scratches marked her flesh. He tried to count them but failed miserably. Thomas swallowed, knew she had tried to flee and the imprint around her neck, a noose made him gasp. Thoughts were racing through his mind, plotted plans, desperate to find those who had harmed his wife. He planned to kill and torture, to drive a knife through their skin, to make the worst dreams come true, to tear limbs from the torso, and even if they begged for mercy, longing for death, and prayed to him like to a good he would not stop.

Rising flames banished the dampness from his clothes but not the tears wandering across his cheeks. Thomas didn't dare take another step, rooted into the ground. Say something, he commanded, but he did not listen. The parched lips did not touch. The questions were unnecessary, knew why Y/N hadn't come home, why she hadn't called him and he feared the answer, the harsh unsweetened truth.

            "I'm sorry." was the only thing the man with a silver tongue whispered.

The wind whizzed through the chimney and fed the fire.

            "For everything," Thomas added.

Wet strands stuck to his face and Y/N wished to hate him, to drive a dagger into his heart, to make him feel the pain rooting deep in hers, but she couldn't, heard the words were not spoken to lure her into his arms only to drop her like a stone into the raging ocean.

            "Say something." Thomas breathed, could not bear the painful silence.

            "What do you want to hear?" Y/N spoke in a flat voice.

His gaze slipped to her lips, thought it couldn't be Y/N who was speaking in a voice mirroring the harsh northern wind, but no other person was standing in the richly furnished room.

            "You can see the answers to all your questions, Thomas. I suspect Peggy visited you. At least she wasn't home when I woke up and her shoes weren't there.” she answered.

She smiled weakly, lowered her gaze, did not want to show weakness, to reveal the tears streaming down her cheeks.

            “Why does everyone I know break their promises?" Y/N wondered.

            "Alfie has taken care of your wounds. I would have taken care of you. I would have done it. I would have helped you. I'm your husband." Thomas said.

She tried, attempted to believe him but the wounds his coldness, and the constant absence had left on her heart were too deep to be forgotten, torn open and fresh, oozing with crimson and his apologies failed to heal the scars and carry the pain away.

            "Alfie called you?" Y/N asked, ignoring the words sounding too delicate, too wonderful and poetic to be true.

Thomas nodded. His heart ached at the cold, lifeless tone of her voice, emotionless as the steel face of the mountain, not fitting the delicate woman with the features of a fallen goddess.

            "I was looking for you. My men searched the streets, but you were gone with the wind. Everybody was up. We were all worried about you. And suddenly Alfie called and said he has something I am missing, but it's still a mystery why you're here." Thomas repeated a second time.

The fingernails drove deeper into the flesh. Gashes, profound and agonising, sent a tremor up his spine. The words he had spoken left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. A response was on his lips, could answer his question, but he needed confirmation, needed to hear it.

            "Thomas, I wish I could believe you. And Alfie more or less forced me to come with him. I wanted to run away. Solomons promised he wouldn't call you and he kept his promise. He called you long before, promising he wouldn't contact you." Y/N commented.

            "Y/N/N, I would have taken care of you. I am your husband," he spoke, repeating what Y/N had ignored.

Moaning, Y/N sat back, holding her aching side, reminiscing, and chuckling, failing to recall the last occasion when Thomas had called her by her nickname. No warmth seeped through her fingers and coloured the sofa in darker colours.

            "My husband who forgot to pick me up, who wasn't there to protect me. You are many things, Thomas, but not a loving husband. A man who prefers to spend his evenings drinking with his family, forgetting about his wife sleeping in the bedroom and laughing at the jokes directed at my inabilities. You can spend time with your family, but at least you could spare a few minutes of your day and be with me." Y/N said, saw clearly, not blinded by fear.

            "I love you," Thomas interjected.

The laughter sent a shiver down his spine. He wished to embrace her, tell her how deeply he loved her, devoted to her heart and soul, how he could not imagine a world without her, but he was far from the greatest husband under the firmament kissed by the sun after a bleak night.

            "If you love me, then you have an uncommon way of showing it, Thomas Shelby." Y/N said.

            "I'm wearing the ring." Thomas reasoned.

            "It would be enough if you held my hand during long rides. I do not demand a lot. Let me fucking know that you love me. Don't bring me roses, bring me the flower I love the most or tea. Don't buy me jewellery, diamonds and gems, I don't need it, I don't long for these riches. I long for your love and affection. Embrace me, hold me in your arms, don't come to the bedroom to satisfy your desire for flesh, to fulfil the duty of a man. A child will never find its way to us, for a child cannot be born into a non-existent family, into a loveless marriage. That's what our marriage is. Loveless, if you can even call what we have a marriage." her voice broke, shaking, but the weight fell from her chest, voiced all she had never dared to say.

Arrows rained on the weakling, bearing no shield nor armour.

            "And despite everything you have done, even though you haven't done anything, I still love you. You ignored me. You and your family treated me like a piece of rubbish and I haven't done anything to receive such treatment and if yes, I apologise." she continued without mercy.

Y/N found too many stories, greyed and cobwebbed, memories of lonely nights, of mornings at the dining table when nobody spoke to her, pretending she was not among them, a ghost, a lost soul caught in the walls of the mansion.

            "On the contrary, when a child was sick, I took care of them. When Arthur had problems, I offered him help, but your brother ignored me. John is quite nice." Y/N sarcastically remarked.

She chuckled and shook her head.

            "And before I forget. I brought my husband tea every night for the past weeks and sometimes even liquor, his favourite, and when he was sick, I was up all night looking after him as he refused to see a doctor. Once, last week to be accurate, I baked a cake and my husband didn't arrive from work so I delivered the cake to his factory but what do you think, he told his secretary that he doesn't have time to greet his wife standing at the door. For a moment, I was convinced he was playing with a skirt, entertained by the beauty of the night." Y/N uttered.

Thomas froze. His arms hung lifelessly beside his body as if they did not belong to him. The words awakened horrid memories, remembered what he had forgotten, realised what he had done, all the mistakes, how he had behaved.

            "My husband is a very busy man, but it would have taken five minutes to take the cake, hug me, maybe even kiss me, but no, he had other far more important things to do than waste his precious time with me." Y/N breathed as softly as the fresh spring breeze.

His mouth opened a crack but not a word, not a sound, not even a letter did he utter in shock and he realised all the things he had done wrong, all the times he had come home late and sent her away to work in peace.

            "Don't apologise." she silenced the Shelby harshly, guessing what he was about to say.

Tears clouded his vision.

            "Please, don't promise anything you can't keep, Thomas. Don't promise you'll do better, that you will love me differently, come home early, eat dinner by my side and go on dates twice a week. You should have changed a long time ago, and you have promised me all of these things. Do you remember? It was sealed by a kiss. You promised me on our wedding day that you would respect, honour, and protect me." she screamed, crying a river.

            "I beg your forgiveness, forgive me. Please," he begged.

Bones threatened to pierce his skin. Tears flowed in torrents. He collapsed like a house of cards under the pressure of the words in front of the sofa. The material sagged under his touch. Carefully he placed his hands on her body, didn't wish to inflict any more harm, had wounded her too severely, pressed her carefully towards him and Y/N did not resist. He buried his head in the nape of her neck. Warmth travelled down her chest and in shock she realised he was crying.

Thomas breathed words into her ear, soft promises, telling her how much he loved and adored her, sorry for everything he had done, knew how foolish he was, promised things Y/N had not said, mentioning her beloved flower, sang a poem about the beauty of her eyes, how much he needed her. The last wall of defence crumbled and turned to ashes. Ice melted away, and Y/N lowered her hands on his back, felt the burden resting on his frame, and brushed it away as if it weighed nothing.

Thomas prayed to the deity and cupped her cheeks with his sweaty hands. His fingers were shaking. Y/N returned the gesture and laid her palm on his cheek. Thomas smiled weakly, his gaze fell on her hand, felt a pleasant coolness, did not lose the last spark of hope, noticed she was wearing the ring mirroring his. Hearts collided, skimming waves, clashing torrents playing with the lost sailor, but the full moon summoning the horrific swells bit farewell.

Taglist:

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#thomas shelby x y/n #cillian x reader #peaky blinders imagine #michael gray #arthur shelby #peaky blinders fanfic #john shelby #tommy shelby fanfic #thomas shelby x you #peaky blinders #tommy shelby x reader #thomas shelby fluff #arthur shelby x reader #thomas shelby #thomas shelby x reader #tommy shelby fic #tommy shelby x you #michael gray x reader #peaky fookin blinders #tommy shelby one shot #thomas shelby imagine #peaky blinders x reader #john shelby x reader #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinder headcanon #cillian murphy imagine #alfie solomons x you #thomas shelby fic

[breathing-the-same-air]

Hey, lovely souls. Just here to spread a kind word for anyone who's feeling (understandably) down today🩷

So OFMD has been officially cancelled. Is this the end? Of course not. It will never be.

I mean, even if we'd got S3 there would have been an end to it too. Is it unfair that our awesome cast & producers didn't get to finish what they started in the way they envisioned it? Of course. Is the tv industry absolute shit? Hell yes! So many good shows are cancelled every day, and so many more never even get to exist. We got OFMD for two seasons, a blessing none of us ever expected, that changed our lives in so many ways, that saved so many lives. And if you think about the ending, even though the last episode was rushed and budget was cut and all, we still got such a wonderful, poetic ending, Ed and Stede are together in their inn, love in their eyes, they're safe, they're happy, honestly I couldn't have asked for anything better.

The thing is, things in life are limited (apparently), but the underlying truth to that is that things that truly matter are infinite.

How so? I'll tell you a scientific truth: time does not exist, at least not as we understand it. Because time is just like space, ever-present, every moment in time is actually forever alive. Nothing can ever truly die.

Which leads to another truth: we are infinite, just like the Universe, for we are Universe too. We are stardust and love, and Love is infinite.

We are all one, you and I and everyone out there, we're one same thing. There is no end to something that was created with love. And damn, I've never seen such an outrageous, wonderful outburst of love in my whole life! There is true magic in what we created together, fans, cast, crew, producers... we healed one another, we came together because one day someone just as crazy as us envisioned this absolutely mad world of kindness and inclusion and diversity and sheer joy and against all odds the moment we saw it we jumped on the ship without thinking twice. We made it possible for this show to get a second season, and more than anything, we built this wonderful world around it.

Stories are so much more than imagination, they're not just actors playing a role, there is a point where it stops being just a story and becomes a world on its own, and that world translates into our world, and when that magic happens, when that bridge is created, something so much bigger emerges that forever merges both worlds. It's magic and it's a blessing and I can't but be thankful for it.

My loves, I know you're sad right now. I know we all are struggling for one reason or another, we're all fighting our own battles, be it about physical or mental health, work, study, family, discrimination, or anything else. And OFMD has fought by our side and helped us win so many of those battles already. So when you're in middle of the darkness and can't imagine there could ever be light outside, remember this: we are all with you, right here, right now. Wherever you are, we are with you, and OFMD is with you. Because the things we love do never truly leave us.

We keep saying that OFMD changed us, right? That means that it's become a part of us.

OFMD is and will forever be a part of who you are—and in you, it will live on forever. Be grateful, be immensely grateful, for gratefulness is the vibration that heals the fabric of the Universe and makes miracle happens. Crew, we got something we could never have imagined to begin with!! We are so, so lucky to have had this blessing.

Take the time you need to heal, cry, let out all your pain. But then please be brave and choose kindness, just like OFMD has taught us to. Choose to raise your vibration to that of love and gentleness and dare to believe that life has wonderful things waiting for you. There is hope, there is light, there is magic in your future, a whole life just waiting for you to have the courage to take the next step.

What do you think the crew of the Revenge would have done if they had been told their ship was going to forever stop sailing? They would have thrown another Calypso's birthday party just to celebrate the chance they had to spend so much time there together, and they would have looked forward, found new reasons to be happy, and a new life. Open an inn, for instance!

They would not want us to cry, they would like us to smile and be happy because of the journey we've shared. Or at least, smile through our tears!

You are loved, you are important, your very existence is an absolute blessing to this world. Please never stop being your awesome, beautiful, magical self, because the world needs you exactly as you are- that is why you are here!

Cheer up Crew - we have been so immensely blessed. Can only be thankful 🙏💜🏴‍☠️🖤

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd cancellation #ofmd s2 #ofmd s3 #rhys darby #taika waititi #stede bonnet #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #edward teach #ed teach #david jenkins #vico ortiz #david fane #kristian nairn #ruibo qian #alex sherman #samba schutte #ofmd meta #spirituality #universe #love #spiritual healing #spiritual awakening #spiritual journey #spiritualgrowth #oneness #be a lighthouse #you wear fine things well

[thesensteawitch]

What Does Akashic Records Have To Say About Your Life Path? 👁️🪻

Pick A Pile Reading

Is your life path aligned with your soul's DNA?

Just grab a chocolate bar as this is going to be a slightly long reading.🪻

🥀Take a deep breath...and choose!🥀

(Left to Right---Pile1, Pile2, Pile3)

Hello, Senstea Souls! Though this is a collective reading I have tried my best to be as specific as possible. If you want a specific career/life path related reading then just slide into my DMs and ask away.

I have a separate spread with a blend of the Japanese concept of Ikigai. It will narrow down your options by clarifying your passion, profession and vocation in life.

For more information just message me!🌼

Now, feel free to begin the reading.

Pile 1

Hello, my dear pile 1. The reading is divided into three parts. If you find this helpful then do come back and drop a tip in my jar. They are always appreciated!🍁

Your life path according to your Akashic record

4 of swords, 6 of wands, 5 of wands

It seems that your Akashic record is taking me back in time. Your true life path has a strong connection to the past. I see that you fought battles. The energy is of the competition. Sudden changes, in fact, some kind of shock. There were disputes within your community, whatever you were a part of. You were the star of the group and others wanted to probably take that shine. I don't know why but I see a leg injury. Something deeply bothered you. The pain was so profound that it found its solace deep in your subconscious. Something made you fall sick or bedridden but you got back on your feet again. But the joy did not last long. You had to face more competition. You probably didn't get enough time to contemplate and understand what was really going on around you and among your people. It created a deep wound. Something that you need to deal with in this lifetime. If you ask some very important questions to yourself, especially regarding the relationships with people in your life you may find the answer to the blockage on your life path. I feel some people did not have the best interest for you they just wanted to be with you to be a part of your light. And that created a wound. You thought they truly loved you but perhaps it wasn't true. Your illusions of people had to die. Yes, exactly! What illusions are you living in? The idea of people you have is keeping you in the dark and unless you find the truth the light will not enter your life.

The path that you are currently on

Ace of wands, The Hierophant

I see that people come to you for advice. You have that spark. I have been saying spark, light and even I can see a lion. The king of the jungle. You definitely had an important position in the past and you still do. You may not believe it but your aura still carries that energy and that's why people are so attracted to you and come to you for advice. I also see that you doubt your capabilities. You doubt that you can ever guide yourself. I see two pillars, two polarities. On one side you know that you are a good listener but on the other hand, you still don't feel very convinced about your capabilities. Somewhere you are carrying the lesson of your past life, which is good, but it has broken your confidence in people and that's why it may be difficult for you to trust them. Others know that they can rely on you but you can't rely on them completely. That hurts. It also lowers your self-esteem. It may give rise to people people-pleasing attitude. Basically, no strong boundaries. I also see that great ideas come to you. You can be an advisor or a counselor. But you need to have strong boundaries and allow yourself to be somebody out of your community. You are your own person. You need to move out of your comfort zone and talk to people out of your circle too. People will let you down, expect that from them. But you also need to know that some people won't. Some may surprise you with their generosity. I also see that someone admires you. Isn't that beautiful? And you may have no idea about it. You're not wishing hard enough to finally let the physical manifestation of your dreams come to you. You have a significant purpose in this lifetime which is linked to guiding others.

How can you align your path with your soul's DNA?

5 of pentacles, 9 of wands

Trust. That's what I hear. Whatever personal matter you have dealt with in the past (in this lifetime or the other) will soon come to an end. But first, you need to let yourself truly feel and see where are they arising from. Please don't drown in your tears. But honor them. They help you release the hurt. Hope is in your cards. Don't be afraid. You're afraid of something you have no idea about. But the feeling of fear is definitely there. I do see that you have been putting in a lot of physical and mental effort but things did not turn out to be as you thought they would. You're afraid that your dreams will never come true. But the authority and love you aim for has already happened to you. So why not again? The answer is that first, you need to heal some relationship dynamics along with your own heart. Value your heart. I feel the weather in your heart has either been too cold or burning like fire. Give yourself time. Virtue lies in the middle. Find balance. Allow yourself to visualize that you can live a normal and happy life without the crazy extremes. I see that in your life it has been a matter of work, money, and words. Whenever a challenge comes to you say thank you to the divine. It helps you clear your karma so that you can live a stable and peaceful life. Everything is happening for your soul. Please take care of your health and keep moving forward. If something isn't working please release it. You do not need to cling to an idea so much. You can channel another from the divine. It's simple, just ask. Also, don't ask, “What were you made for?” Ask, “What were you made of?” I am sure the answer will come from the stars and they will tell you that you were the brightest among all. It's time that you remember who you were. It's not about what you can do, it's about who you are.

Pile 2

Hello, my dear pile 2. The reading is divided into three parts. If you find this helpful then do come back and drop a tip in my jar. They are always appreciated!🍁

Your life path according to your Akashic record

The Chariot, 6 of pentacles

Your life's purpose in the Akashic record has something to do with the yin-yang concept. I hear that this may sound absurd to some of you but what I am about to say is the truth. Your true life path is leading you to break some attachments and start this new journey of serving others with a heart full of love and generosity. I also see that the more you become self-aware the easier it will be for you to understand others and do something of value for them. It's about balancing the scales. Now if you are wondering what if you won't get successful after doing what I said then know that success is written in your stars and will chase you once you align with your life's path. You will be victorious. In life, you will be carrying the sweet and bitter moments with you. The path that you are on is all about YOU. What I mean by that is understanding your feelings. Why you do what you do and how can you change it. Face the truth of life head-on. You have to be a fair rider on your life path. The life path in your Akashic records is pretty rare. By rare I mean the portal that opens once in a while. You need to prepare yourself for that day when the veil is thinner and you can finally enter the new phase of your life.

The path that you are currently on

2 of wands, 7 of cups, 7 of swords

Okay, so what I see on the path that you have chosen or are currently on are options, instability, confusion, indecision, deceiving oneself, and trying to take the shortcut. Currently, I see that the desires and so many wishes that you have seem impossible for you to achieve. You start a plan but you aren't able to execute it and dilemma always hangs around with you. It's an everyday struggle in your life but it is impacting the bigger purpose you have for yourself in your Akashic record. You are supposed to make a choice here. Unless you choose nothing in your life will move. Life may seem stagnant. And to add some movement in your day-to-day life you may fool yourself by finding more and more interests and adding them to your list. Just so you can make another plan and then another and then another. Then one day you see the list of your desires in which some are still exciting to you and some feel like they have lost their spark. And you don't even get the time to question what is it exactly you want to do and what is stopping you from doing it. It's like you want to travel the world but you just waste all your time in adding cities to your bucket list and making the itinerary for each one of them and end up getting overwhelmed. Gosh! That's exhausting. The Universe is trying to send you signs but because of your confused mind, you are not sure of the signs. Please take this reading as a sign at least and take action. Also, before taking action you need to heal yourself. Make sure you have a PLAN for that. I see you're very good at planning. Make a task table where you can add the exercises that suit you, hobbies that relax your mind, and food that you must eat to keep your mind and body healthy. It's not that difficult. Don't try to just keep adding to the list. Start small. But do take the action in whichever area of your life it is required.

How can you align your path with your soul's DNA?

4 of cups, 10 of swords

Your advice is very clear, pile 2. The Akashic records are asking you to surrender to the divine. Which means to have faith. Please stop worrying. Stop being in your head so much. Look around, there's a once-in-blue-moon opportunity coming your way. Do not miss it. You're ignoring the signs of the divine. Some of you may or already be exhausted. You have been SO MUCH in your head. The only good thing here for you to know is that it's all in your head. I am so sorry I also feel that some of you really do feel trapped. You may have lost hope and wondering if there's even any path carved for you. Believe me, there is. I CAN SEE THAT. And it's honorable and beautiful. It's heartwarming. Whatever you have been going through may be very difficult but soon it will come to an end. All you need to do is turn one stone at a time and take it slow. You don't need to rush. You just need to move in the right direction with faith in your heart. You were not sent here only to suffer. There is purpose in pain and you are serving it. But it's still in your hands to show strength and come out of it.

Pile 3

Hello, my dear pile 3. The reading is divided into three parts. If you find this helpful then do come back and drop a tip in my jar. They are always appreciated!🍁

Your life path according to your Akashic record

8 of cups, 2 of swords

In your Akashic record, I see that there's a big hurdle on your life path. And that is related to something you do not want to see because you're so afraid of either commitment or detachment. What you need to know here is that this situation won't change until you make the move. I see that emotions are involved in certain situations. Though they break your heart you are trying to protect it by giving excuses for others. But I think these are the excuses you are giving yourself for not loving yourself enough. You have balanced things pretty well but still, something feels incomplete. I think it's about detachment. Yes, it is. You need to break a toxic cycle but unfortunately, you are not ready to accept it. Until you open your eyes to the truth you won't be able to see what's really going on in the background. You're blindly following someone or something. Blind faith is no better than having no faith. I feel that you have strong Cancer or Libra placements. God this has to do with relationships in your life. Hmm...I feel there's a pattern that you have been repeating only because you are refusing to open your eyes. You want to believe that the sun hasn't risen yet by keeping your eyes closed. But that doesn't change the fact. This repeating pattern in your life is a blockage in your life to finally widen your horizons. You need to claim your space in the society. That's your purpose. That's your life path. TAKE YOUR SPACE! AND DON'T BE SORRY ABOUT IT.

The path that you are currently on

10 of pentacles, 6 of swords

Ahhh, my dear pile 3. I feel you're not who others in your community, friend circle or family think you are. You are playing a role for them. You are just trying to fit in when you were born to stand out. You are afraid to express who you truly are. It seems that everything is balanced in your life but it isn't. The issue is not financial here. The issue has something to do with self-worth. Some of you may be asked to move out of your home or change cities. You may need to leave some loved ones behind which is breaking your heart into pieces. You can't give up on the change. I mean let it happen. You have become too dependent on your surroundings which is fading your shine. You may think that you are not dependent on them but you are because when the thought of letting go comes it breaks your heart. But here is a message for you, that your guiding angels and the people who truly love you will always be with you. Someone close to you may be moving with you too. If you suffer they suffer too. If you're happy they are happy too. When you take the leap of faith you will find yourself in a much more abundant state. It's your mind which can't foresee that you are moving towards happy days. Believe me, you're going to be so blessed if you just move out of your comfort zone and take the first step towards your success/happy days.

How can you align your path with your soul's DNA?

3 of pentacles, The Fool, 3 of wands

Okay, pile 3. I feel there is someone involved here. It may be a business partner or a life partner. I see that you two are working on something but there's some help you need to move on with your project. You can't do it alone. The good news is that you're not even alone. Someone is guiding you here. And I see travel for you guys. I would highly recommend you take the help or advice of a specialist and not a random friend or just anybody who has no idea about the subject. Because as soon as you take the guidance you will be able to move one step ahead in your planning and finally you'll be moving for work or something else with hope and a detailed plan. This will be the beginning of your life path. You are still writing your journey. Please take help from an expert and begin this journey guys. I see so much hope and optimism for you in the future. You are being guided and will be guided every step of the way. Just ask for it in your time of need. You can't look back and let yourself settle in the old environment. For you, the growth lies ahead. Your true path is just about to begin as soon as you let the change happen with the right guidance and confidence in yourself. The goal may be unconventional but it's yours. Claim it. Be in love with it.

Thank you everyone for reading this blog and also for reblogging!🥀🩷

#akashic records #life path #pac reading #pick a pile reading #pick a pile #free tarot reading #tarot reading #past life #tarotcommunity #tarot cards #tarotblr #tarot reader #your destiny #faith #divine messages #tarot guidance #collective reading #message for the collective #general reading

[superiorsturgeon]

Rookie-Angel!Pyrrha: wow. Theres so much to being a guardian angel.

Angel: yup. Dont worry, you have the heart and spirit. You'll get there in no time.

RA!Pyrrha: Thank- hey, what's that commotion?

Angel: oh, that? Well, some Valkyrie and Angels are having a free for all to see who gets to collect the soul of the Rusted Knight. He's apparenly about to fall off a tree mid-battle soon.

RA!Pyrrha: oh ny! The Rusted Knight is real? That's Grand! I remember my mother reading me that story.... w-wait. He didnt die when he drank the poison? A-and he's about to d-die? And they're all....

Angel: Fighting over his soul, yeah. The Valkyrie claim their "little sis" on Remnant called dibs already, but we Angels know the Knight, his family has fought our fight for generations and he's even fought at the side of the God of Light's champion.

RA!Pyrrha: ooo-oh, wow! The truth is stranger than any legend. Still, i hope someone who will be kind to him wins..... dying in the line of duty still hurts.....

Angel: oh, they'll be 'kind' alright. This group is mostly just thirsty thots looking to score with a new arrival. Bah, i say we should just send a reaper spirit for this Arc dude, plenty of time to make a pass on him later.

RA!Pyrrha: *twitch* what.

Angel: oh yeah, that wasn't in the legend, right? His real name is Jaune Arc or something. I read the file; some time travel bullshit and a stable time loop happened. It's kinda-

RA!Pyrrha: It's a free for all, correct? (Hard eyes)

Angel: uh

RA!Pyrrha: And the heavenly blacksmith is over there, right?!? (Flexing muscles, swords rattling in the distance)

Angel: uhhhhhhhhh

RA!Pyrrha: And im ALLOWED TO GUIDE SOULS AS WELL, CORRECT? (Wings extend, a circle of floating swords forming a halo)

Angel: y-es? (Sweating)

Angel-Of-War!Pyrrha: (sweetly) oh good!

(Her eyes narrow)

AoW!Pyrrha: word of advice. Don't get in my way-HEY, I HAVE A PRIOR CLAIM, THOTS. BACK OFF!!!!!!

Angel: *gulps*

Jaune: *blinking, lying on the ground where he fell* Oooohhhhhh…I don’t think my aura will save me this time…

????: It’s okay…I’ve got you…

Jaune: *blinks and squints* P…Pyrrha…? Is that you…?

Pyrrha: *cradling Jaune in her lap and tenting her red-feathered wings over him* Hello again, Jaune! You had quite a nasty fall!

Jaune: *looks around and sees piles of beaten/bruised angels and loose feathers everywhere* Wha…what happened…? Am I dead?

Pyrrha: *brushes Jaune’s long hair back* It was close, but I saved you just in time!

Jaune: What happened to all the other angels?

Pyrrha: Oh, well…it turns out sometimes there’s…competition…when it comes to being a guardian angel! 😡

Pyrrha: Luckily I was able to convince everyone else that I was the one for you! ☺️

Jaune: *looks back up into Pyrrha’s eyes and reaches up to touch her cheek* I can’t believe I get to see you again…! 🥹

Jaune: I like your horns and black wings!

Pyrrha: …my what…?

Pyrrha: *looks at her wings which have turned black* 😧

Pyrrha: *feels for her halo and finds two curving horns* 😨

Pyrrha: …Uh-oh…!

#rwby #jaune arc #Pyrrha Nikos #arkos #jaune x pyrrha #jaune arc X Pyrrha Nikos #Pyrrha had one job #sturgeon asks #fallen angel au

[moonlightazriel]

Son of the Darkness XXI /// Azriel X F!Reader

Summary: Hidden for so long The court of shadows thrived, and things were great until the high lord's death, now the next in line should assume the crown of high lord of shadows, will he accept his duties?

Warnings: More war…. Yeah I’m sorry

Word Count: 1,6K

Notes: THE WAR IS FINALLY OVER! I couldn’t write more of this I was getting crazy. And I’m sorry to say that the last chapter comes out on Sunday 😭

Son of the Darkness Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Her heart hammered against her rib cage, so hard that it was almost knocking out the air from her lungs. Her eyes were fixed on Azriel, her head felt dizzy, and she began to feel overwhelmed by her surroundings and the feelings flooding her chest like a wave.

“WATCH OUT!” Someone yelled, bringing her back to the reality, she barely had time to move, the side of the enemy’s sword hitting her, making it even hard to breath, she lifted her sword, shoving it in the male’s skull as she tried to focus again, she didn’t have the time to think about it.

“Are you okay?” Someone asked and she looked up, seeing the orange colours of the autumn court armour, Eris seemed concerned behind his helmet, his hands were on her shoulders but his gaze was fixed on something else. “Get down!” He ordered and she did, he raised his hand, and she felt the warm atmosphere as he burned the man behind her, the screams and the smoke filled her senses.

“I just need to breathe.” She said in between gasps for air. Her chest felt tight and she felt herself dangerously nearing a panic attack.

“Then do it, I’ll cover you.” Eris said, her hands removed her helmet as she took a deep breath, the fresh breeze hit her face and she exhaled. The sound of the battle kept around her, but she could only focus on the thread on her chest, made of darkness, that connected her to her High Lord as long as they lived, the perfect match made by the Mother herself.

Her mind was racing for many reasons, but one question was burning brighter in her brain, daring to be asked, begging to be asked. Did Azriel know about the bond that sang along her soul, claiming for him?

A flicker of wings sounded and she looked up, seeing Azriel landing in front of her, concern filled her chest as he approached her searching for any injuries. He removed his own helmet.

“Are you hurt?” His voice was raspy from all the effort. Y/N didn’t answer, her heart was beating fast as she reached for the truth-teller, she knew what she wanted to do. The thoughts were racing in her mind, the fear of impending death lingered in the air, if she was to die, she would die letting him know that she loved him and that she accepted him fully.

She pulled the dagger from the holster, sliding it in her own palm, cutting it open, Azriel watched in shock as she grabbed his hand, doing the same. She held his hand, their blood mixing together.

“In our court, the bonds are only completely accepted with blood.” She held their hand up, fingers laced together. “You are my blood, my heart and my soul, and I am your blood, your heart, your soul, for eternity.”

Azriel couldn’t say anything as the bond in his chest shone with life, the love filling his heart so pure he couldn’t believe, she had accepted the bond, they were one from now until the day they died. He leaned his head down, kissing her tenderly, this was everything he could wish for.

“I love you!” He said and he rested his forehead against hers. But she was quickly to part away from him when she saw Eris defend another death blow that was meant for them, she shoved everything aside, closing her end of the bond, her helmet in her head, and her sword tight in her hands, she got ready to go back to battle. Fire and darkness fought side by side as Eris burned people down and she unreleased her magic, the shadows making soldiers fall to their knees, scraping their throats in search for air, and Azriel slashed them with his sword, his syphons glowing as he felt a new wave of energy curse through his body.

The energy consuming him was different from everything he ever felt, like a fresh breath of air was forced into his lungs, it felt like he was seeing everything for the first time, and he enjoyed what he saw. Something else burned ever brighter inside of him, and all he could see and smell it was her. The mating frenzy had started.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Y/N, Azriel and Eris fought as one, killing as many enemies as they could, however all of this didn’t seem enough, their armies kept coming, the battle kept going, more people dying by the second, and nothing seemed to work.

She felt the power being unleashed and saw the huge light creature that left the tent where Feyre should be, where the cauldron should be, something seemed different, wrong.

“Boys.” She touched the males and they turned to her, by the looks on Eris's face, he knew something was wrong, she could feel it too. “We have to go. Now!” The males followed her as she rushed to get to the tent, she felt weak, her magic slowly vanishing from her blood.

When they reached the tent, Y/N was the first to get in, the world seemed normal again, the war was over, the magic that kept the world working was back, she could feel as her blood boiled with the darkness. But she stopped herself, her mouth slacking open as she saw Feyre begging for the other High Lords to save Rhysand, his dead body laying limply on the floor. Azriel entered right after, stopping as he saw Rhys laying on the floor, Y/N turned around, getting in between him and Rhys, he looked at her, his eyes filled with tears as he watched the scene.

Y/N held him, the agony on her chest ten times bigger as his emotions overflowed her, even with both ends closed she could feel his grief, she could feel everything. The smell of flowers and earth filled her nostrils, Evanore had materialised herself in the middle of the room, gently pushing Feyre aside as she kneeled before Rhys.

“Az.” Y/N called, her hands forcing his chin up, forcing him to look at her, she was met with his red watery eyes, the look on his face so broken that she felt her own heart breaking inside her chest, grieving with him, even if she knew what was about to happen. “It’s going to be okay. Just breathe, he’s not dead.” She reassured him. Azriel looked at her confused, but she turned her head to the scene in front of him.

Evanore had cut her palm open, drawing the witches symbol with blood on Rhysand’s breastplate, everyone stood there, not daring to move a muscle as they watched the scene unfold.

“"Al la arbaro ni preĝas, al la naturo ni postulas, bonvolu doni al mi la potencon de la sep, lasu min vidi kaj lasu min diri." (To the forest we pray, to nature we claim, please give me the power of the seven, let me see and let me say.) She said, closing her eyes.

When Evanore opened her eyes again, everything was dark, there wasn’t sky or floor, it felt like she was floating in the cold veils of death, wandering around, many souls claimed for her, begging her to take them with her, but she couldn’t, at least not yet.

“Rhys! Rhys Kie vi estas?” (Where are you?) She yelled into the endless void. “Vi ne mortos, ankoraŭ ne estas via tempo, vi devas veni kun mi.” (You won't die, it's not your time yet, you have to come with me.) She called his name a few times, until she heard a response, she rushed, running until she found him in a corner, looking like a lost little boy. “Vi venas kun mi.” (You’re coming with me.)

They heard her, but the only thing they could understand was that she was calling Rhys. She was one of the Seven, she could do it, Y/N knew that. She placed her palms on his chest, calling his name, one, two, three times, they could feel as they crossed the veil between the living and the dead, Rhysand’s eyes flashed open and he gasped for air. Evanore had just brought him back from the dead.

It felt like everyone collectively breathed again, Feyre was sobbing on top of his chest, while Rhysand held Amren’s hand, she was shaking and wet from the cauldron. Azriel breathed with relief, and all those overwhelming feelings were quickly turning into the burning passion again, his brother was fine and the war had ended.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Two days later and Azriel was almost going insane, his hands were shaking and his whole body was sweating, energy zipped through him, and he was snappier than he ever was. Two days after Y/N accepted the bond, all he wanted to do was scoop her in his arms and take her somewhere to be alone.

The witches have been healing, bringing people back, and the armies have dissipated, slowly marching towards their homes. He left their tent, going to look for her, he couldn’t control himself anymore. Taking steady breaths, he felt his blood boil when she found her next to Eris, the two chatting.

She handed him a wine jug, slowly inclining towards him and whispering in his ear, “To solve all of your problems.” His shadows have heard, which problems he had that she could fix? And then he understood, this is how she would fulfill her part on their bargain, that would kill Beron. Anyone could poison a wine, no one would ever know how it got there and who was responsible.

Eris pulled his mate for a hug, that’s when he lost it, marching towards them and pulling her with Jonny the waist, abruptly parting the hug. He threw her over her shoulder while she gasped in shock. Cassian and Rhysand shared a knowing look as they saw his brother winnow away with her in his arms.

To finally consume the mating bond.

⋆˙⟡☾𖤓☽ ⟡˙⋆

Taglist: @allison-rosewood-maximoff @devilsfoodcake22 @fieldofdaisiies @valeridarkness @brekkershadowsinger @margssstuff @patdsinner33 @justdreamstars @dr4g0ngirl

#acotar #azriel shadowsinger #sarahjmaas #moonlightazriel #azriel #shadowsinger #azriel x reader #night court #azriel x y/n #velaris #son of the darkness #azriel x you #azriel x oc #azriel acotar #azriel spymaster

[bfpnola]

image description under the cut

when i was 12, i was ambitious. a heart of gold, in the words of earth, wind & fire, i truly believed that nothing could stop me so long as i gave it my all. no obstacle was too large, no goal was too distant. now, at 20, my dreams are shattered in many ways. yet in many ways i am still grateful (and i am aware that i have so much left to live). i owe it to the family i have created to tell this complex truth over a neatly told lie:

for the nearly 8 years that better future program, inc. (bfp) has existed, i have run it almost entirely alone. each time that we gained momentum, it was as though the narrow visions of others dragged us right back to the depths of the void. and i was the one always left to pick up the pieces. you see, for nearly 8 years, i fought and cried, chased and fell, lived and died. but it was through my struggles that i made lifelong friends to kiss the very scars this organization has graced me with. i will always hold a place in my heart for the volunteers who showed up, who bleed alongside me as these words rip into our spirits.

you see, i am writing this because i am a changed person. called every name in the book right down to ngger whore*, something about my soul is hurting. my children and i, my wonderful children, have spent 8 years begging our white peers to care. it does something to you… to look into someone’s eyes, to say that you feel as though you could die, that the world has cursed you with this endless sense of urgency, and for them to only center their themselves whiteness in the end. even in the home we had created, we could not escape white supremacy. i refuse to sugarcoat just how heartbreaking a revelation this was. in the words of one of our truest and most gentle-hearted allies, internally, we had become parasitic, only existing to serve the needs and wants of our white members. and of course, we were disposable. when cycles of harm were disrupted, they left us without a single word of remorse.

my children and i, we are a broken people. torn from our homes, our hearts cracked open, we are a people whose throats are hoarse from screaming, who eyes flood like the mississippi river, whose soles are calloused from chasing after dreams (after humanization) across red-hot coal. we are burnt out.

so where does this leave us? what does any of this mean? crucial details highlighted below:

better future program, inc. (bfp) is changing. our nonprofit status will remain. but our volunteer positions will not. our liberation library will remain. but our discord server will not. we will no longer accept donations. our current funds will be redistributed through mutual aid networks. our 3,000 free resources will still be available. but our capacity for material change has truly been diminished. we hope to continue to provide marginalized youth with educational materials for as long as we possibly can. and so we will do so, for as long as we possibly can.

you see, my children and i, we are a resilient people. borne of slave ships and reservations, occupation and colonization, abuse and grief, we are survivors. our hands grasp one another’s tightly so that we may never lose each other in this world. we have held hands since before we ever even met. as we venture back out into our local communities, we will never stop being intentional in our relationships (in fact, we already have a new project in the works so that may stick together). better future program, inc. (bfp) has still given us so much. and for that we will always be grateful.

if you have any further questions, which i imagine you might, feel free reach out through [email protected], instagram (@bfpnola), or tumblr (@bfpnola), as these socials will remain available.

thank you so much for supporting us for as long as you have. it’s time we take a new path.

sincerely,

reaux (she/they)

founding executive director

#reaux speaks #announcements

[llondonfog]

If you're still taking prompts, could you do a Halloween Event AU where the Knight of the Dawn's ghost appears before Silver to take back his "son." Lilia shows up just in time to see the specter before it drags Silver to the Underworld.

the way ur request hit me like a truck after the new update drop....... i've been toying with the idea of henrik having some kind of control over the knight's soul even in death to bend him to his will, and now that he learns of the knight's child surviving? and with such an interesting, exploitable magic that could offer them a way to break free from the spectral realm and command the dreams of men? oh. well, he simply has to give his eternally bound soldier a new mission. with that in mind, this is a more hallloween/horror au set after the events of this update— mal has been beaten back to his senses, everyone has woken up, lilia has put his plans to leave on pause, but silver is still grappling with the heavy truths he's learned....

the man in the mirror is kind, and that makes everything worse.

he leans in, presses up against the glass in a silent rustle of armor and silks as if his hands might cross over to the other side this time, and asks as he's asked every morning in a voice that rivals the low croon of a mourning dove—

did you sleep well, my son?

my son. my son.

the very title is the reason for the boy's haunted expression, his clouded eyes, the trembling pull of his lip. he has not slept for the past several nights, this the man in the mirror knows, and yet he asks the question without fail and with such sincerity as if he might soothe the shadows that bruise and deepen beneath the boy's gaze, as if he was not the one to put them there.

ah, but that's not entirely fair now, is it?

he did not install this bleeding, aching chasm inside of his child's heart, his is not the name that lingers on the back of his child's throat, choked and stifled under tears as he languishes under unseen night terrors and monstrous shame of guilt. he is not who his child wants, but he will help to teach his child that he can be all that he needs, if he would simply reach out and take his hand. he can ease away the pain, he can learn to hold him close— has he not been denied this for nearly four hundred years? did he not love his child too, once upon a time?

and perhaps he did. but the bindings in death are even stronger than those in life, and henrik's greedy, twisted claim upon the loyalty of his soul has persisted and thrived in the depths of the spectral realm, festering like a weed and rotting away at the clarity of his mind. where once he would have fought to protect his child among the land of the living, he now is blinded, driven by a tainted desire to see him here, safe and sound, among the dead where he belongs. where he should have never been taken from their side, where he can be protected and loved for all of time.

it is easy to whisper such promises when he believes in them, to offer a balm to his child's broken heart. look at what the fae have done to him, look at how they've ruined him so— a prince trained to die, a boy blessed to be love now cursed to question his own worth. if his child does not wish to continue living this painful, miserable lie, then why must he linger and suffer? why, when he could simply reach out and take his father's hand, sink into such sweet, pleasant dreams where the torments of his past could never reach him, not when he has his true father guarding him ever faithfully by his side—

when the door slams open, it is too late.

he smiles, the weight of his child's hand warm and living, full of strength within his own. and to the sweet sound of the fae's anguished screaming, he pulls his son through the mirror, through the glass, and into his father's arms to sleep in peace, forever.

#twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland silver #twst silver #twst lilia #lilia vanrouge #twst chapter 7 #twst spoilers #lettie's asks #lettie writes #wails sorry the horror is back #i could not keep away #me @ myself: what if we write fluff to make up for the agony of this update #me @ myself: .....but what if we don't.

[edenesth]

So Wrong, It's Right

Pairing: foster brother!Jeongin x fem!reader

AU: non-idol au (forbidden love)

Word Count: 17.6k

Summary: Jeongin knew it was wrong to harbour feelings for his adoptive elder sister, but it wasn't something he could control. Convinced that the silly crush would fade as he aged, he was proven wrong when the feelings he fought hard to bury resurfaced years later. What happens when the lines between foster siblings and something more begin to blur?

A/N: Based on a wild ass dream I had of Jeongin being my brother. You won't believe how upset I was because of that lmfao.

MAIN MASTERLIST

"Honey, come over and say hi to Jeongin." Your parents called out, standing beside your new brother.

The adorable 14-year-old boy fixed his gaze on you with wide, awe-filled eyes as you descended the staircase of your home. A radiant smile graced your face, and you waved excitedly at him, exclaiming, "Hi, Jeongin! It's nice to meet you. From now on, I'll be your sister. Just call me noona, okay?"

He nodded, the rapid thumping of his heart resonating in his chest as he admired your striking presence, "H-hi, noona," He stammered, his cheeks turning a rosy shade as he met your gaze, "It's, um, really nice to meet you too."

The decision to adopt Jeongin might have been a sudden one, but you wouldn't have it any other way. Looking at him now, you understood why your parents felt the need to take him in.

Your parents stumbled upon him at a nearby bakery one day, they watched as he stood pitifully alone.

With a sense of curiosity and kindness, your parents struck up a conversation with the young boy, who had been gazing longingly at a display of freshly baked bread from outside the shop. They noticed his hesitant demeanour and asked, "Why aren't you going inside, young man? The bread is delicious!"

Jeongin hesitated at first, but he saw the genuine concern in their eyes. He admitted with a heavy heart, "I don't have any money, and I can't afford to buy anything."

Concerned, your mother inquired further, "Did you run out of pocket money your parents gave you?"

It was then that Jeongin felt compelled to share his difficult truth. With a tremor in his voice, he confessed, "I don't have parents. I live in a nearby orphanage, and we're all struggling. There isn't much money for anything, really."

Your father decided to take matters into his own hands. He bought Jeongin all the bread he had been eyeing, as well as some sweet pastries, and the three of them sat together, sharing stories and laughter in the bakery.

Jeongin had never felt such warmth before.

The couple sat there, fully absorbed in the boy's passionate storytelling about his aspirations.

He spoke animatedly about his dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher or a social worker, eager to extend his help and care to children who, like him, were in need of love and guidance. His eyes sparkled with unwavering determination, and it was evident to them that he was not just a good kid but a remarkable young soul deserving of so much more in life.

After they left the bakery, your parents escorted him back to the orphanage, where the bleak conditions of the place broke their hearts. It was a stark contrast to the loving home they created for you. The poor children there were deprived of even the most basic necessities.

Later that night, after a long and heartfelt discussion with you, your parents decided to extend their love and generosity to Jeongin.

They welcomed him into your family, providing him not only with a loving home but also the opportunity for a brighter future. The decision was a life-changing one for all of you, as you opened your hearts and home to the young boy who had touched your lives so profoundly.

To your parents' absolute relief, you and Jeongin got along extremely well. He may have been a little shy at first, but with all the initiative you took in getting him to open up to you, he eventually did.

One afternoon as the school bell chimed the end of another gruelling day, you and Jeongin found yourselves making your way home together. High school had been a whirlwind of challenges, but the bond you'd formed with your brother made it a little brighter. You were a senior, and he was a freshman, but your connection transcended the age gap.

As you walked along the tree-lined path that led to your neighbourhood, you reminisced about how this friendship had all begun. It was that very path where Jeongin first opened up about his dreams of becoming a kindergarten teacher or a social worker. His dream resonated with you and became a shared vision.

You looked over at him, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes as he recounted a funny moment from class, and you smiled at that. The two of you started this journey as siblings, but over the course of a year, your relationship deepened into something more, a friendship that was founded on trust and shared experiences.

You remembered the days when you invited Jeongin to join your lunch group, which consisted of your close friends, Chan and Minho.

They welcomed him with open arms, treating him like a little brother. Chan, the ever-protective and caring friend, had taken Jeongin under his wing, offering advice and guidance. Minho, the laid-back and funny one, had been the source of laughter and camaraderie that made Jeongin feel right at home.

Together, you formed a tight-knit quartet.

Lunch hours became a time of shared laughter, stories, and secrets. Chan would often share stories of his younger sister and brother, which allowed Jeongin to see that sibling relationships could evolve into something deeper and more profound.

The year passed by in a whirlwind of exams, late-night study sessions, and adventures. And in that time, the bond between you and Jeongin had grown stronger. As you approached your house, you felt grateful for the way your friendship had developed.

You knew that this shared journey was just the beginning of an extraordinary chapter in both of your lives.

As the days turned into weeks and weeks into months, Jeongin did his best to navigate the tumultuous waters of his feelings. He knew, deep down, that it wasn't right to have these emotions for you, even if you weren't biologically related. You were his adoptive sister, and the societal norms made it clear that such feelings were taboo.

But the heart, as they say, has a mind of its own.

Jeongin was determined to suppress his romantic feelings and focus on the friendship that blossomed between the two of you. He took every measure he could to see you as nothing more than his friend and big sister.

When you invited him to hang out with your friends, he eagerly participated in the activities, valiantly trying to blend in with the group. He laughed at their jokes, shared their interests, and offered his own opinions to the conversations. In the midst of it all, he felt himself slipping into the role of your little brother without a choice.

Late-night study sessions were another challenge.

As you worked together on assignments and helped each other prepare for exams, Jeongin had to remind himself that this closeness was borne from a shared pursuit of knowledge, not an opportunity for romantic connection. He focused on the task at hand, suppressing the romantic thoughts that occasionally tried to intrude.

His determination to maintain the purity of your sibling relationship was fueled by his admiration for you. You became his role model, a paragon of kindness and ambition. He appreciated the way you always had his back and the encouragement you gave him in pursuing his dreams.

Despite the occasional flutter of his heart and the way his cheeks might flush when you smiled, he persisted in viewing you as the friend and sister that you were meant to be.

He took comfort in the warmth of your friendship, hoping that with time, the inappropriate feelings he struggled with would fade away, leaving behind a bond that was deeper and more profound than any fleeting crush.

Time flew by, and the next thing you all knew, the day of your high school graduation arrived.

As you walked across the stage, beaming with pride, to accept your diploma, Jeongin watched from the audience, sitting with your parents. It was a bittersweet moment for him, and his heart swelled with a mix of pride and sadness.

Seeing that beautiful smile on your face as you held that symbolic piece of paper in your hands was a moment he would treasure forever. Your success meant the world to him, but at the same time, he felt a pang of sadness. You were about to leave for Seoul City to pursue your dreams of becoming an author, leaving behind the life you've known.

He knew that the upcoming separation was inevitable. In a way, he believed it might be for the best. This time apart could serve as a respite, a chance for him to reflect on his feelings and, hopefully, come to terms with them. The intensity of his emotions had not waned, and he understood that it was time to face the reality of his situation.

The idea of missing you was painful, but he knew that he needed to work on getting over his romantic feelings.

He hoped that in your absence, he could focus on his own personal growth and, perhaps, redirect his ambitions toward becoming the kind-hearted and supportive person you've always been for him.

Jeongin made a silent promise to himself that he would use this time apart to heal and grow, while always cherishing the special bond you had as siblings. Your graduation marked the beginning of a new chapter for both of you, and he was determined to make the most of it, both for your sake and his own.

As the day of your departure arrived, you stood at the entrance of your home, a mix of excitement and sadness in your heart, with Minho by your side helping you load your luggage into the car's trunk while Chan was already seated in the driver's seat.

The three of you had been accepted into the same college, which felt like a stroke of luck, even though you were pursuing different degrees.

Your parents hugged you tightly and repeated their words of advice and affection. They wanted to ensure you were prepared for the adventures and challenges that awaited you in the big city. It was a heartwarming scene filled with warmth, support, and love.

When it was Jeongin's turn to bid you farewell, he didn't hesitate. He wrapped his arms tightly around you, burying his face in your neck. The embrace was filled with an unspoken fear of the unknown. He didn't know when he would see you again, and he wanted to hold you as close as he could at this moment.

You smiled, even as tears welled up in your eyes, and you gently stroked the back of his head to comfort him, "I promise I'll come back during breaks, Jeongin-ah." You reassured him.

He pulled back slightly, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, "You better, noona. I'll miss you."

You chuckled, your voice filled with tenderness, "I'll miss you too, cutie pie. Take care of mum and dad for me, will you?"

He nodded, holding onto your hands tightly, ignoring the rapid fluttering of his heart. With a reluctant smile, he waved at Minho and Chan before watching somberly as you got into Chan's car. The engine roared to life, and you all began to drive away, leaving your childhood home behind.

Jeongin's gaze remained locked on the car, a mixture of sadness, longing, and hope swirling in his heart as he silently wished you a bright and fulfilling journey.

Over the next four years, life took you and Jeongin in different directions.

You immersed yourself in the college experience, pursuing your passion for literature and growing as an aspiring author. The bustling city provided the backdrop for your personal and academic adventures. You met new friends, experienced new cultures, and even dated a few guys during your college years.

But, no matter how much your life expanded, a piece of your heart always remained at home.

On the other hand, Jeongin was making his own journey through high school, diligently focusing on his studies. While you were away, he thrived academically, often being the top student in his class. He poured himself into extracurricular activities and helped out at the orphanage whenever he could.

The multiple confessions from girls at his school came and went, but he politely declined each one. He was determined to bury his feelings for you, convinced that by the time he graduated high school, he could move forward without the weight of an unrequited love.

The two of you had your share of brief reunions during semester breaks. Each time, you were greeted with a warm hug and that familiar, heartwarming smile from Jeongin. Your family remained the constant support system in both of your lives, and it was always a comfort to come home to their open arms.

Despite your separations, the bond between you remained strong. You would often talk late into the night, sharing stories of your college experiences, the people you met, and your dreams for the future. In those moments, it was clear that your relationship was built on something more profound than mere biology.

Jeongin's determination to let go of his romantic feelings for you was evident in his endless support and encouragement.

He wanted nothing more than to see you succeed, and the happiness in your eyes was all that mattered to him. With each passing semester, he hoped that he was one step closer to the day when his heart would finally let go of the unattainable dream that had haunted him since he met you.

On one of the weekends when you returned home for a traditional festive celebration, the house was filled with the comforting aroma of home-cooked meals and laughter. After a hearty dinner with your parents, you and Jeongin retreated to your room.

As you sat side by side on your queen-sized bed, you couldn't contain your excitement, eager to share all the fun and exciting things that happened during the semester. Your eyes sparkled, and your voice was filled with enthusiasm as you recounted your adventures. Jeongin, being the attentive and caring brother he's always been, listened intently, hanging on your every word.

He noticed how happy you appeared, and he couldn't help but comment, "You seem really happy, noona."

You blushed slightly, a shy smile playing on your lips, "Well," You began hesitantly, "There's this guy I've been seeing. I really like him."

Jeongin's expression remained neutral, but a pang of heartache pierced through his chest. He accepted the truth that it was forbidden to love you in a romantic way, no matter how deeply he felt for you. He knew he could only be happy for you if you found someone who was genuinely right for you.

He continued to watch you with endearing affection as you mumbled sleepily, exhaustion finally catching up with you, "I missed you so much, Jeongin-ah." You whispered, the words barely audible as you began to drift into slumber.

Gently pushing a strand of hair away from your face, he let out a soft, wistful sigh. His unspoken emotions remained trapped within his heart as he watched over you, the love in his gaze too deep and too forbidden to ever be shared.

Jeongin muttered softly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I missed you too, noona, more than you could ever know." His heart ached with the weight of unsaid words, with emotions too heavy to bear. He leaned down to press a gentle kiss on your forehead, a silent promise of love and protection, before tucking you in with great care.

As he left your room, he did so quietly, as if trying to keep the sanctity of the moment undisturbed. The sadness that had been gnawing at his heart began to intensify as he returned to his own room, which suddenly felt much emptier than usual.

He sat on the edge of his bed, the turmoil in his heart almost unbearable. He wondered if he would ever truly move on from the feelings he had for you. Every time he felt like he made a little progress, it all crumbled when he saw you again, heard your voice, or felt your presence. It was a constant struggle, a daily battle against the emotions he tried so hard to suppress.

He knew that the path he had chosen, one of being content with being your brother and nothing more, was the right one.

But the ache in his heart, the longing that seemed to grow stronger with every reunion, made it painfully clear that moving on was going to be a lot harder than he'd ever imagined. Jeongin rested his head in his hands, lost in the torment of a love that could never be, hoping that someday he could find the strength to truly let go and move on from the impossible dream that held his heart captive.

As you entered your final year of college, the weight of schoolwork and academic responsibilities pressed upon you, leaving little room for anything else. This time, you couldn't make it home for the traditional festive celebrations, and the absence of your presence left an undeniable void in your family's hearts.

Jeongin, in particular, felt the absence keenly.

But he saw an opportunity in your absence, an opportunity to create some distance and try to avoid thinking about you. He decided to dedicate all his thoughts and focus to his own senior year of high school. He filled every available moment with extracurricular activities and volunteering, immersing himself in various projects, and contributing to his school and the orphanage.

The idea was to keep his mind preoccupied, to allow himself to grow and develop independently, far away from the influence of unrequited love. Although your absence was painful, Jeongin believed it might help him in the long run.

During this time, the only updates he received were through your social media. He saw photos and stories of you with a guy named Mingyu, whom he assumed was the one you mentioned that night. The pain of seeing those updates, the envy that welled up inside him, and the realisation that you've found happiness with someone else was like a bitter pill to swallow.

Yet, that pain became his driving force.

The hurt and envy he felt served as a catalyst for him to finally let go of the romantic feelings that had haunted him for so long. He used these emotions to motivate himself to move forward and to continue building a future that didn't revolve around you.

With each post he saw, he allowed the heartache to be a reminder that his heart needed to heal and that it was time to focus on his own dreams and aspirations. It was a painful process, but he was determined to emerge from it stronger and ready to embrace a life without the burden of unrequited love.

Towards the end of that year, Jeongin began to feel like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

It was as though he could finally breathe again, no longer haunted by the painful emotions that had plagued him whenever he saw anything you posted with Mingyu. He made remarkable progress in letting go of the feelings he once thought he had for you.

As the final months of his high school life passed by, he realised that he could genuinely be happy for you. Seeing you with Mingyu no longer stirred up jealousy or heartache. Instead, it brought a sense of contentment, knowing you've found love and happiness.

On Jeongin's graduation day, he stood proudly on the podium as the valedictorian, delivering a heartfelt speech that moved not only his fellow graduates but also your parents, who watched with pride and tears in their eyes. It was a day of celebration, a recognition of his hard work and dedication.

While he knew you weren't able to make it due to your final exams, he wasn't too upset. In fact, he couldn't wait for the surprise he had in store for you. You didn't know it yet, but Jeongin had been accepted into the same college as you. He would soon be near you again, and he couldn't wait to see the look of shock and joy on your face when he finally revealed his plans to be near you.

It was the beginning of a new journey for both of you, one that held the promise of rekindling the bond you shared as siblings and exploring the infinite possibilities of the future together.

On your college graduation day, you hugged your parents tightly, your heart filled with pride and accomplishment. As you held them close, your excitement couldn't be contained, and you couldn't help but ask, "Where's Jeongin? I can't wait to see him."

Your parents exchanged a cheeky grin, and you noticed their mischievous smiles, "He has a surprise for you," Your mother said, her eyes twinkling with anticipation, "He'll be coming to see you soon."

Your curiosity was piqued, and you pleaded with them to reveal more details, but they remained resolute, sharing only vague hints about the surprise. Your parents had a knack for keeping secrets, and they weren't about to give away the surprise before the right moment.

But as the graduation ceremony drew to a close and your fellow graduates reunited with their families, there was no sign of Jeongin. You felt a mix of emotions, a blend of anticipation and disappointment.

Eventually, it became clear that you wouldn't get to see your brother on this special day. Your parents had to leave to return home, and you remained in Seoul where you were set to start your new job at a well-known media organisation. It was a bittersweet ending to the day, filled with both professional excitement and a sense of longing to see your family, especially Jeongin, who had promised a surprise.

Looking out at the cityscape, you wondered what the surprise could be and when your brother would finally reveal it.

As the clock struck 10pm, you sighed, realising that it was time to retire to your bedroom. The disappointment of not having seen Jeongin on your graduation day weighed heavily on your heart. You missed him terribly, especially after an entire year of separation.

With a heavy heart, you got up and prepared to turn off the lights in your apartment's living room. You were about to retreat to your bedroom when, suddenly, the doorbell rang. You froze in place, and your heart skipped a beat. The unexpected sound sent a jolt of excitement through you.

Without a second thought, you hurried to the door and pulled it open. Your breath caught in your throat, and you felt tears welling up in your eyes at the sight of the person you've longed to see. It was Jeongin, standing before you, a shy smile playing on his lips.

You cried out his name, overcome with emotion, and without hesitation, you jumped into his awaiting arms. He held you close, his arms wrapped securely around you. The feeling of his presence, the warmth of his embrace, and the sound of his voice whispering, "Surprise, noona," was like a dream come true.

Tears of joy streamed down your cheeks as you held onto him, unable to believe that he was here, in the city with you, after all this time.

The longing for him had been replaced with an overwhelming sense of happiness and love. Your heart felt complete as you held your brother close, knowing that this surprise reunion was a moment to cherish for a lifetime.

Settled in your living room, you finally had the opportunity to take a proper look at Jeongin. You noticed just how much he's grown over the past year. He looked mature, and it was evident that he was no longer the cute little boy you once remembered.

He became undeniably good-looking, and it was clear to you that he must have been a heartbreaker during his final school year. You couldn't resist teasing him about it after you told him how proud you were of him for graduating as valedictorian, which only made him blush and shyly dismiss your compliments.

After a round of lighthearted jokes, you turned serious and asked the question that's been bothering you, "Why did you miss my graduation, Jeongin-ah?"

He finally decided to tell you the truth, "I'm starting my early childhood education degree at the college you just graduated from," He admitted, "I had to settle into the dormitory during the day, and I couldn't make it to the ceremony."

Your eyes widened, realisation dawning on you. You gasped, "You're going to be here, near me from now on?"

Jeongin's face broke into a bright smile, his eyes filled with excitement, "Yes, noona. I'm going to be here, and I can't wait to spend more time with you."

The thought that your brother was now living in the same city and attending the same college as you filled you with joy. You felt a surge of protectiveness and a desire to look after him, now that he was here. You excitedly volunteered, "You know what? You're not going to be alone in this big city. I'll take care of you now."

His smile widened, and he happily accepted your offer.

As the night wore on, you and Jeongin spent hours catching up, sharing stories, and reminiscing about old times. The bond you shared felt as strong as ever, and you both enjoyed every moment of it. The laughter and conversations flowed seamlessly, bridging the gap that a year of separation had created.

Eventually, as the hours passed, it became clear that there was no way Jeongin could head back to his dormitory at this late hour. You insisted that he spend the night at your place, assuring him that you'd drop him off at the dorm the next day.

The two of you settled in your cosy living room, reminiscing about your childhood and discussing your plans for the future. But as the night grew quieter and the two of you sprawled on your bed, the conversation took a more serious turn. Jeongin, his head propped up on his arm, mustered the courage to ask you about Mingyu.

Your smile faltered, and you gazed at the ceiling for a moment. You softly admitted, "We actually broke up just before graduation."

Jeongin couldn't deny the mixture of emotions that washed over him upon hearing the news. He tried to keep his expression neutral, not wanting to show any trace of his own feelings.

Truth be told, he knew he was hopeless from the moment he saw you again. You looked even more beautiful than he remembered, and his heart ached with longing. He tried to keep himself in check, to focus on being a good brother and a friend to you. But when you admitted that you were single again, a spark of hope ignited within him.

His concern was evident in his eyes as he asked, "Are you alright? What happened with Mingyu?"

You sighed heavily, the weight of your recent breakup still lingering in your heart, "I'm still working on healing from it," You admitted, "Mingyu got an opportunity to work abroad, and he didn't want to have a long-distance relationship. It was a mutual decision, but it's been really tough."

As you spoke, the disappointment and heartache came rushing back, and tears welled up in your eyes. The emotions you've been trying to hold back finally overflowed, and you started to cry. Jeongin didn't waste a moment. He pulled you close into his arms, kissing the top of your head and held you tightly as you sobbed into his chest.

Through your tears, you heard his soothing words, "I'm here for you, no matter what happens. You can always rely on me."

Nodding against him, you felt the warmth and comfort he provided. At that moment, you realised that your little brother wasn't so little anymore. He's grown into a dependable and caring presence in your life. With him by your side, you felt less alone.

In the quiet of the night, Jeongin watched as you gradually found comfort and rest beside him. He pulled the duvet up and tucked you in gently, ensuring you were warm and snug. As he gazed at your peaceful face, he couldn't resist leaning in to kiss your forehead softly, his lips brushing against your skin with tenderness.

With great care, he settled down next to you, the events of the day and your emotional conversation lingering in his mind. Seeing you so upset and heartbroken, he felt the need to help you find happiness again, even if it meant putting his own desires and feelings aside.

As he closed his eyes and began to drift off to sleep, his thoughts were filled with one singular purpose: to be the supportive, loving brother you needed to overcome the pain of your breakup. With determination, he silently vowed to be by your side, offering his love and comfort, ready to help you heal and find happiness once more.

The next day, you took Jeongin to his dormitory, pulling up to the entrance of the building. As he gathered his things and prepared to get out of the car, you shared a warm hug with him, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek before you drove off, a fond smile on your face.

Unbeknownst to both of you, Jeongin's roommate, Felix, had been standing by the entrance, watching the entire scene with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He grinned smugly as he saw the blush forming on Jeongin's face.

As he climbed out of the car, Felix couldn't resist teasing him.

"Whoa there, Jeongin," Felix said, crossing his arms and wearing an amused expression, "Already found yourself an older girlfriend here, huh?"

Jeongin's smile faltered slightly as he considered Felix's words. He hesitated for a moment before deciding to clear things up, "No, Felix. She's my foster sister."

Felix's playful demeanour quickly shifted to one of surprise and apologetic understanding. He realised that Jeongin's feelings for you might be more complex than he initially thought, and he decided not to press the matter further.

Jeongin's situation was a delicate one, and Felix respected that. As he stepped into the dormitory with Jeongin, he silently hoped that his roommate would find happiness and navigate the complex emotions he felt for his foster sister in his own way.

A few months passed since you started your new job, and Jeongin has settled comfortably into college life as well. You both made an effort to meet up during the weekends, cherishing the time you could spend together when neither of you had prior commitments.

This particular weekend, he came to your apartment for a cosy dinner and movie night. Before the night's activities, you decided to go grocery shopping to stock up on all the snacks and ingredients you needed. You grabbed a couple of bags, and together, you headed to the local supermarket, laughing and chatting along the way.

Jeongin accompanied you as much as he could, always by your side, not wanting you to be stuck alone with your thoughts of Mingyu.

In the grocery store, you both carefully selected the items you needed for your movie night, exchanging playful banter and sharing smiles as you navigated the aisles.

As you reached for an item perched on the top shelf of the aisle, you found yourself struggling to grasp it. Your fingertips barely brushed the edge of the product, and you huffed in frustration. Out of the corner of your eye, you noticed Jeongin snickering at your predicament.

Unwilling to give in to your momentary defeat, you stretched on your tiptoes, hoping to reach the item. But it was futile, and you sighed, admitting defeat.

Just when you were about to abandon your mission, you felt a presence behind you. Jeongin moved close, his warm breath brushing against your ear as he whispered, "Let me help."

He reached up effortlessly, plucking the item from the shelf with ease. As you turned your head slightly to look up at him, you were met with the close proximity of his face. The moment felt charged with unspoken tension, and your breaths hitched as you gazed into his eyes.

You couldn't deny how manly and handsome Jeongin has become. His features matured, and there was a quiet confidence about him that made your heart race. It seemed that he, too, was affected by the close proximity, his eyes flicking briefly to your lips.

Before either of you could react to the electric moment, an elderly woman passed by, and her eyes twinkled with amusement as she cooed at the two of you, "Aww, young love is so adorable."

You blinked rapidly, caught off guard by the unexpected comment. You moved away from him, shaking your head, "N-no, we're not—"

But the elderly woman waved you off before you could explain, her knowing smile intact as she walked away, leaving the two of you with a moment of embarrassment and the unspoken awareness that perhaps there was something more to your bond.

Despite the pounding of your heart and the replay of that intimate moment in your mind, you chose to continue on as if nothing had happened. It was the safer route, the one that preserved the comfortable sibling relationship you've cherished for so long.

As you moved through the store, your conversations and laughter returned to their usual ease.

You picked up groceries, playfully teased each other, and shared stories about your week. It was as though the elderly woman's comment had never happened, and you felt a mixture of relief and uncertainty about the unspoken tension that lingered between you and your brother.

For Jeongin, that quick glimpse he saw in your eyes has stirred something within him. He knew, even if just for a moment, that you didn't see him as just a brother.

It was a tiny glimmer of hope, a spark of possibility that he couldn't ignore. He tried to keep his own feelings in check, not wanting to jeopardise the relationship you shared, but the knowledge that there was a chance beyond being just siblings remained in the back of his mind.

After your grocery shopping adventure, you and Jeongin returned home to prepare dinner together.

You decided to make your mother's famous soybean stew, hoping to recreate the comforting flavours of home. As you began cutting up the ingredients, you found yourself struggling with the knife, and a momentary lapse of concentration nearly resulted in a close call as the blade neared your finger.

Before any harm could befall you, Jeongin rushed to your side. He gently took the knife from your hand, placing it aside. Like a mother hen looking after her chick, he instructed you to take care of the simpler tasks, ensuring your safety.

As you carried out the tasks he assigned you, you watched his back as he expertly worked on preparing the stew.

His competence and caring nature were on full display, and you couldn't deny that you liked what you were seeing. For a brief moment, you found yourself thinking.

I could get used to this.

But you quickly snapped out of your trance, realising the implications of what you've just thought. You've always seen Jeongin as your little brother, but now you wondered if your feelings for him were evolving into something more complex. The realisation left you feeling a mix of emotions, both uncertain and intrigued about the uncharted territory that lay ahead.

As you both enjoyed the homemade dinner, you finally took notice of his attentive actions.

They were hard to miss as he carefully blew on the stew to cool it down before feeding you the first spoonful. His gaze was unwavering as he watched you savour the flavours, and he didn't hesitate to wipe the corner of your lips when a grain of rice got stuck there. He even made sure your bowl was filled with all your favourite things and took the items you liked the least for himself.

In that moment, you wondered if he'd always been this attentive or if these actions were only becoming more pronounced recently. You questioned if you were overthinking it or if there was a possibility that Jeongin could see you as more than a sister.

Recalling what the elderly woman said about you two in the supermarket earlier, you realised that he hadn't bothered to correct her at all. He simply smiled shyly to himself when he thought you weren't looking. It was a small but significant detail, and it left you with an unspoken question that hung in the air between you and your foster brother: was there something more to your relationship than mere sibling affection?

After dinner, you find yourself doing the dishes in the kitchen, trying to focus on the task at hand and push those silly thoughts to the back of your mind. Jeongin has been your little brother since the day you met him, and it wasn't right to entertain such thoughts. You squeezed your eyes shut and told yourself not to give these emotions any time of the day.

Determined to shake off those uncertain feelings, you quickly finished the dishes and got cleaned up.

You made your way to the living room, where you found Jeongin laying out the snacks you bought earlier, preparing for your movie night. It was a cherished tradition for you both to play rock-paper-scissors to decide who got to pick the movie. You always fought hard to win because Jeongin loved horror movies, while you avoided them like the plague.

When the game ended and Jeongin won, you groaned loudly, preparing yourself for the horror flick that awaited you. But to your surprise, Jeongin handed you the remote instead, "I'll let you pick the movie just for tonight."

Little did you know, he had a hidden motive.

He was willing to sacrifice anything, even his own movie preference if it meant he could make you smile and forget about Mingyu, even if just for a little while.

Feeling a twinge of guilt that Jeongin had willingly given up what he wanted to watch for you, you decided to pick something that could please both of you. After some consideration, you chose a psychological horror film. It didn't have the typical jump scares, but it contained enough eerie and mysterious elements that you knew he would enjoy.

As the movie began, he couldn't hide the grin that spread across his face. He leaned over to tease you, saying, "Oh, a horror movie? Trying to toughen up, huh?"

You playfully slapped him on the arm, retorting, "Shut up and focus on the movie before I change my mind."

With a mischievous chuckle, he left you alone to enjoy the movie. But deep inside, Jeongin couldn't deny the happiness he felt. Your choice of the film was a thoughtful gesture. It was a simple act, but it spoke volumes about how much you cared for him.

As the movie progressed, you began to regret your decision bit by bit. The suspense and tension had you inching closer to your brother for comfort. He was focused on his snack when he felt your warmth getting nearer, prompting him to turn and check on you.

His heart melted at how adorable you looked, your eyes wide with anticipation and fear, as you worried about what was going to happen next in the movie. Unable to contain his amusement, he snickered and teased you, "Are you scared, noona?"

You scoffed and tried to act tough, "Psh, of course not." But your trembling hands and the way your eyes darted around the screen told a different story.

As Jeongin finished his snack, he cleaned his hands and opened his arms, "Come here."

This time, you didn't bother to keep up the facade. You gladly went into his familiar embrace, seeking the comfort and safety he offered. He pressed his cheek against the top of your head and muttered, "It's alright, I'll protect you."

You whimpered and snuggled even closer to him as the climax of the movie approached, seeking refuge in his comforting presence. Jeongin smiled, tightening his hold on you. This was precisely why he loved horror movies so much; they provided the perfect excuse to hold you close like this every time, and he cherished these moments more than anything.

After the heart-pounding horror movie, you decided to wind down the night with a cute animated film. You started to get up from your cosy spot in his embrace to change the movie, but he gently stopped you, his arms wrapped snugly around you.

When you looked up at him in question, he gave you a sheepish smile, "I'm too comfortable like this. Can't I keep my teddy bear a little longer?"

You chuckled and shook your head, realising that his hold was indeed quite comfortable. You settled back down in his arms, finding that perfect spot for your head between his neck and shoulder, and felt yourself relaxing.

As the animated film played, the warmth of his embrace and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat were incredibly soothing. Somewhere towards the end of the movie, your eyelids grow heavy, and you end up falling asleep.

Jeongin relished the moment, feeling your soft breathing against his neck. He pulled the throw blanket from the couch over your frame and nestled your head into the crook of his neck. It was a feeling of contentment he's longed for, and he held you closer, realising that it was becoming more and more difficult for him to hide his growing feelings, especially now that you were both away from your parents.

More time passed, and you experienced new emotions the more you spent time with Jeongin. He made your heart flutter more than once, and you found yourself having feelings that went beyond the bounds of sibling affection.

It was a bewildering and confusing experience, one you didn't dare voice to anyone, fearing the judgement and misunderstanding that might come with it. It felt like a taboo, a secret that was too delicate to share with anyone.

You kept these thoughts to yourself, trying to sort through your feelings. It was an emotional journey you were navigating alone, unsure of where it would lead.

The weekend arrived, and it was a perfect time to have Chan and Minho over to catch up. Jeongin was just as excited as you were to reunite with your friends, having built a strong bond with them over the years. Your living room was the designated hangout spot, and you all gathered there with bottles of soju.

As the evening progressed, stories flowed freely, punctuated by laughter and shared memories.

Jeongin was animated and engaged, contributing his own anecdotes to the lively conversation. It was one of those nights when you could forget about the complexities of life and simply enjoy the company of your closest friends.

But the tranquillity was shattered when Chan unexpectedly brought up your ex. He leaned back on the couch, one arm resting on the backrest, and casually mentioned, "Oh, by the way, I saw Mingyu in town the other day. It looks like he's back for good."

The room fell quiet as his words hung in the air. You didn't know how to feel about this revelation.

It has indeed been a while since you'd thought about Mingyu. His absence from your thoughts had been telling, but now it was all coming back. A swirl of emotions welled up within you, and you realised that your mind has been preoccupied with someone else recently, someone who has taken up more space in your heart than you'd ever expected.

Jeongin, sitting beside you, sensed the shift in the atmosphere and exchanged a concerned glance with Minho. You took a deep breath and tried to push those feelings aside, but the growing confusion and uncertainty about your emotions weighed heavily on your heart.

Realising how insensitive he must have sounded, Chan quickly offered an apology, "Gosh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up any bad memories or anything."

You offered him a reassuring smile, "It's okay, Chan. I'm fine, really. I've moved on." It was a half-truth, for you have indeed moved on, but your heart was now muddled with feelings you weren't sure how to process.

Trying to steer the conversation away from yourself, you asked, "How's Mingyu doing, though? Is he alright?"

Minho shot his friend a stern, warning glare.

Chan understood that he needed to tread carefully when discussing your ex, so he nodded and replied, "Mingyu seems to be doing okay. He's back in town, but... he seems different, more regretful about certain things. It seems like he's returned to make amends."

Jeongin, who had been quietly observing the conversation, grew increasingly concerned for you. He worked tirelessly to help you move past your previous relationship, and the last thing he wanted was for that guy to hurt you again. He checked on you, a mix of worry and protectiveness evident in his gaze.

As the night came to a close, you hugged Chan and Minho goodbye at the door as they prepared to leave. After they departed, you returned to the living room to start cleaning up the remnants of the evening – empty soju bottles and scattered snacks.

Jeongin, however, couldn't help letting his concern show. The thought of your ex returning seemed to be bothering him more than it was you. He approached you as you worked, his eyes filled with a mixture of worry and protectiveness.

"Are you really okay, noona?" He asked, searching your eyes for the truth.

You smiled warmly and reached out to ruffle his hair, assuring him, "I'm alright, Jeongin, don't worry."

But before you could retract your hand, he gently held onto it and brought it to his chest, his heart beating steadily beneath your fingers, "Noona," He implored, "Promise me you'll always come to me, no matter what happens."

The touch of his hand and words sent a rush of emotions through you. You nodded, squeezing his hand, "I promise, Jeongin-ah."

He took a step closer, his voice a little more earnest, "I'll always be your favourite boy, right?"

Your heart raced in your chest, and your pulse quickened at his words. You smiled, though it was tinged with a hint of nervousness, "Of course, silly. You know it."

The atmosphere between you two grew charged with unspoken emotions, feelings that were beginning to spill out of the boundaries of your sibling relationship.

As the days passed, you found yourself growing more and more conflicted about your feelings. Jeongin's actions had taken a bolder turn recently, and it was becoming increasingly difficult for you to convince yourself that his concern and care were purely brotherly.

You sighed, pushing those thoughts aside as you enjoyed a meal alone at a restaurant you frequented during your lunch break.

The pleasant atmosphere was disrupted when the entrance bell chimed, signalling the arrival of a customer. You instinctively looked up and froze in your seat when you saw who it was. Mingyu scanned the room and, upon spotting you, made his way to your table.

"Hi," He said, hesitating slightly, "Mind if I take a seat?"

You gulped, feeling a mix of surprise and uncertainty, but you nodded, saying, "Please."

You blinked and tried to regain your composure, continuing to eat as he settled in at the table with you. Eventually, he mustered the courage to break the silence and ask, "How have you been?"

Taking a deep breath, you managed a smile, "I've been great, thank you. And you?"

Mingyu's expression turned more serious, and he confessed, "I haven't been fine."

His regret was palpable as he continued to speak, "I shouldn't have broken up with you, not like that, not when there was nothing wrong with our relationship. I've spent all this time thinking about it, and I've missed you so much."

He leaned in a little closer, his gaze fixed on you, as he continued, "Since graduation, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, and I realise now how much I've missed you. I've even transferred back to the local headquarters to be near you, to seek your forgiveness, and to make things right."

His words hung in the air, and the sincerity in his eyes was hard to ignore. It was clear that he was struggling with his own feelings of regret and longing, and he hoped you might be willing to give him another chance.

You sighed deeply, your heart heavy with the mixed emotions his reappearance has stirred within you, "Mingyu, I appreciate your honesty, but you need to understand that I've genuinely moved on from our relationship." The words were difficult to say, and they pierced his heart like knives.

He couldn't accept the fact, his voice tinged with desperation as he asked, "Is there someone else?"

Your eyes widened when Jeongin immediately came to mind, and you shook your head, "No, it's not about someone else. It's about the fact that from the moment you made that decision to end our relationship all those months ago, things changed, and they will never be the same again."

Feeling the need to distance yourself from this uncomfortable conversation, you pushed your chair back and rose from your seat. Mingyu chased after you, his expression filled with regret and apology, "I'm sorry for coming on so strong. I understand how you feel, and I know I deserve this, but I will work to earn your trust and forgiveness again."

Your emotions were all over the place, and you were caught in a whirlwind of feelings. Trying to escape the situation, you told him, "I have to go back to work."

With a heavy heart, you left the restaurant, leaving Mingyu standing there, knowing that he didn't deserve your forgiveness so easily after how he abandoned you.

When you returned home that day after work, your exhaustion was still lingering from the tense encounter with Mingyu. As you entered your apartment, you raised your brows in surprise to find Jeongin already there, bustling around the kitchen, and making dinner. He wasn't supposed to come over until the next day.

"Jeongin-ah, why are you here already?"

He turned to you with a warm smile, "My professor let us off early today, and I thought I'd come over and cook us a proper dinner. You always end up eating unhealthy instant food when you're alone, and I wanted to take care of you."

You managed a half-hearted smile, still feeling somewhat distraught after Mingyu's sudden reappearance and his desire to reenter your life. But Jeongin was perceptive, and he could read your emotions well. He turned off the gas and approached you, gently helping you take off your shoes.

When you told him it wasn't necessary, he sat you down on the couch and kneeled in front of you, taking your hands in his, making your heart flutter, "Are you okay, noona?" He asked, his eyes filled with genuine concern.

You let out a tired sigh, feeling comforted by his presence and deciding to be completely honest despite your initial intention of keeping this from him. You knew it would worry him, but you couldn't hold it in any longer.

You recounted what happened with Mingyu during lunch, and Jeongin tightened his hold on your hand as he listened.

His frown deepened, and he told you in a protective tone, "You should call me the next time he dares to bother you again. I'll make sure he doesn't trouble you."

You patted his head affectionately and reassured him, "Mingyu won't do anything to hurt me. He just wanted to talk, that's all."

Unable to resist the growing curiosity in his heart, he finally asked, "Noona, be honest with me. Do you still have any feelings for him?"

You contemplated for a moment, weighing your emotions before answering honestly, "No, Jeongin-ah, I don't."

As you looked properly into his eyes, your heart racing, you assured him once more, "I have truly moved on from Mingyu." If only Jeongin knew, it was him who has been occupying your thoughts lately, taking over every corner of your mind.

He sighed in relief, his fingers tenderly tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, "I'll always be here for you, noona."

You smiled at his words, the warmth in your heart growing as you replied, "I know."

In an effort to lighten the mood, he gently pulled you up from the couch and led you into the kitchen. Your heart swelled with gratitude and affection as you watched him cook and take care of you, realising that, despite your initial intentions to care for him, it seemed like he was the one taking care of you more.

The following day, Jeongin decided to take you cafe hopping to help get your mind off your ex.

And it worked like a charm.

From the moment you stepped into the first cafe, you were fully distracted from any thoughts of Mingyu just by being near Jeongin. The day was filled with visits to countless cafes, each with its own unique concept and a menu of delicious, inventive desserts.

As you entered what felt like the fifth or maybe sixth cafe of the day, you'd lost count, but it didn't even matter. It was all about enjoying the moment with Jeongin. You giggled with delight as he ordered a drink served in the shape of a cute cartoon character, and he couldn't stop telling you how it resembled you.

Taking a sip, you didn't realise you'd gotten some foam on your lips until he leaned closer to gently wipe it away with his thumb. His touch lingered, and you found yourself staring up at him with wide eyes. The gaze you shared in that moment told you that there was so much more to your relationship than mere sibling love. It was a feeling that you couldn't ignore any longer.

Before you or Jeongin could say anything, a voice suddenly interrupted, "So this is what you've been so busy with? And you said there wasn't anyone else?"

Your head snapped up to see the person standing behind your brother, staring straight at you, and you stuttered, "M-Mingyu?"

Jeongin's eyes immediately narrowed as he got up from his seat and turned to face your ex, his protective instincts kicking in, "And what's it to you? Have you forgotten you were the one who wanted to break up? She's no longer your girlfriend, so don't make it seem like she's cheating on you. If you're apologetic, then at least act like it."

You panicked when you saw Mingyu's nostrils flare, "Wait a minute, I know you. Aren't you her brother? Why are you—"

You got up and stood between the two men, not wanting him to finish that sentence, "That's enough. Let's not do this in here." Realising what you said, Jeongin and Mingyu looked around to see the other customers staring at the three of you, bewildered by the dramatic scene.

In a hushed tone, you continued, "Let's talk outside."

Jeongin nodded, ready to protect you from any potential confrontation, while Mingyu reluctantly followed.

Outside, the chilly breeze hit your face, and you felt a mixture of emotions swirling within you, as the two important men in your life stood in front of you, ready to face whatever was coming next.

You let out a deep sigh and pressed your face into your hands, gathering your thoughts before facing your ex with an unhappy expression, "I'll be honest, I didn't appreciate your accusatory tone earlier," You looked straight into his eyes, "We've already broken up, Mingyu, and you don't have the right to question me like that."

Sensing that Jeongin was about to step in and add more aggressive words, you held onto his hand and shook your head, signalling for him to stay silent, and he gave in, squeezing your hand in support.

Mingyu looked remorseful and admitted his fault, "You're right. I let my jealousy get the best of me, and I'm sorry. I just... I really want you back."

Your heart ached at his words, but you knew you had to make it clear that there was no turning back this time. Letting go of Jeongin's hand, you moved to stand in front of Mingyu, locking eyes with him.

"Look, Mingyu, you need to understand something," You told him, your voice firm, "Our relationship was always on your terms. You decided to end it, and I respected that decision, even though it was hard for me. And now, just because you want me back, you can't expect me to drop everything and go back to the way things were. What about what I want?"

Your words hung heavily in the air as you challenged him. Mingyu looked taken aback, realising that he'd never considered your feelings and desires in your past relationship. The silence between you was palpable, and you awaited his response, hoping that he would finally understand your perspective.

The realisation of his past actions and selfishness hit your ex hard, like a tidal wave crashing over him.

He could now see how one-sided the relationship had been, always revolving around his feelings and desires, without ever considering what you wanted or needed. He felt a deep pang of guilt for being so blind to your feelings.

His hands trembled as he let out a shaky breath, his eyes reflecting the inner turmoil he was experiencing. Slowly, he nodded, his voice filled with remorse, "God, you're right, I've been so wrong. I've never considered what you wanted. You deserve someone better than me, someone who will prioritise your happiness above all else."

His apology was sincere, and he continued, "I'm so sorry for not being that person for you, for not treating you the way you should have been treated. I... I promise I won't bother you again, if that's what you want. You deserve to be happy."

You nodded in response, feeling a mix of relief and sadness, "Thank you, Mingyu, I appreciate it."

His words seemed heartfelt, and you hoped he would find the self-awareness to grow and change. With a heavy heart, you wished him well and turned to rejoin Jeongin, who was still standing by your side.

As he watched you walk away with Jeongin, your ex felt a bittersweet mix of emotions. The sight of you with someone else, whether it was your foster brother or a new love interest, weighed heavily on his heart. He knew he didn't have the right to be upset, for he was the one who had ended your relationship, and he understood that you deserved happiness, even if it was with someone else.

Mingyu noticed your interactions earlier in the café, and at first, he misunderstood them.

The way you looked at Jeongin, and the comfortable way you interacted, gave him the impression that there was more to your relationship than just sibling affection. He'd been so sure that he was witnessing a new romantic connection in your life, only to later realise that it was your brother.

Deep down, Mingyu recognised that it wasn't technically wrong for you to have a romantic relationship with Jeongin. After all, you were not blood-related, and your sibling relationship existed mainly on paper. The legal and technical aspects of your relationship didn't diminish the deep bond you shared.

With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked away, understanding that he needed to accept the reality of the situation and focus on his own growth and self-improvement.

Meanwhile, your walk home with Jeongin was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves in the wind. As the streets grew quieter, your mind grew louder with thoughts of the encounter with Mingyu.

His words echoed in your mind: "You deserve someone who would prioritise your happiness over anything else." It struck a chord within you, and you felt a twinge of fear. The realisation that followed scared you even more—the first person who came to mind was Jeongin.

Lately, you noticed that your interactions with him were blurring the lines between sibling affection and something more. It was a feeling you've tried to suppress, but it was becoming harder and harder to deny. The way he cared for you, the moments that felt more intimate than they should be for siblings, it was all starting to blur the boundaries.

The weight of it all settled heavily on your chest.

You worried about the implications of these feelings. What would it mean for your relationship with Jeongin, for your family, for your future? How would your parents react if they knew? What would your relatives and friends say?

The fear of it all consumed you, and you couldn't shake the unease that settled deep within. It was a battle between your heart and your rational mind, a conflict that left you feeling lost and uncertain about the path ahead.

Jeongin was incredibly perceptive, and he understood that you needed some space and time to process your thoughts and emotions. He didn't press you for conversation, instead remaining a supportive presence by your side, offering a comforting hand or a warm meal when you needed it.

The weekend passed in quiet contemplation, and you were grateful that he respected your need for solitude.

As Sunday evening approached, the time for Jeongin to return to his dorm drew near. The car ride was quiet, with the radio providing the only sound in the background. He was worried but wanted to give you time to come to terms with your own feelings.

When you arrived at his dormitory, he hesitated before getting out of the car. He squeezed your hand and said, "Noona, remember to—"

You cut him off with a weak smile and understanding eyes, "Yes, I know. I'll come to you if I need anything. You'll always be my favourite boy, Jeongin-ah."

His heart swelled with affection at your words, but a hint of unease remained. The way you said it left him feeling unsettled. You leaned over and pressed a lingering kiss on his cheek, causing his cheeks to flush with warmth. Before he could say anything else, you gestured towards the outside of the car where his roommate was waiting.

"Go on, your friend's waiting," You said softly, your eyes filled with tenderness, "I'll see you next weekend."

He nodded, his emotions swirling within him. He stepped out of the car and closed the door, turning back to look at you once more before heading to meet Felix. The conflicting feelings within him mirrored your own as he left, and he knew that your relationship had reached a pivotal crossroads that neither of you could ignore.

Jeongin couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Ever since the evening at the cafe with Mingyu, you'd been acting distant and aloof. He'd been eagerly anticipating the next weekend, hoping to see you and spend time together as usual, but his heart sank when he received a text from you telling him not to come over because you had a date. It felt like a punch to the gut, and he couldn't understand what changed.

In the days that followed, your interactions became more strained. You only contacted him when it was necessary, and you'd been spending your free time outside of work on dating apps and meeting new people.

Jeongin couldn't make sense of it.

He thought you shared his feelings, and he'd been more than willing to take that next step. But your behaviour now was pushing him further away, and he couldn't bear the thought of being relegated to the role of a mere brother.

Jeongin has kept his feelings to himself for too long. He was tired of the secrecy, the unspoken words that hung between you. He'd been convinced that you felt the same way, but your recent actions left him bewildered and hurt. He couldn't understand why you were suddenly treating him like a brother when it felt like there was something more between you.

The frustration was building within him, and he couldn't hold back any longer. He needed to confront you and get to the bottom of this, no matter how difficult the conversation might be.

His heart ached with the uncertainty of your feelings, and he had to find out what changed between you. He decided to go to your place, leaving you a text to inform you of his visit. He watched as the message was marked as "delivered" but received no response. The coldness of your silence stung him, but he couldn't abandon his mission.

Arriving at your door, he knocked several times and called out your name, but there was no response from within.

Panic started to bubble up as he called your phone and heard it ringing on the other side of the door. You were undoubtedly inside, so why were you not answering? Fear for your safety began to creep in, and he decided to use the spare key you'd given him to unlock your door and enter.

He cautiously moved through your apartment, searching for any sign of you. When he reached your bedroom, he noticed the door slightly ajar. He called out to you softly but received no response.

Jeongin pushed the door open gently, and relief washed over him when he saw you lying on the bed. But the relief turned to alarm as he got closer and realised that you were drenched in sweat, your face pale, and your body burning with fever.

You were sick.

Frowning with concern, he touched his hand to your forehead, wincing at the intense heat radiating from your skin.

Worry was etched across his face as he whispered, "Noona?" He knew he needed to take care of you, and at this moment, any confusion or doubts about your feelings faded into the background. Your well-being was what mattered most to him now.

Jeongin hurriedly grabbed a tub of water and a washcloth, gently wiping the sweat from your face and forehead. The cold water offered some relief from the fever that consumed you. He pulled the duvet up to your chin, ensuring you were snug and comfortable. Your slightly improved condition eased his worries, but his heart still raced with concern.

As he turned to go to the kitchen to prepare a soothing soup for you, your weak voice stopped him in his tracks. You reached out, your hand grasping his arm, trembling. The vulnerability in your voice broke his heart as you whispered, "Don't go, Jeongin-ah... I'm sorry, I know I hurt you..."

Sitting down beside you, he held your hand in his and wiped away a fresh tear that slid down your cheek, "Then why, noona?" Your eyes locked with his, and he saw the anguish in them. You continued, your voice shaky with emotion, "I'm scared..."

His heart constricted with a mix of emotions, understanding your hesitation. He knew exactly what you meant – you were afraid of the new and unfamiliar feelings that developed between you two. Your attempts to push him away and maintain boundaries had been out of fear, but now you realised it had only hurt both of you.

He squeezed your hand gently, a reassuring presence by your side, "Noona," he whispered softly, "You don't have to be scared. We'll figure this out together, step by step. You're not alone in this, and I'm not going anywhere."

You let out a shaky breath, finally allowing your emotions to surface as you nodded. With his support, you began to understand that maybe, just maybe, you didn't have to be afraid of your own heart.

As the evening light casts a warm glow in your room, you lay there, your mind finally free from the tumultuous thoughts that have been plaguing you for weeks. In the quiet space of your bedroom, you let your heart's true feelings wash over you, unencumbered by doubts and worries.

For too long, you've tried to suppress your emotions, viewing Jeongin as nothing more than a brother, even though you knew deep down that your bond was evolving into something different. The time you spent apart from him had been torturous. The realisation hit you like a tidal wave – you were in love with your foster brother.

It was a complex emotion, a mixture of joy and fear, excitement and apprehension. You couldn't believe this was happening, but you couldn't deny it any longer. You knew that you couldn't keep pushing your feelings aside.

Taking a deep breath, you made a decision.

You were going to face your emotions head-on and confront the truth about how you felt. The journey ahead might be difficult and filled with uncertainties, but one thing was certain – you were ready to explore the depths of your heart, and you knew you wouldn't have to do it alone. Jeongin would be there, beside you every step of the way.

After your recovery, your shared understanding of the unspoken feelings that have been growing between you became impossible to ignore. The day has come when you know you need to address the elephant in the room.

Jeongin had taken care of you during your illness, staying by your side and nursing you back to health. His caring actions only made your feelings for him even more evident.

With newfound clarity, you decided that the time had come to talk about your emotions. You stood alone on the balcony, feeling the cool breeze as the city lights twinkled in the distance. You gazed out at the vast cityscape, the view offering a sense of perspective and contemplation.

Jeongin, on the other hand, busied himself in the kitchen, tidying up the dishes. He insisted on taking care of everything after your meal, leaving you free to gather your thoughts. He knew this conversation was important, and he wanted to make everything as comfortable as possible for you.

Unbeknownst to you, he quietly approached.

You turned to him as he gently draped his oversized jacket over your shoulders, his familiar scent enveloping you. A warm, fond smile graced his lips as he broke the silence, "Wouldn't want you to be sick again." He said with a touch of humour in his voice, although his eyes held a deeper understanding.

You both settled into a comfortable silence, leaning against the balcony's railing and allowing the city's sights and sounds to wash over you. It was a peaceful moment, one where the unspoken words were about to find their voice.

After what felt like an eternity of shared silence, you finally found the courage to break the ice, "Jeongin-ah," Your voice trembled slightly, "There's something I need to talk to you about." You turned to look at him, and he met your gaze with a reassuring nod.

He moved closer, his shoulder brushing against yours, "I've been thinking about it too," He admitted, his voice soft but filled with hope, "There's something I want to tell you as well."

Taking a deep breath, you began, "To be honest, I... I didn't plan for any of this. I never thought I'd feel this way," You paused, trying to find the right words, "You've always been my little brother. But lately, something changed, something shifted."

He listened attentively, his expression a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. He was clearly eager to hear what you had to say.

"Maybe it's the way you've grown, how mature you've become," You continued, your voice gaining more confidence, "Instead of me taking care of you, I find myself relying on you, more and more every day."

Your heart was racing as you admitted your feelings, the words you never thought you'd say out loud, "Jeongin, I've been feeling different around you," You confessed, your eyes glistening with emotion, "I don't know when it started, but recently, it's as if our interactions are more than just brother and sister. And when Mingyu told me that I deserved someone who would prioritise my happiness above all else, it was you who came to my mind..."

Now, in a small, vulnerable voice, you finally let it out.

"I think... I think I'm in love with you."

The weight of your feelings hung heavy in the air between you, your heart pounding in your chest as you waited for his response.

Jeongin's smile began to bloom, and you felt his warm hand encase yours. The softness in his eyes mirrored the affectionate grin playing on his lips, and his words tumbled out, as if he'd been holding onto them for far too long.

"You have no idea how many times I've dreamed about hearing you say that," He admitted, his voice gentle and sincere, "I've felt this way for so long, and it's been... difficult, to say the least. Noona, I've loved you from the moment we first met." His thumb caressed the back of your hand as he continued.

You let out a small gasp at that. It was news to you; you had no idea he felt this way for you all along.

"I spent the first year trying to suppress these feelings," He confessed, "I thought I could get over this silly crush by distancing myself from you, but every time I saw you again, it just became impossible. The time I spent apart from you, like my final year in high school when I didn't see you, made me think maybe I could move on from these romantic feelings."

Jeongin's gaze never wavered from yours, "But then, I came to Seoul and saw you again. After a whole year of being apart, I knew it was hopeless. I realised that I'll always be yours, noona."

As his words settled in the air between you, you felt a profound sense of relief and contentment. The unspoken emotions that simmered beneath the surface were finally out in the open. Your connection was no longer confined by the boundaries of a sibling relationship.

The nights turned into days, and the two of you decided to keep your newfound love a secret. It was a shared agreement, a whispered pact, born out of caution and a desire to be sure before revealing your relationship to anyone.

The days that followed were marked by an unspoken understanding that you'd take things slow, allowing your feelings to deepen and grow organically.

You enjoyed every stolen moment together, experiencing the joy of love without the scrutiny of prying eyes. You ventured out on quiet dates, exploring the city together, building new memories while keeping your budding love hidden from your friends and family.

As you navigated this uncharted territory, you both acknowledged that taking the time to nurture your relationship in private was important. It allowed you to be absolutely sure of your feelings for each other and ensured that when the moment came to share your love openly, you'd be standing on a solid foundation.

Your relationship was something you were willing to protect and cherish until the right time came to reveal it to the world. It was a journey you were excited to embark upon together, and you were both determined to savour every moment of this beautiful, hidden love story that was just beginning.

Jeongin sat at the table one weekend, immersed in his assignments, determined to get as much done as possible while you buzzed around, ensuring he had everything he needed to concentrate. Cold water in his favourite glass, a bowl of fresh fruit, and some snacks on a plate were all arranged neatly on the small table next to him.

Every once in a while, you'd glance over to check on him, making sure he was comfortable. He couldn't help but admire your care and attention, which has become such an integral part of your relationship. The sight of you bustling around, making sure he was well taken care of, was heartwarming.

As dinner time approached, you busied yourself in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal for both of you. The fragrant aroma of your cooking wafted through the air, making Jeongin's mouth water. He bit his lip as he watched you, feeling so lucky to have you in his life.

Finally, dinner was ready, and you both sat down to share a quiet, intimate meal. The conversation flowed naturally, your laughter filling the room as you talked about your day and the little things that's been on your minds.

After dinner, you moved to the living room, where movie night awaited. You settled on the couch next to him, and as the movie began, you leaned into him without hesitation. He wrapped his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer, and you nestled comfortably against him. The warmth of his embrace felt like the most natural thing in the world.

Jeongin's heart swelled with contentment, realising that he didn't have to think of ways to keep you close anymore. You were already there, right where you both belonged, in each other's arms, a silent promise of love and companionship that's been growing stronger with each passing day.

As the romantic comedy movie played on the screen, a particularly passionate kissing scene unfolded before your eyes. You were engrossed in the storyline, the characters' connection so palpable that it tugged at your heartstrings.

Beside you, Jeongin has been fighting an internal battle, and the sight of that on-screen kiss has only intensified his yearning. He'd been patient, respecting your boundaries. You'd both held hands and exchanged countless cheek and forehead kisses, but that was it. The thought of sharing a first real kiss with you has crossed his mind many times, but he never wanted to rush it.

But this moment, with the movie's romantic ambience and your hearts aligned, felt different.

His heart raced as he shifted slightly closer to you. His hand, previously resting on your shoulder, inched toward your cheek, his fingers softly grazing your skin. He swallowed hard, the warmth of your proximity igniting an intense longing.

With a tender smile, he tilted your chin upward, his eyes searching yours for reassurance. Your breath caught in your throat as your faces drew nearer. You met his gaze with wide eyes, your heart pounding with anticipation.

His warm breath ghosted over your lips as he whispered, "Do you trust me, noona?" Your nod was all the confirmation he needed, and the radiant, almost boyish smile that lit up his face was nothing short of breathtaking.

Finally, the distance between you vanished.

Jeongin leaned in and gently pressed his lips to yours for the first time. His heart soared in his chest when he felt you kiss him back; your lips were even softer than he imagined. He still found it hard to believe that he was actually kissing you; his dreams were finally coming true, one by one.

As the kiss deepened, your worries and doubts melted away, leaving only the warmth of your love for each other. It was a sweet and heartfelt exchange, a testament to the trust and affection you've nurtured throughout your journey together.

After that first kiss, Jeongin decided that kissing you was his new favourite thing to do. But as much as he loved your kisses, he never failed to seek your consent before pressing his lips against yours. At first, you admired his respect for you and found it adorable whenever he felt the need to ask before kissing you.

But over time, there were moments when you wished he'd act on his own impulses, and let spontaneity guide your affection.

And today was one of those days.

You'd been playfully dancing around the living room, lost in laughter and movement until a slow song came on. As the music swelled, Jeongin gently pulled you close, his eyes locked onto yours. He leaned in, but before your lips could meet, he paused and asked, "Can I kiss you, noona?"

You chuckled, cupping his face in your hands, "Yang Jeongin," You whispered, your breath mingling with his, "You don't ever have to ask me again. Just kiss me."

His heart somersaulted at your words, and his hesitation melted away. At that moment, he leaned in without any more questions, capturing your lips in a sweet and passionate kiss. The music continued to play, but you had both entered your own world, a world where you didn't need words to express the depth of your love for each other.

He pulled away slowly to catch his breath, the lingering warmth of your kiss still hung in the air, and your eyes remained closed as you revelled in the delightful sensation.

When your eyes fluttered open, you found Jeongin staring down at you with a loving gaze, his fingers tenderly brushing a strand of hair from your face. You couldn't help pouting at him, curiosity dancing in your eyes, "Are you sure you've never dated around before?" You playfully inquired, unable to contain your amazement.

His eyes widened at your question, and he quickly shook his head, responding with fervour, "I swear, noona, you're the only one I've ever loved. You're my first girlfriend, my first kiss, and—"

Before he could finish his sentence, you interrupted with a light laugh, "Oh no, you silly boy! I meant that you're just so good at kissing, it baffles me that this is your first time."

His cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and he hid his face in your neck for a moment, embarrassment creeping in. As he pulled away slightly, he managed to mumble, "Wait, am I better than Mingyu?"

You blinked, not quite expecting this question, but after a moment's contemplation, you nodded slowly, "Yeah, you are."

He immediately broke into a triumphant grin, thrilled at the idea that he was a better kisser than your ex, "Yes! Take that, Kim Mingyu!" He exclaimed, playfully taunting the ghost of your past relationship.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes with a chuckle, "Alright, alright. That's enough."

But Jeongin had mischief in his eyes, "No, it's not enough." He leaned in, capturing your lips again with newfound boldness, clearly intending to prove his point once more.

Many months have passed, and your relationship with Jeongin has evolved and become quite stable. You both decided to take things slow, enjoying your time together and strengthening your bond, all the while keeping it a secret from everyone.

But now, things were changing.

Jeongin was ready to open up to someone he trusted, and he believed it was time to let his roommate in on the truth. Felix had been a little suspicious for a while, especially after witnessing a near-kiss between the two of you when you dropped Jeongin off one day.

He took a deep breath and finally admitted, "Felix, you know that time you saw us nearly kissing... Well, we're actually together."

Felix's eyes widened with surprise, and he shot up from his bed, grinning from ear to ear, "I knew it!" He exclaimed, thrilled to have guessed right all along, "Man, I've had my suspicions for ages! Congrats, buddy! I'm here to support you every step of the way."

Jeongin couldn't help smiling, thankful for having a friend like Felix who would stand by his side.

Later on, you both discussed breaking the news to your friends, Chan and Minho. It was a decision that weighed on your minds for a while, and you felt that it was time to share your secret with your closest friends. The idea of keeping this from them had begun to feel more like a burden than a protective secret.

One weekend, the two came over for your usual catch-up session. They noticed that you and Jeongin seemed even closer and more affectionate than before, exchanging quiet jokes and smiles, leaning in to whisper to each other, and laughing about private little things.

Finally, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, Minho, with his arms crossed, demanded, "Alright, I know we're idiots, but even we can tell there's something different about you two. Tell us now, what is it?"

You exchanged a knowing look with Jeongin, and after a brief pause, you decided it was time to share your secret. Your voice trembled slightly as you began, "Well, there's something we've been keeping from you guys. Jeongin and I... we're dating."

There was a moment of shocked silence as the two processed this revelation, their eyes widening in surprise. Finally, Chan broke into a wide grin, "No way! You're together? That's amazing!"

Minho, after recovering from the initial shock, couldn't help laughing, "Honestly, it makes sense. You two have always been so close. It's about time you figured it out."

Seeing your friends' positive reactions brought tears to your eyes, but they were tears of relief and gratitude. You were deeply moved by their understanding and acceptance of your relationship with Jeongin. When Chan noticed your tears, he immediately expressed concern, "What is it? Did we say something wrong again?"

You shook your head, your voice filled with emotion, "No, it's just... I didn't think you'd both accept it just like that... Jeongin and I, we've been so worried about what other people would think."

Minho shook his head with a reassuring smile, "Look, I know it might seem wrong without proper context. But you two aren't biologically related, and Jeongin joined your family relatively late. It's not like you grew up together as siblings and then fell in love. There's technically nothing wrong with this. You have our full support."

The weight on your shoulders felt even lighter as your friends' understanding and approval washed away your concerns. It was comforting to know that your closest friends saw your relationship for what it was, a deep and loving connection that had grown naturally between two people who cared about each other deeply.

The tears in your eyes transformed from those of worry to those of happiness, and you gave a sincere smile of gratitude to Chan and Minho for being there for you.

As Jeongin's semester break approached and the return home to visit your parents became imminent, you found yourselves lying in bed beside each other one night. Your head was resting on his chest while he drew comforting circles on your back. In the midst of the quiet moment, you gathered the courage to voice your thoughts.

"Innie... we've been together for a while now, and our friends in the city all know about us. Should we..." You looked up at him, seeking his thoughts, "Should we tell mum and dad?"

He leaned down to press a reassuring kiss onto your lips before responding, "They'll have to find out sooner or later. We might as well get it over with once and for all. If our friends are so accepting, maybe our parents will be too..."

You smiled at his supportive response and nodded, "Let's hope so."

He closed his eyes, pulling you even closer, and you both tried to fall asleep that night with your minds wandering to how your parents would react to the news of your relationship.

It was a mix of excitement and nervousness, but you knew that whatever happened, you had each other to lean on.

As you both packed up for the trip back home after informing your parents of your return, there was a noticeable tension in the air. You carefully loaded your car's trunk with your belongings while Jeongin watched closely, his perceptive eyes not failing to catch the slight trembling of your hands.

Before you could make your way to the driver's seat, he reached out, taking hold of your hand and gently pulling you closer to him. He circled his arms around your waist, concern in his eyes as he asked, "Hey, what is it?"

You swallowed hard, "I'm just nervous, Innie. What we're about to tell them might change things forever. I'm scared."

He pressed your head onto his shoulder, holding you close as he placed a gentle kiss on your head, "I'm scared too," He admitted, "But whatever happens, we're in this together, right?"

You nodded against him, feeling the reassuring warmth of his embrace, "Right."

With a determined resolve, he squeezed you gently, "Then let's do this."

You took a deep breath, wiped away the threatening tears, and got into your car. As you started the engine and began your journey back home, you felt a mix of fear and hope.

Upon your arrival at your parents' home, you and Jeongin went to hug them. They expressed how proud they were of both of you for doing so well taking care of each other in the city. A slight falter in your smile betrayed the internal turmoil you were feeling. Would they still be proud once they found out the truth about your relationship?

Jeongin looked over at you and gave you an assuring nod. He understood your apprehension but was there to support you. For now, you followed your parents into your childhood home, deciding to wait for the right moment to break the news.

In the meantime, you caught up with your parents, sharing the latest updates and stories from your lives in the city.

The evening passed pleasantly as you all settled back into your family routine, but in the back of your mind, the knowledge that you needed to reveal the truth was a constant presence. You were both determined to face whatever would come next, knowing that honesty was the only way forward.

As you all settled down at the dining table, dishes filled with your and Jeongin's favourite food in front of you, the atmosphere was warm and comforting. Laughter filled the air as you enjoyed the meal.

Then, out of the blue, your mother turned to you and asked, "Honey, tell us about your love life. Have you met any nice guys or do you already have a boyfriend without us knowing, hm?"

The question hung in the air, and you stilled, your hand reaching for a dish in front of you halted mid-air. You threw a sidelong glance at Jeongin, who met your gaze with a nod, silently encouraging you to seize this moment.

You knew it was time to reveal the truth.

Setting down your utensils, you cleared your throat, "Mum, dad, there's something that we have to tell you both."

The cheerful atmosphere shifted, and your parents set down their utensils, their expressions curious. Your father asked, "What is it, honey?"

Your voice shook slightly as you began, "I do have a boyfriend," Your parents' faces lit up with excitement, and your mother asked, "Oh, that's great! What does he do?"

You held up a hand to pause their assumptions, "Wait, I'm not finished, mum. You... you both know this person incredibly well," They paused, clearly puzzled. Your father guessed, "You're not dating Chan or Minho, are you?"

Shaking your head, you lifted your hand, placing it over Jeongin's on the table, "He's right here, next to me."

Your parents froze, their eyes widening as they tried to process your words. They watched as Jeongin laced your fingers together before adding, "It's me... we're together."

The room fell into silence as your parents absorbed the revelation, their expressions shifting through a range of emotions.

You jumped in your seat when your father slammed his hand on the table, his voice filled with anger and disbelief, "What is this atrocity?! You're siblings, for god's sake!" Tears welled up in your eyes as his outburst shattered the room's silence.

Jeongin nervously gulped, "But dad... Noona and I, we really love each other. We hoped you could accept our relationship."

Your father stared at Jeongin with an incredulous look, "Are you out of your goddamned mind? She's your sister!"

Feeling a mixture of anger and sorrow, you couldn't stay silent. You stood up from your seat and implored, "Stop, dad! Don't yell at him; he didn't do anything wrong."

Your father, however, seemed beyond reasoning. He rose from his seat, his tone unyielding, "I don't care. You two better stop this madness, you hear me?" With those words, he stormed out of the dining hall and into his room, forcefully slamming the door shut.

Feeling overwhelmed and heartbroken, you collapsed back into your seat, overcome with emotion. Jeongin immediately gathered you in his arms, planting a comforting kiss on your head.

Amidst the turmoil, your mother finally spoke, her voice wavering, "Tell me, do you two truly love each other?" You both nodded, and Jeongin answered her, "I know this might be a lot to take in, but we wanted to be honest with you. Our relationship developed over time, and we've been together for a while now."

Your mother nodded slowly, taking a deep breath before responding, "It's alright, you have my support," Her words brought you both a sense of relief, and you looked at her, surprised, "Really?"

She smiled, her eyes filled with warmth and understanding, "Yes, honey. You're both my children, and I love you no matter what. I want to see you both happy. Besides, it's not like you're actually siblings. Your father... he just needs a little time to sort out his thoughts; he'll come around, I promise."

You breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that at least your mother understood and supported your relationship. While your father's reaction was hurtful, you hoped that, in time, he would come to accept the love between you and Jeongin.

The next two weeks at home were emotionally challenging as your father continued to give you both the cold shoulder.

Despite the fact that Jeongin wasn't even his biological son, your father's refusal to accept your relationship felt like a heavy weight on your shoulders. Every time he turned away from you or acted as if you were invisible, it hurt you deeply.

One day, after he walked past you and ignored your presence, you couldn't hold back your frustration any longer.

"Are you really going to behave like this forever, dad?" You asked, your voice laced with disappointment. He stopped for a moment, seemingly contemplating your words, before continuing to walk away from you.

Sighing heavily, you returned to your old room.

Lying on your bed, you cried silently into your pillow. The rejection and disapproval from your father felt unbearable. Eventually, you heard footsteps entering your room, and you felt a dip in your bed. A familiar hand landed on your trembling shoulder.

You turned to see Jeongin, and you didn't waste another second. You melted into his warm embrace, crying into his neck as he held you close. His presence was your anchor in the storm of your father's disapproval, and he whispered soothing words into your ear, promising that things would get better with time.

He couldn't bear to see you so upset and decided he needed to confront your father. After you've cried yourself to sleep in his arms, he gently laid you down and tucked you in.

Determined, he went in search of your father.

Jeongin found him sitting alone on the front porch, contemplating the turmoil within his own heart. With a deep breath, he sat down beside the man who had raised him as his own son.

"Hey, dad," Jeongin began, his voice steady but filled with determination.

Your father grunted, refusing to meet his gaze, "If you're not here to tell me you've come to your senses and realise what you're doing with your sister is wrong, then don't bother starting."

Jeongin sighed but decided to go on.

"I understand that this situation is difficult for you, and I appreciate everything you've done for me all these years. I came here to talk, not to argue. I know that we aren't blood-related, but we've lived under the same roof for years. You're the closest thing to a father I've ever had, and I love you as if you were my real dad."

He continued, "Noona and I didn't plan for this to happen. Our feelings developed naturally over time. We've tried to be respectful and considerate of your feelings and our family's reputation. But we can't change the way we feel."

Jeongin's eyes softened as he concluded, "We just want your understanding and acceptance. Noona and I are in love, and we don't want to hide our relationship from our family. I hope that, in time, you can find it in your heart to support us and be happy for our happiness."

As your trip home came to an end and you prepared to return to Seoul, you and Jeongin loaded your car trunk with your belongings. Your mother stood alone, getting ready to bid you both goodbye. Your heart ached at your father's absence, but you knew it was a step-by-step process.

You hugged your mother, tears glistening in your eyes. Just as you were about to enter your car, your father's voice rang out, "Wait up!" You turned and chuckled tearfully when you saw him approaching with a container full of kimchi that you'd watched him prepare just the day before.

He held it out to you, and Jeongin helped you take it, "Thanks, dad." You said, touched by the gesture.

Your father scratched the back of his neck sheepishly before he finally smiled, "Promise me you'll continue to take good care of each other, alright? And... I wish you both happiness."

Your eyes widened, and Jeongin smiled knowingly, "Does this mean you... you accept us, dad?"

He nodded, his smile growing, "I might have overreacted a little... but deep down, I know neither of you are doing anything wrong. It was just too sudden, and I needed some time to digest it."

You nodded, smiling through your tears, "Thank you, dad. It means the world to us." You hugged him tightly, relieved that the toughest hurdle was over.

You could both finally be together openly now.

With a warm farewell from your parents and the promise to visit again soon, you and Jeongin drove back to the city, hand in hand.

As you both settled back into your apartment that night, you couldn't stop smiling. All the most important people in your life had accepted your and Jeongin's relationship, and there was no more reason to keep it a secret.

But there was one thing you couldn't figure out: why did your father change his mind so abruptly? Did something happen?

Jeongin found you deep in thought as you brushed your teeth and crept up behind you to wrap his arms around your waist, "What's on your mind, beautiful?" He asked, his voice warm and comforting.

You blushed and quickly rinsed your mouth before turning around to face him, "I was just wondering what made dad change his mind so suddenly..."

He grinned knowingly, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "I may or may not have said something to him."

You softened, realising that Jeongin had played a part in bridging the gap with your father, "Of course, it's you... seems like I have to rely on you for everything now."

He nodded, a hint of playfulness in his eyes, "Guess you do." Then, he caught your lips in a loving kiss. Seeing you happy was enough for him, and he was determined to support you through all the challenges and joys life had in store for both of you.

A few years have passed since the night you finally revealed your relationship to your parents and the world.

You and Jeongin have been living your lives openly and happily as a couple, surrounded by the love and support of your friends and family. By now, everyone who mattered in your life was aware of your relationship, and they celebrated your happiness alongside you.

One day, you both decided to spend a leisurely afternoon shopping at the local mall. As you walked hand in hand through the bustling shopping centre, a familiar face caught your attention. It was Mingyu, your ex. He seemed surprised and intrigued as he watched you and Jeongin together.

His suspicions were soon confirmed as he observed Jeongin leaning down to press a kiss on your lips. He chuckled to himself before making his way over to the two of you, a friendly smile on his face.

"Hey there." He greeted you warmly. This time, there was no tension or unease in the air.

You beamed, not at all hesitant as you introduced the love of your life to your ex-boyfriend, "Mingyu, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Jeongin."

As the three of you chatted and shared stories of the past and present, Mingyu noticed the way Jeongin looked at you. The love and affection in his eyes were undeniable, and Mingyu realised that you've found someone who truly cherished you. At that moment, he felt genuinely happy for both of you, knowing that if Jeongin was the one who made you happy, that was all that mattered.

Weeks later when Jeongin's graduation day arrived, you were bursting with pride and excitement. Together with your parents, you cheered loudly for him as he walked across the stage to receive his degree. It was a moment of immense joy and accomplishment, and you couldn't have been happier for him.

After the ceremony, as the four of you stood together, Felix helped capture the joyous moment in family photos.

Your heart swelled with happiness as you looked at the man you loved, knowing that you've come so far together. What once felt like an impossible dream was now a beautiful reality. Jeongin, too, felt the weight of the moment, still somewhat surprised by the fact that you were finally his. It was a dream he has long harboured, and now it was his reality.

You both exchanged a knowing glance, understanding that this love you shared was your endgame. It was always meant to be, from the beginning until the end, and that's all that truly mattered.

Not long after, as Jeongin prepared for his first day at his new job, you helped him tidy up his work attire with a smile. He was about to start working at a kindergarten for refugee children near your office, and you were both thrilled that you'd be able to travel to work and back home together daily.

"Alright, now you're all set." You said as you straightened his collar and gave him a proud smile.

He beamed back at you, feeling grateful for your support, "Thanks, noona. Love you."

You leaned up to kiss him gently, "Love you too, Innie. I'll see you after work."

Watching him walk into the building with excitement, you drove away to your own workplace, feeling content and blessed. Life was going great, and you couldn't have been happier with how things have turned out.

The day went by rather slowly as you wondered how your boyfriend was liking his new job, feeling incredibly proud of him. Guilt washed over you when you realised you'd spent most of your day thinking about him more than getting any actual work done. Even after years of being together, he still had the ability to make you feel like a teenager in love at times.

You jumped in joy when the clock finally struck 6pm, signalling the end of the work day.

When you went to pick him up from work, it seemed he wasn't done just yet. So, you decided to park your car and take a look around the area. That's when one of Jeongin's colleagues, Jisung, quickly smacked him on the arm to get his attention, gesturing toward you.

"Dude, is that your ride home?" Jisung asked, curiously.

Jeongin nodded quickly, realising you've arrived. Jisung boldly stated, "Yo, dude, your sister's hot."

Before he could respond or clarify your relationship, his colleague was bounding towards you, sweeping a hand over his hair in an attempt to look cool, "Excuse me, noona. Do you have a boyfriend?"

Your eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected question, "Umm, hi," You greeted him, "Well, yes, I do have a boyfriend," Jisung sighed dramatically, pouting, "Of course, you do! You're so pretty; your boyfriend is one lucky guy."

Jeongin came up behind Jisung, clearing his throat, "I sure am," Jisung rolled his eyes, thinking he misunderstood, "Not you, doofus. Her boyfriend."

You stifled a laugh as you watched the exchange. Jeongin stared at his colleague, unamused, "I am her boyfriend, you idiot," Jisung blinked rapidly as he tried to wrap his head around the fact that he'd just attempted to hit on his new colleague's girlfriend, "Oh shit, dude, I'm sorry—"

Jeongin shook his head, trying to hide a smile, "It's fine. You're not the first one. Bye, Jisung. I'll see you tomorrow."

You waved at Jisung, and both of you chuckled as you walked away, Jeongin's arm wrapped protectively around your waist to mark his territory. He sulked slightly as he muttered, "You're too pretty, noona. Guys are always hitting on you."

You laughed, "Is that my fault?"

He scratched his chin thoughtfully, "I guess not."

You softened, cupping his jaw to make him look at you, "What does it matter, Yang Jeongin? In the end, I'm yours."

His smile returned, "That's right, you're all mine."

This is my failed attempt at staying loyal to Minho, all thanks to Jeongin's disrespectful ass for wrecking me lately, goddamnit.

No regrets though lmfao, this is probably one of my personal favourites. It's my first time writing for SKZ, and I didn't think it'd be for baby bread, but here we are.

Anyway, hope y'all enjoyed! As always, I love reading all your thoughts, reviews, and feedback, so feel free to leave as many replies as you want! Thank you, my lovelies! <3

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