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20-th-centurygirl · 6 months

Text

it's always been you

bsf! jude bellingham x fem!reader

summary: falling in love with your life long best friend is no joke

a/n: hello ! i haven't written a full fic in an eternity so i'm abit rusty. this is also angsty ish? which isn't my speciality so i hope it's good. i'm a bit :/ on the ending bc it feels a little rushed but i hope you enjoy <3

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𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

for as long as you could remember, you and jude had been attached at the hip. your moms had always been close, and when they both had children at the same time they were determined to get them to be equally as close. and they'd succeeded. you and jude had gone through primary and secondary school together, and your closeness never faltered even when he moved to a completely different country. you were eachothers most loved person, eachothers first kiss at the grand age of nine years old, you were the best friend either of you would ever have.

when jude moved to madrid, you took the opportunity to spend more time with him than ever before, moving over to go to uni there. he'd even offered, no insisted, that you move in with him. and who were you to say no?

and it had all been great. cuddling and watching a film in judes bed had become nightly routine, and it was very rare that you made it back to your own, often too tired from judes fingertips gently dancing up snd down your arm lulling you to sleep. everyone around you was sure that you and him were more than just friends, but you'd never seen eachother in that way, and you were both sure that you never would. how wrong you both were.

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your head was rested on judes chest, your eyes fluttering shut "hey, don't fall asleep on me angel" he teased, poking your nose and grinning in amusement when you scrunched it.

" 'm not, just resting my eyes"

"mhm"

you weren't resting your eyes. you woke up the next morning wrapped in judes arms. he was still asleep, and you tried to shuffle out of his arms to have a shower but he'd caught you. "where you going?" he mumbled, grabbing your wrist to keep you in the bed.

"'m going to have a shower. or is that not allowed?" you teased

"only if i watch" his wonky grin and voice thick with sleep gave you butterflies. "no you perv" you'd both seen eachother naked countless times, and jude loved making inappropriate jokes. if only you knew there was some meaning behind it.

"are you gonna come to my game today?" jude had got out of bed and you couldn't help but linger on his bare abs, the only clothing he was wearing being a pair of boxers. jude noticed but said nothing, and he couldn't deny the giddy feeling he felt when he saw you checking him out.

"have i ever missed a game?" you teasingly pinched his cheeks. "anyway stop staring at my arse now i need to get ready"

jude rolled his eyes, walking over to you. "i'll see you later. be safe on the way" he pressed a small kiss to your hair, something he did every time one of you were leaving.

-----------------------------------‐---------------------

jude didn't know what was happening. he'd always seen you as second sibling but lately he'd felt different. the way your smile could light up a whole room, the pride in your face whenever he mentioned anything about football, the way you cared for him. he'd always thought you were attractive, but lately he was seeing you in a whole new light. everytime he saw you his heart skipped a beat. the 'jokes' he'd always made started to have meaning behind them. but he didn't have a crush on you, no way?

his heart skipped a beat the moment his eyes locked onto you. you were never a huge fan of football, you'd said yourself many times you'd rather watch rugby but here you were, the sun hitting you perfectly, highlighting every feature, your smile that made his day better no matter what, your eyes sparkling as the sun bounced off them, as far as jude was concerned you were an angel on earth. and when he saw you standing proudly with his last name on your back it hit him, he was in love with you. absolutely infatuated. and he knew full well you'd never see him in the way he was beginning to see you. whenever someone asked, you'd jokingly pull a face of disgust before making it abundantly clear to that person that you were just friends and nothing more. jude had girls throw themselves at him everyday, yet he only wanted the girl that called him her brother.

little did he know you felt the same way. you hated the fact that you were starting to fancy your bestfriend. the teasing jokes, drunken kisses and the constant cuddling wasn't friendly. you could pretend not to be interested, to tell people you'd rather get a lobotomy than ever be with jude in a romantic way all you wanted but it wouldn't change the fact you wanted him to be yours and yours only. and maybe you had a chance. the way he acted with you didn't seem friendly, and you planned to attempt to make a move.

but then it changed. you and jude had both been invited to a mutual friends birthday party. you secretly couldn't wait to see jude, knowing his outfit would had you drooling. but he walked in with a girl that none of you had ever seen hanging off his shoulder and you felt your heart shatter.

"who's that?" muttered to your bestfriend

"don't know? is she his girlfriend? surely he'd have told you if he had one" she said, her eyes locked onto the new 'couple'

"he hasn't mentioned anything"

"weird" she replied, walking away quickly as she saw them approaching.

the first person jude brought her over to was you, of course it was. "y/n. this is jess" he smiled

"hi, i've heard so much about you. i love your dress" she was amazing. gorgeous, prefect hair, perfect body and she was nice. "thank you! sorry if this sounds rude but judes just not mentioned you. how long have you two been seeing eachother?" you shot jude a glare for putting you on the spot but he seemed completely oblivious.

"oh only a few weeks. i'm sorry i thought jude told you" jess shot him a glare too, and jude frowned. "no he didn't. sorry, i'm just gonna go grab a drink" you practically ran away, wanting nothing more than to be swallowed whole.

you'd spent the rest of the evening avoiding him completely, hiding to go to the toilet or getting one of your friends to drag to away every time jude was making his way over to you.

"god i can't even hate her. she's so fucking nice and pretty and just perfect" you slumped in a corner in the middle of two of your friends. you didn't have a justifiable reason to feel this way, you were just friends. but you were convinced that you were destined to be something more. you'd always wondered about jude, questioning if he ever had any romantic feelings for you, and lately you were certain he did. and you had accepted that you felt the same way, ready to tell him and he walked in with a girl you'd never met.

"are you upset because your hopelessly inlove with him?" one teased and you couldn't even argue back. she was right.

"i just feel like he's put me on the spot? he didn't tell any of us she was coming and she thought he had. she couldn't believe i didn't know who she was. am i being dramatic? i think i've had too much to drink" you pouted, completely unsure of whether you were being reasonable or not. " i'm gonna go and get some fresh air"

you rested your back flat against the wall, watching the cars go by. the cool air was refreshing, giving you a chance to think. "hey" jude came out and stood next to you. "fucking hell you scared me. what're you doing out here?"

"haven't seen you all night. where have you been hiding?"

"i haven't been hiding. just thought you might've wanted some space with jess" your tone was sharper than you intended, but you couldn't help it.

"what's that supposed to mean?"

"doesn't mean anything"

"do you not like her or something?"

"It's got nothing to do with her" you took a deep breath before turning to face jude "why didn't you tell me she was coming?"

"what?"

"i just feel like you've put me on the spot s'all. i mean did you not see how uncomfortable you made her by not telling me?"

"right. i think you're being a bit dramatic"

you scoffed, then you both went silent, focusing on your surroundings instead.

jude broke the silence first "you gonna come on saturday? jess is gonna be there and she's looking forward to seeing you again"

"dunno. i'll try but i might be busy" you mumbled. "i'm gonna go back in, getting cold now" you didn't give him a chance to reply, quickly walking past him.

-----------------------------------‐---------------------

you didn't go to the game. you knew it was petty but you just couldn't face it. you promised yourself you'd just sit this one out.

jude arrived home and went straight up to your room. he opened your door and carefully walked in. "hi"

"hi"

"why didn't you come to the game?"

"didn't feel right with jess being there" you shrugged. making up some stupid lie was far easier than admitting the truth. but the truth always comes out in the end. judes defeated "oh" sent guilt through your body, but it wasn't fair to tell him the real reason and to ruin a happy relationship. you'd get over him soon enough, right?

"sorry, i didn't mean to upset you. i just didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable, s'all. it feels weird being there if your girlfriends there "

"i get it. i'll see you in the morning, night." jude moved towards you with his arms outstretched, but you stepped back, mumbling something about a cold and you didn't miss the flicker of hurt in his eyes. you'd never denied him any hug, in fact it was rare for you to both be in seperate beds. but you had to get over him, and in your head the best way to do that was try to distance yourself from him. you knew it was hurting him, but you felt lost. you wanted him in a way that you could never have him.

-----------------------------------‐---------------------

the next two weeks consisted of you avoiding jude as much as you possibly could, pretending to be asleep or in the shower whenever he came to say goodbye to go to training. you ate separately, missed out on judes came with the excuse of being 'ill' or 'tired'. you knew it was mean, but in your head it was the only way to try and get over jude. he had a girlfriend that wasn't you and you just had to get over it.

but frankly jude was miserable. jess was perfect, really he should've been over the moon to be with her but she wasn't you. no girl would ever compare to you, but you'd shut him out completely for no apparent reason. he knew dating someone else was a stupid way to try and ignore his feelings for you because ultimately they only got stronger. but now with you icing him out he was sort of stuck.

you missed him terribly, especially tonight. he'd gone over to see jess and the jealously you felt was unlike anything else.

"jude i wanna talk to you" jude's 'girlfriend' muttered. he didn't really know what they were, it was difficult to label a relationship when he was in love with someone else.

"whats up"

"us. its not gonna work out"

"why"

"because you're in love with someone else. it's only fair on the three of us if you leave and go to her instead" she smiled softly. jude didn't know what to say, but he knew exactly who the girl infront of him was talking about. he said nothing to say, she was right. he'd never fully love someone else, and he couldn't begin to try unless he got the closure he needed. "i'm sorry. i don't want you to feel like i was dragging you along"

"it's okay. i knew the first time i met her you were both infatuated. the way she looked at you gave it all away. she's a lovely girl jude"

"thank you. i'm sorry"

"i know"

-----------------------------------‐---------------------

the pounding of judes fists against your door abruptly woke you up from your sleep. You swung the door open, ready to argue with whoever it was. but the exasperated expression on judes face stopped you in your tracks.

"jude?"

"what have i done wrong y/n?" the desperation in his voice cutting you deeply

"what"

"you've just cut me out your life completely and i don't know why? we never do anything anymore. you're not at my games you don't call me. i miss you."

"i'm not your girlfriend jude" you hissed, far harsher than you intended and you knew instantly that you were in the wrong. but what was he expecting? he had a girlfriend, why did he need you to play that role instead of her?

"well maybe i don't like the reminder" he mumbled but you'd heard him loud and clear.

"what?" you whispered, his quip like a harsh slap.

"such a smart girl but you can't see things right infront of your eyes. i am absolutely stupidly hopelessly in love with you y/n. jess was just my way of trying to forget about the way i felt about you because i knew you'd never want me in that way. but it didn't help, she didn't help. it's you or no one"

"really" was all you could stutter out, absolutely speechless at his confession.

"yes really. if you don't feel the same way tell me now and i'll be out your life forever" in all the years you'd been friends with jude, you'd never seen him so vulnerable and it rendered you speechless. you knew his reaction was genuine but you refused to believe it.

"no jude, i feel the same way. that's why i stopped speaking to you, seeing you with someone else killed me"

"why didn't you say anything?"

"why didn't you?"

you both went silent, feeling incredibly stupid. jude spoke up first "i was scared. whenever someone asked you if we were dating you'd just be so disgusted? like you always saw me just as a friend and i didn't wanna lose you. i'd rather be your best friend who's stupidly in love with you than lose you completely by confessing"

"i felt the same" you mumbled, head staring down at the floor. "god i feel so stupid. think of all the time we could've spent together if i said something"

"don't feel stupid" jude cupped your cheeks in his palms "look at me, you are the most amazing person i've ever met. and we're gonna spend the rest of our lives together angel, i promise" he leaned in, pressing his lips to yours and it was nothing short of perfection. your own hands rested on his side, judes lips soft and plump against yours. his tongue gliding against yours. it was like you were made for eachother.

you pulled back first, resting your forehead against judes."what about jess?"

"she ended it. she was really nice about it. she said she knew i loved you and she didn't want to try and force a relationship that wouldn't ever work"

"really?"

"yeah. we weren't really official anyway. i was only with her to try and get over you"

"what do we do now?" you whispered, a wide smile adorning both your faces. "was thinking we could go out to that coffee shop we always used to go to. just wanna take it slow, we've got all the time in the world"

"yes we do" you smiled, pulling him into your room and connecting your mouths again.

#jude bellingham #jude bellingham x reader #jude bellingham smut #jude bellingham blurb #jude bellingham imagine #footballer imagine #football imagine

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filthyjoetini · 8 months

Text

Trapped Hearts

a/n: Hello. Hello. Another Joe fic. This time a one shot! Thanks for coming to my Angst-Talk. Buckle up and enjoy the ride. I had some pent up angst in me and it needed to get out. Thanks as always to @barfightzanddiscolightz for beta reading and editing and generally being the best!

warnings: Joe's being a major dick. Like. For real. Cursing. Big emotions.

wordcount: 4.6k

“Are you fucking kidding me? Stop that!”

“What?! We have to check everything! Otherwise, we’ll be stuck in here forever!”

“This is not how escape rooms work, Joe!”, you practically shrieked with frustration. You rolled your eyes as you tried to pry his fingers off the clearly fake window frame adorned with the escape room company’s logo sticker. “Did you not listen to the instructor? He clearly said that anything with that sticker on it, does not belong to the riddles...let it go!”

“Fine.”, he hissed, quickly withdrawing his hand from the fake window and out of your grip, wiping it on his trousers as if you’d sullied it with your touch. He then took a couple steps away from you to the other corner before opening his mouth again. “And don’t fucking touch me again.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Quinn. I won’t.”, you promised, your eyes rolling in exasperation which he didn’t seem to notice. With a frustrated deep sigh, you turned to walk in the other direction to check out a cupboard that you hadn’t searched through yet. Joe immediately answered your sigh with a scoff.

You had already been 45 minutes in which meant you only had 15 minutes left and you hadn’t even made it out of the first room yet. You had Zach to thank for all this. Fucking Zach, man. He had invited you to play an escape room duel with him, his girlfriend Iris, the sweetest human being that had ever graced this planet, and a mystery friend. Now, an escape room duel was a face-off between two teams, with the first team to escape winning. Piece of cake, right? But Zach, that utter moron, had failed to mention that the mystery friend would be none other than your sworn nemesis: Joseph Quinn. Seriously, he could’ve invited anyone but him.

Honestly, Joe and you hadn’t always been at odds. There was a time, from waaay back in primary school up to the day you graduated from secondary school, when you used to be best friends. You had even harboured romantic feelings for him, which started around year nine, but you never really made them known because you hadn’t wanted to jeopardise your friendship. So, you had just sat on them and suffered in silence when he would show up with his new catch of the month. Then he had gotten accepted to his fancy acting school and never showed his face anymore. You had tried to reach out but every time you did, he would dismiss you because “he didn’t have time” as “he had to rehearse for a play”. You had always offered to help him, and he would decline because he usually rehearsed with his school mates. For some unknown reason, he had even neglected to mention his plays, let alone invite you to them. After about a year of you trying to stay in contact you eventually gave up. The only thing that had remained was your mutual friend Zach. For some reason Joe had stayed in contact with him but not with you.

In the beginning, the fact that all of a sudden you weren’t good enough for him anymore had hurt you immensely, but with each passing year that hurt had turned into sadness which had morphed into anger and ultimately graduated into hatred. Zach would invite you out to chill at a park with the lads and lasses and you would always have a great time until Joe had shown up. As soon as you would spot him, you’d pack up your belongings and would leave with an excuse that “something had come up”. This had worked fine the first couple of times but after the fourth time, Zach had pulled you aside and demanded to know what was going on. You had explained that you and Joe had fallen out and that you didn’t want to see him anymore. You also had asked him to inform you if Joe would be attending so you could opt out in the future and to please never ask you about it ever again. You had left a confused Zach standing there as you stormed off, not noticing Joe’s longing stare, which had been set on you.

Over the years, you had seen Joe less and less. This had mostly been due to the fact that he had spent a lot of time abroad or in different parts of the country fulfilling his acting duties. The only time you would see, and largely avoid him, was at mutual friends’ birthday parties which had luckily taken place less than a handful of times a year. When your paths had crossed anyway, you would either look in a different direction, or if you had accidentally looked at each other you would send him the vilest glare you could muster.

The last time you had seen him in person was back in 2019 before the whole pandemic and his sudden rise to stardom. God, that had been the worst. His face had suddenly been all over the tabloids and various social media sites. You had even cancelled your Netflix subscription because you didn’t want his mug showing up in your suggestions.

And now here you were, stuck in a tiny room with him, literally and desperately trying to escape, not only for the game’s purpose, but also from him.

Whilst Joe was still grabbing at anything and everything, you finally found a key to a tiny padlock. You triumphally turned around and went straight for the padlock you had spotted earlier, which was attached to a small treasure chest. Inside that chest, you hoped to find the big key that would open the door to the next room. You squatted down and eagerly opened the chest just to be met with disappointment as it only contained a small piece of paper bearing yet another enigmatic riddle. With only five minutes left for you and Joe to escape, the daunting realisation set in that there wouldn’t be enough time to decipher the clue. Groaning you let your head hang down in defeat, when suddenly, the scrap of paper was ripped from your fingertips.

“Hey!”, you protested loudly. The abrupt movement of him taking the riddle from your hands made you lose your balance, and your bum ended up ungracefully plopping onto the floor.

“I’ve seen these symbols. They’re in the books!”, Joe exclaimed, disregarding your current predicament on the floor, not even bothering to help you up.

“It doesn’t matter, Joe. We’re out of time anyway.”, you explained in defeat whilst slowly pushing yourself up. “They will let us out in two minutes.”

Joe sneered and rolled his eyes at you.

“Yeah, and it’s entirely your fault that we’re out of time.”

“My fault?”, you sputtered in disbelief. How dare he?! MY FAULT?! That! Bitch!

“Yes.”, he replied with a finality that held nothing but malice. “It’s because you aren’t a team player. You’re a selfish little cunt.”

“What did you just call me?”, you asked Joe, clearly taken aback. Joe only gave you a dismissive glare and turned his back to you. You let out a shaky breath which resembled an angry huff you hadn’t even realized you had been holding in and stalked over to him. When you came toe to toe with him, you raised your hand and slapped him across the face. Stunned, Joe slightly recoiled in response to the sudden impact of your palm against his cheek. Fuming but satisfied, you pivoted and marched purposefully towards the emergency exit. With a deliberate pause, you turned around again to give him the finger before rapping your knuckles against the door.

“Hello?”, you shouted with urgency. “Can you please let me out? I don’t want to be in here anymore.”

You crossed your arms and leaned against the door frame, waiting for someone to open the door. As you glanced up at the timer that hung from the ceiling, its display confirmed that the time had officially run out. Your attention shifted over to Joe, whose face was redder than a tomato, amplifying the visibility of your handprint. He was waiting impatiently to be let out of the escape room’s main entrance. When a couple of minutes had passed and neither the emergency door nor the entrance door opened you started to panic a little.

Hammering your fist against the door you started yelling.

“HELLO?! TIME’S UP! LET US OUT!”

Nothing.

“HELLO?! IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?!!! LET US OUT!”

Still nothing.

Oh no. OH FUCK.

Oh shit. We’re stuck.

You were stuck in a tiny room with Joseph Quinn of all people, the man you despised the most.

Slowly, you let your body slide down the wall next to the door and buried your head in your hands. Your breathing became shallow and erratic, and your vision blurred. Joe, who was still shouting for the employees to let you two out, was blissfully unaware of your impending panic attack.

“This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening...”, you muttered breathlessly. Your fingers began to shake, and you unsuccessfully tried to choke back a sob.

When Joe heard it, he instantly turned around with the most annoyed look on his face.

“Are you seriously crying right now?”

“Shut up.”, you managed to gasp. Your breaths were coming in ragged bursts and each moment that passed seemed to steal more oxygen from your bloodstream, leaving you increasingly lightheaded. “I need to get out...before... bef-ore...”

It was now very hard to breathe, you couldn’t even form complete sentences anymore. Joe fortunately noticed the alarming shift in your demeanour and frowned.

“Hey...are you OK?”

You shook your head, your trembling fingers pointing to your chest as it rose and fell rapidly.

“Can’t... br-eathe.”, you choked out. As Joe realised what was happening, he immediately went into helping mode, taking quick steps towards you and dropping to his knees in front of you.

“OK. Come on. Look at me.”, he demanded quietly, and you slowly lifted your head, trying to focus on his face; it was a challenge through the tears that were uncontrollably flowing down your cheeks. You blinked rapidly, trying to get the tears out of your eyes. Once your sight had somewhat began to regain clarity, you noticed how close Joe’s face was to yours. His rich chocolatey orbs were staring right at you.

“Here you are...OK. Now breathe with me.”, he instructed, as he slowly breathed in through his nose and out again through his mouth. He did that with you until your breathing steadied.

“Thank you.”, you whispered, still hesitant to use your regular volume. You were genuinely amazed by how effortlessly he had managed to calm you down. His eyes radiated assurance, it was as if you could grasp the tranquillity they held, and you were suddenly able to breathe again. No one had ever had this effect on you. “Where did you learn that?”

“Learn what?”, he questioned, leaning back on his haunches and placing his hand flat on his thighs.

“The breathing technique.”, you replied, pushing yourself up a little to sit straight against the wall.

“Oh...uhm.”, he started, lifting one hand to the back of his head, scratching it lightly, “Well...you used to have panic attacks at school which I guided you through...I guess it was just muscle memory?”, the skin of his face suddenly held a faint hue of pink.

“Ah...”, you acknowledged. You both were still staring at each other. “Yeah...that must be it...thank you again.”

“No worries.”, he nodded, quickly averting his eyes as he pushed himself up into a standing position. “I think we’re stuck.”

“No shit, Sherlock.”, you muttered with a tired sigh, finally rubbing the tears from your eyes.

Joe didn’t respond to your comment but walked over to the opposite side of the room and sat down on floor.

---

After about fifteen minutes of you both trying to get whoever was out there’s attention while not speaking to and basically avoiding each other as best you could, you were the first to throw in the towel and decided to take matters in your own hands. You walked over to where you’d seen Joe put down the small piece of paper with the symbols and picked it up. You had seen some of the symbols too, they had been in the books on the shelf. You were able to find four out of the five symbols and their appointed numbers, which sure enough gave you the code to one of the padlocks, but you just couldn’t find the fifth symbol and it frustrated you to no end. Joe, who was moping in his corner, was staring at you the whole time and it wasn’t helping at all, it made you incredibly nervous.

After trying and failing for the umpteenth time at retracing your steps to find the missing symbol, you accepted your fate and gave up. You had to admit to yourself that you couldn’t do it without Joe, who had made no attempt to help you. So, you sat back down into what you decided was your spot. Leaning forward, you buried your head between your knees and let out the deepest sigh.

“I think they’re doing this on purpose.”, he finally spoke.

“Huh?”, you asked, lifting your head a little to look at him.

“Keeping us both locked in here.”, Joe elaborated. “It’s on purpose.”

“You think so?”, you asked defeated, “Why would they do that?”

“Dunno.”, he replied with a shrug, which you returned with a hard eyeroll.

“You think they’re doing this on purpose, but you don’t know why? Wow. Way to go Joseph. Your suspicions really contributed to finding a solution to this whole fucked up situation.”, you scoffed, and he gave you the finger in response.

“At least I’m trying to figure out what’s going on, unlike you who’s just sitting there and feeling sorry for yourself.”, he accused with a sharp edge to his voice.

“They locked us in here and aren’t letting us out! That’s what’s going on! I’m sure there are no ulterior motives behind it. They simply forgot about us.”, you rambled, and Joe shook his head.

“There’s CCTV in here. They have not forgotten about us, you idiot.”, he replied as if he were talking to a child. “It’s on fucking purpose.”

“Ugh. Please stop talking. You’re giving me a headache.”, you groaned and placed your hands over your ears, so you didn’t have to listen to his delusional words anymore.

In response he crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared daggers at you before he mopingly turned his back to you again.

---

Another 30 agonizing minutes crawled by, the deafening silence growing even more stifling, and they still hadn’t let Joe and you out of the room.

Boredom hit you like a freight train, so you tried to find different riddles to solve inside the room. After all, what else was there left to do? Joe, who had turned around once more when you had started making noise, was picking at his fingernails and began silently observing you roam around the room.

You were sitting on the floor, in the middle of the room, just about to complete a jigsaw puzzle when he suddenly spoke up from his designated corner.

“What happened?”

“Are you stupid?”, you questioned him, without looking up from your puzzle. “We’re obviously trapped in here...”

“No...”, he retorted whilst slowly standing up and making his way over to you. “What happened to us?”

You looked up at his towering form, eyebrow furrowed in curiosity. He sighed before he sat down opposite you and spoke again when you remained silent.

“Back then... after we graduated, what happened? You suddenly didn’t want to hang out with me anymore. Don’t think I didn’t notice.”, he stated, picking up a puzzle piece and placing it in its rightful position.

You scoffed and snorted at his statement. Was he fucking serious? You couldn’t believe the words he had just spoken.

“Are you fucking serious, Quinn?”, you seethed, your voice grew louder with each sentence, “I didn’t want to hang out with you anymore? Oh, that’s just fucking rich...YOU were the one who went off to your fancy little acting school and didn’t want to hang out anymore. I tried...oh and how I tried, to keep in touch with you. I offered to help you rehearse and you always declined. You didn’t even invite me to your plays!”

“...what? That’s not true.”, he tried to defend himself.

“Shut up! I’m not done yet.”, you snapped, holding up your hand to cut him off. Now it was your turn to glare daggers at him. “After a year of trying, I finally gave up. I told Zach not to invite me when you were around because I couldn’t stand seeing you. It hurt like hell at first because I didn’t understand why you would still want to always hang out with Zach, yet you acted like I meant nothing. I was so unbelievably furious. You hurt me so damn much, and yeah, I fucking hate you for that! I hate you! I HATE YOU!”

Angry tears were now cascading down your face and your body was visibly shaking. Joe, who was too stunned to speak, suddenly leaned forward, and pulled you into his arms, destroying the almost finished puzzle in the process of hugging you.

“Don’t touch me!”, you shrieked. “Let. Me. GOOOO!”, You tried to push him away, but he wouldn’t budge, only tightening his arms around you even more, holding you in place. You kept on squirming in his arms, trying to get out of his hold, yelling, shrieking, calling him all the names you could think of for what seemed like forever, but he still didn’t cave.

“Please.”, you eventually chocked out, your voice a defeated plea as you sobbed, tears streaming down your cheeks. “Please let go of me...it hurts...I hate youuuu.”

“Nuh-uh.”, Joe finally whispered into your ear, pulling you up a little. Hiccoughing, you let your head rest in the crook of his neck, feeling Joe’s word vibrate through your body, as he spoke again, this time in a normal volume.

“It’s true, I didn’t really hang out with you after I started drama school. But you have to understand, I was the new kid and I had to prove myself in order to be accepted by them. I had to rehearse with them, even though I would’ve loved to do it with you. But then you didn’t show up to my first real play and I got so disappointed and angry with you. I don’t know why you said that I didn’t invite you because I did. Zach and I had been out at Clapham Common skating when my mobile slipped from my pocket and got damaged. I had specifically asked him to forward the invitation to you, but now I see that he didn’t... that fucking dimwit, I’m gonna kill him.”

He took a deep breath before he continued, absentmindedly rubbing his hand up and down your back, and you allowed it. You didn’t have the strength to fight him anymore, so you let him.

“After I got my mobile back from the repair shop, I tried to contact you, but you had blocked my number. I even tried to message you via Facebook, but you had unfriended and blocked me there too which pissed me off big time. Stupid young me then decided that two could play that game, so I just started to ignore you even more than you ignored me. I had this plan, that you’d eventually give in and come back to me if I kept it going, but it backfired horribly. When Zach pulled me aside right after you’d left the park, once again just when I had arrived, and told me that you didn’t want to hang out with me anymore, it hit me hard. I realised I went too far, but I was young, full of anger, and stupid. I didn’t know what to do to fix things. So, I ended up doing what you did on those rare occasions we got to see each other and interact – either throwing insults or avoiding you altogether... what goes around, comes around, you know.”

Taking another deep breath, he moved his hand that had been rubbing your back to your hair and started massaging your scalp. You had long accepted that he wouldn’t let you out of his arms anytime soon, so you just listened to him and let him do what he needed to do.

“It was never my intention to make you hate me, you know.”, he was now back to whispering. “Knowing that you do hate me hurts a lot because...because...’cause I could never. Even after everything. Even after trying to and oh, how I tried. I just couldn’t. I...fuck. It’s the opposite, actually.”, he chuckled humourlessly.

This revelation suddenly sparked some left-over strength in you and leaned back, staring at him, mouth agape.

“The opposite?”

“Ugh. Yes. The opposite.”, he repeated.

“But the opposite of hate is love.”, you stated, mind totally blank.

“Yes.”

“You love me?”

“Yes, silly.”, he groaned, closing his eyes. “I’ve always loved you. At first it was strictly platonic, you know, being best friends and all...but when I went off to drama school, I noticed how much I missed you. I missed your hugs, I missed your smile, I missed being close to you. I even missed things we never even did together. Well, missed is the wrong word here, I longed for them. But you not wanting to be friends with me anymore put a spoke in my wheel and I just let it go.”

“You can’t love me!”, you sputtered astonished. “I... I hate you a-and you hate me.”

“Wrong. I just said, I tried to hate you, but I couldn’t. Because I LOVE YOU.”, he declared, tightening his grip on you once more.

“Joe. You called me a cunt mere hours ago.”, you argued, letting out a confused laugh, new tears forming in the corners of your eyes. You were frustrated with all the new information your overstimulated brain had just received. How could he love you when he treated you like shit? You knew that he had just explained it to you, but you couldn’t fathom what was happening. He had hated you and now he didn’t, and you had learned to hate him...or had you? You instantly started to doubt yourself. Was it really hate you felt for him the past ten years or was it more about the deep hurt, anger, and sadness that had consumed you when you lost your best friend – the person you’d hoped would become your boyfriend? Maybe...you weren’t sure. You just continued staring at him, with a blank face and reddened eyes. A thousand thoughts spinning in your head.

“...and I’m really sorry for that, because you are not a cunt...you’re far from being one.”, he apologised wholeheartedly, hand still gently stroking your hair. “I’m so very sorry...for everything. The way I treated you was beyond cruel. I was young and dumb. But mostly I was hurt because of your constant avoidance, and instead of being the bigger person and seeking you out to find the root cause of it all, I treated you like shit.”

You just kept staring at him, blinking slowly. A few stray tears escaped the inner corners of your eyes and Joe looked back at you expectantly. A couple of moments passed where neither of you said a thing. With each passing second the tension between you increased and Joe grew more nervous, his unease became almost palpable. He had just bared his soul to you and your lack of a reaction lead him to believe that this whole thing was a grave mistake. Panic started to etch onto his face, and he suddenly seemed so vulnerable. You could practically read his thoughts - You really, really must hate him - which made your own blank expression soften slightly in response, and you knew what you needed to do in order to dispel his thoughts.

“Joe...”, you started slowly. “I...thank you...uhm, for apologising. It really means a lot to me. I want to apologise too. God, this is so stupid.”, you paused, letting out a quivering breath because you started to get all choked up again. “We were so stupid. Why are we so stupid?”, you asked, mostly yourself as you shook your head once, twice, three times. Joe was sitting still, waiting for you to continue with bated breath.

“I’m sorry. For immediately thinking you hated me and didn’t want anything to do with me anymore. I’m sorry for being mean and treating you like shit. I'm sorry for not reaching out to you to talk about it...I was just so hurt and confused...I’m sorry.”, you were now full on crying again and Joe pulled you closer to his chest once more, muffling your speech. “...Also, I’m sorry I said I hated you because to be frank, I don’t...I was just so very angry with you and the whole situation. I don’t hate you, Joe...I actually love you too and I have for so many years.... fuck, this is just a huge fucking misunderstanding because two dumb, insecure teenagers didn’t know how to communicate properly. I’m so sorry.”

Suddenly, you felt something wet on the crown of your hair and you slowly looked up and saw silent tears dripping from the tip of Joe’s nose. It was now your turn to tighten your arms, which had snuck their way around his torso.

You returning his previous affection made him sob faintly and he slowly opened his mouth, his scared, big brown eyes set on yours.

“I missed you so, so much.”, he whispered, now suddenly afraid someone could listen in on your conversation.

“I missed you too, so so much.”, you replied equally as soft. “I missed your hugs, and your smell, and your stupid fucking grin… but most of all I missed your useless facts about random places in London.”

The last point made Joe chortle out loud.

“Shut up, you didn’t miss those, you hated them.”

“Yeah, I hated them...still do.”, you replied, letting out a tearful chuckle.

Both of you let out a simultaneous sigh, leading to another round of giggles. As the laughter subsided, you shook your head once more and finally looked up at him. His eyes held a foreign sparkle. Not foreign in the sense that you hadn’t seen it before, because you had, but it had never been directed at you. The sparkle paired with a broad grin on his lips made your cheeks grow hot and you tried to avert your gaze. Before you could turn your head, his hand had snuck from your back to your jaw and held it in place.

“Can I kiss you?”, he inquired softly, caressing your jaw with his thumb.

“Yes.”, you responded firmly.

His lips met yours in a needy, salt-stained kiss which you eagerly reciprocated. A soft moan escaped your lips, encouraging Joe to deepen the kiss further. When you both ran out of breath, you reluctantly pulled back, your foreheads meeting in an intimate pause. The remnants of your kiss lingered, leaving Joe’s and your lips tinted rosy red and slightly swollen, small smiles of happiness gracing your mouths.

Just as you were about to lean in for another kiss, the door to the escape room opened, causing both you and Joe to quickly turn your heads towards it.

An obviously very pleased Zach, accompanied by a blushing Iris, stood in the doorway, holding up a sign that read:

CONGRATS, YOU MADE (IT) OUT!

THE END

Taglist:

@ohmeg @daleyeahson @lma1986 @palomahasenteredthechat @mandyjo8719 @aysheashea @eddiebaemunson @xlilithb @freakymunson @sidthedollface2 @i-wont-run-this-time @plk-18 @miserybeans @kylakins88 @deadspellz @thehillzhaveeyez @kayleeelena97 @foreverjosephquinn @punctualhowell @icallhimjoey (thank you for helping with the title.) @ghostinthebackofyourhead @siriuslysmoking @hollster88 @cancankiki @definitionwanderlust @eriancrow @1paire2vans @theonewiththecrackedmind @fromasgardandback @captainonaboat @josephquinnsfreckles @emilyslutface

crossed out = couldn't tag.

#joe quinn #joseph quinn x y/n #joseph quinn fanfiction #joseph quinn x reader #joseph quinn fanfic #joseph quinn #joe quinn x reader #joe quinn fanfiction #joe quinn x y/n #joe quinn fanfic #rpf #trapped hearts

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xiaojunsmintchoco · 1 year

Text

Taste of love - Kim Mingyu

Pairing: food science student!yn x food science student!mingyu

Genre: fluff, angst; enemies to lovers, polytechnic au

Synopsis: You and Mingyu have always been in competition for the top spot at everything since secondary school and the cycle doesn't end even after graduation, because you both end up in the same polytechnic AND the same food science course. Until one day, the professor puts both of you together for a year end project, and you both have to knock your heads together if you want to maintain your top GPAs.

CW: mentions of food (a lot because they’re studying food science)

wc: about 6.9k

a/n: this fic is dedicated to @bangchan-fairy! bee, I hope you like your (belated) christmas gift, and thank you so much for being one of the first moots to see me through my days as a beginning writer starting out on shaky steps — I truly appreciate the support 🧡 I hope you had a great christmas, and i wish you an amazing 2023 ahead!

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“Finally, we’re back in the kitchen!” You exclaim to your best friend, Minho as you follow your polytechnic class to the food laboratory. “God, when I left the house this morning, I swore that if we had to attend another lecture today, I’m officially dropping out of this course,” you add, with a dramatic sigh and a hand on your forehead, as if you were about to faint.

Minho gasps in mock horror, and puts a hand to his chest. “So you were planning to leave me to take this course alone? Just because of the lectures?” he asks incredulously.

You flick his forehead jokingly. “Of course not,” you laugh. “We promised we’d graduate from this polytechnic and obtain our diploma together, didn’t we?”

“Glad you didn’t forget, else into the air fryer you go,” he replies. "180 degrees for 20 minutes," he adds with a smirk as you both put on your aprons and caps before turning back to the front to wait for the teacher’s instructions.

The sound of a chair being dragged out from the work desk beside you startles you, and you wish you didn't turn your head to find out who it was. You exchange dirty looks with said person – Kim Mingyu.

Mingyu had been your sworn rival ever since you both started secondary school. From grades to leadership positions to competition results, you were always nearly neck and neck with each other at everything – except that one of you would end up on top in the end. The arrogant glances and smug smirks Mingyu would send you whenever he beat you to the first place in anything never failed to make you bristle with anger. You thought the competition would end when you finished your final exam and graduated from secondary school, but to your dismay, he picked the same polytechnic course as you. So, here you both are, continuing your long-term rivalry in Nanyang Polytechnic's Food and Nutrition course.

"Alright, class," your professor announces as she makes her way into the classroom. "Listen up! As you know, we've been studying Asian food this week, so today we're going to try our hand at making popiah. On your work benches you should see the recipe as well as the ingredients you'll need. Feel free to add anything else you'd like to the fillings. Work on it with your partner, and by the end of the lesson we'll give them a try. If you need any help, I'll be around".

You and Minho quickly skim over the recipe for the Teochew-style spring rolls. "I'll make the filling, while you can make the wrappers?" Minho suggests.

And just like that, both of you are ready to start work. Throwing open the cupboard doors, both of you successfully locate the grater, mixing bowl, frying pans and other utensils. You begin by combining flour, salt and water in the bowl, then straining the batter to remove the extra lumps. After that, you set the stove to low heat and place the pan on it. "Good thing I brought my pastry brush today," you offhandedly remark to Minho as you pull the brush out of your apron pocket. Dipping the brush into the batter, you proceed to brush the batter onto the pan, brushing several times to ensure the wrapper would not have holes in it. When the first wrapper is done, you peel it off and set it aside on a clean plate, and repeat the process again until you have five wrappers complete. "I'm done with the wrappers, are you almost done with the fillings?" you ask Minho as he's busy frying an omelette.

"Yes, I just need to cut this into long strips after and then we can wrap the popiah," Minho replies, removing the omelette from the pan and placing it on a plate to cool. "In the meantime, what about you grind some peanuts? There should be a mortar and pestle in the cupboard and some peanuts in the drawer," he suggests.

"Sure! That's a great idea," you compliment your friend and get the peanuts, as well as the mortar and pestle. Pouring the peanuts into the mortar, you pound them with the pestle until they're finely ground up. At the same time, Minho is done with the omelette strips, so you both get round to wrapping the popiahs. It doesn't take that long, and soon both of you have three plates of popiah, all cut into pieces that are one inch in breadth.

"Cheers," Minho declares as you each pick up a piece of popiah with chopsticks, gently bringing his piece to yours before you both pop them in your mouth. The flavours in the popiah explode in your mouth, the savoury flavours of the omelette strips and dried shrimps and sweet flavours of grated vegetables and jicama blending together perfectly like a match made in heaven, enhanced further by the sweet-spicy notes of the chili sauce.

“I think we did a great job!” You remark to your partner, eyes wide in amazement. Minho simply nods, too enraptured by the tasty creation both of you had made together.

Turns out, the teacher agrees with both of you. “The skin is not too thick or thin, and overall, your popiah is very flavourful. I also really like the addition of omelette strips and ground peanuts for extra protein,” the teacher comments after sampling a piece of the popiah you and Minho had made. “Well done, y/n and Minho! Also, the use of the pastry brush for the popiah skin was smart”.

You both give the teacher a small bow and thank her as she moves to the next table, giving Minho a discreet high-five. “Hmm, it’s not bad, but the popiah skin is a bit lumpy and a bit too thick. How did you prepare it?” The teacher asks Mingyu and his partner, Junhui.

“I just spooned the batter onto the pan and spread it out,” Mingyu answers.

“Did you strain the batter before doing so?” The teacher fires another question at them. You watch on, mildly amused, as both of them exchange glances and shake their heads.

“Ah, so that is why the batter did not turn out that well. In the future, strain the batter before cooking it, and try to use a pastry brush like y/n and Minho have done,” the teacher remarks to both boys before moving on to the next table, and you don’t miss the glance of disdain Mingyu sends in your direction, which for some reason causes the sweet feelings of a small victory to bloom in your heart. Hey, it was only the first practical cooking session your class had had in a long time, but you felt good that you were able to cook up a better dish than him this time. You can’t resist the urge to send him a smirk and mouth “watch and learn” to him, and that gleeful feeling only grows as his scowl intensifies as well.

“Okay class, as you all know, we’ll be starting our year-end projects soon, so I’ll be giving out some details today,” your teacher declares, bringing your attention back to the front of the kitchen. “I’ve paired all of you up, and in your pairs you will pick a dish to do a macronutrient and micronutrient analysis of. After which, both of you will need to recreate the dish, but make it healthier by changing up the cooking methods or ingredients. Your choice of dish is up to you, you can even create your own fusion dishes. Just make sure to do a macronutrient and micronutrient comparison of the original and the one you both recreated, and write a report on how you made it healthier,” she instructs. “I’ve emailed the instructions to all of you, and right now I’ll be flashing the pairings on the screen”.

You fix your eyes on the screen, hoping that you would be paired with Minho. Unfortunately, your anticipation soon fades to dismay as you see the name next to yours: Kim Mingyu. Oh God, why?

“These pairings are final, so I expect all of you to cooperate with your partners to obtain optimum results, and I will not be entertaining any requests to switch partners. I wish all of you all the best!” Your teacher finishes, dashing the last of your hopes to request to be paired up with another person. “You may go look for your partners now, and discuss arrangements to work on the project”.

Begrudgingly, you push in your chair and drag your feet to where Mingyu is. “So, we’re gonna have to work together for our final project, huh,” you huff, making no attempt to hide your displeasure.

“Obviously so. Now, I don’t like this any better than you do, so we’ll just make this as quick and painless as possible, then we can get this over and done with and hopefully never have to work together again. Okay?” Mingyu asserts, looking down at you with the same haughty glare you hated so much.

You narrow your eyes into slits, glaring daggers at him. “Deal”.

“Okay then. Meet me at the subway station after school, we can go to my house to do our research first,” Mingyu instructs, before hurrying off to catch up with Junhui.

⋆*̣̥☆·͙̥‧❄•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥˟͙☃˟͙‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥❄‧·͙̥̣☆*̣̥

As agreed, you meet him at the subway station to go to his house. "It's only 2 stops away and then a five minute walk, so it won't take long," Mingyu informs you as you both board the train. Not willing to engage in a proper conversation with your enemy just yet, you simply acknowledge with a grunt.

Before you know it, you've reached his apartment block and are already in the lift to his fifth floor flat. Upon entering, the first thing that greets you is the row of medals hanging on the walls, right above the glass cupboard which houses all of his trophies and certificates. Immediately you feel slight bitter feelings rise in you, but you push them down, reminding yourself that you were here to focus on your year end project, and you'd also had your fair share of times when you'd successfully beat Mingyu to attain first place or top scores.

"You can put your bag down, and I’ll get you some water," Mingyu states. Though his tone was flat, you were mildly surprised that your enemy still treated you with basic hospitality. “Sit down at the table and we can start”.

Now, you weren’t expecting working on a project with your nemesis to be a walk in the park, but you weren’t expecting it to be this difficult and unpleasant either. It’s been more than one hour, and both of you are still arguing about which dish to pick.

“Goddammit, just pick something already!” Mingyu finally explodes, sick of the endless back-and-forth that both of you had been engaging in.

“Oh if it’s that easy, why don’t you pick then?” you snap, the last wisp of your patience vanishing as well.

“I don’t know, you keep refuting every one of my suggestions. You got a better idea then?” Mingyu shoots back, eyeing you with a challenging glint in his eye.

“No I don’t, your ideas were simply trash, and you weren’t listening to any of my suggestions either,” you state flatly. “You’re in the debate club, I thought you’d be more logical than this. Don’t waste my time. You’re my fucking rival but I still have to cooperate with you”.

Though you’re enemies with him, you regret your earlier words as a look of clear hurt crosses his features for a split second. Mingyu squeezes his eyes shut, draws in a deep breath, and then slowly lets it out again. “You know what, we’ve spent more than an hour here, but all we’ve done is bicker. Since today’s so unproductive and I don’t think we’ll accomplish anything, you can just pack and leave. We’ll continue another day”.

With that, you pick up your bag and brush past him in a huff.

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“He’s so freaking insufferable! He didn’t agree to anything I suggested and still complained I was the one being picky, ugh. I can’t believe I’m doing my year-end project with him”.

You’re ranting to Minho over breakfast the next day before school starts, the unpleasant project work session with Mingyu still fresh in your mind. “Gosh dammit, I bet I could finish this project alone and get a much better GPA than this guy can. Lucky you, you got paired with Jaehyun”.

Minho patiently listens to your every word as you vent your frustrations to him, before finally offering his advice. “You know, y/n, both of you are in the wrong here”.

Your head snaps towards Minho. “What? You’re my friend, you’re supposed to be on my side!”

“Y/n, I’m just being real here. Did you both tell each other what you found lacking in the other’s suggestions, or did you guys just shoot down each others’ suggestions?” Minho asks.

You go quiet for a minute, sipping on your coffee as you reflect on yesterday’s events. “I think the latter”.

“There you have it. It’s understandable if you guys didn’t like each others’ suggestions, but at the very least you guys should say why, and do it in a civilized manner. From what I’m hearing, you said some pretty harsh stuff to Mingyu,” Minho continues, explaining his thoughts on the situation.

“You’re not wrong”.

“And besides,” Minho continues, chewing on his food, “you’ve got to cooperate with him, no matter what. I know he was your rival and you both were competing throughout the year for a better GPA, but here your GPA is at stake. If you don’t cooperate with him, I don’t wanna imagine the drop in your own GPA. You’ve gotta accept that this time you can’t be fighting him. After this project, compete with him all you want, that’s no one’s business. But for now, you’ve gotta put aside your differences and work together, unless you wanna risk repeating year one again”.

You sip on your coffee, quietly reflecting on Minho’s words. “You’re right. I should have chosen my words more carefully before speaking to Mingyu,” you admit, a twinge of embarrassment pricking in your chest as you remember the harsh words both of you exchanged yesterday. “Maybe I do owe him an apology. Thanks, Min”.

Minho nods, happy that he was able to help you know how to move forward from the argument and figure out your next steps. “No problem. You can always catch him after class later to say what you need to. If you’re done, shall we go? I don’t wanna be late”.

“Of course”. With that, both of you clear your table and head off to polytechnic again.

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“Mingyu! Mingyu!”

You call for Mingyu as he’s leaving the lecture hall, a puzzled look on his face when he sees you hurtling towards him at the speed of light calling his name. You’d just fought yesterday, so why were you looking for him now?

“I just wanted to say, I’m sorry about yesterday. I should have thought before I spoke and gave your suggestions more consideration before shutting them down”. You pant out your apology, out of breath from running after him. “Sorry for wasting our time yesterday and speaking thoughtlessly to you”.

“It’s alright. I shouldn’t have snapped at you first, I’m in the wrong too,” Mingyu says, reciprocating your apology.

“Apology accepted. Can we get along properly and cooperate with each other from now on, at least until our project is over? I know both of us have been in competition for top grades ever since sec 1, but both our GPAs are on the line here. If we want to do well, we must work together,” you request, reaching out your hand to offer him a true truce this time.

Mingyu’s eyes glaze over with a thoughtful expression as he processes your words. For a moment you worried that he would let his ego get in the way and reject your proposition. “I agree with you. I don’t think any of us want to be retained, so let’s call a truce, at least until this project is over,” he answers, shaking your hand firmly.

“Good. Well then, I guess we can get to work on this project again. Since you offered your house last time round, shall we go to mine today?” you suggest. "It's not that far from here, just a few bus stops away".

"That'd be great. The last time you were over, we squabbled so much, my mum was worried we'd get a noise complaint from the neighbours," he chuckles, and to your surprise you find it in yourself to get out a small laugh in response.

"No more of that this time," you laugh. "Okay, after school today let's meet at the coffee shop nearby, I'd like to get coffee first".

"Okay. See you then!" Mingyu shoots you a small smile and a wave, and walks away.

He’s actually pretty nice when he’s not in his competitive mode, you think to yourself, happy that for once, you were able to talk to Mingyu in a much friendlier manner than usual, with no hateful or malicious undertones.

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Mingyu: y/n

Mingyu: I'll be a bit late, Ms Lim wants to speak to me

Mingyu: sorry about it! you can buy your coffee first

Upon reaching the coffee shop, you open your phone to receive these three notifications from Mingyu, informing you that he wouldn't be able to make it on time.

You: no problem! would you like something too?

You figured you'd try to do something nice for him this time to make up for the last argument you'd both had. Besides, he did offer you a drink when you went to his house the other day, so one good turn deserves another.

Mingyu: yes please, I'll pay you later

You: alright, what would you like?

Five minutes goes by with no reply from Mingyu. Oh well, you'd take your chances with his order. He probably was already speaking to Ms Lim and wouldn't be able to reply to you for a while.

Making your way to the counter, you prepare to place your order. "Hi, can I have…" you tell the barista your order, before hesitating over Mingyu's order. What does he like?

You end up ordering him an iced Americano. Just as you collect your orders, Mingyu comes running in, panting heavily. "Y/n! I'm sorry I'm late".

"No problem. In fact, you seem a bit too excited to work on a project with your rival," you joke, completely missing the way his cheeks turned the slightest shade of pink.

"I mean, it wouldn't be nice to keep you waiting," he reasons.

"By the way, you didn't tell me what you wanted, so I got you an iced Americano," you inform, passing him the drink.

Mingyu takes the drink from you gratefully and sips on it. "Thanks y/n! How did you know I like this?" he asks, surprise crossing his features.

"I've seen you bring this into the lecture hall so many times, and I may have overheard Junhui joking about your Americano addiction yesterday," you explain, motioning to him to follow you. "Anyway, let's get going".

You both board the bus to your house and settle in the living room to do research. "I think that instead of trying to settle on one dish at once, we can just do our research today and make a list of possible dishes. After we come to a decision, we can get round to thinking of ways to make it healthier and drafting our report. Next we'll make a list of ingredients and possible equipment we'll need, edit our report, and try to find ways to make our practical session as efficient as possible. Sound good to you?” Mingyu fleshes out his plan to you.

You’ve got to give credit where credit is due, it was impressive that Mingyu was able to think up a sensible plan so quickly. “I guess we can do that. I’ll make a google document for us to list down our ideas, and then we can start doing our research”.

With that, both of you get down to doing the research again, listing out possible dishes as you go. “Jeez, there’s so many options. Now I understand why we had such a hard time picking the last time,” Mingyu mutters, scrolling through the document for what seems to be the millionth time.

You’re not having an easier time as well, simply staring blankly at the document on your computer while struggling to come to a conclusion. “Me too. I don’t know how we’re going to pick,” you grumble. At that moment, an idea hits you. “Why don’t we pick a dish that’s seemingly innocent and healthy, but is actually the opposite?”

“I was thinking of that too,” Mingyu agrees, considering all the options again. “In that case, it would probably be chicken rice? I mean, it’s rice, chicken, and cucumbers, which would be healthy in most cases, but in this dish the rice is swimming in chicken fat”.

“You’re right!” you exclaim, smacking your hand on the table in excitement as you swivel your head towards him. “Okay, let’s do chicken rice then. When shall we meet next to do our nutrient analyses?”

Mingyu swipes through his phone, looking at his schedule. “My next available day would be Friday after school, right after our practical session. Would that be okay? We can go to my house this time”.

You nod, approving the suggested date and noting it down in your own phone. “That’s fine by me. Okay, I guess that’s settled. See you on Friday”.

“We’ll be seeing each other tomorrow for class. Did you forget?” Mingyu points out, bursting into laughter at your expression of sudden realisation. “So I’ll see you tomorrow,” Mingyu chuckles, picking up his bag and preparing to leave.

“You’re right. Bye then, see you tomorrow,” you chuckle as Mingyu exits your house, pleasantly surprised at how well both of you were able to get along once you both put all forms of competition aside, and simply treated each other with respect and kindness. You hoped above all else, your future interactions with him would be more like today’s meeting, rather than all the other times that both of you ended up fighting like cat and dog.

⋆*̣̥☆·͙̥‧❄•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥˟͙☃˟͙‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥❄‧·͙̥̣☆*̣̥

“So…what I’m gathering here is, chicken rice is a great source of protein, but too high in fat, especially saturated fat, and lacking in fiber,” you mumble, looking through the information you and Mingyu had compiled in the google document. “So we should find ways to reduce the fat content and boost the fiber content of this dish”.

“In terms of micronutrients, it’s sorely lacking in vitamins A, C, D, E and K, and has sky-high sodium levels, which we should work to bring down,” Mingyu concludes, looking through the nutrient analysis you’d both done together. “I’m thinking of adding more cucumber slices, which are rich in vitamin B, C and K, as well as some tomato because they’re an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E and K. In addition, we could add in mushroom slices to boost the vitamin D content,” he adds, getting the ball rolling on your discussion by throwing in the first few ideas.

“Those are great ideas!” You give Mingyu a genuine compliment, and add your own ideas as well. “Boosting the fiber content won’t be much of a problem — switching the white rice for brown rice and adding more vegetables as you’ve suggested should do the trick. It will be tricky to get the brown rice to have that nice, fluffy texture, but it should be doable. As for the fat content, most of it comes from the chicken fat that’s used to cook the rice, which is what gives the rice its delicious flavour. So the challenge here is to find a way to find a substitute for the chicken fat so the rice retains its signature flavour,” you muse, hard at work thinking of ways to do as you just said. “What if we steam the rice with chicken stock?”

“The sodium content is a concern, though,” Mingyu points out.

“Many supermarkets offer low-sodium varieties now,” you remind him. “We can always just look for one”.

“Mm, that’s true,” Mingyu grunts, signalling his approval. “Should we just take these ideas for now and begin working on our report? If we have any other ideas we can always add them in later,” he suggests.

With that, both of you get busy, drafting out your report and working on the nutrient analysis for the improved version of the dish together. Though it takes about two hours, both of you eventually get it done as you put your heads together. After that comes the task of compiling a shopping list, which you’d have to send to the professor so that the school could help you buy the ingredients you’d need.

“Brown rice, chicken, chicken stock, cucumber…” you read off the list you’ve both compiled so far. “Anything we missed out?”

“Wait! We forgot to specify that we need a low-sodium type of stock,” Mingyu exclaims, jumping in to correct the minor mistake on the list and scanning through it again. “Okay, this should be it. We can send it to professor Lim now,” he decides, and presses “send” on the email. “Now we can split the work for the actual practical session. It’s actually not that hard to cook — what if we just chop up the vegetables and prepare the seasoning together?”

“Sounds good to me,” you utter. It’s in times like these you’re grateful for Mingyu’s natural leadership skills, it definitely helped both of you get things done in a more organised way.

“Okay then, we’re done for today”.

⋆*̣̥☆·͙̥‧❄•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥˟͙☃˟͙‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥❄‧·͙̥̣☆*̣̥

“Alright class, as all of you know, today we’re here to create the dishes you've picked for your year end project in your pairs. You have two and a half hours to complete your dishes. After the time's up, I'll sample your dishes and evaluate them accordingly. Don't forget to submit the final draft of your reports by the end of today".

You're back in the polytechnic kitchen with Mingyu, listening to Ms Lim prattle on about instructions which the whole class already knew about. Nevertheless, you and Mingyu still give her your full attention, worried that you'll miss out on some important instructions. After all, this project would contribute to your final grade for the year – none of you wanted to mess it up.

"Your time starts now, you may begin". Upon hearing that sentence, you and Mingyu spring into action, with you preparing the chicken while Mingyu slices up ginger and grates garlic and shallot. Once the chicken is safely in the pot of boiling water with the seasonings, it's your turn to chop up the vegetables while Mingyu cooks the rice. As you're chopping up the vegetables, the tantalizing aroma of stir-fried ginger wafts into your nose, signalling to you that all was going well.

Or so you think.

Out of the blue, a sharp pain stings your finger, making you cry out in pain. Holding up your finger, you're greeted by the sight of a red patch that's about the size of a five-cent coin. In your carelessness, you'd cut your finger rather badly.

In a flash, you hear the stove go silent, and Mingyu's hands are no longer holding the spatula, but rather cupping your hands gently and examining the cut, expression of fierce concentration having softened into one of concern. "Quick, wash it," he instructs, guiding you to the sink and turning on the tap, letting you wash the cut under the running water. "Ms Lim! May I bring y/n to the nurse? She's cut herself!" he calls out, raising his hand to get the teacher's attention.

"Go ahead, I'll give you both extra time. Y/n, be careful next time". Ms Lim gives you both the green light, and Mingyu hurriedly brings you out of the kitchen and to the general office.

"Oh snap, the nurse isn't in," Mingyu groans under his breath as he passes by the empty sick bay. "Nevermind".

He sits you down on a chair, before rummaging through the cupboard where the nurse kept her supplies and pulling out some cotton balls and a bottle of antiseptic. Pouring out some antiseptic onto a cotton ball, he gently dabs at your wound. "It may sting," he warns.

But you barely feel it. You're more distracted by your surprise at the genuine worry he showed when you'd cut yourself, as well as the sensation of electric sparks coursing through your whole being with every swipe of the cotton ball he made on your finger.

Electric waves continue to flow through you, and your pulse rate quickens the slightest bit as Mingyu maintains his firm grip on your finger while looking through a drawer for a plaster. Unwrapping it, he quickly wraps it around your wound. "All done. Jeez, be careful y/n! That was a nasty cut!" He exclaims, gently running his thumb over the wound, which was now nicely bandaged up.

"I will. T-thanks, Gyu". You mentally slap yourself as you catch the tiny stutter that slipped out of your mouth.

Mingyu raises his eyebrow at you, and his lips curve into a smirk. "Gyu? A week ago we were at each other's throats like there was no tomorrow, and now you're calling me by a nickname that only my close friends use on me?"

Shit.

You definitely did not intend for that to happen.

"What? You got a problem with that?" You reply with the boldest tone you can muster to cover up your flustered state.

Mingyu shrugs as if nothing happened earlier. "Nope. Just surprised. Continue calling me that if you want. Anyway, we should really get going – we've still got a dish to cook," he decides, switching the light off and making his way back to the kitchen with you.

Luckily the rest of the cooking session goes on without a hitch, and you both successfully complete preparing the chicken rice, all within the original amount of time the teacher had given the class. When she began inspecting each pair's work, thick tension was palpable in the air. "I feel like we're on an episode of Hell's Kitchen, with Ms Lim as Gordon Ramsay," you mutter to Mingyu.

Mingyu chortles in response. "That's actually a great comparison".

Both of you are stiff as boards when Ms Lim's shadow falls on your workbench, thanks to the apprehension that is plaguing you both. She scruntinises the food in front of both of you, then picks up the utensils you put beside the plate and proceeds to sample each component of the dish, starting with the rice, the chicken, and finally the vegetables.

With bated breath, you watch as her expression softens into one of approval and begins making notes on her clipboard, and mutters a "good" before heading to the next table. Palpable relief washes over you, and you know Mingyu felt the same way as he lets out the breath he's been holding for God-knows-how-long, and the subtle frown on his face disappears from sight.

Little did you both know, a week later both your relief would become joy as Ms Lim announces that you and Mingyu's project had scored the highest in the class with a distinction, allowing him to maintain his solid 4.0 GPA and raising yours to a 3.9. A few weeks ago you would have given him a glare laced with venomous jealousy, but this time, for a reason you can't quite put your finger on, you're satisfied with your own GPA and finishing second in class – happy for Mingyu even.

"You're not mad or jealous?" Mingyu questions, audible suspicion in his tone after you congratulate him.

"Nope," you answer, popping the "p" as you firmly shake your head. "I mean, now that I think about it, second place isn't that bad. Hey, I still got a decent GPA and can move on to year 2".

"Funny you say this, because I know for a fact that if this happened a week ago you wouldn't have taken this so well". Mingyu points out as you're both leaving the school compounds. "Anyway, congratulations to you too! 3.9 is an amazing GPA as well". He finishes his sentence by offering you a handshake, which you gladly accept while trying to ignore the mild frenzy of butterflies in your stomach.

Outside the school gate, the sight of a shimmering pastel rainbow greets both of you, as if to signal that the animosity and hostility between you and Mingyu had been dissolved and replaced with genuine friendliness and harmony, just like how storm clouds clear to make way for rainbows. Looking up at the rainbow, a happy, warm feeling filled your heart, so much so that you felt like it would spill out of you.

⋆*̣̥☆·͙̥‧❄•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥˟͙☃˟͙‧̩̥·‧•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥•̥̩̥͙‧·‧̩̥❄‧·͙̥̣☆*̣̥

After the project, though you and Mingyu remained friendly with each other, you both didn’t interact much, aside from a few comments on each others’ instagram posts.

Hence why it came as a surprise when Mingyu slid into your instagram DMs with this message one day:

Gyu: hey y/n! would you like to come to my house on the 24th for a Christmas potluck dinner party? it’s for all the fn course students!

y/n: sure! I think i can make it

Gyu: alright that’s great, thank you!

You chuckle as you shut off your phone, thinking back to last year when Mingyu hosted a post-exams party for your whole class. You had also gotten the invite, but because you and Mingyu had such bad blood between both of you, he had refused to personally invite you, opting instead to relay the message to Minho who sent you the details of the party. This was really the first time he’d personally invited you to any class gatherings, a sign that your relationship had improved significantly.

A potluck dinner filled with food and nutrition course students can only mean one thing — every single course will be mouth-wateringly delicious, while not compromising on nutrition. From the air-fryer chicken you’d prepared, to Minho’s greek pasta salad, to Kun’s steamed fish, everything was tasty and healthy — truly a gastronomical heaven.

But the most unique dish of all would’ve been Mingyu’s fortune cookies. They would have been rather ordinary, if not for the fact that he’d infused them with peppermint flavour and stuffed each cookie with Christmas messages he’d handwritten. If there was one thing the whole class was in agreement on, it was that Mingyu’s fortune cookies were the sweetest thing at the party, both taste-wise and thought-wise. You'd already eaten a couple of them and uncovered messages wishing you a Christmas filled with light and love.

"Ha! Slowpoke!" you announce gleefully, gathering up the remaining Halli-Galli cards as Kevin groans.

“Damn, I was hoping to beat her winning streak,” he huffs, though a smile still remains on his face to indicate he wasn’t being a sore loser. “Let’s rematch!” he declares, shuffling the cards again.

“Um actually, I wanted to steal y/n aside for a moment, if that’s alright”. Mingyu’s voice sounds from behind, startling you slightly.

“No problem! You guys go ahead without me,” you answer, excusing yourself from the group and following Mingyu into his kitchen, with their arguments about who will win the next round fading into the background along with the Christmas music.

“I wanted to tell you something, but before I do, please have this,” Mingyu whispers, handing you a fortune cookie. Thanks to the dim light entering from the living hall, you’re able to pick up on the slight tint of pink on his cheeks.

Biting into the cookie, you remove the piece of paper from the inside and unfurl it, squinting as you try to make out the words. y/n, I really like you a lot. This Christmas, would you be mine? ♡

As you read the note, you feel as if the butterflies in your stomach are having their own Christmas party in full swing as well. You look up at Mingyu, mouth slightly agape as you’re still processing the words that he’d written.

“Actually y/n…I’ve liked you since secondary one, when we were in the same class. You were constantly topping the cohort in so many subjects, and you were acing all of the cello competitions you represented the school in. I was in awe of how smart you were, not just academically but musically as well, and I found that so attractive — though I admit I was always slightly envious of you. I thought that I should learn from you if I wanted to pull up my own grades. But when I came to ask you for help with Mathematics homework, I think you were having a bad day, which caused you to lose your cool with me and tell me to figure out the question myself, and I snapped back at you in response. It fuelled my jealousy even further, and I began competing with you all the time, which pretty much kickstarted our long-lasting feud,” Mingyu explains while shifting his weight from foot to foot, the words tumbling out of his mouth so quickly that you could barely make sense of what he was saying. “Even though you’ve been my supposed rival since secondary school, I’ve had a crush on you throughout. But I suppose I felt that there wasn’t any way to fix things between us, since we were constantly at war with each other over grades and shit. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have flung those harsh words at you that day”.

The memory of that first interaction you ever had with Mingyu replays in your head as you try to put yourself in his shoes. If someone you asked for help had lashed out at you for not understanding a question in front of the whole class, you’d be wishing the ground could swallow you. Yes, maybe he shouldn’t have retaliated so fiercely, but you shouldn’t have let your negative feelings take control of you that day as well and just offered him the assistance he needed — maybe then you’d both have had a much more pleasant relationship for the past four years you’d known each other.

“Oh, Gyu, I’m so sorry. I really was having a bad day then, but it wasn’t an excuse to lash out at you when you simply asked me for help with a question. I’m sorry for causing you so much embarrassment back then,” you offer Mingyu a sincere apology. “And I have to admit, I looked up to you a lot as well. You did a great job as the class chairperson, through the ways you maintained order in class, settled class disputes and also brought everyone together. I was also amazed at how you never forgot to check in on everyone from time to time, and how you showed such genuine care for any struggling classmate in any way you could, even if you were bogged down by your own school work. I was slightly jealous of your leadership capabilities and how the teachers found you so trustworthy, but I thought that those qualities made you very attractive”. Taking one of his hands in yours, you continue to speak. “Don’t worry. It’s not too late. I think I’ve always harboured feelings for you, even throughout our time as academic rivals, and those feelings haven’t faded after we began getting along — if anything, they’ve only grown”. You catch the way his eyes crinkle into an adorable eye smile, and you feel your heart rate begin accelerating.

“Really? So…I take that as a yes?” Mingyu asks, gesturing to the slightly crumpled note that’s still in your hand.

“I mean…since we’ve both had feelings for each other for so long, why not?” you reason, a shy giggle escaping your lips. “Of course, we shouldn’t rush into things given the previous tension between us, but we could always see where things go. If we’re both happy, I would really love to be with you”.

Mingyu immediately pulls you into a bear hug, pressing a quick peck to your cheek. “Of course, y/n. I’m so glad you’re willing to give us a chance”.

Both of you remain like this for a few moments, soaking up the warmth of each others’ embrace. You marvel about how one single polytechnic year-end project had not only dissolved the tension between you and your previous rival, but also given you your first taste of love, one so sweet that even Jaehyun’s air fryer peach pies could never come close.

“Noooo! I was hoping they’d kiss!” A whine from Jeonghan suddenly punctuates the air, and you turn your head around in surprise.

“Gosh dammit, you idiot! You ruined their moment!” Minghao scolds, smacking Jeonghan on the head gently.

“Hey hey, be nice now,” Kun chides them both gently, but you see that he’s giving the both of you a happy smile. “Congratulations, y/n and Mingyu”.

“Thank you, Kun,” Mingyu replies, returning the smile. “Wait- why’s the whole class here?”

“Um so…I may or may not have been a bit of a big mouth and told all of them about your plan to confess to y/n”. Junhui blurts out in a tiny voice, but Mingyu picks up on it, and before you know it he’s torn himself out of your hold and is dashing out of the kitchen, to the amusement of all of you.

“WEN JUNHUI I’M GONNA FREAKING DEEP FRY YOU!”

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jaemmphilia · 10 months

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★ episode one: casual ★ || seo c.b

★ summary: changbin is called into his agency by his manager to come and look at a potential script for a mini-series that's a spinoff of the popular movie: don't say goodbye. he accepts the script immediately, not realizing who his co-star is until changbin sees him sitting at the table.

★ pairing: actor!changbin x actor!male!reader

★ warnings and rating: colorful language, reader and changbin have some history, enemies/idiots to lovers, (16+ rating), arguments, changbin calls the reader some mean names

★ word count: 1.8K (1810)

★ binnie's thoughts: welcome to the beginning of the paint me naked series! this is going to be a fun one, and i think i've postponed it long enough...

★ requested?: yes, thank you @goovultss and i'm so sorry it took so long for the first part to come out...

★ disclaimer: this fic in absolutely NO WAY represents changbin as a person. this fic is simply for entertainment purposes, so enjoy!

★ series masterlist ★

Changbin is over the moon these days.

He’s at the top of his acting career, just like he’s always wanted. He’s constantly being invited to award shows and various celebrity parties (he was invited to world-famous actor Hwang Hyunjin’s recent birthday party, so he knows he’s made it to the big leagues.). He’s a humble guy, no doubt, but sometimes he can’t help but wonder how awesome he is as an actor.

His career started when he was around three years old, and he was in a commercial advertising some sort of brand-new juice. He thought it was gross, but his mother told him she wasn’t going to listen to him whine about the fluid being nasty. He sucked it up and completed the commercial without any further fuss. Will he always remember that oddly specific taste so long as he still lives? Of course, but that’s not the point. Ever since then, he became popular, being cast in small roles, such as the child for a couple, or the younger version of the main character, the list goes on and on.

His roles only increased as he got older and his baby face morphed into one of a more mature type. His chubby cheeks remained, but he finally grew into his nose and eyes. He was then cast into more concrete roles with mature characters and themes. He was excited when he had to smoke a fake cigarette when he played Yoojeon, the secondary love interest and the most intimidating boy in school.

But his success didn’t stop at acting, he was also chosen to walk down fashion runways, as well as appearing on the front of dozens of magazines boasting about his fast jump to fame.

As Changbin is relaxing in his penthouse, flicking through endless channels as he shovels some chips into his mouth, his phone rings loudly. He sets the remote down and picks up his phone, the familiar contact name of his manager, coming to view. He immediately picks up, placing the phone up to his ear.

“Hey, kid. Got any plans today?” His manager asks, and Changbin tells the older man no. He had planned to hit the gym for a few hours, but that can wait until tomorrow.

“Great. Come to my office, there’s a script here that’s calling your name.” The man says and Changbin wastes no time in jumping up and slipping on his shoes. His manager knows that Changbin would never turn down a script, he’s simply just high off on success.

“I’m on my way right now! Did you send a car for me?” Changbin asks as he barrels down the stairs of his penthouse, nearly falling to his death.

“Yes, it’s waiting at the front of your complex building. And please don’t rush down the stairs. You remember what happened last time.” The older man scolds.

Oh, Changbin remembers it well. He was excited about a script reading and he misstepped on the stairs and fell straight down to the bottom, breaking his arm in the process. The broken arm led to him missing the opportunity to play the lead role in the movie he was going to be reading the script for. They gave the role to his worst enemy: Moon [Name].

Moon [Name] is the bane of Changbin’s existence. He’s snobby, egotistic, and contemptuous. Changbin hates his guts with his pretty face and great acting skills. Ugh, it drives Changbin up a wall just thinking about that asshole. Moon [Name] loves to make things into a competition, he’s always been like that. It’s always about who can get the better roles or who can accumulate the highest amount of sponsors for just a single role.

If Changbin could drive, he would’ve hit [Name] with this car a long time ago.

Once Changbin enters the building, he gets the rundown from his manager. His manager tells him the script is a spinoff of the hit movie “Don’t Say Goodbye” starring Han Jisung and Lee Minho. Changbin gets even more excited because he loves that movie.

He remembers sitting in his penthouse sobbing like a baby because Jinhae (Jisung’s character) had died of some terminal illness without his summer lover, Yeohan (Minho’s character) knowing. He cried for days and days after watching the movie for the first time. He then proceeded to watch it six more times. He’s a hopeless romantic, cut him some slack.

Knowing that the script is for the spinoff, he wonders if the characters will be the friend of Jinhae and the brother of Yeohan; Taesung and Yeohei. They were only mentioned a few times in the movie, and it was hinted that they were crushing on each other. Changbin also wonders which role he’ll get, will he be Taesung or Yeohei? If he were to choose, he would pick Taesung. Taesung sounds way cooler than Yeohei.

Changbin arrives at the producer’s building, and he goes to the large meeting room his manager told him to go to. Changbin greets his manager outside the room, and he can’t help but notice the nervous look on the older man’s face. The way his eyes shift and refuse to look at Changbin.

“Hyung, what’s got you all worked up? Is your wife not speaking to you again?” Changbin jokes, but his manager only lets out a huff of a laugh in response. “Hold on, what’s going on? You always laugh at my jokes!”

“I think it’s best if you walk into the room and see for yourself.” The older man says, his gaze still not meeting Changbin’s. Changbin is confused, his strong eyebrows furrowed as he pushes open the door to the meeting room.

When he enters, his gaze falls on a particular body in the room. The person looks up from his phone, his soft [EC] eyes staring straight into Changbin’s eyes. When the two of them realize who each other are, they both speak in unison:

“Oh, fuck no.”

It’s a few days after that unnecessarily aggressive encounter with [Name], and Changbin is not taking the role of Taesung. As much as he would love that role, he refuses to work with [Name]. Changbin’s manager is desperately trying to convince and bribe the young star to take the role, but Changbin isn’t listening.

“Come on Changbin! This role could be huge for you! You’re already familiar with the storyline, and the director says your appearance fits Taesung’s character perfectly!” His manager cries out, the man slowly getting fed up with his bratty client. “It doesn’t get any more perfect than that!’

“I’ll take that role when [Name] is not my co-star,” Changbin says gruffly, letting out a puff of air as he lifts the heavy metal bar above his head, his bicep muscles tensing with strain. “You know how I feel about that fucking brat.”

His manager huffs and rubs his temples, “Do you maybe, I don’t know, think you’re being dramatic?”

Changbin sets the metal bar on the hooks above him and he sits up, wiping the sweat off his forehead. He fixes his glare onto his manager, his plump bottom lip jutted out, which makes him less intimidating than he thinks. “Me? I’m not being dramatic! I just really hate that pretentious asshole!”

“Changbin, just think about the aftermath if you take this role. You would blow up, even more than you already have. You’re already at the top, but you can go higher.” His manager says to him, hoping those words of encouragement will give him the push he needs.

Changbin thinks about those words, the tension between his brows relaxing just a bit. If he takes the role, his fame would skyrocket, taking him higher than he already is right now. Maybe he should take the role, what if [Name] isn’t the same dickhead he remembers the male being? With a very dramatic sigh, he agrees to take the role. His manager immediately takes out his phone to call the director, leaving Changbin to resume his once-interrupted workout.

It’s the first day of filming, and Changbin is pretty much vibrating with excitement. He spent the past three days memorizing his lines. He could barely sit still long enough for his makeup artist to complete his makeup. He was itching to film and he had not seen [Name] yet, so today was already faring to be a good one.

That is, until [Name] showed up on set, his hair and makeup finished, his once [HC] hair now hidden under a black wig with purple streaks, the hairstyle in a shaggy cut. [Name] has a lip piercing, a silver ring straight down the middle of his plump, soft red colored lips. He’s wearing a fuzzy wine-red sweater with white cat paws littered around it hanging on his slimmer frame. Changbin tries not to stare for too long, but he has to admit that the piercing suits [Name] pretty well. A little too well, he might admit.

He turns his gaze away before he gets caught staring, and his makeup artist informs him that he’s done. She hands him a mirror, and Changbin barely recognizes himself. He has on green contacts, making his chocolatey brown eyes morph into a soft hazel color. They decided to keep his natural deep brown curls, feeling that they tied Taesung’s character together perfectly. His makeup artist placed a few small fake tattoos on his face, and he really likes how he looks. He feels like a badass motorcycle driver or the rebellious son of a mafia boss.

“You look pretty good, Taesung.” A playful voice snaps him out of his little fantasy world. His face falls when he realizes [Name] is the one talking to him. Changbin hopes he didn’t get caught staring at his sworn enemy. [Name] is standing right in front of him, a cheeky smile on his face. Changbin wishes he could just slap that look off [Name]’s face.

Changbin and [Name] barely managed to finish one scene together before they began arguing. The two are all up in each other’s faces, spitting hateful insults at each other. Their managers exchange a look, the two of them were already used to their client’s childish behavior by now. [Name]’s manager asks for a short break, even though filming had just started no less than five minutes ago. The director nods, not wanting to get in between the quarrel. Changbin’s manager pulls him away from [Name], but that doesn’t stop Changbin from calling the other male a stuck-up bitch.

“Changbin, what the hell were you two even arguing about?” His manager asks, handing him a water bottle, hoping it would calm the male down.

Changbin angrily drinks the water before answering, “[Name] sai–” A pause. “You know what, I don’t even remember.”

Changbin’s manager groans. This was going to be a long filming process.

#kpop x male reader #stray kids x male reader #male reader #kpop x reader #stray kids x reader #changbin x male reader #changbin

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helaelaemond · 8 months

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It's All For You - Billy Washington x reader

Pairing: Billy Washington x female reader

Word count: 2.9k

Fic summary: Your relationship with Billy over the years has its ups and downs. The ups are great, and the downs almost destroy you. But through the years, you learn that it's him. It's always him. It always will be him, no matter how much it hurts. Multi chapter.

Chapter summary: You and Billy have been friends throughout your school lives. It's now the summer ball closing your time at sixth form together, and you're both desperately hoping that the other will be brave enough to cross the line between friends and... friendlier.

Content warning(s): alcohol, smoking

Rating: Teen

Tag list: @sylas-the-grim / @myfandomprompts / @arcielee / @babyblue711

Masterlist

Chapter 1: Everything I Do

"Oi, Billy, get over here!"

Billy grins as he joins the group of friends all posing for a photo, and with a plastic cup of beer in his hand, he leans close. Half of the group is already tipsy, and as everyone crowds close, some of the girls lose their balance on their strappy heels. One, a friend he's known since they were six, grabs onto his arm to stop from falling over and his drink is knocked from his hands.

"'ey, you alright?" he asks with a laugh. The phone clicks away, capturing blurry moments of teenage joy.

"Oh, my god!" she cackles, and the other girls help him to stop her from toppling over.

On the other side of the group, you glance over in amusement. He catches your eye for a moment, and you both blush.

The music blasts out of the hired speakers in the huge marquee the school has hired out for the event on the school field. The summer ball - nothing more than a low-budget prom for those leaving sixth form - has already been going on for a few hours, and the evening is finally beginning to cool. You need a bit of a break, though, and make your way over to the bar.

"Two bottles of water, please." You took three shots at pre's, and at afters you'll probably have a good few more, but for now you just need something to help the headache.

"I'll get these."

You look up at the familiar voice, and your smile returns. "One of these was for you, actually." You hand one of the bottles to Billy.

"Oh, thanks." He takes it, and your fingers brush together for a moment. He drops his chin and looks down, biting his lip as if he's trying to stop his smile, and then he glances back at you. "Good timing then, eh?"

"Yeah." You take a long chug of water, and he does the same. "You look nice this evening, by the way."

"Yeah?" He fiddles with the knot of his tie. "Mum thinks I scrub up nice."

"Your mum's always right." You've known Billy since you started at the same secondary when you were 11. You've been in the same social circle since you were 15, and Mrs Washington is one of the parents in the regular taxi rotation. It makes you hopeful, knowing that she likes you a lot. Boys care what their parents think, right?

He laughs quietly. "Yeah, she is. You look nice, too."

You want to tease him. If it was anyone else, you'd ask "only nice?" but this is Billy. You can't tease him. Everything is different with him, really. It has been for years. You settle on an uncharacteristically shy "thank you."

He looks at you for a moment too long. It makes your heart leap. It gives you hope that has been your constant companion for years. He hasn't given you more than hope, though.

"You're still going to Tom's afters, right?" he asks.

You nod. "Yeah. I think all of the usuals are. Are you?"

Billy smiles. "D'you want me to?"

It makes your stomach flip. It's the bravest, most suggestive thing you think he's ever said to you. You shrug, but grin, blushing. "You're one of the usuals, aren't you?"

"I guess so."

"Then yeah, I do want you to. Who knows when we'll all be together again after this?"

He chuckles. "Aw, don't say that. We'll always be mates."

You don't know about that. But you can't bear to disagree, not when he looks so happy.

You nip home to quickly get out of your formal dress, and you scrub your face clean of the party makeup you had so carefully applied hours earlier at your friend's flat. You peel off the lashes your friend had struggled to put on, and brush through your hair that another friend had pinned. Thinking of them now, your heart swells. They had teased you as you all got ready, asking if you'd make a move on Billy at last.

"Oh, c'mon, everyone knows he likes you!" Sofia said as she carefully carved out an eyebrow with concealer. "I don't know that!" you protested. Devi gripped your chin. "Stop moving! I can't get this lash right." "Sorry! Sorry, keep going." "He's totally in love with you, though. It's so obvious." "Then why hasn't he done anything about it?" you whined. "Because he's a tall, lanky, beanpole of a boy who doesn't know the first thing about talking to girls." Your eye began watering as Devi poked it with the misplaced lash. "He talks to you lot just fine." "Well, yeah," another friend, Abbie, interjected from where she was sat cross-legged in front of the mirror. "We're just his mates. We're not girls to him." "You're teasing me." You laughed dryly. Devi pulled your ear to force you to look at her, and you yelped in pain. She grinned. "We're not fucking teasing you. Why would we lie about this? You think we want to set you up for failure?" Sofia crawled behind you and began brushing your hair. It was funny seeing her with one perfect brow, and one practically bald. "Billy likes you. He's probably in love with you, but nothing is gonna happen unless you make the move first." You sighed and looked down at your hands. Mum had taken you out to get your nails done, and the long acrylics shone in the light of Abbie's bedroom. "What if I make a move, and he rejects me?" Devi replied first. "We'll pin him down and shave his head." "We'll pin him down and cut off his balls," Abbie offered. You couldn't help but laugh at that. "Wow. What an offer." You paused for a moment while Devi finally set the lash in place on your eye. You looked in the mirror at your reflection and saw a pretty girl stare back. It made you reach for a shot of London Dry - tasted like paint stripper, but the cheapest Tesco could offer - and you winced. "You really think I have a chance with him?" Devi rolled her eyes, but Sofia squeezed your shoulders. "Absolutely. Trust us. You just need to go for it." "This 'will they, won't they' has been going on since GCSEs," Abbie added as she wrapped a thick strand of hair around her curler. "Tonight's your last chance." "Well," you replied, blinking. "I guess if I reject him, I never have to see him again." Devi nodded confidently. "That's the spirit."

Dad took you to Tom's - it's only a twenty-minute bus ride away, but he had insisted. It helps, though, as you've got a small overnight bag with a few bottles of booze that you don't feel like worrying about on public transport. Both your parents are fine that you're going to an afters with drinking - they know your friends, and they trust you all to be sensible. Besides, it's better to do that kind of thing in a safe environment, rather than getting pissed in a park, or something.

The car ride seems to last forever, but eventually you get there. Billy is arriving at the same time. Your heart leaps.

"Hiya, mate," Dad says when Billy approaches the car as you get out.

"Evening, sir," he replies politely.

"How many times have I said? You can call me-"

"Thanks, Dad," you interrupt with a laugh.

"Yeah, alright, alright," he chuckles. "Here, Bill, you'll look after my girl tonight, yeah? Make sure she doesn't get into trouble?"

"Course I will," Billy replies with a smile. "Don't need to worry about her. Besides, there's only a handful of us, nothing wild."

"Glad to hear it. You want a lift home in the morning?"

"No, thanks, Lana's coming to get me."

"Alright. Best to my parents, yeah?"

He nods and smiles. "Yeah. Have a good one, sir."

Before Dad can reply, you close the car door and turn to Tom's house. You link your arm through Billy's before he can talk to your dad more, and you ring the doorbell.

"Hi," he says quietly.

You glance up at him. God, he's so tall. It makes you blush again. "Hi."

He's dressed similarly to you now; out of the evening finery, he's changed his suit for jeans and a soft, black tshirt. You wear something similar for this, although you've made sure to replace your heavy party make up with something lighter that still makes your eyes pop. At least, that's the effect you're hoping for.

"You look nice," he tells you, just like he did at prom.

You laugh quietly. "I'm not looking anything special."

He doesn't respond. Instead, he looks down. You almost say something else, but then Tom opens the door and cheers you in welcome. He brings Billy in for a hug, and then you, and you kiss him on the cheek. Reaching into your bag, you produce the two bottles of vodka, and he cheers again.

"I bloody love you, d'you know that?" Tom tells you with a loud laugh. He kisses your forehead and then drags you into the kitchen, where everyone else is. Both you and Billy are welcomed by the friends you saw an hour ago in cocktail dresses and ill-fitting suits, and most of them are already getting their units in. Everyone is relaxed, and everyone is happy.

Billy sits alone in the front room, wringing his hands. It's the early hours of the morning, and the loud music has been traded for something quieter. A few people are in the garden, using the barbecue pit inappropriately, and a few people are getting off in the bedrooms upstairs.

He's spent the night trying to get enough liquid courage to approach you. It's worked now and again, to a certain degree. He's played against you in a messy game of beer pong, and he's stood next to you and taken a hit from the single blunt being passed around. When he put his lips around it after you, he felt giddy knowing that it had just been against your mouth. If he closed his eyes, it almost felt like a kiss.

Time is slipping through his fingers. He's about to get up from the sofa when the door opens, and there you are. There are butterflies in his stomach. God, you look so pretty. You looked pretty at prom, with fancy hair and a special dress and long lashes that hooded your eyes, but now... now you're just... you. You're perfect. Just as you are.

"Hey," he says quietly. His voice cracks.

You smile. "Hey. Want some company?"

He nods, and leans back on the sofa in a charade of comfortability. Still, his knee is bouncing nervously. He takes a long sip of Stella from the can. "Having a nice night?"

"Yeah. People are starting to go to sleep, though, I think. Thought I'd see if I could bag a sofa."

"Oh, yeah, sure." He moves to get up. "Have this one."

"No, you don't have to go, Billy." You smile up at him and grab his wrist. It makes the breath catch in his throat. "Stay. Please?"

He looks down at you through the dim light of the living room. There are no lights on, but outside, the street light filters through the privacy nets. It sends an unnatural orange across the room. His heart is in his throat. You look so perfect here. He obeys you, and sits back down.

"Where's Tom?" he asks quietly after a moment, struggling to catch a topic to fix on. But he wants to talk to you about anything at all.

You laugh quietly. "Shagging Sofia's brains out, I think."

"Oh." Billy's cheeks flush. Even hearing you mention sex sends bolts of heat through him. God, do you know what sex is? Do you want sex? Do you wanna have sex with him? God, what does your skin feel like? Fuck, he-

"I wonder if they'll make it official for the summer," you muse. You don't notice how he shifts slightly where he sits.

"I dunno. She's going up north for uni, right?"

You nod. "Sheffield Hallam. But there's trains to Sheffield, so..."

He nods. "Tickets are mental, though. Not sure he could afford them regularly on an apprentice wage." He looks up at you. "You glad you're not going to uni?"

You nod and smile and lean your head against the back of the sofa. "Yeah. Maybe I'll go when I'm a proper grown up," and you put air quotes around the phrase, making him laugh, "but for now I just wanna get a job and see how it goes."

He mirrors you. "Me too."

"I'm gonna stay at the cafe until after the summer, though."

"Yeah?"

You turn to face him a bit more, pulling one knee up on the sofa. He swallows and bites his lip. "Yeah. I don't wanna work too hard just yet. I want one last summer of fun."

Billy smiles slightly, wondering if the yellow light hides his blush. "Me too. We're only young once, right?"

You nod, and a comfortable silence falls between you. He watches as you trace a pattern on your knee. You can feel his gaze on you, and after a while, you look up. His pretty, blue eyes lock with yours. Both of you stop breathing for a moment.

It feels like a spell is put over you. If either of you speak, or move, perhaps it will be broken. So you just look at one another. It makes your heart race. It gives him butterflies in his stomach. Seconds pass. Heat pricks his skin.

He finds courage that has evaded him his whole life. He breathes your name. The spell remains heavy between you. "I... I don't know how to say it."

Your voice is a whisper. "Say what?"

"I..."

You shift on the soft sofa and lean a little closer to him. You're both sat fully facing each other now, and you rest your hand in front of his on the cool leather. "Billy..."

He swallows thickly. "I want... to spend the summer with you."

You blink. You're not sure what he means. But there is something vulnerable in his eyes that you don't often see. "Yeah. I mean, we're mates, we'll see each other."

"Not as... not as mates."

Between you, he stretches his fingers slightly, and suddenly your fingertips are touching his. Nothing else exists.

All you feel is where your skin meets his.

All you see are his eyes. His mouth.

He whispers your name again. "I... you know how I feel. Don't you?"

"I don't know," you breathe unsteadily.

His thumb runs up the side of your finger, and the intensity of the feeling makes your eyes close. "I... I like you. Like, really like you."

This feels too good to be true. "As a friend?"

"No." When you don't pull your hand away, he finds the strength to weave his fingers through yours. God, you feel so small in his hand. He wants to hold you, to protect you, to make you feel so good. "As more than friends."

"Billy."

The way you lean forward without realising makes him want to cry with relief, with want. He's never kissed anyone before. He's never wanted to kiss anyone but you.

With his free hand, he gently touches your cheek with his knuckles, and his touch glides along your jaw. A very soft noise of delight escapes him when his fingers glide over your hair. And then he leans forward, and he kisses you.

In the morning, you wake up to the sound of people rattling around the kitchen. It sounds like a clean up from last night. That's the tradition - if someone hosts, everyone else has to help clean up the next morning, no matter how bad the hangovers are.

It takes a moment for you to remember where you are. You're on the sofa with someone between you and the back of it. Looking down, you see very familiar hands around you. Billy is pressed tight behind you, and his arms are strong. You press against him slightly, and when he makes a noise of acknowledgement on the skin of your neck, you shiver.

"Billy," you whisper. He murmurs your name in response. You turn over in his arms and press your forehead against his. This tightly wrapped against him, your nose bumps against his. "Did you mean what you said last night?"

He nods, still half asleep. You're still a bit foggy from it, too. Luckily, you don't get hangovers, so at least there's no pain. "I want you," he whispers hoarsely.

You kiss his cheek, and it sends sparks through your whole body. "I want you, too."

Relief like no other you've ever felt washes over you. You pull yourself from his arms and stand up. When he buries his face into the cushions, you laugh and tug his hand. "C'mon, Billy. It's time for clean up."

With a groan, he drags himself up off the sofa, and stands up with stooped shoulders. Your eyes close when he touches his forehead against yours again. You feel sweaty and unclean, but it's such a sweet moment that it's easy to push aside. For a moment at least. Billy tries to kiss you, and you pull away with a laugh.

"Clean up first," you tell him.

Again, he groans, but he is smiling. "And then?"

"And then we have the summer of our lives."

#Billy Washington x female reader #billy washington x reader #billy washington x you #billy washington #ewan mitchell #trigger point #mine #billy multi

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ffsg0jo · 2 years

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- a o t c h a r a c t e r s a s t r o p e s -

aot characters x tropes [reiner,, annie,, zeke,, porco,, pieck,, colt]

WARNINGS: following/stalking,, reference to sex,, -- masterlist

a/n: you already know the drill. the hold this idea has on me i stg, it's peak. anyways this is the last part, thank god :))

part 1,, part 2,, part 3

REINER : forbidden love - you're his psychologist and he's your client. you two are part of rival schools and he rescues you from a douchebag and he's like ill take you to school every single day. typical wattpad romance.

it’s like modern day romeo and juliet tbh but instead of families it’s school. your schools have always been at each others throats. its dated back to a rivalry founded hundreds of years ago. there’s constant fights breaking out between your schools and even the headteachers are involved.

they absolutely despise each other. one day, when you’re walking home after class, in the dark, you can sense someone following you. creeped out, and wanting to go home you decide to take a shortcut. obviously that doesnt work out because now you’re lost and you dont know what to do.

you try and look for someone to ask for help but all you see is a group of people, underneath the streetlight smoking. you decide to take a chance and go towards them. immediately a boy with blonde hair and a slight beard sees your state and the guy following you and recognises what's happening. he calls you over, like you’re his friend and put his arm around you.

the guy following you sees the stares he’s getting from the group of people and decides to walk away. i honestly could write a fic about this and i actually might. but just imagine romeo and juliet, but without the marriage and tragic ending. also there’s a maassiveeee fight between boyfriend reiner and ex eren. it’s great.

ANNIE : friends to lovers - you were introduced to annie through pieck and you thought she was cool and wanted to hang out more with each other. and one thing led to another and now you're married :)

you and pieck were good friends having went to primary and secondary school together. so when she introduces you to her other friends you feel happy, like you’ve levelled up your relationship stats in a game or something. you’ve met everyone, except annie and they’re a nice bunch, and you decided to hang out with them more.

the next time you hang out, it’s a small party with just you guys and that’s where you meet annie. she seemed different from the rest and you really liked her company. believe it or not but you guys literally spent the whole time talking to each other and you exchanged numbers by the end of it.

from then on you two magically started bumping into one another more, by some sort of miracle. it’s like the world was trying to push you two together by making you meet more often. and of course, naturally this led you two to hang out more, without the others present. you’d get coffee together before classes, work in the library and have lunch together as well.

you eventually caught feelings for annie and decided to just go for it and ask her out. the worst that could happen was her saying no. so one day over coffee you asked her if you could maybe grab lunch sometimes and she was like sure, just tell me when. and you’re like no, as a date. and annie stops mid sip and she looks at you with a little blush and nods her head and says sure again.

ZEKE : office romance - you and zeke work together and just casually flirt, nothing serious. but then you two actually start falling for each other and find yourself missing each other when you’re off work

on the first day of your job, zeke was the first person you met. and he was nothing but kind and welcoming, making you feel at ease jn the new environment. he knew what it was like to be the new person, so he invited you to have lunch with him and a few others to introduce you and get you started.

it became routine between the two of you and as you got more comfortable you both started joking around more and teasing each other and also occasionally flirting. he essentially became your work husband.

he’d purposefully take the long route when going to the break room just so he can walk past your desk and lean against the table and flirt with you and talk to you a little. and on the way back he drops off a freshly made coffee at your desk with a wink.

this is making me wish i worked in a corporate office job with zeke goddamnit.

anyways, you guys actually become good friends outside of work, going to get drinks together with his friends from high school and literally everyone sees the way he looks at you and thinks you’re perfect for each other. he even took you home once when he found out you weren’t doing anything for the holidays and his step mum, my baby carla loves you.

you also realised that good looks run in the family because holy moly they’re all so good looking. if carla wasn’t married, you defo would've hit on her more because she’s a milf and a half. you also met his half brother eren, who is, you know. hot af. it was actually eren that told you how much zeke liked you and how great of a couple you and zeke would make.

he regrets telling you because for the next couple of days he hears banging and thumping coming from the bedroom on top of his, which just so happens to belong to zeke.

PORCO : exes to lovers - with porco it was right person wrong time. you both weren't mentally ready or in the right space for a relationship and decided to break it off despite loving each other. but a couple of year later, when you returned for one of your mutual friends wedding, you find yourself looking at porco, and wishing it was you and him at the altar instead.

you and porco first got together when you were in high school together, and while your relationship seemed perfect, the both of you were under extreme pressure to perform well academically and make your families proud. with the added commitment of a relationship you both mutually decided to break up, thinking it was unfair to chain each other to a relationship neither could commit to fully.

that didn't mean you didn't love each other though. porco truly was the only person for you and the same for him. for the rest of high school neither of you dated, and when you got to university, you only had flings. nothing more. not a day went by without you thinking about porco.

after you’ve graduated and settled in to your new job, you receive an invite to a wedding, finding out one of yours and porco’s friends are getting married. immediately you respond saying of course you’ll attend! you’d be stupid not to.

you arrive at the venue on the day when all of a sudden you bump into someone and as you look up and go to apologise you realise it’s porco. you let out a small gasp and appreciate the way he’s matured over the years and turned into a muscular, strong man. sis had a glow up frr

you both felt your love for each other rush back to you and you fell in love with porco once again. just as your about to say something you’re both ushered into your seats, with the ceremony about to begin.

during the exchanging of the vows you catch porco staring at you and you both wonder what would've been if you had stayed together all those years ago. would you and porco have been at the altar, exchanging vows and proclaiming your undying love for each other? still staring at him you smile, making a mental not to talk to him at the reception, to see if he was still single.

PIECK : strangers to friends to lovers - i love pieck. with her it’s just a steady and gradual development into a beautiful relationship

i feel like ive repeated some of these but pieck just strikes me as a very dependable and safe person. she has really comforting vibes and is just someone you grow to love more and more, the more you get to know her.

everything about pieck is a nice surprise, like wow she has cats, could she even become any more perfect. the answer is yes, yes she can.

the two of you take things really slow and you kinda just let things happen and progress naturally instead of forcing it. you both know that if its meant to be then it will, and you both strongly feel as though you're eachother's 'one'.

just being with pieck is good vibes. she's so loving but teasing at the same time. she'll tease you and watch you get all flustered with a smirk on her face. she's hot af.

unrelated but do you guys remember when the jean x pieck ship was starting to gain more traction. that was actually amazing now that I think about it. i don't personally ship it but I can see why other people would. its cute.

COLT : brothers babysitter to lovers - i feel like im making some of these tropes up but it makes sense to me, let me just explain it.

your parents were always friendly with colt's so when your parents heard they needed a baby sitter for their cute little toddler falco, your parents offered to ask you if you'd be willing to do it.

having met the Grice's a couple of times and being familiar with them you agreed saying why not. you loved baby sitting, especially when they were calm kids like falco.

so you go over to their house and knock on the door and a guy thats around your age with blonde hair opens the door for you, with a little miniature version of him standing behind his legs. you recognised flaco but you no idea who this man was. luckily mrs grice saw you though and ushered you inside.

she quickly introduced him as colt, falco's older brother, who is visiting for the holidays, and then thanks you for agreeing to babysit falco and tells you to make yourself at home and feel free to take anything from the fridge.

she rushes out of the house with her husband, leaving you with colt and falco. colt, being the gentleman that he is offers to show you around the house and also shows you the emergency exits and stuff just in case something happens.

he ends up leaving to go out to see his friends and that leaves you alone with falco, who is just the most well behaved, good mannered child in the world. he's such a pleasure to look after and barely causes any trouble.

colt starts hearing more about you through falco who absolutely loves you. he thinks you're the best baby sitter in the world and even calls refers to you as his older sister. colt finds himself developing a crush on you and its falco that pushes him and encourages him to ask you out.

falco is adamant that you like colt as much as colt likes you, expecially since you're always asking about his older brother, and if he'll be coming home anytime soon. its cute <33

#🌻.sunspell #🌻.attack on titan #🌻.fluff #🌻.angst #aot #attack on titan #aot x reader #attack on titan x reader #reiner x reader #colt x reader #zeke x reader #pieck x reader #porco x reader #annie x reader #tahonet #tht.sinta #spirithub #hqlabels

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jmflowers · 1 year

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My dash has been a bit sad lately, as if we’re all simultaneously going through a shift in our lives that’s making us feel off-kilter. So, in pursuit of finding the good in my own life…

Gratitude Challenge!

Here are 10 things I’m grateful for and/or proud of myself for accomplishing since the start of 2023 (and/or in the last year if 5 months is too short a period of time for your brain). Please feel free to play along!

1. I finished college with a 4.0GPA after 3 years of hard work. I can’t wait to walk across the convocation stage in June. (And I’m the first in my family to have a diploma from a post-secondary institution!)

2. I directed a large scene in a short film as part of the graduating class’ final production. It was difficult and exciting and we were able to work with cinema-level equipment. I’m so incredibly proud of what my team and I were able to accomplish. (3 7/8 pages in 3 hours!)

3. When I started to feel my mental health deteriorating back in February, I sought support and counselling to help myself cope. Being honest about the pressures I have been facing for years is allowing me to place necessary boundaries as those pressures resurface. Taking care of yourself is difficult in this industry, but making choices to hike and run and exercise when possible are other great ways I’ve been protecting my overall well-being.

4. I completed another large piece of fiction that required several weeks of work and attention, with additional background efforts to fully form two of my own original characters. I am really proud that they read fleshed out and honest alongside characters that are already known from the source material.

5. I became an aunt again two times over. I was able to adjust my school schedule in order to be present with E as C was arriving, and then spend the first week of C’s life with them both. Once I finished school, I made the time to go meet L as well and spend time with her mum, one of my oldest friends. My first nephew is due to arrive any day now.

6. When situations were uncomfortable, I made conscious choices to leave and excuse myself from the discomfort or actively stay and rewrite the traumatic memories that were making me uncomfortable. Having the power over my reactions in situations that make me feel out of control is wildly liberating. I look forward to working on that more as I continue to grow.

7. I’ve leaned into being vulnerable more often in the last 5 months than ever before in my life. It’s terrifying every single time and yet I keep doing it.

8. I read a book a day one week when I was feeling really anxious, as a coping mechanism. I haven’t read that fast or that consistently since I was a teenager. I can’t wait to do it again.

9. I started practicing writing amidst changing locations and constant distractions with the three sentence fic challenge (while TAing). I had a lot of fun and got some interesting stuff out of it. I’m really looking forward to writing a bunch more again, especially in less-than-ideal conditions.

10. I won a scholarship! That was elected by the teaching administration I was working alongside at my college. The money, whenever I get it, will be really beneficial to help pay off my growing debt.

Consider this a formal tagging for anyone who would like to do this, too! I’m going to call out @lacallemojada, @cuteasducks9, @slipperygaloshes, @drlaurenb, @englishstrawbie, @trying-to-get-somewhere-real, @thebroken--soul, and @heyfarfallina

#I believe in you all!!!#this was hard at the start and then I could’ve just kept going towards the end #let’s practice some positivity #personal #gratitude challenge #tag game #be as vague as you need!!! but acknowledge yourself

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demonichikikomori · 10 months

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Hi D, Sakura 🌸 here! So this summer has been major bumsville and today I went Through It (basically my possibly - still figuring that out - neurodivergent brain absolutely freaked out over something small) and I decided to start collecting commissions from writers I like so that I have comforting fics that were tailored towards me to read the next time I feel like —> 😭🤯😰🫨🫠 I’d love to commission you but in all my years of reading fan fiction, I’ve never done it before! I’ve read through your commission rules but I just wanna double check if you are still accepting them as of right now and ask how exactly I ask for it 😫 Like do you need my first name, a detailed or concise summary of the plot, should I send it as a message (I’ve got a tumblr account!) or an ask? Pls help lol I’m lost

Ah! Welcome back to my page my dear Sakura!~!

I can understand summer being a lil’ lame this year. As you get older, it becomes a lot less magical than when you were in school. Even vacations aren’t as fun with the looming thought of returning to work. It’s a bit exhausting! But that’s okay, living in the present is much easier than thinking too far ahead. Neurodivergent… I understand completely.

Ah! You haven’t commissioned before? I promise it’s a super exciting experience for the first time! Knowing you can get something custom to your personal tastes… It makes it all the more special that you have a book written just for you! <3

I am still accepting commissions and my slots are open for certain word lengths. Do keep in mind that I have three others I am currently working on and I am going back to my full time job on Monday so I won’t have a lot of time to work on it. But I do offer the option to let the customer see the link I work on so they can see me work and offer comments if they’d like! However, in recent times, most of those who have ordered from me have preferred a surprise!

So, when reaching out, most anons of mine have secondary accounts or won’t mind using their mains! You don’t have to give me anything super detailed at first, we can work on an outline and I’ll ask you some detailed-ish questions to see if I’m following what you’re asking for.

Unfortunately when writing a commission, not all the time to people link up with how they see a story being lined out. So I try to ask a lot of questions when possible so I know me and the person spending their money are on the same page.

But please don’t feel anxious. I’ll cheer you on for when that time comes for you! Just be confident! Don’t stress!

#ask the devil #sakura.devil #demonic. contracts

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timptoe · 1 year

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Here at the End of Everything, Ch. 2

Part two of my “fix my brain by writing about Joker” fic starts the process of looking at why Joker is the way he is, and how what’s happened to him affects the decisions he makes when the Crucible is being triggered. This is the “Joker Can Do It” chapter, inspired by this scene from the first game. It gave me an excuse to write a flashback to how Joker got into Alliance Flight School in the first place, and whoo boy do I apparently like writing about entrance exams and spaceflight because this chapter clocked in at ten-thousand words. First part of it’s below, the rest is up on Ao3.

Chapter 2: You Set Sail Alone

You set sail alone, there is no crew No one on the deck who can help you This is all your own battle to win This is your ship, and you are the captain - Fin Argus, “Ship in a Bottle”

——

Sol System, Earth, SSV Normandy SR-2 Forty-eight minutes before Hackett’s order

It’s a few seconds before Joker figures out what’s wrong.

As has become customary, he’s got the comm feeds for the ground team open, listening in while he harries the Reaper fleet above Earth. It’s a practice he and Pressly started right after Eden Prime; turns out it’s easier to anticipate a ground team’s needs if you’re listening to their chatter, rather than waiting for them to call you with a problem. He likes to think it’s saved the day more than a couple of times. At Virmire. Over Ilos. Past the Omega 4 relay. As long as the ground team’s talking to each other, they’re talking to Joker.

Pressly called it “babysitting.” Joker thinks of it more as “information gathering.” The more info he has, the better he can help. Not that he wants to be down on the ground with them—far from it, being planetside sounds like a pain in the ass—but they’re a team, his team, and damned if he’s not going to be there when they need him.

He’d been listening in when Cortez crashed the Kodiak about half an hour ago, Shepard’s anguished cry giving way to instant relief when Cortez radioed back that only the shuttle was out of commission, not its pilot. Joker had listened in as Shepard took control of the AA guns, allowing the rest of the Hammer team to land, including the remainder of the Normandy ground team. And he’d been listening in while Shepard split the team, taking Alenko and Vakarian to rendezvous with Anderson at the beam and ordering the rest to act as diversions for the Reaper forces.

All vital information. And all carefully tracked, on separate glowing haptic panels in the cockpit—one showing the hardsuit feeds and relative positions for Shepard’s team, a different one for the rest of the crew—because Joker is very good at his job.

Not to mention, he’s defending the Crucible by harassing Reaper ships into making mistakes through judicious use of the Normandy’s stealth drive. He is still the Alliance’s premier helmsman, after all, even if it’s also his job to watch out for his team.

Somebody has to, because they keep doing stupid things.

The comm is a cacophony of chatter, shouts and shots and explosions blending together into impenetrable noise. Occasionally one voice will break through, like Cortez shouting, “Tali, now!”, or Vega yelling, “Liara!” Seems like the plan to blow up a portion of the London Underground went sideways immediately, and now his comm feed is less information and more confusion. He disables the passive feed for a moment, turning instead to his secondary source for on-the-ground information.

“EDI, talk to me, what’s happening down there? Did the plan work?” Joker asks, venting the ship’s heat sinks directly in front of a Reaper destroyer as he does.

“One moment, Jeff, I am currently unable to gather useful data,” EDI responds—over the in-ship comm, rather than through her mobile platform’s tightbeam transmitter. One of the perks of having a girlfriend whose consciousness can be in two places at once, managing the functions of their ship while controlling her mech on the ground, is that she can help him navigate the Reaper fleet and give him useful on-the-ground info. Best of both—

Wait. What?

“EDI, what’s going on? Why can’t you gather data?” Joker keeps the note of panic out of his voice. She’s fine, she’s here, she’s talking to me. She’s fine. The destroyer fires its beam weapon at the cloud of heated particles Joker just dumped, missing the Normandy and instead hitting one of the larger Reaper dreadnoughts. Joker barely clocks the success.

“My mobile platform is currently buried under an unknown quantity of rubble.”

“What?” There’s the note of panic.

“I cannot risk moving at this time, as I am bracing the rubble from crushing Dr. T’Soni, therefore I am unable to—“

“Shit!” Joker pulls the ship into a tight turn, corkscrewing towards the planet below. He re-enables the passive comm feed just in time to hear Vega shout, “Lift on three! One, two…three!”

“Jeff, the Normandy is ill-equipped to assist my platform at this time. There is no need to divert from the ship’s primary mission.” EDI’s voice is inhumanly calm, like she’s not trapped under a mountain of fucking rubble right now.

Deep breath. She’s not human. She’s not trapped. She’s right here.

“Fuck that, it’s time to get you out of there. I’m betting someone’s about to call for an extraction anyway, and—“ Joker quickly checks the primary team’s location “—Shepard’s almost at the beam.”

Like clockwork, Vega chooses this moment to yell into the comm, “Yo, Joker! I can’t raise any of the other teams, but we need an extraction! Get us a shuttle, a transport, anything!”

“Right on time, Lieutenant,” Joker mutters. He feels a pulse flutter along his back through the haptic nodes in his chair—EDI’s silent way of expressing both frustration and amusement. He toggles the comm to Vega. “We’re already on the way. ETA, two minutes.”

“Jeff, given the debris in the air and the number of Harvesters sighted in the immediate area, it is inadvisable to bring the Normandy in.”

“Well, it’s not up to you because I’m pulling rank,” Joker responds, pushing the drive faster. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d faced impossible odds.

He can do this.

——

Alliance Recruitment Office, Arcturus Station 13 years before Hackett’s order

The first lesson that Jeff Moreau learns in the Alliance Navy is that there’s no way he belongs there.

The sympathetic face on the recruiter sitting across the desk from him says as much, as do the spread of her hands and the way her eyes keep flicking to the crutches leaning on the back of his chair. Also, her words.

“I appreciate your interest in the Alliance Navy, Mr. Moreau, but I just don’t think you meet the physical fitness requirements for enlisting,” Sergeant Draven says with a sickly sweet smile.

It’s annoying, but nothing he isn’t used to. Eighteen years of awkward glances and carefully worded sentences have prepared him for this moment.

“Well, shows how good you are at thinking, then.”

Just because he’s prepared for it doesn’t mean he’s good at responding to it.

“Look, Mr. Moreau—“

“No, you look, Sergeant,” he says, exasperation heavy in his voice. “I get that I’m not exactly your normal recruit, but I don’t want to run around on some random planet with a shotgun and a hardsuit. I’m not here to be a marine. I’m here to be a pilot. Surely I don’t need to, what, bench press a krogan and outrun a turian to fly a ship, right?”

“It’s not that simple.“

“Why not?” He wills his voice to lose the note of pleading. “I guarantee you I’m one of the best pilots out there. Just let me take the entrance exam, I can prove it to you. I’ve been flying since I was 14, mostly transport shuttles between the station and some of the smaller colonies. But one time I actually got to co-pilot a frigate while—“

The recruiter holds her hand up, and he stops talking. It’s not the hand that does it, though. It’s the pity in her eyes.

Jeff hates pity.

“Your interest in the Alliance Navy is commendable, Mr. Moreau, and we appreciate you wanting to serve humanity and the galaxy in this way.”

Jeff blows out a breath, recognizing the canned response for what it is. “But you don’t think I can do it.”

She gives him another smile. “Tell you what. Let me talk it over with my commanding officer. If he thinks there’s a way to accommodate your…unique circumstances, I’ll let you know. Alright?”

Jeff’s shoulders sag slightly. He knows a rejection when he hears one. He’s certainly heard enough over the years. So he gives her his best we both know you’re fucking me over but I’m being the bigger person smile and says, “Alright.”

Read the rest on Ao3.

#mass effect #jeff 'joker' moreau #my writing #seriously I just started writing the exam part and then woke up a few hours later with this #also I really like Vas and Belle and Trawley and even if they're not real they're super fun to write #also also I had 90% of this written six weeks ago and it took me until yesterday to figure out the ending soooo #gotta love the writing process sometimes

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maryeve-the-bitch · 2 years

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🌞💖😬

🌞 Do you have a preferred time of day to write?

During work lmao when it's calm ofc. I'm mostly more productive during the day, but more creative during the night. 💀 i get milione of ideas during the evening / night and i can't write them cause I'm too tired or I need to sleep and got work the next morning.

💖 What made you start writing?

i love this question. i started writing during secondary school. I don't exactly remember what year, but i vividly remember writting secretly during my music class because i got less interest and no one was practicing with me so I wrote a lot. Don't judge me but i used to be a big fan of Linkin Park at the time and i wrote fics including myself and then and probably other characters i don't remember. 😂

ive mostly just always been by myself most of the time and i daydreamed a lot. It probably helped me go through my childhood and adolescence. So eventually I started writing my stories. Of course, i got better with time. not like a professional writer. i remember being told in cegep (post secondary) and uni that my writing was blend. :') so i didn't seek career as a story writer.

😬 Which of your fics would you be most horrified for friends, family, or coworkers to stumble upon?

probably my nyo fruk nsfw fic, which is full on lesbian porn. I'm always secretive about my stories to people i know irl.

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mightydragoon · 2 years

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Life Curse, Death Gift (a small collection of the many memes I have acquired)

@sadieyuki this is for you. Thank you for your fantastic fic.

#thanks sadieyuki #your fic helped me go through secondary school #fanfiction #fanfic #lcdg #bibac #life's curse death's gift #brothers in blood and circumstance #hp #harry potter #danny phantom #dp #my stuff #my memes #memes #crossover

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dourpeep · 3 years

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Sprout that last fic was amazing! 10/10 blushing like a school girl as I read it. Im not sure if requests are open right now so no worry if they are not but just wondering if I could maybe ask for something almost along the same lines (them trying to work as you please them) but plot twist just as they think its safe and do finish someone walks in and catches them. (Im a meanie and like to see guys flustered and embarrassed) but Diluc Zhongli and Xiao please

aforementioned fic

Flustered men,,, that's my life blood, and Diluc, Zhongli, and Xiao? The most stoic of them all??? SIGN ME U P

Not to mention I did write that one Xiao imagine where you're doing the do outdoors-

Caught in the Act

Summary: To be fair, neither of you noticed because you were too busy... Featuring: Diluc, Xiao, and Zhongli

Contains: ((NSFW 18+)) character x reader, caught in the act, (Xiao) outdoor sex, clothed sex (Zhongli) blowjob

Fun Fact: the location for Xiao’s is a real in-game place that's easily accessible and also poorly hidden. How indecent of you, Xiao—

Diluc

The two of you have created a sort of schedule when it comes to intimacy. With the limited free time you both have, you make the most of it.

Luckily, today was one of the days where you were both at the winery with enough downtime for more than just a quick moment of privacy.

In the peace of his bedroom, you’re entangled in soft silken sheets, a leg hooked up over Diluc’s hip while he supports himself above you on his forearms.

The back of his hand brushes along your cheek, tracing your jaw before he leans in to capture your lips in a kiss. Already, you’ve shed your clothing, careful to keep his unwrinkled for work later. Chest pressing to yours, he takes you, moving slow. When you mumble for him to go faster, he chuckles.

“It’s alright. We have more time today.”

You try your best to quell your desires for the man above you, but the fire in your belly aches. He gently chides you but obliges.

His thrusts grow harder, each thrust making you shift up the bed. Deep and slow, he leans over you to meet lips. Each press is flooded with unspoken words.

It’s easy to get lost in the moment when every touch sets your body aflame and the way that such a gentleman can be so gentle but utterlyimpassioned. The way his body cages you in, filling your senses with everything that he is.

“Darling—” His lips drag against yours when he speaks, an arm wrapping under you to lift your hips just a tad.

Ghosting his touch over your hip and thigh, he reaches between you to help bring you to completion, keeping the steady rhythm he’d begun to make sure you can ride out the pleasure as long as possible.

Relishing in the way you moan his name and grip his arms, he starts a quicker pace enough to make you see stars chasing his own orgasm. Beneath him, you throw your head back and cry out in a soft plea.

There’s a quiet knock at the door, loud enough that normally you’d be able to hear accompanied by a voice.

“Master Diluc, there’s someone here to see you.”

The door opens and the unfortunate maid gasps when she sees the intimate embrace, making you jump and Diluc tug the covers over you both with a swiftness you’d otherwise be impressed about.

Xiao

He works so, so very hard day in and out with battling the monsters and demons that plague the land. Similarly, your days are filled with commissions and battling for the materials you need to make your team and weapons stronger. It only makes sense that you meet him in the middle.

This time, however, you were fortunate enough to be able to convince him to help out with a treasure hoarder problem. It was a bit more difficult than usual, but nothing that the two of you paired with Xinyan and Zhongli couldn’t handle.

The area for the commission, though, was a tricky one, including two separate locations that needed to be cleared out. Zhongli is more than happy to accompany the young Rockstar to the secondary location while you and Xiao handle the other. Really, it should just be a quick thing this way.

Like you thought, it takes only a few flashes of anemo with your help before the treasure hoarders are chased out, but with the heat, you’re left sweating and tired.

“Do we have enough time to freshen up?”

The crystalline waters nearby are a godsend, cool and refreshing and—you turn to Xiao to see the way his shirt sticks to his muscles and how droplets of water stream down his arms.

So now, somewhere between Lingjiu Pass and Mt. Tiangheng, you’re hidden in a rocky alcove behind a waterfall, bodies flush together as he thrusts into you feverishly. You’ve both hastily pulled down trousers and shucked off unnecessary items adorning your outfits, left partly clothed.

The feeling of him so desperate to feel you is maddening.

Your bodies mingle, still tired and sweaty from the fighting, but you can hardly bother to care. Shifting, he hoists you up to wrap your legs around his waist and angles you to reach deeper. He hits the spot that makes you see stars and you cry out his name as you unravel.

Xiao’s pace grows sloppy with the way you squeeze around him, patience leaving with the way he’s getting close. His forehead presses against your neck when he shakily moans your name, thrusting up once more before releasing.

Breathing hard, he meets your lips for a kiss—

“I understand the appeal of partaking in activities that relieve stress, however…”

It’s unmistakable, the voice that speaks up.

Immediately, Xiao’s eyes snap open and his face explodes in color, nearly dropping you in his surprise. You’re glad that your bodies are mostly covered by the large rock you’re behind, but you doubt that Xiao would be very willing to accompany you and your team on a commission anytime soon.

Zhongli

It’s not strange to want privacy in your own home.

While Zhongli is busy with his job at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, he has ample time in the mornings and late afternoon to indulge in you. Those long hours are spent in each other’s arms, drawing every gasp and every moan from lips that seldom part.

“Zhongli, I want to make you feel good this time.”

Who was he to deny?

When your lips press to the base of his shaft, he lets out a groan. It’s deep, rumbling in his chest, and you squeeze your thighs together to help relieve a bit of the pressure. Another kiss is placed on his hip and you laugh at the way his cock twitches.

“Are you feeling impatient?”

His cheeks color, slight in afternoon light. “Perhaps.”

So you take him into your mouth, sliding your tongue along the length of him as you descend. He’s lost in the way the hot wetness of your mouth envelops him, watching you take what you can. You moan around him and his hips twitch with the vibration.

Every lick and suck has him clutching at the couch, willing his hips to stay still so that you may take your time with your ministrations. He wants to know how it feels to be entirely at your mercy, and you gladly take that in stride.

His eyes widen when you push yourself further down, your eyes squeezing as you focus on relaxing your throat and he nearly chokes in the way your lips finally meet his pelvis. He wants to tell you it’s alright, you don’t have to push yourself—but the way that you look up at him with slightly watery eyes sends a need through him.

One of his hands finds its way into your hair, keeping you pressed down against him longer. Once the feeling of you swallowing around him is bearable, he helps you draw back off, an apology on his tongue until you sink back and take him once more.

Surrendering to the feeling, Zhongli breathes your name, eyes closing as you suck at his tip. It’s a shock, coming undone just as the door to his home slams open, revealing a mop of messy red hair and bright blue eyes that settle on the sight of you kneeling between the geo Archon’s spread legs.

“Xiangsheng!”

At least the harbinger has the tact to raise a gloved hand to cover his eyes as he backs out of the doorway and closes the door with the other.

“My apologies—I’ll return later.”

#anon ask #Diluc #Xiao #Zhongli #Diluc x reader #Xiao x reader #Zhongli x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact imagines #genshin impact drabbles #genshin impact smut #genshin impact diluc #genshin impact xiao #genshin impact zhongli #smut #brainrot #genshin impact x reader

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athletickat · 3 years

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