#told my choir today and she was like 'HOW DO YOU SLEEP???'

[theimpossibleness]

ow my ears

#i got my ears pierced yesterday #told my choir today and she was like 'HOW DO YOU SLEEP???' #*chiro #and i replied 'badly lol' #literally felt like my right side was throbbing the whole night #and i sleep on my sides too 😭😭 #i chose this... #(they're pretty tho 😌)

[goose-duck]

trolls x Male reader //characters mentioned: Floyd, Veneer, Velvet, Y/N

I thought abt this and decided to write it, ur velvet and veneer's little brother. Why brother? Why not gender neutral? Bc I'm male and I want to be the center of attention, okay?YOU ARE SIBLINGS IN THIS, DONT GET WEIRD!! AND FLOYD AND YOU ARE JUST BUDDIES!! NO FUNNY BUSINESS!!

~~~~~~~~

Veneer's PoV:I was just laying on the couch in the living room, it's just a Saturday, no shows no nothing, boring. Velvet doesn't even want me to do anything today and I haven't seen Y/N yet today so he's probably still asleep..or doing something foolish, you never really know with that guy.Y'know, I could go talk to the troll...oh what's his name..? Do trolls have a name..? Oh! Flower? I think that's his name! Flower! I'll go talk to him.

••••••3rd person PoV:Veneer walks into the studio room to talk to Floyd when he sees that Floyd is in fact, not there. The whole diamond perfume bottle is gone actually! The troll Veneer trollnapped has been double trollnapped!

••••••Veneer's PoV:Sh*t...oh no...Vel's gonna kill me when she finds out Flower is missing! What do I do? What do I do? Aaaahhh.

••••••3rd person PoV:Veneer starts running around looking for "Flower" and yelling "Flower, where are you?" . Everyone in the building assumes he either lost his mind or is looking for flour for baking, not that they've ever seen him bake, but who knows what those twins get up to in their free time? I mean, their little brother bakes so who's to say the older siblings don't?

••••••Veneer's PoV: I still haven't found that dang troll! What do I dooo? Ughhh!I walk past my little brother's room to hear him talking to someone, maybe he's in a phone call...but I like to know who he's talking to because he's ended up talking to some real strange people without knowing it thanks to me and Vel bringing him to put shows. I kind of feel bad about it so I try to protect him where I can while still letting him have fun.I stand just outside Y/N's bedroom door, which he's conveniently left open. I'm just out of view from where his bed is. I don't understand why he wanted such a small room actually, he just insisted on it, saying it was more cozy or something? Maybe it is, but I'm not interested in finding out.Anyway, I stand outside his room and listen quietly to hear who he's talking to.It's that troll! I recognize that voice! What's he doing talking to my little brother!? What was Y/N doing in the studio? ...what has that troll told him..? If he knows what me and Vel did will he still love us...?I start to get worried and lean against the wall, sliding down it until I get to the floor. It's really hitting me now just how bad everything we did to that troll and everyone else is. I knew it was bad, but now that I'm worrying my little brother might never want to talk to me again...I don't know...it just really solidifies how bad of a person I've become just to make Velvet happy...

••••••Earlier in the dayY/N's PoV:I was just wondering around the mansion, it's early morning and I woke up before everyone else, as per usual. It's winter break so I don't have to go to school, but I'm still stuck on that schedule for waking up at 5, which is annoying because I was really hoping to sleep in. My older siblings are so lucky! They're famous so they don't have to go to school right now, they make so much money off their music that it doesn't matter what else they do.I remember them always being really bad singers...I guess maybe they took voice lessons? I vaguely remember Veneer saying something about that...I wish the would have asked me to sing with them but I guess that would have thrown off the twins gimmick if their little brother is also with them. I'm a great singer...I did choir for years...I've sung on stages for crowds many times...I can even play a few instruments...maybe I should just make my own music career?Actually, that'd be something to do with my morning since no one's awake to tell me not to...I can use their studio! I don't think I'll actually become famous, but it might just be fun to play with the equipment and pretend I'm a famous singer like Velvet and Veneer!

••••••3rd person PoV:Y/N starts walking to the recording studio. Normally Velvet or Veneer would make him leave but since they're both asleep no one's there to him from just going in, except maybe a lock? But Y/N doesn't believe either sibling is attentive enough to actually lock a door.

••••••Y/N PoV:I slowly push open the studio door, trying to be quiet just in case Crimp hears me and goes to wake the twins up.Once inside the room the first thing I notice is this diamond perfume bottle with this little blue thing in it, it seems alive.I walk over to it and pick up the perfume bottle, the thing inside groans, I feel bad for it and set it down."Sorry...did I hurt you..?" I ask shyly, feeling bad that I upset whatever it was.The blue thing looked shocked at my apology and shook it's head, "no, no, who...who are you? I've never seen you before, it's usually just Velvet and Veneer and sometimes Crimp.""Oh..um..I'm Y/N, I'm Velvet and Veneer's little brother. Who are you? And why are you in a perfume bottle..?" I ask curiously, I'm rather confused by why my siblings have a tiny thing in a perfume bottle."I'm Floyd, it's nice to meet you, Y/N. I don't know how you're gonna take this or if you'll even believe me, but your siblings have been keeping me in this perfume bottle and using my talent so they can sing! It's...kinda killing me..." He said nervous for my reaction.I'm upset that my siblings would go that care but not surprised either, I figure it's more Velvet's doing than Veneer's as she tends to push him around a lot, he actually kind of seems scared of her...I wonder what she does to him when I'm not around if she also does things like this to tiny blue men... actually...that's a weird looking man...I should ask him what he is."What...what are you..?" I ask awkwardly, it's such a strange question to ask someone, but I wanted to know, he's something I've never seen before.He gives me a weird look before collecting himself and saying, "I'm a troll."I gave him a weird look but nodded afterwards like it was normal. I kind of remember Velvet saying something abouts trolls in a band called "BroZone" but maybe I'm delusional? Maybe I should just ask Floyd since he's here."Um...like...from BroZone..?" I ask with some suspicion that I'm correct.He responds," yeah, Floyd, from BroZone...that's me." "Sweet." I say casually before continuing, "so...my siblings trapped you in a perfume bottle and are kinda killing you, yeah?" Floyd nods. "Cool cool...well, not cool, but, like, I'm comprehending the situation, y'know? Why am I still talking...ahhh...um.." you looked at the clock seeing it's almost 10, the time when the twins wake up, so you panic and grab the perfume bottle and run to your room. You were in such a rush that when you got in there you didn't even close the door, you just hid under the blankets with Floyd."Sorry for just grabbing you...I hope you didn't get hurt..." You say worriedly."No no, I'm okay..." Floyd says, clearly a little shaken up."Ahh, what do we do? My siblings will be awake any minute! I'd just let you go but what if they see you and hurt you?..." Y/N starts thinking out loud about how to keep Floyd safe.Floyd comforts Y/N a bit, telling him that it's gonna be okay and that they can stay under the blankets and talk about how to do this.

••••••Present timeVeneer's PoV:I start panicking in the hallway about what might happen, there's no way Y/N doesn't know what Velvet and I did, he's gonna hate us! What do I do now?I see Velvet walking over, she looks angry."Veneer! Did you take the troll!" She yells at me, not even realizing the door to Y/N's room is wide open.I give her a worried look and shush her, pointing at Y/N's room. She then groans and storms off, telling me that we'll talk about this later.I see Y/N slowly pop his head out of his room and look at me, he doenst look happy, he looks disgusted and maybe even a bit scared.He asks me, "why'd you do it..? Why are you hurting this troll..? If you couldn't sing you could have been a model or an actor...it's still not too late for that stuff...just stop hurting him..." He sounds so sad, so dissapinted in me.I'm supposed to be his older brother yet I'm the immature one who was so desperate for fame and money that I hurt an innocent troll..."I'm sorry for what I did to Flower...I... shouldn't have done it...it's too late to go back on it now...I know that...but...I can help you get him past Velvet and out of here...we'll talk more about what I did later, okay? The priority right now is to get Floyd to safety. Sound good, Y/N?" I say sincerely, I truely do feel bad, I'm just so afraid of Velvet, but seeing that look on my little brother's face...I just couldn't take it any longer.Y/N agrees without a second thought, he just wants Flower to be happy and free, I guess maybe they've become friends while Velvet and I were sleeping? Anyway, not the time for logistics! It's time to save this troll!I see Y/N make a weird face for a moment before looks at me and saying, "Flower?" In a very judgy tone.I was confused and responded, "t-the troll..?"Y/N rolls his eyes at me and sighs, "yup.. definately his name...""Well what's his name?" I ask awkwardly."His name is Floyd, ya damn kidnapper!..trollnapper!" Y/N says rudely before getting up and picking up the perfume bottle with Floyd in it.I apologize quickly before I hear Velvet's heels on the ground and grab Y/N and run down the hall away from Velvet.••••••A few minutes of sneaking around the house later...Y/N's PoV:I was so shocked that Veneer was helping me, I thought he'd just cry or something like that, but he's actually helping me help Floyd...hm...that still doenst make up for what he did and we'll have to talk about this later, but it's still sweet that he's trying..my big brother has always been soft hearted...so it's nice to see him show that side.

••••••Floyd PoV:Dispite Velvet and Veneer's behavior their little brother is very kind hearted, he wanted to help me without a second thought. It's nice to know that some people aren't just power hungry succubi...I guess Veneer isn't either is he..? He's just the scared brother to Velvet. Still doenst make up for the fact that he joined in on Velvet's plan, but it does explain it...so though he's not completely off the hook in my mind, I don't hate him either.

••••••Veneer PoV:We're almost at the front door and we haven't ran into Velvet yet, this is good, maybe everything will go smoothly..? Damn it! Now that I thought that something's gonna- "Aaaa!!" I scream as I slip on soapy water in the hallway, falling onto my butt.Y/N laughs at me as he gracefully slides past me and over to the door, "haha! Should have taken ice skating with me as a child!" He opens the door and lets Floyd out of the perfume bottle."Bye bye, Floyd" Y/N waves sweetly at Floyd and he waves back. I also wave at Floyd and give him a shy smile, he nods at me as a thank you before saying to Y/N, "Thank you for saving me, I thought I was gonna die in that bottle...haha, goodbye, have a nice life you two!" He then starts walking away.Y/N says one final thing," I hope to meet again sometime!"Floyd responds by looking behind him and nodding with a smile before continuing on his way home.

••••••After Veneer and Nolan talk in Nolan's roomVeneer PoV:Me and my little brother talked about what happened, he still seems dissapinted in me but he understands why I did it. He doesn't seem to want to hold it against me but said he'll support Floyd if next time we see him he holds this over my head and honestly I agree with that, I deserve it.Y/N told me he's gonna talk to Velvet about it and that I don't have to join him if I'm too scared to, but that he's going to be giving Velvet and earful about this.Heh, for the youngest sibling, Y/N sure does act like our older brother.

~~~~~~~~~~

Stories over <3I hope u liked it :>I tried very hard to get my thoughts into words

#trolls #trolls 3 #trolls band together #venner #Velvet #trolls floyd #trolls velvet #trolls veneer #x reader #x male reader #male y/n

[illseeyouinidaho]

Learning to talk

How do you begin to write about what it was that we had? What we still have, in another form, its forms perhaps differently perceived, it’s all timing, my parents got that right, I’m re-iterating last night’s conversation, It’s still stuck in my head. They hugged me and told me it was okay, that they understood, that they, in part, agreed. I could say that I realized it all yesterday, but I knew before that, and I knew it all before I met them, that I was never ready, still the wet blanket constricting my chest, still the spits and sputters of an old engine, the mumblings of an old man, frail, and left with half-memories, severed-recollections. I’ve been watching the shadows flicker across my walls to the tune of a single flame, burning on whale blubber, emitting a sweet thickness. They, the flickers, jump and scream and cry and love, they love and love and love. Now, I don’t think I can ever say that it’s the simple things that I cherish. Simple things are comfortable things. And I’d happily forfeit those all.

When you run out of tea bags, and you can’t find the motivation to drink the boiling water on its own, thoughts fill the crevices of which the tea once filled. The pauses in my writing, I would think dully, drink the tea, feel it warm my chest then reside, I would continue. I used to swim with the fishes, and those warm ocean waters are all that I muse on. I chew, and I chew, and the tiredness of digestion makes my eyes sleepy and moist. The subtle pain in my eyes after waking, how I must close them hard to clear the gunk of last night’s deep slumber. Did those same fish appear, in my dreams, whispering old tales?

The other day I held a broken wing in my palm, faint flutters and whimpers along with it. Today I held a phone in my palm, tears, exhales, punches in the gut, a siren. Not all phone calls end with an I Love You, this I know well. What is a boy to do? You spoke of prophecies and old doctrines, scripture, dogma. Of rose thorns, from a tree top, 15 inches of hair in its wake. How does it feel from up there? Do you eat ripe figs? Do you sing soft tones to morning doves and they reply with kisses? Your a jukebox, a warship’s captain, a gas giant.

I sat alone in your apartment after having received its keys from its summer-time inhabitant. From the view from the window: little boxes filled with light, silhouettes dancing, dolled and stringed. Did they see me? Knees tucked into submission on the low sofa, still laughing about the stump and crib. A summer’s past and still canned cherries remain in their container, dried noodles in the cabinet, and kosher salt. When you make your homecoming, you’ll surely forage the remains. “Welcome to UWS - sjc”

When I was with you, I forgot how to speak. Your words hurdled at me like arrows, soaked in perfume and sweet wine. When you were wrong you wouldn’t concede until we were both worn down, breathless, ragged, and at times, left with nothing else but the need to hold each other. Your words were an impenetrable forcefield, they fogged my brain with relentless elegance, a wraparound blue-tinted fortress.

When you loved as hard as I did, there isn’t much to say. And so I sat tight, eyes wandering or either staring at a fixed point, when you ended things for the last time. What could I say? What do you say? I never had any idea. There was only one thing I knew for certain; I loved you so endlessly, so entirely. There was at times nothing else worth knowing, saying.

Sing me to sleep, to death: a fiddles’ choir, a low hum, a droning wind. Mother, I feel the dirt coming over me now. Rust of purple hue—the color of bruised mushroom stems or violet flower seeped in warm milk—covers my chest in a thin film.

Resentment was what I felt at times. Resentment of the rejection, the voice of painful truth, on my shoulder, through it all. You spoke so softly to me, little friend, re-iterating, as she would, that this could never be, that we’re better off elsewhere in both time and love and war. That the timing was never right. That you were not what she truly needed. That you were more in love. Not that you loved more. That you were more, so beautifully, might I add, in love. More attracted, more foolish, less desired. Why did I agree? Why did I not fight it? *

Please don’t try to make sense of it, look back try to tie the ends, fit the pieces, or believe what one would tell their peers about how it ended, how it was, the summary, the practiced dialogue, the kiss of death. Letting it be, letting it all be, is the greatest gift of love that you can show me.

Where cherry flowers once fell, decayed, and returned to the soil, I pick my head up from the grass and in front of me is a small clover patch. It’s the size of my palm and is soaking up sunlight from the opening between the branches of the tree, the tallest of the bunch moving ever so slightly from the breeze. When you see the sunlight disappear, in exchange for a dull shadow, over a patch of earth in which you might reside, do you feel melancholic? Within the same instance of time, the patch of clover floods my brain with serotonin, and then is enveloped in this soft shadowy blanket.

It was yesterday, technically, 12 or 1am, when I sent you a voice memo outside of a Fire Island yacht club, high from shrooms that me and my uncle took. I was absolutely ecstatic after coming to a beautiful epiphany about the absurd microcosm of the universe that I was witnessing. Dancing along with a girl from Australia and her boyfriend, my uncle, and his wife’s sister, or something like that, I started laughing uncontrollably, smiling from cheek to cheek, watching the scene unfolding in front of me. It was just too funny, too amazing, too perfect. I wandered outside to the club’s patio in order to view the scene from the window. It was then that I realized the implications of this hilariousness, and the greater ideas surrounding this feeling. It wasn’t that the scene was hilarious outright, it was that I had no ways to describe the true absurdity of it all, the beauty of it. This was when I decided to pull out my phone and tell you all about what I witnessed. There is no way to truly describe beauty, I said. Beauty is either sad, or hilarious. (I can’t say I agree with this fully now but it was the truth of the universe at the time). When we were together (together generally), I said, there was no need to describe something as it was, and then assure the other of how not to take that description as something else. “This is like this, but not on its surface level this". Of course there was no need, but we did it as a formality, you mostly. This was what I said to you, and I only half-way agree with this. It’s true, that we never needed to clarify what we meant when speaking of others, but when describing our relationship, clarification was absolutely necessary. Clarification was necessary, but rarely taken seriously. You could clarify something that could be taken as something hurtful, but just the fact that it could be taken as hurtful was often times hurtful enough. Or perhaps you had to clarify something that could be taken as too affectionate, or something of the sort, out of fear of its implications, or intolerance of me believing anything other than what our relationship actually was. This fear however was never resolved, no matter what you assured me of. This fear that I was unknowing of how you felt, unaware of our circumstances, was an old relic of a time where I did truly not know how you felt, unaware of our circumstances.

Why did I not fight it?”* This is a question of why I wasn’t confident enough, or why I was too weak to truly try to change your mind about something, make you love me more, like in the movies, or something. I think it started in September of last year, when I started feeling the fear of “disgust.” This fear stemmed from after our first break-up, in that park, on that bench, not too far from where you brought me for our last break-up. If I try too much, love you too much, be too affectionate, or what have you, I would simply push you away, cause you to feel disgusted. This wasn’t totally irrational at the time. It was after three-weeks of when this was probably true, it was a break that toed the line between “everything is going to be okay,” and “I’m going to be broken up with,” the outcome was a toss-up. This also stemmed from the time where we swore to be friends, that it would be better for us, and I believed you. And between that time and including this writing, I am in constant fear that you’ll be disgusted with me. Of course, this is a strong word, and the idea is pretty irrational in general. However it's a feeling that guided me through our time together, and I want to bury it forever.

I’m on a bullet train heading both forward and back in time, watching the colors swarm around me, and letting it leave a soft blanket of red, yellow, and the shade of a bare stone cliff worn by the elements. What’s that feeling you get when viewing the mile long field of small yellow and white flowers on the side of a highway? It’s surely not the same feeling the dark pine trees give you, or the rolling fields of the amish country, long barn, grass fields pregnant with seeds for the next season’s harvest. I ask myself, what is this bitterness? What is this bitterness in a world so ready to hug me and show me love? But it took me 20 years to love you. Am I fully ready to let it?

In this town of 30%-off flower shops, deer crossing signs, and white hippy trash, I wonder what a place like this would give me. My sister left home because she needed to create new memories, new ideas, and new conceptions of the world after her breakup. History repeats itself and is making me ask still, if not me then who, if not now then when? Tight streets, hard turns, yellow street lines, volunteered town libraries. Barns rotting from their foundations; gentrification will probably never reach here. 

Sometimes I can feel the warmth of chest and stomach against the skin above it. Like my organs are working overtime and in turn producing an unexpected heat. Sometimes I roll over in bed and imagine you’re there, in the white ocean, with the fish. The alarm is ringing and I hop out of bed quickly to turn it off and promptly retreat to the warm of the covers; you’re breathing gently. Somedays, like today, I miss everything about you. And days like today I’ll think kindly and with love, of you, and I’ll wish you well, soldier.

In my book of life where do you fit, take residence? I wonder if years from now we’ll give it a try. Or maybe I’ll meet someone who loves me how I need to be loved, like you would say, assuring me that your romantic suggestions had no implications, and me telling you that it’s only you that I want.

My dad says he remembers his first marriage as much as he does a good book. It feels like a dream, he says, something that you read about, or lived through in another life. I told my parents that I’ll marry quick once I’ve found the one, that I’ll know it when I feel it. We’ll see about that in time, I suppose.

We made something to be proud of.

Upward, into the abyss, the blue void, the moon is shining proudly against the sea. From here I can hear the whispers of love’s death and rebirth as street lights emit their florescent hues toward me: dinner tables, a new Danish TV drama. Onward, light speed, you super-sonic engine, roar-on, big beast. From here, memories of you jump out at me like photographs, film projections, morning-light against suspended dust. From here I can already see the cold, the fallen leaves and morning’s branch candied by last night’s icy wind. After it, the winter’s thaw and melt, the feast, the turkey leg’s sweet marrow sucked from its bone. City centers sprawl like a fallen snowflake, a mycelial network, a crushed spider’s sprawling legs, single lane highways like an ant trail, they to the mother hive, with their best offerings.

Tell me ol’ tavern fiddler, will you, of edible arrangements, mood boards, and words that rhyme with happy birthday, babe. Sing a song, good chap, (I’ll pour another), of what it takes to be the man, the top dawg, the big guy. 

So watch me crash down to earth. The LEDs are harsher down here. There are last stops and sore throats, blue seats and blue people doing blue things. They think of their first love, first heartbreak, or first kiss, and imagine what could’ve been, doing one of those frown-smiles. They think of their coworker, the one they want to fuck, or the ones they want to love and be loved by. They’ll dust off their skeletons, scrape the rust from their lips, and kiss the pebbles they skip.

[chronicallyonlinecath]

Sunday, 29th January 2023 - End of week recap

Right, let's go day by day (I am currently on a bunch call with Matty, Bella, Peter and Carter) I've been gone for a while, and I apologize. I suppose a lot has happened, and I just haven't had time to write these at night. I've actually been sleeping!!

Thursday - I brought a monster in the morning and practically chugged it in maths to avoid the comments about coping mechanisms coming from Wyvern&Co. Most of my day was relatively boring, but big band was entertaining, as usual. Wyvern spent most of it trying to persuade me as to why he was dating material + my type (I swear he's taken anyway) and then when Andrew came in from his geography revision sessions, he stole my sax's neck, stared at it as if he didn't know what he'd just done, and burst into a fit of endless laughter. Like an idiot, I joined him. Wyvern stared at us like we were insane. I suppose we are. However, Sheldon sent several odd messages tat made me question how he sees me. And I was mildly uncomfortable.

Friday - Chamber choir in the morning, followed by saxy brass, where Andrew wreaked havoc as usual. I spent chemistry arguing back and forth with Matty and Harry as to why I should not ask out Andrew, while Harry told me it would be better to be rejected than mope for forever. And that sent the cogs turning in my head. How hard could it be to ask out Andrew? Would it really be so bad if he rejected me? And the thought persisted into my head for the rest of the day. Until Sheldon asked me to hang out this weekend, and I denied, revealing I felt uncomfortable, to which he replied; "I know I make you uncomfortable just please get better at seeing me" I'm sorry, what? You've acknowledged you make me uncomfortable, and you're telling me to just get better? So I told him to leave me alone, and he has so far. So far.

Saturday - The question of asking out Andrew plagued me for most of the day. I walked into town with Wini and Harvey, and brought my mum, Alison and Wini stuff for their birthdays coming up soon. It was nice, since I didn't feel like I was third-wheeling, even though I basically was. They're good fun to walk about with though, and I was grateful for their company. The afternoon though, was spent overthinking and worrying about the one question pounding constantly into my brain; "What would happen if I asked out Andrew?" I went as far as consulting a friend from out of school who is basically my wife, and she told me to ask him out on call. Which I didn't, as I do not have the guts. In the end, I found myself consulting Wyvern, the last person I'd go to for advice in any other situation. Except, he's the closest person (other than Mattson) who I talk to who is friends with Andrew. I first had to confess I liked Andrew, and then asked two questions. 1) Would he make it awkward? 2) What would his answer be? Wyvern confirmed that Andrew would not make it awkward, but he would definitely say no. Not a 'very likely', a 100%, definite no. Which makes sense, and I saw it coming. Am I upset? No, not really. I didn't get rejected upfront. However, the risk of consulting Wyvern is the risk the entire school is going to find out. A risk I was willing to take, before my brain lost all sense of reasoning and actually asked Andrew out. Which would have been upfront rejection, and humiliation, no doubt. I am hoping Wyvern keeps his mouth shut. We'll see tomorrow, I suppose.

Sunday - And today was as usual, a boring, average Sunday. However, I did lots of homework, including a small box of origami roses for Alison for her birthday. And now Harley has joined the call. I'm not entirely sure what they're doing, but they're building planes and it's not going 100% to plan, I think. Tomorrow may be interesting. Perhaps.

~CM

[sprolliescantjump]

17. Acceptance

Alyssa stares at her bedroom ceiling and tries really hard to stop crying. She can hear all their voices in her head.

Weirdo. Look at her freaky skin.

No wonder her parents didn’t want her.

Miss, miss, Alyssa hit him first.

Your guardian is on the way to pick you up.

We can’t tolerate this kind of behaviour, Miss Kimishima.

She stares and stares and stares. She tries and tries and tries not to picture it over and over again.

It doesn’t work.

There’s a light tap at her bedroom door. Alyssa looks up to see Naomi standing in the doorway.

"Are you okay?"

Alyssa nods, even though it's a lie. 

Naomi looks at her, no expression on her face. After a few seconds, she says, "No, you're not. C'mon. Scootch."  Naomi lies down beside her, propped up on one elbow. She wipes the stray tears from Alyssa's cheeks with the other hand.  “Are you ready to tell me what really happened at school today?” Alyssa stares up at the ceiling. She stays quiet for a while, and then: “They were making fun of me again.”

“I see. And that’s why you hit that boy?” “He pushed me first, I swear,” Alyssa protests. “And he called me a freak, and a loser and a weirdo. And I got mad.”

“Well, your teacher isn’t going to approve of me saying this, but I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. That was very brave.” Alyssa’s face contracts with a mix of surprise and confusion. “You’re not mad at me?” “I’m not mad. But I am concerned. Why didn’t you tell me this was going on?” “I thought maybe you’d think I was a freak too.”

“I...Alyssa, I'm never going to...there's nothing you could do or tell me that would make me think that.”

“Everyone else does. I think I am,” she adds more quietly “Alyssa, you are a smart, funny, perfect little person,” Naomi says, tucking a strand of loose hair back behind Alyssa’s ear. “I know you don’t believe me. I wouldn’t have believed me, either. I…know what it’s like to feel different.” “Really?”

“Yes. I was 10 when my hair started turning grey. The kids at school teased me relentlessly. They’d pull at my hair and call me Grandma. I didn’t have many friends when I was a child. It’s very lonely when you feel like you’re different, isn’t it?”

Alyssa pauses. She’s never been able to put a name to that feeling before. “Yeah” she eventually answers. “Does it get better? Will I ever feel less different?"

"Not always,” Naomi frowns. “But…you’ll find people along the way who love you exactly as are, and it'll feel a little less lonely."

"Where will I find them?"

"They'll find you in the places you least expect. And usually exactly when you've stopped looking for them. You’ll -"

“Understand when I’m older, I know,” Alyssa interrupts with a sigh.

“See. I told you you were smart, didn’t I?”

And for the first time since she showed up to school, Alyssa feels like she can chuckle a little. She asks Naomi more about what she was like when she was in elementary school, and Naomi tells her all about how she was the only kid at her tiny island school without two Japanese parents and how kids would tease her for working on her cross-stitch set during recess.

As she's telling the story of the time get got kicked out of choir for pushing the girl who pulled her braids off the stand during a performance, LG cranes his head around the doorframe.

"You never told me you were in the choir."

"You never asked."

With a roll of the eyes and a shrug, LG disappears along the hallway. Alyssa can hear the creak creak creak of the floorboards as he goes downstairs. “Are you feeling a little better?” Alyssa nods, and yawns.

“It’s getting late, kiddo. You should get some sleep.” Naomi pulls the blanket up over Alyssa's shoulders, tucks her in tight, and places a kiss on the top of Alyssa’s head.

"Hey, Naomi?"

"Yes?"

"Did you find your people?"

She gives a look back out to the hallway, down towards their living room. And when she turns back to answer there's a smile on her face. Soft. Calm. Real. “I did. You will too.”

“Promise?” “I promise. Goodnight, sweetheart.”

#fanfic #trauma team #fluff #100 drabble challenge #nightshift writeshift

[x-lunami714-x]

Alright, I'm done with the whole numbering the days thing. Apparently I shouldn't be responsible of counting days. Though I think it's been 2 weeks since I started this blog thing. Time flies.

Anyway, after I got my son off to school and my boyfriend off to work, I stopped and talked to my friend, Hailey. She is amazing and I feel like we have gotten on a pretty good level.

She and I bonded over trauma, how awesome my kid is, and generally talking shit. Just stuff from our prior day/that morning, or our weekends.

I'm glad she has my back. She works at the school too so she is able to keep an eye out for my son. If he isn't getting heard, she will address him just like I would. It's nice to know someone has my same thought process.

I know that makes me sound crazy. I've noticed that the way I raise Vin is not even close that other people parent their kids. Though they still spank their kids. 😬 I don't know about that. Hitting is not the answer.

At the same time, he needs to know it's time to throw hands. Sometimes, violence is the answer but knowing when to do that is much more important.

Then I went to therapy. I don't know if my therapist and I get along anymore. Like today she said that we are not friends. She is the therapist and I am the client. I know that we aren't suppose to be friends. However, my brain now thinks she is no longer going to friendly towards me. I know that's not the case. It just feels like it. I think I got under her skin and started to annoy her. I think that's why she talked about getting a different therapist.

I know that I say a lot of inappropriate shit but I'm trying to do better. However, I can't change what I already said so all I'm trying to do better. Honestly, I think I'm doing a lot better. I told myself that I'm going to be as open as humanely possible so I'm just acting like me. I don't know, man. I shouldn't be so defensive about it. Stupid brain.

I did get to talk to my new yoga therapist. Her name is Courtney and she really understands spirituality. We were able to talk about breathing and what kind of yoga I did. I did yoga and meditation for a few years. It's part of my Wiccan path. I think it helps because it makes my brain quiet down. It gets so loud in there, it gets hard to think.

After, I played some Pokémon Unite while watching ArtificialAllen on twitch (go follow him. He is so funny and his community is awesome!) I got Sableye in the game and that's pretty awesome. Then I went to pick up my kid.

I had to talk to one of his teachers about Vin going caroling and that he is a bit worried because Vin doesn't listen to the teacher. The teacher is an amazing high functioning autistic band and choir teacher. The only problem is that he is quiet so the kids can talk over him pretty easy. My son has the attention of a hamster of a good day. If you get talked over, he starts getting lost in the conversations.

Well apparently he has 26 kids going.... he has to request for a chaperone.... my stupid ass raised my hand. I have no idea why I did that. Still annoyed by it. Now kids are going to call me Miss. Dixon and I already hate it. Makes me feel old af.

Ugh, I need sleep.

Good night 🌌 ✨️

#journal #personal #healing #mental health

[multifandomlover01]

Out From Rachamps

George Luz x Female!Medic!Reader (Platonic)

Eugene Roe x Female!Medic!Reader (could be romantic or platonic, it’s not really clear)

Ron Speirs x Female!Medic!Reader (Platonic)

Word Count: ~1.3k

Warning: there is some harassment/sexual innuendo/some stuff that is a bit more explicit and just some…uh…40s stuff that wasn’t ok back then and isn’t ok today either (just because I write something doesn’t mean I condone it)

I do not own Band of Brothers, or any scenes or characters from it. All credit goes to the appropriate owners.

Key: Y/N/N = Your Nickname (shortened version of your name or other nickname)

The night indoors in the convent was very much welcome after having been sleeping in foxholes for nearly six weeks. The choir was beautiful as well. But it did not help your emotional state. Eugene and you switched off looking after Perconte and his ass.

You were looking after him when the choir started and began sobbing quietly shortly thereafter. God bless Frank, but he wasn’t exactly equipped or able to help you. Luckily, Eugene came to relieve you and found you in that state. He consoled you. You spent much of the rest of the performance curled into his side.

After they concluded and dispersed, and once you convinced Eugene that you were fine, you wandered over to Luz.

“Hey,” you said softly as you sat beside him. His eyes were red.

Lip had to scrunch up a bit more to make room for you. You gave him an apologetic smile. And you got a genuine smile in return. He didn’t mind at all.

“Hey,” he smiled back, “have you been crying?”

Your eyes were surely red and puffy so there was no use lying. You nodded.

“You alright?”

“Are you?”

“You’re the one who’s been crying,” he teased. Although he obviously had been, too.

“You’re the one who witnessed two friends die,” you said in all seriousness. You decided not to point it out to him that he’d also looked like he’d been crying.

He looked you dead in the eyes, all smiles and emotions wiped from his face as well.

He did not answer you.

“George? Are you ok?”

“No,” he softly said, eyes welled, “I’m not. But I’m afraid to admit it.”

“Well, you just did. And you shouldn’t be. There’s no judgement here. I came to check up on you. I’d be more concerned if you were unaffected by what you had seen.”

“God, it was so horrible, Y/N/N. One second they’re there, urging me to hurry up and get to the hole, get to cover. Then the next second, they’re just…gone. I was safer outside that foxhole than I would’ve been in it. And then I finally got into Lip’s hole and a dud hit it. I could have so easily died twice. But I didn’t. And Muck and Penkala are dead. How do you deal with that?”

“With what? Death?”

“Uh-huh. I mean, you-you see it so often. How do you handle it?”

“What if I told you I don’t handle it too well? What if I told you I spent the better part of the choir’s performance curled into Eugene Roe’s side, sobbing? Because I was emotionally effected by the performance and I had witnessed so much death and had all of this emotion pent up that needed to be let out. And that’s why I was crying. I’m no less effected by it than you.”

——————————————————————————

“Now, I, uh, I know Easy has a woman serving in it. I remember that from Toccoa. She caused, uh, quite a stir among the men in the battalion, I believe. And I’m sorry to admit I haven’t had much contact with her. I know she’s a medic. But I just haven’t had much reason to go to Battalion Medical. I’d, uh, I’d like to meet her. Not to single her out, but to let her know I appreciate what she’s done within the battalion and the company and that I have no issues at all with her serving in, uh, what I guess is now my company. I’ve heard nothing but good things about her.”

“Yes, sir, Y/N/N is uh, well she’s quite something, sir, I don’t quite know how else to say it.”

Lip led Speirs to you.

“Doc.”

“Captain.”

“I just wanna say I appreciate your efforts and contributions so far in this company and am looking forward to having you under my command. And you should expect to be held to the same standards you’ve been held to by your superiors.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

——————————————————————————

“Look, it's 1st Battalion. Hey, hey!”

“What do you want?”

“Yeah, thanks for crapping in our foxholes, you shitheads.”

“It's our pleasure.”

“Enjoy the walk, boys.”

A little while later, the same one Luz had been talking to called out to you.

“Hey! Hey, sweetheart!”

“Christ, not now,” you muttered, “what?” you were annoyed.

“Ya know, it was real cold in that forrest. Hard to get the body warm. My nuts, especially. Wanna come over here and do something about that?”

Everyone around you who heard him (Lip, Luz, Bull, Chris, and Don) all whipped around (if they weren’t facing him) and glared at him. You would’ve expected Bull to maybe try and jump into action. The trucks were moving so slowly, he could’ve jumped off, punched the guy and easily caught up to the truck. But Bull made no move to stand. Instead, Don, who was right next to you, did. You grabbed his arm and squeezed it, pushing him back down slightly.

“Don. Don, It’s ok.”

He eased back down.

You dug in your pockets for your rag and threw it at the man from 1st Battalion.

“Hey, why don’t you piss off!”

The rag hit him square in the face and he instinctively caught it.

“Ah! What the hell?! God, is that blood?!” He stumbled (stalled?) a bit. The man behind him shoved him forward. He threw the rag down on the ground and to the side of him in disgust as he kept walking,

“What the hell was that?!” He shouted at you.

“A rag I used to soak up all the blood when I was on my period in that forrest since I didn’t have access to sanitary pads.”

Luz, along with everyone else, was trying not to lose it at that. They couldn’t believe you had thrown your period rag at him.

“Aw, geez, gross!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, is it? It doesn’t seem to be any more gross than what you were asking me to do. Less so, in fact, as that blood is part of a normal process my body goes through whereas you’re just a pervert.”

That remark got you some smug looks from your comrades.

“Nothing perverted about wanting to stay warm, honey.”

“Why don’t you ask one of your buddies to help you out?”

“Hey, we ain’t fairies!”

“All of you huddled in your foxholes together for warmth, you sure about that?”

“That’s completely different!”

“Maybe so, but it really didn’t make any of you question things?”

“No way in hell! None of us wants nothing but a nice pair of female rosy lips like yours to wrap around-“

“That’s enough!” Surprisingly came Lipton’s booming voice. “Unless you want me to report your remarks to your commanding officer.”

“No, sir (I don’t know what his rank was; let’s just pretend he was a T-4, a corporal and below Lipton, who was first Sgt.).”

“Thank you,” you said to Lip.

“No problem. And not that I approve of you throwing your rag at him, but I gotta say, it was hilarious.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Are you alright?” Malarkey asked you.

“Sure! Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That dick said some pretty unkind things to you.”

“And so I handled it and now I feel better.”

“You sure?” George asked you.

You looked at him, but only for a second before staring at the bed of the truck.

“Yeah.”

“Really?” Lipton now pressed.

“Yes.”

No one wanted to press further, but they knew something was wrong. You all sat in silence for a little while before Bull was brave enough to ask again.

“You sure you’re alright, darlin’?”

“Yes! I’m sure! Now would you please leave me alone!”

“You’re not ok, Y/N/N,” George finally bluntly told you.

“You think?!”

“Yeah, that’s why I said it.”

You rolled your eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Lipton asked you, looking at you with as much concern as the rest of the guys around you.

“I’m just so sick and tired of everything! And the last thing I needed was that asshole being gross with me.”

“We know, sweetheart, we know. You don’t deserve that

[finish - how?]

#band of brothers x reader #george luz x reader #eugene roe x reader #ron speirs x reader #don malarkey x reader #donald malarkey x reader

[hazslover]

Supermarket flowers

Listen to supermarket flowers by Ed Sheeran as you read this.

‘I can’t do this. I just can’t.’ your lips quiver, tears falling.

‘Butterfly’ he sighs, placing his hands on your cheeks, wiping away your tears.

‘Yes you can. I know you can.’ he encourages.

Green eyes slowly fading to grey, heart sinking, tears falling one by one, Harry couldn’t bare to see his wife to be upset. He couldn’t stand watching her… their world crumble around him.

‘B-but dad- ’ you try to muster words.

‘He has no right, turning up out of the blue, telling you this wedding is a mistake when he made no effort as a father to take care of you. Y/N… you told me he left you when you were three. How can you still have an ounce of love for him?’ Harry’s voice slightly angry.

‘I-I don’t know’ you sniffle.

Your tears calming down as Harry whispers softly. His hand resting to your cheek, caressing it with his thumb.

‘Oh flower, you’re too precious for this world’ he coos.

Resting your head on his shoulder, he places a sweet kiss to your head, softly humming. Your eyes grow heavy and you slowly drift of to sleep.

-

The sun rays peak through the linen curtains. Your heavy eyelids open slightly, adjusting to the bright room. The other side of the bed empty with only a neatly hand written note.

Darling, you’re so loved and I can’t wait to see you in your mother’s wedding dress.

Tears fall as your mind jogs to your beloved memories. Your mum. Fond memories of summer vacations in the back garden. Sun umbrellas, a sand pit in the corner of the garden and even an inflatable pool.

‘I-I miss you m-mum’ you whisper softly to yourself.

-

Nerves kicking in. Gemma holds your hand, speaking softly to calm you down. Your wedding dress fitting perfectly.

‘Alright love, let’s go kick ass’ Mitch says, holding his arm out for you.

The choir singing ‘Both Sides Now’ by Joni Mitchell. You take in a shaky breath as you walk down the isle. Your nerves fading when you see Harry looking back at you with a big grin. His day couldn’t be anymore perfect.

‘She’s all yours’ Mitch lets go, standing with the other best men.

You thank him before looking back at Harry. Your hands intertwined together and he brings it to his mouth.

‘You look gorgeous’ Harry mumbles.

-

‘Your mum’s so proud of you’ Harry smiles, looking up.

His dimples are showing off. That alone makes your heart melt. He sheds a few tears as he continues his vows. Your hands wiping them away.

‘I’m so proud of you’ he places a kiss to your forehead, holding you close.

His world so much brighter with you. He’s seen you grow into who you are today. He’s held you close when you were upset. He’s loved you since day one and intends to share his affection till death do us part.

‘Just like a star, you shine on saddest days. Make me laugh till my belly aches. You are the reason why I have a purpose in this life. My friend, my love, my soulmate, I can’t wait to cherish more memories with you’ he finishes, looking deeply into your eyes.

His thumbs wipes away a few tears falling down your cheeks.

‘Harry, Haz, H. I don’t even know what to say… you loved me when no one else did. When I couldn’t love myself. Nights staring at the mirror, thinking what have I become. You’ve taught me to love myself. See the good in myself that I couldn’t see’ your lips quiver with every word.

His thumbs still wiping away tears. He mumbles soothing, endearing words.

‘You’ve been there for me when I needed you most. Brought out my confidence when I didn’t have enough courage in myself’ you lean your cheek in his hand, closing your eyes for a moment.

‘I love you forever and always’ you finally crack a smile.

Gemma and Mitch bring over the rings. Harry placing yours on first, following the priests oath. You do the same.

‘By the power in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife’ the priest smiles widely at the newly married couple.

Harry places his hand at the back of your neck as he tilts his head forward. His soft lips gently caressing yours. The crowd is clapping and cheering around you. You’ve never felt more happier than today. Finally Mrs Styles. Part of the family officially. Although Anne welcomed you with loving arms from the beginning.

-

Harry held your hand up to his heart, leaning his head together with yours. Both of you smiling widely.

‘Didn’t think you’d turn up’ he speaks truthfully.

‘How so?’ You ask, tilting your head to one side.

‘Because of your dad. Thought you were gonna back out’ he admits.

His voice vulnerable. Your heart sinks, eyes teary hearing his words.

‘Harry, I love you way too much. I can’t loose you. I don’t want to’ you let tears fall.

‘Shh, shh. You’re not going to loose me. I’m sorry’ he apologises.

-

The ride to the airport is quiet. Partially because your both tired from the wedding. He places your head on his shoulder, placing his jacket over to keep you warm as his hand traces small circles to the back of your hand.

‘Gonna love you forever and always’ he whispers.

The last endearing words you hear from him as you drift off to sleep.

#harry styles #harry styles cute #harry styles fluff

[bandaigaeru]

a spell for you - hwang hyunjin

→ synopsis: he had spontaneously chosen you as a victim, leaving you with nothing but the desire to return his motives. → word count: 11k → genre: hogwarts au, enemies to lovers → pairing: slytherin!hyunjin x gryffindor! gender neutral reader (feat. jihyo (twice))

→ warnings: one mention of the reader's period (it's not necessary for context, but just know that it is there) → author's note (super quick haha): i feel like i could have done a lot better with this, so perhaps there will be a rewrite in the future if this one disappoints you. happy, slightly belated, new year!

i.

His hair catches the light with a shimmering pang. He brushes a hand through it, tucking a pestering strand behind his ear. Intently, he watches beside him, where his friends are shoving each other and threatening a fight. His lips are parted, threatening a smile.

"Stop trying to steal my potion," Changbin shoves, his grip on the glass bottle tightening as Seungmin reaches for it.

"You're the one who took it from me!" Seungmin whines, defensively hitting the inner elbow wielding his potion.

"No fighting in my classroom," Professor Nam breathily warns, leaning back in her chair defeatedly. She found it too difficult to try corralling them anymore.

You scoff.

Hyunjin turns to you, a smirk pulling the corner of his lip. "What? Got a problem?"

You roll your eyes. "Your presence is breaking my concentration. Why don't you go fight with Seungmin and never come back? That sounds perfect."

"What're you even concentrating on? The test you're gonna fail anyway?" Hyunjin jabs, puffing out his bottom lip in fake sympathy.

"Says the one who has worse grades than me."

He drags his chair closer to your desk, robe trailing slightly behind. His heavy breath casts a warmth against the back of your hand. "That's no way to talk to a superior."

"Superior?" you glance up, laughing. "Slytherins will never be superior to Gryffindors."

"Why is that?" Hyunjin cocks his head, a small, amused smile playing on his lips. His eyebrows jump with curiosity.

"Because snakes will only ever stay in the grass. Lions can at least jump."

He nods. "True. But a snake can kill a lion with its venom, and then your jumping is pointless."

From the seat in front of you, Jeongin groans. "Shut up already. Ravenclaws are the best and it's time you all admit it."

In unison, you and Hyunjin mutter, "Never that."

You look to him, his eyes in the same amount of shock as yours. You slam your textbook closed, shoving it into your bag. "Gross."

As you're standing from your chair, he coos, "If you're going to the common room, you should change."

"Why would I change for you, Hwang Hyunjin?"

"Because there's a stain on your pants," he smirks.

You grimace, tossing a dismissive wave over your shoulder as you leave the classroom. Nam doesn't care. She's too busy filing her nails and trying to keep Seungmin and Changbin from decapitating each other. You know, a normal day in her classroom. Plus, the bell is nearing its drone.

The hidden entry shifts for you as you approach. "Thank you, madam," you shout to the portrait above you.

The lady hums. The cement crackly replenishes itself behind you as you relish in the abandoned common room. Everyone is in classes, or should be, at least. You rush up to your room, tossing your bag and immediately changing into a different set of pants.

Sure enough, on the butt of your previous plaid ones is a small brown splotch. It can't be your period, so you slowly get closer to look at it. The waft of chocolate tickles your nose.

"Hwang Hyunjin," you grumble. He's probably sitting in that classroom still, snickering with his friends at how gullible you are. But hey, at least the stain kind of blends in.

ii.

The idea of revenge had seemed a waste of time in your formative years. Until your eyes locked with Hwang Hyunjin's in your first year. Those beady little pupils that followed every move you made. Tactical. Always ready to sink his fangs.

His first prank had been a simple fart joke (as fresh teenagers love). With the wave of his wand, he summoned a low groan right behind you. His acting skills were put to use as he brought a hand to his nose. "Ew, Y/N farted!"

Your cheeks flushed as you confusedly turned to him. You snapped, "No, I didn't."

Though, his choir of laughs had drowned your defense and left you with the heat of shame. He smiled back at you as he sat down, his dark wand still poised in his fingers.

Now, as you sit in the dining hall with hyperactive attention and a dismal pull for hunger, the target enters. His blond hair is pulled back into a ponytail, with a few straying pieces. There is a quirk to his lips as he talks to the friends at his sides. You can feel the bass of his laughter in your shoulders.

"Hello? You in there?" Changbin waves a hand in front of your dazed eyes.

"What?" you turn back to him as Hyunjin takes a seat in his usual spot.

He sighs. "You scouting him again?"

"I have to get back at him," you mutter, picking up your fork before you stab the noodles on your plate.

"Y/N," Changbin whines. Your steely eyes look to him, and he immediately softens, caving in on himself.

"You're a Gryffindor," you start, twirling the noodles, "better start acting like one."

"Are you saying I can't be friends with both of you?"

You shake your head. "Never insinuated that. I'm standing my ground, and you shouldn't be preventing me from doing that."

Changbin looks to the other faces listening in, but all of them are little help. Jisung catches his eye, shaking his head. Defeated, he sighs, turning back to his meal. He drowns the words on his tongue with water.

The dinner session ends rather quickly (thanks to your rambled thoughts). Students bustle to return to designated common rooms for the night. Your eyes are glued to the back of Hyunjin's head. He's in no hurry, evidently, because he is still seated at the table, eyes crinkled with laughter. The cold wood of the wand is a familiar feeling in your palm. It's comforting. It reminds you of a time where Hwang Hyunjin was merely a classmate. How simple life was.

The hollowness he had claimed in your stomach deepens when he finally stands. You

point your wand at him carefully, suddenly grateful Changbin isn't here, and whisper, "Confundo."

The trademarked confident stride caves in on itself as the boy shrinks. He glances around. Upturned eyebrows and lost eyes. You rush to walk past him, a small wave and a smile. He doesn't seem to recognize you.

You can't help but laugh.

iii.

Your head is held high as you're walking to your first class of the day. Last night hasn't stopped replaying in your head, and the smile has yet to fade. He looked so lost. His eyes were wide and puppylike, and it even sent a jolt through your heart. Finally, he'd gotten a piece of his own medicine.

A barrier stops you from going further. It tugs you back by the sleeve of your blazer, leaving you to stare back into the somewhat lost eyes of the boy you had terrorized.

"What do you want?" you mumble, glancing down the hall. If anyone were to see you two, this close, they'd know something was up.

"What spell did you use? I can't shake it. I've been awake all night trying to get rid of it."

You chuckle and shrug. "Well, it's already lost some of its oomph. Only time can cure you."

You try to continue your path, but he grabs your shoulders and spins you back to look at him. He leans close to your face, and your breath chokes you. His eyes are no longer wide with innocence. They hold a knife back at you. "What spell did you use?"

"Confundo. Why, do you think I cursed you?" you scoff, squirming beneath his palms. "I'm not that mean, Hwang."

He lets go of your shoulders, staring at his shoes in defeat. You stumble a little. "Dumbass," he mutters, "We have an exam today. I can't concentrate on something like that, especially since I was up all night. Why would you do this?"

A sprout of something dizzying scratches your chest. You lean onto your toes as you whisper, "Should have thought about that before you started this mess."

You continue your walk to class with newfound guilt. Behind you, Hyunjin mutters, "I'll get back at you. Big time."

Your day had always been thwarted by the presence of Hwang Hyunjin, for he was always in every class. But today, he's not there. You presume he's caught in the Slytherin tower, curled in a ball as he tries to dispel his confusion. Mayhaps he's even sleeping. In a way, you kind of miss his antics. The way he tossed his head back and let his hair cascade at the fate of gravity simply for the muse that it 'helped him think.'

You found yourself smiling at your exam packet, and you instantly recoil. Hyunjin's an asshole, and he deserves everything he gets.

Changbin nudges you. You glance at him and he begins to fight a laugh. "What're you thinking of in that pretty little head of yours?"

You look back to your test in alarm. "Nothing," you whisper, warily glancing at Professor Nam, whose eyes wander up and down the aisles.

"Is it Hyunjin?" he leans toward you.

You shake your head, hissing, "Absolutely not."

Professor Nam skips over a row to you. "No talking. I'll take points if I catch you two again."

Changbin settles back into his test, leaving you with thoughts of your own. As you aimlessly bubbled in answers seemingly obvious, you thought to Hyunjin. Maybe you were a little out of line with the confundo incident, but it was your turn for revenge. You glance up at his empty chair when you finish the test. In the far corner of your head, you swear you can hear his obnoxious laugh and breathy, "I told you so."

Overhead, the bell rings. It dismisses everyone from their classes and momentarily dismisses Hyunjin from the warmth of your thoughts. You pass your exam forward, quickly scavenging your things together and following the pack into the halls. Nam's class is the last of the day, and it's Friday. Your weekend is free ahead of you, and you consider inviting Changbin and Jisung to a picnic or something.

A hand claps down on your shoulder before a deep laugh shakes in your ears. "Y/N! I heard what you did to Hyunjin. Genius, I must say."

You glance to the owner of the voice, meeting the glimmering eyes of Kim Seungmin. He looks down on you with a warm smile. So unlike a Slytherin.

"Thank you," you straighten your posture as you continue walking.

His hand doesn't move from your shoulder. His breath is hot against your ear as he whispers, "But if it's just between you and me, you're gonna wish you didn't do that."

Shivers trail the back of your neck to your wrists. When you look at him, he's still harboring that welcoming grin. "Ciao," he removes his hand to wave at you. Then, he starts in the opposite direction, against the wave of traffic.

You walk the rest of the way with your eyes glued ahead. A Gryffindor does not back down. They are brave, you remind yourself.

The Fat Lady allows you entry into the common room, but the hallway is backed up. You stretch your neck to try and see above the crowd, though nothing but heads of hair taints your view. There's a pit in your stomach, and before you can shove through, you already have an idea what's going on.

The Gryffindor common room has been plagued with the stench of Hwang Hyunjin's mischievous antics. It is drenched in a potion of Nidore, resembling the smell of untreated B.O. Han Jisung plugs his nose as he glances around. He catches your eye, muttering, "Do you smell this?"

Your eyes are lazed with irritation. Curtly, you nod. "Yeah. Hyunjin did this. I'm sure of it."

Jisung whines, tapping his foot impatiently, "Why can't you two just keep your tricks in class? This is violating school rules. He shouldn't be in here. He's a Slytherin!"

You bite on the inner piece of your lip as heeled steps echo closer. The presence of a tall woman sends anxious goosebumps down your spine. You turn to her, though you're sure you look pitiful.

"What is the meaning of this?" she shouts, looking among the students for any clue.

Jisung nudges your arm.

"We have reason to believe it was a Slytherin's doing, madam," another professor slips into the room, promptly covering his nose.

"Do we have a name for this Slytherin?" she crosses her arms and purses her lips.

The professor shakes his head, looking to his freshly shined shoes. Faintly, he wonders if the smell will ruin them. "No. Not yet."

The headmistress sighs, waving her hand. "Gryffindors are to report to the dining hall immediately until this mess is covered. Start an investigation at once."

"Yes, ma'am," the professor's head falls as he pushes back through the crowd, which is now graciously evacuating. Those simple words were all they needed.

You feel bolted to the floor. All you can do is stare at the bun atop the headmistress's head. Hyunjin had gone too far, but you had triggered this. Jisung grabs your wrist and pulls you out.

He takes you up the hall, into the bathroom. He closes the door behind you.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" he whisper-shouts.

You shake your head, a rock lodging its way into your throat as you avert his sharp eyes. "I fucked up."

"Obviously."

Han Jisung is standing with his hands on his hips, his eyes looking like they're about to bulge from his head. He must be disappointed. "What're you gonna do about this?"

"I'm gonna have to tell McGonagall."

Jisung sighs, taking a long look at you. "If you think that's what's best, go on." He opens the door for you.

You trudge back to the Gryffindor common room. The Fat Lady grants you entrance, though she says, "It sure smells in there, love. I wouldn't stay long if I were you."

When you reach the end of the hallway, McGonagall is no longer there. Instead, there's a blond boy who laughs quietly to himself. He looks back at you. "I knew you'd come back."

"Hyunjin, what the hell do you think you're doing? You went too far. You could get expelled over this, you know?"

He shakes his head. "I won't get expelled. My family's donated too much to this school. You should have seen the look on your face, though."

You blink as he stands. "Have you ever stopped to think about other people for a change? I'm nothing without this school."

Hyunjin sucks his teeth. "Should have thought about that one."

You open your mouth to retaliate, but overhead a voice takes over. "Y/N Y/L/N of Gryffindor and Hwang Hyunjin of Slytherin, please report to the headmistress' office immediately."

Hyunjin wraps his arm around your shoulder, the tips of his fingers trailing a path along your collarbone. "Shall we?"

iv.

"I can expel you. Is that what you would like?" McGonagall inquires, pushing her glasses up on the bridge of her nose. Around her, papers float as she pointedly looks for one in specific.

"No," you mumble.

Hyunjin tips his head back, allowing his hair to fall back. There is a menacing curl to his lips.

"Your antics have been going on for how long? Nearly six years?"

Your gaze is locked on your shoes. They need a shining, you note.

Hyunjin begins chuckling. "You're not actually serious about expulsion, right? My family would never let you hear the end of it."

McGonagall plucks a paper from the air, looking at it. "No, Mr. Hwang. But keep up your attitude and I'll make the remainder of your time here a living hell."

You look at Hyunjin, whose eyes wait for yours. He smiles, offering a sharp pierce to your heart. Your eyes shoot back to the floor. The toe of his shoe pierces your vision, inching to nudge yours.

"What I think is appropriate," McGonagall starts, plucking another paper. "is that you two seek a middle ground. I am requesting that wizardry chores are to be saved for you two, and you will perform them together. I am uncertain on the duration, still, but I assure you it will not be comfortable."

Hyunjin scoffs. "You're gonna make us do laundry or something?"

McGonagall sighs, looking up at him. She offers a pitying smile. "It'll be much, much worse than that, Mr. Hwang."

"Thank you," he sarcastically remarks.

You look up to McGonagall, bowing your head gently. "Thank you for not resorting to expulsion."

"You two are immature wizards, which is incredibly dangerous in today's society. I need to knock sense into you, not allow you the means to rebel."

You don't dare look at Hyunjin, but you're sure he has smoke billowing from his ears. Because nobody, not even the headmistress, should talk down on him. "A Slytherin," you recall him saying, "is the top of the food chain."

"Now," she claps, sending a jolt through you. "Your first task is to remove the potion from the Gryffindor common room. That should be fairly easy for you, Mr. Hwang."

He grimaces, starting out of the office. He swears beneath his breath, and doesn't even make fun of you when you trip and nearly faceplant. Instead, he offers a glance back at you before continuing on his way. Not even a single sly comment.

When you return to the common room, Changbin waits outside. He pushes off the cement walls, arms crossed against his velvet robe. "Oh? Are you two finally allowing your love for each other to blossom?"

You shoot him a warning look, but it amasses to nothing when Hyunjin grabs him by the collar and pins him against the wall. "Watch your mouth."

He throws him to the ground before hesitantly entering the hallway.

"Who pissed in his Cheerios?" Changbin scrambles to stand up again. He seeks you for answers, but falls short when all you offer is a secured gaze on the floor.

The Gryffindor common room is still oozing with stench, but in the center of it is Hwang Hyunjin, the mastermind. He seems more bothered by McGonagall's comments than the smell. He raises his wand of Blackthorn, chanting an unknown spell. The odor vanquishes, leaving you only with the other elephant in the room.

Hyunjin starts out the door, bumping into your shoulder on the way. "Just stay out of my way and we won't have problems."

You huff, staring at the back of his neck, "Be mature for once."

He stops, his head slumping. He slowly turns back to you, venom laced with his words as he says, "You're the reason we're in this mess. Stay out of my way so we can get this over with, okay?"

Ice builds up your ankles. You cannot move. You cannot speak. You're left to watch as he storms out of the room. So much for a stable weekend.

v.

Things truly began with doing the laundry. Muttered remarks fluttered from Hyunjin's lips, though he does not speak directly to you. Nor does he even offer a spare glance.

Then, you had a trip to Hogsmeade. Though, under strict supervision by Professor Kim, whose gaze never left your necks. "Isn't the grocer that way, Mr. Hwang?" he had said. Hyunjin tensed, dark eyes looking back at the old man. Though, he did not speak. He simply moved on his way.

After that, McGonagall had sent for you two to clean the Slytherin dungeons. "Real Slytherins aren't this piggish," Hyunjin grumbled, scrubbing harshly at the moss buildup.

Hesitance built in your veins every time he was around. Though, his gaze has not crossed your skin once. His words, too, were never meant to travel over your robes. He treats you as though you are an imaginary friend who he vowed to erase from his life.

You release a shaky breath.

"I won't be at dinner," you warn your friends for the sixth day in a row. A setting sun peeks through the broad window panes.

"You serving time again?" Minho manages through sips of scalding coffee. For a Ravenclaw, he didn't always live up to the stereotype.

"They're not serving time, per se," Changbin counters. "But close enough."

Chan tugs at your sleeve, pulling you away from the crowd. "Are you okay?"

Tears prick the corners of your vision, but you nod. "Yeah. I'm fine. I just kinda wanna get this over with."

Chan offers a small, sheepish smile. "Okay. Just let me know if you need anything. I may be a Hufflepuff, but I can beat his ass if you want me to."

You giggle, bringing your sleeved arm to brush against your nose. "Thank you."

At the end of the hall, where it halts with the choice of the dining hall or the potions branch of the school, you take a left while everyone else turns right.

Today, McGonagall needed you to clean the bathrooms. Hyunjin, of course, was not looking forward to it. He didn't look forward to anything, you realize.

"Hey," you greet, gently setting down your bag outside the bathroom. The door is still closed.

Hyunjin looks up from his phone. He doesn't say anything, but at least he acknowledges you by slipping his phone into his pocket. His hand encases the doorknob before he pushes it open.

Disgust twists his face as he gags. "What the hell? Have these ever been used?"

"Evidently," you remark, peeking around the doorway to see a pile of green sludge accustomed to the floor.

Hyunjin sighs. "I guess we better get started."

You nod, picking up a mop that awaited. You work in silence. Hyunjin curses under his breath, grunting as he works. When you steal a glance, his face is reddened and there are beads of sweat threatening to drip from his brow.

The sludge, you presume, is mutated moss. It's actually quite common in castles like this one. Nonetheless, it's gross to eliminate. And the smell. Just thinking about it would send shivers down your spine.

On Hyunjin's end of the bathroom, behind the protection of a wall, there is a gurgle and an accompanying shout. "You're joking," he whines.

He steps out from the stall, the white of his undershirt blotched with green and orange. It looks like vomit, but it smells much worse. You don't have time to laugh, for he's gathering his things. "I'm tired of McGonagall making us do her stupid errands. Doesn't she have servants for this? I'm done!" he offers you one last glance before he leaves.

Silence was more comfortable when he sat in it with you.

vi.

You jolt with the realization. Certainly you weren't starting to enjoy Hyunjin's company. That's outright impossible. If anything at all, you were merely starting to see him as a comrade or acquaintance.

But you were not, absolutely not, starting to feel something for him.

The sun starts to leak through your curtains, portraying your sleeping roommate like a silhouette. You sigh, falling back onto the pillows. The ceiling stares back at you with an intimidating uncertainty. Hyunjin wasn't going to be doing the chores anymore, so it would be pointless in talking to him about it. So long as McGonagall doesn't find out that you're working solo, things should be okay.

You travel with the crowd, accepting breakfast alone. Your friends were probably still sleeping. Minho might be awake, but he's likely locked in the Ravenclaw chamber, hiding from the outside world on his rest day.

McGonagall's wishes for today, as delivered by Professor Kim, was to visit Hagrid's hut and obtain a dragon egg. The reason, she did not state. Probably official school business that you had no intention, nor desire, of searching into. If Hyunjin were with you, that'd likely be a different story.

You leave the castle at quarter to noon. It's chilly outside (you probably could have used a jacket) but the sun is held central in the sky. You take a deep breath, admiring the traveling scents of blossoms and lilies. The gravel path crunches beneath your shoes. A bright pink azalea catches your eye. It hangs on the edge of the forest, serving a bookmark among the green. You step off of the path, taking careful steps toward it.

"Wow," you mumble, bringing your palm to it. It's soft against your skin.

You wonder if Hyunjin likes flowers. A smile cracks your lips. "It'd be funny if he did," you whisper to yourself.

A squealing cry causes you to flinch. You turn in the direction of the noise, spotting a pig running for dear life. Its little legs overworking themselves in a blur. Close behind is a hippogriff, tall and muscular. It walks with leisure, for its legs equate to nearly thirty of the pig's.

You gulp. They're bigger than the textbooks lead on. You take a wary step back. A stick crunches beneath your weight. The hippogriff's gaze sways toward you. It cocks its head curiously.

You wished you paid more attention in Care of Magical Creatures. Stupid Hyunjin and his stupid distractions. Why did he even begin picking on you in the first place? Was it chance? Did he know you were a Gryffindor and simply nod and declare you were the one? For whatever reason, it has brought you here.

A Gryffindor shouldn't cry in a situation like this. They should stand tall and tame the beast. Fight if they have to, but that's a shrugging matter. You're not like other Gryffindors, though. Who are you kidding? You're a lousy one.

So you cry. If death is upon you, all you really can do is cry.

The hippogriff opens its beak and lets out a shrill cry. Its heavy footsteps echo into the trees, shaking birds from branches. It poises its hind legs in a crouch, preparing for the hunt. Like any predator, it expects you to run.

You shake your head, glancing to the pink azalea beside your head. You close your eyes, bracing yourself for the impact. You hear its footsteps drawing near.

"Alarte ascendare!" a voice yells. There is a boom and a crash.

Hesitant, you open your eyes. The hippogriff is laying in front of you, bloodied and gasping for breath. A wave of heat washes over you as you dizzily fall to your knees. You try to look for the source of the voice, but your vision is hazy.

Arms wrap around you. They steady you. You look up. "Hyunjin?"

"Shh, it's okay. I'm here," he pulls your head into his chest, resting his chin atop your head.

"What're you doing here?" Your mouth is dry. Any moment, you feel as though you might fall. Through the earth and into an abyss. But still, Hyunjin holds you.

"Same goes for you. Why're you out here unsupervised, huh?" his voice is in a calming whisper. His fingers trace repeating lines through your hair.

"McGonagall wanted us to go get an egg from Hagrid," you tell him, removing the detail of the flower. You didn't need him calling you stupid for straying from the path.

He sighs. For once, he's speechless. He just keeps playing with your hair, occasionally glancing to the hippogriff, who has since long stopped breathing.

vii.

Behind the large wooden doors of the infirmary, you hear a droning voice. "Slaughter of a magical creature on school grounds can be charged with expulsion. Are you aware of that, Mr. Hwang?"

The following voice is much quieter, though you don't have the energy to strain yourself. Your head is pounding, and there's a bandage around your ankle. Your eyes fall on the door. A nurse has her ear cupped to it. Heavy eyelids take their reign over you. The voice fades into the darkness, leaving you cold and lost.

When you finally open your eyes again, there is a face hanging over you. You slowly blink.

"Sleep well?" McGonagall inquires. Her glasses hang low on the bridge of her nose. You're afraid they might fall on you if she stays much longer.

You nod. "What time is it?"

McGonagall steps back, bringing her wristwatch into frame. She tilts her head. "Around 2:30. It's Thursday. You've been here nearly twenty-four hours, you know?"

You fight to sit up. Imaginary weights drag you back. "Don't expel Hyunjin," you find yourself saying, though the words seem foreign. You're not even sure you spoke them in your native tongue.

"Sorry?"

"I said," you pause, taking a deep breath, "Don't expel Hyunjin. It's not his fault."

McGonagall juts out her chin, pursing her lips. "And why shouldn't I?"

You sigh, as though you cannot believe that you're defending Hwang Hyunjin. "I was careless. I strayed from the path to Hagrid's because I saw a stupid flower. If it weren't for Hyunjin, I'd probably be dead meat."

She hums, removing her glasses and pointing the golden frames towards you. "So my plan, it worked?"

"What plan?"

"Of getting you two to mature and see each other as equals."

"I don't know about the whole equals thing-"

"Hush, I don't want to hear it. You two will meet in my office Saturday morning, I expect. I'll send a reminder tomorrow evening," McGonagall huffs, turning to leave. Her heels clobber against the tile all the way to the end of the hall.

Within no time, the nurse is at your bedside, offering you a glass of water and a blonde potion. "Can I get you anything else?" she asks, interlacing her fingers and resting them on the pocket of her apron.

You glance at your ankle. "What happened?"

She offers a weak smile. "I wouldn't be able to tell you. Ask that blond boy who brought you in. I'm sure he knows. Or at least, he'll be able to point you in the right direction."

You slowly nod. "Thank you."

"Yes, dear. Oh, and you should be able to return to your dormitory as soon as you're ready. Take it easy."

When she's disappeared into the office by the set of doors, you sigh. What mess did Hwang Hyunjin get you into? More accurately, what mess did you get yourself into? You can't even find it in you to be mad at him, though logically you should be. Especially with the way he stroked your hair before you fainted. At that moment, he seemed like an angel. A blond-headed angel, whose blood was tainted with the venom of snakes.

Even so, none of this would have happened had he not stormed off. And you'll remind yourself that every time an endearing thought crosses your mind. He may have saved you, but he had essentially set you as bait. Indirectly, but still.

Near dinnertime, you leave the infirmary to freshen up. Your hair was matted and there was dirt smudged on your cheeks. After a quick shower, wary of your wrapped foot, you hobble to the dining hall. Before you settle with a questioning Seo Changbin, you glance at the empty spot of the infamous Slytherin section. The setting sun failed to cast a glow on blond hair, for he was not there. Perhaps he had been pulled from school, and McGonagall has yet to hear the news. Or maybe he's punishing himself for even going after you. Regardless, a swollen hole burns through your chest. It sparks irritation as you push around tonight's meal with the tip of your fork.

"Hey, what happened to your ankle? Did Hyunjin do something? Why aren't you answering my questions? Why are you sulking?" Changbin racks off. "Hello? Anybody in there?" He nudges your shoulder.

"I don't know what happened. I need to talk to Hyunjin about it," you simply say, finally forcing yourself to eat the food. Despite not eating for nearly two days, you felt no sense of hunger. In fact, you felt as though you were about to explode. As if you had eaten too much.

"Ah, I see. You're sulking because you have to talk to Hyunjin."

"I don't think it's that," you sigh, slumping as you look back to his spot. Still, it's empty.

"Then what's the problem?"

You think hard about what you say next. You can't tell him about this weird concoction brewing in your chest, for he'll run with it and send the school into another Battle of Hogwarts. "I just feel off. I don't know."

Jisung nudges your shin from beneath the table. You look up to him. He mouths, slowly and deliberately, "Are you okay?"

You nod, half-certain.

Changbin continues to pester you, despite the lack of responses. Even when you stand to return your tray, he follows. All the way to the common room, he sticks close, leaning over you to whisper more questions. You can't even fathom how he hasn't run out yet.

He grabs your shoulders, spinning you around. "Look at me."

Your eyes feel slow as they scan for his. He continues, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but if you need to talk about it, I am here for you. If it's about Hyunjin, I won't run off to tell him, okay? Family before friends."

"Thanks, Binnie," you force a smile, before breaking away from his grasp and closing the gap to your room. You gently close the door before plummeting onto your bed.

viii.

Hyunjin fails to appear to any class other than Professor Nam's. His seat, though filled, holds a barren figure with bags pulling at his eyes. He spares you a small smile when he catches your stare. He even offers a spare remark about your shoes. "Don't you think it's time to retire those, Y/N? They're all shabby."

But that's all he can bring himself to say. When he turns back in his seat, he slumps a little. Seungmin whispers something to him, and his head barely shakes in response.

You try not to stare at the back of his head. Even it seems to have lost some kind of sparkle to it. The bell blares its dismissal, and the class evacuates immediately. You take your time, for Hwang Hyunjin appears to be in no rush.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" you block his way when he tries to pass without a single word. "Don't you need to get your quota of insults in? The week's over, bud."

He looks at you like he's never met you. "Oh. Sorry."

He pushes through, brushing past your shoulder. Gently. Not the usual brash interaction.

You huff, stumbling after him. "We need to talk."

"Go ahead."

"Not if you're gonna be like this. C'mon, I wore my ugliest pair of pants to try and get a rouse from you."

He spares a glance at the bright plaid trousers. "Nice."

You smack his shoulder. "What is the matter with you?"

He shrugs. "I don't know."

You stop walking, merely watching as he continues down the hall. There's no point in this, you realize. Arguing with this Hyunjin is like talking to a brick wall encased by another brick wall. Things will resume to their normal pace in due time.

You pull yourself to the Gryffindor common room, barricading yourself in your room. The moment your head connects with your pillow, a single tear falls. It's hot against your cheek.

At quarter to six, you decide to skip out on dinner. You're not sure what you'd do if you saw him sitting at his table, drawn back from the usual conversations with Seungmin.

A card slips under your door, scraping against the hardwood. You sit up to retrieve it. On the front, in large, careful cursive letters is your name. A small letter is inside, reading, "Do not forget our meeting tomorrow morning. 9:00 A.M. sharp. If you are not here, I will have someone fetch you."

You begin laughing. McGonagall's going to have a fit when she sees you and Hyunjin. A vivacious boy with a tongue for quips turned hollow and you, a Gryffindor with a newfound fear of facing him.

ix.

The back of his neck is marked crimson by the amount of times he scratches it during that meeting. His gaze averts yours, even when you know you've burnt a hole in his cheek.

"I'm sure you're aware why I've called you in," McGonagall sighs, crossing her arms as she leans against her desk.

You force your gaze to rest on her, slowly shaking your head.

"I have no choice but to dismiss our project we had."

"You mean making us do chores together?" you question, sure Hyunjin would be proud of you for such a comment. When you glance at him, he doesn't even spare a blink out of routine.

"Well, if you view it as such I'm afraid I can't change that," she nods. You know that if Hyunjin had said that, he'd be getting yelled at. Good day to hold the Gryffindor title, you dejectedly admit.

She scans Hyunjin's face for any sign of life. "You in there, Mr. Hwang?"

His head shifts upward toward her. "Yes, sorry."

"You're awfully quiet," she mentions. He shrugs, returning his eyes to his lap. He fidgets with the dark wood at the tip of his wand.

"Well, if there are no further objections, you are free to leave."

Hyunjin runs with these words, taking his bag and rushing out. He barely even offers a polite quip. You follow him out, a few distancing steps in between. He heads for the Slytherin tower. For a moment, you consider calling out and inviting him to lunch. But you don't. Instead, you go back to the Gryffindor common room, nestling in for a game of chess with Changbin. He's not very good, but at least it serves as a laughing distraction.

The sun falls over the horizon rather slowly, as though someone tugs it back on a pulley system. Changbin wishes you goodnight a bit past eight, leaving you with a distant desire to study. You shuffle to your dorm, preparing to stare absentmindedly at a textbook, when your eyes fall over the emerald robe.

Hmm, you think. Should I? Or should I not? Well, he has been very weird. And you're overly curious. It's swallowing your life.

You sigh, picking it up and swinging it over your shoulders. You pull the hood up, slipping back out into the common room. The students continue their nightly games of Mafia. Not a single set of eyes shoot at you.

Breaking curfew is punishable by copious amounts of detention. Good thing you're invisible to the guard wandering the halls.

Sneaking into the Slytherin tower is rather easy, given the circumstances. The cobblestone corridor leads you to a darkened room emblazoned by the crackle of fire. A blond boy lays on the gray carpet, his eyes vacant as he blinks at the ceiling. His friend sits on a leather couch, shrugging as he says, "I don't know man, you've just been so weird lately."

Absently, the boy on the carpet mumbles, "Sorry, I guess."

"C'mon, talk to me. I'm your best friend, Hyunjin," Seungmin sighs. He rubs a distressed finger across his brow.

Hyunjin shakes his head. "There's just this weird feeling in my chest."

"What?" Seungmin leans forward on the couch, dangling his hand close to the boy's face.

He leans out of the way as he sits up, resting his palm on his heart. "I can't explain it. I feel full all of a sudden?"

"How long have you been like this?"

"Ever since the hippogriff situation."

Seungmin falls back against the plush of the couch. His mouth is agape until a smile creeps upon him and he laughs. "I hate to break this to you, Hyunjin, but I think you've developed a crush."

Your heart catches in your throat like a rock you're incapable of swallowing. It thrums louder than the conversation unfolding. Hyunjin's lips are loose as he glances around the room. His eyes sit on you a little too long, and you slowly back into the corridor.

What do you do with this information?

x.

A harsh sneeze interrupts your slumber. You glance around through tired eyes. It's still dark in the room. Your roommate is snoring lightly.

You rest back onto the mattress, trying your hardest to dismiss a quiet cough. A bead of sweat trickles down your neck. Just what you need, you think as you shut your eyes. Maybe this is karma for sneaking into Hyunjin's space.

You hate the euphoria you experienced when you settled into bed that night. Heart a fluttering mess and cheeks pummeled with heat. Changbin would kill to hear this. Both ends. Regardless, though, you feel way too guilty to talk to Hyunjin. Some crushes are best suppressed, you think. A Slytherin-Gryffindor duo traditionally doesn't end well.

By the time you fall asleep, the sun has begun to rise. Then, by the time you wake up, the sun is ready to fall. You moan when your roommate asks if you're feeling alright. Her shivering hand comes in contact with your forehead. "Oh my God, you're burning up!"

You hiss, trying to pull your covers over your head. She tugs them back down.

"You should go to the infirmary," she says. "I'll help you there."

Hesitantly, you sit up. There's a sour taste in your mouth that burns the back of your throat. A quick palm jumps to your lips as you rush to the bathroom.

"Here," Jihyo comes close behind you. She offers a Ginger Ale.

"Thanks," you say, rubbing your mouth with the back of your hand. You take a quick swig of it, swishing it around before spitting it into the toilet.

Jihyo leads you out of the room with an arm around your shoulder. The common room is empty, aside from a few who sit behind vast textbooks. "Everyone's at dinner," she informs.

You don't have the energy to nod. It's hard enough trying to keep a straight path, even when you're leaning against her shoulder.

"Welcome back," the nurse jokes. You try to smile.

She takes your temperature after Jihyo tells her your situation. "Ooh. 101. Thank you for bringing them, sweetheart."

You take to a bed, slowly leaning to sit on it. Jihyo leaves shortly after, telling you to seek her if you need anything.

"How's your ankle doing?" the nurse asks as she offers you a cup of pills (a fever reducer and an anti inflammatory).

After you struggle to swallow them, you say (through a crackly voice), "Good, I guess. Still haven't gotten the story to it."

She presses her lips into a line, "That boy. I'll have to talk to him."

A strange light feeling punctures your heart. She pushes gently on your shoulders, forcing you to lie down. "Get some rest, dear."

Sleep comes very naturally. There's only a few moments where you struggle to return to it. The next day, the nurse brings you a cup of pudding for breakfast. You ask her what time it is.

"It's around 10. Monday."

You sigh. "I'm missing classes."

"I'm sure your professors won't mind, given you're still feverish," she checks your forehead with the back of her hand.

You eat the pudding in solidarity, watching the small TV across from you. It's displaying The Desperate Housewives of the Wizarding World. It's on all day, which is fine by you, since you're not leaving anytime soon. The final dismissal bell jumps you from your daze.

Only a few moments pass before the large doors swing, followed by the pattering of feet. "Y/N!"

Jisung rushes toward you, his burgundy robes trailing behind him. He pushes his round frames up. "Are you okay? I heard from Jihyo."

You nod. "Yeah, I feel a bit better now."

His hand finds your shoulder and he shakes you gently. "You're not going to believe this."

Your thoughts jump to Hyunjin and your eyes widen eagerly as you wait for him to continue.

"Hyunjin was whining all day about you. He was all 'where are they?' and stuff. Did something happen when McGonagall started that chore thing?"

You fight a grossly parasitical smile, shaking your head. "No. Nothing really."

He stays a little longer, telling you things you missed from the classes you share. As he's departing, you stop him. "Hey, Sung, I got a question."

He turns back to you. "Shoot."

"Can I borrow that magic note passing thing you bought on vacation?"

The good thing about Jisung is he doesn't ask questions. So long as you're not harming anyone, he'll do just about anything for you. He simply returns ten minutes later, gently placing the notepad on the table beside you. "You just write your note and address it. It should be sent immediately. Oh, and the other person receives a pen too," he informs, passing you a normal looking pen.

"Thank you, I owe you."

He waves his hand. "Nah, it's no big deal."

You pick up the pad of paper. It appears no different from normal paper, though it smells rather lemony. You rethink the words over and over before you finally settle. In the center of the paper, you write: I heard you missed me :)

Then, you address it before you can find a reason to regret this.

xi.

You cannot find yourself an ounce of sleep, so you stare at the television screen. It's still playing reruns. A paper fizzles into your lap, the corners materializing before the center. Your note reads back to you. You flip it over, where a new pattern of ink lay.

To Y/N: I'm going to murder Han Jisung.

Your laugh echoes in the large, empty infirmary. The nurse has gone to her quarters, now that the sun has set.

You write back, He has cool magic though!

Not only because it's true, but because you would like to keep this conversation going for just a little longer. Even if it is useless and greedy to want something like this from him.

Few seconds pass before the paper returns. To Y/N: I will give him that. I didn't even know this was a thing. Can we meet up in the Charms hall?

You bring your hand to your forehead. After Jisung's visit and your nutritious dinner of pudding, you feel much better. Like normal, even. Plus, the nurse had told you it's up to you when you want to return to daily life.

So you gather your things and return to your dorm. "Hi, Jihyo," you say quickly before rushing to shower. She is left in a dismal state of shock, staring at the bathroom door.

"I'm meeting up with someone, don't wait up for me," you inform as you pull a sweater on.

"Who?" she asks, bouncing her wand as she jiggles a paper midair.

You glance at her as you pull shoes on. "Classified info."

"Just say it's Hyunjin," she starts. "I can read you like a book."

You giggle. "Then fine, it's Hyunjin."

"Don't set the school on fire, please. I would like to finish my seventh year in peace."

"I don't plan on it."

"Be safe!" she calls as you open the door.

"I will."

You shuffle through the common room and out into the halls. Curfew was nearing. Maybe you should've grabbed your invisibility cloak.

In all honesty, you weren't sure why you were doing this. Until the glimmer of blond hair beneath the moonlight pierces your view. Knowing fills your chest, warm fairies dazzling your skin.

He looks up to you, a smile rushing onto his face. "I thought you weren't gonna show."

"Well, I suppose you're in luck."

He grabs your wrist when you're in reach, "Come on, I wanna show you something."

You allow him to pull you out to the courtyard. A little way's past the quidditch fields, there is a flower box. Filled to the brim with peonies and lilies. There's even a couple pink azaleas.

"Tada," he says, opening his arms to the post.

"You snuck me out of the castle to look at flowers?" you laugh.

"Not just any flowers," he points, crouching down to look at them. "Healing flowers."

"Really?" you inquire.

He looks up at you. Beneath the moonlight, his hair shines and his eyes twinkle amongst the stars. "Yeah. They heal everything."

"How do you even know about this?"

He shrugs, looking into the stamen of a certain peony. "My mom's a flower nerd. When she called most recently, she told me about this spot."

You crouch beside him, "Did she plant these?"

"Some of them. I think she likes azaleas, so probably those."

Your heart skips a beat. "Do you like the azaleas?"

"I-"

From behind you, a voice shouts, "Now I can't keep you away from each other?"

In sync, you look back. McGonagall is standing at the top of the hill, her arms crossed against her silk black robes. "Come on, you two, it's past curfew."

You dawdle up the hill, slightly limping on your ankle. You suppose you should have asked him about it.

When you meet McGonagall, she whispers, "By the way, I'm getting more eyes on you two. No more late night meetings."

xii.

The moon takes its reign in the sky, passing time as though it never wants to leave the throne. There's a waft of nutmeg traveling through the vents. Felix must be baking again.

The lamp on your bedside table clicks on. You look over to Jihyo, who is very much asleep. Her mouth hangs open and her limbs are flailed in varying directions.

A piece of paper forms against your chest. To Y/N: I'm sorry for getting you in trouble.

You shake your head, heart taking fire, as you search for a small piece of room to write: It's okay, I willingly went with you.

You wonder why he's awake. More importantly, why he's apologizing. He's never been one for owning up to anything, so why start now and here?

Within minutes, you receive the paper. To Y/N: I guess she can't police these notes haha

In return, you write: I hope not. Can you smell that nutmeg?

To Y/N: YES IT KEEPS TICKLING MY NOSE!!

To Hyunjin: It's probably just Felix, so I'm letting it slide this once.

To Y/N: Even then, I'm still considering killing him.

To Hyunjin: Same time you're gonna kill Jisung?

To Y/N: Yeah, actually. Thank you for reminding me.

You stifle a laugh, cautiously looking at Jihyo. She releases an abrupt snore, which stands in solitude.

To Hyunjin: Hey btw, do you know what happened to my ankle?

A few moments turn into minutes of twirling your thumbs for a response. The nutmeg retracts its intensity, leaving room for the Sandman to tarnish your eyes with the temptation of sleep. You grow tired of waiting, turning off your lamp and settling into the covers.

Morning comes, but the receiving message does not. You prepare for your day, following the stream of students to the dining hall. Hyunjin is already there, and his eyebags prove his late night. He looks up upon Seungmin's pointing, offering you a wave and a grin.

Nice Hyunjin is so weird.

You smile back. Changbin waits at the end of the food line by the time you get there. "Hey, heard you got caught with Hwang last night," he nudges your arm, raising his eyebrows.

"Nothing happened," you assure.

He nods, though he's not sure he believes you.

You grab a muffin and a carton of orange juice before following Changbin to Jisung, who is nursing a bowl of burnt oatmeal.

"How can you eat that shit?" Changbin grimaces.

You steal a glance in Hyunjin's direction. He's playing a rather intense game of rock, paper, scissors, with another Slytherin. After several rounds of ties, he finally beats the other with scissors. He pumps his balled fists into the air and laughs. His hair falls over his shoulders when he throws his head back.

He looks beautiful.

Maybe you were succumbing to the greed of this desire to be near him. So what if he was a Slytherin? He could be a Hufflepuff and no one would care if you two began seeing each other as more than friends. So why should anyone care if he's a Slytherin?

Jisung presses the tip of his wand against your cheek. "Hello?"

You hastily turn back to him, nearly redirecting his wand into your iris. He flinches back. "Zoned out much?"

"Sorry," you mumble, peeling the wrapper from your muffin.

"It's all good. I was asking if you're coming to Hogsmeade with us this weekend."

You tilt your head, as if the answer is teetering to one side of your brain. "I don't know."

"Come on," Changbin whines. "You've been so disconnected from us recently."

"Plus," Jisung adds, "This is gonna be the last weekend until April."

It's October. You sigh. "Fine. I suppose I'll tag along. But you guys are paying for butterbeer."

You probably would have gone anyway, despite how little you showed interest. Hearing their pitiful whines was just too fun.

"Good. Invite your boyfriend," Changbin nods to Hyunjin, who is walking down the aisle to get breakfast. He marks your gaze, turning a bit to come talk to you. A heat jumps to your chest, slowly rising to your face as he claims the seat beside you.

"Hi," he simpers, his eyes squinted and his teeth glimmering beneath the drowning sunlight.

"Hi," you return the expression. Not because you have to out of politeness, no, but because it's so hard not to.

"Are you going to Hogsmeade this weekend?" he asks, the smile quickly dissipating when he realizes Changbin is just over your shoulder. Eyes of a hawk, that one has.

You open your mouth to speak, but Changbin has already gathered his words. "Yes. They're coming with us."

You thrust your elbow back, nailing right between his ribs. He wheezes, doubling over. "Yeah, I'm going," you tell Hyunjin.

"Good. Meet me at the sweet shop around one," he pauses, turning to Jisung, "I won't keep them long. Promise."

Jisung shakes a free hand as he pools oatmeal onto his spoon, "No, it's fine. Take as long as you need."

Hyunjin smiles. "Nice. Okay, I'll see you later," he stands, patting your shoulder as he walks by.

"What a nice guy," Changbin manages with a smile, though he's still clutching his chest.

xiii.

His gaze is tilted upward as he watches the chocolate dragonflies dart to and fro across the ceiling. There's the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his lip. It twitches ever so slightly when a dragonfly threatens to sit on his nose.

"Hey," you greet. He jumps a little, turning to you. The chocolate bug has vanished, fluttering up to its haven.

"Oh, hi. I didn't think you'd get here so quick," he laughs.

You glance at your wrist. "It's 1:05."

He shrugs. "Aren't Gryffindors normally late?"

"Aren't Slytherins not the type to wait around for a Gryffindor?" you retaliate.

He nods, pointing a finger at you as his eyebrows furrow. "Touche."

He buys you a chocolate frog, despite your complaints that you could pay for your own. "No, no, it's on me," he insisted, shoving his money into the cashier's palm before you can say much else.

You perch atop floating stools, staring at him as he tries to wrangle his frog. His mouth hangs open with anticipation as he tries to guide it there. There's a tug at your chest that compels you to smile.

"So why'd you want to meet with me? I thought you were still in your sulky phase," you tease.

He looks up at you. There's a film of innocence to them. For a moment, you forget his reputation. He blinks, summoning a twinkle to the corner of his right eye. "I wanted to ask you for some advice," he finally says, rather confidently. His posture straightens and a cocky smile finds his lips. The Hyunjin you know.

"You didn't knock a girl up, did you? Because I will not be helping you get out of that one. You may be cool, but not that cool," you ramble.

His frog jumps from his palm, hopping away into the niche of chocolate animals with a poised ribbit. Hyunjin rolls his eyes, though a contradicting smile forms. "I was looking for this spell."

You lean closer, interested. "And? Which one?"

"Amortentia."

You pull back. That's a love potion. "Why would you need that?"

He sucks air in through his teeth, glancing away as he informs, "Well, I wanted to use it on you, but I thought maybe it's best not to drug you."

You laugh despite the thundering of your chest. Your fingers find the corner of a Wizard

Card, routinely picking at it to distract yourself. Hesitantly, you mumble,"What are you trying to say here?"

"God, Gryffindors are so dense," he throws his head back, a bubbling laugh bursting into

the air.

"No, I just want to hear you say it."

He groans, gaze slipping back to yours, "I like you a little bit."

"A little bit?" you challenge, recalling his fit in the Slytherin common room.

Hyunjin rests his arms on the table as he leans closer to you, your noses nearly touching. "It sounds like someone told you something. You don't seem very surprised," he hesitates before adding a quiet, "or appalled."

His lips are so close to yours. You can smell his green apple chapstick. You find yourself at a loss for words, for his lips keep your gaze. Oh, what the hell. You close the gap between you, allowing your lips to mingle for a few seconds before pulling away. There's a small giggle to your words as you say, "You're not good at hiding your emotions, Hwang Hyunjin. Aren't Slytherins supposed to be good at stuff like that?"

He scoffs. "Aren't Gryffindors supposed to be noble? You snuck into the Slytherin common room!"

"How'd you know?"

He chuckles, "Your shoulder kinda slipped out of the cloak."

This takes a minute to process. It seems like your usage of the invisibility cloak will now be put on hold. You can only look at the oak table, lips pursed in a disappointing defeat.

You rotate your ankles in small circles when you remember. "Hey, by the way, why was my ankle all messed up? You never answered my letter."

"Seungmin came in," he grabs your hand. "But when I was carrying you back to the castle I may have been a little careless and let your ankle run through a bush of thorns."

You smack his arm with your free hand, mouth agape. "You what?"

"It was an accident! I'll make it up to you," he promises.

"How so?"

He draws your lips to his for a quick peck. "What do you want?"

You think, squinting. "Hmm. I can get anything?"

"Within reason," he declares. "I'm not buying you a unicorn or anything."

You shake your head, for what you want is much more simple. "Can we go on cute dates?"

He hums, interlacing your fingers. "Of course."

"Oh! And we have to go to the Yule Ball together-"

"Sure."

"But we're wearing Gryffindor colors."

He drops your hand, pulling away as if your fingertips scalded him. "Absolutely not."

"C'mon, you owe me."

"Not that much. Your ankle will heal. My pride, however, will not."

You sigh. "Fine, we can settle for non-house colors."

"Deal."

xiv.

"I saw him playing with your fingers," Changbin shakes you vehemently after you sit down at the dining table.

"Why won't you let this go?" you ask.

"Well, you see, when a guy who traditionally hates someone randomly asks them to hang out, their friends should be a little concerned."

You look to Jisung, who is more interested in his soup. "Did you watch us too?" you ask.

He barely looks up. "No, I was at the book shop—I think."

You turn back to Changbin, though he's already shaking his hands in defense. "No, the difference between me and Jisung is-"

"That Jisung's smarter than you?" Hyunjin appears, sitting on the bench beside you.

"Yeah, I think it's that," you nod, sharing his smirked gaze.

"No," Changbin defends, "Jisung is only concerned for physical wellbeing after the fact. I care prior to the event happening."

"If we all lived your way, we'd be sheltered," Jisung adds, twirling his spoon.

They dive into a heated discussion bordering an argument. Hyunjin wraps his arm around you, and the sounds of Changbin whining fades to black. You look up at him, "Shouldn't you be sitting with Seungmin?"

He shakes his head. "I got banished for talking too much about you."

You roll your eyes. "Don't sacrifice your friends because of me."

"Hey, you're the one who makes me this way. If I could not be 'Y/N would like this' every time I saw anything that even remotely reminded me of you, trust me, I would."

"Do you really do that?"

"Any time I see flowers," he sheepishly admits. He catches glimpses of the flower beds every day, nearly four times. Sometimes five if he sneaks out to see you.

You chuckle. "Just say you're in love with me, geez."

"I don't want to inflate your ego," he kisses your temple.

A stray comment from Changbin floats into your bubble, "Gross!"

"Speaking of egos, do you have your suit for the ball?" you ask, pushing your spoon into the sea of spinach and kale.

"I guess I should tell my mom about that," he mumbles.

"Hyunjin! The ball is in a week!"

"Yeah, and I also need to tell her we're dating," he laughs dryly, suddenly absorbed with something down the aisle.

You shrug his arm off of your shoulder. "What? It's been nearly a month!"

He looks back at you as if you're arguing over spilled milk. "Life at the Hwangs is very hectic, okay?"

"He's lying," Changbin says. "They only see each other, pay the kids, and leave."

Hyunjin looks ready to punch the sly grin off of his face. Instead, he pats your thigh. "I'll call her tonight."

xv.

He calls to you from across the bustling room. You stand in awe as your eyes lay upon the black velvet of his blazer. In the chest pocket is a red and gold handkerchief, folded to perfection.

"You look great," he simpers, eyes slipping from your exposed collarbone down to the dark green fabric that expands out from your blanketed feet.

He wraps an arm around your waist, whispering, "You're wearing my color."

Butterflies take reign over your stomach, swarming out in packs. You grow shy as he pulls away.

"You look stunning," he presses a soft kiss on your lips.

He drags you over to Seungmin, who chats with Minho in carefully structured quips.

Seungmin takes a long look at your gown, smiling as he comments, "Slytherin colors."

"You know," Hyunjin turns to you, "I was going to get a red suit but they were incredibly ugly so I'm settling for a handkerchief."

You smile up at him, "It's okay, the sentiment is there."

Minho dismisses himself when he spots a cat swaying between dancing feet. Its eyes are wide with fright as it stares up at the unfamiliar faces in search of its owner. Seungmin smiles fondly as he watches the boy pick up the cat, delicately taking it out of the room.

"Where are Thing One and Thing Two?" Hyunjin inquires, leaning against the bar.

You scan the hall. "I'm not sure. Changbin said he'd be here. Jisung might skip out."

Seungmin laughs unexpectedly, receiving a few confused glares in return. He soon clarifies after taking a sip of water, "I was thinking about Changbin having a date. Weird."

He certainly doesn't have a date. When he arrives, the ball is nearly over and his tie is messily made up.

"Did you get dressed in the dark?" Seungmin stares as he approaches.

"Yes, actually. Long story."

A slower song comes on. It's a change in scenery from the previous publike songs. Hyunjin offers you his hand, dramatically asking, "May I have this dance?"

Your hand slips into his, "You may."

He guides you to an empty spot near the edges of the dance crowd, swiftly tucking his arms around your waist. You nestle yours around his neck. For a few seconds, you stare into his big brown eyes, watching as the twinkle shifts in the light. You fight a smile.

"What's the smile for?"

"Nothing," you say, pressing your cheek to his chest so you can grin in peace.

He sighs, though a vibration in his chest tells you he's also laughing. "I know we tease each other a lot, but I love you."

Your heart skips a beat and your breath clogs up in your throat, though your smile never falters. Each day that has passed, it has grown harder to fight saying those words. When you return them, you feel lighter. As though you have relinquished thirty pounds from your shoulders.

"Don't tell anyone I'm getting sappy with a Gryffindor," he fake gags.

"Same to you, snake."

You smile in these moments. With music guiding your feet and a boy who warms your heart, despite his stereotypically shivering attributes. He rests his chin atop your head as he repeats those cursed words, grounding you with him more and more each time. He's yours. And you're his.

Perhaps it's always been that way.

#bandaigaeru #hwang hyunjin #hyunjin skz #hyunjin stray kids #stray kids imagine #hyunjin imagine #hyunjin au #skz au #stray kids au #skz imagine #skz scenarios #stray kids scenarios #hyunjin x reader #skz x reader #stray kids x reader #stray kids hyunjin #skz hyunjin #slytherin hyunjin

[ellitx]

Chapter 13: Fidelity

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

previous || next

art belongs to _suucrose

word count: 2.9k

           In sun and clouds, the church spire reached into that every stretching blue. It was as if it spoke of the love of the community towards their god, that it too lasted in any weather and called on them to join and put their faith in him.

           When Aether and Paimon walked along the nave, the church choir was different compared to the other choirs that didn’t sing hymns. Their voice was almost like angels, high notes soaring over the clouds, graceful notes dancing on the staves, and they sang for the Anemo Archon only.

           The two waited to finish their practice before looking for a certain deaconess that might help them gather more information they needed. It wasn’t long before Barbara noticed them and approached the two with a welcoming smile.

           “Hello, Honorary Knight. What brings you here today?” 

           Paimon flew over her and leaned closer for a much better closeness to ask. 

           “We would like to ask you something about Barbatos!” She exclaimed fervently whilst she placed her small arms in front of her chest. A bright smile was then donned on the deaconess’s face, her blue eyes sparkling in delight at her words.

           “Oh! Are you two perhaps interested in serving Mondstadt’s very own Anemo archon as well?” Her tone had an obvious enthusiasm in it. Aether already felt bad that’s not what they were here for, and be that as it may, he still has to prioritize in searching for his lost sibling.

           “That’s not the case. We wanted to ask if by any chance the Anemo archon has a lover.”

           Barbara’s small pink lips parted trying to utter a single word however a short chuckle was what came from her mouth. It surprised them and was confused if they said something odd. Her delicate hands were now placed on her mouth to stifle her laughs, apologizing in between them, as small tears form from the corner of her eyes.

           “Sorry for suddenly laughing. I wasn’t expecting that’ll be your question. But to answer that, there are no stories or mentions if Barbatos had a lover or not in the past. If he did, it would’ve already been written in the books and be sung by the bards everywhere. You celebrated the Windblume Festival, right?" 

        The two gestured their heads as a yes. "Since you already know it's a festival about love and freedom, wouldn't the Windblume Festival be celebrated for both of them instead of Barbatos only? But just as I have said before, there were no tales about the God of Freedom having a lover.”

           Something clicked inside his head though it didn’t last for long as it suddenly fades away like a speckle of dust. 

           “That’s true…” He turned to look at Paimon who was all troubled and disturbed.

           He continued to listen further if there’ll be more clues but it seems like that’s the only information he’ll get for now. His companion looked at him then held her aching head to alleviate the small ringing echoing in her ears.

           “Paimon’s running out of brain juice and my head is hurting the more Paimon thinks about this…” The throbbing in her head told her it was time to rest someplace quiet, to ride out the pile of confusion within her brain.

           Aether nodded and massaged his forehead in hopes to ease the pain. Why does he suddenly feel so lightheaded? He shook his head and pushed himself forward to carry out his plan on giving the pendant back to you. Words of gratitude were what Barbara received from the blonde and she waved them a goodbye to continue her choir practice with the other members of the Favonius Church.

           “Are we going back to the lair?” Paimon asked. Aether hummed in affirmation as they stepped outside of the parish. The harsh sunlight caused him to squint his eyes and cover his face with his arm. Was it always this hot for this season? The sudden change of the climate made him so lightheaded than ever. 

           Paimon detected how pale he looks as if he’d been painted with white-wash— even his lips were barely there. It was as if his heart had suddenly stopped beating and all the blood had run down into his boots. He swayed just for a moment, then with one step backward, he crumpled like a puppet suddenly released of their strings.

—

  Birds trill, sweetly high, the chorus as playful as the birds themselves. With closed eyes, Venti imagined their music to color, painting stairs in the same way grapevines grow - this way and that, in a beautiful harmony that isn't quite random. 

           Along with your soft humming, it made the ambiance much more relaxing and calm for him. In the calm of the day, his heartbeat is the steady drum to your melody and he seeps into the moment, allowing himself to drown in your beautiful voice.

           You rubbed the petals of the red flower between your fingers, watching your skin take on the sunny hue. Venti had spent the entire afternoon lying down on your lap and listening to your canorous tunes that made him forget about everything— as if you two were the only ones in this world with no one to intervene in such a peaceful moment he has with you.

           You watched the petal rotate and awed in admiration as a flower’s petal is able to spin like wind wheels. 

           “Hey, Venti,” You called out to him and peered down to peek at his sleeping face. Your lover hummed in drowsiness before opening one of his eyes to look at you. Dragging the flower close to him, he shifted to get a proper look at what you’re holding.

           “What flower is this?”

           You’ve always been a curious one. Even before you were in a coma. It’s like you have a passion in you to know every single thing about this world. From small creatures to rare species of beings in the wildlife, anything that catches your interest and you're eager to know more about it.

           Your drive to find answers is one of your unique traits he’s grown to love the more he’s with you. You create yourself in that fire of ongoing need that focuses everything that you are. And you do it because it feels as if the finding of the answer is your personal mission, your reason for being, your way of belonging and giving.

           It came to him if your curiosity will cross the line. Will it come to you that he’s been hiding his identity from you? Or will you still continue to live life with him in pure denseness? Either way, if you managed to find out he’ll find a way to have you forget what you witness. 

           For now, he has to be cautious and prevent you from exploring the outside world. Especially if that traveler is around in his land. It’s no good if you meet him. With the help of the humming winds to let him know what’s happening, it occurred to him that he has to just patiently wait and prevent you and Aether from crossing paths.

           Venti held your soft hands in his palms and took the flower from you. A small and gentle smile appeared on his face as he leaned forward and pressed his temple against yours, placing the plant close to your chest.

           “It’s Windwheel Asters.” He answered and observed how your eyes sparkled in joy when you watched the petals continue to spin.

           “I haven’t seen these before.” 

           Venti lightly chuckled and placed the flower between your hands as he returned to resting himself against you, but this time his head was now on your shoulder. “Windwheel Asters cannot grow in places with no wind nor plagued by strong storms, only where the wind is gentle and nourishing.” 

           “Really?” You laid your head against his and fiddled with the stem. If these floras are really unable to grow in harsh winds, then it means Old Mondstadt’s storms have truly vanished without any traces left. 

           Peace and harmony at last. 

           Freedom is finally with you.

           You lifted your hand up against the sunlight and marvel at how simple it is. It may not look as fancy as the cecilias nor does it resemble feathered wings of a dandelion when blown away, but you found yourself liking this more than what Venti had given you.

           It’s not like you don’t appreciate his efforts for collecting every cecilias and dandelions in this region to create a wonderful garden for your eyes to fancy with, you still are grateful for it though you do wonder why did he not include these asters in the collection?

           “I kind of like this. It reminds me of you.”

           Now that made him fully awake.

           “Me?”

           The color-infused cheeks dimpled with the blossoming smile, your eyes shone in a way that only deep happiness can bring. It was the blush of roses, that peek of champagne pink. Nodding your head to him, you brought the flower close to your face to cover your flushing features.

           “You were always fighting for freedom. If it weren’t for you, we won’t be able to see the skies and birds you’ve always wished for. I really admire your perseverance and passion to fight against my father to have the city liberated from his hands. Thank you. Thank you for revolting against him. Thank you for giving everyone freedom they’ve longed for.”

           You suddenly felt your throat tightened and your breath hitching every now and then. With your shoulders shaking and chin trembling, you fear he might see you in such a vulnerable state. You lowered your head even more and let your hair cover your face. Even if you hide it from him, Venti can still see small drops of liquid falling from you until it turns into a small puddle on the back of your hand.

           “[Name]…?”

           “Even though I’m Decarabian’s daughter, you never looked or treated me differently. Even after the war has ended, you never leave me. And now father, mother, and the knight… they’re all gone and y-you survived. You still stayed with me until I woke up…  I… I was so scared that once I awoke, I won’t be able to see you.”

           You were wiping your cheeks every few seconds and gulping down the lump sitting on your throat. Sniffling quietly, the tears still threatened to spill from your eyes. Your lover gently clutched your hand and used his other hand to lift your chin up to look at him.

           Your eyes were red and swollen. It shatters his heart seeing you like this as your tears split over and flowed down your face like a river escaping a dam. Using his finger to dry your damp face, he brushed his lips on your temple and laced your fingers together.

           “I should be the one thanking you.” He muttered and brought your intertwined fingers up to his lips to kiss the back of your hand. “Without your support, I don’t know how things would end up. If he— if I hadn’t saved you back then, you’d be locked up in that tower. Things would go differently, wouldn’t they? I can’t bring myself the idea of leaving you there when they were chasing after you.”

           He pushed you until your back was leaning against the rough trunk of the tree. His other arm was propped beside your face before he rested his head on your shoulder and nuzzled closely.

           “Thank you. Thank you for always being here with me.” Even though his voice was muffled, you can hear him loud and clear through your teary state. A shaky smile came from you as you caressed his hair lovingly before leaning forward and wrapping your arms around him.

           “I love you. I love you so much, Venti.”

           He has lived long enough to know that what you share he can’t replicate it with another. This love, this feeling, is just you and him. He could travel the world and the seven regions to create new ballads; he’d still come right back at you if he wanted true love. 

           He has protected you for years, he’s your confidant, a true friend, and even a lover. The trust he gave you, you gave him, is what keeps both of you safe in this world, in this life. So whether his heart beats another day or another hundred years— it’s always yours.

           Meeting Venti was more of a coincidence than a fate. Yet it was the first time in your life you felt like you could be yourself around him. Memories of meeting him have become the same as the dream you play time and time again. You felt good with him in a way you haven’t been before or since.

           Hearing those three eternal words from you is surreal for him. His heart would beat madly and his stomach churn in such a way excitement and happiness is filling his entire system. He wants to hear from you again.

           Just once more so he can finally have you all to himself.

           His chest was burning hot and so was his heart that rapidly beats in great euphoria. He can sense your emotions when you cry but this feeling… it’s much more different than he had felt before. A burning desire. He’s so smitten of your entire existence. All words coming from you were all his, he grasps each phrase and corresponds with his own loving and affectionate words.

           He was brought out from his trance when he felt how warm his palm is, and it’s when he became aware his hand was now placed on your cheek just like how he brings your hand to cup his face. 

           Venti felt his face heat up at such a simple gesture and when you give a short and quick chaste kiss on his lips, he recognized the first brightest and sweet smile for this day was painted on your graceful visage.

           “I love you.”

           His wish was heard when you repeated your confession at him. Is it finally working? Were his efforts finally paid off? Before Ludi Harpastum was the Windblume, a festival where they offer windblumes to their loved ones and to the Anemo Archon. Every year, every time Mondstadt celebrates Windblume, his first priority is to give you cecilias.

           He collected them for you every year. He tends them very well until they bloom— until your eyes opened. For him, windblumes are the cecilias. A symbol of elegance, purity, and just as ethereal as your gentle heart. It may be different from what that really means as interpreted by the people of Mond, but for Venti, he feels freedom when he’s with you, he feels loved when he’s with you and it’s the reason why he gathered so many flowers for you while you were asleep.

           The arrangement given to him by the former Dendro Archon— she proposed the idea to him to gather flowers for you every time they feast Windblume. He can still clearly remember her words, her voice echoing in his head saying that even she may part from this world. 

           Her predictions for her own life were accurate. As if she already expected this to happen to her and that’s why she’s planning ahead to list all the preconditions to him to keep you safe and harmless. Barbatos can’t keep relying on her on everything and that is why he put a lot of effort into maintaining the garden.

           Yesterday night was the time of the ceremony. Venti prepped everything to make it perfect, he wanted it to be successful. A mimic of a dance he once saw when he and you were together ages ago, it was a secret you both hid but he knows this. Barbatos knows what happened during that time and pretended as if he weren't there.

           But now that he was able to dance it with you, one would call him shameless for stealing you from him. The heavy weight on his shoulder was now lifted away, finally free from the guilt he’s been feeling for centuries. His inner battle with himself is fully resolved, inner conflicts vanished, a conflict between his love and longing for you.

           Your words eased Venti and made him assured you love him back as well. If you haven’t said a single word about your own feelings, he’d be living in an illusory fantasy that you were only shy to tell him you love him very much. But ever since the bond has been created, all he hears is I love you’s from you for his ears to delight in.

           “I love you,”

           You repeated once, a faint brush of your lips against his made him shudder. Soft, gentle, and shy just like your personality. Twice when you parted away, grasping how he tastes like apples before meekly leaning on him once more for a kiss but with more vigor. Your hand clutched the front of his shirt when you felt him hold you the small of your waist to pull you against him.

           “I love you.”

           Thrice was words of tenderness and desire from you to him. At that moment, you felt your body flushed warm. This was a person you wanted to be with than you’d ever felt before. 

           Venti has always been the one you could love forever.

@trust-the-oxygen​

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact venti x reader #venti x reader #genshin impact venti #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere venti x reader #yandere venti #yandere #Illusory Sense #elliwrites

[eartht137]

FOR THE BETTER pt II

Hey curvies, glad you liked the first part of my story yay. I now bestow upon you part 2. I went a bit out of the way with this chapter, but I hope you like it. The singing part is something I did in class once on a whim, it didn't work as good as I described in the story, I still had to submit my work LOL. Enjoy my little curvies MMMMWWWahHHH!

Dark Clark Kent x (Black)!Plus Size Reader SUMMARY: Mr. Kent said friends til the end of the week right? Think again. Y/n, still getting used to having Mr. Kent as a friend, is trying to be a bit more bold. She's trying to adjust to change and even though sometimes he may seem a bit pushy, she doesn't mind, its all friendship right? He'll back off after awhile right?

You walked in class, no paper in hand and you refused to meet Clarks disappointed gaze. You weren't the only one without a paper but you were really nervous about the presentation you had up your sleeve. You just hoped it made sense. "Alright, looks like we're getting speeches today. Who wants to go first? Hmm?" He said with his hands on his hips. No one volunteered. "Am I going to have to voluntell somebody?" he gave you "the look" over his glasses. Your heart pounded in your chest, but you shakily stood as first volunteer. "Alright Miss Y/l/n, lets hear it." You could hear disappointment dripping in his voice, but you wanted to do this. You took a deep breath, and started to sing. 'Hello darkness my old friend, I've come to talk with you again, because a vision softly creeping left its seed while I was sleeping, and the vision that was planted in my brain, still remains. Within the sound!!!!!!!!! Of silence.' you ended making everyone freeze and stare. "My voice is pretty much the best thing I like about me. I-I didn't think a paper could put in words what my voice could. Th-that's my speech." You said awkwardly sitting down. You'd never sang in front of anyone like that before, you hadn't even joined the choir, so singing in front of everyone was a huge step for you. Just as you'd finished processing what you'd done, the classroom erupted in cheers and applause. You were shaking at how many people liked what you'd done. You really began to shake when you saw Clark clapping for you too. "That's my wife!" One of your classmates yelled across the room smiling at you. "Alright, alright. Miss Y/l/n," Clark started. "That's Mrs. Bankston to you." the same classmate yelled out making everyone laugh. Your face heated up a bit. "Miss Y/l/n thank you for the speech. It'll suffice this time, next time I want a paper. Okay, Bankston, you're up next." "Aw Mr. Kent for reals? Like how am I supposed to follow up an act like that? Besides we're duo. Like ebony and ivory..." He serenaded holding his hand out toward you, making you giggle. "Mr. Bankston Miss Y/l/n has fantastic gpa in comparison, so seeing as your such a duo I would've expected a lot better." Clark shaded calmly, "So unless you want it to suffer any further, I suggest you cut the crap and give your speech." Clark said a bit irritated. The rest of class was filled with boring speeches from classmates who weren't even prepared to do their work. When class was dismissed, you tried easing out of the room without being noticed. "Uh, Miss Y/l/n, my office please?" He said looking over his glasses at you. You inwardly groaned and went back to his office. "So, what excuse do you have for not doing your paper?" "I honestly couldn't come up with the words to describe how it felt to use my voice. I tried I really did, but honestly, I really just couldn't find the words to describe what I like about me when-I just couldn't find the words." "Y/n, you do not give yourself enough credit. You're a very good writer and obviously an incredible singer. You can be whatever-" "Clark, do I look like a singer to you? No I don't, that's why I write, I know my words have more impact behind the scenes." You said with strength. You didn't have to be seen to be heard. "You can be whatever you want to be and you'll have my support every step of the way. That's what friends, real friends do." "Clark we are not still friends, we said til the end of the week." you shook your head at him with a smile. He smiled and stuffed his hands in his pocket. "Sorry, I'm not going away." "Figures." You laughed a bit. "What are you doing tonight? We could have a movie night." "Will Lois be there?" You asked excited. "I can ask her if you want me to." "I guess it'd be cool, but for like 30 minutes though." "Y/n no movie lasts 30 minutes. Nice try though." he laughed. "We'll be over at 8." "'Kay bye!" You said rushing out of his office off to your next class. That night at 8 on dot a knock came to your door, you answered expecting to see the couple standing there but was a bit shocked to

just see Clark. "Hey, Lois coming by later?" You asked, the last you wanted was to cause drama. "No she's following a lead on a story for the front page. She says she's sorry and she'll catch up next time." He said walking past with bags of groceries. "Oh, well let me help you." You said motioning at the bags in his hands. "I've got it, its pretty heavy." "I swear I honestly thought you'd be bringing a pizza." you chuckled. "Where's your table?" "Table?" You asked head tilted to the side. "Where you eat, the dining table?" he asked sitting the groceries on your counter. "Haha, you have a table for guests. I never have anyone over, so I just sit in front of the tv." you said pointing at your couch. He rolled his eyes at you and huffed. "Oh come on don't look at me crazy, I warned you that I was anti." "That's no excuse." he mumbled as he opened your refrigerator. "Y/n, you don't have any food in here." He fussed. "I do, its in the freezer and the pantry." you defended. "Two chimichangas, a pint of ice cream, Nutella, animal crackers, soda, and ramen. That's not food." He fussed even harder. "Okay dude chill, I'm a working grown college student. I don't eat here much anyway I eat at work, and Nutella is sustainable to my everyday existence." You said yanking the hazelnut spread away before he threw it away. He shook his head as he put the food away. "How long has it been since you've had a hot home cooked meal?" "Last week at your mom's." you shrugged. "I'm glad I brought real food to cook." he fussed on. "Clark, we could've just ordered pizza." you said starting to feel a bit bad for not adulting enough. "We could've, but I wanted to cook for you." He turned and looked at you pleading. "Please tell me you have pots and pans." "God Clark I'm hopeless not an idiot." You joked laughing obnoxiously making him roll his eyes at you. You showed him where everything was and he started cooking. You offered to help, be wanted to cook for you. You sat up the snacks an pulled up Netflix so you could choose a movie. He made his way over to you with a glass of wine. You took a sip and dramatically fell to the ground, pretending to die by poisoned wine. He got down on the floor with you and you looked at the height difference of his head by your feet and your head at the middle of his thighs and started laughing making him laugh like you'd never heard. After you both calmed down you laid there staring at the ceiling like there were stars hovering. "You really do have an amazing voice." Clark said cutting the peaceful silence. You couldn't help but smile. "Thanks....friend." You said nudging him in his thigh with your elbow. You both stayed silent until you gasped making him almost jump out of his skin. "What?" he said worried. "Can I sing at you and Lois' wedding?" You asked catching him off guard. "Oh come on, you love her, I can see it, " You said sitting up and smiling down at him. "and you both look so beautiful together." You stood tall and put your hands on your hips in "Superman" fashion. "Since I'm your friend I give her the golden stamp of, put a ring on it!" You said holding out your thumb. "Okay, I'm picking gonna pick the movie." You said marching to the couch. "That's not fair, I'm cooking I should get to pick the movie." He standing to check on his food. "We could've ordered pizza." You rebutted. "I'm your guest." he shot back with a shit eating grin. "Shit! Fine, you get to pick the movie." "Well I'll pick it after we eat." "Aww what? The tv's right there." You pointed. He looked over his glasses at you. "I don't even have a table." you argued. "You've got an argument for everything don't you?" He said chuckling. "You've got a coffee table, we'll make it work. Do you have a candle?" He said looking around before looking at you. You were there with your hands on your hips, looking at him like-'you know damn well.' He shook his head at your for the millionth time making you giggle a bit. He set the table and poured you another glass of wine. "You know this stuff gets better the more you

drink it." You said gulping the glass down and holding it out for more. "Mm-hmm." He agreed taking a sip of his own while pouring you more. You took a bite of you food, you immediately stood and clapped. "You were right, this is way better than pizza, although pizza is still good, this is amazing. "So what genre do you like most?" He asked. "Horror, I don't know why I watch it though, I always spook myself afterwards." "Okay so no horror." "No, wait please? I won't get scared tonight I promise. I mean unless you want to watch cartoons?" "We'll watch something scary." "Yaaaaay!!!!" you cheered and went to reach for the remote to your tv. "Ah, after we finish dinner and clean up." "Deal!" You said a bit excited. Once dinner was done and you'd both cleaned, even though you told him you'd do all the cleaning, he still helped. Afterwards you both sat and watched a scary movie that had you stress eating and jumping every two seconds. After that movie ended, Clark suggested another movie to help you not feel so spooked. You'd lost count of how many glasses of wine you'd had and you were feeling tipsy and tired. "Hey friend?" You hummed. "Hm?" "I fuckin hate to admit this, but I'm drunk. I'm glad we're friends. You better be glad too." you fussed at him. "I am glad," he laughed, "I really am." He said staring at you. "Good, cause you're the only person I can tolerate. Oh, and Lois....oh and that your mom, I really like your mom....oh and that cute guy from class." you giggled making Clark roll his eyes in disgust. "Y/n please." "What? He's cute, he's an idiot, that doesn't change that he's cute." You said looking at your phone. Your eyes grew big as you saw the time. "Dude its past midnight. Don't you need get home and rest for lecture?" He stared at you for a moment and you could tell he didn't want to go home, but you both knew he had to. "Yeah I'm sure I could use some rest." He said getting up to leave. You tried to get him to take the rest of the food he'd bought with him, but he refused. "Well thanks for dinner's meals and be safe. Do you need me to walk you out?" "Absolutely not, how about I see you off to bed?" "I look five to you? Don't even answer that." You sassed. He laughed and gave you a long hug, telling you how proud of you he was for using your voice and for letting him be your friend. You squirmed out of his arms pretending it was burning you. He ruffled your fro' and you gave him a playful nudge out the door. That night as you laid in bed trying to fall asleep, you kept thinking about Clark and no matter how hard you tried to shake it you couldn't help but fawn over him and how close you both had gotten so fast. 'Girl puh-lease, he's got Lois, she's beautiful and thin. He's happy with her and there's no way he'd even bat an eye at you like that. Don't even get it twisted.' you scolded yourself internally. You couldn't allow yourself to catch feelings for him that way because you knew you'd only end up with hurt feelings. You also didn't want to break up a happy relationship. 'How'd he know I needed groceries though?' you thought to yourself, 'Maybe just a hunch.' you dismissed. Soon with your mind going in 50 different directions, you were tired enough to fall asleep. "Goodnight little bird." Clark said as he watched you finally drift off to sleep. He wondered what thoughts plagued your brain that kept you awake. He hoped you'd thought of him. After making sure every inch of you apartment was safe inside and out he felt satisfied enough to go home and get a bit of rest. 'No harm in making sure she's safe' he thought as he finally took off. 'I'll always make sure she's safe.'

#dark clark kent #x black reader #plus size reader #character development

[ghostburs-blue]

Peace Is Momentary

Summary: soulmate!au where your soulmate will appear to you in a time of need. Spencer’s gone 20 years without meeting his; so has y/n. What will happen when fate finally connects them together?

Warnings: angst if you squint, nothing else really

Word count: 2.2k

a/n: this might become a series if people like it enough!! we’ll see ;)

Spencer knows there’s a chance he’ll never meet his soulmate. He knows the statistics, he’s done the research. Yet, he always feels a little bit better at the thought that someone was made just for him, someone who’ll stay with him through it all.

Of course, he assumed he would have found his soulmate much earlier in life. Most people found theirs when they were as young as 16, though always in the same fashion. Spencer was turning 22, 6 years older than the average age of finding your one true love.

Your soulmate would come to you in a time when you need them the most; when your soul calls out to its other half in a cry for help.

Every time Spencer broke down or cried, whether it be over a case at work, his mother’s condition, or quite literally anything else, he prayed that his soulmate would magically appear in front of him. Alas, the cards simply haven’t been in his favor.

Unknown to Reid, about 20 minutes away, you were in the exact same predicament. All of your life, you had waited to find your soulmate. When your parents passed in your high school years, there was a small part of you that was hoping you would find your soulmate right then and there. That... didn’t exactly work out.

You had moved in with your aunt and uncle in a different city and had turned into the epitome of a rebellious child. You wore clothes your modest family would have a heart attack upon seeing, listened to music the church choir you were a part of would scoff at. However, if there was one thing you were good at, it was school.

You didn’t have a ton of money growing up, so you worked harder than anyone you knew to get scholarships to college. You juggled a full time job at your local coffee shop while still in school to get your engineering degree, and boy was it tiring.

“Excuse me lady? I’ve been waiting for 10 fucking minutes. What have I got to do to get a coffee already?” A man with a thick (Boston?) accent leered at you. You groaned internally, proceeding to plaster a much too bright smile on your face in an attempt to hide your obvious disdain for him.

“So sorry sir! Your cold brew will be coming right up,” you exclaimed cheerily, though you felt anything but. Turning away from him, you let your hands fly over the coffee machine to make a drink you’ve made a thousand times over. Your mind starts to wander as you brew the espresso. Did you even have a soulmate? What if they hate you? What if they’re dead? What if-

Your thoughts were cut short as the espresso machine beeps, jolting you back to reality. You quickly finish off the cup, gratefully sliding it across the bar to the rude man waiting close by. You turned around and caught your coworker’s bemused expression; you were too tired to complain.

-

Spencer frowned as he gazed at the crime scene photos. What wasn’t clicking?

He was shaken out of his thoughts by the sound of Emily’s heels clacking on the linoleum floor. He turned with his chin resting on his hand to see her wearing a pitying look on her face. In one hand, she held a cup of coffee.

He reached out, pointing to the styrofoam cup. “Is that for me?” Spencer asked, secretly hoping it wasn’t so he could get some rest.

Thankfully, Emily shook her head. “No, Reid.” She sighed, looking back up at him sadly. “Listen, I know you really want to solve this case. Don’t get me wrong, we all do. But you’ve been awake for what? 30 hours straight? You might be a genius but even Einstein needed rest,” she finished. Before Reid could protest, she lifted a hand. “Go back to your hotel room and sleep. That’s a direct order from Hotch.”

Spencer frowned unhappily at the brunette in front of him, but he knew when the conversation was over. Grabbing some files he was fully planning to mull over on the comfort of his stiff hotel mattress, he brushed past Emily and headed towards his car.

-

After a long shift, you groaned as you pushed open the door to your tiny apartment. Immediately, you stripped off your clothes and headed straight for the shower in an attempt to scrub off the now nauseating scent of coffee.

Emerging 20 minutes later with bright red and freshly exfoliated skin, you felt like you were about to collapse at any second. You were asleep before your head hit the pillow.

-

Reid sat on the bed, papers and crime scene photos splayed out in front of him. The heels of his hands dug into his eyes as he tried to prevent tears from running down his unshaven cheeks.

-

You wake with a start, sweating slightly. Looking around, you frown. This isn’t your hotel room, you think to yourself, confused. You gasped when you noticed a man sitting on the bed, looking like he hadn’t slept in months. His clothes were misshapen, hair messy and clearly not brushed. He was boyishly handsome, you decided with a satisfied nod.

The gasp you let out caused him to look up; you both realized what was happening at the same moment.

“You’re my soulmate,” Spencer breathed out, at the same time you muttered “Oh my fucking god.”

For a few more moments, both stared at each other, unsure how to act and what to do.

Reid made the first move, awkwardly scooting over slightly and clearing his throat, patting the now empty space next to him.

You quietly shuffled over, perching politely on the edge of the bed.

“So um... where are you right now?” You offered, genuinely curious as to why he was in a hotel room in seemingly the middle of nowhere.

Spencer laughed. “I uh- I guess it’s a long story,” his voice trailed off slightly as he noticed the look you gave him, the one that said Really?. “I guess that was a stupid thing to say,” he mumbled.

You laughed, hitting his arm gently. “Don’t worry about it. For now, we have all the time in the world.”

And so the night progressed; Reid told you all about working at the BAU and you told him all about, well, working at a coffee shop. You quickly found out Spencer was a literal genius, and you, completely serious of course, asked if he would do all your homework for you. (Spoiler alert: he said no because it “goes against his morals”. What does that even mean???)

You could feel yourself fading as Spencer got happier and happier. You both seemed to realize you didn’t have much time left. You grabbed his hand, staring deep into his eyes. You could feel yourself leaning in, Reid too-

“Wait!” You exclaimed, and the two of you jumped apart. “What’s your name?” You asked breathlessly.

“Oh!” He replied, seemingly surprised that you two had never exchanged names. What he didn’t know, however, was that you were slipping away from him much faster than either of you could have realized. “It’s Sp-“

And just like that, you were gone. You woke up in your own bed to find it was morning, sunlight streaming through your windows. Racking your brain, you tried to remember what he said his name was. Unfortunately, all you could remember was the short 2 letters you heard before you vanished. He hadn’t even gotten your name! How was he supposed to find you now?

-

Across the country, Spencer woke up with his head pounding. Bleary eyed, he tried to make sense of what just happened. He met his soulmate, then lost her just as fast. He didn’t even get her name!, Reid kicked himself.

-

The next few days for the both of you seemed like hell. You found out it was practically impossible to find records of government employees, especially from divisions like the BAU. You grew increasingly frustrated while scouring through database after database.

Spencer had immediately called Garcia, but made her swear to keep it a secret. He attempted to give her an idea of what you looked like, only to hear the disappointed sound of Penelope’s voice letting him know that she had a list of about 10,000 people who fit the description. Of course, knowing Penelope, no secret ever stayed a secret for long. No more than a few hours later he was met with a chorus of congratulations from his fellow colleagues, including Morgan’s “I knew you had it in you!”, which was met with a sad frown as Spencer explained the unlucky situation.

Unfortunately, nothing much happened after that. You gave up your search on this mystery man, he did the same. Every day, however, you both woke up and hoped today would be that one special day where they found each other again. Every day, they were met with another heart wrenching disappointment, until one fateful afternoon.

Your back ached as you scrubbed down the counter for what felt like the thousandth time that day. It had been a few years since what you liked to call “the incident”, and you liked to keep it out of your head at this point. You were now in grad school, in a different city. You still worked at a coffee shop, though this one was much more busy and frankly much more stressful.

You stretched slightly, pulling your arms up in the air as you readjusted your torso. You turned when you heard your coworker call your name; he was going to take a break. You nodded at him, letting him know you would take over for him.

There was a lull in the customers in the shop, which made sense considering it was 2:00 on a Tuesday afternoon.

You decided to make the most of the break and started to clean the espresso machine in front of you. As you grabbed a dish cloth from the sink, you heard bells in the doorway tinkle slightly as the door was pushed open.

You looked up with your customer service grin automatically painted on, ready to greet the customer. The welcome died on your lips, however, as you realized who it was. It was him.

Your eyes widened in horror as you realized something else; he was kissing a girl who was definitely not you.

You forced yourself to walk over to the cash register, clearing your throat to break the intense lip-locking session apart. A faint look of annoyance crossed Spencer’s face as he looked up at who interrupted them.

His first reaction was exactly what you thought it would be. He froze slightly, then slowly walked up to the register with what looked like a death grip on his (girlfriend’s?) hand.

Though it was the girl who spoke, you found your attention kept flitting to the man next to her. You couldn’t tell if she was oblivious, or just didn’t care.

He had... changed to say the least. Stubble covered the bottom portion of his face, and his hair had grown out. His cheekbones looked more defined, and he walked with an aura of confidence that he didn’t have before. Still, you had to admit he looked very handsome.

You were shaken out of your stupor when you felt the gaze of the girl. She looked at you with, was that impatience? You asked for her payment and her name, Stacy, noting it down on both cups before you took her credit card.

You hurried around behind the bar in an attempt to give them the drinks as quickly as possible and get them to leave. How were you supposed to talk to him now? He literally has a girlfriend!

You finished making the two coffees and set them on the counter, calling out her name to let her know the drinks were ready.

“One nitro cold brew for you, and one iced vanilla latte for him,” you handed over the drinks directly to each of them, making a point to shift Spencer’s drink slightly, causing him to look down. He caught your drift as he noticed a little extra writing underneath Stacy’s name.

His girlfriend grabbed his hand, throwing a quick and insincere “thank you!” over her shoulder at you as they left the store. You slumped against the sink, grabbing the countertop with your hands. What in Gods’ green Earth was this?

-

Outside, Spencer finally got the chance to look at the cup. He smiled as he read what you had scribbled on there.

Underneath your phone number, you had written, “It’s a really long story but I hope you have the time. Let’s talk soon?”

-

It was nearing 9 pm when you were starting to lose all hope. What if you made a mistake, and that wasn’t actually your soulmate? You shoved a pillow over your face with irritation and groaned, collapsing onto the sofa next to your phone. As you lay in silence, you heard a noise. Your phone was vibrating.

Sitting up quickly, you picked up the phone.

“Hello?” You asked breathlessly.

A familiar amused chuckle rang on the other end of the line.

“Hi, soulmate.”

#roo’s fics #spencer reid #spencerrr #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x yn #spencer reis x y/n #spencer reid fic #spencer reid fics #criminal minds #cm #cm x reader #cm fics #cm fic #fanfiction #fanfic #x reader #reader insert #angst #soulmate!au #soulmate!au spencer reid x reader

[ikeromantic]

Right

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfiction occurring at the midpoint of Ch. 9. Approx. 1800 words of angsty goodness.

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Traitor

Mitsuhide’s days were long and the sleepless nights were longer. Though Yoshiaki depended on him to put together the details of this final strike against Nobunaga, the shogun did not trust him. There were eyes on him, always. And people listening. Nowhere was private. He dare not send any missives to his people in Kyoto lest he reveal them to Yoshiaki.

There was no room in this plot for even the slightest slip in his character. Traitor and villain, trickster kitsune. Of course, this meant there was no time to rest. Mitsuhide worked on his own to see this plot to its conclusion. His tired body protested, and his wounds pained him almost constantly. A choir of spilled blood, bruised flesh, and aching bones. But he had only to make it through one more day and night. Then all would be settled.

The knowledge lent Mitsuhide a sense of peace as he went about his work. Today he sat hidden in the shadows on a nearby building, watching the entrance to Honno-ji. The Oda would arrive soon, he knew. He had only to mark their presence and then it was back to Ashikaga to make the final plans. Mitsuhide allowed himself to rest back against the building, still and watchful. A lesser man might have fallen to sleep - and even one with the kitsune warlord’s will might be forgiven for closing his eyes during the wait. But he did not.

It did not take long for his attention to be rewarded. A small troop of men in plain clothing arrived first - clearly warriors - swords at their hip, their movements predatory. Those four were followed by three more. Two men, dressed as merchants. As if ever a merchant held his head so high or looked out at the world with such confidence. 

Nobunaga would never pass as a mere merchant, no matter his clothing, Mitsuhide thought. He could not let go the arrogance in his carnelian eyes. And the man beside him, though slouched as if he was old, could never be mistaken for other than a warlord. His amber-eyed gaze swept the courtyard, evaluating threats. His hand hovered near his hip as if ready to draw a sword that was not there.

“And this is why neither of you make good spies,” Mitsuhide chuckled to himself. One had to understand what could and couldn’t be changed about themselves to fit a role . . . that line of thought died in a gasp of surprise.

Mitsuhide’s hands went to his mouth, clamping down hard against lips that begged to call out to the last member of the Oda party. Her hair shone in the morning sunlight. Her clear-eyed gaze was bright, though today she wore no smile. He watched her lift a hand to tuck a strand of hair back into her bun. His eyes tracked her every movement, the rise and fall of her chest with each breath, the way her lashes brushed her cheeks with each blink. 

Her beauty was a physical hurt. She pulled him as a magnet does iron filings. All he could think was why - why was she here? His little mouse was supposed to be safe in Azuchi. How had Kyubei let this happen? Mitsuhide’s heart thumped against his ribs in sudden panic. He had to protect her but - his mission - hot emotions tangled his cold logic, threatening to burn his plans to ash. 

Somehow, he held himself still until his little one passed into Honno-ji with the Oda. Then he fled. The rational part of his mind told him he must report to Ashikaga. Surely the shogun was watching and new from other sources that Mitsuhide’s prediction was correct. Delay would bring suspicion. But his heart pulled him another way. He had to secure her safety. His little one. Beloved little mouse. He could not risk harm to her, not for this. Not for anything. 

Mitsuhide found an abandoned home in a nearby neighborhood. It was partially burned, but the courtyard was green and overgrown with flowers. There was a mossy stone bench in the lee of a collapsed wall. He sat there and put his head in his hands. 

His eyes felt hot and damp, but he refused to let them shed a single tear. He was the kitsune warlord, not some common love-drunk fool. There would be a way to keep her safe. He only needed to find it.

It took him several hours to plan out the various paths this could now take and to consider how best to prevent the turns that put his little one in danger. Then he set off into town to track down his contacts. It was time to take all risks, he thought. The time for caution had passed.

The sun was nearly set when he was done. There was little left that he could do, beyond returning to Yoshiaki. If the shogun had him followed, Mitsuhide was certain he could pass off his meetings and notes as part of his plot to take down Nobunaga. And if not, well. It wouldn’t matter after tonight.

He passed through the market on his way back to the Ashikaga estate, but his trek was interrupted. 

“Alright. I’ll be right here.” His little one’s voice, carrying over the marketplace chatter like distant bells. 

Mitsuhide’s eyes sought for her, his feet already moving toward the sound. And then he saw her. As beautiful as a goddess, she stood beside a shop watching the retreating form a monk. She held a cloth bag on one arm, the tops of vegetables sticking out from the top. 

Knowing her, she planned to cook for their little group tonight. Smart. The monks couldn’t be trusted - and even if they could, how easy it would be for a spy to slip some poison into the Oda dishes . . . he felt a little surge of pride. 

His little mouse leaned back against the building. She wore a tired smile. Mitsuhide knew he should continue on, but she was alone right now. It gave him the perfect opportunity to touch her kiss her hold her - no - to warn her. To get her to leave this place before she could be caught up in the violence Yoshiaki’s allies would rain down on the Oda forces.

He slipped around and into the alleyway. Quiet steps, unseen - then from the shadows, he reached for her. “You foolish little mouse -” Touching her skin was like handling fire. Warmth that threatened to consume him. 

Mitsuhide pulled her into a nearby storehouse, out of sight. “How clueless can you be,” he began. His emotions were threatening to get the better of him again. Anger with her for coming here, with himself for leaving her alone, regret, desire, grief, all churned in his heart. A bitter mix that still could not outweigh the sweetness he felt being near to her again. He inhaled her scent, and the feel of her skin beneath his fingers.

“I finally found you!” Her wide eyes were windows to her soul. A bright space so full of love that he might have had to look away, had she not thrown her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. “I missed you so much!”

His body hummed in response and for a breath, he wanted just this. To hold her. But he refused to give in. With every ounce of self control he could muster, Mitsuhide pushed her away. He met her gaze with all his feelings locked tight behind his traitor’s mask. “What do you think you’re doing in Kyoto?”

She smiled up at him. “I came after you.”

It took him a minute to respond. He had to swallow back all the words he wanted to say. Well, three of them anyhow. “. . . Did the Oda forces not reveal to you who I have sold my loyalty to?”

“Yeah, and I gotta say I don’t love your new boss.” Her light was undimmed by his dispassionate response.

He raised one perfect eyebrow. “Yet you followed me regardless?”

“Yes I did.” Her chin jutted out stubbornly, shoulders squared. “Probably for that same reason!”

Inside, Mitsuhide began to panic. This was not the conversation he should be having. She must be convinced to leave. He grunted. “Then it was my mistake trying to teach a mouse how to think. You’ve learned nothing, foolish creature.”

She shrugged. “I don’t care if I’m a foolish little mouse as long as I’m your foolish little mouse.” She poked a finger toward him to make her point, but he could see her eyes were wet with held tears. “And just like a mouse, n-not even the sight of a trap will s-stop me when I see what I want . . . Mitsuhide.”

The mask began to crack. “Did I not tell you to be good for me? Why? Why couldn’t you have - have just stayed behind?” His voice rasped painfully on the words, breath trembling. And then the dam broke. He pulled her to him, crushing his little one to his chest, arms wrapped around her. Holding her as a drowning man clung to a branch. 

All the words he wanted to say threatened to spill from his lips. An ocean of endearments and the promises of his heart. But a voice rescued him from this peril. The monk, calling from just outside. He pushed her away again, holding to her by the shoulders. “You must leave Kyoto. Now.” And then he let go, fleeing through the back door. 

Mitsuhide heard her call out to him, but he could not listen. Another word from her and his will might break. He’d come so close . . . so close to throwing it all away for her. Leave Nobunaga to his fate and let the world burn, if only he could hold her. Tell her the truths written across his heart. 

Only his ideals kept him moving away from his beloved little mouse. If she knew what she risked in pursuing him, she would not have come, he thought. His pure sweet girl could never accept the consequences of him abandoning this quest. The death and war and hardships that would follow allowing a man like Ashikaga to continue in his ambitions. 

With luck, she would heed his warning. But he knew her better than that. She would stay and see this through because she . . . she loved him. She loved him and she believed staying by his side was the right thing to do. No matter the danger to herself. 

They would both do what they believed was right. And so he could only do his best to see that she lived through tonight. Mitsuhide’s bloody path was laid out before him. There would be no turning away from it. Not for any of them.

Next: Loyalty

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen #ikesen mitsuhide #ikemen mitsuhide #Mitsuhide Akechi #otome guys #otome #fanfiction #fanfic #angst

[toto2229]

The Murder of Crystal Cove

TW: Death, Murder, cursing

Welcome to Crystal Cove the most boring place in America that is until Emma, the most popular girl in school is murdered. You must choose who to trust and who to question, remember your choices impact how the story plays out.

Y/N Pov

The day started like no other, you got up and did everything you usually do. Went downstairs to go to your car where your best friend Hansol was waiting for you. “Took you long enough” he joked as you unlocked your car so he could get in. Going to school Hansol usually chose the music as was the agreement that you got to choose on the way back. Once you got to school, he went off to find Seungkwan while you went to look for Steph and Rae. “Hey there you are, you know if you go to sleep earlier you won’t be late,” Steph said.

“It's not like school has actually started,” you said, and its true school didn’t start for another few minutes its Friday anyways so who cared if you miss the first period besides your theatre friends. “You know if you miss class Soonyoung would blow your phone up, literally” Rae joked, which was also true your new best friend would chew your ear off if you missed class. The bell rang indicating for everyone to go inside and you saw Emma the lead cheerleader waving people in. “Rae there you are we have cheer so hurry up and get changed the pep rally is today and we want to be prepared,” she said. Rae ran off after giving Steph a kiss on the cheek as you saw Emma roll her eyes, it wasn’t that she disapproved it was more like she was impatient, at least that's what you thought. You and Stephanie split off to go to separate classrooms.

As you got into the theatre room it was bustling as you took your normal seat next to Soonyoung. “Hey Y/N, you ready for the pep rally today?” he said looking nervously at you. “I guess, I mean I kind of have to be there to take pictures and do interviews.” you said flatly, you knew exactly what would happen the band would play the school song, and everyone would cry about how Mingyu will bring the team to victory like they do every year. “Oh yeah.” and he opened his binder as the second bell rang. You thought it was weird how he was acting, it was very unlike him to do that. Normally Soonyoung would talk your ear off about his weekend plans with his friend Seokmin or ask if Hansol had weed so they could smoke before the pep rally or literally anything else as he had a knack for never running out of things to say. But the blond just stayed quiet unless he had to talk about the lesson that the teacher gave. Even during the theatre exercises, he stayed mostly quiet, ‘Strange’, you thought as the class ended. Soonyoung immediately grabbed his bag and said, “See you later Y/N.” and rushed out of the class before you could ask if something was wrong.

You walked out of class and Hansol walked behind you to go to your right and Steph to your left. “Man are you ready for this article I'm gonna write after the game, Crystal Cove Phantoms win another game.” Hansol said as Seungkwan walked up to him, hugged him, and said, “Of course we’re gonna win why else do you think I'm gonna be on the field for.” “To look hot” Hansol quickly said back as they did a quick kiss so Seungkwan can go to choir while you, Hansol, and Steph can go to Journalism. As you all walked into the room you still were worried about Soonyoung, why was he acting so strange and why would he only ask about the pep rally. ‘Maybe he has something going on at home’ you thought as you took your normal seat and pulled out your sticker-covered laptop and waited for class to start.

~~~~~~~

The last period of the day snuck up on you as you got ready pulling out your school press pass and camera to go to the pep rally. The intercom came on and said, “All students with a ticket to the pep rally start heading to gym one.” you gathered your stuff and headed towards the door flashing your pass at the teacher to let you through. As you walked into the gym you saw that it was plastered in Crystal Cove Phantom banners and other posters in the signature blue and yellow. Steph walked up to you and asked, “What do you want floor, right bleachers or left?” you thought about it and as you were about to give your answer Hansol walked up and said “Left there's better light” as he put down his bag next to you and headed in the direction he chose. “He only wants to be there because he wants to look at Seungkwan's ass” Steph joked as she headed towards the right knowing that you usually like taking floor pictures.

You steadied your camera as the band started with the school song and the banner being put into position so the football players can burst through. You started taking pictures, Soonyoung started the drummers in a beat, as the crowd cheered you saw that he had a weird look on his face. Suddenly the football players started coming through the banner Soonyoung picked up a mallet and rang the gong on his left, and he ran around the gym waving his arms. He even tried to trip Mingyu the football captain as the vice principal ran around trying to stop him. He tore out wires in the PA, trashed some posters, and threw the mascot on the ground. Just as he was about to push over a speaker the schools security guards grabbed him and pinned him on the floor as he was yelling “STOP THE GAME!!!! YOU CAN’T PLAY!!! THE PHANTOM IS OUT THERE!!!” everyone was dead silent just watching as he was dragged out of the gym kicking and screaming.

When the doors closed the gym erupted into chatter as everyone was questioning what just happened you looked over at Hansol who was laughing his ass off and then at Steph who just shrugged her shoulders. ‘What in the world just happened’ you thought, ‘maybe he just smoked too much with Hansol before the pep rally.' You looked back at the principal who picked up the microphone, "Alright everyone settle down, whatever just happened don’t worry about it, the game will continue as planned. Jihoon, can you fill in please, and let's have a fantastic game.” he said as a boy with black hair put down his baton and picked up Soonyoungs drumsticks starting the beat that the drummers had left off. ‘He must be the drum major’ you noted in your notebook to talk to him later maybe he knew why Soonyoung went off the rails.

The pep rally went on as normal everyone hyped up the football players and cried about how they would win. As the pep rally came to an end you knew you had to interview people about their experience but all you could think about was getting to the drum major, ‘Jihoon’ you remembered. As people were exiting the gym you walked up to him and tapped his shoulder “Hi I'm Y/N can I ask you a few questions?” Jihoon looked at your press pass and sighed, “The pep rally was boring as usual and even worse I had to fill in for King Kong.” he looked rather annoyed so you decided another approach, “if I give you a ride to the game will you answer my questions?” He looked at you and contemplated for a bit, bending down to put a cover on the drums he was using. “Look the marching band has to ride the bus to the game, but if you give me a ride home then I'll think about it” you smiled and shook his hand excitedly “Thank you so much here give me your number so I can pick you up.” you said as you let go of his hand and shoved your phone into it. He typed his number and name so you could text him after the game.

“What was that about?” Steph asked as she walked up behind you. “A front-page story for next week's paper, after I ask Soonyoung to use it” you beamed up at her. Hansol walked up to you, and you looked at his eyes “did you and Soonyoung smoke before the pep rally?” “No, I couldn’t skip last period teacher in the hall made me get a tardy slip.” he answered. You knew he was telling the truth because his eyes were normal. “We gotta get to the game guys and I'm sure if you ask him, he'll say yes,” Steph said in desperation to get out of the gym. All three of you started heading to your car so you can go to the game for the first win of the season.

~~~~~~~

The crowd cheered as Mingyu scored another touchdown, you took a picture of him celebrating and turned your camera to get a shot of the cheerleaders. You looked up over your camera at Emma who rolled her eyes as threw down her pom poms and stormed past you. You watched her walk to the parking lot and turned back to the game thinking nothing of it. Taking more pictures of the crowd and players as the game went on. As the game came to a close with the Phantoms winning everyone got ready to leave the game, “Hey Y/N have you seen Emma?” Rae asked coming up to you while looking around. “Yeah, she went to the parking lot, she seemed upset for some reason.” you responded as she sighed and started jogging towards the direction that you told her.

You took your phone out and you texted Jihoon, ‘meet me Infront of the school in 20 mins’ you put it back as you headed towards your car to meet up with Steph, Hansol, and Seungkwan to give them all rides home. ‘Man, I hope Jihoon won't mind sitting in the middle of the back seat’ you thought as you exited the stadium to the parking lot. You took your camera and scrolled through the pictures while walking on the sidewalk until you bump into the back of someone. You look up at the crowd in front of you as you wondered what was going on you pushed through the crowd. You grabbed onto Steph's shirt and asked, “What’s going on?” She turned to look at you, “I think someone died but I can't see who” she said searching for who it is. Hansol and Seungkwan pushed through from the front holding hands to get to you and Steph, “Steph!! it's Rae she's being questioned by police.” Seungkwan said. She started pushing to the front with you still hanging on to her shirt you dig for your keys in your pockets and toss Hansol them. He nodded knowing what you meant, and you looked forward as you got to the front, past the police tape you saw Rae with a blanket wrapped around her talking to an officer with tears in her eyes.

“Rae, what happened? Are you hurt? What's going on?” Steph asked quickly. “It's Emma I came out here to ask her why she was upset and I just..just...” and she burst into hiccups and sobs not wanting to finish her sentence. You look over at a boy standing by the sheriff being questioned, he was tall and had a blanket wrapped around his shoulders as well. He had black hair with blue streaks and spoke calmly. ‘I wonder who that is' you took out your notebook and noted to question him later. Steph looked at you as you put your notes away and said, “I'm gonna take Rae home in her car can you follow, please?” you looked towards your car that was turned on waiting with Seungkwan and Hansol inside. “Sure, I just have to drop Jihoon off at his house. But I'll come to get you after,” you said before you went over and opened your car door as police started dispersing the crowd. You took off to the front of the school and Hansol got into the back with his boyfriend. Jihoon came out and you flashed your lights indicating where you were.

He got into the car and closed the door, “what's with the police?” he asked looking in the car mirror. You shook your head and said sadly, “Emma was murdered.” He just nodded his head, looked out the window, and stayed quiet until he told you where to turn. As soon as he went inside his house you raced to Rae's house to find out what happened. When you got there you, Hansol, and Seungkwan went inside and knocked on the door. Rae's mom let all of you in. Steph came out of the bedroom with an empty glass and a wet shirt. “Is she ok?” Hansol whispered. “She'll be ok but it’s crazy that it even happened I mean who would do that.” Steph answered as she walked to the kitchen to fill the glass with water. “Did she say anything?” you questioned. “Yeah, she said she was trying to find Emma because Y/N said she was upset but when she got there, she saw Emma on the ground and a phantom-” “Phantom hold on, are you telling me what Soonyoung was screaming about was true?” Seungkwan interrupted Steph as she was talking. That is what Soonyoung was saying, and he also said to stop the game which everyone knew wasn’t going to happen. “But what I find weird is that she said when the phantom saw her, he disappeared, like literally disappeared. And she said Minghao showed up right after.” she continued. ‘That’s who that other guy was’ you knew who he was, the weird artist who lived across town. Nobody really has ever talked to him since he moved to town last year, and even at that all he ever does is go to the library.

“I think you guys should go home, I'm gonna stay here for the weekend just to be sure Rae is ok.” she said as she walked into the room and closed the door. You, Hansol, and Seungkwan looked at each other and headed back to your car. After driving home Hansol and Seungkwan went to Hansol's house next door. You walked inside hearing your parents talking to someone, you went to the dining room and saw the back of a guy with brown hair turn around, “Josh is that you?” you smiled as you gave the older boy a hug. “Hey, haven't seen you since I graduated.” he replied as he took a step back to see your face, “I just wanted to check and make sure you're ok, considering.” you didn’t look surprised at all with your parents being head of the Crystal Cove news. “Yeah, I'm fine.” you replied. “I think you should go and get some sleep honey.” your mom said with a small smile.

“But Josh-” you started to say, but Joshua interrupted, “I'm still gonna be here tomorrow, besides you know I go to the college like fifteen minutes from here.” you felt too upset to argue so you just hugged him goodbye, said goodnight to your parents, and headed upstairs for bed. After doing your nightly routine you pulled your notebook out of your bag and reviewed you notes that you have been taking and circled the important parts. Soonyoung had tried to stop the game at the pep rally, but no one knows why, maybe he knew about what was going to happen and about the phantom. And then there was Minghao who mysteriously appeared right after the phantom disappeared, maybe he was the phantom. Tomorrow after work you only had time to question one, as you wanted to go comfort Rae as well. Who should it be?

Congratulations you got through the beginning, now it up to you who to question. Should it be your funny and talkative theatre friend Soonyoung or the weird and mysterious artist Minghao?

Question Soonyoung  Question Minghao

#svt #svt imagines #seventeen x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen moodboard #seventeen fanfic #seventeen au #going seventeen #seventeen aesthetic #seventeen #scoups #seokmin #seungcheol #seungkwan #seventeen scenarios #seventeen social media au #seventeen vernon #svt scenarios #svt smut #minghao #mingyu #dino #dk #dokyeom #vernon chwe #caratwritersclub #hoshi #joshua hong #jeon wonwoo #joshua

[weelittleweasley]

Say It | Draco x Reader

Prompt as requested by anon: You and Draco both have liked each other since year four, but neither of you want to admit to the other how you feel. So you decide a friendly game of hard to get will make Draco confess his feelings. 

Warnings: None!

Word Count: 2.6k

A/N: I’ve been trying to CRANK out these imagines for you guys and getting your requests out there. I am going to close requests for the rest of the week, so I can really deliver the content for you guys and do another multipart imagine for the weekend hehehehe...

A pair of ice blue eyes gazed at you from across the table as its owners smiled softly to himself at the sight of you, writing away in your notebook, taking diligent notes in preparation for exams. He watched as you pushed your hair away from your face, getting annoying and giving in to tying it back into a low ponytail. You bit down on your lower lip, concentration on the material sat in front of you. You were in the zone. You finally acknowledged that someone was indeed staring at you and you didn’t have to look up to know who it was. A small smile danced on your lips as you spoke, “Take a picture. It’ll last longer, Malfoy.”

Draco let out a light chuckle. “I can’t enjoy the view?” he asked you.

You placed your quill down to take a look at the boy sat in front of you. “Haven’t you heard?” you sarcastically ask. “Staring at people without them knowing is creepy.”

“You didn’t know I was staring at you?” Draco teases which makes you blush. He always knew how to come back at you.

The two of you liked each other and it was clear as day. Everyone around you knew it. All of your friends, all of the students in your year, even your professors picked up on it. But the two of you were so stubborn that neither of you wanted to admit your feelings to the other in fear that they would be admitting defeat. This has been going on since year four and now you two were in year six, still not together. You hadn’t even kissed. Nothing. 

Shaking your head, you return to your work, a smile still plastered on Draco’s face as you continued your studies. There were lots of things that Draco liked about you. Obviously, you were beautiful. But it was more than that. He liked how strong willed you like himself. You were driven and ambitious. You weren’t afraid to stand up for yourself and others, putting people in their place with just a glare. Draco adored how strong you were on the outside, but a complete mush on the inside when it came to your family and friends. There was so much to like that it made Draco unable to think straight at times. 

Draco so desperately wanted to make you his. He wanted to tell you everything about how he has felt about for the past two years. But even though he knew how much you liked him, he still feared rejection. That you would think he wasn’t worthy of someone like you. That you would prefer someone who’s family wasn’t so snooty or prestigious. These thoughts often circulated throughout his head and could drive him close to insanity, wondering what you would do if he asked you to be his.

“Haven’t you had enough studying for today?” he whines as you continue to keep your head buried in your work. You didn’t take exams lightly. Although you liked having fun as much as the next person, your academia always came first. It was your responsibility to do well in school and be better than the next student. You didn’t feel obligated to do it for anyone; you were a good student for yourself. You wanted to prove to yourself that you were just as capable of being brilliant like other students similar to Hermione Granger. “You could use a distraction,” Draco teases.

You roll your eyes, “Are you suggesting that I may be more interested in what you have to offer?” Draco raises his hands in defense. You chuckle, closing your book, surrendering to the blonde Slytherin in front of you. “Well, let me hear your sales pitch, Malfoy.”

Draco sits up in his chair, eye staring into yours. Merlin, you had beautiful eyes. It’s like he saw the galaxy in your eyes. Such a beautiful hue, blinking with joy, curiosity, and cleverness. “I don’t know what to do to sell you, (Y/L/N),” Draco confessed. Which was true. He didn’t know what to do or what to say. What else could he possible do to prove that he liked you and wanted to make you his?

Sucking on your teeth, you feign disappointment. “Not the words I was looking for. What a pity,” you tease as he grins. “Just means I’ll have to postpone buying your product longer than anticipated.”

Before Draco can even ask what that means, you had grabbed your things and left the library with a saucy smirk on your lips. “Merlin, she’ll be the death of me,” he breathes out. Draco sits there, thinking of what he has to do to prove himself to you.

-----

You return to your room, peeling your cardigan off of your body as your roommate, Daphne, sits on her bed. She catches the goofy grin on your face as you place your things away, tucking them into their respective drawers. “Smiling about Malfoy?” she laughs as you ignore her. Daphne knew first hand how much you liked Draco. Ever since year four, you would ramble on and on about him and how much you liked the boy. She would roll her eyes and tell you that you should make a move as your eyes would widen in fear and earn her a ‘are you mental?’ in response. “(Y/N), you like the bloke so much and you know how he feels about you. How many hoops are you going to make him jump through?” she sits up as you plop yourself next to her. 

“It’ll come to an end soon,” you confess. “I’ve planted the seed. Now, we wait,” you tell her as she furrows her brows, confused. “Meaning, I told him he needs to sell me on reasons I should want to be his girlfriend. I’ll give him a hard time about it, but I’ll give in.”

Daphne just laughs wildly at you, now your turn to be confused. “Oh, silly little (Y/N). Do you know what you just got yourself into?” she asks, placing a hand on your leg, trying to reassure you about the decision you’ve made. “You challenged Draco Malfoy to a game he will crush you in. I remember when Draco had a two week crush on Tracey Davis and he sent her owls that carried roses to her room every morning and night. And that crush lasted two weeks! Yours has been two years in the making.”

Maybe Daphne was right, this was a mistake. But you kind of wanted to see just how far the boy would go to show you how much he wanted you. That night you went to sleep with excitement and nervousness about what Draco would have in store for you tomorrow.

The morning came quickly as you awoke, still groggy. You slide on your slippers when there is a knock at the door. Yawning, you open the door and on the floor near the door is about six dozen red roses and a small card on the top of the pile of flowers. You open the white card and in Draco’s handwriting reads: Challenge Accepted. Xo, Malfoy

You can’t help but smile. 

“You’re bloody joking,” Daphne says from behind you as you shrug, picking up a flower, sniffing its pleasant scent. “I am not picking that up. Malfoy has a crush on you, not me.” 

After getting ready in uniform and ready for the day, you make your way to the Great Hall for breakfast. When you sit down with Daphne, Draco is immediately sat to your left. You sip on your pumpkin juice as Draco starts, “Receive anything interesting at your doorstep this morning?”

Hiding your smile, you turn to him and furrow your eyebrows. “Pardon?”

Draco rolls his eyes and scoots closer to you. “Did you get my gift?” he asks.

You scoot away from him, teasingly. “No, actually. There was absolutely nothing in front of my doorstep today. A big pile of nothing,” you tell him as Daphne almost spits out her juice. 

Draco recognizes what you are doing as just shakes his head. He then leans in closer and whispers, “This is nowhere near over,” in your ear. The motion brings goosebumps to your skin before he leaves just as quickly as he came.

Sitting there for a moment in silence, you let your heart rate calm down before sipping on your pumpkin juice again and taking a bit of your toast. “I told you this was a war you didn’t want to get involved in,” Daphne sing songs as you kick her underneath the table. “Ow! What’s that for now? Just because you two are stubborn doesn’t mean you have to take it out on my shins!”

-----

And oh Draco wasn’t lying when he said it wasn’t the end. If flowers weren’t enough, he sent you boxes of chocolate, a new pair of shoes, a dress he knew you liked from the shoppes at Hogsmeade, and he even had the audacity to get the Frog choir to serenade you at dinner one night. It was getting absurd at this point. But with every gift Draco gave you, you played it off like it was nothing. Although Draco didn’t have to do all of this, you just wanted to push his buttons.

Draco on the other hand was running out of ideas quickly. He has thought of everything under the sun that was creative or show stopping to get you to be his. What was next? Did you want him to buy you Hogwarts castle? He could probably do it if he tried hard enough...

He was beside himself. Tonight, he laid on his bed, staring at his ceiling, just wondering what you wanted out of him. He thought of you in his mind’s eyes and all of his worries seemed to melt away. The thought of you laughing and smiling made his chest warm and head fuzzy. He dreamt of you snuggled up to him on his bed, him kissing the top of your head, drawing small circles into your hip bones. He wanted you to be his so desperately. It was a deep need. He knew that if you asked him, he would go to the ends of the world for you and come back with whatever you wanted. Draco didn’t want to admit it, but deep down he knew he was in love. No other feeling was this strong. 

You sat on your bed, looking at the gifts that Draco had gifted you over the course of the past week. Every single one more beautiful than the previous one. But none of this wanted to make you run into his arms and say yes. That just seemed selfish. Although you wanted to do this to tease Draco and drive him a mid mad, all you really wanted was to hear Draco say the words, “I want you.” That was it. Simple as that. 

But of course, it was in Draco’s nature to overcomplicate things and get showing affection confused with material items. You couldn’t blame him though. That’s how he was raised by his parents. They showed their love for him through gifts and material wealth. But in turn this made Draco believe that that was the only was of showing affection rather than using his words or other actions. 

Sighing, you place his gifts elsewhere, out of sight as you tuck into bed for the night. “Nothing?” Daphne asks as you shake your head. “He’s going to say it. Mark my words, he’ll do it, (Y/N),” she says as you can only hope he will. “He’ll come around.”

-----

The next day rolled around and you weren’t as well rested as you had hoped. You had stayed up tossing and turning, wondering if Draco was thinking of you the way you were thinking of him. You begrudgingly get dressed and imagine what gift Draco has for you today. You’d be surprised if he could top the Frog choir. That would be an achievement. 

But there was no gift today. No flowers, no chocolate, no clothes, no Frog choir, nothing. You waited for something to catch you off guard, but your day was normal. Which kind of worried you. Did he plan something for the evening? But at dinner, there was nothing. You ate your meal with your friends at one of the Slytherin tables, waiting for Draco’s arrival, but nothing. In fact, you didn’t see Draco at all that day. 

You started to get a little concerned. Did something happen to him? Is he sick? Did he get hurt? Is he looking for you? Thoughts flood through your head, but you take your mind off things by engaging in conversation with the people around you.

Finally, you return back to your dormitory for the night, surprised that nothing happened today. Completely uneventful. It was a bummer; you looked forward to teasing Draco again today. 

You slipped into your nightclothes and took your hair down from its ponytail, shaking it out along with the worries and anxieties of the day. As you pull back your sheets, you hear a knock at the door. You had assumed it was Daphne, considering she wasn’t back in the room yet and she had forgotten her keys yet again. “Daph, you have to remember your keys. I won’t always be home,” you look up and don’t see Daphne, but instead Draco. “Oh. Hi.”

Draco looks exhausted. Like he hasn’t gotten sleep at all. He has bags under his eyes and his face looks a little paler than normal. He stands before you in his clothes from yesterday. Your concern for his well being rises. But before you can say anything further, he talks. “I don’t know what else to do to prove that I like you, (Y/N). I’ve done it all, but I’m going to do one last thing and if you still don’t want me after this, then I will stop by all means,” he says as you just watch him. “I thought about what I wanted to say to you all day and all night, but all I can say is this. I am my happiest when I am around you. You never fail to make me laugh. You make my head fuzzy and my chest warm and you make me want to be a better person which is just absurd,” he confesses making you giggle. “I like you, (Y/N). I want you to be mine. Please. Be mine.”

And with that, you waste no time in kissing the poor bloke in front of you. The moment your lips touch, his arms are wrapped around you. Your hands cup his face, pulling him close. The kiss is full of all of the longing and wanting you both had been doing for the past two years. It’s sweet and kind and passionate and hungry all at the same, making your head reel and your stomach do flips. It felt otherworldly. 

As you pull away, the both of you breathless, you say, “That’s all you had to do. You just had to say it.”

Draco’s face drops. “You’re bloody joking,” he huffs. “I spent so much money on all of those gifts and you just wanted me to say some sappy words? That’s the dumbest things I’ve ever heard!” he exclaims as you laugh, kissing him again, sweetly. “I guess it was worth it,” he shrugs. 

That night, you both fall asleep in your bed, Draco cuddling you from behind as you both have the best night sleep of your life. As you sleep, Daphne comes it and notices you two curled up together. “Finally,” she exhales with a smile.

#draco #draco imagine #draco malfoy #draco x female reader #draco x you #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy oneshot #draco malfoy fanficiton #draco malfoy x female reader #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy x slytherin #draco x reader #hp #harry potter #harry potter fanfic #harry potter imagine

[cupcakes4747]

Duplicity | I

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: slight profanity, cheating

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Genre: angst, fluff, father! au, husband! au

m a s t e r l i s t

You were filled with pride as you and your husband Taehyung applauded for your kids after their school choir concert was over. Your five year old daughter Soomi and her twin brother Jaemin had been working so hard practicing every day for their choir concert and tonight they did awesome and you felt very proud as a mom and so did Taehyung. Your beautiful kids ran up to you and you both had carried them and engulfed them in a big hug.

“We’re so proud of you! Both of you were amazing!” you congratulated.

“Yeah, you both are even better at singing than me,” Taehyung added and the kids giggled.

“Can we go out for pizza?” your Soomi asked, looking up at you with her big puppy dog eyes.

“Yeah, can we?” Jaemin added. You looked at Taehyung and he was also smiling widely, waiting for you to approve so he could get to eat pizza. Sometimes it felt like he was one of your kids instead of your husband.

“Okay fine, you kids earned it,” you gave in.

“YAY!!!” the three of them shouted in unison. You laughed at their cuteness. Before stepping into the car, Taehyung held open the door for you and gave you a quick peck on the cheek.

“Thank you, babe,” he said while still smiling widely.

The rest of the time was spent with the four of you having fun together as a family. You loved your husband so much and your kids just as much if not more. You loved your family and couldn’t have asked for a better one. You were completely satisfied with your life.

Later that night you were brushing your teeth after tucking your kids into bed and felt your husband hug you from behind.

“Tae, what are you doing? Let me brush.”

“But you’re so warm,” he said, his eyes still closed. You smiled and rested your head on his before continuing to brush. When you finished, Taehyung lifted you and threw you over his shoulder like you were a sack of potatoes.

“Ahh, Taehyung! I swear if you drop me, I’ll drop you off a cliff.” Taehyung laughed.

“Don’t worry. You have a muscular husband,” he said cockily. 

“Muscular my ass,” you muttered under your breath. But he still heard you and threw you on the bed.

“What did you say?” He started tickling the life out of you while you kept screaming at him to stop. “Shh, you’ll wake the kids up.” You gave him a deadpan look.

“Fuck you.” Taehyung giggled and brought you into a cuddling position. 

“I’m so tired, princess.”

“Yeah, me too. Being your wife is tiring,” you joked.

“Do you want me to start tickling you again?”

“No sorry sir.” You both burst into laughter. “Okay but seriously let’s sleep.” You turned around gave Taehyung a kiss. As you were drifting off to sleep you heard Taehyung whisper something into your ear.

“I love you so much, Princess.” 

“Yeah and then I drew a picture of a dinosaur and painted it purple but Jaemin said that dinosaurs weren’t purple so then…” your daughter rambled as you were walking both your kids home from school the next day. You had reached your apartment and the second you opened the door, your kids ran in, threw their backpacks to the ground, and ran to the kitchen to look for a snack. They’re just like me. You saw Taehyung’s keys on the counter. Taehyung’s here? That’s strange. He told me he had work today. You walked to your room to go change into some comfy clothes, but before you could open the door, you heard some noises coming from your bedroom. You pressed your ear to the door and could hear grunts and moans and a woman’s voice moaning Taehyung’s name. No, no, no this isn’t happening. You cracked open the door a couple inches you you could get a glimpse of what was going on and you saw Taehyung, your husband, fucking someone from work. Your heart felt like it stopped beating. You quietly closed the door and put on a happy face and went to the kitchen. 

“Kids, I’m going to drop you off at Jisoo’s house, okay?” you told them.

“Yay, I haven’t seen her in so long,” Jaemin declared, making you relieved that they weren’t asking any questions. Your friend Jisoo was very good with kids and Soomi and Jaemin were very fond of her. You quickly gave your best friend, Jisoo a call asking them if you could drop the kids over for some time. After she agreed and asked why, you told her you would explain everything later.

“There you are! What took you so long?” Jisoo greeted cheerfully after letting the three of you in her apartment. 

“There was quite a bit of traffic. Jisoo, do you mind putting on a movie for the kids so we can talk in private?”

“Sure,” Jisoo said nervously. She was put off by your serious face and tone and was worried something terrible had happened. 

After the kids had been set up with a movie and some snacks in the living room, you and Jisoo sat down in the bedroom and closed the door behind you.

“I’m a little worried, what’s going —” 

“Taehyung is having an affair,” you blurted out. Jisoo gasped and covered her mouth, unsure of what to say next. Just then you burst out into tears, trying to keep it as quiet as possible so the kids wouldn’t hear. Jisoo wrapped her arms around you and rested her head on your shoulder until you stopped crying. “I just don’t know what to do. Should I confront him? Should I ignore it? Should I divorce him? And what about the kids? What if this gets leaked to the media?” Jisoo nodded let out a big understanding sigh.

“This is an incredibly tricky situation. You really have to weigh your options carefully.”

“I can’t believe he would do this. I mean, we had the perfect relationship. I know he’s always been in love with me. How can someone so expertly fake the strong emotions he did?” 

“I think you need to take some time to relax and cool down,” Jisoo said softly while petting your hair, “After that, you’ll be able to make a rational decision. Don’t worry about Soomi and Jaemin. I’ll take care of them until you’re ready.” You were so grateful for Jisoo. Friends like this are hard to come by. You replied with a measly thank you before passing out into a deep sleep. All that crying must have tired you out.

~

You woke up to the sound of your phone ringing. You grabbed your phone and checked the caller ID. Taehyung. You gulped. Should I answer it? You decided against your better judgement and took the call.

“Hey, babe, where are you? Didn’t you go to pick up the kids?” You saw the time on your phone. It had been a little over two hours since the kids’ school ended and only now he noticed that you three hadn’t arrived yet. Duh. He has clearly been busy with something else. 

“I did,” you tried to respond, sounding as stable as you could. Taehyung was put off by the bluntness of your voice.

“O-ok...Where are you guys now?”

“I’ll see you in fifteen minutes.” You hung up the phone and went to look for Jisoo, who was in the kitchen preparing dinner with the children, who were helping her. “Hey, Jisoo, I’m going to meet Taehyung real quick. I’ll be back in time for dinner.” You could see the questioning look on her face, like she wanted to know what was going on, but didn’t want to raise any alarm in front of the kids, so you gave her a knowing nod, signaling that you would explain everything later.

As you drove home, you were heartbroken. How could he do this to me? I thought he loved me. Am I not enough for him? But as your mind kept racing, the sadness started to convert to anger. That backstabbing asshole. Who the fuck does he think he is? I need to hurt him the same way he hurt me.

~

You were standing right outside your apartment, key in your hand hovering right in front of the lock. It seems that the boldness your anger provided you just faded from your body. All of a sudden, for some reason, you just wanted to run back into his arms, feeling warm and protected, and just forgive him. After all he is your husband and the father of your children. Maybe did it because he was just stressed at work. Maybe you both just weren’t as sexually compatible as you thought and that you shouldn’t take it personally. It would just be easier to let bygones be bygones and go back to being a happy family again. It’s interesting how no matter how wrong someone is, if we love them, we will always make excuses for them they don’t deserve. No. He doesn’t deserve a second chance. And I deserve a man who can at the very least stay faithful to me. You gathered every bit of strength you had and went into the house.

“Babe!” Taehyung greeted you excitedly as he got off the couch. You were irked, not knowing whether his excitement was genuine or fabricated. Was it ever genuine? He leaned in to hug you, but you warded him off. Taehyung looked at you inquisitively. 

“Where are the kids?”

“Don’t worry. The kids are fine. I came to talk to you.” He was taken aback by your sharp tone of voice. 

“Are you okay? What’s going on?” The thing that that drove you the most crazy was the fact that his concern sounded genuine. It was messing with your head. Does he actually care about me, or is he just a really good faker? You hoped it was the former, but you didn’t want to give him a second chance without earning it.

“What do you think is going on, Taehyung?” He looked at you blankly. 

“Babe, what are you talking about?” You looked him straight in the eyes.

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about,” you whispered. A flash of panic spread across Taehyung’s face, before he quickly changed his expression to one of compassion.

“Baby,” he coaxed, “Is everything okay?” You were sure he was lying. His false concern was starting to creep on your nerves, but you brushed them off, wanting to maintain composure. He reached for your arm, but you pulled it away. “Can you tell me what’s going on?” he said sternly. You gave him a deadpan look.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” you said through gritted teeth. His face softened.

“Is it because of...” his voice trailed off, hoping you would understand what he was saying so he wouldn’t have to finish his sentence. You remained silent. You weren’t going to help him out. “Do you know?”

“Do I know about what, Taehyung?” you retorted.

“Who told you?” he whispered.

“Who told me about what, Taehyung. Just tell me what you mean.” You know exactly what he meant, but you wanted to hear him say it. Him admitting to it was the only way you could even consider forgiving him.

“Nothing. Nothing important. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Your heart dropped to your stomach. You were sure he knew what you were referring to, but he chose to keep it secret, betting his odds that you both were talking about different things.

“What were you doing at 4pm today?”

“I don’t know, probably working.”

“Really.”

“Yes, babe. I don’t know what you’re getting at.” You sensed a tone of annoyance in his voice.

“Because I stopped by with the kids around that time and witnessed something entirely different.” Taehyung’s eyes widened.

“What do you mean?” he whispered. You gave him a knowing look and Taehyung at once knew the charade was over. “Babe,” he said in a low voice, “Let’s sit down and talk.”

“No, I’m actually about to head out. I really don’t want to be around you right now.”

“When did you see it? I didn’t hear you come home.”

“Doesn’t matter, Taehyung. You cheated on me. How long has this been going on?” The blood drained from Taehyung’s face now that the elephant in the room had finally been addressed.

“I promise, this hasn’t been going on long. It was a mistake and I’m so, so sorry.” You rolled your eyes in order to mask the fact that you actually wanted to cry. “Really, it was a moment of weakness and I regret it so much. It will never happen again.”

“You shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” you retorted.

“Honey, whatever happens in our marriage, we can work it out.”

“We don’t have to work it out. Our lawyers can do that for us.” Taehyung stared at you, not understanding the implication. “I’m leaving you, Taehyung.” Through gritted teeth, you forced out the last few words before you stormed out of the apartment, “And I will see to it that you will never see your children ever again.” Before you could see his reaction, you slammed the door and ran to your car so he couldn’t catch up with you.

#bts angst #taehyung angst #v angst #bts fanfic #bts