#& in this au he's still Constantly Smiling & honestly is very hard to ruffle to the point of it being slightly unnerving | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

levisgirll · 3 years

Note

could i pls request one where the reader is having trouble eating consistently throughout the day and doesn't rlly eat much and this is where levi starts to notice and helps and comforts her? it's been hard for me to eat these last several weeks, also if you're not comfortable writing ab this you don't have to do this!

𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐲 (𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫)

→ Text: Hello there Anon! Thank you for sending a request to me and of course I will be glad to write this for you! And, sorry this took a while but I really do hope you see this as I tried my best with it! Also, I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble eating. Since it has been awhile I hope you are doing better now?🥺 ♡♡♡ It must be difficult but don’t forget that you are strong enough to make it this far and I am proud of you! Hang in there, things will get better soon, trust in yourself <3

Synopsis: Levi was quick to notice the person he loves most which is Y/N for a while that they were struggling with something. So, Levi observed them for a while and then noticed how Y/N was actually having trouble not eating much. And, it was just an instinct that Levi went out to comfort and help Y/N in his own way. Which made you realize his love for you, and you only, and how soft/sweet Levi Ackerman is towards Y/N. Find out what are the things he does and says!

Trigger Warning, some mentions of eating disorder (but focusing more on levi comforting them), angst, cute fluff, modern au, headcanons imagine♡ —

It was hard, extremely hard, and you tried your best to eat consistently throughout the day, whenever you went out hanging out with Levi, and whenever you were alone. You really did. But, all alone and not letting anyone know about it because you were quite worried and concerned to even mention it, especially to Levi, you found it hard to manage this by yourself.

Whenever Levi came over to your place, or has taken you out for lunch/dinner he noticed you won’t eat much and even skipping it, and he started to wonder if it was because you hated the choices he picked and took you or you had enough of outside food with him. But, he later observed you and had noticed you were actually struggling to eat nowadays and he wanted to talk to you, to be of use and support you. After all, you are someone to him he cared and loved.

So, he decided to come over to your place and have a chat with you, because Levi was slowly starting to be worried for you.

“Hey, Y/N. I want to talk to you about something. Come sit with me?” Levi said as he sat down on your couch, leaning forward while he rested his elbows on his thighs. He looked towards you, at your eyes which had a surprised look.

“S-Sure.” Y/N said nervously and sat from the opposite side, not sure if Levi was mad at something.

“I...have been noticing that you aren’t enjoying our lunch and dinner hangouts recently, and I also noticed you usually reject my hangouts whenever we go out to eat. Did I...do something?” He sounded quite sad and also concerned. He wanted to make sure the relationship you both had was still going good, because he loved hanging out with you and spending every minute with you. To Levi, you were his everything and he wanted to progress with this relationship and bond but to do that, he had to also make sure you were comfortable and he wanted to really help you out and be there for you!

You were taken aback from his comment, surely he misunderstood the situation, Levi started talking about how he was feeling worried if he might have done something wrong and he had also personally observed the way you were behaving different nowadays towards him.

“No Levi...You never did anything. It’s just that...” You looked away from him and looked down towards your hands that you rested on your lap, you wanted to tell him, but you were not sure how.

But then, you felt his both hands on top of yours and he held it tightly when he bent forward, and looked at you filled with love and concern. “Just what?” He was paying close attention to what you were saying, and Levi sat there patiently and calmly, waiting whenever you wanted to respond or not.

You let out a sigh and with his touch, him caressing your hands, you held his hand back and relaxed. You decided to say instead what was on your mind to Levi. “Just, I am kind of struggling to eat nowadays Levi. It’s been hard for me to eat the past few weeks and...I am trying to but it’s kind of hard.” You said, with such a sad tone it broke Levi’s heart to hear that from someone he loved.

But, he was glad. Levi was glad and relieved to hear that you were finally telling him what was on your mind, and how you were feeling because that was important to him. And, the fact that how Levi started the conversation in a gently and safe environment and both talked about how Y/N and Levi were feeling made it much easier for Y/N to see that Levi just actually cared for them and decided to let him know.

Ever since you had let him know about this, Levi takes account to this and starts to help you in his own way which is filled with love with every act he does.

Levi kind of understood you as he himself, is insomniac, and he struggled to sleep but ever since with your presence and whenever you both had sleepovers, it has helped him had some extra hours of sleep and he was glad he told you and shared that with you ever since you both got close. Him letting you know about it made it less harder for him and easier for him to accept it as he didn't feel all alone anymore. Levi felt really lucky to have you. And now, he wants to give that back to you but x2, he wanted the same thing for you. “Let’s do this together.” Levi would say and he held on your hand, meaning every word he is saying.

Once you have told him you don’t really eat much, Levi gave you space to talk about how they’re feeling and what was going on for them. Levi would be very patient and would honestly listen to every word you say and keep a note of it. He would never and not even think of being annoyed about their eating habit’s as he knew it was something difficult for you and honestly, he was proud of you to have made it everyday all by yourself. He found you even stronger than him.

“Hey, I’m not good with words but, I want you to know I care about you brat. And...I am always there to help, so don’t you dare hesitate with me.” He said and ruffled your hair with a slight blush on his cheeks.

After you were slowly trying to recover, once Levi surprised you and decided to break the routine and made you light homemade food instead to encourage you a bit to eat something if you wanted to. He came over for a movie night and made food for the both of you. And, if you tried or tasted his food even just a little bit, he would smile at you and lean in to give you a soft kiss on your cheek. “I’m proud of you sweetheart.”

‘s-sweetheart?!’ you thought as your cheeks felt hot and you looked away feeling really shy. Y/N was surprised to how Levi was being too soft and sweet, and you actually found it so cute that you both ended up cuddling each other on the couch. “Tch, you really are clingy huh?” Levi said with a smirk and joked. He made you give out a small laugh as it was ironic coming from him, and that, really really, warmed his heart. Tonight was just special for the both of you and he made you feel so special that evening. You really loved him.

Although, Levi would constantly tell you that if you ever needed his help in anyway, or to even hear you out, he was so ready for that. It was his most effective way of showing you his full support, just for you. And, it all came from his heart.

Levi would also research and read more about how to help ‘a loved one who struggles to eat’ and ask for tips from Hanji and Armin, because he really wanted all the best for you. Your happiness is his happiness too.

Whenever Levi goes out to see his old friends, he would still ask if you would like to join. He knows that even if they do not join him, he would still ask you, making Y/N feel valued as a person and always Levi trying to include them in things. Once, Y/N went out to see Mikasa, Historia and Armin to a dessert place and Levi tagged along with Y/N. He would order for himself black tea and Y/N hot chocolate while the others would get themselves some ice cream, waffles and cakes.

While everyone is eating and chatting, Levi would put his hand on top of your lap and caress it. Making sure you are feeling alright and he is there for you no matter what. While you saw the desserts being sweet, you thought Levi’s act was even sweeter to you and it warmed your heart. He then would lean in and whisper to your ear as the others were chatting, “I know this can be hard, and there seem to be lots of food around, but you don’t have to eat it all alright?” Levi said calmly and held your hand, he understood you so well and he knew you were still in recovery so it was a great reminder for Y/N to help them feel in control again. He really helped you out and you felt so happy sharing this with him now.

One night, you got so fed up and felt really overwhelmed. So, you decided to call Levi to come over to your place while sobbing. He came so fast, you have no idea. Hearing you tear up during the phone call, broke his heart and he wanted to hold you right now. As he entered your flat, you quickly got up, eyes swollen from your tears, “I-I..” but you suddenly got pulled towards him and Levi hugged you so tightly. That simple hug, you felt all his love towards you, and it really calmed you down and warmed your heart instead of your body. “Shhh, It’s okay. I got you.”

Levi would definitely build up your self-esteem, after all you were such a great and strong person, not everyone can handle this and it was hard. So, the fact you were for several weeks, along dealing with it, Levi would let Y/N know how strong they are, and he would tell them what a great person they are and how much Levi appreciated having Y/N in his life. “Y/N. I know this is difficult, but I am proud of you.”

The fact that Levi was constantly trying to find out more about eating disorders and how to support them, with that act itself shows that Levi actually really cared and it helped him understand how they might be feeling. So, he would always during nights you both slept together during the weekends, he would whisper soft and gentle things to you, making you feel so much good. “Y/N...You are doing really well.” He would say as he softly caressed your cheeks with his thumb as you both laid on the bed, while you hugged around his waist. “Thanks, Levi. That means a lot.” You said and softly teared up, finally feeling so much better after a long time. “Don't thank me, I want to be here for you if you ever need me.” Those simple words, made you tear up even more, it was just the way he said it, and how he focused on your eyes, his love is real for you. That evening, you shared a lot of love together <3 It made the both of you feel amazing!

And, when you started to eat something little by little and you told him about it or he has seen it, he would give you a smile which was quite rare to see sometimes but he has become softer with you, showing you a side only you see and no one else. “See? I believe in you. You look really happy.” and he meant it. Levi has always been honest to you and that is a strong factor of his as he does not say that easily. With all of his small comments and encouragements he has given you, it made you feel so amazing whenever you ate something even small and he made sure to make you feel good about it.

If you perhaps eat something and it made you feel down about it, Levi would be sure to cheer you up about it and try to joke around to make you laugh. Doing that to make you forget your negative thoughts and he would shower you with love too, by kissing your forehead and saying “It’s going to be okay Y/N, really.”

You won’t miss a day of Levi not sending you a text, you are after all always in his mind because he is in love with you. So he would text or call you and say “How are you doing?” He wants to know if you are doing well and what you were up to so he can see you later on the day <3

Levi one day surprised you and you got a delivery from him, it was a bouquet of roses with a box of chocolate and he left you a handwritten note saying “You look amazing. -Levi.” and that simple note, made you not stop smiling throughout the whole day and squealing about it to Hanji.

After a while, Levi finally took his chance and with time he finally confessed his love to you and how much he deeply cared and cherished you. “I love you, and I don’t think of you any differently.” Levi would say to you under the beautiful nightsky. Levi then reassure them that they are worthy and loved, and nothing they say or do will change that to him.

Ahh anon I really hope you liked this and if anyone read this I hope you did too! This came out so soft and fluff to be honest, and I really see Levi being really understandable and all because he also struggles with something else, such as not getting enough of sleep, and he would shower you with comfort, making you also feel so amazing and good? Like imagine Levi saying what I mentioned above, to you! Anyways, if you did like this please then leave a like, a reblog or leaving me message about it! Thank you all <3

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fairyoftbz · 3 years

Text

it's never too late... | b. jacob

🏀 pairing: crush! basketball player! jacob x fem!reader 🏀 genre: high school!au, fluff, (sort of) strangers/acquaintances-to-lovers 🏀 word count: 5.2k 🏀 tw: very cliché 😳 and it goes kinda fast lmaoo 🏀 a/n: lisa I'm sorry I took this long to do your request, but I hope you'll like it nonetheless!! ALSO: to my fellow Americans, here football = soccer!! 🏀 requested: yes! thank you lisa!! @skrtbabe

╰☆☆☆☆╮

You had waited for this time since the beginning of your academic journey there. Graduating from high school was two months away, and it felt just as exciting as weird.

It felt like you had started your first year last week, but the amount of work and time spent in those dull buildings makes you feel like you’ve been there for at least five years.

It was exhausting to attend classes and see the same people every single day of the year, with repetitive subjects, annoying or cool teachers depending on your luck and everything that followed. The homework, the assignments, the small -or not so small- fights between classes or groups of people, you were praying that university wouldn’t sound like that.

However, at the same time, you were almost starting to feel nostalgic for this time. The last years where you could remain a bit silly before entering the adult world, being in your last teen years with people that you appreciated and met there. You chose to do this before letting them go and live your own lives, memories that will disappear if you don’t cherish them enough.

So, with Soyeon, your best friend, you decided to enjoy the time that you had left to do things together while still studying and revising for the exams, which was sometimes not easy to do. Yes, you shared classes, but personal and private activities sometimes came in the way and prevented you from hanging out.

“It’s life after all,” she said one night over the phone as you shared your opinion on this topic, “it’s good that we can be together almost 24/7, but sometimes, things don’t allow us to be together. It might be for the best, we never know,” she said, trying to be positive no matter the situation she was in, but you knew her well. As much as she wants to appear strong, you had found her many times crying on her own. But it was her personality, and no matter how hard you tried to change her, what's bred in the bone comes out in the flesh.

Soyeon wasn’t your only friend, you were getting along well with most of your girl classmates, as well as the boys that weren’t suffocating under the number of pick-me-girls that were populating your school and your class.

Sadly for you, you’ve been eyeing the most popular (and prettiest) boy in your whole school since you crossed gaze with him at the very beginning of your first year there. Jacob, your crush, was also the star basketball player of your school, and constantly surrounded and attracting cheerleaders or rich, random, good-looking girls, which had a knack for getting on your nerves. He was always spending time together with his pals and teammates, but other people as well. Everyone wanted to be his friend because you know, he had a promising career ahead of him, so it was always nice to be friends with a potential future celebrity.

As defeated as you were, there was still a small voice in your head telling you to do something before he left to go back to his home country, South Korea, where he had a career already planned and traced out.

You were confused as it was almost impossible for you to get a chance with him since you were not one of those girls and you simply couldn’t compete against them, but Soyeon and her boyfriend Sunwoo were always there to praise you and reassure you about your potential chances of dating him. Never convinced by your friends’ words, you had tried many times to get him out of your head and focus on someone else, but it never worked. Everything came back to him. He was unique and oh so nice, everything reminded you of him, and it was sickening at this point.

“He won't get out of my head, it’s getting on my nerves,” you shared your thoughts to your best friend as you braced your head in your hands, slapping your cheeks as if it were going to change anything and help you throw Jacob out of your brain.

“Why do I keep this stupid boy in my head when I know I don’t stand a single chance against those girls,” you slapped your cheeks harder and whined as Soyeon’s hand landed on your wrist.

“Y/N, stop your nonsense. You are perfect, you don’t need to change anything for him!”

“It’s easier said than done, you pulled the football star player!” you exclaimed, and she rolled her eyes, shifting closer to whisper.

“He pulled me because he knew that I am pretty, and that wouldn’t change a single thing for him. If he’s not happy with who I am, he can leave,” she shrugs, signalling you to do the same if you dated Jacob.

Sunwoo was also among the popular boys, but your friend remained the same, not even trying to fit in with the popular girls. She claimed that Sunwoo fell in love with her for her true self, so she didn’t see the point of changing to please other people. And you wished you had her confidence and her strength, admiring her for not changing anything about herself to please others.

Back to the present.

You felt stuck, desperately in love with an unapproachable boy who was too popular and way out of your league to be lucky to have his eyes sparing you any sort of attention. Even if he was a sweet young man, he was always surrounded by popular people, who were trying to hook up or use him for his school fame and sharp features.

One day, while studying with your best friend at the library, Sunwoo and one of his friends, Hyunjae, the football captain, burst into the library and come not so quietly to your table.

“For the love of God, can you both be quiet for once?” Soyeon whispered-yelled but her voice got toned down by Sunwoo vividly pressing his lips on hers, an arm wrapping around her shoulders. Hyunjae laughed but quickly gagged as they didn’t stop the kiss as quickly as the captain wished.

“Gosh, please, get a room,” he mumbled before hugging you, your knee resting against his as his arms pressed you against his chest.

Your friendship with Hyunjae felt more like siblings, he was genuinely nice and caring with you, making sure that you were okay and that you had enough of everything before allowing you to go home. Despite all the teasing and a few rumours going around school, you were not dating and didn’t have any romantic feelings for each other. He simply checked that you had an older brother figure since you were the first-born child, and it felt relieving.

The thing you did not know was that Jacob and a few of his basketball teammates, Juyeon, Eric and Younghoon, were a few tables away from yours, your back facing them, the future star looking at you and Hyunjae from the corner of his eyes. He nodded at his friend at your table, who gave him a wink as an answer, Jacob’s eyes burning holes into your back as Hyunjae was close to you. Too close to you for the basketball player not to feel something churn in his stomach.

Two long, manicured fingers snapped in front of his eyes to get him out of his reverie, lazily looking at the girl that sat across from him, who he was supposed to get help from.

“Jacob please, pay attention to meeeeee,” she whined and pouted, giving him puppy eyes that he couldn’t give a single fuck about, too busy in his mind to hear what she had to say.

She had volunteered to help him study History, but she wasn’t any better, probably worse than he was. It was already the third time Juyeon corrected her basic knowledge without being an expert himself, not even caring about the death glares she kept sending him. It only made him smirk as he knew it irked her dearly yet amused the rest of the table a lot.

They all sighed as she finally took the hint and left their table, Jacob bitterly chuckling as Hyunjae rolled his eyes when she walked past your table, his demeanour making you laugh.

╰☆╮

“Bro, do you think I should ask Y/N for help? Isn’t that a bit… lame?” Jacob sat on one of the soccer balls, hands joined and panting as Sunwoo practised his dribbling skills before shooting the ball in the cages, aiming for the up-right corner. He trotted to his friend and collapsed on the grass next to him, the last rays of sunshine offering his skin a wonderful, honey glow. He ruffled his hair after plopping down, checking his phone for any message before answering.

“If you need help, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask her. I mean, she’s super smart in every subject, but she’s just the boss in History. Her presentations are always golden, and she explains things a lot better than some of the teachers.”

“I got Smith as a teacher,” the basketball player grimaced, his left hand holding his right wrist as his gaze wandered in the grass.

“We’ve got Antal, and I can tell you that she’s always mad when Y/N does a presentation because they honestly just sound better than her lessons,” Sunwoo chuckled as Jacob pondered his friend’s words, the gears of his mind working at full speed.

How is he going to be able to approach you and get to talk to you?

╰☆╮

“Bestie, no. I swear I saw that in the other book,” you said as you found yourself back in the library the following week, bending over the table to grab the book your best friend was resting hers on. You started flipping some pages when a loud, masculine chortle followed by some whispers of annoyance drawing your attention.

“Hi, babe! Hi Hyunj- Oh hi Jacob!” your neck almost snapped as you abruptly lifted your head up at the mention of your crush’s name, a small, embarrassed smile making its way on your mouth. You were a bit sad that your brother best friend was not here with Sunwoo, but you weren’t going to complain to have your crush instead.

“Can I sit here?” the basketball player asked in a soft voice while pointing at the empty spot next to you, making you quickly nod and gather your stuff to make him some space.

You resumed searching for the precious paragraph you were searching for your project as if it were nothing, trying to ignore your stammering heart in your chest and the couple eating each other's mouths. The only thing you hoped was that Jacob couldn’t hear the loud, irregular beats in your ribcage because it would give in your attraction to him.

“Hum, Y/N?” the voice next to you made you flinch, surprised that he knew your name and that he said it aloud.

“Y-Yes?” you said, cursing in your head as you stuttered.

“I heard that you were the Ace when it came to History,” Jacob started, and you couldn’t look at him in the eyes, fire spreading in your chest up to your face.

“I can’t really say that I’m the Ace, but I really love that subject, so yeah I have some… knowledge,” words tripped over your tongue, and your best friend pulled away from Sunwoo and scoffed.

“Some knowledge? Are you kidding?” she said, Sunwoo placing a hand on her mouth as she was louder than intended. She removed his palm and furrowed her brows at him, before turning her head back at you with the same angry expression.

“She knows so fucking much that Antal hates her because she feels humiliated compared to Y/N. So let me tell you one thing, Cobbie, if you need help, you’ve come to the right person. Y/N is just a living encyclopaedia,” your best friend proudly smirked as you glowered at her, Sunwoo chuckling at his girlfriend’s behaviour before immediately stopping.

“Wait, did you call him Cobbie? How come you call him like that when I get nothing other than babe or baby?” Sunwoo argued while pouting, and your best friend sighed, ruffling his hair before pressing her lips against his one more time, making you slightly grimace as envy flooded your veins.

You sighed and dared to look at Jacob, who was reading the beginning of your essay written on your computer, leaving Sunwoo and your best friend bicker like the cute couple they were.

“Do you have this project too?” you asked, and he shook his head, eyes remaining glued on the computer screen.

“It’s so interesting what you wrote, I like your way of writing and explaining stuff,” he offered a small smile as he looked at you, clearing his throat. For someone that was super popular and constantly surrounded by friends or people at parties, he behaved and sounded quite like an introvert.

“W-Well, thank you,” you said with a smile and turned your head to the side for a second, taking a deep breath before looking back at him, opening a new tab on your computer after he gestured to you that he was done reading.

“What do you need help with?”

╰☆╮

You were astonished at how quick-minded Jacob was. Behind his fit, muscular appearance and obsession with basketball, he had the soul of a thinker and grasped the knowledge of historical concepts quite easily and rapidly. He just wasn’t good with the way Smith was teaching, the method not suiting him.

“You retain things well for someone who hates History,” you joked, and he shyly smiled, scratching his neck. His smile looked gorgeous, and you were pleasantly surprised at how much of a genuine person he was.

“Well, History is not my cup of tea, but it might be a bit more thanks to you,” he said, and you tried to stifle a smile, thankful that your best friend was no longer sitting across from you because she wouldn’t have let you two live.

“It’s nothing. You can come back to me if you need help, I really don’t mind. I actually like explaining things,” you said, and he nodded, clicking your pen close before placing it in your pouch.

“Thank you, really. Sunwoo was actually the one that told me about you, so I have to thank him as well,” you stood up and slowly started to pack your stuff, shutting down your computer with a smile.

“I’m glad he did so, I just hope it was positive,” you giggled, and he quickly joined you, twirling his pen in between his fingers as he cleared his throat.

“You know, it’s Sunwoo. It can only be nice and positive,” you genuinely smiled at him and fall in silence, throwing glances at each other from time to time as the conversation was slowly starting to die down.

“And... How’s basketball going by the way? Is everything going well?” you asked, and his heart skipped a beat at your question as it took him off guard.

“I-It’s going pretty well, I’m excited to finish high school to be able to focus on basketball. I’m gonna have to take some of my last finals in South Korea because the season and the training start pretty early in Summer so…” his voice trailed as his eyes widened, a hand slapping his mouth as you both stood up.

“What?” you quizzed, confused by his sudden change of behaviour.

“I… was meant to keep this a secret,” his voice trailed, the end of his sentence falling in a whisper as he started panicking. “Can we pretend you didn’t hear what I said?” he asked as you placed your bag strap on your shoulder, taking your sweater before pushing the chair against the table.

“Said what?” you replied with a smile, and Jacob sighed in relief, somehow feeling like his secret was safe with you, even if you’ve talked to him for the first time at the beginning of the afternoon.

╰☆╮

The rest of the month rolled off smoothly, yet the stress and the revisions became more intense as the days went by. You didn’t hear anything back from Jacob, but you’ve caught him staring at you a few times, offering him an awkward wave and a smile as not to get noticed by some of his “fan girls”, as they called themselves.

You still had a whole month left before finals, and you felt blessed as summer decided to start a bit earlier this year. It was only the beginning of May, but you were already able to wear shorts and dresses. It felt good to see the blue sky and being surrounded by the warmth of the sun hitting your exposed skin after the cold, lonely winter and spring you’ve just got out of. Everything looked prettier and warmer, and it did nothing but make you happier and brighter, despite the stress of the finals piling up on your shoulders.

So, to get rid of this pressure, you decided to leave town with Hyunjae and let him drive to one of the lakes that surrounded your town, knowing that the beach and parks would get crowded in no time. It was a place that you used to go to with your parents when you were still a child, memories that you shared with your friend coming back flooding in your mind.

Hyunjae and his family tagged along to give you some company and take care of you as your parents were busy looking after your newborn twin sisters, Hyunjae and his younger brother acting like elder siblings to you.

After driving for a few dozens of minutes, you settled your stuff in the shade, right under a weeping willow that offered you freshness throughout the entire day. Your best friend napped almost the entire time you were there, hand lingering on his abs while the other plucked out some grass until he dozed off, trying to store as many hours of rest as possible before finals. By his side was you, reading a book and enjoying the chilly water to cool down from the hot temperatures of early Summer, playfully nudging the young man next to you each time he was starting to snore.

It’s near the middle of the afternoon that you heard another car pulling up near the lake, a bunch of excited teenagers coming out of a van. You didn’t pay much attention to them, only sighing as your peace was about to get ruined, their screams when they jumped in the water woke your best friend up.

He abruptly sat up next to you and rubbed his eyes, some sleeping marks lingering on his face, making you giggle. Being the short-sighted idiot that he was, he squinted to try and recognise some people, but he didn’t have to.

A young woman screamed and started jumping up and down, waving her arms above her head in your direction, hearing her scream something towards you.

You looked at each other with Hyunjae, confusion painted on your faces, hearing your phone buzz in your small bag hidden by your folded clothes.

“Hello?” you said as Hyunjae’s phone started vibrating too, picking up the call as well.

“Y/N, it’s us! We’re on the opposite side of the lake! Come and join us!” you heard your best friend yell in your ear, hearing her as well through Hyunjae’s phone, who picked up a call from her boyfriend.

“Okay, we’re coming!” you excitingly said as you hung up, waving at your best friend from your spot as you started packing your stuff to get back in the car and meet up with your friends.

Your best friend excitingly jumped in your arms as soon as you got out of the car,

“Tt’s crazy how we’re so connected! Did you also think that the beach would be crowded?” she asked, and you nodded with a smile, happy to see her this joyful to see you.

The inseparable duo was here, as well as Younghoon, Jacob, Eric, Juyeon and Sangyeon, the striker of the football team. They all engulfed you in a tight hug, Jacob staying in the background the entire time.

“Hi Jacob!” you brightly said and wrapped your arms around his neck, hugging him close. “Hi Y/N,” his answer vibrated in his chest and had repercussions in yours, sending your heart flying in your ribcage.

You looked so good being this carefree, it was thankfully a sight that he managed to imprint in his mind despite the shortness of the moment. Being surrounded by all your friends felt so good that you forgot to be awkward and worry about the stupidest things, and Jacob adored seeing you this natural and smiling in the company of your friends. He was a bit sad that he wasn’t fully the reason for your smile though, but he still managed to enjoy the rest of the day with you and your mutual friends, whether you were on the ground or in the water.

Sangyeon, Younghoon and Juyeon copied Hyunjae and joined him in a restoring nap, while Eric, Sunwoo, Jacob, Soyeon and you played different games in the water, improvising a volleyball match with an imaginary net and the ball Sunwoo took with him as the volleyball, but it did the job. It was just a bit hurtful for the liberos since it wasn’t as soft and bouncy as a volleyball, but the joy of the moment allowed any type of pain to become bearable.

The evening eventually started to settle in, and you all got out of the water, drying yourselves before deciding to spend a part of the night here. You helped Sangyeon build a bonfire in the safe area by bringing some different branches, the eldest placing them correctly before lighting them with his pocket lighter.

“Hyung! I didn’t know you were a boy-scout,” Sunwoo exclaimed and made everyone laughed as you all were sliding some marshmallows on a stick, Sangyeon smiling with modesty at everyone.

“Ya, don’t say this,” Sangyeon mumbled, and you smile, rubbing his upper back as he sat down next to you, thanking him when you handed him over his marshmallow stick.

“Oh no! Mine burnt,” Soyeon pouted when she retrieved her snack from the flames, and her boyfriend was quick to give her his sweets, Eric cooing at the gesture of affection.

“Give it to me, I like them burnt,” he mumbled as he bit in the fluffy texture, immediately regretting it as it was boiling. His girlfriend handed him water as he stood up, bouncing up and down to try and reduce what felt like flames in his mouth.

“Oh my, thanks babe,” he muttered with his mouth stuffed when he gulped down everything with a pained expression on his face. Eric’s eyes filled with boredom locked into yours and you both chuckled, your friend shaking his head.

“When is it gonna be my turn,” he huffed and Sunwoo hit him playfully in the back as you all laughed around the bonfire, relating to your friend.

“When you’ll stop being obsessed with football and mango juice,” Eric grunted and folded his arms over his chest as Sangyeon called him out, making you coo and playfully run to him, holding him against you as he fake-cried on your chest while everyone was laughing at him.

Except for Jacob, who only offered a weak smile, but you didn’t catch it, too busy having fun and being light-hearted with your friends.

After your stomachs were filled with sweets and soda, Sunwoo pulled out his guitar and strummed a soft melody until some became heavy-eyed or fell asleep against the other, his girlfriend succumbing to his musical talents first. Jacob looked exhausted as well but forced his eyes open, finding him even hotter with hooded eyelids and his hair slightly curling with the humidity of the air and the lake water.

When it was time to go home, Hyunjae, as well as Younghoon, Sunwoo, Soyeon and Eric decided to jump into Hyunjae’s car to go to the beach, feeling the urge and the thrill of going skinny-dipping. On the other hand, you and the rest of the boys were too exhausted and modest to do this, only wanting to go home and get some good rest.

Just like they had arrived, Sangyeon was behind the wheel while the rest was either next to him or in the back seat. And you didn’t know how it happened, but you got stuck between the window and Jacob, who was struggling to keep his eyes open.

“You good?” you asked, and he turned his head towards you before offering you a tired yet sweet smile, moving his head up and down.

“I'm just exhausted, tonight was simply amazing,” he mumbled, and you expressed your agreement by a happy hum and a nod, bringing your attention to your eldest friend.

“Are you sure you’re awake enough to drive?” you enquired on the current situation and Sangyeon looks at you through the inner rear-view mirror, eyes forming two crescent moons as he smiled.

“I just jumped in the water, I’m nothing but awake,” he clapped in his hands to motivate himself and started the engine, your best friend’s car already gone.

Jacob rested his head against the headrest and closed his eyes, his head rolling to the side each time Sangyeon took a turn. You settled yourself on the window and let the vibrations of the car lull you to sleep, the small talk that Sangyeon and Juyeon were having in the front seats acted like a background noise, which helped you dozing off.

However, when the car pulled up in front of your house, they didn’t expect you to have your head resting against Jacob’s shoulder, his hand on your knee. The two men smiled at each other before Sangyeon got out of the vehicle, drawing the door open. As he was about to carry you to your doorstep, Jacob’s arm was quick to wrap itself around your waist, keeping you close to him.

You woke up confused, blinking a few times as you saw the striker standing next to you with a wide smile on his face. He removed a limb around your body, and you felt someone groan under your right shoulder, noticing in dread that you snuggled up to Jacob for some warmth in your sleep.

“You gotta go before the beast wakes up,” Sangyeon joked and winked as he helped you get out of the car, closing the door behind you. It opened again a few seconds later, Jacob looking just as confused as you were.

“Come on, lovebirds, we don’t have the night.”

“Lovebirds?” Jacob and you asked in unison, the basketball player rubbing his eye with the back of his hand. He jumped out of the van and gestured to Sangyeon to get back in.

“You can go, I live just around the corner,” he drowsily said as he vaguely gestured behind him.

“You sure? Your house is on my way back home, I can drop you off,” Sangyeon suggested but he refused, offering a handshake to the striker before letting him go.

Being more awake now, you waved at your friends driving away before turning to your crush, who looked even more adorable as he was super sleepy and just woke up.

“Are you sure you’re gonna be okay? You look really tired,” you asked, voice still laced with sleep yet sounding caring, which made Jacob’s heartbeat fasten. He nodded and weakly smiled, taking a step closer to you. His attitude was a bolt from the blue as he wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you to him, nuzzling his face in your neck.

“You felt so warm during the ride, it’s almost like I could get used to this,” he tiredly said with a smile, gently pulling away to stare at you, his fingers leaving your back to come and slide a wild piece of hair behind your ear. Your whole body stiffened at his words as he stared at you in the eyes, noticing a small, washed-out smirk plastered on his face.

“Don’t you think it’s a bit... late to start something with someone? I mean, we have finals and then y-you’re le-leaving for South Korea and-” you started stammering as his thumb gently stroked your cheek, loving watching you lose your composure at his display of affection.

“It’s never too late when you love someone,” he whispered, feeling his warm breath tickling your lips in such a delicious manner that you have to resist the urge to move forward and press your lips against his.

His words punched the air out of your lungs, leaving you breathless as he kissed your cheek, mouth slowly moving to the side until it reached your lips. The kiss was soft yet a bit on the rougher side as if he wanted you to understand every feeling he had for you. Instinctively, your arms wrapped around his shoulders, and you kissed him harder, deeper, his hands on your lower back pulling you flush against him.

You had dreamt, wondered about what it was like kissing Jacob, but it never felt as good as you were experiencing it now. Fireworks and butterflies were erupting in your stomach, leaving you dizzy with love and passion as one of his hands came and cupped your cheek, the pad of his thumb gently caressing the skin.

Once you pulled away for oxygen, you held onto his shoulders for your dear life and he chuckled, his mouth slowly travelling down to your neck.

“I-I think my… my- oh my god, my parents will worry,” you gently pushed him away and he stared at you with a smile before diving in to capture your lips in another soft kiss.

“I'm only letting you go if you're free tomorrow. Let's put that off to tomorrow, shall we?” he asked, and your eyes widened at his suggestion.

“We can go back to the lake if you want, but only if we’re alone,” he said, his hand caressing your cheek while the other was busy stroking your upper back up and down.

“I want to enjoy this with you and you only,” he added, mumbling against your mouth and this time, you’re the one pulling him for a kiss.

“Come and pick me up at 10, then,” you said as you pulled away.

“I’ll be there, I promise,” he answered and started walking towards your house, closing the front gate behind you, waving at him with a smile.

He sent you a flying kiss with a smile and you waved at him one last time before closing the main door of your house behind you, both sighing with a huge smile and warmth painted on your faces.

You peeled the clothes off your skin and went straight to the bathroom to take a shower, shaking your head left to right while chuckling as you recalled what just happened in your last month of high school.

Nothing was making sense, you didn’t know how you got there, but you were happy.

And that’s what mattered the most.

149 notes · View notes

thefactsofthematter · 3 years

Note

hi bestie <3 you said send in some requests, so i'm suggesting:

javid with, "it's not okay! you're not fine!"?

i hope you have a good day !!!

hi bestie <333 i had so much fun with this, i haven't done a short little fic in ages!! here's a 2.7k javid fic - a college au and a classic (emotional) hurt/comfort type deal, heavy on the comfort ;)

"Wanna come for dinner at my parents' house tonight?"

Davey is laying on Jack's couch after his last class of the day, since Jack's apartment is just off campus, and it's a ridiculously convenient place to go nap after a long day of school. He honestly spends more time here than at his own apartment that he shares with his sister, a short train ride away.

"I'd love to," Jack replies, his gaze still glued to his computer screen, "but I totally forgot I have an art history paper due at midnight, analyzing a painting, and I haven't started. It needs to be ten pages, and I don't even have an outline. I'm gonna sit here and write until my eyeballs fall out."

Davey laughs softly.

"That sucks. Do you at least have some research done?"

Jack turns to him with completely dead eyes.

"Not a single academic source."

Davey glances at the clock. Jack has seven hours to pull this off, which is doable, but... intense. It would've been a lot easier to spread it out over a few afternoons, and it'll be a painful squeeze to get ten comprehensible pages of writing done tonight. Jack can write decently fast, but his spelling and grammar are atrocious, so he'll have to factor in editing time too. Davey is not envious of these circumstances in the slightest.

"Shit. Good luck. That sounds awful, but I'm rooting for you. What's your prof's late assignment policy?"

Jack, entirely beaten down, leans forward to rest his forehead on his keyboard.

"He won't accept them past the due date without a good reason... which I don't have. I'm just an idiot and forgot to put it in my planner— thank god Romeo texted me today to ask if I was done."

Davey pushes himself up and walks over to where Jack is sitting at his little dining table, under the constantly-flickering fluorescent bulb. He wraps his arms around Jack's shoulders and kisses the back of his neck.

"You got this. I'll come back here after dinner and bring you leftovers, okay? My mom's gonna be sad you couldn't make it, so she'll totally pack up a plate for you."

"You don't have to come all the way here," Jack sighs. "Your place is closer to your parents, and this is out of your way— you have work in the morning anyways, so you should go home and go to bed. I'll be fine, I'll probably write faster alone anyways."

Davey kisses him again, this time leaning around to plant one on his cheek.

"If you're sure." Jack's plan is probably the smart move, since Davey's shifts at his stupid coffee shop job start ridiculously early, and coming here would mean staying up with Jack until he finishes, probably distracting him. "In that case, I'll see you tomorrow after work, and I'll bring the food then... keep me posted about the paper, text me when you finish. And make sure you eat something."

Jack turns back to look at him with a strained, stressed attempt at a smile.

"For sure. Go have a nice time with your family, and tell everyone I say hi."

"Aba, you're doing it wrong. You have to use your left arm."

It's getting late in the evening, dinner has been eaten, and Les is trying to coordinate the family to make a TikTok with him. It's not exactly going well.

"My left or your left?"

"It doesn't matter, we have the same left!"

Davey has thankfully been placed in the back row, both because he's tall and lanky, and because he's so uncoordinated that Mom used to make you wear one of those leash backpacks as a kid to keep you from wandering into traffic... which is true, but Davey isn't sure why Les even knows about that. He certainly wasn't around yet when that was the case, so he probably heard it from Sarah.

While Les tries once again to explain how this little dance is supposed to work, Davey's phone starts to buzz in his pocket. It's probably a spam call, but he's not particularly invested in the dance lesson so he pulls it out to check.

Incoming call: cowboy babyy 💖🤠

Davey frowns. Jack never calls him. It's always texts or voice memos, since he's got some kind of weird aversion to talking on the phone. If he's calling, it must be important.

"Hi babe," he says, pressing his phone to his ear and walking off to his old bedroom to get some quiet, while Les shouts at him in the background for not taking this seriously. "How's the homework going?"

Jack is quiet for a second too long as Davey toes the door shut.

"...Not great. I'm really frustrated." He pauses and sniffles a little, sounding almost like he's holding back tears. "I don't know why I called you while you're having a good time with your family, though. I shouldn't be bugging you."

"Hey," Davey breathes, "you're not bugging me at all, sweetheart. Is the paper not going well?"

"I just... I'm so bad at writing, and I don't know what I'm talking about, and I have no idea how I'm gonna get this done in time." His voice is shaking, and it's breaking Davey's heart a little. "I'm being dramatic, though. I just need to keep working on it."

Davey sits down on the edge of what's now a guest bed, his old outer space-themed comforter replaced with something more neutral.

"You're not dramatic, it's okay to be upset. Do you want me to come over and help?"

Jack's breath hitches softly, and it confirms that he's almost definitely crying.

"You don't have to, you're busy with your folks. I'm sorry for calling." He shudders a little as he must try to take a deep breath. "It's okay... I'm fine."

Davey sighs, almost exasperated with Jack's self-sacrificial sense of pride. He'll never ask for anything for himself, not wanting anyone to go out of their way for him, even when he seems to be having a panic attack of sorts.

"It's not okay; you're clearly not fine, Jackie," he replies. "We already ate, and I'm not busy. If you want me to come over, I'll be there... do you?"

Jack is quiet for a moment again, taking a deep, shaky breath.

"Yeah. I do."

Davey nods, though Jack can't see him.

"Okay. I want you to take a little break from writing until I get there, alright? Change into your pyjamas and have a glass of water. Try to relax a little."

"Okay... thanks Davey."

The call ends, and Davey rejoins his family while tucking his phone away in his pocket.

"I have to go." He kisses his mother on the head as he walks by. "Thanks for dinner, Ima."

"Is everything okay?" she asks, catching him gently by the elbow before he can get too far.

"Yeah..." he sighs. "Jack's just having a hard time with homework, I'm gonna go help him out."

His father ruffles his hair and gives him a quick hug.

"You're a good boy, David. Take him those leftovers— your mother's cooking can fix anything."

"For sure. I'll see you guys next weekend, and I'll try to bring Jack along then."

He waves goodbye to Sarah and Les, grabs the dish of food, and then sets off on a speed-walk to the nearest subway station.

Jack is sitting on the couch when he arrives, his knees pulled to his chest, looking very soft and cozy in pyjama pants and one of Davey's old hoodies from some baseball tournament. He's staring into space, and he hardly even moves to acknowledge Davey's presence when he walks in.

"Hey darling." Davey leaves the dish of food on the counter and crouches down in front of Jack to try and catch his eye-line. He carefully takes Jack's hands in his own. "Hanging in there?"

Jack finally looks at him and nods, but as he blinks, more tears slip out and roll down his cheeks.

"I'm only done two pages," he mumbles, practically whispering. "I don't know why it's so hard, but I just can't do it."

"Oh, Jackie..." Davey reaches up to wipe Jack's tears, cupping his face gently with both hands. "Hey, you still have three hours, right?" Jack nods. "That's lots of time. We're gonna figure this out... let's just sit here and calm down a little first. It's gonna be okay."

He climbs up onto the couch to pull Jack into a hug, and the moment he's settled, Jack wraps his arms around him and breaks, sobbing into his shoulder. Davey cards his fingers through his hair and rubs his back; he's never seen Jack this distraught, especially not over homework. There's a good chance the problem runs a lot deeper, and stressing over an assignment was simply the last straw.

"You're alright," Davey continues, since talking is what he does best, even in moments like this. Jack is shaking with the force of his tears, breathing so hard Davey worries he might hyperventilate. "Listen, it's just one assignment, my love... if you get a bad grade, or if we don't finish in time, we can deal with that. We'll hand in whatever we finish tonight, so at least you won't get a zero. Worst case scenario, you retake this class in the spring... even that doesn't sound so bad, does it? I know you could handle it, if that's what happens."

Jack nods a little, but his tears don't stop.

"I'm so tired of being stupid," he hiccups, after a long while. "I keep getting distracted, and I can't word things right, and I spell everything wrong, and- and maybe I should just drop out, because I'm clearly not meant to be doing this."

"Baby..." Davey sighs, giving him a gentle kiss on the temple. "You're so intelligent, Jack. You're almost done your degree— after this term, you've only got one year left, and it's not like you do poorly in your classes, is it? Even when it's something hard for you, like writing, you always do well when you put in the work. What did you get on your sociology paper a couple weeks ago?"

"Ninety percent," Jack mumbles, muffled by the way he's speaking into Davey's shoulder. "But I spent so long on it, and you edited it for me. I'm gonna fail this one. I can't do it in one night, and I can't write papers without your help."

"Well, I'm here to help now, aren't I?" He rests his hand midway through brushing it through Jack's hair and scratches his scalp gently, which makes Jack shiver and laugh quietly through his tears. "Right? And you can write, darling— all I do is fix up the spelling and grammar for you. The ideas and words are all you, just like when you give presentations and knock it out of the park every time. I sure can't do that."

Jack finally looks up at him.

"Yes you can. You get nervous beforehand, but when you do a presentation, it's always really good."

Davey smiles at him, now that they're actually looking at each other.

"It's hard for me, though. Just like writing is for you— but with lots of effort, you're really good at it. See my point?"

Slowly, a small smile spreads across Jack's teary-eyed face, and he nods. Davey feels rather accomplished with this development.

"I guess so." He wipes at his eyes and sighs. "Sorry about this. I'm such a mess."

"No apologies. I don't blame you for getting overwhelmed— you're in a tough spot here." He pulls Jack in for a quick kiss, which they both smile into. "I brought you dinner. Go heat it up when you're ready; I'll look over what you've written so far and see if I can come up with some more ideas to add on. We're gonna work together on it, okay? What painting did you choose?"

"The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio," Jack sighs, looking almost forlornly at his computer on the table. "I have a lot to say about it, and lots of good stuff in my notes, but I just can't put it into paragraphs and sentences that make sense."

Davey nods, watching Jack as he stands up to go put the leftovers from Davey's family in the microwave.

"Well, I don't know anything about paintings, but if you talk me through it, I can help you put the actual paper together." He pauses as an idea dawns on him. "I'm gonna email your professor and ask about an extension— it might be a shot in the dark, but we should at least try. The worst he can do is say no."

"Sure," Jack replies from the kitchen, his voice still shaky. "He's a total hardass, though. Fingers crossed for a miracle."

Davey sits at the table, opens up Jack's email, and starts a draft.

Hi Professor Diaz,

Apologies for the short notice, but I'm wondering if it would be possible to have an extension on the analysis assignment, even if it's just by a few hours. I unfortunately mixed up some due dates in my planner, and I thought I had an extra week for this assignment; I only realized the mistake today, so I'm currently scrambling to get it done in time.

Would it be at all possible to turn it in a few hours late, just to have a bit more time to finish it up? I would really appreciate any amount of time you're willing to give me.

Thank you in advance for your understanding, Jack Kelly

He shrugs, sends it, and sincerely hopes a little professionalism and a decent (if slightly fabricated to make Jack look less forgetful) excuse will go a long way.

It's quarter to eleven, the paper is now five-and-a-half pages long, and Jack isn't crying anymore. He's in the zone, talking aloud about the painting while Davey helps him get his vague ideas into concrete sentences, and they're on track to have at least seven or eight pages by the time midnight rolls around— it might not get full marks, but it'll be better than nothing.

Jack's computer dings with the sound of a new email while they're taking a two-minute break— something they've interspersed every half hour, since Jack's focus is best in shorter bouts. He's in the middle of walking laps around the apartment to get his energy out and annoy his downstairs neighbours, but he scrambles back to the computer at the noise.

"We got a reply!" he shouts.

Davey is over on the couch, and he watches Jack's face closely as he opens the email. So far, so good... and then he slumps down in his chair in a show of what could either be defeat or relief. Davey can't quite tell, so he jumps up to go read it for himself.

Sure. Email it by 11:59pm tomorrow.

Sent from my iPhone

"Yes!" Davey shouts, grabbing Jack by the shoulders. "I told you it was worth a shot!"

Jack laughs, and then reaches up to pull Davey down for a kiss.

"You're the best, Jacobs. A fucking lifesaver." He rubs at his eyes, and then pushes his computer away, across the table. "I'll deal with this tomorrow. Let's just go to bed— you still have to be up early."

Right. Davey has a dreaded Saturday morning opening shift tomorrow— they open at five, and he has to be there well in advance to get set up, so he's got no chance at getting more than a few hours of sleep. He's going to be dead on his feet in the morning, probably fuck up a few coffee orders, but it'll be worth it to have helped Jack through tonight.

Poor Jack seems completely exhausted— as anyone would be after crying so hard earlier— so collapsing into bed after washing up quickly is an utter relief. Davey, despite being tall and long-limbed, greatly enjoys being the little spoon and Jack is happy to indulge him, so they curl into the familiar position.

"Thank you for everything tonight," Jack whispers, practically into Davey's ear. "I love you so much."

Davey smiles as his eyes fall shut, and he kisses Jack's knuckles softly, where his arm is wrapped around him.

"Any time, darling. I love you too."

#both my current projects are slow burns so an established relationship fic feels good #hope u enjoyed it!!!#javid #jack kelly #davey jacobs #newsies fic #my writing

57 notes · View notes

bugabash · 3 years

Text

Hold me while we Fall

Miraculous x Attack on Titan au

Fear was a complex that almost everyone within the walls grew to have as second nature. No one had seen a titan besides the scouts since the walls were erected, and the schools taught the children about the monsters beyond the wall in few details. But to Marinette it wasn’t the creatures that fascinated her, it was the world beyond. She had studied books on the wonders outside. But they never taught it in school, and she was chastised for bringing it up. So, the young girl kept it to herself, only sharing it with her sister. She feared the titans beyond the walls, everyone did, it was drilled into them from birth that they were the cattle to the wolves outside, but her family always made sure it was the furthest thing from her mind.

But that was before, and now everything has changed.

AO3

Chapter 1: Marinette Dupain-Cheng

The year was 845 withing the walls of the Shiganshina district. Marinette Dupain-Cheng stood in her room that resided in her home above her father’s small bakery. She was eleven and a half, the half especially important to her when she defended her size to others. She was small, always hiding under her long dark hair that fell to her waist. But despite this her personality always shone through, making her extremely well liked with her peers. And with this came a very protective nature from them over her, feeling the need to shield her from everything, even from some of the stories of the Titans. But no one protected her more than her older sister, Tikki.

Tikki was fifteen, tall, beautiful, her long dark hair constantly in perfectly placed high pigtails, never a strand out of place, reaching down to her waist. She had bluebell eyes just like Marinette, freckles decorating her nose like an artist had painted them on her. She carried their mother’s feature more prominently than Marinette did which she embraced with pride. She was the definition of beauty. She was loved by all, known for her cheerful spirit and, well, being good at almost everything really. She was smart, charitable and all together a good person. She protected her sister from everything, determined to let Marinette grow up without the fear she had grown up with.

Marinette stood in front of her small homemade mannequin with her mauve dress she had been working on for a month now resting on it. Tikki was draped on her bed across their shared room, chattering away about her latest teachings from one of their father’s friends. Marinette was so used to it now, she just focused on her fingers as they threaded the needle through the fabric, counting the last few stitches in her head.

Four, three, two, one.

“It’s done!” She squeaked, interrupting her sister and causing her to jump and sit up, staring at Marinette with a confused expression. “It’s done! It’s d4one! It’s done!” She pulled it off the mannequin and spun around, her hair fanning out around her. Tikki laughed and stood up, jumping around excitedly and ran over. Marinette held it up to show it off to her big sister proudly, this was her first dress she did completely by herself.

“Wow! That’s so pretty, Nettie!” Tikki complimented, smiling proudly at her, “wanna try it on? You can show it off while we go to the market later!”

Marinette gasped and nodded, wriggling out of her current dress and threw it aside, standing in just her thin, white petty coat. Tikki helped her and soon she was in her dress. It was knee length, the red stitches standing out delicately against the mauve fabric. It was long sleeve with white ruffled at the cuffs, a lace like pattern around the neck and a tied up back. She spun around and squeaked with joy, it wasn’t perfect, but it was hers.

“Oh, Miss Marinette, you are the most beautiful ladybug in the land!” Tikki exclaimed with a playful curtsey, using her pet name for Marinette with a cheeky smile.

“I’m the prettiest Ladybug in the world!” Marinette giggled, jumping up and down, “let’s go show Papa!” She grabbed her sister’s hand and pulled her along, running downstairs into their home, she knew he would be downstairs in the bakery. She opened the door leading to the bakery and skipped down.

“Papa!” She called out excitedly, her father turning and smiling at her, “I finished my dress!” She spun around showing it off before running and jumping into her fathers strong arms. He laughed and picked her up with ease, hugging her tight.

“You look exquisite my little love bug!” Her father praised, beaming happily at both of them, “it looks amazing! Did Tikki help at all?”

“Nope, she did it all by herself!” Tikki replied with a smile, “little Ladybug, I need to go into the market, do you want to show off your new dress around town?” Marinette smiled broadly and jumped out of her father’s arms. “Ok good, go put on your boots and a coat.”

“Okay, now you be careful girls, okay? Please be home before the sun starts to set.” Their father warned as he turned back to his work. “You know the rules.”

“Yes Papa, we will be back soon, promise.” Tikki nodded, walking over and kissing his cheek before putting her own coat on.

“Papa, can we have the special bread with dinner? To celebrate my dress?” Marinette asked as she hopped around, trying to put her one boot on.

Their father chuckled heartedly, “of course, anything for my main girls. Now, could you please pick up this today.” He handed Tikki a small list and some money, giving her the same look he did whenever they went out, Marinette never knew what it was but it looked like a serious look. She was still too young to be told much, which she hated. She felt old enough.

“Yes Papa, we will be back soon.” Tikki smiled and pocketed the note in her thin fabric bag slung over her shoulder.

“Bye papa!” Marinette yelled and hugged him tight, kissing his cheek too before letting go.

He waved them off, laughing at how Marinette did one last twirl around a customer before leaving. They stepped out of the bakery and Marinette smiled, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth on her face, the wind blowing through her hair and the sound of the birds chirping around them. She opened her eyes and looked around at the world around her. Everyone was busy, children playing with others, mothers working with their babes on their backs, men working hard for their families. Life was hard, but it was happy, simple, peaceful. She loved her town, loved her life really. She had amazing friends and an amazing family. She looked up at her chatting sister, smiling.

As they walked Marinette looked out at the huge walls that protected them. She wondered if the monsters would ever get in, or if one day she could go beyond the wall. She knew it wasn’t possible for humans to live outside, but she still wondered. As her father and Tikki liked to tell her she was destined to meet someone and raise a family. Contribute to the town and survive. She wasn’t too sure on it all, but she did as she was told.

They reached the market soon enough, and something caught their eye, Tikki grabbing Marinette and pulling her off the road into the crowds. Marinette gasped, eyes wide.

The scouts, she had seen them many times before, saw their wounded and saw the families that grieved. Their neighbour lost three sons just last month. She remembered the blood curdling scream, her father had told her that the sons were most likely eaten by the Titans, explaining that that was why she must stay within the walls and stay away from the military.

Today they looked exhausted, almost defeated, the blood standing out on their clothes. Tikki gripped her tight, pulling Marinette against her body.

“Those poor men and women,” She whispered, Marinette looking up at her then back at the soldiers, “Marinette, always respect anyone who wears that uniform. They have given up everything to protect us. Do you understand?” Marinette nodded, looking back at them.

She caught the eye of one young man who was on horseback. His hair was pure black, the top of his hair long and in a bun, shorter pieced falling out here and there, while the underside was shaved to a fade with what seemed to be a haphazardly shaved pawprint on the side. He looked over at them, he must have spotted Tikki, she always caught peoples’ eye. He had green eyes with small pupils, he was handsome but looked young to be in the scouts. His jaw was covered in blood, his cape missing and his uniform stained, though it didn’t stand out much against his black t-shirt. He raised a brow, and tilted his head curiously, examining them. Marinette blinked before she waved, smiling pleasantly. This caught him by surprise, blinking a few times before he smiled and waved back. He had a peculiar smile, his canines looked almost catlike with the small extra length of them and it made her smile more. He was different, just like her and her sister were. Not to the extend but still. He seemed to find it amusing and winked at Marinette, laughing to himself before he turned his attention back to the front.

They watched them leave, the crowds whispering between themselves, Tikki’s grip never letting go of Marinette. Tikki quickly herded Marinette away, “let’s go.” She whispered.

“Did you see that scout?” Marinette asked as she walked, looking down at the stone she had started kicking. “He looked different, like us.”

“What?” Tikki asked, taken aback with a raised brow.

“His smile, I think he looks like he has teeth like a cat.”

“A cat?”

“Yeah, didn’t you see? I like his smile, its unique like us.”

Tikki stayed silent and eyed Marinette before looking forward again, “you know why we are unique, don’t you? Papa said he discussed it with you.”

“Yeah, because we are half Chinese, or oriental as he said.” She answered honestly, “he said we are rare and that there aren’t many of us left. That’s what makes us so special.”

“Well yes, but that is also why we must be extra careful and why we must not be out after sunset.” Tikki explained, her brows furrowed. “You know about the people that could harm us?”

“Yeah, I know, but I don’t think everyone is bad.” Marinette replied with a shrug, she hated these conversations, she didn’t like to think about all of that… of mama…

“I know, but there are bad people out there.” Tikki said before stopping and looking around. The world had almost gone quiet, the wind dropped, and the birds stopped singing. Marinette blinked and looked around too.

“Marinette…” Tikki whispered, grabbing her sister’s shoulder.

Marinette bit her lip and looked around, “what is it?”

Tikki looked like she was starting to panic and pulled Marientte aside. She crouched in front of her and held her shoulders, looking her in the eye. “Okay, I need you to listen to me. Never put yourself in danger, got it?” Tikki stopped and held onto Marinette’s shoulders tighter. Tikki’s blue eyes looked scared. “There are more scary things than the people who could take us. I have done everything to protect you from the reality of this life, but please, if anything happens, ever, you run, you hide, and you do whatever you can to survive.”

“Tikki… What- what are you talking about?” Marinette asked in confusion. She may not know much but she wasn’t an idiot, she knew there were dangers beyond and within the wall. But what was she talking about?

“Trust me, okay? Just listen to my words.” Tikki cupped Marinette’s face, “you are the most important thing to me, and I promised mama and papa that I would protect you from everything, let you grow up but something… something about those soldiers. I can’t lie to you anymore.” She sighed, Marinette felt tears in her eyes at the mention of her mama, “listen to me, if ever something goes wrong, you look after yourself before anyone else, okay? I know it sounds awful, but I need you to survive.” Marinette shook her head, that was an awful thing to say. “Life is survival, it’s not survival of the fittest anymore, its survival of the smartest. You are small, but strong, you’re smart, you use that big brain of yours, and you survive.”

“I-I don’t understand.” Marinette said with a frown, “why are you telling me this? Why can’t I help people if there is danger?”

“I…I….” Tikki looked away, biting her lip, Marinette felt her pulse through the hands on her cheeks. “I just… Promise me!” Tikki looked more serious than she ever had.

Marinette looked at her in confusion, where had this come from? This was so out of the blue, it was like Tikki knew something she didn’t. But what? “Tikki, I don’t understand.”

Tikki opened her mouth but she was interrupted when a crack of thunder echoed, a yellow strike of lightning appearing just beyond the wall. Everyone froze and watched, she had never heard silence like that. Tikki stood up and grabbed Marinette.

What was happening? She saw the huge hand on the wall and gasped. No… It couldn’t be… The wall was over fifty metres tall, no titan was ever that big.

“Oh god… no…” Tikki gasped, Marinette looked around, everyone was still, eyes on the wall. She turned her eyes to the wall and covered her mouth, her blood ran cold. A sweat overtook her body and she started shaking. That was when she saw the face appear. It was all muscle, even from this distance she could make out the eyes and teeth. “Marinette, run!” She heard her sister scream before a gust of hot wind overtook them, rubble flying everywhere then a loud bang. They were flung back into the air, her grip on Tikki gone as she screamed. She didn’t know how long they were in the air but when they landed it was hard and Marinette landed on someone who wrapped their arms around her. She had hit her head, she knew that much from the pain and the wetness trickling down her face.

She had the wind knocked out of her, her vision going white and a pain in her side stifled her scream. She heard screaming around her, and when her vision returned, she was on her back lying on another person who had their arms tightly around her. Dust was everywhere, people running around them and she could hear someone screaming her name. Wait, she wasn’t on Tikki?

“Hey, are you okay?” She heard a young boy’s voice ask under her in a yell, “Hey, can you hear me? Listen to me!” She coughed and struggled against the arms, he let go of her and she rolled off. She rolled onto her knees, her dress was torn slightly over her left side from their impact and blood was dripping onto the white lace around her neck She felt hands on her face and looked up, meeting green eyes. Time stood still and she stared at him in silence. He looked around her age, big green eyes, a cut under his left eye and short blonde hair. He looked so groomed he could be from the inner walls. He looked her over before grabbing her under her arms and pulled her up to standing, grasping her hand and pulling her away from the chaos towards who was screaming her name.

She let him pull her along, her body moving on its own as she stared back from where they came from. Boulders lay on top of people, blood everywhere, limbs lying across the road. Marinette gasped and her eyes widened. She felt her innocence shatter, felt everything of her being shatter. She had been so sheltered, and now…

“Hey, come on, you need to run, I cant carry you, please!” She heard the raspy voice yell in a panic, turning her attention to him with wide eyes. He saw them and gasped, looking past her and saw what she had just seen, pulling her behind a wall and hiding her against the cold stone. Realisation had hit him on what she had just seen, and so he pulled his cloak off and wrapped it around her, pulling up the hood. “Don’t look, I have you, I promise!” He grabbed her hand again and they were running again. Marinette gripped onto the boy for dear life, tears streaming down her face.

They’re dead… The titans, they were in. She didn’t know what was going to happen! Where was Tikki?

“Where are we going? Where is my sister?” Marinette screamed, she was half running half being dragged, but then she tripped up on her skirt with a scream and caused them both to fall, scraping her knee in the process as they rolled away, hitting a wall and stopped. The boy had his arms around her again as he kept her close to his chest as them stampede of people flew past, panting heavily.

“Are you okay? Can you still run?” He asked softly as he looked down at her, blinking when he saw her wide, terrified eyes. He frowned and tilted his head back, looking to where she was looking and froze, 50 feet away from them stood… a titan.

“No… How is that possible.” The boy whispered, sitting them up and pulling her back against his chest, being held close to him as she sobbed quietly. They were frozen, his grip on her tight around her, ruffling her dress between his fists. “A Titan…” Before them stood a huge humanoid creature, his grin ear from ear filled with large teeth, his hair long and black, his tall body muscled. Marinette started kicking her legs, trying to get away and grabbed at the arms around her, screaming for help. “I got you!” He cried as she struggled in his arm before lifting her up with a grunt, shifting her onto his back and began running as Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck, gripping onto his shirt for dear life as he hooked his hands under her knees.

Marinette looked ahead and saw Tikki between the terrified crowds, she was with the scout from earlier, he had Tikki over his shoulder and was looking around as if he was looking for someone. She was kicking and screaming, eyes falling on Marinette and she stopped struggling, screaming for her with her hand outreached, causing the scout to look back, his eyes widening.

Marinette screamed out, “Tikki!” She gripped onto the boy tighter who had a determined look on his face, his eyes focused on the scout. “Tikki! Help-” before she could finish her sentence a titan grabbed them out of no where, causing them both to scream and grab onto each other, the boy twisting and pulling her against his chest. The boy started punching the giant fingers around them, his other arm holding her tight against him, Marinette never let her eyes look away from the toothy grinned giant staring at them in hunger. “Tikki!” Marinette screamed.

“Marinette! NO!” Tikki screamed, Marinette looked over at her to see her fighting the scout who was yelling something at her. He didn’t have his gear, Marinette noticed, her heart sinking as she turned her attention back to the monster in front of them. He was raising them up, the grip getting stronger, the air being squeezed from them. The boy yelped and looked at her in fear. She looked back, tears streaming down her face. They stared at each other before he smiled at her small, lacing their fingers together and keeping their eyes locked.

“Just keep looking at me, okay?” He said softly, she nodded and gripped onto his hand, sniffing and wiping her nose on her arm as she cried. “It’ll be okay, what’s your name by the way?”

“M-Marinette.” She whispered in reply, shaking and stifling a scream as a big hand started to reach for them, the boy squeezing her hand more, the other arm around her tightening, pulling her so her face was against his chest, resting his head on hers.

“I’m Adrien.” He replied, he was shaking as well, tears falling. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” She shook her head, eyes starting to turn towards the hand that was so close now she could feel the warmth, her eyes widening. But Adrien wasn’t having it, tightening his arm again and making her look back up at him. “Keep looking at me or hide, just don’t look. I got you.” He whispered.

The grip on them tightened and her eyes shot open as fingers grabbed the cloak fastened around her, lifting her out of the hand, she screamed for dear life as Adrien tried desperately to keep his strong grip on her. “Adrien!” She screeched, gripping his hands for dear life. He was screaming for her, desperate to get her back. “NO! NO! ADRIEN! TIKKI! PAPA!!!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, her grip being pulled from Adrien’s her heart stopping and her eyes widening. She locked eyes with the terrified boy, he looked like he was about to be sick.

She wasn’t sure if it was because he had lost her, or because he was next but the boy started screaming and hitting at the hand again. She looked at the titan as it held her up to his face, staring at her with empty, dead, hungry eyes. She was hanging from the cloak, it was slowly pressing against her neck, making it harder and harder to breath. She was sure she had wet herself, feeling warmth go down her legs. This was it; this was the end. She watched as he opened his mouth, the stench was rancid, making her gag and cover her mouth with her trembling hands. She started screaming for help again, kicking at the Titan, she didn’t want to die.

She felt time move in slow motion as she was lifted up higher, closing her eyes and hugging herself. She heard Adrien screaming for her desperately, but her hearing left her, a soft hum taking over. Was her body getting her ready to die? She had read something about it, a fight or flight within the body, protects you from the trauma or the pain to come so to speak. Adrenaline, was it? But she wasn’t sure it was true until now.

Then suddenly she wasn’t being held up as air filled her lung from the loss of pressure on her neck, feeling the air from falling overwhelming her. It’s over… It’s over… But instead of being bitten in half or feeling the wetness of a tongue, she was hit by another body, eyes flying open to see the ends of blonde hair as she was suddenly going another direction. Reality set in and the haze faded quickly, she wrapped her arms and legs around him as he did to her, burying her head in his neck as she braced for impact. And boy was it a hard one.

They hit a corner of a wall, spinning in the air and slamming into the floor, both gasping and coughing for air. She opened her eyes wide as she took a deep breath and gripped the boy that lay on top of her, covering her from danger. She looked back at the Titan to see it was missing his hands, swiping at the soldier who had appeared. She saw the roses and knew exactly why they were there. She didn’t have much time to think after that as the boy got up and pulled her up, grabbing her and flinging her on his back, running as fast as he could. He was limping as he ran, his groans while he panted telling her that he was injured just like she was.

By the time Marinette could register what was going on fully she was pulled off his back despite her screams of protest to be met by a tight hug. She blinked and looked up, “Marinette!” Tikki… She found her! Marinette broke down and hugged her tight, her sister hitched her up and held her close to her body, and they were running again, Marinette clung on for dear life. She opened her eyes and saw the dark-haired scout behind her, the boy draped over his back. He looked exhausted but still clung to the young man, Adrien’s head hung over his shoulder.

They ran in the screaming crowds, avoiding the many titans that were eating everyone they could. But Marinette kept her eyes on the boy, he had risked his life for her, a stranger. Why did he do that? After what her sister had said to her earlier, she was confused to why he had risked his life to save her?

After what seemed like ages they suddenly stopped, the older teens panting heavily. Tikki shifted Marinette with a grunt and she could feel that Tikki was wet from sweat. “Marinette, I need you to run, okay?” She whispered, placing the girl down who stood on shaking legs, nodding and looking back at the scout who didn’t look like he was struggling as much, but the boy on his back fought against him and jumped to his feet, running to Marinette and took her hand, eyes fixed on her and full of something Marinette had never seen before. She gulped and looked at their clasped hands before she looked around fearfully.

The scout didn’t look pleased but grunted, Tikki looked at the scout who just frowned and started running. The boy pulled Marinette with him, Tikki running behind them. Marinette looked around as she was pulled along, people were being eaten, trampled, crushed, there was nothing but death and despair. How could they survive this?

After not too long they were approaching the main gate in wall Maria, Marinette looked around desperately for her father, but never saw him. They all slowed down, gaining their breath back slowly. They joined the crowd, heading slowly towards the arch. The one flaw of the districts that lay outside the wall was there was only one exit. She remembered her father complaining about it constantly. She looked back at her sister, seeing Tikki was next to the scout who Marinette had figured out his name was Plagg. They were arguing in hushed voices, she wanted to ask Adrien what was going on but she didn’t know if she could speak yet.

Did they know each other? The way they were arguing and their body language spoke a thousand words. But she had never seen this man until today. But then again here she was clinging to the boy next to her, their fingers interlocked and her other hand gripping onto his arm for dear life. He didn’t seem to mind, looking up at him and saw he was looking around with a serious expression. Now that things had slowed down, she got a proper look at him.

He was taller than her by maybe a few inches, his face young and his green eyes bright. The right side of his face was covered in blood, his cut dirty and deep under his eye, another cut on his forehead. She didn’t think she looked any better, feeling the dried blood on her face and the pain from her cuts. She looked down at his dark green shirt and saw red over the side they had hit the corner of the wall on, her brows furrowing. He was injured, and he still managed to carry her out of there.

“He’s my brother.” Adrien spoke softly, turning her gaze back up to his face, he was looking down at her now, smiling small, “Plagg, the one talking with your sister, Tikki was it?” Marinette nodded, looking at the two arguing teens, “he’s a scout, the only reason he’s in Shiganshina is because of me.” He looked down darkly, his eyes looked sad for some reason. “But, hey, that meant I was there to catch you.” He looked at her and smiled sadly.

She blinked up at him, she didn’t know what to say, her whole mind felt shattered. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Why couldn’t she speak? Was she really that weak?

He seemed to understand and nodded, “hey, it’s okay. We have been through a lot today, you don’t have to talk. I’m just glad I could help even one person.” She again blinked, he was so kind, probably the kindest person she had ever met. Why save her?

They both looked up when Tikki turned to them, “stay close, we need to get onto the boats, but there are a lot of people in front of us. You stay by us no matter what, okay?” They both nodded and she sighed, eyeing their clasped hands before turning back, Plagg whispered a comment that caused Tikki to hit his arm, telling him off again.

“Plagg, we need to get them away from here.” Marinette heard her sister say, eyeing her curiously. Tikki’s hair was ruffled, her pigtails messed and some hair had fallen out, framing her face. She had a small cut on her cheek. But what stood out the most was that she looked terrified.

“Yeah, yeah, I know that, sugarcube.” The scout replied with a scowl, “what do you think I’m doing exactly?”

“Well, so far my sister was almost eaten, let snot even bring up the state of them, and my dad is probably dead!” Tikki yelled back at him, pouting as she glared.

Suddenly they heard the footsteps, freezing and spinning around. Their eyes wide. Adrien gasped and pulled Marinette close, his eyes wide and his jaw clenched. In the distance they saw a huge titan sprinting towards them, his arms flinging around him, his jaw slack. Marinette screamed and was suddenly pulled to running by Adrien, turning her gaze forward the saw Tikki being pulled along by Plagg.

They had got out! How were they in danger again! This couldn’t be happening! She looked back just as the titan hit the ground, gasping as she saw the rubble heading towards them she looked at Adrien and saw he hadn’t seen it, his eyes focused on the road ahead. HE had saved her all this time, and if that debris hit them he would be hurt or possibly die. She looked back and gasped, she had to do something! She let go of his hand, causing him to gasp and look at her. She didn’t hesitate and shoved him hard, causing him to yell her name and fall to the side just as the debris hit her. She was hit hard, being smacked back, tumbling until she skidded to a halt, her body limp.

All she felt was pain, her vision went white, and she felt her dress suddenly getting wet. She tried breathing but it was laboured, and she heard gargling a bit. Her body was shaking, the pain coming from her left side of her face down to her shoulder. What was wrong with her? Was she dead? Was she dying? What about Adrien?

Suddenly she felt hands on her neck, she heard her sister far in the distance and then strong arms were carrying her and she was bouncing in them, the wind blowing over her. She heard others yelling and the whiteness started to fade. She was staring up at the sky, her mouth hanging open slightly, gasping for breath. Why did it feel like she was drowning? Was she drowning? No that was silly, she was in someone’s arms.

She felt someone had her hand, a soft voice speaking to her until they finally stopped. She felt hardness under her and suddenly her sister’s face was above her and she felt pressure on her neck, cheek and shoulder. She looked around without moving her head, Tikki’s tears catching her attention. Tikki? Why was she crying? What was wrong with her?

“Marinette? Oh god, oh shit, please, don’t die, no, please don’t die!” Tikki was saying, crying softly. “Plagg, do something!”

“Do what exactly? Do I look like a doctor? I’m doing everything I can!” The young man hissed back, he tore the bottom of Tikki’s skirt and started wrapping it around Marinette’s neck. “Just keep pressure! She’s lucky she’s even fucking alive!”

“Why did she do that?” She heard Adrien, he sounded distressed.

“She was saving you, if she didn’t do that you would be just as bad, possibly worse. She has some guts, I will give her that.” Plagg replied, leaning over her and looking into her eyes. She looked back, examining the dark green eyes, his small pupils getting even smaller as he frowned. “Just shut up and keep her calm!” She must have looked like she was panicking because suddenly Adrien’s face appeared as Plagg’s disappeared and looked down at her.

Marinette tried to speak but it sounded gargled, she felt him take her hand and her eyes darted toward him, seeing the dark faced boy. She should have spoken up earlier, now she can’t speak. She can’t thank this boy. A complete stranger who risked his life, who was covered in both his and her blood, banged up from protecting her. And she couldn’t even thank him. Adrien… He saw her panic and smiled sweetly, kissing her knuckles. She suddenly felt tired, darkness taking over quickly. “It’s okay, we got you, we are on the boat heading to Wall Rose, we are-“ Before he could finish his sentence there was an explosion and Plagg dove over Marinette, shielding her.

“Fuck!” He cursed and sat back up as Adrien took over his place, shielding Marinette, turning towards the wall and they all stared in silence. Marinette wanted to see but the pain was too bad so she gripped onto Adrien’s shirt. He looked down at her with an expression that scared her. She felt her eyelids flutter and darkness slowly took over, the last thing she see was Adrien’s face, his hands suddenly flying to her neck as he started yelling something. And then… nothing.

oOo

When Marinette first awoke she felt groggy and sore, her eyes barely opening. She groaned, lifting her hand and felt the rough bandaging from below her nose down to her breasts. Her mouth was covered so she couldn’t speak. She blinked a few times and looked up, expecting her sister or even Adrien’s face, but she was met by golden eyes under big, framed glasses. She blinked in surprise and stared at the dark-skinned girl standing over her, she had a heart shaped face and had fiery, long hair in a high pony, pieces framing her face. She was in a nurses uniform, but she looked the same age as Marinette.

“Hey girl.” The girl spoke chipperly, “you’re okay, don’t try to speak though. You’re in Troste district. You got badly banged up, but you’re safe now!” She smiled at her and picked up a clip board examining the paper.

Marinette felt the sheets under her hands, they were rough and they smelt funny. She realised she wasn’t on a bed but the floor, a sheet between her and the hard wood. What happened with the titans? Why was she in Troste?

“Marinette, is it?” She hummed and walked around Marinette, Marinette watched her with a raised brow. “You have internal damage, a big nasty cut from your cheek to your shoulder, some cuts on your face and torso, and some bruising. You really fought for your life, didn’t you?” She looked at Marinette with… admiration? “You’re like those scouts, you’re a superhero!” She dropped to her knees and grabbed Marinette’s hand, Marinette’s eyes widening. “That’s so cool!”

Cool? Marinette didn’t think it was cool. She had just experienced the worst day of her life and she couldn’t do anything right, needing others to save her. She felt like a fool, she felt like a dumb child. Why did no one ever tell her how bad they really were? She felt so naive. She looked away from Alya and pulled her hand away. Alya blinked and looked at her with a concerned look, her smile falling. Marinette didn’t have the energy to help the girl with her feelings, she was dealing with her own. Her eyes were empty, the sparkle gone, her innocence gone. Hell, everything she thought she was now seemed pathetic. She noticed she wasn’t in that stupid dress she had spent a month or so on, how frivolous it seemed now. She was glad she wasn’t in it, she didn’t want any reminders. Reminders of them, of the death, of how she was useless.

She couldn’t even protect herself, she had to have others save her, protect her, carry her. She was weak. She was worthless. She needed to get stronger, she had to. She would never let anyone suffer because of her again. The only good thing she did today was push that boy out of the way.

“Hey,” Alya dragged her from her thoughts, looking back at the girl. She looked concerned, “you’re safe now. I promise.” She placed her hand on Marinette’s. Marinette wanted to believe her, but she didn’t know what the truth was anymore. “I’m going to stay here with you tonight, okay? Your sister isn’t far, she will be here soon. But I promise, I will stay with you.”

Marinette blinked up and her, tears filling her eyes. She realised then she had been trying so hard to keep it together. Alya smiled and did a quick examination on Marinette, chatting away about how she was helping her mom who was the head nurse here. After she was done, she shuffled under the sheet with Marinette, lying on her back and staring up at the roof. Marinette felt comfort in it. She couldn’t speak but that didn’t matter right now.

Alya stayed with her that night, describing her childhood, telling her everything about herself. Marinette hung on every word, by the time she passed out from exhaustion and pain she felt like she had known Alya since she was a child. She felt at peace in a way, but she felt different. She felt like she was changed forever, the girl she was the day before was gone now.

---

It took Marinette a long time to heal, Tikki hardly leaving her side and eventually becoming a nurse herself so that she was close to Marinette. Alya spent every night with Marinette, making sure Marinette felt alone and comforted her whenever she was sad. The worst night was when she climbed into the sheets and hugged her friend while she sobbed after finding out her father was dead, and soon every night she slept next to Marinette. She didn’t care that they slept on the floor, she refused to sleep anywhere else without Marinette. They were inseparable.

It was a few months before Marinette was asked to speak, the bandages finally removed and the deep sensitive scar standing red and angry against her pale skin. She was used to the dull pain in her jaw, the now scar didn’t hurt as much as when it was a cut, but the pain was still there.

“Okay Marinette, we need you to try to speak.” Tikki said softly, Alya was next to her, she had stolen a mattress from her home and had made herself comfortable next to Marinette, concerned eyes on her best friend.

Marinette gulped, it felt weird not having her mouth covered, She had only had her mouth uncovered to eat or drink, so it felt weird to be completely exposed. So she felt naked sitting there without the bandage, in the baggy green shirt she had found at the bottom of her bed months ago, a small cut on the side. It was Adrien’s, he had washed it and brought it for her. She knew it was, no one knew for sure but she knew in her heart it was his. She chewed her lip and looked at her sister. It took some time but finally the words left her mouth, “where is Adrien?”

Tikki blinked in surprised and furrowed her brows, “Who?” She asked, “wait, the boy?” Marinette nodded, Alya watched her in confusion, “He’s okay, he isn’t here anymore, he’s with his brother with the survey corps, I think. He’s okay.”

Marinette nodded and looked down at her hands in her lap, she had thought of him almost every night but even now his face was blurry. She tried so hard but she couldn’t make out his face clearly. All she saw was the blood, the titan ready to eat her, felt the warmth down her leg as she pissed herself, the chaffing after as she ran for her life. She was destroyed by the experience, but maybe she could do some good from it. She lay back down, rolling over, pulling the blanket over her mouth as comfort. The others looked at her sadly, knowing she needed space. Alya sighed and lay down next to her, hugging her tight.

"Marinette, I promise he is okay. He was here for a little while and he visited you a few times when you were asleep." Tikki said softly, stroking her sister's face. Marinette hid her face, Tikki knew this side of Marinette too well now. She sighed and got up, "okay... I will come back later."

Alya stayed silent as Tikki left before she whispered, "Marinette?"

Marinette looked back at Alya, "yeah?" She replied in a whisper, it felt amazing to be able to speak again.

"Who's Adrien?" Marinette realised her best friend had no clue about what happened to her, she had been silent for months and now it was her turn to use her voice to let Alya know her.

"He's a boy that... He saved me." She croaked, rolling over so they were facing each other. "He gave me this shirt, I know it. He was wearing it." She covered her mouth with the neck of her shirt, looking down. "Do you want to hear about what happened?" And with that Marinette spoke about the worst day of her life for the first time since it happened. The words fell from her lips and a pressure lifted off her chest. By the end she was sobbing, Alya's eyes were wide in horror, her mouth open in shock. That night they fell asleep holding onto each other, Marinette having her first night without any nightmares, and she could make out Adrien's eyes. So she focused on them, holding onto the image for dear life.

---

More months passed and Marinette was now fully healed, or as healed as she was going to get. It had been over a year since the break of wall Maria, Tikki and Marinette were now living with Alya and her family. Marinette’s wounds had healed but she now wore a pale pink, jagged scar from the far left of her cheek down her neck all the way to her collar bone. Because of this she was stared at constantly and they whispered about how she was a survivor. Her hair had grown longer since the fall of Shiganshina so she used her hair to her advantage, hiding under it yet again, and rarely speaking. Tikki constantly told her she was worried about Marinette, but Marinette ignored her. She didn’t want to talk about this stuff with Tikki, she knew she had her own problems and Marinette didn't want to put more on her.

The person she was, the cheerful, talkative girl was completely erased, as if she never existed. She now was quiet, subdued and emotionless. Alya was the only one who got anything out of Marinette, she even managed to make Marinette laugh, a sound Tikki hadn’t heard since the day of the attack. It wasn't that she had no personality anymore or anything, she just didn't have a reason to be cheerful or talk much anymore. Especially with her giant, ugly scar that she hated. Her scar was like a giant sign that read 'I survived the fall of Shiganshina, stare at me please'. She hated the stares but she was used to it now.

The only person she spoke to was Alya, they lay in bed together at night and whispered to each other. Marinette told her of her plans to join the military the coming weeks. Alya argued with her, saying that it was suicide, stating Marinette has only just recovered from her last experience with the titans. Alya wasn’t impressed but eventually promised to come with her to Marinette’s surprise, stating they were in it forever now.

“Alya, we could die.” Marinette whispered, lying on her side looking at her best friend who mimicked her, a frown on her face.

“I don’t care, look at you, I am not letting you go anywhere without me.” Alya retorted.

Marinette frowned, “I don’t need protection. Don't join the military just to keep an eye out for me, you could die!"

“I’m not coming to protect you, I’m coming to support you.” Alya sighed.

“I can do it alone.” Marinette frowned, looking away. She didn’t need anyone else getting hurt for her. "I don't want you to get hurt or end up like me."

“I know that, girl.” Alya replied softly, “but there is nothing wrong with others helping you. And we are in this till death, right?”

Marinette looked at Alya and sighed at their promise, linking their pinky fingers, “Till we die.”

“Till we die.” Alya repeated, grinning. “So when are you going to tell your sister?”

Marinette sighed and played with the string of her shirt, her mind drifting to Adrien again. “I don’t know, but she isn’t going to be exactly happy.”

“That’s the biggest understatement of the year.” Alya snorted, taking her glasses off and placed them aside. “All I will say is good luck, girl.”

Marinette sighed, watching as Alya blew out the candle, she knew she was right, telling Tikki was going to be hell. "You say that but you're the crazy woman following me to our deaths."

"Nah, it's only being crazy if I thought we would die." Alya replied, "which we wont, we are gonna be badasses."

Marinette chuckled and shook her head, "sure."

“Don’t worry about it tonight though, okay? Let’s just focus on getting some sleep tonight.” Alya smiled and got comfy, Marinette smiled, feeling the tug of her scar. She never smiled now because of it, but she never felt shy or like she had to hide from Alya. She could be herself.

"Yeah... Let's see what happens." She said before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

---

Tikki stared at Marinette like she had grown two more heads, her blue eyes wide with fear. “You… no, I… You WHAT!?” She screamed. They were sitting at the dining table in Alya’s house, the two girls sat on one side while Tikki and Mrs Césaire were on the other side. Tikki was standing up, her hands in fists. She looked like she could jump across the table and bundle Marinette up and hide her forever. She was in her nurse’s uniform, they had chosen to tell them now before their shift happened so that they could pack their bags. “You are barely twelve years old!”

“I’m thirteen soon, I am old enough, I’m joining.” Marinette said calmly. She watched her seventeen year old sister look shocked at her words. Marinette looked at her emotionlessly, being stuck in a bed for months not being able to speak and being stuck inside your own head makes you extremely good at handling emotions and stay in control.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Tikki slammed her fists on the table, “it’s a suicide mission joining the military! Do you want to die?”

“No, I don’t. I want to make a difference. I almost died because I was weak, I don’t want to be weak anymore.” Marinette didn’t flinch as Tikki slammed her fist down again, her eyes fixed on Tikki.

“You can’t even comprehend or understand enough to join the military!” Alya gulped next to her, chewing her lip, her own mother staring her down but not saying a word. Tikki wasn’t staying silent.

“Respect anyone who wears that uniform, Marinette.” Marinette said softly, “Remember you said that to me?” Tikki blinked in surprise, stepping back. “I remember you said that minutes before we ran for our lives,” Tikki’s eyes widened and she gasped, “before I was almost eaten by a titan, before I got this.” She pointed at her scar, her brows furrowing. “So don’t tell me that I don’t understand or that I cannot comprehend death or what being a soldier means. I am well aware. I have the scar as a souvenir.” Her eyes darkened, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest.

Tikki stared at her in shock, holding the same look she always had when looking at Marinette recently. The look of not knowing who Marinette was anymore. Tikki turned to Mrs Césaire, “Marlena!” She cried, “say something! I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want this to happen!”

Mrs Césaire sighed and dropped the hand that was covering her mouth. “Alya, have you thought this through?”

“Yes mom,” Alya replied, straightening her back with confidence.

“You aren’t doing this to follow Marinette?”

“No ma’am.” Alya insisted, shaking her head, “I want to bring honour and pride to our family. I want to help with the war on the titans and get our world back.”

Mrs Césaire nodded, thinking for a minute before she stood up, wiping her eyes and walking over to Alya, pulling her to standing and engulfed her in a huge hug. She hugged her back, burying her face in her mothers chest. “We are already so proud of you, and you have already brought us honour by joining. I know you will be amazing.”

“What!?” Tikki was shocked, Marinette looked back at her with a raised brow, Tikki looked bewildered. “You are allowing this? They’re children!”

Mrs Césaire let go of Alya and frowned at Tikki, “they have experienced more than most adults. Especially Marinette.” She replied calmly, “if they want to join the military to make a difference we should be proud of them and their sacrifice! The men and women who are fighting this war against the titans are giving up their lives for us!”

“Exactly, giving up their lives!” Tikki yelled back, “I don’t want my sister dying at the ripe old age of 17 when she graduates!”

“I won’t die, and if I do it would be for the greater good!” Marinette stood up and yelled back.

“No it wont! You will die with your guts hanging out, piss down your leg and you will be crying out for a loved one begging not to die! I forbid this!” Tikki walked over and grabbed Marinette’s shoulders. “You are too weak!” Marinette gasped and stared at her sister in shock. “You will die!”

“Marinette isn’t weak!” Alya yelled, she looked ready to attack. “She is the strongest person I know!”

“The last time you saw a titan you almost died! You are too small, you won’t make it!” Tikki shook her shoulders angrily. Marinette frowned and pushed her sister off her, glaring at her.

“You can’t tell me what to do! You aren’t my mother and you aren’t my guardian.” She growled, “I can do whatever I like, and if anything Mrs Césaire is in charge of me.” Tikki looked surprised. “And I am not weak. If you don’t like it that’s not my problem. You can either support me or you can stay out of my business.”

Tikki glared at her sister before she grabbed her head scarf off the table and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Marinette sighed and sat down, dropping her head on the table with a grunt.

You are too weak… you will die…

Her sister’s words echoed in her head, she was expecting the words to hurt her but they didn’t, they made her more determined. She was going to make it, she just needed to prove everyone wrong.

“Ignore her, Marinette. She doesn’t know who you are, who you really are. You will prove her wrong.” Alya reassured her, resting a hand on Marinette’s back.

Marinette sighed and stood up, pushing the chair back and walked through to their bedroom, walking to the window and looked out. She saw the garrison soldiers on the wall, they were running drills today, she watched them swinging across the wall and felt a pang in her chest. She wanted to be up there, she needed to be up there.

She sighed and turned away, leaning against the wall and slid down to the floor, dropping her head against the wall. Her mind went to Adrien again, looking over at the green shirt draped on the bed. It was a year and a half since the fall of the walls, and his face was almost all but blurred. She remembers how he held her like she was the only thing that mattered. She remembered his voice, and all she could see were those green eyes. She felt her scar with her fingers, drawing her knees to her chest, staring at the crinkles in her skirt.

Where was he? Was he safe? Did he get badly injured? She had so many questions that were most likely never going to be answered. And that sucked. He was the reason she was joining the military, she was spared and he saved her life, a stranger’s life. She had a debt to pay, and she wanted to be good. Not just a good person but a good soldier. But that wasn’t the important thing now. In a few weeks she will be a recruit and will start her training. She needed to focus on that and get through. Her eyes travelled to the shirt again, sadness taking over and the tears came. She had been through so much, yet these moments came very rarely, and when they did she embraced them with open arms. Just happy to feel something.

---

“Tikki I will be fine.” Marinette stared at the uniform in front of her. The cadet badge standing out against the tanned jacket. Her last conversation with her sister the night before echoing in her head. “Just… don’t die, okay?” Tikki had helped her cut her hair and gave Marinette her red ribbons much to her surprise. Now they were tied in her short, low pigtails, the ribbons floating down her back. Something of her sister to keep her safe.

She gulped and started to strip, pulling her new uniform on proudly. She wore her dark green top underneath her jacket, her dark brown sash around her waist fit perfectly and then her white trousers. Everything was custom made for her she figured, because it fit perfectly. She sat down and pulled on her knee-high boots, determination filling her.

Soon they were on the courtyard, in their formation at attention. Marinette looked around, she hadn’t met anyone yet, Alya standing next to her. She finally made it, she was finally here. She clenched her fists and looking to the side at her friend, smiling small at her before her face went hard. She was going to prove everyone wrong; she was going to join the survey regiment and she was going to make a difference. She looked forward, the horrors she saw flashing in front of her eyes, taking a deep breath and relaxed her fists. She had made it, now she had to actually do it.

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blizzardfluffykpop · 4 years

Text

Rose Bush

Summary: Who would have guessed if I just stopped to smell the roses. I would get so much more out of life, than anyone could ever believe.

Oneshot

Word Count: 2,482

Jackson X Reader

[For context read: Good Friday (Mark Tuan X Reader) {Devil au/Halloween au}]

Okay so summoning a devil in my shared apartment wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had. But it wasn’t the worst idea I have ever had. There was the time that I thought if I could get the toilet water to spin in reverse I could get time to go in reverse. That wasted four hours of my time and I never got any time back. So when (F/n) calls me back into the apartment after I ran out, I knew I was in deep shit. But at least I got to ask the devil a dire question of mine. “I-I… was wondering if you could tell me if I ever find love…?” The devil, who I would later learn his name is Mark, tells me, “You could have just asked your friend over there…” I pout wanting real answers, tarot decks could only ease so much of my anxiety or make it 10x worse. When he answers, “Yeah you will, but don’t let the present slip through your fingers or you’ll never have a future, okay?”

Those words hit me like a train because I came to realize I’ve always been focused on the future. Feeling as if time was moving too fast for me. Or the fact that I was constantly dwelling on the past did not help my case. It made me come to the realization I need to stop and smell the roses. Turns out, I’ve lived in this apartment complex for three years and never knew that rose bushes were growing along the sides of it. I was always in a rush and never had time to smell the roses.

Now, I avidly take time out of my day to enjoy the world around me. I’ve noticed something strange though,... There is a peacock that wanders around here as well. That’s how I found myself having conversations with a peacock. Yeah, I should have just stayed worrying about the future. Because now, I’m losing all my marbles thinking this peacock is replying to me and I’m understanding it. I exit my apartment waving goodbye to (F/n) and going to sit facing the roses to smell them while I wait. Dusk is in a few minutes, that’s when the peacock usually shows up. Anyone else would find being friends with a peacock weird, but me, not at all. I tried to befriend a worm once, that didn’t go so well,... Maybe Peacocks are just like corvids; they understand human language to a degree. Maybe I should look that up sometime, I hope I’m correct.

I turn from the red roses to see the peacock stalking towards me like it was gonna surprise me. The bird’s beak drops in shock that I caught it in the act. I laugh and gesture for him to come over here. The bird shakes off the shock and happily prances over. I start talking about my day, and the bird listens intently and leans on me. The bird communicates to me about their day, as best they can. Or well, what I figure is about their day, because I can't exactly understand squawks that well. But I try to make replies that make sense to the squawks.

When this guy comes up to us, “Jackson! There you are! I’ve been looking for you all over!” I look at the peacock in confusion, “You mean to tell me you have a name?” I ask as if the peacock can reply. The guy comes over, “Yeah, you mean he hasn’t told you?” Jackson puffs up and walks over to the lanky guy. “You can understand his squawks?!?!?!” I exclaim purely in shock. “I-” Before he can continue his sentence Jackson leans down and takes off his slide and starts running off with it. “HEY! COME BACK HERE!”

To say the least, this interaction confused the hell out of me. I guess I won’t be seeing Mark or (F/n) when I die. I go into my shared apartment with the most confused look on my face that both of them ask me what’s wrong. “You know that peacock I’ve been meeting?” They both nod a little bit confused, “Well, turns out not only does he have a name, but I think he has an owner who can understand his squawks,...” They both share a look and I move my head trying to see the look they are sharing. “Do you think the peacock is more than a peacock?” I squint my eyes, “Okay, first off I’m very confused about what you mean by that. Second off, he’s now a pet to someone,... I’m very sad because I might lose my bird friend.” I look at them seriously not wanting to lose Jackson. Mark nods at me, “That’s very understandable. But I was in your shoes once, you got to do everything you can to make sure you don’t lose, Jackson. Because it’s so hard to find them once you lose them.” He looks over at his partner and holds them closer. He lost (F/n) before, he knows what I’m going through. Jackson means so much to me, and I can’t lose him now.

I run out of the house, I can’t let this slip out from under my fingertips. I want to continue living in the present and he always makes sure I do. I don’t want to lose Jackson, he means the world to me. It’s when I see the lanky guy, “Oh, you were that person talking to Jackson.” I nod, “Where is he?” I ask frantically, “Oh, he went back to my apartment.” I nod, “Can I see him?” He shrugs and leads me to his apartment that’s three floors above mine. “What’s your name?” I ask him, “Oh I’m Bambam.” I nod, “It’s nice to meet you Bambam, I’m (Y/n).” He asks me while we wait in the elevator how I meet him. I was dwelling over the fact that I hadn’t paid that much attention to the world around me. When I started noticing a peacock wandering around the rose bushes at dusk. Something I would have never caught if I never started looking. The peacock noticed me as well and squawked at me, but not one that told me to ‘back off’. But one that asked me, ‘what brings you here’. From there on we would talk about our days, and I would try my best to understand his squawks. When Bambam knocks on the door, “Jackson you have a guest! Can you open the door?” I gawk at Bambam, “You taught him how to open a door?” Bambam laughs and shakes his head. When this tall and muscular man opens the door. He is so good-looking when it hits me, ‘Is that Jackson?!’

His eyes go wide in shock when he closes the door real fast and lets out an incoherent scream. My brain is still processing when the door opens again and it reveals Jackson, the peacock. My mind is reeling now, is that what they meant. That Jackson might be more than a peacock. Bambam laughs at Jackson as he has his feathers downcast. Looking at me, his eyes saying, “I can explain this but you might not like it” at least that’s what I assume. He gestures for me to follow him into the apartment. His feathers dragging against the ground sadly as he leads me to his room. Raises his right wing and opens his door. My brain still has yet to process any of this.

He sits on what I guess is his bed and pats his left wing on the bed gesturing for me to sit down as well. Just when I’m about to ask a question he sighs and turns back into the human I just saw. The really good looking human I saw a minute ago at the door. I ask warily, “J-Jackson?” He nods, “Yeah,...” My jaw dropped like his had earlier when he had tried to sneak up on me. “I can explain this if you’d like?” He asks with his head tilted so cutely. “That, that would be great.” He nods, “Well, it’s gonna sound crazy. But I think you already kind of know crazy so it won’t be that outlandish…” I shrug, “Yeah, nothing can beat trying to reverse time by trying to reverse toilet water.” He laughs, “I’m a shapeshifter,... My father is a shapeshifter and so was my grandmother. I got the gene, so I um, I can shift between different animals in the animal kingdom.” I grin, “What?!? That’s so cool,... You mean you can shift into any animal?” He laughs and nods, “Yeah, watch this.” He turns into a chicken, then a panther, and then a monkey and back to his human self. I laugh, “Can you shift so you look like different humans?” He nods and right before my eyes, he turns into Bambam. I laugh as he turns back, “Man, honestly this is the best explanation for something I have ever gotten.” He grins and I ask, “So, is this your main body?” He nods and I ask, “So why do you shift into a peacock all the time instead of the range of animals you can be?” He smiles, “Well, I can’t exactly be an elephant living in Seoul, can I?” I shake my head and laugh, “Plus they are graceful, strong, beautiful, and impressed you.” I smile over at him, “You have me there.”

He makes a fist and pumps it, “Yeah!” I grin, “It also makes you the center of attention.” He nods, “Yeah, it’s kind of hard not to notice a peacock by rose bushes.” I gawk at him, “Alright, just because some of us like to live in the future--.” He shakes his head with a laugh and turns back into a peacock. Laying across me and starts talking in his voice, “You mean to tell me this whole time you could talk in your voice?” He nods, “I think it might have freaked you out if I was talking bird.” I nod, “You’re right, does this mean you’re Donkey from Shrek--.” He glares with his bird eyes, “Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers.” He sighs, “You know I think I made a poor decision listening to you talk about your day to me.” I pout, “Hey, that’s not very nice, Mr. Peacock, sir.” He shakes his head and gets off of me and crosses his wings. “I don’t want to hear it.” I glare at his back, “Don’t make me make you into a feather down pillow.” He turns around his wings still crossed and he glares, “You wouldn’t--” I glare right back into his black bird eyes. “It won’t be the craziest thing I’ve ever done. Don’t try me featherdown.”

He lets out a loud squawk and flaps his wings and attacks me. To say this is the most interesting thing I’ve ever done. Would be an understatement, but it makes the top three as I wrestle with a peacock. Bambam knocks on the door and looks in, “You know what, I’ll come back later.” And walks out, just when I get the upper hand on the peacock he turns into his human self and he pins me down. “Not so fast, you were saying?” I glare, “Just because you have more muscle mass in this form. Does not mean I will give up, feather boy.” I laugh and try my best to flip us over. When I sigh and finally give up he lets go and falls down next to me. “Honestly, I’m so glad you turned out to be human.” He rolls over and looks at me instead of the ceiling. “Why is that?” I smile, “Because it’s nice I can talk to you about anything. No longer can (F/n) and Mark call me a crazy bird person. And now, you can answer back with words I can understand.” He pouts, “You can’t understand my squawks?” I shake my head, “I try my best!” He smiles, “I know.”

As Jackson and I grew closer, I learned more and more about the world. More than I could ever imagine was possible. I mean who would have guessed Bambam was a fairy? Definitely not me, Jackson being more than peacock? Who saw that one coming, everyone, but that is beside the point. Did I learn how to reverse time? No, but did I learn how to live in the present? Most definitely, I have a lot of reasons to look forward to each day. Jackson and I have decided to take our relationship slow, considering how I used to live in the future. I’ve gotten used to living in each moment, and Jackson makes that easy. You never know what he’s gonna be next, and I look forward to seeing it. He makes each day worth the wait, I’m so glad I can finally call him mine now. I mean who wouldn’t love a strong and sweet man? Especially one I can always laugh with, he makes my heart sing. He used to make me laugh even when he was just a peacock. To say I’m in love with him is an understatement. My soul has found its match, and it’s with a shapeshifter. I wouldn't have it any other way, he’s the reason why I'm committed to taking it slow. He makes every day an adventure even if it is lying next to each other and talking about meaningless things.

Living in the moment is more important than reliving the past because you can experience the present. You can’t experience the past again, even if you wish for it to happen. No matter how crazy your ideas are though, you should at least try them. Because they might help you realize something that was in front of you the whole time. For me, it was a peacock that would visit the rose bushes by my apartment. It changed my life forever and for the better. Jackson brings me back to the present by tapping my side and he smiles over at me. “Thinking about us again?” I nod, “Something like that,... I know it might be a little too soon to say this. But I’m so glad to have you in my life” He grins, “Me too,... Because now if any other peacock comes up to you. I now know I have a threat--” I shove him off the bed, “You know I was trying to have a moment here--” I roll over away from him. I know he is pouting behind me when I start feeling pecking on my back. I turn over and glare at him, and he squawks out a ‘sorry’. I sigh, uncross my arms and gesture for him to turn back. “Why?” He says, “So, I can give you a kiss, you big baby.” He grins and immediately turns back and kisses me.

And yes, if you were wondering I can speak and understand squawks completely now.

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cheemerthelizard · 4 years

Text

Trauma and Toxicity (Jotaro x Reader)

Tw: verbal abuse, almost physical abuse. Survival AU, but everyone is suffering from lots of PTSD.

You had done it. Dio was gone. You and your friends were on the brink of death so many times, but you all made it out alive, and you couldn’t be more grateful. Plus, now that everything was over, Jotaro told you about his feelings for you, and how he was hiding them to focus on the mission. You couldn’t have been more surprised, but you immediately accepted. It may have been tough, but now that Dio had been defeated, life was starting to get better again.

At least, it should have.

You and everyone else were swamped with trauma, making it hard to do anything anymore. Jotaro didn’t put up with his fangirls anymore, and got suspended multiple times for beating a girl up. Kakyoin became an empty shell, no longer doing the things he loved, since they reminded him of the trip to Egypt. You didn’t see what happened to Joseph, Avdol, or Polnareff, but you were told it hit them hard, too.

And you? Well, you actively tried doing things to forget about the trip, but that was really hard, since your only friends were still stuck thinking about Egypt. That, and your boyfriend wasn’t really being as sensitive as he should be, yelling at you multiple times. You felt like you were constantly walking on eggshells when you said just about anything.

Today, you, Kakyoin, and Jotaro were hanging out after school at the corner store, looking for a small snack.

“I think I’ll take some strawberries,” Kakyoin thought out loud.

“Strawberries?” you asked. “But I thought cherries were your favorite.”

“Not after Egypt,” Kakyoin sighed. “I can’t eat one without thinking about our trip.”

“Oh,” you mumbled. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your fault.”

“I think I’ll take some cherries, though, that sounds good.”

“Right after Kakyoin told you about how they make his trauma flare up?” Jotaro asked. “You’re so insensitive sometimes, did you know that?”

“Jotaro, it’s okay, she’s allowed to-” Kakyoin started to say, but was cut off.

“He clearly stated that he can’t eat one without thinking about Egypt, and you know how stressed we all get thinking about Egypt! Do you think about anyone else except for you?”

“I’m sorry,” you squeaked, “I didn’t mean to-”

“Sorry’s not gonna cut it, (Y/N)! You’re so selfish! Why am I even dating you if all you think about is what you want, what makes you happy, you, you, you! What about me? What about Kakyoin? What about that kid across the street? You never think about others’ feelings when you do anything! Maybe you need a lesson in caring about other people!”

“Jotaro, calm down,” Kakyoin intoned. “She didn’t mean anything by it, I’m not offended or anything.”

“I won’t calm down until she’s learned that actions can hurt others!” Jotaro seethed, summoning Star Platinum. “I don’t care if it’s menally or physically!”

“Jotaro, that’s enough!” Kakyoin pulled you away just in time to avoid being hit by Star’s fist. When the shock of being yelled at and threatened to be beaten to a pulp finally settled in, your tears poured out, and you desperately clung to Kakyoin for safety. “Can’t you see you’re scaring her? I understand some people like cherries, and it’s not when I hear the word that I think about Egypt. It’s only when I taste it. You’re the one who made a big deal out of it. She’s not only your girlfriend, but a living, breathing, human being. I think she needs some time away from you.”

After that, Kakyoin put an arm around you, shielding you from Jotaro in case he tried anything, and walked down the sidewalk, letting you cry.

“Why did I have to have feelings for Jotaro?” you asked yourself. “I could have had feelings for a different guy, but instead I got feelings for a person who gets angry instead of sad, or afraid, or anything else! I could have gotten feelings for you, Kakyoin.”

“Oh, no, I’m not much better than Jotaro,” Kakyoin chuckled. “Apathy is almost as bad as anger.”

“I want to end our relationship,” you mumbled. “I just want to stop feeling like I’m saying something wrong as soon as I open my mouth, and the only way to do that is to break up with him. But I can’t. I still love Jotaro, and the last thing he needs is a breakup.”

“(Y/N), no, you’re missing the point,” Kakyoin said. “The last thing you need right now is to stay with him. Just because someone is going through something doesn’t mean you have to put up with abuse, verbal or physical.”

Just thinking about the fact that the only way to get away from Jotaro’s toxicity was to break up was sending you to tears again.

“I know, I know,” Kakyoin consoled, using both of his hands to wrap you up in a hug. “It’s hard having the courage to end a relationship, even if it’s a toxic relationship. But you have to.”

“But I can’t,” you bawled. “I can’t do it!”

“(Y/N),” Kakyoin lifted up your chin so you had to look in his eyes. “You’re strong. You can do this. I believe in you.”

“But I don’t believe in myself,” you whimpered. “And I’m scared. I’m scared to confront Jotaro at all.”

“Well, we don’t have to confront him right now,” Kakyoin clarified. “Honestly, I’d be too scared to even approach him. He’s scary when he’s mad. Maybe later, when both of you have calmed down. But you have to do it. I can’t tell him for you.”

You sniffled, wiping your eyes. “Okay,” you said. “I’ll do it tonight.”

“Good, good,” Kakyoin ruffled your hair, and started walking off. “Take care of yourself, alright? You’re the only one of us with hope of getting over this.”

“I will,” you promised. “Bye, Kakyoin!”

“Bye!”

You made a promise. Not just to Kakyoin, but to yourself. You would get out of this relationship, no matter what.

Is what you said in the afternoon. Now that it was actually time, you couldn’t even get yourself to knock on Jotaro’s door.

“Take your time,” Kakyoin consoled, standing right next to you. “I know you can do this.”

With a shaking hand, you rapped your knuckles on the door, then brought your arm back down.

“Oh, well, I guess he’s not here,” you shrugged after no more than two seconds of waiting. However, before you could run off and get away, Kakyoin grabbed you with Hierophant.

“You aren’t just going to avoid this forever, you know,” he told you.

“I was kind of hoping I was,” you mumbled. Then, when you looked up, the door had opened, to reveal none other than Jotaro himself.

“(Y/N). Just the person I needed to talk to,” he said. “Do you want to come in or just stand outside?��

“I think I’d rather be outside,” you answered. Kakyoin took that as his queue to leave the two of you alone, and mouthed “good luck” before he walked away.

“Jotaro, I don’t think-”

“No, please, let me start,” Jotaro interrupted. “Look, I’ve noticed that I haven’t been very nice recently.”

“Yeah, that’s a given,” you whispered.

“And I know that you know that I haven’t been very nice. I’ve been using trauma as an excuse for my behavior, but trauma doesn’t mean I can just treat you like trash. I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I’m truly sorry. But I know if you stay with me, I’ll keep yelling at you. And that’s why… I need to end this relationship, right here, right now.”

After Jotaro poured his heart out for you, you didn’t have the strength to tell him that you were coming to say the same thing. “I understand,” you deadpanned. “I’m gonna miss you.”

As you waved goodbye to Jotaro, you caught sight of Kakyoin hiding in an alleyway.

“You heard the whole thing, didn’t you?”

“I did,” Kakyoin admitted. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. You were just looking out for me. I appreciate that.”

“Thanks,” Kakyoin smiled. Both of you walked in silence for a moment before Kakyoin spoke up again. “Hey, this may seem a bit weird, but do you want to go to the arcade tomorrow?”

“I thought videogames reminded you of Egypt,” you replied.

“They do. But I’ve been thinking, what if I replace those bad memories with good ones? What if I can’t think of Terrence T. D’arby and my soul being trapped inside a doll because I’m too busy thinking about the fun times I had with my friend? I don’t want to be a husk of who I was. I want to live. And I want you to see me start to live again.”

“That sounds like a really good idea,” you laughed. “Count me in!”

And the two of you walked the rest of the way home, smiling for the first time in months.

#jotaro #jotaro kujo #kujo jotaro #jotaro x reader #stardust crusaders #jojo's bizarre adventure #jojo's bizarre adventure x reader

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getcooler · 4 years

Text

noted with thanks

idol!Jeongin x reader (ft. idol classmate! Beomgyu)

word count: 2.5k

genre: classmates au; fluff

synopsis: being an idol was hard; he kept missing classes. thank god you were there.

It started off when your teacher reassigned the seating arrangement for the new term. Ms Kim had apparently decided that you would thrive better at the back of the class, seated far, far away from your usual group of friends. Honestly, it wasn’t as if you guys even talked a lot in class most of the time! (well, maybe you did, but one can only pay attention to Ms Kim’s class for so long you know?) After getting over the initial disgruntlement over your new seat (you weren’t even that tall, you could just see the board in front T-T), that was when you noticed the vacant seat on your right.

What a dream! No seat partner for the entire semester, you thought gleefully as you slowly started to spread your things across the two tables, making use of the extra table-space. That was, until Ms Kim’s high-pitched voice broke through your daydream.

“Yang Jeongin will be seated at the back with Y/N for this semester.”

Yang Jeongin? As in the Yang Jeongin who currently was absent because of his idol schedule Yang Jeongin? The maknae of the most awarded rookie group Stray Kids Yang Jeongin? The most popular kid in your grade Yang Jeongin? Despite being classmates for the past 2 years, you have never held a proper conversation with the rising star. You could already feel all the piercing daggers sent by the other girls in your class as you let out a small strangled noise, smacking the book you were holding on your face.

Senior year is going to be great.

✭ ✭ ✭

“Y/n, right? Are you my new seatmate?”

A voice broke through your reverie, causing you to look up from idly rearranging your stationary on the table. A tall blond boy, decked out in a uniform slightly too big for him, stared down at you with bright eyes.

Yang Jeongin.

You motioned him to take the seat next to you, displaying a polite smile for the boy. At least he seems nice, you thought as you observed him taking out his stationary.

Your eyes scanned him as you did a mental assessment of the boy in front of you. You knew he was an idol in a group called Stray (Straight?) Kids, and you listened a little to their music, but despite being in the same class as the maknae for almost two years, you were never really close to him.

Tall, with dimples and eye smiles, you guessed he was pretty cute.

You were still staring at him when he turned towards you. Flustered, you pretended to read the textbook laid in front of you; your ears burned red in embarrassment. At this, Jeongin let out a chuckle before bowing his head a little in your direction.

“I’ll be in your care! Let’s get along well this term!”

✭ ✭ ✭

It’s been 3 days since you last saw your deskmate. You had overheard from Jeongin’s fangirls a couple seats in front of you that he was absent due to his idol duties, gone off somewhere for a filming schedule. A variety show or music show recording, you couldn’t remember. After all, it wasn’t as if it was the first time one of your classmates were absent because they were idols; Beomgyu from 4th row was constantly missing classes due to his newly attained idol status. How did they manage to balance school and idol life? You’ll never know.

Classes had ended for the day as you glanced over to the empty desk next to you. A wave of pity crashed over you as you recalled how Jeongin was already struggling in Maths, and how the new topic taught today definitely was going to throw the poor boy into a whole new level of confusion.

It was when you eyed your messy notes while packing your bag that you had a light bulb moment: if you rewrote your notes neatly, not only will it help you in revision but the neat copy can help Jeongin understand the lesson better! The sudden thought of revising and helping your deskmate seemed extra appealing, since it was a win-win situation for the both of you. Besides, redoing a new set of today’s notes and lessons and leaving it under his table for him to find (whenever he comes back you guessed) wasn’t that hard to do anyways.

That night, as you rewrote your notes, you found yourself putting in more effort than usual. If he could understand the notes, you reasoned, that meant your content was right, right?

✭ ✭ ✭

Jeongin walked into the classroom the next morning just in time to see you slide something under his desk, before making your way over to your clique on the other side of the classroom. Head tilted in confusion, he pulled out the pile of Maths notes, all neatly written with small explanations stuck on post-its throughout. Confusion, then relief flooded his emotions as he realised that his deskmate had taken down notes for the lessons he had missed while on schedules. He was in the middle of skimming through them when Beomgyu took your seat next to him, gently snatching the notes from him to flip through them too.

“Woah, the class is up to here now? How come you have the notes but I don't?” Beomgyu continued flipping through in awe, trying to understand and absorb as much as possible before Jeongin took it back, mumbling a reply. “Huh, what did you say?”

Said blond boy let his eyes linger on your figure, with your head thrown back in laughter at something your friend said, before looking back at the little ‘fighting!’ doodle on one of the post-its. “Y/n did it for me, I think. Must've been because I told her I sucked at Maths.”

“Lucky~ Park Minhee didn’t share her notes with me until I got her a signed photocard of Yeonjun-hyung. Can you believe?? To sell my own brother for my grades???”

At that, Jeongin burst out into laughter, continuing the conversation with his friend.

✭ ✭ ✭

A carton of strawberry milk placed on your desk suddenly made you jump as you got ready to go for lunch. Jeongin stood before you with a sheepish smile and light blush across his cheeks. “Thanks for making notes for me; I don't think I would have understood the chapter without it!”

“N-no biggie! Reviewing and rewriting the notes helped me to revise anyways, so I just thought the extra notes I made would be more useful with you.”

A bigger grin flashed across his face. You felt your heart flip a little, finding the adorableness in your fox-like friend. It wasn't until he reached out to ruffle your hair before leaving to join his other friends for lunch did you turn as pink as the strawberry milk he had just gifted you.

Dazed as you stared after him, you didn't notice your friends until they were nudging you for attention.

✭ ✭ ✭

Throughout the rest of the school day, you found it relatively easier to talk to the blond. He would ask you questions regarding topics he missed in class, and in turn, you would ask for stories from being an idol.

Other than the fact that your tables were always crowded by your classmates rushing forward to capture the attention of the popular idol in between lessons, you were surprised by how much closer you got to know him. His go-to coffee order, his favourite subject, his preference to dip rather than pour, you were amazed at how many things you had in common with him. The two of you were constantly disturbing each other during lessons, be it flipping pens on the other’s table or engaging in a game of tic-tac-toe on your notes.

For the first time in your two years of knowing him, you felt like you finally could see him as a person rather than someone other classmates idolised.

✭ ✭ ✭

Most of Jeongin’s schedules for the rest of the month were all held after school so he had to rush off, but during classes, he still made it a point to ask you for help. You didn’t mind, of course, since you found that you understood the content better if you were teaching it to someone else. This particular arrangement was very mutually beneficial, as both of your grades were improving because of this.

Falling into routine became too easy; on days when Jeongin was absent, you would copy your notes for him and include explanations on post-it’s, and when he came back, you would spend your breaks going through topics with him to make sure he understood. Occasionally, Beomgyu would join your mini tutoring sessions too. Those days you felt the most piercing gazes aimed at you from outside your classroom, brought on by the boys’ jealous fangirls from other classrooms. After all, you never thought you would be tutoring two of the biggest rookie idols during lunch. Just the thought of watching Jeongin and Beomgyu diligently pouring over their textbooks every day in front of you made you giggle.

Of course, the response Jeongin gives you every time he understood a concept was rewarding on its own too. You don’t think you would ever get over how bright his eyes sparkled and how they crinkled into cute little crescents every time. Or how he always made it a point to thank you each time too. To say that your heart did flips every time he did would be an understatement.

As a deskmate, Jeongin wasn’t too bad either. He got along well with your close friends and was always happy to listen to your complaints about class. Some days, he even caught you staring (you were his deskmate, it was impossible to not admire his visuals), only to shoot you a wink before resuming his work.

✭ ✭ ✭

You didn’t see Jeongin for a whole week after that. He had told you prior that his group was going to Japan for some promotional stuff, so for the whole week you sat at your desk alone. You still tutored Beomgyu, and sometimes your own friends would join in your little revision sessions too.

“You like Jeongin, don’t you?”

Startled by the question, you looked up from your own textbook to send a bewildered look. ”If I didn’t like him, I don’t think I would be helping him study.”

Beomgyu scoffed, replying with a meaningful look. “That’s not what I meant, you idiot. You know what I mean.”

Ears burning red, you chose to smack him with a worksheet and stood up, mumbling an excuse to go to the toilet.

✭ ✭ ✭

Jeongin came back the following week, looking more energetic than he was before. That was until he saw the small pile of notes and homework stacked on his table, waiting to be flipped through and completed. Your bag was there, but you were probably off in another classroom catching up with your friends, so he took the opportunity to place a small goodie bag on your desk. He looked at it for a moment, before deciding to scribble a note on a post-it and attaching it to the gift. Finally satisfied, he went over to the table his own group of friends were crowding around to kill time before Ms Kim came in for attendance.

As you reentered the classroom, the first thing you saw was the gift on your desk. Looking closer, you noticed the little note attached to it.

“A little appreciation gift because you’re always helping me 😊”

Curious, you opened the box, only to reveal a small box of mochi and a little keychain of a cartoon Shiba dog. You let out a little squeal of excitement as you held up your presents to examine them closer, not noticing the tall boy returning back to his seat. He broke out into a huge grin as he saw you attach the keychain to your pencil case with glee.

“You like it? I remembered you saying you loved the mochi in Japan, but I wasn’t sure which flavours you liked,” Jeongin started. “Plus, you always replied to your messages with Doge memes, so I got you that as well!”

“Are you kidding me? I love this flavour! And look at the dog’s cute butt!” you continued to babble on excitedly, even showing off the keychain to your friends.

The look of pure bliss on your face as you stared at the presents? Enough for a certain deskmate to start crushing on you. Wait, Jeongin caught on his train of thoughts, crush?

✭ ✭ ✭

Class tests handed in. and the term coming to an end, it was finally time for report cards to be handed out. You were confident of your abilities, yes, but it still didn’t help to curb the worries that you might have accidentally flunked a subject. Jeongin, on the other hand, looked as calm as a cat lazing in the sun.

“Care to share your calmness?” You turned towards your deskmate, who was busy doodling in his notebook.

“Being an idol means having to re-prioritise what’s important to me. Besides, I had you tutoring me this term you know?”

“Huh… I wanna be like that too…”

Turns out, you were panicking over nothing. Your grades were still the same, maybe slightly better than the previous term, but they were nothing to panic about. You looked up in time to see Jeongin happily walking back, a bounce in each step back towards his seat. You shot him a confused look, before snapping your head back to the front at the sound of the teacher’s voice.

“Some of you did well this term, some of you snoozed it off.” She paused in front of a student on the verge of sleeping. “However, if people like Jeongin and Beomgyu can keep up with their grades while being an idol, the rest of you don’t have an excuse.”

This set off a chain of laughter among the class, sparking playful shoves and words of congratulations towards each other, the occasional whine lost among the chatter. Wanting to congratulate Jeongin on his results, you spun to face him, only to find him animatedly typing on his phone. He must’ve noticed you staring (he always does, and he loves it), because the next thing you knew, you were enveloped in a hug from the fox-like boy.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyou so much! I don’t think I could’ve passed this term without you!” His head was buried in your hair, and you could only briefly put out a soft “No biggie” while smothered in his chest.

“My hyungs texted that they were proud of me. It feels nice to have them happy like this instead of worrying all the time.”

Hearing the bittersweet tone coming from him, you snuck your arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze. “Better keep up the good grades then, right?”

Jeongin finally pulled apart, just in time to see your friends and his coming over to your tables, possibly to discuss your report cards. He chuckled, ruffling your hair like he did at the start of the term.

“You’ll have to just keep tutoring me then.”

#jeongin #jeongin fluff #stray kids fanfic #stray kids fluff #happy jeongin day!#tbh this was a wip since like... november #admin cola #pls enjoy and leave comments! its my first full length fic uwu #happy 19th jeonginie!

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thinkyoureholy · 4 years

Text

Fragile Figures [11]

Pairing : Choi San/ [fem] Reader

Genre : Angst, Violence, Language, Fluff, Smut, Character Death?, Mafia! AU, Hired Assassin! AU

Words : 3.1k

Pt 1. Pt 2. Pt 3. Pt 4. Pt 5. Pt 6. Pt 7. Pt 8. Pt 9. Pt 10. Pt 11. Pt 12.

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

-San’s P.O.V-

I sat by her bed, staring at her sleeping face with frown. It had been about a week since the incident and she’s hardly woken up. She came to about a day later but only for a few minutes before going back to sleep, since then she hasn’t woken up again. We had all started to worry but Yeosang reassured us that her body was just taking it’s time in healing. Out of the two of us she had lost way more blood and even with the blood she received from Yunho if wasn’t enough to get her up and wake up within twenty four hours.

I sighed heavily, raking my fingers through my hair before I stood up, adjusting the crutches under my arms and heading for the door. Just as I was a few feet away from it it swung open, Seonghwa appearing in my line of sight first before I noticed Yunho behind him. I only gave Yunho a quick glance before looking away. We hadn’t spoken to each other since that day and honestly...I prefer it that way. I’d rather not get worked up again and focus on healing instead.

“C’mon San, we gotta do your hourly therapy.” Seonghwa called out to me in a soft voice before coming over to me.

He went to help me but I stopped him, insisting I didn’t need anymore help than these crutches could offer me. He looked like he wanted to argue with me but he chose to stay quiet, knowing I didn’t want to be constantly reminded of my leg being practically useless to me by having others help me. I was trying not to let my injury get to me since I was determined to get my leg working back the way it was before. I refused to stay like this. The guys told me there was a 1% chance of me going back to the way I was before, telling me it was better to just focus on the wound healing properly and not to strain myself with doing physical therapy so early but I was adamant about my decision. I was going to put my all into my recovery. Even if my chances were so slim, I’ll take that 1% percent and give it everything I had until I got better.

I winced but swallowed down the groan that wanted to come out, very aware of Seonghwa keeping a close eye on my leg. I held onto the bars as I walked slowly, pain shooting up my leg with every step. Day after day I did this, sure it got tiring moving so slowly but I had to be patient, I wasn’t going to make a full recovery after only a few days, Seonghwa told me it’d take at least a few months to move on from the crutches to a cane and maybe even a year until I didn’t need any type of support to walk.

“Slowly, San. You’re trying to move to fast and your leg can’t keep up. If you try and push yourself too hard you’ll only be setting yourself back.” Seonghwa warned in a sharp tone.

I sighed heavily but did as he said, “I know...it’s just...frustrating.”

Seonghwa kept silent for a moment before he spoke, “I know. Look, why don’t we take a break for a bit, change your bandages and then get back to it?”

I nodded at his suggestion, quietly asking him to hand me my crutches. He did so, helping me place them under my arms. I cast a glance his way, watching a gentle smile spread across his face. I could see how odd this seemed to the others but since I got here Seonghwa and I had been developing a friendship, I don’t know why or how but I was grateful for his support, without him I think I would’ve given up already. I guess you can say he’s the older brother I never thought I wanted.

“Do you know if she’s up yet?” I asked, my mind drifting over to Y/N.

He chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle my hair much like a big brother would do to his younger brother, “You just saw her an hour ago and you already want to see her again? You’re as whipped as they come, my friend.”

He grinned as he checked his phone, showing me the screen, “Well you’re in luck, it seems like she’s already awake."

-Y/N's P.O.V-

"And that's the whole story. Can we not do this right now? My body feels like it's been hit by a damn truck...more than once." I groaned out, going to grab at my head but winced when a sharp pain went up the length of my arm.

I had just woken up about twenty minutes ago and the first thing Yunho did was demand I explain to him in detail what exactly happened out there. And so that's what I did. Honestly I'm surprised I'm not in more pain but that might just be all the morphine in my system.

“I just have one more question.”

I sighed heavily and looked up at him expectantly. He diverted his gaze once for a moment, looking nervous all of a sudden as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“I...want to know why you took San...of all people why him.”

I held my tongue, thinking of how to answer with giving San’s past away. I knew he’d lose it the moment he knew the truth and if I remember correctly San was injured as well. Actually now that I think about it...where is San? I asked Yeosang about him when I woke up but just as he was about to answer me Yunho had come running into the room. I wanted to know if he was alright...the last time I saw him was when I told him to get his ass to the car, after that everything happened so fast, I’m surprised I remember all of it.

“Y/N? Are you going to answer my question?” Yunho asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.

“There’s no special reason behind it really. You all were busy with something else so I asked him to come with me. I should’ve really thought it through though now that I think about it.” I explained, tilting my head to the side ever so slightly as I thought it all over in my head.

“So you took him just like that? I've been practically begging you to take me with you whenever you decide to go after Kanda but you always refuse. I've found information on him and you dismiss my efforts time and time again. And what? You take San because we were all busy with something else? That’s bullshit."

I stared up at him, shocked over his sudden outburst, “Yunho-”

“What’s it gonna take for you to finally come to me first, huh? What do I have to do for you to see me? Do I have to go out there and almost get myself killed? Is that the only way I can get to you?” He shouted, his eyes glazing over in unshed tears.

I was speechless, I didn’t know what to say and if I said something I’m afraid it would be the wrong thing and just make things worse. I was no idiot, and neither was I blind. I knew exactly why he was acting like this but I just ignored it, it seems like that just made things worse. I had noticed it about a few months since he joined us and for six years I’ve acted oblivious to his feelings because I didn’t want to hurt him when he hears me tell him I don’t feel the same way. Yunho has been silently loving for years and honestly me acting oblivious to is feelings has backfired. He’s getting restless, tired of what he perceives as indifference from me. I may not feel the same way but he’s still a precious person to me...but I feel like hearing that from me will just break his heart even more. So like always I said nothing, bowing my head as I drowned out his words, simply waiting for him to get everything off his chest.

“I think that’s enough don’t you, Yunho?” I vaguely heard Seonghwa’s voice in the distance, not bothering to look up.

Yunho cursed some more before kicking at the chair that sat at my bedside. I remained still, hearing him breathing heavily before he muttered something under his breath that broke my heart.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have saved you after all, this time or four years ago for that matter.”

I flinched at his words, feeling the tears I didn’t know I was holding back fall down my face, staining the bed sheets. My hands curled into fists, clenching onto the sheets tightly for a moment, ignoring the pain, before I finally lifted my head to look over at him and what I saw shocked me. San delivered a swift punch to Yunho’s face, the two of them toppling to the floor with a thud. I heard Seonghwa curse before he ran over to the two, helping San up while Yunho stared up at him from his place on the ground. Actually not that I look closer Seonghwa wasn’t just helping San up...he was holding him back from hitting Yunho again. I looked up into San’s face to see that he was red with anger, his eyes dark and hard as they stared down at Yunho with a fire so intense it sent a chill down my spine.

“You son of a bitch! You’d rather let her die, huh?! Is that it?! If you can’t have her then no one else can?! You selfish prick! That’s not love!” He shouted, the veins on his neck looking as if they could burst any second, “Oh boo hoo she doesn’t feel the same way, get the fuck over it! She probably wasn’t your first love and she definitely won’t be your last! So stop acting like a selfish brat and get your shit together before I beat it into you!”

“What the hell do you know?! You have absolutely no right to say this shit to me when the one she’s fucking in love with is you! You don’t know how it feels to be overlooked all the time! You have no idea what it’s like to always be in second place! All I’ve ever wanted was for her to come to me, to pick me first but I was always her second option! First I was second to Kanda and now I’m second to you!” He cried, the tears that had glazed his eyes before finally falling.

San just stared at him, dumbfounded, the anger on his face clearing up for a moment before it came back tenfold, “I don’t know how it feels? What the fuck do you know about my life, about the shit I’ve been through? You don’t know jack shit so don’t go assuming shit. My parents never loved me, at least not as much as my younger sister. And all the girls I’ve ever loved? They never saw me, they never gave me the time of day, no matter how hard I tried to get them to see me the way I saw them, I was practically invisible to them. I’ve been in second place— no scratch that, for my entire life I’ve been coming in last place. At least you’re a fucking choice here...try not being a choice at all and then get back to me with your fucking sob story.”

San spat out that last part, finally breaking out of Seonghwa’s hold, well not entirely. Seonghwa kept a firm hand around San’s arm, holding him in place.

“That is until I found Y/N. Just when I was starting to grow cold I met her. And finally, finally in my miserable life I’m somebody’s first choice. I’m sorry that you’re suffering because of it but I don’t feel sorry enough to back off. But just because she chose me doesn’t mean she doesn’t care about you...it just isn’t the way you want her to care and I’m sorry about that. But don’t you ever go around saying you’d rather her die than for you to go through another second of her rejection. You have no idea how fucking good you have it just being around her, getting to see her everyday is a blessing...don’t ruin something you will never be able to get back once you lose it.”

This time he spoke with such raw emotion, the strain in his voice pulled at my heartstrings. He spoke as if from experience, the look in his eyes a stark contrast to the look he wore just minutes prior. Yunho stared at him in shock before he bowed his head, clenching his fists at his side as he marched out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The silence that was left behind in the room was deafening to say the least...that is until Seonghwa spoke up.

“I’ll go talk to him.”

That was all he said before following after Yunho, leaving San and I alone. I looked up at him, not knowing what to say. San closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath from his nose before he sat down on my bed by my legs. Without a word he reached over and grabbed my hand in his, holding onto it like his life depended on it...and I held on just as tightly.

“I’m so glad you’re awake...I don’t know what I would’ve done if you didn’t make it. If I was even a second later-” He cut himself off, pulling me into a hug.

I tensed at the sudden contact but quickly relaxed in his arms, resting my chin on his shoulder as I felt him bury his face in the crook of my neck. I went to raise my arms to wrap them around him but the sharp pain that followed when I tried stopped me so I just left them at my side. So much had happened in just these last few minutes I knew it wasn’t over but being San’s arms really helped me calm down, that is until he started shaking. It didn’t take me long to figure out he was crying, feeling his hot tears soak through my shirt. He held my tighter in his hold, one of his hands cradling the back of my head.

“Don’t you ever risk your life to save me ever again. When I saw you...lying on the ground unconscious and surrounded in a pool of your own blood with all those bullets in you...God…I...I thought you were dead, ” He muttered, his voice breaking even with how low he was speaking, “But you were alive, I almost thanked Kanda for not killing you. You’re all I have...and if I lost you... I don’t even want to think about it. I...I’m just glad you’re okay now, I’m so fucking glad...”

He pulled away to cup my face in his hands, the tears streaming down his face at a steady pace. But even through his tears he managed to give me a smile...and seeing that smile made me break down. I recalled what Yeosang told me about San’s injuries. He risked his leg for me and he won’t be able to walk properly...because of me. He went there with me because I asked him to come with me, not giving him much of a choice. He pushed through his injuries just to get me back here, not knowing it'd cost him a leg. All of this happened because of me. Before I knew it I was apologizing through my own tears, sob after sob falling from my lips as I tried to apologize as much as I could.

-Kanda’s P.O.V-

I pulled the earpiece out, letting it hang from my shoulder as I stared at my open palm absentmindedly, their words replaying in my head.

"Kanda?"

I looked up at the sound of his voice, seeing that they were all here, "What is it?"

"Well since she's alive, don't you think we should finish her and the others off? It'd be a lot easier for us to get around if they were gone."

I said nothing for a moment, looking over their faces before my eyes landed back on him, "Do you know why I've kept them alive for so long, Alex?"

He tensed under my gaze, "N-No."

"Because contrary to popular belief I don't actually want them dead. The reason why they get hurt by me is because they keep getting in my way." I explained, jumping off the windowsill and walking over to them slowly.

"But you've killed one before…" Sul said, her soft voice drawing my attention to her.

I frowned at that, "Yes...and it was a mistake. I've always regretted what happened to Jae...he wasn't supposed to be there," I paused for a moment, looking down at my palm once more, "My threats are just that, threats, they're empty. I never intend to follow through with my threats unless I'm pushed to...and they have a bad habit of forcing my hand."

"I don't get it, Kanda. Then why did we ambush them at their place all those months ago?" Ale asked, a perplexed look on his face, "You even went as far as poisoning that tall blonde guy of theirs."

"Yunho has always been a bother but again I never intended to kill him. It's true I poisoned the guy but only enough for me to get away. I gave him exactly the right amount to allow the others some time to give him the antidote. And there was something of great importance to me in that house, ambushing them and forcing them out was the only way I could get it. Again, my goal isn't to kill them, it's to torture and kill those that made me betray my dear friends in the first place." I explained, watching the look in each of their eyes harden, "And you're all well aware of who our real target is, right?"

They all nodded, letting out a yes in unison. It’s not like I wanted to stab those precious to me in the back...I was just forced into choosing between them...or him and he was the obvious choice...I just wish they knew that.

[A/n : flashbacks are coming! So many things will be explained in the upcoming chapters along with something you’ve all been waiting for]

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randomoranges · 4 years

Text

drag meeting au part 9 [i fucking adore this au okay?]

When Edward made it home that night, it was to a mantra of “I’m so fucking screwed.” He said it to himself as he changed out of his clothes, said it, albeit a little garbled, as he washed his face, continued saying it as he ruffled his hair to let it breathe, and belted it out from the top of his lungs as he took a long shower.(He hoped it would be cathartic. It wasn’t.) He continued berating himself as he changed into his pyjamas, kept it up once he was in bed, and then only stopped once he was lying on his back, staring at his ceiling.

It was as if he wanted to suffer. Maybe he was secretly a masochist. At this point, that was the only explanation that made sense. No one in their right mind would purposely put themselves in such a ridiculous situation. And yet, here he was, making it worse.

He could have come clean. He could have, at any point during the last five hours or so, admitted to this little misunderstanding. They could have – hopefully – laughed it off. He could have easily ran for the hills afterwards and put everything behind him. But nope; instead, he’d accepted a second date – hell, he’d even gone on and promised a third! A bloody fucking third date!

Maybe he should consult. Have himself locked up and studied and such. There was clearly something really wrong with him. Normal people weren’t this stupid.

The kicker was, however, that – well, he’d had a really nice time. He’d really enjoyed his evening. More so than the time before. It just kept getting better. Who in their right mind would want to end something this good? It would be completely daft of him to put an end to it, because of a little minor inconvenience. Even if said minor inconvenience wasn’t really minor and was really more of a giant lie that would completely destroy the perception his date had of him.

But – those were details.

“I’ll tell him after the third date – won’t plan for more,” He promised himself. “I’ll tell Étienne that I’m not really a woman then. He’ll understand – he’s gotta understand, he’s so sweet and kind...” He told himself, trying to convince himself that it would work out – that two more dates wouldn’t be a bad idea. This way, he could enjoy his time with Étienne a little more, if it all went to hell, and the damage wouldn’t be as big.

He hoped.

He really needed to get to sleep.

After an exhausting weekend (he couldn’t sleep, plagued by the millions of ways his little scam could backfire and end up hurting what was turning out to be a really decent man), Edward went to work on Monday. He went through the motions of his day, texted Étienne while pretending to be Kate, and finally headed back home at the end of his day, looking very much forward to falling face first on his bed and not moving until his alarm would go off the following morning.

He waited on the metro platform and silently prayed that there wouldn’t be any interruptions and that he could go straight home.

The metro, as was often the case at this time, was packed with people, but when it stopped and the doors opened, letting people out and then letting others in, Edward took to his same compartment and tried to find himself a spot where he could stand without being pressed up against a myriad of his closest strangers.

There was a standing spot by the adjacent doors and Edward went to lean up against it. He propped up his messenger bag over his feet and then leaned his head back against the door and tried to relax and enjoy the ride.

And that’s when the universe decided to curse him for being a terrible human being who apparently took pleasure in making the lives and feelings of others a farce and a game.

Across from him, sitting by the opposite window, was none other than Étienne, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, but staring right fucking at him. Or, in his direction, he hoped and prayed. There wasn’t any way he could have hoped for this to happen. This was even more ridiculous than the cheesiest of sitcoms.

The worst was, that for a fraction of a second, Edward forgot that he wasn’t currently dressed up as Kate, and had started smiling in Étienne’s direction and had very much taken one-step towards him to say hello.

Luckily, the universe had not forsaken him just yet and instead, he’d had enough mental activity to remember that Étienne had no idea who the hell Edward Murphy was and so, he’d leaned back against his hands before he did anything stupid with them and looked anywhere but to where Étienne was. (But that was really hard to do. Mostly, because he was freaking out at the thought that Étienne was here in the metro with him and that maybe he would recognise him. The last thing he wanted was a scene in the metro. Secondly, Étienne looked lovely as usual with his paint stained hands, his portfolio tube, and his colourful bag.)

He was endearingly cute and Edward had to fight every fibre of his body not to walk up over to him, introduce himself and strike up a conversation.

“Yeah, and with your luck, you’re gonna click and then you’re gonna find yourself hanging out with him one day as Edward and the following going on a date with him as Kate. Focus, Jesus, you’re in enough trouble as it is,” The one part of his brain that still seemed to work told him.

Miraculously, Edward managed to go mostly unnoticed and kept his eyes averted from Étienne as much as possible. He still stole glances every now and again and at least once, he was convinced that Étienne had been looking at him.

But then again, the metro was crowded so for all he knew, the other man could have been looking at anyone else in the compartment.

Regardless, when his stop finally arrived, Edward was relieved and more than glad to get off. He was finally out of the station, when his phone buzzed in his pocket.

Edward retrieved and opened it to find a text message from Étienne himself and Edward wasn’t even sure why he was surprised at this point.

“Speak of the devil,” He typed out, “I was just thinking about you.” He added as he started walking home, mindful of his surroundings.

“Should I be worried? Am I in trouble? Did I do anything bad?? ;)”

“If you consider “bad” as in being constantly on my mind, then yes. You are in trouble.” That wasn’t a lie. He’d spent whatever time he wasn’t freaking out over this situation replaying their first date over and over and over again. Especially the way Étienne’s hand felt in hers – in his. Or, the way he had cupped his cheek. Or, the way he had kissed him all nice and slow. It had been a really nice kiss. Étienne’s lips had been surprisingly soft. He’d kissed his fair share of chapped lips. That had been a nice change. He should try and get as many more kisses in, before he put an end to this.

“<3 In that case, I take full responsibility, but I’ll have you know that you’ve been on my mind quite a lot as well.”

This guy. Honestly. How the hell was he going to be able to fess up to him and potentially let him go? He was a gift.

“You really are a charmer, aren’t you?”

“And if I was? Would I be in even more trouble????????”

God, he could even picture that (beautiful) teasing grin of his and it sent butterflies to his stomach. It was like he wanted this – wanted to suffer as much as possible.

“Oh, so much trouble. You have no idea ;)”

There was a pause and Edward wondered if maybe that had been too much – if he’d interpreted Étienne’s tone wrong and instead of it being playful and flirty, it had actually been legitimately worried.

“Good. I like trouble.”

Nope. Never mind. Étienne seemed to be just as bad as he was. Edward actually had to stop by the street corner and lean against the lamppost for a moment. He wanted to scream into his hands and also climb into Étienne’s lap and kiss him senseless. Alas, he couldn’t do any of those things so he contented himself by taking a deep breath and then tried to remain calm as he answered him back.

This was the greatest gift and also, the greatest curse.

PREVIOUS: VIII CURRENT: IX NEXT: X

#pc: montreal #pc: edmonton #edward murphy #étienne maisonneuve #au #ficlet #3 sentence fic meme thing #drag meeting au

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thelastspeecher · 4 years

Text

Not bothering with a title because I couldn’t think of one. Anyways, on the Discord recently, we added a bit more to the Spy AU and retconned a few things. Two major things that were changed/added are that the spy agency that the Squad works for (and is run by Ma Guck) is now called Gravity Falls. Meanwhile, the rival spy agency is called the Cipher Corp and is run by none other than Bill Cipher. I’ll probably make a separate post later detailing the specifics of these changes. The second major thing added/changed was that now more Gucks than just Angie, Fidds, and Ma Guck are involved in the spy world.

But you’ll see that here, in this ficlet that takes place during the time when Ford was hit by a de-aging toxin on a mission and turned into a three-year-old. Enjoy.

——————————————————————————————

Basstian crouched down next to Ford and smiled at him.

“That’s some mighty fine colorin’,” he said gently. Ford looked up, beaming broadly. Just last week, Ford would have bristled at Basstian’s paternal tone, but he seemed to slipping into a childlike mindset more and more lately. Basstian did his best to ignore the heartwrenching implications of this and just enjoy Ford’s new willingness to take naps.

“It’s a dinosaur,” Ford said proudly. Basstian ruffled Ford’s hair, still smiling at him.

Lord, he looks so much like Stan ‘n Angie’s babies. The door to the agency daycare opened.

“Basstian,” a voice said. Basstian stood and turned around. Stan stood in the doorway, out of breath and clearly simmering with barely contained anger.

“Stanley!” Ford chirped happily, getting to his feet. Stan shot Ford a quick grin.

“Hey, pipsqueak.” Stan looked back at Basstian. “We caught ‘im.”

“Who?” Basstian asked.

“The person responsible for this whole clusterfu…dge,” Stan said, quickly censoring his last word. Basstian’s eyes widened.

“You mean the person who…” Basstian glanced at Ford, who, blissfully unaware of the tense nature of the conversation, had grabbed his coloring book and toddled over to Stan.

“Yeah,” Stan said. “I know you mostly just work with the kids here, but think you could stand in the corner all menacingly while I interrogate the guy?”

“Sure,” Basstian said.

“Stan,” Ford said, tugging on Stan’s pants. “Look, I colored.” Stan looked down at Ford.

“Good work, bud.” Stan ruffled Ford’s hair.

“You didn’t even look at it!” Ford whined.

“I’ll look in a bit, okay? Basstian and I have to go talk to a bad guy first.”

“But-”

“How about you color another thing while we’re gone?” Basstian suggested. “Then you can show off two colorings when we get back.” Ford frowned thoughtfully.

“You drive a hard bargain, but okay,” he said after a moment. Basstian gently nudged Ford back to the play area of the daycare. Ford toddled over obediently and took a seat on the floor.

“C’mon,” Stan said brusquely. Basstian followed him out of the daycare, forgetting to close the door behind him in his haste.

“How’d you guys track this guy down?” Basstian asked. Stan stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched with anger.

“We got a tip through one of our regular sources that the guy responsible for shrinking Ford was going to be making a dropoff at the park on Johnson. We got there, saw exactly what we were told to expect, knocked the guy out, and put a bag over his head to bring him back here.”

“Who is he?”

“Dunno. We didn’t get a good look at him before we put the bag on his head. We wanted to move as fast as possible.”

“I can tell,” Basstian said, beginning to feel slightly out of breath from talking and keeping up with Stan’s frantic pace. “Who’s ‘we’?”

“Me and Angie. Angie went off to go tell the boss that we finally nabbed the guy. That way, she can step in if we need him to.” Stan grinned viciously. “No one’s better than your mom at getting people to sing like a bird.”

“Amen,” Basstian mumbled. They arrived at the interrogation room. Stan slammed the door open and marched in. Basstian looked over at the person sitting handcuffed to the table. Like Stan had said, there was a bag over his head. Basstian silently entered the room and closed the door behind him. Stan stormed over to the enemy agent.

“Get ready to talk, you piece of shit,” Stan snarled. He ripped the bag off the man’s head. His jaw dropped. “Harper?”

“Howdy, Stanley,” the man said cheerfully. Basstian stared. Sitting at the table, grinning broadly at Stan, was his older brother. “This is one heck of a how-do-ya-do, by the way.”

“You son of a bitch,” Stan growled. Harper raised an eyebrow.

“That’s not a very polite thing to call yer mother-in-law.”

“Fuck you, man. You work for the Cipher Corp? Do you have any clue what they do there?”

“What can I say? It’s a tough job market out there,” Harper said with a shrug. Stan moved to stand across the table from Harper. He crossed his arms.

“You don’t seem very surprised to find out I work for Gravity Falls.”

“I knew.” At Harper’s casual statement, Basstian’s blood ran cold. He looked at Stan, who had stiffened, the color draining from his face. “Y’all had an agent that quit and came to work fer the Cipher Corp. She told me ‘bout ya workin’ fer Gravity Falls. It ain’t common knowledge, don’t worry. We’re the only two what know.” Harper cocked his head. “And I ain’t told anyone Angie works fer Gravity Falls, neither.”

“How the hell do you know that?” Stan hissed.

“She told me the two of ya met at work. But like I said, I ain’t told anyone. I might be workin’ fer the Cipher Corp, but I protect my own. I wouldn’t want anyone to hurt my baby sister.”

“You protect your own, huh?” Stan demanded.

“Yep.”

“Your family.”

“Yup.”

“Bullshit,” Stan growled, placing his hands on the table and leaning forward. Harper leaned forward as well.

“It ain’t. I protect my fam’ly.”

“Then why the hell did you do that to Ford?!” Stan shouted. Harper blinked.

“Pardon?”

“If you protect your family, why would you mess with your brother-in-law?”

“I…didn’t,” Harper said, befuddled.

“Fuck off!” Stan roared.

“Stanley, I honestly have no clue what yer referrin’ to,” Harper said calmly. “I haven’t seen Stanford in some time. Isn’t he sick?”

“He’s not sick, he’s-” Stan started. The door to the interrogation room creaked open. All three men looked over. Basstian groaned quietly.

Shoot. He must’ve followed us. Ford stood in the doorway, staring at Harper with wide eyes. Basstian quickly walked over to Ford.

“C’mon, kidlet, this ain’t the place fer ya,” Basstian said gently. “Let’s get ya back to the daycare.” Ignoring the startled look from Harper, who had just noticed him, he took a hold of one of Ford’s hands. Ford shook him off and walked to Stan.

“Bud, you can’t be here,” Stan said quietly. Ford frowned at Harper thoughtfully. “Go back to the daycare with Basstian, okay?”

“No,” Ford said. Stan sighed.

“Who- who’s this lil feller?” Harper asked. “And why’s he here?” Stan glared at him.

“Don’t play dumb,” Stan snapped. “That’s Ford, and you know it.”

“I- what?”

“You’re the reason he’s like this!” Stan rumbled. He slammed a fist on the table. Harper’s eyes widened.

“I…” Harper took a breath. “Explain.”

“No,” Stan said flatly. He scooped Ford into his arms. “I’ve gotta get Ford back for naptime.”

“My colorings,” Ford protested.

“All right, all right, you can show me your colorings. But right after, you’re taking a nap,” Stan said. He headed out of the room. “Get your finger out of your nose, you’re gonna give yourself a nosebleed.” The sound of footsteps faded. Harper stared at Basstian.

“Basstian, what’s- what’s-” Harper stammered. “Yer here, and that’s Ford, and-” Harper closed his eyes. “What’s goin’ on?” Basstian walked over to the table. He sat down across from Harper.

“Yes, I work fer Gravity Falls. I ain’t a field agent like Stan or Angie or Ford, though. I mostly just work in the daycare. Sometimes I help out with makin’ up backstories fer covers. And when they want someone stand ‘round lookin’ intimidating fer an interrogation, I get asked to come in. That’s why Stan wanted me here.” Basstian rubbed his forehead. “I should’ve asked someone to keep on eye on Ford. He’s started wanderin’ ‘round HQ lately, lookin’ fer Stan or Fidds. Should’ve known he’d follow us back here.”

“How is that- how is that Stanford?” Harper asked weakly. Basstian met his eyes.

“Like Stan said, don’t play dumb. Yer the one what did that to him,” Basstian said firmly. Harper paled.

“He’s the agent I gave that toxin,” Harper croaked. Basstian nodded. Harper’s head drooped. “Oh, Lord above. I swear, I had no idea it was Stanford. If I was, I wouldn’t have done it.”

“I doubt Stan ‘ll believe ya. Or forgive ya any time soon. Ford’s condition is gettin’ pretty dire. He’s in kid mode almost constantly now.” Harper continued to pale further as Basstian was speaking. “The folks in the lab say that if we don’t cure him soon, we won’t be able to.”

“I- I know the cure,” Harper said. “I can- I can make it. I don’t want Stanford to have to grow up again.”

“But you were fine with it when it was a stranger,” Basstian said. Harper was quiet. “Why would ya work fer the Cipher Corp? That movie job don’t pay ya enough?”

“I don’t have a movie job,” Harper said. “It was a cover. Just like Stan and Angie’s terrible lie that they work in sales. Well, Angie’s terrible lie. No one would ever believe she’s a halfway decent salesman.”

“We’re not talkin’ ‘bout this right now.”

“Right. Take me to the lab, I’ll whip up the cure.”

“Not yet,” Basstian said. “The boss ‘ll want to talk to ya first.” Someone knocked on the door. “That must be her.” The door opened. Harper looked over. His jaw dropped.

“Ma?”

#I'm pretty pleased with how this turned out. some more development to this beautiful disaster of an AU #some more appearances of the least-seen Guck brothers #there's another follow-up scene I might get around to writing at some point but we'll see #I've got a backlog of prompts still and multichaps to work on lmao #why can't I ever focus on one thing #Spy AU #Basstian McGucket #Stanford Pines #Stanley Pines #Harper McGucket #McGucket Family #my writing #ficlet #speecher speaks

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sue-bts · 4 years

Text

How to Destory Jeon Jungkook (chp 2)

Chp One / Chapter Two

Pairing: Taehyung x Jungkook

Genre: Eventual Smut/ Slow Burn/ Highschool AU

Words: 5,591

Summary: Taehyung usually isn't up to much, but Senior year brings about serges of boredom. So, Jimin devises a plan to mess with High School's baddest boy Jeon Jungkook. And Taehyung has to go along with it.

But a two day field trip could ruin it all.

/ AO3 LINK /

Taehyung made no progress for the next two days of class, Jungkook remained his stoic self, his lips most often pursed, and if not, his front teeth nibbled at his bottom lip. Taehyung would always try to start up a conversation concerning the stupid amount of homework that was due or maybe the weather (if he was desperate). Jungkook would give him the slightest nod of agreement or maybe, if Taehyung was lucky, Jungkook’s head would lull to the side so his eyes brushed over Taehyung’s form.

Taehyung hated this bullshit. But sometimes Jimin, who was sequestered away in Mr. Kim’s copy room, would peak his head out and get a kick out of watching Taehyung suffer through Jungkook’s attitude. Jimin, being the teacher aid, loved to find excuses to free himself from his copying or grading duties, chatting away with Mr. Kim while darting his eyes at Taehyung, urging him to make more attempt with Jungkook. Jungkook didn’t notice any of this back and forth, he was too busy hiding under his dark bangs, fiddling with his pencil as the muscles of his arms tensed and then relaxed, over and over.

Taehyung tried to butt into the other’s train of thought with his usual conversation starter, “I haven’t started on the homework…” (he had).

Jungkook let out a puff of breath, “You probably should, it’s pretty long.” He gave Taehyung a side eye, and then went back to staring down at his fingers as they toyed with bits of eraser.

Taehyung was ticked off, as usual. “I just don’t get most of it.” He tried to make his voice faint, like there was no impact to what he said, playful and hoping to continue the conversation.

“Maybe you should get a tutor,” Jungkook retorted. Every time Taehyung was able to coax Jungkook into even having a conversation with him in the first place Jungkook found a way to cut it off and end it so abruptly. Taehyung, every time this would happen (which is often), really wanted to flip Jungkook and Jimin off at the same time, storm out of that damned class room, and change into some clothes that didn’t cut off his leg’s circulation. He was really over all of this Jungkook crap. And he was only the first week in.

Friday (Day 4 of sitting next to Jungkook)

Jungkook’s jaw looks so punchable right now, Taehyung’s mind wanders, Of course, punching someone usually doesn’t land you in prime friendship zone with them either, Taehyung.

This type of wandering thought is unusual for Taehyung during a lecture. He supposes it’s just Jungkook’s presence alone that sets him off into thinking like that. Taehyung quite literally has to hide his clenched fist under his desk to let the urge subside and focus back to whatever Mr. Kim is droning on about.

Somehow, Jungkook has only muttered maybe two things today and it’s already riled Taehyung to his core. It’s something about Jungkook, in his demeanor, the carelessness to everything he says, there’s no gravity to it or urge to even say it. His friends eat it up though. They love how he doesn’t give anyone the satisfaction that he really cares about what he’s saying to them, everything is brief, no one deserves a second thought from him.

“Are you gonna catch sunset with us tonight?” Hoseok asks Jungkook. Taehyung presumes Hoseok to be Jungkook’s best friend, probably because of how opposite they are of each other. In every word that is nonchalant from Jungkook, every word out of Hoseok is intense.

“I think,” Jungkook replies.

“Ah, might as well Jungkookie!” Hoseok gleams, ruffling Jungkook’s hair, “It’s Friday night! We can all chill and then see if anyones hosting anything.”

Another of Jungkook’s friends chime in, “Pretty sure Yoongi is doing something tonight at his place.”

Taehyung wants to turn his back to the conversation, but his phone in his pocket buzzes. He slides it out and still hides it under his desk, it’s Jimin texting him from across the classroom, peaking out from his copy room with a grin plastered to his soft face.

We have to go to sunset tonight and bump into them! If Yoongi is actually hosting something this could be your shot to go with Jungkook to it !!!

Taehyung wants to roll his eyes but Jimin is watching him. He knows how Jimin gets all prissy when Taehyung rolls his eyes at him. Thought he doesn’t roll his eyes, a frown slowly forming on his features as he texts his response.

Me and Jungkook aren’t on very good terms right now… as per usual

Jimin scrunches his nose at Taehyung, Well start making yourself be on good terms ! It will definitely be better tonight once some weed is in both of your systems

Now Taehyung really wants to roll his eyes. He just scrunches his nose back at Jimin and shoves is phone back into his pocket. Hoseok is still chattering away about possible kickbacks or parties later in the night-if Yoongi’s plan falls through-but Jungkook hardly seems to hear any of it.

Throughout the lecture, Jungkook leans farther and farther back into his chair, his bangs part against his forehead as he scrunches it often while in thought. Taehyung lets his eyes dart to the boy beside him on occasion, infrequent enough that it seems he’s glancing to check the time or scanning the other heads in the class. But really, he’s always trying to take in Jungkook. The way the other’s ears are littered with piercing, silver and thick, the way his atom’s apple bobs as he inhales. He’s a sulky creature, who’s charm relies on his looks and Jungkook is very aware of his appeal. He plays off of it, not having to do anything and people still swoon.

Maybe a punch is too harsh, Taehyung thinks, now I just want to brutally bitch slap the guy.

Jimin’s car is a beast. It rolls out from the student parking lot at a crisp 3:07 pm, somehow weaving its’ frame between traffic until they speed away at a crisp 40 miles per hour. Despite his confining pair of light wash skinny jeans, Taehyung’s body finally feels at ease for the first time this week. Fridays are a gift from god, Taehyung eats them up, much like any other senior who’s really fucking sick of High School.

“God Jimin, can’t we just end all of this crap? I want to go back to only being stressed out by school, not by random fuckboys,” Taehyung blurts out, a soft smile creeping along his mouth as he looks to his friend. His words are meant to come off as light and carefree, but he waits for Jimin’s response with some seriousness to his demeanor.

Jimin smirks but doesn’t take his eyes from the road, “Taehyung-ieeee!” He whines, his face always making Taehyung regret doubting his friend. “Please please please, let’s just see how tonight goes and if it’s completely lame and obviously not going anywhere we’ll stop.”

Taehyung supposes that’s fair but he still wants to give Jimin a hard time, “You just want to get high for free.”

“Absolutely not!” Jimin exclaims but he can’t hide the shy smile that emerges. He turns up their music so Taehyung can’t keep presuming these things of him (despite if they’re true or not). Taehyung reaches for the dial and turns it back down.

“I think Jungkook is uncrackable. I honestly think so. He’s so tough.”

Jimin shrugs his shoulders and takes a hand off the wheel to pull off Taehyung’s backwards baseball cap. “But you’re doing so well… I mean look at this!” He showcases the hat, shaking it around before throwing it to the dashboard.

“Well Jungkook’s not too impressed…”

“He’s not impressed with anything! He’s Jeon Jungkook, he’s seen just about everything, but there’s still hope for us.”

Taehyung gives him the side eye, but keeps up his nonchalant behavior of tapping his fingers along with the beat, so Jimin can’t notice how fed up Taehyung is with all this Jungkook crap.

“Do you have a special play prepared? Something hidden up your sleeve, Jimin?”

Jimin smiles, his cheeks turning even pinker than usual, “A magician never reveals his secrets, Tae-Tae…”

Taehyung bursts with a loud laugh he tries to hide by slapping his mouth closed with his palm, “Bullshit Jimin, 7th grade you tried to do a magic show and choked on the scarfs in your throat.”

“Hey… I’ve got a bad gag reflex ok,” Jimin whines with a breathy laugh. “Just trust me this one time and if it all falls through I majorly owe you.”

“Yeah you do,” Taehyung retorts, however his tone stays humorous and light hearted.

The conversation lulls but Taehyung appreciates not talking on the Jungkook matter for a little while. He’s able to appreciate how his hair is freed from the restraining hat, the wind ruffles it over his eyes and is cool against his forehead. He lets himself lean back in his seat, eyes closing and Jimin once again turns the music louder. It drowns out the sound of road under tires, and the wind that swirls within the car’s interior. He wishes he could ease his nerves a little with the thoughts of possibly getting high tonight, he’s never gotten high before, let alone with people he despises. Senior year is already getting at Taehyung and he’s only a week in. Well, maybe it isn’t Senior year that’s ticking him off, he was quite excited for it during summer, he must just be a week into Jungkook.

Sunset doesn’t come fast enough. It’s still the summer months, the air heavy with heat and the sky bright and relentless. Jimin and Taehyung try to pass the time by playing video games at Jimin’s house, he’s got the bigger monitor and many more game options. Taehyung can’t resist checking the time every few minutes, Jimin batting his hand away from constantly flipping over his phone to look at the screen. He’s just waiting for when they can leave so he can get it over with.

Jimin doesn’t seem too nervous about it, he always has an heir of confidence to him, he’s too cute to get rejected from anyone’s group of friends. Jimin has managed to intercept just about every clique in their school throughout his last 3 years, Taehyung doesn’t really doesn’t see him like that though, he’s known him for too long to understand why people think Jimin is so cool. He can appreciate the boy’s soft lips and how his eyes always shut when he laughs too hard, but he sees past it and remembers elementary and middle school Jimin too. Behind those supple features is a kid who sucked at playing tag through all of elementary school, always tripping over his own feet and laughing while plastered to the ground. Jimin’s wide smile only reminds him of how the boy would bring food from home for lunch everyday and stuff it down so fast that more often than not he’d end up with chunks of food between his teeth the rest of the day. Just last year Jimin accidentally posted one of his nudes to his Snapchat story and Taehyung was nice enough to tell him (but only after screen-shotting it and drawing a little pepper over Jimin’s genitals). All of that comes to mind when Taehyung looks at his friend, who’s biting his lip as he furiously plays Mario Cart.

“Look at the screen!” Jimin exclaims, eyes darting over to Taehyung very quickly.

“Hey, I’m the one who’s winning,” Taehyung laughs, his wrists memorizing the map and moving fluidly through the obstacles without much of a second thought. Jimin huffs and keeps overshooting his wrist movements, moving his character to nearly the edge of each cliff, or brushing up against the shrubbery. This just comes naturally to Taehyung, Jimin is only coordinated when he dances.

This back and forth banter continues for hours, Jimin’s house keeper bringing them snacks and Taehyung’s anxious mind always dreaming up new ways he could embarrass himself in front of Jungkook. Not that it really matters what Jungkook thinks… but anyway.

No amount of Mario Cart or any other video game Jimin manages to pull from his box of CDs can distract Taehyung enough.

8:35 pm. It’s time they leave for sunset. Taehyung tries to gulp but his throat is dry and aches. Jimin picks up on Taehyung’s stiff demeanor while they walk out to Jimin’s car.

“Buddy, you’ll be okay.” Jimin has this way about him, he can keep up his silly behavior for much longer than needed, but when Taehyung actually shows he’s scared or sad, Jimin’s caregiving kicks in and he’s immediately soft while he talks. Taehyung appreciates it but it was Jimin’s silly little game that got him into this mess. He tries to suck it up but his eyes still glaze over with noticeable fear.

“Jungkook isn’t gonna bite,” Jimin smirks. Taehyung seriously doubts that though.

“Let’s just get this over with as fast as possible.”

Jimin squeaks with his high pitched laugh, jumping into the air as he now prances towards his car, “That’s the spirit Tae!”

The most popular place for kids from school to meet for sunset is the top of one of the college’s parking structure. Taehyung and Jimin don’t even know what it’s called, it’s simply referred to as “The Parking Structure,” obviously titled by the creative geniuses of their school. But it’s so popular everyone knows which one they’re referring to when it’s brought up. It’s particularly higher than most other parking structures, which makes it the most popular. So many levels high that the horizon is on display, and the city’s lights seem far off, like from another planet. The top of the parking lot is like the teenager’s other dimension, it’s vacant of cars during the weekend nights so they can park anywhere, haphazard patterns, crisscrossing over the allotted parking spaces. The tires don’t worry about the white lines on the concrete, the kids don’t care either, they park close to each other to huddle, or create a large distance from each other across the lot. The ambiance is unmatched, loud with chatter and the bass boosted music from their car’s tinny speakers.

Taehyung sees Jungkook’s group of friends before he spots Jungkook. His stomach feels twisted and he feels a serge of adrenaline. The setting feels so different to him than when he’s at school with the same people. Seeing them so fluidly conversing and intermingling with each other, the sky slowly darkening behind them, it creates a different fear within Taehyung, one he can’t quite distinguish.

Then there’s Jungkook. He was hidden away in one of the cars, and slowly emerges from it. His hair is swept up under a baseball cap, exposing his forehead that is at ease while he talks. Much more at ease than he ever is around Taehyung. He’s also talking much more than he ever does during class, in class he’ll speak at only the worst times. He’ll wait to talk until the teacher makes it clear they should be quiet, that is when he’ll turn to his friends for the first time to start chattering away, creating a fuss within the class waiting for him to shut up. Here, now, he talks when supposed to. Because everyones talking freely, laughing over the loud volume of their music that pulses. There are different songs at once, all from the different cars, the noise creates a vibration across the lot, the words and beats indistinguishable, but beautiful in that way. There’s a fluidity to the scene, everyone tries to become louder than the next, some are just quiet and listen to it all. Taehyung is of that category. He is transfixed to watching Jungkook, hardly paying attention to when and where Jimin parks, and that Jimin utters to him to get out from the car.

Before Taehyung can quite process whats going on he’s out of the car, his converse on the warm concrete, his shirt picking up a breeze that presses the fabric against his chest. Jimin feigns shock at seeing the group here, eyeing up the crowd with a burst of laugher and exclaiming the absurdity to this coincidence. As they get closer and closer to the group, Taehyung, as he takes in Jungkook face to face while they stand at opposite sides of the circle, notices a new heir to Jungkook.

“Jimin!” Hoseok exclaims, immediately grabbing for Jimin and pulling him into a hug. Jungkook watches the exchange, Jimin and Hoseok between him and Taehyung.

“Do you want some?” Hoseok asks Jimin, smoke wafts out of Hoseok’s mouth with the words, he shows off the joint that sits between his fingers as he takes yet another drag from it.

Jimin’s eyes light up and he throws his head back with a smile, “Yes!”

Taehyung finally distinguishes what’s new about Jungkook-despite his exposed forehead. Jungkook’s eyes are low and heavy, his face is much less strained than usual, his mouth held in a slight smile. He’s very very high. It shows in how his lashes shade his eyes, they peer out from under the haze and take in Taehyung in a new way. Quiet still, but much more gentle. Taehyung is shy under the gaze, wanting to look away and leave the intense eye contact, Jungkook’s high-ness makes him bold and unaware of the tension.

“Can Taehyung have some too?” Jimin asks, already puffing out his third cloud of smoke. Hoseok’s eyes hadn’t fully taken in Taehyung until Jimin mentions him, but he quickly recognizes the boy and hands over a second joint to Tae. Taehyung obviously has some apprehension, it’s so new to him and the heat emanating from the joint’s end scares him.

Jungkook rolls his eyes as he watches Taehyung’s slow movements, Jungkook’s eyes are red and low lidded but he still manages to exhibit his usual attitude.

“You don’t have to,” Jungkook mumbles.

Taehyung’s eyes dart over to Jungkook, who’s words go nearly unnoticed to the rest of his friends. But Taehyung hears them. Taehyung feels a rush of warmth within him he quickly tries to ignore the other, he takes hold of the joint and eyes up Jungkook once again. Jungkook nibbles at his bottom lip, a common habit of his that Taehyung has grown to notice often. Taehyung, without much of a second thought, takes a long and slow drag from the joint, the smoke warm going down his throat, alarming him to the feeling of his soft flesh as it is burned with the sensation. He manages to hold the smoke in for a beat before letting it all out with a rough cough.

“Nice one,” Hoseok says, patting the younger’s shoulders, “Do you want to hit it again?”

Jimin takes another drag from his and hands it back to Hoseok with a warm grin, already a looseness to his expression and ease to his movement.

“Well Jimin is definitely done,” Hoseok laughs as he eyes up the other boy, his fingers reaching out for Jimin, but in a new way, more touchy and soft.

“Might as well,” Taehyung finally responds, presuming that he doesn’t feel any effects yet, despite how delayed his train of thought is. He takes two more drags and on the third is finally feeling it set in. There’s a heaviness to him, his limbs hanging from their joints. He passes the joint to the girl beside him in the circle, and it works its way around until Jungkook finishes it off and grinds it into the soft cement. Taehyung’s mind becomes a daze of thoughts, they glide over him and don’t quite comprehend the speed of the other’s conversations or movements in real time. Jungkook still has his eyes on him, occasionally breaking his stare to drink from his Arizona while chiming into the conversation that Taehyung is too far gone to join.

“Oh I love this song,” Jimin exclaims, turning to Hoseok as they pick up a private side conversation as the rest of the group keeps chattering.

“Really? None of them like it,” Hoseok motions to the rest of the group.

“No it’s so good,” Jimin replies, his voice even softer than usual while he’s stoned out of his mind.

Taehyung slowly notices that this is Jimin’s “secret plan,” he’s invading Jungkook’s friend group via flirting with Hoseok. Jimin is smart, Taehyung thinks, I don’t know how to be that kind of smart right now. It’s true, his brain can hardly understand color or noise or movement, let alone what strategy to apply in winning over Jungkook.

Right now, his strategy is simply being in Jungkook’s atmosphere, it’s not much but it’s much more than he’d do on any normal day. Jungkook is smiling more than usual, he talks with a grin plastered across his face, and it’s so strange to see that smile. It might be the weed that’s coursing through Taehyung’s mind right now, but the sight of Jungkook with such a simple grin is a stifling sight, it makes Taehyung feel warm.

He pushes down this feeling as fast as it comes about. It’s definitely the weed.

“Hoseok can you please shut this shitty ass music off,” One of the guys in the friend group drawls.

“Yoongi, you’re really one to talk,” Hoseok responds, laughing. Jimin joins in the laugh, using this exchange as his perfect segue.

“Hey, we could just leave and listen to it together, I haven’t heard most of their tracks,” Jimin says quietly, so quietly if Taehyung weren’t purposely listening he wouldn’t have picked up on his friend’s hushed tone. Hoseok perks an ear, turning to look at Jimin, his eyes more serious than before, and the corners of mouth turning to a sly smile.

“Yeah, if you want to I’m down,” he answers, his height towering over Jimin’s, the smaller boy looking up at him with wide eyes and an equally playful expression across his face.

Taehyung is transfixed with their exchange, he doesn’t know how Jimin is always capable of being so sly with his words, so playful and yet so daring. Jimin has this heir to him, tempting his suitors in a way that makes them think it was all their idea, but Jimin is really the brain behind it all. Taehyung has never been like that, everything he says is at face value, he knows it too, because he hasn’t had a single boyfriend throughout High School, while Jimin has had multiple relationships along with countless little hookups here and there.

Jimin finally breaks his eye contact with Hoseok to turn to Taehyung, who’s gaze is slow, he peers at Jimin as if he’s gazing through multiple layers of color and haze. If someone told Taehyung he was wearing 4 pairs of sunglasses right now he’d honestly believe it.

“Would it be okay if I go hang out with Hoseok?” Jimin adds a wink to show that his plan is working out very well. Taehyung really has no option to say no, maybe if he really wasn’t comfortable, but he’s under the influence which puts him at a new level of comfort, so he gives his friend a half hearted shrug.

“Go listen to your shit music,” he says playfully. Jimin gently punches his shoulder with a giggle.

“Alright, we’re out,” Hoseok says, “Jungkook, everyone else’s cars are full, can you be a homie and drive Taehyung?”

The way Hoseok phrases it shows he knows Jungkook to be a stubborn boy. He gives Jungkook a look like, come on, you owe me this one, glancing from his friend back to Jimin, who smiles cutely, only tempting Hoseok further. Jungkook sees the mild desperation to Hoseok’s glance, he isn’t a complete idiot, he’s just a very stubborn one. He rolls his eyes but nods, not even looking towards Taehyung to see if he agrees with the whole situation.

Hoseok really thinks he’s pulling a fast one on Jimin, thinking his exchange of eye contact with Jungkook goes unnoticed to Jimin, while Jimin is even slyer, his eyes darting over to Taehyung with an extra heir of superiority. Taehyung is just caught up in the middle of all these mind games and ploys, so completely high that he stands there, hardly emoting, his expression very plain and almost solemn in its neutrality.

“Ok great, thanks, is everyone just going to Yoongi’s later?” Hoseok asks as Jimin gets into the passenger seat.

“Yeah, my parents are gone tonight,” Yoongi answers. Everyone roars in approval with the excitement of tonight’s promise of copious amounts of alcohol. “Don’t invite anyone else though, we’re keeping it small for this one.”

“When do we ever keep it small?” Jungkook implores, his voice gravely after not speaking for a while, plus the strain from all the drags of smoke that went down this throat a few minutes before.

Yoongi mildly smirks, the rest of their friends laughing hysterically and nudging Jungkook in their admiration.

“Fuck off Jungkook,” Yoongi says but his tone is gentle, “who’re you even gonna manage to invite that you haven’t already had sex with? Huh? It’s not possible.”

Taehyung gulps, his throat is dry and Yoongi’s words only amplify his own insecurity. Taehyung’s extreme virgin energy feels large and very noticeable, it probably isn’t, but it feels like he’s just screaming virgin virgin virgin amongst this group of very non-virgin people.

Luckily, Jungkook isn’t even looking at Taehyung, he’s caught up in small talk about Yoongi’s kickback and everyone telling stories of Jungkook’s previous endeavors with girls. Taehyung is so transfixed within his internal dialogue he hardly notices when Hoseok and Jimin finally pull out from their parking spot and drive off; there’s a faint yell from Jimin saying “Bye Tae!” as the car skids away and music pulses out from their open windows. Taehyung is left staring straight ahead at his rival, Jungkook, who’s frame is slouched and his eyes wander around to anywhere or anyone else that isn’t Taehyung. Jungkook casually takes off his hat, shaking out his hair which brushes over his lazy gaze and then he sweeps it back under his hat. It’s such a swift and thoughtless action but it has Taehyung’s insides curling around themselves.

Fuck. If it’s the weed that’s making him feel this way, he really needs to take a large break before getting high again. It’s dangerous to feel these things concerning Jeon Jungkook of all people.

It’s nearing 9:30, the twilight begins to fade into complete darkness, only the lights of the city illuminating the sky now. The dark casts a shadow over Jungkook’s face, his eyes seem less harsh, less intrusive when they glance over Taehyung, and the darkness puts Taehyung’s mind at ease. There’s less movement and brightness that his mind has to process, he feels diluted and slow and graceful, hidden away in the night.

“I think we should go,” Jungkook says to the rest of his friends, pushing himself off his car where he has been leaning for nearly an hour.

“Us?” Taehyung asks, his movement swaying like a top finally slowing down from its spinning.

“Yes, us,” Jungkook answers with a laugh, his high is already starting to ware off, his words once again harsher and of his normal brutal tone. Taehyung fucking despises it, sneering at Jungkook’s response, just the sound of the other’s voice so annoying it starts to sober Taehyung as well.

“Taehyung are you coming to Yoongi’s?” One of the girls asks, her head resting against Yoongi’s shoulder.

Before Taehyung can even think of an answer, Jungkook steps forward to the middle of the circle and takes hold of Taehyung’s sleeve. “I”m gonna take him home.”

Taehyung wants to swat Jungkook’s hand off his sleeve, but he’s too lulled to do much but follow Jungkook as the other leads him to his car. This fucking asshole.

The group might recognize Jungkook’s harshness, if they do they don’t mention it, just nodding slightly awkwardly.

“Ah, well, next time for sure,” Yoongi says, his voice low but still sweet. Taehyung appreciates it and shoots him a warm glance.

Jungkook leads Taehyung into his car and Taehyung fumbles into the passenger seat, quickly folding his arms over his chest and looking out the window to ignore Jungkook’s presence to the best of his ability.

The ride starts out quiet, Jungkook pulling out from the parking lot and slowly driving down the tight turns of the parking structure until they a normal road.

“Taehyung…” Jungkook starts.

Taehyung almost scoffs in response but catches himself, still trying to remain civil despite how he plans to drop out of this challenge the next time he talks to Jimin. Even if he’s no longer trying to keep this friendship facade up he supposes it’d be better not to be complete enemies with his seat partner for the rest of the school year. So Taehyung swallows down his pride and just hums a response.

“If you really want to go to Yoongi’s I can take you,” Jungkook says, his eyes darting over to Taehyung briefly before focusing back on the road ahead. The darkness makes it hard for Taehyung to make out the expression that’s held on Jungkook’s face, the occasional street light helps to light up his features, but so briefly Taehyung’s slow mind can’t quite process it and what it means.

“You practically uninvited me in front of everyone.” Taehyung’s honesty shocks him, he hadn’t even thought over what he was going to say, it just came out and he instantly regrets it. But Jungkook doesn’t seem mad.

“I honestly think you’re just too fucked up to go… wasn’t this your first time smoking?”

Taehyung huffs, avoiding the other’s glances towards him. “Well… yeah, but—”

“And we can go if you want, you just don’t seem like the type to want to do that.”

Taehyung feels a burst of anger within him, jumping up from his reclined position to sit alert and straight. Jungkook wasn’t just trying to protect Taehyung, he was presuming all these things of him… maybe it was all true but it still struck a nerve within Taehyung.

“I don’t need you to evaluate and decide what I’m up for or not, you don’t know me Jungkook.”

Jungkook is quiet, but Taehyung sees how his hand squeezes down on the steering wheel extra hard, his muscles straining up his entire arm to his shoulder. His jaw as well clenches and his eyes are eerily trained to the road, purposely not looking to Taehyung in fear of bursting with anger. He stays quiet.

“Just take me home, I don’t want to go anymore anyway,” Taehyung says coldly. His words are harsh and his low voice makes them only that much more intimidating. Jungkook finally glances over to him, the numerous headlights illuminate his furrowed brow and the silhouette of his nose that scrunches.

“Fine.”

The car ride is nearly unbearable, Taehyung wants to launch himself out and walk the rest of the way home. Luckily, Jungkook finally turns on some music that blares over the noise of the car and the city and angry puffs of air that Jungkook lets out. Taehyung still feels the serge of weed within his system, the music and the movement the car transfixing him, it makes it easier for him to ignore the other boy’s presence and also ignore his own anger. Taehyung does his best to not feel sorry for what he said earlier, trying to find an object to focus his attention on until he slips back into a dream-like state, letting his mind be subdued by his high.

Finally they pull up to Taehyung’s house on the outskirts of the city. It’s quieter on the road, much less oncoming traffic and more room for quiet between them. Taehyung feels a buzz in his pocket from his phone, he hadn’t noticed but his data was off this entire time, his phone just now connecting to his home’s wifi. There are a series of texts that emerge, all from Jimin.

Holy shit

Tae!

Taehyung respond

Bro

You won’t believe this

Taehyung !!!!!!

Ugh stupid ass

I’ll just say it

I slept with Hoseok !!!!

It was fun

I think I actually like him

Hahah omg

Tae please call me

this is crazy

And Hoseok was gooooood too

Bitch!

Please respond (unless you and Jungkook are up to something too ;DD)

Taehyung manages to pull his eyes away from his phone’s bright screen to look at Jungkook. Jungkook raises a brow, even though he’s irritated he’s still inquisitive.

“Bruh,” Taehyung manages to say, the word drawling and long, he lets out a light laugh.

“What?” Jungkook asks.

“Jimin and Hoseok fucked,” Taehyung answers, not managing to stifle his second laugh.

There’s a pause from Jungkook before he rolls his eyes and his head falls back to his head rest.

“Shit.”

“For real.” Taehyung’s mind reels, there’s no way I’m getting out of this challenge now, he thinks, but he can’t fucking say that to Jungkook.

He leaps out of the boy’s car with a mild nod thanking the other for the ride, and he marches back to his house. Taehyung’s already tapped Jimin’s contact and the phone rings sharply in his ear as he enters his house. He’s too fucking high for this shit.

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snowbellewells · 5 years

Text

Happy Birthday Krystal!!! ~***~

{Okay, @kmomof4, I think I have dithered over this and fretted and edited as much as possible for one day. I genuinely hope that you will like this addition to my French Revolution CS AU universe! Probably because it was for you, but this isn’t going to be all of it either. I think there will be a couple more parts - if not three - though I’m not going to promise any sort of time frame for them until I have written some of the other pieces I’ve committed to this month.

Anyway, I am so lucky to have you as a fandom friend and a dedicated reader and encourager. I feel so blessed to have met you and am grateful for your support constantly. This really isn’t enough, but I hope that it will add a bit of enjoyment to your special day. All the best to you today and always!!}

On the eve of Revolution, when it seems his whole world is falling down around him, nobleman Killian Jones is given a reason to keep fighting for his life…

Previous Installments: Part One Part Two

Part Three

The pounding rush of hoofbeats outside the makeshift tent where she was attempting to suspend and dry the clothing she had washed in the nearby stream sent her heart into her throat as the thundering drew up outside, shaking the ground beneath her feet. Though Emma had now been living in temporary encampments with Killian and with Liam’s regiment nearly six months, under his brother’s watchuful eye and protection (despite Killian’s chafing at the overprotectiveness) she still found herself tensing at the sound of new arrivals. Would this be an angry mob? Messengers bearing horrible news? She couldn’t help it when she thought of the climate around them and the way she and Killian had fled their home with pursuers on their heels.

This time though, she did not have to worry or wonder very long, as within moments, she heard Killian’s rich, strong voice calling out her name just before he threw back the tent flap and appeared, beaming at her, in the opening. “Swan!” he greeted breathlessly, his eyes alight with joy and his crooked smile spread across his face, his dark hair ruffled by the wind and a long, hard ride. “Aren’t you the most beautiful sight to which a man could return?”

Emma’s tensed shoulders fell loosely, and she was across the tent in two seconds, throwing her arms around him tightly and clinging to him with a sob of relief.

Killian might have found purpose and fulfillment in the ensuing months since they had fled his family’s estate and life of privilege, but for Emma, his new vocation had led her into constant waiting and praying for his safery each time he rode out as a scout for Liam’s regiment, and fear that he might not return. Though not officially enlisted, he could do that - and had proved quite adept in both stealth and attention to the details necessary for giving his brother’s forces all the intel they could have on the land and who or want awaited them before they marched forward. It gave the two of them a place in the camp and let Killian feel truly useful, something he had rarely felt in the life of a sheltered aristocrat, he had confessed to her as they huddled together for warmth, both their heads sharing a single bedroll for a pillow, in the chill night air inside their tent.

More than anything, in that moment, she could only be grateful that he had returned whole and safe to her once again. Her insides were still quivering with the anxiety she always held that it might be word he had been discovered and shot down or captured out there alone. Liam, of course, instructed his younger brother to only collect what information he could gain from a reasonable distance - but she also knew Killian. The thrill of riding on the edge of danger, and his reckless lack of self-preservation, made him an excellent scout, but constantly had Emma’s stomach in knots until he rode back into the camp after each reconnaissance mission he undertook.

So much so that she had made up her mind not to bear it any longer. If her love, her best friend, the sole reason she left her home and family and the bucolic countryside she had always known, was going to be out risking life and limb for a cause he believed in, then she would be as well. Waiting helplessly for word or sight of his return would little by little drive her mad with imagining all the worst possibilities one after the next. There had to be some way that she could help him out there on the rough, dirt-packed trails. She was a decent horsewoman, could track and shoot to keep them fed, and she would be able to take down his observations, speeding the work and lessening the chance of being caught. Not to mention that she could mend his wounds if he were hurt, would know if something bad happened. They must be stronger together; she simply would not believe anything else.

Killian, however, unaware of the determination she had reached in her mind, was more involved in showing her just how much he had missed her and how glad he was to see her again. His once delicately soft fingertips, indicative of his family’s prestigious station, were now roughened by callouses from work and the elements, as they traced along the slope of her neck, then lightly brushed an escaped curl from her chignon back over her shoulder. The sensation made her insides quiver in a wholly different manner than the worry which had shaken them before his arrival - one that was deliciously addictive. “Swan, truly, what enchantment do you use to grow even more lovely each time I return? It is not fair, ma Chérie. How can a man hope to compare?”

She rolled her eyes lightly, his silver tongue having always been one of his many attributes capable of charming her, even if his actual words were overeffusive flattery to her way of thinking. He meant what he said, but he was more than a bit biased and pre-disposed to see her in her best light, through very rose-tinted lenses. Huffing out a light breath of air, she shook her head at his ridiculous compliment, even as his head dipped to lightly trail his lips along where her shoulder met her neck, making the air escaping hitch slightly with the tingles he sent chasing down her spine. Where she had opened her mouth to chide him for being such an incorrigible flirt, she instead only released a blissful sort of sigh, allowing her whole body to sway towards his never-failing warmth, drawn under his spell as inextricably as an unwitting fly might first enter the spider’s web.

“Mhmm...Killian…” she breathed shakily. “One might also question how you become a better and better kisser after each time we have been apart. Have you been obtaining practice elsewhere? Or are you the one making use of some enchantment?”

Her handsome gentleman raised his eyes then, to stare into her questioning green gaze with unblinking sincerity. There was nothing for her to do but believe him as he rasped devoutly in a voice hoarse with emotion. “I would never so much as think of another before you, mon amour. Please tell me you know that.”

Emma smiled back tremulously, her emotions making her a bit teary-eyed at the fervor he proclaimed. Leaning her forehead against his, just savoring their closeness once again she whispered, “Of course I know, Killian. Of course. You have never given me any cause to doubt your word or honor.” And it was true. This man had lost much in the last half year. Nearly everything about his life and circumstances had changed, and yet there he stood, as gallant and true as ever. His heart was still as open as it had been when they played together in the flowering fields or splashed into the fountain of the front circle at his father’s chateau, despite the scolding it had earned her and the whipping it had undoubtably bought him. He was still that boy as well as the man now standing before her. The only man she had ever loved… or ever would.

“Good,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead before sweeping in to capture her lips with his own, “because not a day went by when I did not think of you.”

In spite of the sturdy, practical bent to her nature, Emma swooned a bit at the admission, honestly wondering what a simple maid like her had done to earn such ardent courtship. Though Killian smelled of sweat and horse and the dust of the long miles he had crossed, she couldn’t get enough of him as she returned his kiss, opening to his questing tongue and teeth and savoring the soft scratch of the stubble that had grown on his once smoothly clean-shaven face. The overwhelming masculinity her childhood friend now bore might cause her to unravel, but as the fire rose in her blood, she felt it would be a more than worthy capitulation..

Humming with pleasure, she was just truly beginning to reciprocate and to give back as good as she got when they were interrupted by the tent flap being thrown open once more. “Killian! You’re needed back in the saddle at --” his brother’s deep, commanding voice called out, speaking with such intense urgency that he had carried on in a rush before choking off, embarrassed, and averting his eyes upon realizing that his younger brother and childhood friend were caught up in a quite passionate embrace, Killian’s hand tangled in her hair, Emma’s chest heaving undeniably and eyes glazed over, and both of them pressed so close together that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Killian’s other hand had even begun to conspicuously bunch up her skirts - a tell tale giveaway of what they had been about, even if he dropped it quickly and took a step back, flushed beneath the dark beginnings of a beard covering his cheeks. “Liam - bon sang! A little warning before you charge in, Brother!”

Liam shook his head in consternation, still looking determinedly off to the side rather than at either of them, his voice clipped with awkward chagrin as he continued speaking more calmly. “As I was saying, Little Brother, I realize that you have only just returned, but we have need of yours skills again - as soon as you can make ready.”

Frustration worked the muscle in her love’s jawline, not doing anything to ease the unsatisfied flame in Emma’s blood, but before he could protest or speak at all, she reached up to touch the side of Killian’s face with a tender, staying hand. Looking over to Liam, she nodded dutifully. “I am sure we can make ready by nightfall.”

“We?!” both Jones men spluttered indignantly, eyes wide with disbelief.

Killian’s clearly affronted chivalry had him practically gaping at her in shock as he drew her closer. “What are you thinking, Emma?”

Meeting his gaze head-on, having known this would be cause for a fight, she answered in a voice steely with resolve. “I am thinking,” she put emphasis on the same word he had used to question her, “that waiting here imagining what might go wrong or how you might not return is torment I can bear no longer. I can help you, Killian. … And I am going with you.”

Tagging a few others who might enjoy (even if it is Krystal’s present): @jennjenn615 @searchingwardrobes @hollyethecurious @therooksshiningknight @darkcolinodonorgasm @resident-of-storybrooke @winterbaby89 @thisonesatellite @scientificapricot @bmbbcs4ever @aloha-4-ever @effulgentcolors @thislassishooked @angellifedeath @ilovemesomekillianjones

#cs au ff #cs French Revolution au #a private revolution #fandom bday gift fic #for @kmomof4 #part three

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aesthyuckic · 5 years

Text

AVENOIR | l.dh - TRES

(gif not mine - credits to rightful owner)

Genre: High School AU (at beginning) ; Tarot Reader!Witch!Hyuck

Word Count: 2.2k

Warnings: (for future chapters will bold if in use) belief contradictions, mentions of r*pe, blood, swearing, violence (???), mentions of abuse (???), slow but with a purpose

Pairings: Lee Donghyuck (Haechan) x Reader (F)

KNIGHT OF CUPS - adventure, romance, following the heart

Donghyuck looked at Cosimia with the most confused expression on his face after the sentence left her mouth. He examined her expression, very clearly waiting for a response. A smile broke out on his face before he started laughing hysterically.

“You’re kidding, right?!” He managed to get out between laughs.

The slight smile she had on her face before had faded with his hard laughter. He was bent over hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath from laughing so hard. When he looked back up at her, only then he realized she hadn’t been joking about what she said to him.

“Oh...” He mumbled. “You were serious?”

“Of course!” She hissed at him. “Why would I say something like that as a joke?”

“To make me laugh, maybe.” He shrugged.

She went back to staring at the shallow creek behind the fence. Though, this time there was a noticeable frown on her face. Donghyuck had felt bad for laughing but truly, he really thought she was joking. He didn’t mean to be insensitive nor could he bring himself to apologize for it. Rather, he thought it was best to keep his mouth shut for once and looked out to creek as well. The stream seemed to have gotten louder but that could’ve been from the awkward silence that filled the air between the two teenagers.

“Listen,” She sighed, avoiding eye contact with him. “I would prefer to leave with someone. I choose you for multiple reasons. You’re the person I’m closest to... I know how stressful your live is too. You work at a burger joint and have basketball practices and games that fill all your time after school. I assume why Ms. Nelson wanted me to tutor you is because your GPA dropped too low to play basketball. The reason you work such long hours after school is because your mom is too sick to work to support your family, so you have to do it because you’re the only one old enough to get a job.”

“H-how do you know all that?” He asked, quite startled at her detailed and accurate description of his life.

“Well, I’ve seen your work uniform in your bag before,” She listed. “The basketball team’s photo is in the gym and oh, yeah, I sit next to your sister in Algebra.”

He was finally able to let go of the breath he held in his chest, relieved by her explanation. He began to understand what people meant by the ‘creepy’ things she said to them. The way she phrased things with no answer to how she knew would freak anyone out. He started to feel she did that on purpose though, like she got some sort of joy out of it. Maybe it was just her way of keeping others at bay...

It was true that lived a stressful life and in fact he felt like he was going to go bald soon from it. There were plenty of times he felt like running away from everything but he could never do it. Here he stood next to a girl that was about to do what he often dreamed of doing, running away into something new. How did she have the courage to do so? To leave everything behind for good and pass the burdens she carried to someone else?

Cosimia looked over at the boy who stood next to her. She could tell he was deep in thought while zoning out into the green of the trees that resided in the creek. He was tempted, obviously by the way he hadn’t laughed at her anymore and quiet he remained. She turned her attention elsewhere with a sigh as she finally let go of the fence which brought him back to his reality.

“Anyway,” She spoke up in the silence. “I won’t be needing the homework, I’m leaving tomorrow night. I know it’s not much time to decide but when and if you choose, tell me before school ends tomorrow. You won’t see me again after the bell for seventh period rings otherwise.”

She looked back at him to make sure he’d been listening to which she caught his eyes. He felt nervous whenever he looked into her eyes. They were sharp like a cat’s and deep... Despite her having a light brown coloring that turned gold in the sun, they pierced you like they could see through a person and get everything about someone down to a tee. They were inviting in the way you’d loved to look into them but as soon as you did, you felt paralyzed, alluring like a siren. There was so much in them to see, made you see things in her as well as yourself. She made eye contact with him too long that he find himself hot out of nerves and made him freeze as he felt everything about himself be revealed to her.

He knew it wasn’t as long as it felt when she broke the gaze, a few seconds at most. He felt his ability to breath freely again when she turned her back toward him to walk to her front door. Oddly enough, he liked the feeling in the end... The feeling of someone knowing all of him was refreshing and like a weight had been lifted off of his perfect image he maintained during school and for everyone really. He wanted to do it again...

“Hey, Haechan,” She called out once she reached her front door. “You should probably go before my father gets home... Remember it’s your choice and I get if you don’t want to go with me. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

He flinched when she slammed the door shut. He stood there for a few moments, looking at the windows which had lace curtains that blocked him from seeing in. He then took a deep breath before he hurried away from the happy looking house with his hands in his pockets.

Donghyuck sighed to himself, feeling trapped. Not because of Cosimia, he felt the furthest thing from that with her. He felt trapped because of all the pressure and responsibilities that were put on him. He was still a kid, technically, but he had some of those years taken away from him. He felt like he’d never get a break from anything ever again. The only breaks being in the hours of the night when he cried into his pillow from being so stressed out. It was only the time he had for himself as the hours of the day were spent wasted away for others. That was his responsibility, others, taking care of them and maintaining a certain image for them. He wanted something for himself for once, he didn’t have that...

He was burnt out like a match or like man in his thirties when he was still just a high schooler. What she said, knowing she was serious made his body fill adrenaline and excitement at the fantasy of him being free from all the weights he had on him. It gave him a sense of hope until he remembered his family and friends. What would they think of him? How could he just pick up and leave with someone he barely knew without a second thought?

The question on whether to go or stay remained in his head for the rest of evening. He was distracted at work, daydreaming as what it would be like to just leave. When he got home that evening, he tried to act as normal as possible. He felt out of place even though everything was normal, his siblings were upstairs playing while his mother laid down on the couch, watching one of her shows.

“Hi, sweetie,” His mother smiled, sweetly at him when he came into the living room. “How was work?”

“Normal,” He shrugged, setting the warm bags of greasy burgers and fries down on the table.

He frowned at the sight of his mom laying on the couch. It broke his heart a bit to constantly see her like that all the time, that was her normal. She was too sick to work which left him to do it as his siblings were all too young. Welfare didn’t do much to cover them at all either. What would they do without him here if he left? It made him panic in his decision making.

He was finally able to pry his eyes away from his mother to call his siblings down to eat. Sure enough the sound of three sets of footsteps were heard from above as they all raced out of their shared room. They came down the stairs like a stampede, fighting and pushing each other in the process. It made him laugh, honestly, it made him feel so much in the moment. He wouldn’t witness that ever again if he left. Would there even be food on the table for them to come running down to? His sister was the first to sit down. Though, she look disappointed in the white bags with grease stains in them.

“What?” He asked, noticing her disgusted expression.

“I’m getting sick of burgers and fries.” She gritted.

“Ungrateful,” He tsked rather jokingly, understanding why she would. “Why don’t you try to get dinner tomorrow night?”

“Better yet, I’ll cook.”

He ruffled her hair to frustrate her further after her statement. He looked at his sister while she still ate the food he got from work. It was cheap and he didn’t have time to cook for five but he felt bad about it. She was going to be old enough to work soon, wasn’t she?

“Don’t burn down the house.” One of their younger brothers snickered at her as he unwrapped his cheeseburger.

“Hyuck, are you gonna eat?” The youngest asked with puppy dog like eyes that almost broke him.

“No, no,” He shook his head. “I’m tired, I’m gonna go to bed...”

Donghyuck lied, he wasn’t tired, he just needed a quiet space to think and be alone. He laid down on his bed and looked up, staring at the old glow in the dark stars that still remained on his ceiling. He went racing through his thoughts on what to do, what was the right thing to and what was best. It really wasn’t a lot of time to make such an important decision but maybe that was the point. Maybe the point was not to think rationally and throughly but to go with your first thought. At a certain point, you need to just do what your heart tells you.

He hadn’t slept at all that night, too much excitement filled his veins as he reached his answer. He felt antsy in his seat all throughout fifth period. It was quiet in the room as everyone took their test. He could hear his uneven breaths and the tapping of his pencil as he bounced his leg up and down, vigorously. He watched the clock and the hands, intently. He grew more excited by the moment that it suffocated him.

The bell finally rang, ending class. He was the first one up and out of his seat in flash. He slammed the test in front of his teacher and stromed out of class despite not answering a single question. It wouldn’t matter anyway at this point. He remembered where Cosimia’s fifth period was and ran through the halls to get there in order to catch her. He could see her from across, exit the classroom to which he started running to catch up with her.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned around to see the boy with orange hair. A small smile came to her as she saw him. He finally came to reside next to her. They continued to walk, slowly as he caught his breath.

“So, your answer?” She asked.

“I’ll go with you.” He said.

“I thought so, honestly.” She smiled once again before stopping.

She went digging through her bag and fished out a few polaroid pictures. She handed them to him. He was confused as to why she gave them to him.

“Why do I need these?” He questioned.

“Part of the plan,” She shrugged. “Makes things easier. Just put them in your bedroom next to your yearbook. You have a car, right?”

“Yeah,” He nodded “Wh-“

“Great, pick me up at nine in the outlet near my house. I’ll see you tonight!”

“But-“

She waved ‘goodbye’ before she walked away quickly, not leaving any time to get a word in. He huffed at the fact at that he didn’t get a say in making the plan or even motifying the plan. Then again, he was just given the choice to tag along, so maybe it was fair. He pouted to himself before looking down at the pictures in his hands.

His eyes widened at the polaroids he held. It was Cosimia in the same pink dress he’d seen her a few nights ago at his work. She’d look the exact same from how she look when she stood outside the window with her bike. The bruises were gone, disappeared under make-up and the pain was covered up with a smile as she looked into the camera. She looked pretty, like a doll but also fake like one. Still how strange...

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