haveanotherkpopblog - Tumblr blog

haveanotherkpopblog · 6 months

Text

This is Halloween

Night 3 of 13 Nights of Kpop

Pairing: Seo Taiji x You (Platonic)

Genre: Angst, Horror, Movie!AU

Word Count: ~3.2K

Warnings: Mature Themes

Summary: As the end of Halloween draws near, you reminisce of your youthful adventure with the Pumpkin King, but not every adventure ends with a happily ever after.

Video: Christmalo.win

“T’was a long time ago, longer now than it seems, in a place you’ve only seen in your dreams. For the story you are about to be told, took place in the holiday worlds of old. Now you’ve probably wondered where holidays come from. If you haven’t, it’s about time you begun.”

“Congratulations everyone!” The Pumpkin King stood at his podium, waving over the crowd. Different creatures of the night cheered loudly, pointing and clapping. “This Halloween was our most terrifying to date. You should feel proud of your accomplishments. Now enjoy the rest of your night, for tomorrow, we begin preparing for next year.” There were more cheers as he exited the stage.

Around me everyone began talking about their favorite thing from Halloween. I made my way through the crowd, offering a smile to those I passed. They didn’t bother to stop me, they hadn’t done that for years now.

The air outside was brisk. I let out a shaky sigh, closing my eyes and leaning my head back. My hands were shaking slightly as I ran them through my hair. I paused, feeling a pair of eyes on me.

“You should know better than to sneak up on a witch,” I said, turning around.

Mother Superior stood behind me, her hands clasped in front of her black robes. Her hat rested upon her head, tilted forward slightly. Her face was covered in wrinkles and her once black hair had faded into a light grey. Her eyes were still a dark brown that seemed to know more than she let on.

“I came to check on you,” she said. I shook my head.

“No. You didn’t.” She gave me a soft smile, stepping forward. “I told you. I can’t do it.”

“Not being able to do something, and refusing to do something, are two very different things,” she said. “Your training is complete, Y/N—it has been for years. You cannot run from your destiny forever.” I let out a sigh, shaking my head.

I said nothing more as I made my way back to my cottage. It sat in the woods outside of Halloween Town, far enough to keep unwelcome visitors away. I closed the door with enough force to shake the herbs hanging from my ceiling. I moved to collapse into my chair by the fire, waving a half-hearted hand to light the flames.

As the fire crackled, I summoned a cup and started the kettle without literally lifting a finger. I let my eyes focus on the flames as the cup found its way to my side. Despite having lived in this town my whole life, there was a disconnect. Even from a young age, the town hadn’t truly felt like home. Not since the incident.

I had been a young girl, no more than ten. My powers weren’t what they are now. I was barely showing signs of having magic at all, but the line of witches I came from meant I had the divine powers of the earth whether I wanted them or not.

Mother Superior was the kindest teacher a group of young witches and warlocks could ask for. She was patient and understanding. To a young child, she was the perfect embodiment of what the Mother Superior should be. She wasn’t young by any means, but she had the spirit of someone half her age. She was effortless in her practice and every witch wanted to be just like her.

Halloween had once again come to pass. The entire town had held a big celebration, giving out awards and partying their hearts out. Little did I know that would be the last Halloween party I would attend. I ran around the town with the other children, laughing to my heart’s content. It had been such a fun night, Mother Superior had granted us permission to sleep in the next day.

I always came to class early to help set up, and despite that party, the next day was no exception. I knocked on the door, rocking on my heels as I waited for her to open the door. When she didn’t answer right away, I knocked again, pressing my ear to the door. It was dead silent.

Frowning, I stood on my tiptoes, trying to peek into her windows. It was dark inside and I couldn’t see anything. Pulling back the mat, I pulled out her spare key that I had found while cleaning one day. I put the key into the lock and opened the door. I stopped in the doorway, eyes going wide.

Her cottage, which was in the middle of town, was completely torn apart. Bookshelves were tipped over, her herbs trampled, and everything else thrown into absolute chaos. I slowly entered her cottage, looking around at the mayhem. I called out for her, but I was met with silence.

I quickly ran out of the cottage and went to anyone I saw in town. Not one creature I talked to knew where Mother Superior was or why her cottage was a mess. They gathered around the main square, hurriedly whispering to themselves about what to do.

I went back to the cottage to try and piece together what I could. Walking in hit me with another wave of emotions. Tears welled in my eyes as I thought of the last time I saw her.

Shouting outside drew me from my memories as everyone in town gathered around a flyer. They were pointing and shouting and shaking their fists.

“It’s an outrage!” shouted the werewolf, Brix. I squeezed through the different bodies to try and steal a glance at the flyer he was holding.

Paige, the shapeshifter, plucked it from his hands before I could see what was on it. “It’s a scandal!” he cried. “To think people would comply with this. Children above all else.”

“Children?!” Aeri exclaimed. She was another witch in our coven. She took the flyer from Paige, showing it to the other witches. They grabbed their children, words mingling in with shouts from the other citizens.

Snow began falling as they continued their shouting. I slowly crept backwards towards Mother Superior’s cottage as Aeri and the other witches grabbed the nearby children. If Mother Superior was going to be found, it appeared as if I’d have to do it myself.

At the cottage, I began to tidy everything up. I knew Mother Superior would like to come back to a nice, clean place to teach. I swept and stacked the books and placed everything where it belonged. I sat in her chair, waving my finger around like she did her wand.

Behind me, the television turned on. Santa Clause from Christmas Town was on the tv. Promising to fulfill everyone’s Christmas list. I shook my head. Christmas was overrated. What was so fun about having to act a certain way just to get some push gifts that wouldn’t matter in a year or two?

I moved to sit in front of the tv as it began showing children. I squinted my eyes, tilting my head. Those children seemed vaguely familiar to me. The camera pulled back and Santa Clause looked directly into the camera. His face was round and he had rosy cheeks and a big white beard. He gave the camera a big smile, and something bad settled into the pit of my stomach.

I looked back at the cottage. Everyone had hidden themselves away in their homes. Outside was once again quiet. I stood on my feet, brushing my dress down. There was no other option. Mother Superior’s only hope was me, but I knew I needed help.

On the outskirts of town was a giant tower that stretched towards the stars and moon. There was a single window that sat at the top of the tower. Light illuminated it against the dark night sky. Bats circled around the roof, calling out to each other.

I swallowed thickly as I made my way up the steps. The door towered over me as I stood on my tiptoes to ring the bell. It gave a loud shriek that echoed around me. I stepped back slightly, looking up towards the window. A shadow moved across the window.

The door swung open slowly, giving a loud groan as the shadow stepped into the threshold. The shadow was a man with light brown hair that fell over his glasses. He wore all black and was very pale. He cocked his head to the side, squinting his eyes as he stared at me.

I gave a quick bow.

“Hello, your highness,” I greeted. He swung his long coat backwards, crouching down to look me in the eyes. He folded his hands in front of him, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Hello there. How can I help you?” he asked. My heart began beating rapidly as I looked down. I took a deep, shaky breath, glancing back up at him.

“I need your help,” I said. “Mother Superior is missing. And I think she’s in Christmas Town.” He jerked his head back, blinking several times.

“Now why do you think that?” he asked. I twiddled with my thumbs, drawing my mouth into a thin line.

“It’s just—a hunch. Please, you and I are her only hope.” He stood up straight, brushing his pants. He looked back up his tower before stepping out and shutting the door.

“Okay. If you’re sure that’s where she is, then that’s our best lead,” he told me. He offered his arm and helped me down his stairs. “I’m Seo Taiji, by the way. What’s your name?”

“I’m Y/N.”

The Pumpkin King, then Prince, and I made our way through Halloween Town. Everyone was locked away in their homes. Their curtains drawn and their lights out. Seo Taiji swooped down to pick up one of the flyers lying trampled in the snow. He frowned as we continued towards the woods.

The snow was thicker in the woods than in town. The trees stretched and tangled with each other. Owls hooted and shook the branches. Seo Taiji kept a tight grip on my hand as he led me through the winding forest. Brix and his pack were prowling the forest, letting out howls to the moon.

At the edge of a particular clearing, I could make out the bright lights of Christmas Town and Santa’s reindeer flying overhead. Seo Taiji tugged me on, bringing us to the edge of the forest where a small shop sat.

“What’s a wine shop doing at the edge of the woods?” Taiji inquired, peeking from behind a tree. Two men stood behind a table, handing out goblets filled with a red liquid. Fancy-dressed men and women surrounded the table, laughing and drinking the liquid.

I darted out from behind the tree, making my way to the table. He tried to grab me, but I slipped from his grasp, scowling as everyone stared at me. The men behind the counter tried to shoo me away, but I ignored them, looking at the wine in front of me. They turned to each other before pouring me a glass. I took the goblet and brought it to my lips.

The liquid was thick--uncomfortably so. It was also warm and bitter. I pretended to need to throw up and ran to the door that was away from them. As I slipped in, I made sure to shut the door behind me.

Inside the building was illuminated by a red light and was covered in big, metal tubes. I let out a gasp as I saw familiar faces chained to one of the metal contraptions. They were witches who had gone missing before Mother Superior. The one in the very front was Maeve.

Her bronze skin was now an ashy grey and her thick curls had lost their volume. I took hesitant steps towards her, reaching my hand up. Her head rolled to the side, her eyes staring at me. The other witches remained motionless as I tugged at their skirts.

A door opening scared me away from her. I blinked away my tears as I quickly ran away from them. Someone was following me, so I hid until one of the men from earlier passed me. I quickly left the way I came, running past a car.

A hand snatched me and pulled me back. The hand came to rest upon my mouth as I looked up to see Taiji. He held a finger to his mouth, looking about as footsteps ran past us. He quickly ushered me to hide in the car with him.

“Why did you run in there?” he asked, his face slightly pink and his brows furrowed. I bent my head, biting my lip to stop it from quivering. His expression softened. “I’m sorry. I was just worried. What was in there?” I wrapped my arms around myself, pulling my knees to my chin. “Y/N?”

“I—I found Maeve. And to some of the other missing witches,” I mumbled.

“Well that’s good, right?” I shook my head, tightening my grip on myself.

“They—they were—they were in chains and—and—they weren’t—weren’t moving—” He wrapped his arms around me, resting his chin on my head.

Someone opened one of the car doors, sliding into the driver’s seat and starting the car. It roared to life before it took off towards the heart of Christmas Town.

Ever so slowly we sat up, looking out the window. Bright lights blinded us as we took in the passing trees fading in favor of what was Christmas Town. It had expanded more than we thought, and his jaw remained clenched for almost the entire ride.

I thought back to my lessons with Mother Superior. She’d always been more than just a teacher to me. She was the mother I had lost. I needed to be brave for her. If what was happening to the other witches was happening to her, I needed to be the bravest I’d ever been.

When the car finally stopped, we were in front of an almost all white building. Even the people were dressed in white, yet the ground was barren of any snow. Slowly we slipped out of the car, and he took my hand. We were the only two dressed in all black.

Two guards approached us, grabbing us by the arms. They dragged us past the long line of people. Above the table where children were signing a piece of paper read a sign that said, “From Cradle to Grave”. A man started shouting about the paper and two people put a cloth over his mouth and dragged him away.

Taiji and I were separated, and I was brought to a room where a few other children were standing, matching lids to boxes. A scary man yelled at me and quickly set to work. The other children were covered in soot and weren’t wearing the happy color clothes of Christmas Town. I wondered where they had taken Taiji, but I was too afraid to ask.

Some time passed before another little came in. She wore a fancy looking dress and had her hair in a tight bun on the top of her head. The scary guard bent down, and she whispered into his ear, pointing at me and a couple other children. More guards came in and dragged us away as she stood smirking.

I was given a white dress and told to change. I did so, but the lacey fabric scratched at my skin, and I fought myself not to tear the dress off. I was led to a room and told to sit on a chair. It was cold and hard, and I still didn’t know where Taiji was. The other children had been cleaned up and were also dressed in white. Each of our outfits was unique, yet they seemed to blend together in a sea of white lace.

The man from earlier, who had been sitting at the table handing out papers, came in. He had grey hair and a black handlebar mustache that didn’t match. He bent down and inspected us, yelling at one of the adults. He pursed his lips before jerking his head. He stormed away, shouting at people as he did so.

The adult he yelled out brought out a can and went to one of the nearby children, forcing her to smile and spraying the can. An unnatural smile stuck onto her face. They repeated the process with the other children, but when they got to me, the little girl from earlier stopped her. She had an almost evil presence to her, yet she had stopped the woman. It was something I never understood.

The little girl held my hand as Santa Clause came into the room. He led us all out to the front room, taking a seat on his big, red chair. Most of the children crowded around his feet, their fake smiles plastered onto their faces. The little girl left me to the side of the chair, taking a seat on Santa’s lap. She whispered something into his ear, pointing back at me. He laughed and motioned for the handlebar man to step aside.

Guards from earlier came in, grasping onto chains like the ones from the wine shop. A gasp left my mouth as both Mother Superior and Taiji were brought out, shackles wrapped around them. Mother Superior had aged significantly since I saw her two days ago. Her hair had lost its shine and luster, and her skin was an ashy grey as Maeve’s had been. Taiji seemed okay, just mad.

Mother Superior fought against her chains to reach me, and I fought my to get to her, but we remained out of each other’s grasps. Taiji was forced to his knees in front of Santa Clause. I had never seen so much hatred in someone’s eyes as he had staring at Santa Clause.

The adults of Christmas Town began chanting, louder and louder their voices grew, drowning out my own cries. Mother Superior had tears in her eyes as she summoned what little magic she had. A white ball of energy sat in her hand, and as best she could while being chained, she forced the ball down.

The children, Taiji, and I disappeared from Christmas Town. Taiji and I landed back in Mother Superior’s hut. I quickly rid him of his shackles, but we were both slightly disoriented from the magic. He took a seat, bringing his hand to his temple.

I felt something hard in my hand, and looked down to see a key. Glancing up, I found a chest. I unlocked it to find Mother Superior’s witch items from when she had been my age. Her spell book, her broom, her hat, everything was there. I turned back to him and I knew what I had to do.

“This is no time for tears!” Taiji stood in the town square, monsters gathered around him. “Mother Superior, along with everyone here, is in danger. Now it’s time to show them Halloween Town will not be treated this way. You attack one of us, you attack all of us! We are monsters! We are proud!” The townsfolk cheered and prepped themselves to march into Christmas Town. The fight had only begun.

#haveanotherkpopblog post #13 nights of kpop #seo taiji #kpop #kpop fanfics #kpop angst #kpop horror #kpop movie au #kpop fics #kpop fic #kpop fic series #kpop x you

1 note · View note

haveanotherkpopblog · 8 months

Text

(230715) SUHO — CREAM SODA

502 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 8 months

Text

baekhyun during the recording of hear me out ♡

256 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 8 months

Text

bangtan gif challenge ☆ ↳ your favorite color + your bias → red & hyung line

760 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 9 months

Text

D.O. - 230810 Marie Claire magazine, August 2023 issue behind

Credit: Official SMTown blog.

#loml

78 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 9 months

Text

D.O EXO Killing Voice!

#loml

71 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Nutcracker Suite

Part V: The Mouse King's Castle

Pairing: Ju-ne/Koo Junhoe x You

Genre: Angst, Ballet!AU, Fluff, Regency!AU

Word Count: 4.2K

Warnings: N/A

Masterlist || <<Previous | Next>>

The Mouse King’s castle stood tall and proud. Towers made of polished, white marble stretched towards the sky. The walls were long and made of stone. There wasn’t much else to see from the south side of the castle. That must be why they never showed the back of castles in fairy tales. Mouse soldiers walked around the perimeter, spears clutched in their paws.

The group had ducked into the woods, making sure to stay out of the mice soldier's line of sight. They tied the horses to a tree, making sure they didn’t run off again. General Hanbin pulled out the map that the Sugar Plum Fairy had given them. He placed it down on the ground, securing it with some nearby rocks.

“Okay, the Sugar Plum Fairy said that there was a secret entrance a few yards away from the south wall. There, we’ll enter into a secret passageway hidden within the castle walls. She marked the path to take that will lead us to the north side of the castle. Somewhere there is his royal treasury. We should find the egg somewhere there.”

“Should? Are we not certain that’s where the egg is?” Y/N said.

“The Sugar Plum Fairy hasn’t ever seen the egg or inside the castle,” Lieutenant Donghyuk explained. “She did her best to try and remember what the Mouse King’s said before. She helped us the best she could.”

General Hanbin rolled the map up before returning it to his sack. He slung it over his shoulder, making sure it was secured before leading the group away from the woods. They had to back-track slightly before the general led them down a steep hillside. The Uncrossable Seas were next to the hill, its waters sloshing along the grass. Next to the hill was a curtain of vines and leaves.

The General pushed the curtain aside to reveal a dark and damp tunnel. Ju-ne took Y/N’s hand as they entered the tunnel. It was dark--dark and quiet. The only sound was the ocean outside, and their footsteps as they stepped on the soaked, moss covered ground. The air around them was thick as they continued through the tunnel.

“Be careful,” General Hanbin called back. “We should be coming up to the secret passageway soon.”

And they were. Soon the soft moss ground changed to hard stone. The air was no longer thick with moisture, but thick with dust. The ocean sounds faded into a deafening nothingness. Their footsteps echoed off the stone walls--the only source of sound outside their breathing. Torches lined the walls, lighting the group’s way. Ju-ne kept a firm grip on Y/N’s hand, looking back once in a while to make sure she was still there with them.

Up ahead of them was a dead end. Lieutenant Donghyuk went to the front of the group, placing his ear against the wall. He knocked on the stones in a few different places before stepping back. Ever so carefully he pushed on one side of the wall. With a loud groan, the wall began to slowly spin, revealing the inside of the castle.

The group rushed through the entrance before the wall fell back into place, as if it had never been touched. The inside of the castle was exactly as you’d expect a castle to look. Soft carpets covered the floor under them. Priceless nicknacks were strategically placed on tables along the hallway. Paintings of kings and queens of old covered the walls. Gas lanterns gave the hallway a dim glow. The only thing missing was the servants and courtiers, but Y/N supposed the Mouse King had gotten rid of them.

“Okay, there’s two main corridors on the north side,” General Hanbin said, pulling the map from his sack. “We’ll divide into teams of two, then search for the egg. We’ll meet back here once we’ve finished searching. If none of us have found it, then we’ll have to search the entire castle. Understood?” Everyone nodded. “Excellent. Lady Y/N and the Nutcracker will take this corridor, Lieutenant Donghyuk and I will take this one.” General Hanbin put the map back in his sack before turning to the Lieutenant.

The four split up and went their separate ways. Ju-ne and Y/N went down their corridor, poking their heads into the different rooms. Most were empty bedrooms, cabinets, and bathrooms. The corridor seemed to stretch on forever, turning this way and that. The doors became fewer and fewer the further they went along.

At one point there was a split in the corridor. One could either continue to go straight, or venture off towards the left. Ju-ne and Y/N stopped, looking down both hallways. They both appeared identical from a first glance. They needed to check every room they could, but going together would take too much time. The longer they remained in the castle, the more likely they were to be caught.

“You take the corridor on the left. I’ll continue straight,” Y/N said, glancing at Ju-ne briefly before she started walking. He barely caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. He stared down at her, eyes focused on her, reading her. Y/N felt her heartbeat pick up the longer he stared at her. He seemed to have that effect on her, making her sweat and heat up. In fact, it actually infuriated her how good he was at leaving her head in a blissfully fuzzy state of being.

“Absolutely not,” he finally said. He was also very good at telling her “no”. She pulled her hand away from his, crossing her arms over her chest. “If something happens to you and I’m not there I--” He struggled to finish his sentence, staring at her hopelessly. “We need to stay together.” Y/N’s gaze softened slightly. She could never find it in her to be in a sour mood when those big, brown eyes were staring at her.

“I understand your concern, but if we don’t split up, we’ll be here forever. Then we shall most definitely be caught. No, we must split up. Once we’ve checked all the rooms, we’ll meet right back here. Okay?” Ju-ne looked like he wanted to argue, but one look from Y/N had him nodding his head in agreement. She smiled triumphantly before continuing, alone, down the corridor.

The longer she traveled alone, the more paranoid she began to feel. She tried not to look at the paintings that lined the walls. Every time she glanced up, it was like those black, unmoving, abysses were staring down at her. She swallowed thickly, wrapping her arms around herself. She took deep breaths, letting her mind focus on everything else.

Domestic thoughts began to take over her head. Thoughts of Sunday morning brunches, picnics in an amazing and lucious garden, reading as it poured outside, and even thoughts of children. These were thoughts she rarely had, unless she was reading a rather romantic book, but they floated around in her head nonetheless. And they all circled around one individual.

Up ahead, at the very end of the corridor, was a singular door. The corridor ended with the room. There were no other hallways to turn down or rooms to explore. Y/N’s steps seemed to slow down the closer she got to the door. Her breathing became shallow as every part of her being became hyper aware of everything around her. Only when she was right outside the door did she finally stop.

The door seemed to loom over her like a shadow. It both beckoned and cast her away. She turned around briefly, pondering if she should walk away. She shook the thought from her head. Everyone was counting on her: the Sugar Plum Fairy, Jiwon, Jinhwan, Lieutenant Donghyuk, General Hanbin, Ju-ne… Pushing her own selfish thoughts aside, she slowly turned the door knob.

The door swung open with a surprising amount of ease. It was completely dark inside--dark and quiet. Ever so slowly, Y/N stepped in, leaving the door ajar to cast some light in the room. It looked like an office of sorts. There was a long table with a chair at the end, closest to Y/N. In fact, that’s all there seemed to be in the mysterious room. She frowned, her body slumping slightly. Something felt wrong. There was something in Y/N’s mind telling her this was wrong, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Slam!

Turning around, Y/N found herself in complete darkness. She rushed back to where the door had been, but she couldn’t seem to find a door handle. Panic filled her as she tried to look around the room, yet no matter how long she stared, her eyes couldn’t seem to adjust. She began to bang on the door, calling out for help.

“They aren’t going to hear you.” Each word was drawn out unnecessarily as, ever so slowly, light began to fill the room.

She kept her face towards the wall, her spine straightening. Her hands rested flat, as her eyes remained downcast. She knew that voice. Slowly she turned around.

The Mouse King sat at the other end of the table, his small crown atop his head. His elbow rested on the arm of the chair as the magic sceptor laid on the table in front of him. He was staring at her, but his gaze almost seemed bored. As if her being here was nothing more than a dip in his day.

“Have a seat.” He gestured to the chair in front of her. She sat down, keeping her eyes trained on him. Her breathing was steady, but her heart pounded in her chest. She wondered faintly if he could hear it. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. “Remarkable.”

“Excuse me?” Her voice was clear and sharp.

“Remarkable. Don’t think I forgot our last encounter. The bump on the back of my head is a constant reminder of who you are.” He winced slightly. She smirked, watching as he stood from his chair, swiping the scepter off the table. “You and I have quite a few things to discuss, Lady Y/N.”

“How do you know my name?” she inquired, standing up. They slowly began pacing around the table, eyes locked. He chuckled slightly, shaking his long head. “Do I amuse you, your Majesty?”

“Not particularly. But she does.” He waved the scepter, and an image of the Sugar Plum Fairy appeared. She was pacing the length of her room, clearly frustrated. “She still thinks that I can’t see her, as if her magic can hide her from me.” He waved and the image disappeared. He turned back towards Y/N. “As I said, you and I have quite a few things to discuss.”

“That we do,” she conceded. “For starters, that doesn’t belong to you.” She watched as he went to the nearby fireplace, using it to start a roaring fire. The flames danced across his face as a stoic look took over.

“No, it does not,” he agreed. “It belonged to the Emperor, and in his absence, it belongs to his son. Your precious nutcracker.” The Mouse King shook his head and let out a deep sigh. “You must understand, I am not the bad guy.”

“You think so? From where I’m standing, you seem to fit the role quite well,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Yes. I suppose she has painted the image perfectly. Evil and power-hungry. Nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else. Especially when that other person is innocent and doesn’t see what’s going on.” He turned to her, paw clenched around the scepter. “I would like to tell you a story, Lady Y/N.”

“Why should I listen to a word you say?”

“Because if you ever wish to see your nutcracker again, you’ll sit and listen.” His voice was calm, but his black eyes flashed red, causing her to take a couple steps back. Surprised, she sat down, but her eyes stayed on him and her body was rigid.

“Not too long ago, the Emperor announced that he would no longer be ruling over us, that his time as the emperor had passed. His power would be passed down to his heir, and everyone was apprehensive. The Prince was aloof and politically inept, but we couldn’t disobey the Emperor. Until the Prince was of proper age, the reigning Sugar Plum and I were to keep order amongst the empire.

“The Sugar Plum Fairy grew impatient. I tried to talk with her, to get her to see reason, but she refused. I could tell she was growing too fond of her temporary power. Maybe if I had voiced my concerns, things wouldn’t have progressed the way they did.

“I happened to be wandering the palace late one night, unable to sleep, when I noticed the Prince’s door ajar. I stepped inside to find the Sugar Plum Fairy standing over him as he laid fast asleep. I shall spare you any more details.

“I had forced her out of the palace and seized the scepter from her. What I hadn’t realized was that while I was busy holding in my concerns, she had convinced the courtiers and servants that I craved the crown myself. That being a reigning Lord hadn’t been enough for me. I, unfortunately, only cemented her words when I threw her from the palace.

“I knew that, given the chance, she’d go after the Prince. To keep him safe, I did the only thing I could think of. I turned him into a nutcracker and sent him far away, claiming he had perished. What I hadn’t expected was for him to fall into the lap of a girl. I hadn’t expected him to find you, but maybe now things can be righted.”

“What makes you think I’d believe a word you said?” Her heart was pounding in her chest as she listened to him.

“Why did you take the key from her room?”

A small gasp left her mouth as she fought the urge to reach for it. They watched each other for several minutes. There was conflict inside her. After all, what he said was completely plausible. On the other hand, as he had said himself, nothing is more convincing than taking your own traits and projecting them onto someone else.

He lifted the scepter above him, and the one thing she’d been looking for appeared on the table before her. It was a small, ornate egg, covered in gold and precious gems. Her mouth fell open as she stared at it. There it was, the one thing she needed to defeat him and return home, just within reach, and yet, she couldn’t bring herself to grab it. She glanced over to him.

“Take it,” he said, waving the scepter again so the door reappeared. “Take it to Ju-ne.”

She snatched the egg off the table and ran out the door, nearly collapsing in the hallway. When she turned around, the door was gone. Her hand went to her pocket, where she could feel the outline of the key. She let out a breath, placing the egg into the pocket of her dress skirt.

She made her way through the castle, back to where she and Ju-ne agreed to meet. She waited for a few minutes, but after a while, it seemed like he wasn’t coming. Curiously she went in search of General Hanbin and Lieutenant Donghyuk, yet where everyone agreed to meet, they couldn’t be found. She nearly smacked herself in the face. Of course the Mouse King had been distracting her.

She blew out a puff of air and began her search of the castle. She went through many corridors, yet they all seemed to lead back to where she started, but even after a while she couldn’t remember where she started. Everything seemed the same and yet nothing was familiar. Paintings seemed to move and doors disappeared as soon as you turned.

She sat on the floor, bringing her knees to her chest. She had to think of something before it was too late. She scooted over to the nearby wall and pressed her ear against it. She slowly lifted her hand and began knocking various places.

Further down than where she’d been sitting, where she knocked sounded hollow. Summoning all her might, she shoved her shoulder into the wall. It swung with surprising ease and she tumbled into another area of the castle.

No more endless halls, she came to a second floor with a railing that peered down. Looking down she saw two mouse guards in front of a door. She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking around. She walked along the railing until the room was below her and she could no longer see the soldiers.

What she did see was a solution. Taking a pin from her hair, she crouched down to undo the lace of her boot. She tied each end of the lace to a pole along the railing. She placed the pin in the center and aimed for a vase in the opposite room. She exhaled softly, letting the pin go. It flew, knocking the vase off the shelf and drawing the soldiers away. She ran to a nearby velvet drape and slid down it. She shook her rug burned hands and quickly stepped into the room, being sure to shut the door quietly.

Her face fell as she discovered the room was empty. Her shoulders slumped as she backed herself against the door. Fooled, once again. She wanted to shout. What was the point of placing guards in an empty room? To trick her of course. Now that she was in the room, she either had to stay or risk being caught by the guards.

She pushed herself away from the door. There had to be a way out, like in the hallways. After all, that was his game: rats in a maze. She went to walk to the other side of the room and fell backwards. She rubbed her forehead, reaching a tentative hand out.

There was an invisible wall before her, cutting the room in half. It felt like glass.She let out a mirthless laugh. She went over to grab a nearby torch and went to smash it against the wall. The wall shattered and revealed the second half of the room. Still empty, there was at least another door. Dropping the torch, she opened the door.

It revealed a set of stone stairs leading up. Picking up her skirts, she began her climb. There were no windows and the only lights came from the torches that appeared just as the light from the last one nearly disappeared. She continued to climb until she came to a second door.

She pushed it open and found General Hanbin, Lieutenant Donghyuk, and Ju-ne in the room looking miserable and angry.

“Ju-ne!” She ran to him and threw her arms around his wooden neck, nearly laughing.

“Y/N? How did you find us?” He pulled away from her slightly, mouth open. She waved his question away.

“Lady Y/N, are we glad to see you!” Lieutenant Donghyuk bowed his head, a genuine smile on his face. General Hanbin nearly nodded.

“I’m so happy to have found you all, but we can’t stay here. Any longer and I fear the Mouse King shall try something else to prolong our visit,” she said. She turned towards the door. There was no guarantee that they wouldn’t be caught. Inside the room was rope, probably used to tie them up and a window overlooking the woods at the edge of a cliff that dropped into the Uncrossable Seas. Even on a clear day, the waters looked violent.

“I can see the gears in your head turning. What is it, Y/N?” Ju-ne asked.

“How well can you swim?” she inquired, stepping away from the window.

“Irrelevant. I’m made of wood. Why do you ask?”

“I have an idea, but it’s mad.” She told them her idea, and seeing no alternative, they all reluctantly agreed.

Lieutenant Donghyuk took his elbow and smashed the window out, pushing out any spare shards as best he could. General Hanbin was the first to exit, holding fast onto the rope as Lieutenant Donghyuk followed. Both men were arguing with each other as Ju-ne pulled Y/N to the side.

“Are you sure you want to do this? I know staying here is dangerous, but at least you know you’d be… okay.” The word he wanted to say refused to leave his mouth. She smiled sweetly, placing a hand on his arm.

“If you think this has been the most terrifying part of my day, I envy you.”

“I am a nutcracker.” They smiled at one another before he stepped away to climb out the window. She followed suit and once they were all outside, they jumped.

The waters were harsh, cold, and relentless in their assault against the group. As they plunged into the black depths of the Uncrossable Seas, an unseeable force kept them down. Y/N struggled as she fought her way back to the surface. Slowly she made her way back to the surface as her lungs screamed for air.

Once she broke the surface she gasped, only to be thrown back down into the water. She resisted the urge to shout and shut her eyes. She pushed herself back to the surface and fought to keep her head above the thrashing water.

Ju-ne was nearby, on his back, as the water failed to drag him underneath. She swam towards him, throwing herself over his torso as he bobbed. He brought his hand to her back, rubbing it gently. She turned slightly, catching sight of the green military jacket. Using him as a board, she pushed them to the jacket where General Hanbin was struggling to stay afloat.

She pulled him over Ju-ne’s torso and began her search for Lieutenant Donghyuk. She couldn’t seem to find him anywhere. The longer they stayed floating, the more she worried. Unable to wait any longer, she pushed off of Ju-ne. He went to grab her, but she slipped through his grasp.

She dove into the waters, allowing the waves to push her further down. She swam out several yards, ignoring her need for oxygen, when she spotted the bright red pants. She swam towards him, grabbing onto his arm and pulling him up towards the surface. The water fought against her, but she fought back twice as hard.

Soon the pair broke the surface, gasping for air. General Hanbin maneuvered Ju-ne’s body towards them and helped her drape the Lieutenant across him. They pushed his body towards the nearby shore, where the horses were waiting for them.

“Lieutenant Donghyuk?” Y/N shook him gently, before pressing harshly onto his stomach. He began coughing up water, turning to his side as he choked. She gave his back several firm pats as he slowly regained his ability to breath. “Welcome back, Lieutenant.”

“That’s twice now you’ve saved my life.” He gave her a weak smile. His voice was hoarse from all the salt he swallowed. “Please, call me DK.”

“As you wish.”

“It’s almost nightfall,” General Hanbin called. “We’ll go a little further into the woods and make camp.” He grabbed his horse and wasted no time in marching into the woods. Ju-ne and Y/N helped DK onto his horse, then grabbed Cinnamon and Cocoa to follow the General into the woods.

As General Hanbin set up a fire for DK to rest by, Y/N took a seat on a nearby log next to Ju-ne. He was staring down at the ground. Their backs were to the others.

“It was a waste to come here. We almost died, and we didn’t get the egg.” Ju-ne let out a sigh, resting his head in his hand. She bit her lip, glancing over her shoulder to make sure the others were still occupied. She reached into the pocket of her dress and produced the golden egg. His mouth fell open as he looked at it. “How did you--”

“The Mouse King gave it to me. He knew we were coming to get it, and he knows where the Sugar Plum Fairy is. He told me a lot of things, but before we do anything else, we need to know what’s in this egg.” She pulled out the small key and placed it in his hand. “This is your birthright. Not hers.”

Ever so slowly, he put the key into the small hole and turned it until a series of clicks echoed. He opened the egg and revealed a mirror. It was simple, yet deeply profound as he stared into it.

“But, I don’t understand.”

“Can’t you see?” she said, moving to crouch in front of him. “It’s you who’s going to save us. You are your kingdom’s greatest strength. You don’t need anyone but yourself.”

“How can you be so sure? You’ve heard what everyone’s said about the prince. They believe they’re better off without me.”

“And look how well you being gone has turned out for them.” She stood up, placing her hands on her hips. She garnered the attention of General Hanbin and DK, both of whom were watching with confusion. “You are Prince Koo Junhoe. The pity party is over. We’re returning to the Safe Haven and we’re ending this war. Once and for all.”

10 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Curse of Ambershire Masterlist

Pairing: V/Kim Taehyung x You

Rating: PG

Genre: Angst, Comedy, Enemies-to-Lovers, Fluff, Movie!AU

Warnings: TBA

Summary: Forced to leave her Seoul home, Y/N and her older brother, Jung Hoseok, go to stay at Ambershire Manor with her estranged cousin Min Yoongi. Yoongi warns of bandits and instructs Y/N to stay away from the forest and the Kim’s, the rival family. After riding with her cousin, Y/N hears a distressed cry and sneaks into the forest, where she is surrounded by bandits, including a boy named Kim Taehyung.

A/N: Based off the movie "The Secret of Moonacre".

#haveanotherkpopblog post #the curse of ambershire #bts #bts angst #bts comedy #bts fluff #bts fics #bts kim taehyung #bts v #kim taehyung #kim taheyun angst #kim taehyung x reader #kim taehyung x you #kim taehyung x y/n #kim taehyung fluff #kim taehyung fanfic #kim taehyung angst #kim taehyung series

8 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Page Apprentice

Pairings: Surprise!

Genre: Angst, Coffee Shop!AU, College!AU, Drama, Fluff, High School!AU, Mafia!AU, Royalty!AU, Vampire!AU, Werewolf!AU

Rating: PG-13

Warnings: Mild Language

Summary: The Author has a severe case of writer's block. Everything she's written feels cliché and overdone. She makes a wish, and the Page Apprentice appears. She grants the Author her wish by thrusting her into the written world. The Author will have to live through a series of stories as Y/N to return to her world. Will she succeed? Or is she doomed to wander the written world for the rest of eternity.

The Author

The Wolf's Bane

Destiny of Lady Luck

My Blood to Drain

A Love Called You

Whispers in the Shadows

Girl of Misfortune

Love: The Generic Kind

Agents of Agony

Sins of Men

Bound to my Lovebird

#haveanotherkpopblog post #the page apprentice

2 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Flight Attendant - Part 6, Final Chapter

Genre: Flight Attendant!AU

Pairing: Yunhyeong x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | Words: 2,580

"What should I get?" you inquired, lowering your voice as much as humanly possible so only Yunhyeong could hear you. Even though you were a tourist and this was your first time here, you didn't exactly want it to be obvious. The restaurant was tiny enough that eavesdropping was inevitable, but you could at least try to keep your conversation contained to your charming table for two.

"I had the Quiche Lorraine last time, and it was fantastic," Yunhyeong replied, his eyes still surveying the menu. "But this is absolutely one of those places where there are no wrong choices."

You nodded silently, biting the inside of your cheek as your gaze flitted back and forth between the menu and your dinner date -- partner. Sorry. Dinner partner sitting across from you.

"And," Yunhyeong continued, his grin peeking through in his voice when he spoke. "We can actually order alcohol this time."

You knit your brows in confusion, letting your eyes settle on him for more than a half-second. "What do you mean?"

Yunhyeong's smile grew just a fraction wider before he gently set down his menu, crossed his arms over the marble top of the table, and leaned toward you. (To put into perspective just how small the table was, by the way -- his cologne was now invading your sense because he was so close to you.)

"Remember your first day on the job?" he began, murmuring like he was revealing some confidential information.

You nodded, resisting the urge to copy his movements and lean in yourself.

"We were on the flight together, you had your nose pressed to the taxi window all the way into the city, we had a meal together -- just like today. But a year ago, we couldn't order any Sake because you had another flight later that day. Today, we can," he told you earnestly, though he ended his sentence with a blink-and-you-missed-it wink.

"How do you remember all that?" you whispered, frankly a bit flabbergasted that his memory was so good.

Yunhyeong simply shrugged before lifting his hand casually to wave over a server.

"Une bouteille de vin, s'il vous plait. Chateau Cos d'Estournel," he requested once the server arrived, the language flowing beautifully from his lips.

"Oui, Monsieur," the server muttered with a nod before turning on their heel and dashing elegantly toward the back of the restaurant.

You honestly weren't quite sure what to make of all this. First, Yunhyeong had arranged for you to fly to Paris as a friend-aversary gift. Second, he had told you that you look fantastic. Third, he had remembered virtually every detail of the first day the two of you had met. Fourth, he had just ordered a bottle of wine in nearly perfect French. In an incredibly romantic restaurant. In Paris.

"What kind of wine did you order?" you asked after clearing away the anxiety stuck in your throat.

Yunhyeong shot you a smirk, one so pleased and adorable that the anxiety you'd just cleared away came back with a vengeance. "Only the best," he replied.

Correction: he had just ordered a bottle of the best wine in nearly perfect French. In an incredibly romantic restaurant. In Paris.

The server returned, bottle and glasses in hand, only a couple of minutes later, deftly setting the wine glasses down in front of each of you and pouring the dark red liquid expertly.

"Merci," Yunhyeong murmured as the server left the bottle on the bottle on the table. "Encore quelques minutes avant de commander, s'il vous plait."

Again, the server nodded, turned on their heel, and dashed away.

Before you got the chance to ask what he'd said, Yunhyeong reached for his glass, lifting it gently by the stem and locking eyes with you. "To a full year of working together and, more importantly, being friends. And to, hopefully, many more to come. Many, many more," he toasted with that sparkle in his eye you knew so well.

"Many more," you managed to say, clinking your glass with his before surreptitiously taking a rather large gulp. After setting your glass down carefully, you pushed your chair back from the table. "I will -- oh, god, that wine is delicious. I just need to powder my nose, I'll be right back. If the server returns while I'm gone, I would like the boeuf bourguignon."

"Mm, yes, of course, go ahead," Yunhyeong replied quickly, his eyes on you as you swerved around the table to get to the restroom.

The second you ducked into the minuscule cubicle labeled Toilettes, you closed and locked the door behind you and slid your phone out of your pocket.

You had no time to think about time zones, and the person you were calling kept a very irregular schedule anyway; he could be awake at any hour of the day.

After three and a half rings, your heart racing the whole time, the line clicked, and you heard a somewhat sleepy "Yo," in your ear.

"Jae," you whispered. "I need to talk to you."

"...Where are you, and why are you whispering?"

"It doesn't matter. I mean, where I am does matter. I'm in Paris, and --"

"Dude, in Paris?! Since when?!"

"Since today, and that's part of it."

"Part of what?"

"Just let me explain!"

"Okay, okay, I'm listening."

You took a deep breath, hoping to calm your nerves so you could tell him everything without skipping any important detail. "You know my co-worker, Yunhyeong, right?"

"The dude you had a crush on for --"

"We're friends, okay," you interrupted. "But, yes. That one. Well, he surprised me by changing my schedule behind my back so we could fly to Paris and stay here for a few days. Because it's our friend-aversary -- he said that, not me. He literally used the word 'friend-aversary.' And he's taken me to this little restaurant by our hotel, and it's super romantic and charming, and he told me I look fantastic, and he mentioned something about him being incredibly less attractive than me, and he ordered their best bottle of wine, and he made this toast that was like 'to one year of friendship and many more to come. Many, many more.' And I just -- I don't know what to think."

Jae was quiet for quite a while, and you knew that meant he was thinking.

"I mean..." he began after almost half a minute. "I think you do know what to think, Y/N."

"...I do?"

"Mhm."

You knew what you wanted to think. You wanted to think that Yunhyeong was actually being more than friendly. You wanted to think he was flirting with you.

"But he's a naturally friendly kind of guy," you explained. "He's super charming and outgoing, and everyone likes him. That kind of guy."

"Have you ever witnessed him flirting with someone?" Jae asked patiently.

"...I don't think so."

"Has he ever talked to you about anyone that he's romantically interested in?"

"...No."

"And when I have been romantically interested in someone, have I talked to you about it?"

"...Yes. But that's different --"

"It's not different. I talk to you about that kind of stuff because I don't feel that way about you. No offense."

"None taken," you answered without missing a beat.

"But," Jae continued. "If I did feel that way about you, there's no way I would tell you about other people I'm interested in. Probably because I wouldn't be interested in other people, just you. This is purely hypothetical, by the way."

"Yeah, I know," you huffed, doing nothing to hide your annoyance. That's just the kind of relationship you had with Jae -- the two of you could be completely honest with each other. No holds barred, no hard feelings. "So... you're saying the reason he doesn't talk to me about that is because... he likes me?"

"I mean, it's not a foolproof theory, but I would say it's highly likely."

You stood there, blinking for a few seconds without replying. And then, "...So, what do I do?"

"I dunno, man."

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

"What do you want to do?!"

"I don't know!"

"Do you like him?"

"I've spent the past several months pretending I don't, but yes. I do."

"Then just tell him. Or ask him. Bring it up."

"But what if --"

"'What ifs' will ruin your life, Y/N," Jae scolded. "You either need to tell him, or you need to let it go. And if you don't decide tonight, you're going to let it distract you from having an amazing time in Paris."

You almost wanted to curse him for knowing you so well.

"What does your gut tell you?" he asked.

It seemed cheesy, but in order to answer his question, you closed your eyes. You took a deep breath and let it out slowly. And you listened.

Yunhyeong was a friendly person, there was no doubt about that. He greeted everyone with a smile. He was helpful to everyone. He was, quite literally, the perfect Flight Attendant. But... there was something about that sparkle. The sparkle in his eye you knew so well -- remember that? You had always thought it was just his adorably mischievous side coming out, but... what if you were wrong.

What if that sparkle was just for you? And what if you knew it so well because he'd liked you this whole time?

The more you thought about it, the more you knew Jae was right.

You wouldn't come out and tell him that, of course, but he was right.

"My gut tells me that I need to tell him," you finally said, your voice soft but sure.

"Then go for it, my dude," Jae replied with an obvious smile.

His smile was contagious, and the corners of your lips curved up. "I will. Thank you."

"It's what I'm here for. And also poke bowl cravings. I'm here for that, too."

"Of course," you chuckled. "All right, I'm going to go back out there. Wish me luck."

"You don't need it," Jae assured you before he hung up.

After sliding your phone back into your pocket, you smoothed down the front of your trousers, tugged at the shoulders of your shirt, let out a quick exhale... and opened the door.

"I'm so sorry about that," you said, chuckling breathlessly as you took your seat at the table once again.

"No, not at all," Yunhyeong grinned. "I just ordered a couple of minutes ago, so you didn't miss anything. Except my expert French."

"I am only letting you order when we go to eat somewhere, by the way." You returned his smile, picking up your wine glass and taking a sip -- not a gulp this time.

"Well, who am I to say 'no' to you?"

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, and you took that as your queue to actually go through with what you'd talked about on the phone with Jae.

"Can I..." you began, trying to maintain eye contact with him but finding yourself glancing at your wine glass. "Ask you something?"

Yunhyeong's brow furrowed gently, and he tilted his head the tiniest bit. "Of course."

"Is... this... a date?"

Four words had never been so nerve-wracking to say.

"Well, yes, of course, it is," he replied without hesitation. "It's our --"

"Friend-aversary," you finished for him. "But I mean... not a friend date. Like... a real date?"

Okay, those were the most nerve-wracking words you'd ever said.

Yunhyeong's expression immediately softened, but you couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. He no longer looked curious or confused, and you kind of felt like he should be?

Unless... he wasn't confused about the answer or curious why you'd asked.

"I..."

It seemed like an eternity before he continued on, though in reality, it was but a few moments.

"...Would like it to be. If you feel the same."

And Jae was right again.

You shifted in your seat, pressing your lips together to stop yourself from bursting into a grin. "I do, actually."

"Really?" Yunhyeong sighed. He reached one hand out, covering your fingers with his and gripping them.

When you nodded in response, Yunhyeong let out another sigh, hanging his head briefly before lifting it up to lock his gaze on you. "I've been wanting to go on a date with you for a long time," he admitted, though he certainly didn't sound shy about it.

"A long time?!" you laughed incredulously. "I've liked you for a long time!"

Yunhyeong quirked a brow at you. "...How long is long?"

"As long as possible. Since the first day. Remember how I kissed you on the cheek? I thought that was a pretty big giveaway that I was interested, but you didn't do anything about it, so I just thought we were going to be friends."

As soon as you'd said 'the first day,' Yunhyeong's jaw had dropped. And somehow, he even managed to make that look attractive.

"The first -- But I thought you were just thanking me!"

"...With a kiss on the cheek?" you chuckled.

"Well, yeah! Obviously! I didn't know it meant anything other than that!"

You lifted your other hand and placed it atop his, sandwiching his hand between your own. "For someone who always knows exactly how I'm feeling, how did you not pick up on that?" you asked, only slightly teasing.

Yunhyeong let out a huff and rolled his eyes at himself. "Let me tell you, I have never been able to pick up on cues like that. Not once in my life have I ever known when someone was flirting with me."

So, all this time... if you had just expressed your interest to his face...

Jae's words on the phone not ten minutes ago echoed in your head: What ifs will ruin your life, Y/N.

"Well," you said," picking up his hand and placing a soft, lingering kiss on his knuckles. "Just so you know, this is me flirting with you."

Yunhyeong threw his head back laughing, and you didn't care that all of the other patrons in the restaurant turned to look. You simply beamed over at him, stretching your legs out to tangle your ankles with his under the table.

Once the echo of his laughter faded away, he squeezed your hand and gazed at you with the most heart-wrenching smile. "I won't lie, I was wondering if you were going to figure it out."

"Figure what out?"

"Paris, the restaurant, the wine, the toast... I didn't think I was being subtle."

"No, you weren't," you chuckled. "Which is why I had to go to the toilettes and call Jae to ask his advice."

"That's what you were doing?!"

You nodded, your chuckle gently evolving into a laugh.

"Well," he said, his thumb skimming over the back of your hand. "Remind me to thank him when we get home."

You nodded once more, but his words -- as dumb as it sounds -- reminded you that you were, indeed, not at home. You were in Paris.

With Yunhyeong.

You were in the City of Love with someone you -- well, you didn't love him in that way right now, but you could certainly see yourself getting there one day.

Maybe even one day soon.

...This was going to be the best layover ever.

Author's Note: if you're reading this, thank you so much! I know it's been a long, long, long time since I've posted any new fics, so I'm so grateful for anyone who has stuck with me. I can't promise I'll be posting on a more regular basis, but I can promise that I will try! 💜

26 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Photo

TWICE ✿ MOONLIGHT SUNRISE MV Teaser #2

489 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Flight Attendant - Part 5

Genre: Flight Attendant!AU

Pairing: Yunhyeong x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 | Words: 2,662

Usually, your flights were short enough that you were occupied with completing all of the tasks on a Flight Attendant's To-Do List and had hardly any time to sit, relax, socialize, and not work.

But, you'd never flown to Paris before. You'd never flown anywhere that took more than five hours, actually, and while the thought of being on a plane for longer than that was actually a little terrifying... you had Yunhyeong with you.

Any flight with Yunhyeong was delightful, but you could imagine that a flight where you'd actually have some free time with him would be...

Well, if you still openly admitted to yourself that you had feelings for him, you would say it would be heavenly.

But you didn't openly admit this to yourself anymore because you didn't have feelings for him anymore. He was one of your closest friends, and definitely your best work friend. So, you could imagine that being on a long flight with Yunhyeong would just be fun.

He was such a playful, positive person, and he could make anything fun -- even your job! That was a big reason why you liked being around him so much. A big reason why he made you smile just thinking of or looking at him. A big reason why your insides turned to mush when he talked to you --

Okay, wait. Stop.

We're getting off-track here.

Change of subject.

Once the plane took off, you got right to work as usual.

But then, when you would normally get the beverage and snack cart ready to slowly push down the aisle and hand out refreshments, Yunhyeong appeared next to you and gently took hold of your elbow.

"Refreshments aren't for another hour," he murmured, his lips close to your ear so no passengers nearby could eavesdrop.

Your stomach did a small flip, but you chose to ignore it.

"Shall we make plans for our mega-extended layover in Pair-ee?"

You pressed your lips together to keep from giggling at him, nodding silently and following him to the small area at the back of the plane -- the only place that flight attendants could get any privacy during a flight, basically.

Once he slid the door closed behind you, he turned and opened the compartment where you had stored your carry-on bag earlier. As he rummaged around in his bag, you tried to calm down your racing mind (and heart) -- you had wanted to go Paris for so long now, and the list of things you wanted to do there had grown to be almost exceptionally long. It was going to be very hard to narrow it down to just a couple of days!

"All right," Yunhyeong murmured as he turned back around to face you, a small notepad and pen at the ready.

You pressed your lips together, breathing out a puff of amusement at just how old school Yunhyeong could be. Flight Attendants could absolutely use their phones as long as no passengers could see them, but he still insisted on keeping his shut off and tucked away in his bag.

"We definitely need to see the Eiffel Tower, which is not hard to do," he began, scribbling the start of the list. "But, y'know, it's the easiest one to think of, so might as well just write it down first."

"I want to drink a cafe au lait at a sidewalk café as the sun rises," you said, brow furrowed gently. For some reason, that particular experience had always been one of the more important ones for you. There was just something so... romantic about the idea.

A lopsided smile tugged at Yunhyeong's lips, and he nodded as he wrote that down underneath Eiffel Tower. "All right, done."

"Ooh, and a Croque monsieur for lunch!" you chirped, keeping your voice as quiet as your anticipation would allow.

"Of course," Yunhyeong chuckled, writing that down, too.

After only five minutes, the two of you had come up with a list long enough -- more than long enough, to be honest -- to fill up your time in Paris, and Yunhyeong had to force himself to put his notepad back in his bag. Since he had been there before, he'd come up with the majority of the items on the list, and he said he needed to stop before he wrote down any more. There was only so much a person could do in a limited amount of time!

"Honestly, I don't care if we only cross off one thing," you assured him, reaching out to rest a hand on his arm. "Just the fact that I'll be there is enough. And with one of my best friends, too."

You felt your cheeks flush slightly at the sentiment, but you knew it wasn't too cheesy -- not for Yunhyeong.

As expected, Yunhyeong beamed at you, mirroring you and resting a hand on your arm. "And that's exactly why I did this."

Well, you couldn't help it. Seeing his smile and knowing he set all of this up especially for you made an overwhelming urge to hug him wash over you.

So, you did.

A soft squeal burst through your lips as you shuffled closer to him and slid your arms around his neck.

"Thank you," you told him through an incredibly wide grin. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."

Yunhyeong hadn't hesitated in hugging you back -- he was quite an affectionate person -- and you felt him squeeze you as you expressed your gratitude.

"You're welcome," he replied, moving one hand upward a bit to pat your back. "But just so you know, I won't rest until we cross off at least two things. I'm taking you to Paris as a special gift, and if you don't get to do everything you've always dreamed of, I'll be really disappointed."

"Okay," you chuckled softly, your smile still taking up about half of your face.

You allowed yourself a moment longer than you should have to enjoy his embrace before pulling away -- the two of you were on the clock, after all, and you have a job to do.

The second the pilot began descending -- even though you were still more than half an hour away from Paris -- your heart decided to dance around in your chest, practically vibrating with anxious anticipation.

It didn't help that whenever Yunhyeong was near you in any sort of capacity, he would smile widely at you or ask if you were ready for the best layover in the history of layovers or grab your shoulders and give you a wordless squeeze. If he wasn't close enough to talk to or touch you, he would just silently squeal. And it was somewhat odd (but very intriguing nonetheless) that you could actually tell he was silently squealing. He would just make the exact face he does when he actually squeals out loud, and he would inconspicuously clap his hands (another telltale sign that he was squealing -- at least inwardly).

His excitement should have only bolstered your excitement, and... it did. To be fair, it did. His emotions were always pretty contagious because he rarely ever hid them on purpose.

But what his smiles and touches and silent squeals also did was make you very, very nervous.

You really wished you weren't, but in the back of your mind, you were tremendously afraid that spending all this time with Yunhyeong in Paris -- the City of Love, for Pete's sake! -- would bring all of your deeply repressed feelings for him up to the surface, and you would be powerless to stop them.

If and until that happened, though, you would do everything humanly possible to act normally. The fact that Yunhyeong didn't hide his own emotions also meant that he very easily picked up on the emotions of those around him -- including you. If you, even for a second, let down your guard, he would absolutely notice that something was off. And, even worse, he would ask you about it.

Would you be able to laugh it off and make up some excuse? Of course not. You weren't sure you could lie to Yunhyeong if your life depended on it. And what would be worse than admitting to Yunhyeong -- at any point during the trip, but especially at the very beginning -- that you harbored romantic feelings for him that had been simmering under the surface this whole time, and you were now fairly certain they could violently erupt at any second?

Well, there are probably many other things that would be worse, but it would still be bad. Awkward and uncomfortable, to say the least!

"Hey," Yunhyeong whispered, nudging your arm.

You jumped, startled by his sudden interruption. ...Had you just zoned out thinking about how you could potentially ruin this trip by admitting your feelings?

"We have to do trash Last Call and make sure everyone is locked and upright," he reminded you with a tiny grin. "You okay?"

"Yes," you replied with a breathless chuckle. "Sorry, just thinking about Paris!"

Which was technically true.

"Landing in 25 minutes!" he murmured, tapping his watch before handing you a trash bag.

You simply shot him an excited smile, taking the bag and sliding past him to start your final duty of the flight.

"Oh my god," you breathed.

"I know," Yunhyeong grinned.

"Oh my god," you repeated, though your voice hadn't gained any more strength. Your fingertips and nose were pressed to the cold glass of the taxi's backseat window, your gaze glued on something you'd been longing to see since you could remember: the Eiffel Tower.

Even though it wasn't the tallest structure in the world -- not even the tallest structure you'd ever seen in person -- it still took your breath away.

"Wait until you're actually standing in front of it," Yunhyeong told you, his lips still spread into a truly sunny smile.

A small lump of emotion was forming in your throat now, even just seeing it from inside the cab. You weren't psychic by any means, but you knew you would start bawling as soon as you set foot anywhere near it.

After a few more minutes (all of which you spent staring at the Eiffel Tower), the cab driver took a turn, the Tower now moving out of sight. With a sigh, you turned away from your window to look over at Yunhyeong sitting next to you.

"Well, we can go home now," you said.

Yunhyeong laughed, the effervescent sound squishing your heart.

"After the dinner we're having tonight, you'll be glad we didn't," he assured you, reaching over and patting your knee.

"Ooh, where are we going?" you asked.

And, yes, you were ignoring the tiny butterflies in your stomach that had popped up when he'd touched you.

Yunhyeong raised his eyebrows and shifted a little in his seat, angling his legs toward you. "There's a little hole-in-the-wall place basically right next to our hotel. The concierge told me about it the last time I was here. I've stayed in this hotel five times now, and I had never heard of it. Never even seen it! But now I don't think I'll be able to come here without eating there. It's classic Parisian food, just a few things on the menu. But the atmosphere... It feels like you're inside that song."

"Which song?"

"That really famous one about the rose," he said, his brow furrowed in thought.

"La Vie en Rose?" you surmised.

Yunhyeong snapped his fingers and pointed at you. "That's the one! It feels like you're inside La Vie en Rose. There's burgundy velvet and chandeliers, but it's so tiny and cozy."

...Oh, good. It sounded like an incredibly romantic restaurant.

And you'd be there with Yunhyeong.

You couldn't wait.

It wasn't until after you'd hung up your last piece of clothing in the closet of your hotel room that you realized... you were famished.

But when you pulled your phone out of your pocket, your jaw almost hit the floor when you saw what time it was.

Dinner time wasn't for another couple of hours. According to you, that is. With what you knew of French culture, their dinner time wasn't for several hours.

You'd just been on a pretty long flight, though, and the last time you'd eaten... well, you weren't sure what time that had been, but it had definitely been long enough.

Yunhyeong hadn't mentioned a reservation or what time he had planned to go down to the restaurant, so maybe you should crack open the mini-fridge or locate a vending --

Knock knock.

You scurried to the door of your room, though before you could even open it, Yunhyeong announced that it was him.

"All unpacked?" he asked as soon as you opened the door.

"Indeed," you answered.

He smiled and rocked forward onto the balls of his feet. "Are you hungry?"

"Very, actually," you told him, your brow furrowing slightly.

"Then let's head on down. I'm not sure I can wait another ten minutes without eating."

You honestly almost kissed Yunhyeong right then and there.

...But you didn't. Obviously.

Before you stepped out into the hall, though, you did look down at your outfit. You'd changed into a comfortable pair of flowy trousers and a loose-fitting button-down shirt.

"Is what I'm wearing okay?" you asked. "There's not, like, a dress code or anything is there?"

"No," Yunhyeong confirmed with a shake of his head. "You look fantastic. No one will be secretly judging you because of what you're wearing."

You opened your mouth to offer a sassy retort, but he beat you to the punch.

"No one will be secretly judging you for anything," he smirked. "If they are, it's the fact that you're there with someone incredibly less attractive than you."

Yet again, you opened your mouth to say something -- because what?! But Yunhyeong said "Come on," and started walking down the hall before you had the chance to utter a single word.

Once you caught up to him, the door to your room clicking shut behind you, you decided not to say anything about his statement. You were curious why he'd said it, of course, but it was definitely for the best if you simply deleted it from your mind.

You were in Paris, for heaven's sake! You didn't need something like this occupying your thoughts and preventing you from having an amazing time with one of your best friends.

Thankfully, Yunhyeong prattled on about all of the mental plans he'd made during the flight, assuring you he had done his best to fit as many things on your list as possible, and it was more than sufficient in distracting you from the fact that Yunhyeong had called himself incredibly less attractive than you.

Okay, fine. It was still lingering in the back of your mind.

But you were trying! You were trying to forget he'd ever said it!

"Y'know," Yunhyeong began once the two of you had walked about twenty steps from the front of the hotel. He stopped in front of a very non-descript door, reaching to pull on the very non-descript doorknob and opening the door for you. "You do really look amazing tonight. Have I said that already?"

You should be used to this by now. Yunhyeong had never been stingy with compliments. He had told you countless times that you looked nice, that your hair was so shiny, that your lipstick was the perfect shade.

The fact that he was now saying 'You do really look amazing tonight' shouldn't have phased you.

But then you stepped into the restaurant.

It was the most gorgeous restaurant you'd ever set foot in. The coziest, the quaintest, the most luxurious, the most... romantic.

So, pairing all of that with what Yunhyeong had just told you...

This was starting to feel eerily like...

A Date.

17 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Flight Attendant - Part 4

Genre: Flight Attendant!AU

Pairing: Yunhyeong x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3, 4 | Words: 1,968

One Year Later

If Yunhyeong hadn't brought it up during your text conversation this morning, you would have completely forgotten it had been a whole year since you'd started your job as a flight attendant.

But Yunhyeong, being the incredibly thoughtful and considerate person he was, had brought it up. He'd actually remembered the exact date of your first meeting and had told you it was a cause for celebration.

It had been several months since you'd felt that pang of romantic disappointment in your heart... but there it was again. It was hardly noticeable at this point -- thrumming ever so slightly and trying to hide in the deepest corner of your chest, but you were familiar enough with the feeling to recognize it instantly. And Yunhyeong remembering the day the two of you had met was, apparently, enough to trigger it.

To be fair, you couldn't remember the last time one of your friends brought up the fact it was your friend-iversary. And certainly, none of your male friends ever had. One of your closest male friends, Jae, barely ever remembered your birthday. So, the fact that Yunhyeong knew the exact day you had first met was actually a pretty big deal.

If you weren't absolutely, positively sure that Yunhyeong only had friendly feelings for you... his text this morning would make you think otherwise.

But, like I said, it had been several months since you'd wished that were true. You had basically given up on ever becoming more than friends and co-workers -- and that was fine!

Fine!

Totally and utterly, positively, completely fine.

That's what you told yourself, at least, as you typed out a text to him.

I can't believe it's been a whole year 😲

After pressing 'send' on your reply, you closed the lid of your just-barely-full suitcase and zipped it up expertly.

After all, it had been a whole year since you'd been flying all over the country. You were an expert by now! And your flight was leaving in just two hours -- something that would have absolutely terrified you a year ago. But now you could pack, get to the airport, and get onto the plane in an hour and a half, tops.

You were rather impressed with yourself if you were being honest.

When the taxi arrived in front of your apartment building, you quickly slipped into your uniform heels and grabbed the handle of your bag. You waited until you'd slid into the backseat of the car before sliding your phone out of your pocket, a smile coming to your lips when you saw another message from Yunhyeong.

I may have a present for you.

OMG you do not. It's not that big a deal, I don't need a present!

...Well, too late.

YUNHYEONG

...what is it?

You'll get it soon! See ya!!!

You pressed your lips together, keeping in a soft chuckle of amusement so the taxi driver wouldn't get distracted from the road.

You also tamped down a flutter in your heart and stomach so you wouldn't get distracted from... everything. Your upcoming flight, your friendship, acting like a fairly average person and not someone who was stupidly in love with their best work friend.

But then another text message interrupted you, and your insides snuck in about three flutters as you clicked on the notification.

Actually, tell me when you get to the airport. And don't go anywhere until you hear back from me.

Immediately, your forehead wrinkled with slight confusion.

...why

Yunhyeong wasn't really one for surprises -- at least not during the year that you'd known him. He frequently did things for you and even bought small souvenirs for you when he flew to fun places, but they were never a surprise. He always texted you Hey, I made dumpling stew, come over and have some or I saw this pen with your favorite animal character on it so I got it for you.

So, for him to be this covert about something just seemed kind of odd.

I wish I could tell you, but that would absolutely ruin the surprise. And it's a good one, I promise.

I mean... you really had no choice but to trust him. He had never -- not once -- given you any reason not to.

So, trust him you did.

Okay... I will... even though this is very nerve-racking and unlike you...

He simply replied back with three innocent angel emojis, and one corner of your lips quirked up in amusement as you slid your phone back in your bag.

As with any other kind of surprise, you tried to keep your mind off of it for the remainder of the taxi ride.

The soft music on the radio, the passing scenery of the city, the other cars whizzing by you. You attempted to focus on one or more of those things... but the idea of a surprise from Yunhyeong was too novel and, frankly, tempting to not think about it.

And the fact that you were on your way to work? That piqued your curiosity even more. How could this surprise not interfere with your schedule?!

And why would he need to know when you arrived at the airport? Why would he not want you to go anywhere until you heard back from him?

Once you were only about five minutes from the airport, you finally admitted to yourself that you had no earthly clue what this surprise could be. You finally gave up.

The next five minutes were the tensest minutes you could recall in your recent history, and when, at long last, you texted Yunhyeong that you were here, you let out a huge sigh of relief.

He replied less than a minute later, while you still had his conversation open.

Come to Gate B16 and don't you dare look up to see which flight it is.

...Okay, things weren't any clearer.

Why was he telling you to come to a different gate? You'd been assigned to flight 9787 to Chicago, gate A9.

He wanted you to just... not get on that plane? Get on another plane?

You shook your head slightly and clicked on the button to call him rather than reply to him in a text.

"Just do it!" he chuckled as soon as he picked up.

"What is going on?!" you whined, your eyebrows knit together in distress.

"Y/N," Yunhyeong said confidently. "Just trust me. Gate B16. Come straight here."

He hung up before you could point out that he had said 'Come straight here' and not 'Go straight there' which implied that he was currently at gate B16.

...Interesting.

Well, there was nothing much more you could do, was there? After sliding your phone into your bag and letting out a deep, relenting sigh, you took hold of your suitcase handle and headed to the tram for concourse B.

In reality, it took less than ten minutes for you to wait for the tram, board the tram, ride the tram to concourse B, exit the tram, and walk down to gate B16.

But it absolutely did not feel like less than ten minutes! It felt more like ten hours, and your stomach was in anxious knots the entire time.

You walked down the concourse as quickly as you could without actually jogging, your eyes glued to the gate signs as you passed by.

B11... B12... B13... B14...

Looking up ahead, past gate B15, you squinted slightly to try and make out what was listed underneath B16, on the flight information screen.

And when you were able to read it clearly enough... you stopped in your tracks.

Because it said --

"Y/N!" Yunhyeong cheered, suddenly appearing in front of you and taking your suitcase. He also took your elbow gently and led you closer to the gate. "Don't worry, I got your schedule changed and everything worked out. I really wanted to tell you to pack more, but that would've given it away. But there will be plenty of opportunities to shop where we're going!"

"Paris?!" you wheezed, eyes wide as you stumbled along toward the boarding area. If Yunhyeong didn't have a grip on your elbow, you weren't sure you'd be able to move.

Yunhyeong squeezed your elbow a bit, and when you blearily glanced at him, you saw his lips pursed in the most adorable of smug grins.

"I knew that's been on the top of your list for a whole year, so I wanted to make it happen for you," he said.

And, honestly, you had no idea how to respond to that. For maybe the first time in your entire life, you were actually -- quite literally -- speechless.

It wasn't until you'd walked with Yunhyeong through the waiting area, down the connecting ramp, and into the plane that words finally came to you.

"...I --"

Okay, well, one word. And it was barely even a word.

"Are you okay?" Yunhyeong chuckled, finally releasing your arm so he could stow your suitcase up in the very last overhead compartment.

A deep exhale poured through your lips before you replied, "Yes, I just -- I don't know what to -- How? And -- and -- and why? Paris? How?"

"It was fairly easy, actually," he assured you as he hefted your bag up over his head. "I spoke with Liah about it two months ago and she went along with my Top Secret Plan."

So... your supervisor had known about this for two months?! And had put the Chicago flight on your schedule fully aware that you would actually be going to Paris?!

Now you really had to hear his answer for your second question.

"But why?" you asked, the fact that you were utterly dumbfounded still very apparent in your voice.

Yunhyeong closed the overhead compartment and stood up straight, reaching out to put his hands on your shoulders.

Of course, your stomach flipped over, and when he smiled at you it flipped over two more times.

"Because you're my friend!" he told you with a soft laugh, a laugh that clearly stated this was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Yes, but -- but -- Paris! I thought you would make my favorite noodles and pack them in a lunch for me!" And, really, the only reason you thought that was because he'd done it before!

But this was on a whole other level!

Yunhyeong just laughed again, shaking his head slightly as he squeezed your shoulders. "Y/N, you are a flight attendant. You will go to Paris again, more than once."

"Well, yeah, when you put it like that it doesn't sound like a big deal," you sputtered.

"No, no, no, no," he tutted. "It is a big deal, but only because you've wanted to go and now you finally are. And I will take you everywhere, to all of the good places, I promise."

If you continued to be all flabbergasted about this, you would probably just feel silly. Plus, you were fairly certain passengers would start boarding within the next half hour, so you had to get started on your pre-flight duties.

So, you simply let out another sigh, briefly reached up to cover Yunhyeong's hands with yours, and said, "All right, let's do this. Thank you. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am, this is the best present ever."

Yunhyeong's lips spread into a full-on grin, and somehow, you had forgotten just how cute he is when he smiles.

Then, he let go of your shoulders, turned around, and headed back to help unload all of the meals for the flight. When you turned around, you saw three more flight attendants enter the aircraft, so...

It was time to go to Paris, I guess!

#ikon #noona clock

22 notes · View notes

haveanotherkpopblog · 1 year

Text

The Flight Attendant - Part 3

Genre: Flight Attendant!AU

Pairing: Yunhyeong x You (Female!Reader)

Warnings: None

Part 1, 2, 3 | Words: 2,240

Oh my god.

You were mortified.

Absolutely mortified.

As soon as you'd slid into the taxi taking you back to the airport, you'd realized just how mortified you'd been -- and you still were even now that you were standing on another plane, greeting the arriving passengers as they stepped inside.

Because you had kissed him!

I mean, not a kiss on the lips, but still. You'd kissed his cheek and that was more than enough to be embarrassed about. More than enough!

You had just met the guy earlier that day! And not only that, it was your first day of work!

You weren't sure it could get any worse -- only if you'd actually kissed him on the lips. That certainly would've been worse. As far as your humiliation goes, at least, because you had an inkling a real kiss with Yunhyeong would've been wonderful.

But, anyway.

You were back on the job now, so you had to try to focus. You had to try and keep all thoughts of Yunhyeong -- embarrassing or otherwise -- out of your head.

You were mostly successful, but only because your co-worker on this flight wasn't nearly as helpful as Yunhyeong had been. She was nice enough, but when you'd told her you were new and this was only your second flight, she had simply grinned gently and said "Well, good luck."

Thankfully, Yunhyeong's tutelage had been sufficient enough that you knew what needed to be done. You weren't particularly great at anything yet, but you tried your best and only had to field a couple of complaints from the passengers.

When you stepped off the plane this time, though, you didn't feel quite as accomplished as you had earlier that day.

But you were back home, and your next flight wasn't until tomorrow, so you could go home and sleep in your own bed -- which sounded heavenly.

As you rolled your suitcase behind you, your heels lightly clicking on the tile floor, you slid your phone out of your pocket and turned it on.

After it booted up, notifications from during the flight flooded your screen. Unsurprisingly, you had a message from your dad, some unimportant emails you really needed to unsubscribe from, reminders to play a mobile game you'd downloaded a couple of months ago, and...

Oh.

You stopped walking as soon as you saw a message notification from...

Yunhyeong.

To be honest, it had kind of slipped your mind that you'd exchanged phone numbers during dinner earlier.

You held your breath as you wasted no time in clicking on it, your heart pounding as your phone unlocked and showed you the message.

I had a nice time, too! Let me know how the flight went after you land 😊

It wasn't until another notification popped up on your phone that you realized you were just standing there, staring at your screen absently.

The email pulled you out of your trance, though, and even though you really wanted to give yourself more time to reply, he had asked you to let him know how it went after you landed. You didn't want to keep him waiting too long in case he thought something bad had happened -- you weren't entirely sure he would think that much about it, but he did seem like a really kind, caring person. Maybe he would worry if you took too long to respond!

So, you quickly typed out:

It was okay!! I'm back on the ground, at least. I only messed up a few times, I think.

After you pressed 'send,' you typed out another message before you could second-guess yourself.

My co-attendant wasn't nearly as good as you, though! 😩😔

She hadn't been nearly as attractive, either, but you decided to keep that thought to yourself for the time being.

Just a few seconds after you put your phone to sleep and began walking out toward the airport exit, your phone buzzed yet again. You brought it back up to your face without stopping this time, and a wide smile split your lips when you saw Yunhyeong had already responded.

I'm sure you were great! When you get a chance, send me your schedule? I doubt it will match mine, but I can probably tell you about good restaurants in all the places you go to!

You replied back with an Okay! and made a mental note to actually do it -- send him your schedule -- once you got home. It would be super late, and you would be super exhausted, but you didn't want to forget!

So, as you sped toward the exit of the airport and got into a car to take you home, you told yourself over and over again -- send your schedule, send your schedule, send your schedule. Even as the soft hum of the engine and gentle motion of the car began to lull you to sleep, you didn't stop reminding yourself.

About halfway through your ride, you received another message. When you clicked on the notification, you saw Yunhyeong had sent you his schedule. You didn't look too closely because you were afraid that none of his flights would sound familiar -- you didn't want to be disappointed just yet.

When the car finally pulled up to your apartment complex, you paid and thanked him as quickly as you could before hauling your suitcase out and rushing to your door.

As soon as you unlocked and stepped inside your apartment -- like, literally, as soon as. You didn't even turn on the light in the entryway. -- you opened up your email, scrolled through to find the schedule you'd received last week, took a screenshot, and sent it to Yunhyeong.

And then you clicked on his schedule, zooming in and looking at all the flights he would be on in the next few weeks.

A gasp escaped from your mouth when you saw he was going to Paris -- you definitely weren't going there, and you wouldn't even try to hide your jealousy.

Just as you were coming to the realization that none of your flights matched, you felt the soft buzz of an incoming message in the conversation you currently had open -- a message from Yunhyeong.

Darn. Nothing. But I've been everywhere you're going, so I can definitely give you some pointers!

You messaged back right away.

And I think you should also give me something from PARIS. I am so jealous! 😭

Even though you were still standing in a completely dark apartment, your unopened luggage at your feet, and you knew you needed to start getting ready for bed... when you saw the three dots of Yunhyeong typing, you just couldn't bring yourself to move.

You'll get to go one day, I promise! But what would you like?

Your eyes widened briefly with shock, and you hastily typed back,

I was kidding!! But a croissant would be nice.

I can't guarantee that it won't be squished by the time I get back, but you got it!

You let out a breathless chuckle, shaking your head as you replied to him.

I would also like a lot of pictures, please!

Done 👍

A small voice in the back of your mind was screaming at you to ask him for selfies specifically, but that would absolutely be a weird thing to do.

But, you weren't exactly sure what to send next, if you were being honest. Your exhaustion was catching up to you, and your brain was swiftly turning into a heap of befuddled mush.

Thankfully, Yunhyeong was typing again, and when his message appeared, you almost wondered if he had some sort of psychic powers.

Go get some rest now, okay? And, seriously, you can come to me any time with questions.

You replied with a thumbs-up emoji because that's really all you could manage at the moment, and Yunhyeong sent a Good night! before you put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode and turned off your screen.

It wasn't until you woke up the next morning that you remembered how mortified you'd been because you'd kissed Yunhyeong's cheek before leaving his hotel room yesterday.

Somehow -- miraculously -- Yunhyeong's text messages after your flight home had made you forget all about it.

And you realized now that, while he hadn't brought it up, he had been perfectly friendly and nice. The same Yunhyeong he had been in person.

So... you had to assume that he hadn't really cared, right? Or, at the very least, he hadn't thought you were trying to seduce him or something.

Truly, you still didn't even really know why you'd done it.

I mean, yes, you had gotten a bit distressed because you weren't sure when you would see him next. And I guess that distress had turned to panic? And you'd wanted to make sure he knew how thankful you were for his help and how much you'd enjoyed spending time with him? So... you'd kissed him?

His cheek.

You'd kissed his cheek.

That is an important detail.

But... like... why? Why had you thought a kiss on the cheek was the appropriate way to convey your gratitude?

He was still your co-worker, after all! You wouldn't see him five days a week, eight hours a day like your average co-worker, but he was your co-worker nonetheless! You could've just said 'thank you' and been done with it! Or maybe sent him some cookies if you were feeling generous.

But a kiss?

You'd never done anything like that in your life -- to anyone much less a co-worker you had just met earlier that day!

But, to your surprise and appreciation, Yunhyeong hadn't brought it up. Nor had he acted at all awkward about it.

Plus... you couldn't quite bring yourself to regret it. It had been completely out of character, and it would probably make you cringe for years to come... but you didn't regret it. Yunhyeong was just that appealing to you.

When your thoughts finally settled down, you turned on your side to face your nightstand, reaching out and fumbling to retrieve your phone. Your clumsy, tired fingers unlocked it, but you were suddenly incredibly awake when you saw you had four new messages from Yunhyeong.

Sitting up, you tapped on the notification, your brow furrowing gently as you read through the first message.

As you should've guessed, he was merely sending you restaurant and sightseeing recommendations for several of the places you'd be flying to over the next few weeks.

...Did you really think he would've been declaring his romantic intentions for you and asking you out on a date?

Even if he did already harbor some more-than-friendly interest in you, he wouldn't have asked you out in a text. You barely knew him, but you knew he wasn't that kind of guy.

You carefully read through his recommendations, ignoring the slight pang of disappointment you felt, and typed out a brief but well-thought-out reply.

Thank you so much!!!! I can't wait to actually try these places. They're nothing compared to Paris, I'm sure, but I'm still excited!

Once you pressed send, you took your phone off Do Not Disturb mode, locked it, and set it back on your nightstand; it was still fairly early in the morning, and judging by the timestamps on his messages, he'd stayed up late last night. He wasn't going to be replying to you any time soon.

To your surprise, as soon as you stepped into your bathroom after getting out of bed, your phone buzzed.

But surely that wasn't him responding, right? It must just be an email or something...

You decided to leave it alone for now because you needed to get a move on with your morning routine. You had work in a few hours, and you wanted to switch out everything in your suitcase before you left for the airport.

But, of course, as you were brushing your teeth and washing your face, you couldn't help but wonder what the notification had been.

What if, by some odd but delightful twist of fate, it was Yunhyeong replying back to you?

You tried to tell yourself not to worry about it. It wasn't a big deal. It most likely wasn't a text from him, but even if it was, you didn't have to read or reply to it now! What you needed to do was get ready for work!

...But you also found yourself rushing through your skincare routine, slapping on your serum and slathering on sunscreen without letting the serum sink in at all.

And as soon as you finished half-heartedly rubbing the sunscreen over your cheeks and forehead, you scampered back out into your room and headed right to your nightstand.

When you picked your phone up, your heart did a little flip as you saw Yunhyeong had replied to you already.

...Did the guy ever sleep?

One day you'll go to Paris, I promise! And please send updates if you do end up trying any of the restaurants I sent!! I mean, if you have time. No pressure!

You had to press your lips together to keep from grinning like the biggest idiot in the universe.

You wouldn't say that he was flirting with you or anything, but he was definitely trying to start a friendship with you. At least, that's what it seemed like!

And a friendship with Yunhyeong was more than enough.

(...For now?)

#ikon #noona clock

18 notes · View notes