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jaesqueso · 3 years

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The Bachelorette: NCT edition - Ep. 4

The season of love is finally here! An interactive series where you’ll get to choose who goes home each week and ultimately who Y/N chooses in the end!

pairing: nct(ot23) x fem!reader

summary: Warnings are given but egos still clash, meanwhile others are take their chances to get the bachelorette’s heart beating faster

episode guide

word count: 7,226

warnings: very light mentions of alcohol

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

Last week on the Bachelorette:

Y/N met 23 bachelors ready to prove they can be the man of her dreams. Some managed to impress, others not so much and were sent back home.

With some many men fighting for the same goal, egos are bound to clash and threaten to ruin the mood. Will this be a deal breaker for our bachelorette?

11 men remain on the race to 1 woman’s heart, but tonight 2 more will lose their chance.

Who will she choose? Who will she reject?

Find out on the Bachelorette!

“Hy guys!” Everybody cheers as Chris Harrison enters the guest house. “Last week things got a little heated on the cocktail party.” Looks are exchanged between the men in the room. “I just want to remind you what you’re here for. You are here to win Y/N’s love and you won’t get that by bickering at each other.”

They nod, clearing their heads and focussing on the main goal, you.

“This week we’ll have our usual 2 one-on-one dates and a group date. Remember that if you don’t receive a rose by the end of the individual dates you will go straight home. As for the group date, there’s the possibility to earn that rose and be safe from the ceremony. This week two of you will be going home.”

Some faces get nervous, others get excited with the chance of finally scoring that one-on-one date with you.

“As for me, I’ll get going. See you at the rose ceremony. Good luck!”

As Chris leaves the room, the familiar siren is heard and all eyes focus on the TV.

Nothing feels better than the wind running through your hair as the sun makes your skin glow and the feeling of the world at your feet.

Eyes widen across the room wondering what could that possibly mean.

Jeno, I hope you like being outdoors, because we’re about to go on a chill ride.

The chosen bachelor smiles proudly at the opportunity to spend more alone time with you.

“Congratulations boy!” Jaemin pats Jeno’s back as the gang disperses.

“Thanks man.” The bright smile never leaves Jeno’s face. “I’m so excited for this I don’t even care what we’re doing!”

“It will definitely be something outside.” Taeyong mentions. “Maybe you’re going on a boat ride or something.”

“That would be dope!” Johnny adds.

“Whatever it is, I’m just glad it’s finally happening.” Jeno comments.

“Can’t wait for my turn…” Taeyong sighs.

The next day Jeno gets ready to meet you, wearing casual sporty clothes. He enters the car that’s waiting for him outside the guest house and heads off to the city. A lot of thoughts are going through his head along with the exhilarating feeling of getting to spend some time alone with you.

The vehicle comes to a stop in front of a park. A smile grows on his face as he sees you in a pair of biker shorts and an oversized shirt standing between two bikes.

"Hi Jeno.” You greet him matching the delighted expression on his face.

"Hey Y/N. Are we going somewhere?" He points to the bikes.

"It's such a sunny warm day I thought we could go for a ride, what do you think?"

"Sounds great to me!"

You smile handing him his helmet. He puts it on his head and then helps you with yours. The weather is already quite hot but your cheeks are now burning with his closeness.

"Ready?" You ask him as you get on top of your bike.

"Always." He winks and you chuckle as you two start your journey.

You ride through the park at a bland pace, side by side, taking in your surroundings. The lake sparkles as rays of sunshine hit the surface, the grass is as green as it can be swaying with the light breeze, the laughter of the children playing around filling the air and the warmth of the love shared by young couples all around putting a shy smile on your faces.

"Looks like this is a romantic destination." Jeno looks at you with a smirk.

"Why do you think I brought you here?" You wink and ride ahead.

"Wait for me!" He chuckles trying to catch up with you.

You take a few turns around the park and then you guide him to the street. He looks at you confused.

"Where are we going?" He asks from behind having to ride like this now as the bike lane is quite narrow.

"I have a surprise for us, do you trust me?" Your joyful face as you take a quick glance over your shoulder gives him all the reassurance he needs.

"I trust you."

You ride through the city streets heading to less busy roads. You start to go up the hill and even though he has to pedal extra hard Jeno's able to place himself back by your side where he's happy to be.

As you get to a viewpoint he stops admiring the city that seemed so small from up there. He was caught by the beautiful sight until his trance was broken by the sound of your voice.

"Are you just going to stand there or are you going to join me?"

He looks at you and gasps at the scenario. There's a blanket on the grass and a picnic basket where you already took out some drinks and food from. Your bike rests against a tree and you sit on the floor patting the spot next to you for him to take.

He places his bike next to yours and then sits down. You look at each other for a few seconds before you break eye contact biting your lip.

"You must be thirsty." You grab a bottle of water and turn to him.

"Very much." He says in a teasing tone as he grabs the bottle, hand lingering over yours before he opens it to drink.

You try to hide the smile that insists on showing in your face and prepare two plates of food for you. You eat and talk while watching the busy city that looked so small and meaningless at this very moment.

After the talk you had at the group date two weeks ago you've been eager to spend more time with Jeno. You loved his approach, the way he makes you laugh and how comfortable he feels when it's just the two of you because you sure notice how quiet he gets when everybody else is around. Talking to him today just confirms that his personality is as interesting as his looks that take your breath away.

Back at the guest house things are getting heated.

“You came to apologise?” Hendery asks.

“Apologise for what?” Renjun scoffs.

“You gotta be kidding me.” Hendery shakes his head in annoyance.

“Dude, I don’t know what you’re talking about, you made all that fuss for nothing!” Renjun continues in a mocking tone that only makes the other more upset.

“For nothing?” Hendery can’t believe what he’s hearing. “You saw me walking to her and got in the way!”

“What? I didn’t that on purpose, it just happened.” Renjun tries to excuse himself.

“Oh yeah? What about that first day when I was talking to her and you came out of nowhere and took her?” Hendery is starting to lose his patience. “And Jeno told me how you did the same thing to him at the group date after the soccer game. Don’t play the victim now!”

“I’m not playing the victim, I just take every opportunity I can get, maybe you should do the same.” Renjun winks and Hendery almost jumps on him before he’s stopped by Jaehyun.

“What are you guys doing, are you crazy?” He asks.

“Are you two still going at it?” Yuta rolls his eyes.

“I’m not about to go home because this idiot keeps cutting me off!” Hendery says glaring into Renjun’s eyes.

“Maybe you should both just leave because clearly you’re more interested in fighting each other than winning her love!” Haechan shouts getting annoyed with the whole situation.

Before anyone could say anything else the siren is heard and they head inside. The bachelors make sure that the two protagonists of the fight sit away from each other.

Last week you showed me your looks, but now my question is: do you have moves?

Eyebrows are raised in confused expressions.

If you don’t see your name on the screen don’t worry, you can show me what you got in two days.

Fingers cross anxiously waiting for the names to pop up on the screen.

See you tomorrow!

“Shotaro, that’s you!” Yuta congratulates the boy as he still can’t believe it will finally be his turn. This is finally his time to prove himself to you and step out of the background.

"So, a little bird told me you play the guitar?" You question Jeno as you finish eating.

"That little bird seems to be accurate." He chuckles.

"Would you play me something?" You raise your eyebrow.

"I would love to, if only I had a guitar with me..." His face drops feeling like he missed a great opportunity to impress you.

"By all means," Jeno's eyes follow your moves as you get up and reach behind the tree where the bikes are at. "look at what I found here."

His face brightens up as you hand him a guitar that you had hidden there from the beginning. While he checks if the guitar is in tune, placing the strap over his shoulder, you put away the rest of the food placing the basket on the side to free up the space on the blanket.

"Any special requests?" He asks as you sit settled down in front of him.

"Surprise me." You tell him with a smile.

"Ok, I got it."

He places his fingers on the strings and with the first chords you instantly recognise the song.

"I've tried playin' it cool

But when I'm lookin' at you

I can't ever be brave

'Cause you make my heart race"

You bite your lip as you listen carefully to his beautiful voice.

"Shot me out of the sky

You're my kryptonite

You keep making me weak

Yeah, frozen, and can't breathe"

A smile rests on his lips as he keeps playing.

"Something's gotta give now

'Cause I'm dying just to make you see

That I need you here with me now

'Cause you've got that one thing"

He lifts his gaze to you as he sings the chorus.

"So get out, get out, get out of my head

And fall into my arms instead

I don't, I don't, don't know what it is

But I need that one thing, and

You've got that one thing"

As the last note fades into the nature sounds you clap.

"That was beautiful, Jeno. Thank you."

"Thanks." He looks down embarrassed and puts the guitar away.

You shift on your sit facing the city view and he scoots over sitting next to you. You sit there in a comfortable silence, your legs lightly touching making your heart beat faster.

You move your gaze to his face. The orange sunlight enhances his handsome features and you forget about everything else around you.

Feeling your eyes on him he turn his head to look at you and you gulp at the proximity of your faces. His gaze drops to your lips and slowly he leans his head towards yours giving you time to stop him if you wan to. But you don't want to, so you close your eyes and let his lips touch yours. You lift your hand to his cheek silently tell him it's ok and he smiles into the lovely kiss you're sharing.

After a while he leans back and you hide you face on his shoulder. He caresses your hair and leans his head against yours making sure to register this moment on his mind.

As the sun sets you get up and pack everything returning to the park to catch your ride to go back.

In the car the mood is as romantic as before between giggles and caresses. It feels right to share this moment with Jeno, you almost forget there are 10 other guys trying to win your heart.

The vehicle comes to a stop between the guest house and the mansion and you hold his wrist before he opens the door.

"Before we go, there's something I want to ask you."

"Anything." He smiles.

"Do you accept this rose?"

"Oh," he lets out a relieved sigh, "of course I do."

You happily pin the rose to his shirt.

"There's something I want to ask you too." He says with a cheeky smile.

"What is that?" You question curiously.

"Can I kiss you again?" You chuckle.

"Yes you can."

He leans in taking your lips again. This was a more confident kiss, passionate but still soft. When you pull apart you exit the car and give a warm hug before you split.

The following day the men exit the house leaving Jeno and Shotaro behind. The mood still feels a bit off after the argument of the day before so there isn’t a lot of talking until the driver stops. As they get out of the vehicle some of them cheer being in front of a dance studio.

They get in and automatically their jaws drop as they see you inside one of the rooms dancing to a modern RnB in a pair of leggings and a loose cropped shirt. Their eyes followed your every move around the room impressed by your flow and technique.

Once the music ends and your movements stop at the final pose the bachelors clap and whistle. You bow with a smile, even though you’re breathing heavily, and signal them to gather around.

“Hi guys, what did you think of my performance?”

“Amazing!”

“Awesome!”

And some other supportive words are heard around.

“I’m glad you like it but now it’s your turn!” Surprised expressions are seen on their faces. “Music and dance are two things I could never leave without so I need my man to be able to know how to move their body.”

You wink and they chuckle.

“You’ll be split in 3 teams of 3. Each team will chose a song and come up with a choreography for it to present to me.”

You see some scared faces around.

“I will then choose my favorite routine and the lucky team will join me for dinner. How’s that for motivation?”

The guys cheer and it’s your time to chuckle.

“Alright so I have a bag with numbers. You’ll each pull out one to decide the teams.”

You walk to the first boy in line as he pulls out a number from the bag.

“3.” Hendery says checking the number on his hand.

You move along the line, everybody reaching for a number.

“3.” Yuta nods at the first guy knowing they will be on the same team.

“1.” Jaemin grabs a different number.

“2.” Taeyong starts a new team.

“1.” Johnny joins Jaemin.

“2.” Renjun says and everybody feels relieved he and Hendery didn’t end up on the same team.

“3.” Haechan joins the first two boys.

“2.” Jaehyun completes the second team.

“1.” They all laugh as Doyoung pulls out the number from the bag even though it was clear what team he was in.

“So to recap team 1 is Jaemin, Johnny and Doyoung, team 2 is Taeyong, Renjun and Jaehyun and team 3 is Hendery, Yuta and Haechan.” You announce. “I will give you some time to choose your songs and prepare a small choreography. Good luck!” You blow them a kiss and leave the room.

The teams gather around and start planning. Some opinions clash in terms of concept however they decide to compromise and ultimately just come up with something nice and easy that will be sure to impress you.

After a while you come into the room and ask the boys if they’re ready to present their choreographies. With positive replies team 1 gets in position and the other teams sit on the floor next to you.

“Whenever you’re ready.” You say and they signal you to press play.

Love Yourself by Justin Bieber starts playing and you are surprised they chose a calm song. They move softly at the rhythm of the music and your eyes are drawn to Jaemin, not that Johnny and Doyoung aren’t doing a great job following the beat but you can’t deny Jaemin just catches your attention wherever he is. He looks straight into your eyes as he moves and again you feel nervous and scare of how he’s able to make your heart flutter like this.

Before you know it the song is over and everybody claps. You clear your throat breaking the trance Jaemin had you under and praise them for a good performance.

“Alright, team 2, you’re up!”

The next team gets in position as the first one sits, Jaemin taking his place right next to you. You look at him and he give you one of his warm smiles that you quickly return before turning your head back to the boys in front of you mentally telling yourself to pay attention.

They signal you to press play and you hear Paris in the Rain by Lauv. The song is chill but with some soft sexy vibes that they definitely take advantage of. Taeyong takes centre leading the other two boys that move accordingly. You love the way he moves, it feels so natural, so smooth, it almost looks as if he didn’t have a choreography and was just following the beat as it came. As you look over to Jaehyun his moves match the other boy but they are more calculated, nevertheless he’s the one who takes more advantage of the sexy vibes of the song and you are living for it. Glancing at Renjun there’s a nice balance between flow and technique, out of the three he’s the one that looks more concentrated careful not to screw up a move.

You all clap as the song comes to his end and you congratulate them on the amazing show they pulled off.

“Last but not least, team 3 the floor is yours!”

You start the music once when they’re ready and Post Malone’s Wow plays. The last team went with a more hip song showcasing modern, cool and trendy moves. Even though Yuta takes the middle place leading the group with his smooth moves you can’t help but look over to Hendery who seems to be made for this sound. The way he moves absolutely catches everybody’s attention in the best way possible and you are very impressed with his skills. You look over at Haechan and are surprised at his focused face that contrasts with his usually bubbly expression.

As they wrap up everybody claps and cheers.

“That’s was great you guys, all of you.” You get up walking to the middle of the room. “But I think I’ve made my decision.”

You leave some suspense in the air amused with the nervous faces in front of you.

“The winners are…” They mimic a drum roll with their hands on the floor making you chuckle before you reveal your answer. “Team 2!”

Taeyong, Jaehyun and Renjun get up jumping and hugging each other in victory. You see a few annoyed faces around but this is a competition after all, they can’t all win.

“Congratulations you three! I’m gonna let you go back and change before we meet for dinner. As for the rest of you, I’ll see you at the cocktail party.” You wink and leave the room going back to the mansion to get changed as well.

In the guest house Jeno and Shotaro talk about the dates.

“How are you feeling after getting the rose yesterday?” Shotaro asks.

“Oh man it feels amazing.” Jeno lets out a satisfied breath.

“This is the second time you get a rose before the ceremony right?”

“Yes it is, I got the group one after the soccer game.” Jeno recalls with a smile. “I feel like we’re really connecting now.”

“I really hope I get a rose tomorrow.” Shotaro lowers his head. “I’m always left for the end in the ceremonies and I feel like we’re not bonding like we should you know?” The other bachelor nods. “I see all of you matching up with her and sometimes I think maybe…” He takes a deep breath before he continues. “Maybe I don’t belong here.”

“Oh c’mon don’t say that.” Jeno comforts him. “If she’s keeping you here there must be a reason. She even choose you for the date tomorrow! Don’t give up just yet.”

“I guess you’re right…”

The front door is heard and the boys greet the others as they get back from the group date. The winning team gets ready to meet you for dinner as Jeno and Shotaro hear all about the activity.

Taeyong, Jaehyun and Renjun arrive at the restaurant where you stand by a beautiful waterfall wall in a beautiful asymmetrical black dress.

“Hi boys.” You greet with a grin as they eye you up and down clearly enjoying the view. “Are you hungry?” They look up at your face with widen eyes. “I have a table for us, should we go sit?”

They clear their throats as they follow you inside. When you get to the table you order a few drinks and you propose a toast.

“To a great performance!” You clink glasses and take a sip. “In all honesty that was really good, did you all choose the song together?”

“I was actually Taeyong’s idea and we liked it so it we decided to go with it.” Jaehyun explains.

“Nice!” You turn to the mentioned boy. “And did you come up with the choreography as well?”

“We all pinched in on that.” Renjun speaks before Taeyong has a chance to open his mouth.

“Taeyong had a few ideas for it and we added a couple more things.” Jaehyun explains glaring at Renjun. The latter rolls his eyes sipping his drink.

“Regardless, you did a great job.” You look back at Taeyong and give him a reassuring smile.

The food then arrives and the conversation gladly takes a happier turn. You discuss music styles and your favorite songs and artists and you definitely get some good recommendations from the boys. Once the meal is over you all get up and go to the bar area but then you hold Taeyong’s arm leaving him startled.

“Why don’t you guys go ahead and we’ll join you?” You tell the other boys.

Renjun is about to complain but Jaehyun grabs his arm rolling his eyes and dragging him away as you and Taeyong settle at a booth on a corner.

“So should you be taking the credit for the challenge or not?” You ask him with a teasing smile.

“Well, I mean…” He scratches the back of his head in embarrassment. “They did pinch in with some ideas but I guess the foundation was all me.”

“You know Taeyong, you don’t have to be so modest all the time.” You grab his hand. “Don’t get me wrong, I love that about you, I have noticed it before, but sometimes owning your actions can be helpfully specially in a competition like this.”

“You’re right.” He looks at you with a smile. “After all I’m here for you.”

With your own smile you continue talking getting to know each other more. He tells you all about his dance passion and it all makes sense now, the way he danced earlier was just extraordinary.

Back at the guest house Shotaro expresses his feelings about the group challenge.

“This week that I have the one-on-one date you guys do a dance competition? Not fair!” He chuckles.

“If only I knew I would’ve swapped places with you in a heart beat!” Hendery comments with a laugh.

“Oh no thanks, I’m good.” Shotaro adds just before the siren is heard. “Speaking of!”

Everybody gathers in front of the TV.

Hi Shotaro, if you are feeling lonely at the house don’t worry because tomorrow we’ll have plenty of company!

The boy raises his eyebrow. Isn’t it supposed to be an individual date? What do you mean more company?

Hope you don’t mind getting a little wet!

“Wow!” Jaemin says with widen eyes.

“What does she mean getting wet?” Doyoung asks around the room as everybody looks surprised.

Shotaro can’t even say anything, too excited for what you have in store for the next day,

You and Taeyong rejoin the other boys and after ordering some drinks you decide to take Renjun aside to talk.

“How are you doing?” You ask him.

“Way better now that I’m alone with you.” He smiles coming closer to you.

Any other time you would’ve given his advances a chance but there’s something you need to clarify first, so you take a step back leaving him with a confused expression.

“I wanted to talk to you about the last cocktail party.”

“What do you mean?” He asks and you simply tilt your head signalling you’re not in the mood to play games, you just want to get this out of the way. “Ok, ok. Look Hendery is just jealous that I make an effort to talk to you as much as I can and he gets left behind, that’s it.”

“So you’re saying he’s exaggerating?”

“Of course he is, I don’t even know why we’re wasting time talking about him right now when we should be talking about us instead.”

“I just want you to be more cautious with your actions ok?” He rolls his eyes but you still continue. “I appreciate you making an effort to talk to me and get to know me better but you don’t need to step over the others to do it. I don’t want a bad environment.”

“I’ll try. For you.”

Even though you’re not sure you believe his words you decide to let go of the subject and talk about you two as he suggested. He tries persuading you to get that one-on-one date but you just chuckle and tell him to try harder. You might come to regret this though.

You two come back to the bar and Jaehyun looks at you with his lovely smile planted on his face, dimples showing on his cheeks.

“I’m starting to feel left out in the ‘group’ date.” He does air quotes and you chuckle.

“Let’s not let that be a problem.”

You link you arm with his and take him away to a more private area.

“Did you miss me that much?” You tease him.

“You have no idea.” He tugs a strand of hair behind you ear and you bite your lip.

“I did see you trying to seduce me with your dance earlier.” You playfully push his chest.

“Oh I see.” He smirks. “You were praising Taeyong for the choreography but the real reason we won was because of my sexy moves.”

“I’m not saying it was because of that.” You giggle.

“Well, you’re not saying it wasn’t either.” He winks and you almost melt on the spot.

The teasing mood carries on through the rest of the conversation no matter what subject you’re talking about. If he had come up to you with this smooth talk outside the competition you would’ve totally fell for it. Not the you aren’t right now.

“Maybe we should get back.” You say only now noticing how close you are.

“Do we have to? I could stay right here all night.” He leans in placing a kiss on your cheek dangerously close to your lips.

“Well I wanted to wait until we went back home but I guess I might just do it now.”

Jaehyun steps back looking at you in surprise not sure what you’re talking about. You giggle as you reach inside your purse.

“Do you accept this rose?”

“Oh that!” He lets out a shaky breath. “Of course I do Y/N.”

You pin the rose to his jacket.

“Ok now we can go back.” Jaehyun takes your hand kissing it before pulling you back to the bar.

“Bragging already?” You chuckle.

“Any chance I get.” He winks.

When you get to the bar, Taeyong and Renjun instantly notice the rose on Jaehyun’s chest and groan while the other stands there proud holding you by his side. You finish up your drinks and decide to go back home.

The next day Shotaro gets ready in a hurry excited for your date. A car takes him to town and stops in from of what looks like a pet store.

“Hey!” You greet him with a smile.

“Hi Y/N!”

“Ready to meet our company for today?” You ask him and he frowns.

“I’m not sure.”

“C’mon, you’ll love them.” You grab his hand and pull him inside.

You greet the staff and follow one of them through a door that says staff only. His face brightens up as he sees a few dogs barking and wiggling their tails running to you two.

“Aren’t they adorable?”

“So much!” He bends his knees getting to the animals level to pet their fur almost falling as they jump on him in excitement and you giggle.

“These dogs need some loving so I though we could help the girls giving them a bath. What do you think?”

“Yes! That sounds amazing!”

You two follow one of the workers and take two dogs with you. She explains what to do and then leaves you to get down to work.

You follow the girls instructions laughing as the dogs shake their bodies getting water and foam everywhere. You take advantage that you’re already wet to throw some water at Shotaro and he does the same at you getting his revenge.

The place is a mess by the time you’re done but at least the dogs look all fresh and clean after you dry them and brush their fur.

You laugh as you look at each others clothes, there’s no way you two can go anywhere looking like this all drenched.

“Good thing I have some backup clothing for us!” You tell him.

“You did?” Shotaro looks surprised. “Thank you.”

You hand him a bag with his clothes and you get changed in the staff changing room, one at a time of course.

You two head out laughing as he tells you how much fun he had with the dogs. You take him to a small rustic restaurant a few blocks away and sit down at a table by the window.

You continue talking and the conversation is happy and sweet as always with Shotaro but there’s a strange feeling inside you that you can’t seem to shake off. You know what you have to do but it’s one of the hardest things since the show started.

“Are you ok?” He asks you. “You seem kinda down right now. Did I do or say something wrong?”

“No, of course not!” You answer in a hurry. “It’s just…” You sigh, not sure how to say what you want to say.

“What? You can tell me.” He looks at you with a warm smile and that makes things even harder for you. You take a deep breath before you go ahead.

“I’m really enjoying getting to know you Shotaro.”

“Why do I feel there’s a but coming?”

“But…” He sighs waiting for you to continue. “I think we’re building a great friendship and I keep waiting for it to move past that. As the weeks go by I’ve been getting close to some of the guys and it gets harder and harder to send some of you home. But I don’t want to deceive you Shotaro.” You reach out to grab his hand but then pull back not sure this is the right thing to do at this moment. “I’m not sure we’ll ever click. So I guess it’s better to say goodbye for now before things get more complicated.”

You look down trying not to shed a tear.

“Hey.” He takes your hand with both of his and you look back up. “It’s ok. Thank you for being honest with me.”

“I’m sorry.” You bite your lip trying not to get to emotional.

“Don’t be sorry, I knew that sooner or later it would be my time to go. There’s some guys in that house I just can’t compete with, I see the connections you have with them and it’s ok. I’m surprised you let me get this far!” He chuckles which relaxes you a little bit.

“Thank you for being so understanding Shotaro.” You smile at him. “I would love to still be your friend out of this competition because I really think you’re a great guy.”

“I would love that.” He tells you with a smile.

You two walk outside and there’s a car waiting for him. He reaches out and pulls you into a hug before opening the door.

“Thank you for giving me a chance.” He says. “And choose wisely, I hope you find your true love in one of the others.”

“Thank you, I know you’ll find love someday too. You deserve it.”

He smiles and gets in the car and as it drives away a tear rolls down your cheek as a bittersweet smile lingers on your face.

The cocktail party starts with one less bachelor. The remaining guys are happy to see you join them but one seems to notice you look a little gloomy so he takes you outside.

“How are you?” Jaemin asks as you two sit down.

“I’m…” You want to keep a strong face to handle the night but all your vulnerabilities come out when you’re with him. “I’m a little sad…”

“Because of Shotaro?” He asks caressing your arm.

“Yes…” You almost whisper. “I know I made the right decision, he’s such a nice guy, I couldn’t keep leading him on knowing I didn’t see him in a romantic way. But it was so hard saying that to his face you know?” Tears build up in your eyes.

“I know Y/N.” His hands goes up to cup your cheek ready to catch any tear that dared to roll out. “But you followed your heart and did what you had to do. I’m sure he appreciated that.”

“He said he did. But it still hurt to do it.”

“This is one of the things I love about you. You always care about what other people are feeling and that’s really impressive. But don’t forget why you do what you do. And don’t be scared to put your feelings first every now and then ok?”

You nod as he stares into your soul. You really can’t explain the connection you have with him and in this moment all you want is for him to lean in and kiss you. His gaze drops to your lips and you feel like maybe he wants the same but instead he gently pulls you to his chest warming you up in his embrace.

After a while a leans back again and cleans your soaked cheeks with his thumbs. You talk a little bit and once you feel composed you head inside.

The next one to pull you aside is Haechan. You take the opportunity to praise his dance skills and how professional he looked compared to his usual relaxed and laid back self. He tells you how much he loves performing and you are delighted to get to know yet another side of this wonderful man that is securing his place on your heart.

You then decide to call Hendery to check in on him being the first time you actually talk alone since what happened last week.

“How are you feeling?”

“Honestly I’m not sure.” He decides it’s better just to let everything out. “I felt better after our talk last week. But then this week we lost the group challenge and again it just feels like I’m loosing all the opportunities to connect with you.”

You look into his eyes and see his struggle but you don’t really know what to say. Noticing your silence he drops his head in defeat.

“I feel like you’re sending me home tonight.”

“Don’t say that please.” You grab his chin making him face you. “I haven’t made my decision yet, this is harder than you know.”

“I’m sorry Y/N.” He starts saying. “Sometimes it’s easier to focus on our own struggles and forget this is hard for you too. But I trust whatever decision you make tonight.”

He gives you a warm smile and you smile back. You decide not to leave things like that and spend sometime getting to know each other more before joining the others.

You mingle with all the boys until Yuta asks for some time with you. You gladly take his hand as he leads to a couch on the side.

“Sorry to call you in like this but I can’t risk you forgetting all about me.” He chuckles.

“How could I ever forget about you after that amazing date last week?” You wink.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it because I sure can’t stop thinking about it.”

“Oh yeah?” You smirk. “Do you like amusement parks that much?”

“I do. But the company made it extra amazing.”

You two keep talking about your previous date and you can’t wait to go out again with him and feel what you felt that day. Yuta knows how to have fun and show you a good time and that’s a big part of what you look for in a man. This is really getting harder and harder, not only to send people home but feeling your self fall for more than one of them.

Before your head starts overthinking Chris steps in the room calling you for some decision making.

“This has been an interesting week. It was the first time you did not give out a rose after the one-on-one date. How did it feel to send someone home that way?” Chris asks you as you two sit down upstairs.

“It’s a bittersweet feeling actually. It felt horrible to sit there and tell him I don’t see him as the man for me, but it was also good to actually explain how I am feeling and understand how he felt about it too.”

“Due to that, tonight you’ll only have to send 1 more home. Does that make the decision easier for you?”

“You would think so right?” You both chuckle. “It’s still hard because I don’t want them to feel like I’m singling them out. Even though that’s exactly what I’ll be doing.”

“Do you have an idea of who that person might be?”

“I’m conflicted between 3 of them actually, the others I’m pretty sure I still want to keep around.”

“Well, I’ll leave you to think about it then and as always, trust yourself to make the right decision.”

“Thank you Chris.”

He leaves the room and you carefully stare at the pictures of those 3 you’re conflicted with. You have reasons for each of them to leave and also for them to stay, you just need to think which of them matter the most in choosing the man you want to spend the rest of your life with.

You and Chris walk down the stairs and stand in front of the bachelors. This evening Jeno and Jaehyun stay on the side have already earned their rose.

"Good evening everyone. As you know one of you has already left the competition this week as he did not receive the rose on his one-on-one date with Y/N. Jeno and Jaehyun have already secured their rose, therefore tonight 7 roses will be hand out leaving one of you out of the race. Remember that you are in your right to refuse the rose. Good luck."

With that Chris leaves the room.

"Yesterday I had to take one of the hardest decisions so far but it was still hard choosing one more of you today."

You grab the first rose.

"Jaemin."

He smiles brightly walking up to you.

"Thank you for comforting me tonight. Do you accept this rose."

"Absolutely." You pin the rose to his jacket. "I'll always be here for you. Thank you for trusting me."

You nod with a smile as he walks back.

"Yuta."

He looks surprised to be called so soon.

"Do you accept this rose?"

"Of course." He smiles as you pin it. "Thank you."

You grab the next rose.

"Taeyong."

He sighs in relief.

"Do you accept this rose?"

"Yes." You chuckle as you pin the rose. "Thank you so much."

You take one more.

"Haechan."

He does a little happy jump before coming forward.

"Do you accept this rose?"

"Definitely." You pin the it to his jacket. "Thank you."

Another rose is in your hands.

"Johnny."

His face brightens up hearing his name.

"Do you accept this rose?"

"You scared me there for a second. but yes I do." You both chuckle as you pin the rose. "Thank you."

The tension builds up in the room with only 3 man left. You look between all of them and gulp before you announce the next bachelor you choose.

"Hendery."

He lets go of a breath he was holding in.

"I'm not ready to let you go yet. Do you accept this rose?"

"A thousand times yes." You smile as you pin it. "Thank you so so much."

As he walks back Chris steps in the room and you know what that means.

"Last rose Y/N, have you made your choice?" He asks.

"I think so."

He hands it to you and you turn to face the guys again.

"Renjun."

He smiles walking to you.

"I'm giving you another chance, please don't waste it. Do you accept this rose?"

"I do, I promise I'll do better." You pin the last rose. "Thank you."

Chris walks in again.

"That's it for tonight. Doyoung this is not your chance for love. You can say your goodbyes."

The rest of the guys hug him and you stay behind nibbling your lip unsure if this was the right decision. He then walks up to you giving you a hug and whispering something in your ear before he leaves. You are left dumbfounded but decide to ignore the piece of information for now, joining the remaining guys to celebrate.

In the next episode:

Doyoung’s message before he left kept you up at night and you need to set things straight.

“I need to know if this is true or not, I think I deserve to know.”

“Do you think he might have made it up because he was upset you sent him home?”

And two more bachelors will loose their chance at love.

”I don’t know what else to do.”

“You seem to have made your mind already.”

“You’re breaking my heart.”

Stay tuned for next weeks episode premiering 11/07.

☽ ・・・・・ ☾

Episode 5

a/n: that Shotaro scene was the hardest thing I’ve ever written, I kept it short cause I was in the verge of balling my eyes out T_T do give me some feedback please! ❤

taglist: @skrtbabe @yutahoes @yokshi-unbeliebubble @nakamotonudes @n0hyuck @negincho @love-and-other-possibilities @readers-posts @sylviacxt @tyongf-sunflower99

If you’d like to be included in the taglist for the series do let me know ❤︎

#cznnet #nctcreations #kpopscape #the bachelorette nct edition #nct imagine #johnny imagine #taeyong imagine #yuta imagine #doyoung imagine #jaehyun imagine #hendery imagine #renjun imagine #jeno imagine #haechan imagine #jaemin imagine #shotaro imagine

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starlost-andfound · 3 years

Text

at the divide // d.s (seasons change au)

Warning: The events in this au are an addition to the timeline of Seasons Change by @chilling-seavey (also pic credits to her <3). To avoid spoilers, please go read that amazing masterpiece first (and check out her other writing)

Inspired by If I Get High by Nothing But Thieves

Summary: Daniel searches for Marigold’s presence in a time he misses her the most.

Warnings: Angst, mentions of death and grief, alcohol consumption, kind of unedited

Word Count: Approximately 3K

A/N: If you want to really feel this one, listen to If I Get High by Nothing But Thieves and Marigold and Daniel’s song Cover Me Up by Morgan Wallen

I'll meet you at the divide

To break the spell

It was too good to be true, like a fantasy with a tragic twist, a hope for a sunny day clouded by storms. Daniel carried a heavy heart yet he felt empty. His heart beat in his chest, pumping life into his veins but he loomed around in silence. He was a ghost haunted by the walls of his own home. The house was draped in an eerie quiet, so quiet Daniel could hear the clock ticking in his bedroom from downstairs. He set aside his freshly washed plate in the drying rack and dumped his emptied beer bottle in the bin. When Lennox went to school, lunches were painfully quiet. Daniel often found himself in front of the TV, eating his lunch with the background noise of any program playing on the screen.

With a sigh he rested his hands against the counter, leaning forward. His eyes drifted to the living room, where a line of photo frames stood on the mantle above the fireplace. She was everywhere. Daniel didn’t know whether that was a blessing or a curse. The clock ticked rhythmically, Daniel couldn't count the hours. His fingers traced the frames on the mantle. She was always smiling, even when it hurt the most. He never understood how. How could she hold all the rays of the sun while her star collapsed? He was the moon without a sun sharing its light, a dark unlit sky with lonely stars.

Stars. Lennox. Daniel smiled shakily, his vision blurring as he stood in front of the last photo on the fireplace. Even as the faces and colours blended together with his tears, he could still remember the image clearly. Lennox’s first hockey match. Lennox was squashed between Daniel and Marigold, wearing his hockey gear. They all held matching smiles on their faces. She was everywhere and maybe that’s what made it so hard to let go, suffocating when her presence was embedded in the air around him.

Daniel grabbed himself a beer and sat down on the couch, picking up a familiar belonging: a scrapbook Marigold had crafted for them, celebrating their early dating anniversaries. The book’s cover was brightly decorated with stars and stickers. He sat down, tracing his fingers over the scribbled text in her handwriting. He flipped through the pages, taking his time to trace the stuck-on tickets and read the small love letters Marigold had delicately weaved in her writing.

A point where two worlds collide

Yeah, we'll rebel

His mind felt dizzy with the slight tinge of alcohol. All the memories printed into the scrapbook seemed like distant conversations and hazy images. He turned the page over, his eyes falling to a scribbled date in the middle and countless doodles and stickers in the background. His heart dropped as his mind took him back to one of the most special nights in his life.His mind and heart pulled him down like an anchor into the sea, dragging him deeper until there wasn’t enough light left to see.

Daniel wiped the stream of tears off his face, closing the book. He sunk down farther into the couch, holding his head as he cried. He exhaled shakily, feeling a light feather touch trailed up his shoulder. Daniel tensed as he heard a whisper. The voice was smooth like a calming wind, familiar like the arms of a lover.

“Why so many tears, my sweet?”

He opened his eyes and from the blurry mist in his eyes he saw the form of the woman who carried his heart.

“Sunshine,” he breathed. Daniel threw his arms around her in an instant. He cried, clinging on to her tighter as sobs shook his body.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Marigold held him close, rubbing soothing circles over his back. She kissed his head as he cried. She tried to pull back slightly but Daniel only held her closer.

“How- you-you’re here-I don’t know what to do, Marigold,” he whimpered. “I can’t do this without you.”

“Why would you say that, hmm?” she pulled back and cupped his cheeks. Her thumbs wiped the tears from his cheeks. “You’re doing so well, my sweet. I am so proud of you.”

Daniel shook his head from side to side. He gripped her shirt and rested his head against her chest. His lips trembled, “I just want you back.”

Marigold sighed quietly, “You know that’s not possible.”

“Please don’t go. ”

And we run

Until we break through

“I won’t leave just yet,” she stroked his hair gently.

Daniel sniffled, and looked up. He reached his hand up, brushing his hand along her jaw and then cupping her cheek, “You are very real.”

Marigold laughed softly, “Yes, I am here.”

“Do you-” Daniel held her hand. “Does it hurt anymore?”

Marigold smiled, “Not anymore, no.”

Daniel smiled shakily, feeling the tears build up again at the answer he wished he had heard many months ago. He sat up and his hands reached up to caress her cheek. She had this golden glow that reminded Daniel of when she was carrying Lennox. “You’re so beautiful.”

Marigold smiled.

Daniel pressed his forehead against hers, “I miss you.”

“I miss you too, my sweet.”

He leaned closer, pressing his lips on hers. Her soft lips and skin disappeared under his touch, fading into the air. Daniel fell forward on the couch, his hands gripping the fabric. He snapped his head around in search of her, letting out a strangled cry as he was met with the walls of his living room.

If I get high enough

Will I see you again?

Daniel was falling into a routine and he was growing to hate it. With no energy by noon, he often landed on a couch, a drink in his hand and the multiple CD’s of home videos by his side. He never drank too much before Lennox came home. Lennox was the only light which filled the gaping hole in his chest but the sharp taste of the beer numbed his mind. It calmed the storm of emotions he carried inside, just for a few moments and for him that was enough. Daniel entered the living room with a beer in his hand, heading to the CD’s by the television. The text on the CD covers were fading where he held them, some more than others, exposing the amount of times he watched them.

I feel my loss every night

Not long to wait

He slumped back down on the couch with a beer bottle in his hand as the video loaded. A crackle echoed over the speaker before a soft voice spoke.

And if I do this thing right

I dream of our escape

“Lennox, say hi,” Marigold whispered behind the camera.

She zoomed in on a baby Lennox, waddling around the flowers in the garden in his small yellow boots. He wore one of Marigold’s old sweaters, far too small for her but slightly too large for the little boy. The sleeves and hem of the sweater were rolled up, hugging his body. Spud turned to the camera and grinned, his two little teeth sticking out. He waved his arm at the camera and turned back to the flowers decorating their garden.

He pointed at the bunch of hydrangeas and tugged at his sweater, “Blue. Like mine.”

Marigold gasped, “Yes, well done my shining star!”

Spud giggled and the camera turned just as Daniel’s car rolled into the driveway.

“Daddy’s here!‘ Marigold captured Daniel stepping out of the truck with a smile. Lennox squealed, running to Daniel with his hands up. “Dada!”

Daniel scooped him up into his arms, bouncing him gently, “Hi Spud, I missed you!”

Marigold shuffled closer to Daniel, the camera lens covered as they shared a quick kiss, “Hi my sweet.”

“Hey sunshine.”

The camera flipped, fitting all three of them into the frame. Lennox grabbed the camera in his hands and pressed the lens close to his face.

“Oh, careful Spud.”

The curious child attempted to hold the camera out like his mother, pointing at the flowers, “Blue!” The garden twisted into a spiral as the camera tumbled out of his hands and the video cut off.

Daniel sniffled quietly and took a gulp of his beer. The next video began to roll. He heard the familiar sound of her footsteps down the stairs. The camera trailed the floor until it lifted up outside the house, pointing at Daniel.

“Look how handsome my baby daddy is.”

Daniel glanced up at the camera with a bashful smile. Marigold pulled him up by his arm so he could be seen better and she set her hand against his chest, giving him a pat.

“I’m going to have to keep close eyes on you at Sunday brunch. All the ladies are gonna want a piece of this.”

“Oh my gosh.” Daniel chuckled shyly.

“And my other handsome man!” Marigold added, shuffling around the open door to get a good shot of the baby in the car seat. “Gonna be fighting the ladies off you too, my beautiful boy.”

Lennox blinked up at her but her same smile could be seen forming behind his pacifier that bumped excitedly against his little nose. Marigold turned the camera around as she leaned in with Daniel, capturing both of them together and Daniel just smiled at her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

She looked up at him lovingly, “Happy first Father’s Day, my sweet.”

“Thank you.” Daniel smiled, meeting her halfway for a kiss. “And thank you for making me a father.”

They shared a few more kisses and ‘I love you’s until Lennox let out a small cry.

“Oh my.” Marigold said, addressing the camera again as Daniel left the frame to care for Lennox, “Well, when Lennox says it’s time to go, it’s time to go! We have church to get to and a bunch to show off at.”

When she was a few steps away, the camera caught her admiring her husband over her shoulder as he finished buckling in the baby.

She looked back to the camera and spoke gently with her wide grin spread all over her soft face, “Lennox Blake, if you’re watching this some time in the future when you’re grown up and annoyed by your parents – just know that you have the best daddy in the whole stinking world. I picked him out myself for you so that’s how you know he’s good.”

The camera clicked softly and a another video played.

The screen zoomed in on Daniel and Lennox across the grass. Lennox was tucked up on his shoulder and Daniel was pointing out little flowers and the buds on the trees as they walked. He finally looked over and caught Marigold filming, a shy smile taking over his face and he rested his head against his son’s tiny body.

And we run

Daniel was a mess, his stray tears turning into quiet sobs. He turned off the TV, the bright screen of colours and memories turning into a reflection of his pain. He chugged down the rest of his second beer and dragged himself off the couch. The air felt stuffy, like he couldn’t breathe properly. He swayed as he stumbled to the garden door, nearly falling down the steps. A choked sob left his lips and he covered his mouth. He stormed past the bushes of overgrown, wilting flowers.

And we run

Until we break through

Daniel stumbled to the back of the garden, grabbing the support of the garden swing. The tears fell down his face , smudging the darkening colours of the flowers around him. He slid down to the grass, leaning his head back. Daniel dug his fists into the ground, tugging out strands of grass with a yell. The pain in his chest burned into tears and he closed his eyes, drowning himself in his loss. His head felt heavy with what remained of the alcohol in the system and his tears. A soft breeze rustled gently.

If I get high enough

Will I see you again?

A soft hand brushed his cheeks, wiping away the tears.

“My sweet.”

Daniel shook his head, “No, go away.”

“Daniel, my sweet. It’s okay, I’m here.”

He wiped his eyes and took a shaky breath as he saw her again. “Mari.”

“Come on, let’s get you up.” Marigold reached out her hands to pull him up to his feet. She dusted off his shoulders and smiled. “There. Much better. Come on.”

Daniel sniffled, his eyes focused on Marigold in some state of confusion and surprise. Her arm was wrapped around Daniel’s as she guided him inside the house. He lifted his finger to touch her cheek. Marigold giggled softly, “What are you doing?”

“Where are we going?” his voice cracked.

“I haven’t seen Apollo and Venus in so long,” Marigold smiled, looking up at Daniel. “Let’s go for a ride.”

Daniel moved at a slow pace, trotting beside Marigold on her horse. Marigold looked around at the green fields ahead of them, a glow in her eyes. He watched how her hair moved in the wind, her blonde curls flowing. The sun reflected on her face, and Daniel smiled. Her face was full of colour, no longer pale, no longer lifeless. For once she seemed at ease and Daniel had forgotten what that felt like.

Marigold slowed down to a stop and for the first time Daniel turned his head away from her. He gasped softly, instantly recognizing their surroundings, their spot. He followed her movements as she climbed off her horse and sat down at the spot where he would normally park the truck. Marigold shifted closer to Daniel, if it was even possible, and placed her head on his shoulder.

Daniel held her hand, brushing his thumb over her knuckles. Marigold sighed, “No matter how many times we come here, the view still takes my breath away. It’s beautiful.”

Daniel hummed in agreement but his focus seemed to lie on staying as close to her as possible.

“You haven’t been singing much lately, my sweet,” she remarked.

“I know,” Daniel mumbled. His voice trembled and he took a moment to breathe. “It’s hard.”

Marigold smiled softly and caressed his cheek. “Could you sing something for me?”

Daniel nodded. His voice was quiet, just barely above a whisper. “A h-heart on the run.” He gulped. His eyes connected with hers and he sighed shakily. “Keeps a hand on the gun. You can’t trust anyone. I was so su-s”

Daniel’s head bowed down and he wiped his eyes, “I-I’m so-sorry-”

Marigold shook her head, cupping his cheeks. She wiped his tears away and smiled softly. “I was so sure. What I needed was more, tried to shoot out the sun,” she sang.

Daniel lifted his eyes to hers, his frown breaking into a shaky smile. “The days when we raged, we flew off the page. Such damage was done,” he joined in unison.

Marigold stood up on her feet, reaching out her hand. Daniel stood up, his hand in hers as she pulled him closer. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders and Daniel held her waist, sucking in his breath. “But I made it through, 'cause somebody knew I was meant for someone.”

They swayed gently from side to side. Daniel cried quietly, pulling her closer until there was barely space between them, his forehead against hers. They shared the kisses that had been stolen from them, singing the unfinished lyrics of their song with their lips just a touch apart. A setting sun cast a dreamy light over the couple. Daniel’s singing was consumed by his tears and he buried his head in between her neck and shoulder. He held her tighter, his tears staining her beautiful dress.

“So cover me up and know you're enough.” Marigold rubbed her hands soothingly over his back and kissed his shoulder. “To use me for good.”

Marigold moved her hands to his chest. Daniel didn’t move, wanting to be in her arms. “My sweet, it’s getting dark. We should get home.”

Daniel pulled away reluctantly, holding her hand as they walked back to Apollo and Venus. Marigold waited by his side as he climbed his horse. She placed her hand on his knee and they leaned closer, their lips meeting each other halfway. Daniel nearly wished he couldn’t breathe when he pulled away for a breath. Marigold pecked his lips again before climbing her horse.

She travelled forward, Daniel following behind. Marigold sped up, urging her horse to gallop faster. Daniel frowned and tried to catch up with her.

“Sunshine,” he was an arm’s reach away.

“My sweet,” Marigold turned back to him with a smile, but it wasn’t the same. There was some underlying loss in her smile and it made Daniel’s heart drop to his stomach. “It’s time to go.”

“Sunshin-” he hurried Venus to run faster. “Sunshine! Marigold, wait!”

And we run

Daniel struggled, panting. The wind blew harshly in his face as Marigold moved faster, turning into a blur. Marigold faded farther and farther away until she disappeared. He cried out for her, his voice dying out into violent sobs. “Mari-stop!”.

Venus turned to mist from beneath him and Daniel fell to his knees. He pulled himself up, ignoring the ache in his legs and he broke into a sprint.

He felt himself fade the faster he ran, hearing a voice call out for him, but it wasn’t hers. The distance he covered never seemed enough as the fields ran endlessly in front of him. His legs gave out under him and he fell, head first into the grass.

Until we break through

Daniel’s eyes opened and he turned over with a groan, feeling someone shake his shoulder. “Dad, dad!”

He sat up in a sudden movement, startling Lennox. Daniel pulled himself to his feet, marching past Lennox to the stables.

“Dad, what happened? Where are you going?” Lennox followed him, his school bag bouncing on his bag as he kept up with his father. Daniel entered the stables, his shoulders falling as he found the horses well kept in their pens.

“Dad?” Lennox walked up to his side and held his arm, looking up at a distraught Daniel. He looked down at Lennox and brushed his hand over his head. Daniel pulled Lennox close, hugging him tight. Lennox welcomed the hug, unknowing of the inner turmoil in Daniel’s heart. He could still feel her in their own shining star, little remnants of sunshine and beautiful blooming flowers.

“Let’s go inside, Spud,” he whispered.

Lennox pulled away with a smile and jogged back into the house. Daniel watched him go before he turned back to the stable. He looked past the open entryway where the green fields stretched out to the horizon, meeting the sky.

And we run

------------------

Taglist: @jonahlovescoffee @bessonbae @hiya-its-amber @stuffofseaveyy @hopinglimelight @the-girl-who-cried-wolf

#Daniel seavey #Daniel seavey imagines #seasons change

14 notes · View notes

the-fiction-witch · 3 years

Text

Watts

TV SHOW: THE QUEENS GAMBIT COUPLE: BENNY X READER (KINDA) RATING: SAD + SWEET

Writers notes: My brain today : Hu? I wonder what’s benny watt’s backstory? who knows... Lets make him one! that's sad and tragic and kinda adorable... lets do this.

I sat against the harsh plastic chair, my feet against the ice cold stones of the basement floor, the chill coming under the door spreading across the whole apartment, the windows dark rain battering them every so often thunder cracking across the sky, I sat up a little in my chair and moved a piece playing the toughest game I could play, Against myself. I pulled my shirt over me a little more but not wanting to do up another button, it wasn't that cold. I was lost in my own world a while my mind started to wander.

One of the first things I can recall, it was a bright sunny day, the sky blue, the warmth of mid July in full swing, The tall buildings around all shaken and half broken, all the windows taped up, many of them blacked out, The sweet sounds of the radio playing some nice tunes, I was hopping along the tall fence posts jumping from tall wooden post to tall wooden post down the long garden, trying not to fall. I saw the door to next door open, her hair up in a bun, her dress half torn and repaired, the washing basket on her hip, she was shocked but then her face softened as she smiled at me

"Benjamin watts? what are you doing up there?" she laughs

"Playing" I told her

"what are you playing?" she asks coming over

"Frogs"

"Well alright," she laughs putting her basket down by her washing line string, she got her little cloth out her apron pocket giving it a lick and cleaning some dirt off my nose "You be careful Little man"

"I will Mrs Linley" I smiled hopping to the next post

"why don't you go out and play with the other kiddos?"

"There not as fun as playing by myself"

"Why don't you go with little Lilly take her to the park for an ice cream"

"Lilly's boring"

"BENNY!" I heard the harsh male voice yell so I quickly jumped down from the fence seeing him stood looming over the backdoor of the house in his usual suit with his cane, his belt done tight with his knife sat there as usual "Dinner" He says so I nodded heading inside sitting at the table where he set down a bowl of gross smelling soup I instantly turned my nose up at it "Eat it. You're lucky I even feed you" He says muttering to himself as he usually did "Ungrateful little bastard, You know I don't have to. I could have sent you to the poor house with the other kids, not out the goodness of my heart I look after you"

"Then why do you Papa?"

"Because your mother asks it off me." he sighed sitting at the table with his own soup and some bread "We've been over this" He says "I want nothing to do with my daughter, never was my business, and if she wasn't so busy I wouldn't be the one taking care of you, You little bastard"

"What's a bastard Papa?"

"You are a bastard benny. By definition, Maybe you wouldn't be if your mother kept her legs shut and had some idea who your father was" He sighed "if your mother wasn't so busy, taking care of the soldiers I'd leave you with her," he explained "eat your dinner"

"Yes papa" I sighed "when will mummy be back?"

"When the war is over," he says "your mother as much as we have our differences, she does a good job, and an important job. Nurses are usually good girls, your mother… happens to be an exception, but nurses are good girls, you'll marry a nurse one day"

"Will I?"

"Course you will. You'll get a war at your age Benny, you'll meet a lovely nurse, get married and have your own little kiddos" he says "Watts always have nurses"

"What if I don't wanna be a soldier?"

"Then you and your mother are dead to me" he says before the sound of the warning erupted across the city, he stood up and grabbed the bag by the door pushing me out the seat I nodded and ran out the house And into the garden as the sun was setting, he slowing followed as he locked the house up, I ran down to the shelter jumping on my little bed, he followed and locked the door up behind him sitting on his own. It grew terrifyingly quiet as for moments the world sat on the edge “Benny, Play” He ordered clicking his fingers pointing to the little chess board he had set up on the table between the beds, I happily smiled going and playing against him. He would often try to trick me but I always beat him “Good game kid” He cracked a smile shaking my hand

“Can I papa? Can I?” I asked bouncing my on the bed

“Alright, until the raid’s over” he says taking his hat from the side and sitting it on my head “Again?”

“Again” I smiled excitedly setting the board up again,

“But not to many, you need to get to bed”

I sat at the table the chess board set, waiting. It was getting so late now I wonder what was happening, Someone had come to the door before we had began our game I didn’t know why, My grandpa just took them to the other room I could heard talking, arguing even if I tried not to listen.

“Why can’t his father take him?”

“There’s no mention of him anywhere we can’t find him” “Well he has to be somewhere” “Noel. If you don’t keep him. He’ll get swept up with the rest of the kids, There’s hundreds, maybe thousands of them, homeless, lost there families, you know if he goes into the system, he won’t get out till he’s eighteen.”

“I don’t see why I should keep him

“He’s your grandchild” “He’s a bastard! I never much wanted anything to do with my daughter why should I clean up after her mess”

“Because she’s not coming back. Not for him. Not for you. You’re all he has in the world.”

The door opened moments later the woman from the door came over to me touching my hair moving it out of my eyes for me “Hi Benny”

“Hello” I answered not sure what was going on

“Benny, I need you to answer something for me” she smiled moving to her knee

“Okay” I nodded seeing my grandpa stood leaning on the door to the other room

“Would you Like to stay here? In this little house with your grandpa? Or would you like me to take you to a nice place with lots of other children… lots of nice children who, Have lost their mommies too”

I looked to my grandpa and he seemed to be waiting for the answer too, I didn’t know what they wanted from me…

“I would like to stay here with papa”

“Okay sweetheart” she smiled “Then he stays with you”

“What if I said… you’d be better off there Benny?” He asks

“I’d still rather stay”

“Fine. But I hear a word of complaint out your little bastard mouth, one tantrum, one teenage rebellion. You’re going. You choose to stay here with me, and don’t you ever fucking forget it” He warned

“Yes Papa”

“Go to your room” He ordered and I nodded going out the house and out to the little shelter, our house had only ever had one bedroom and there wasn’t much space for me, even so he would rather I sleep out here said I was safer to always sleep in here, were I couldn’t get hurt, My boards sat along the other bed, my trophies lines along the little wall, I shut the little door and got cosy in the little dark shelter.

I sat in the old beaten up pick up listening to the radio on low, I was going over the games of the people I was to play against, running through it all in my head.

“You gonna win?” He asks

“I’m planning on it” “Don’t get cocky.” He warns “worst train in the world cockiness. Gets you into trouble. Don’t write checks with your mouth that your ass can’t cash benny”

“I know,”

“I know you know. Doesn't it mean you shouldn’t listen” He says “You're going out after?”

“No, home. Do some work” “You’ve never gonna met a girl at one of these things” “I know,”

“..... If there’s a boy-” “I’m not Gay Papa” I laughed

“Aren’t you? You're fourteen, how do you know?”

“Because I like girls”

“You’re fourteen. You don’t know what you like. I thought alot like what then I was your age”

“And?”

“And. You shouldn’t set yourself up to fail, I was married when I was not much older then you. Don’t… rush yourself with things is all I’m saying” “Is that why you didn’t wanna be with grandma anymore?”

“Somewhat, there was a lot of things between me and your grandma. Don’t worry about it” He says as he stopped at the little hotel doing the tournament “Hey,” He says stopping me from opening the door “Good luck you little bastard” He laughs putting his hat on my head

“I thought I don’t get it till I win?” I asked fiddling with it

“You’ll win. You’re a Watts, Go on you’ll be late” He says

“Thanks Papa” I smiled

“Go on run along you little bastard”

I tried to force it all away, I didn’t want to think about it. I folded the letter up and left it on the table, the cold chill of the apartment starting to get to me. This place was small, dirty, cold, and depressing but… I liked it. It felt like home, all the years of sitting playing chess in bomb shelters because he was too scared to let me come out, I wish I could have seen him again… I wish we hadn’t lost touch, then again he never liked how I went on from there, much less everything else, I had seen him a few times at key moments but he rarely spoke much, or phoned much, he kinda just… backed off. Knowing I had my own life and my own things, I don’t think he minded, but still. I would have liked to have seen him again.

“Benny?” I heard making me sit up a little seeing y/n stood at the bedroom door dressed for work already in her little blue and white dress, her hair done up in beautiful braids, minimal make up as it would get ruined on her shift anyway “Can you settle him? Else I’ll be late for work” she smiled

“Course I can” I laughed getting up and taking our little baby from her sitting him on my hip “Hey kiddo” I laughed giving his head a kiss trying to make him settle down.

“He won’t stop fussing” she laughs

“Boys do” I shrug

“Ummm… are all watts boys such fussy little monsters?” she laughs

“We are assholes” I sighed

“Umm Have to make sure I have a girl this time then” she smiled tapping her tiny little tummy she wasn’t even a full three months yet, “Are you okay benny?” she asks

“Yeah, I’m fine” I shrug

“Alright, don’t get wrapped up about it okay,” she smiled giving me a hug “Milks in the fridge, I’ll be home for dinner” she smiled giving me a kiss

“See you later darling” I told her

“Love you” she giggled

“Love you too” I laughed giving her an extra kiss, she smiled back and gave his head a kiss too before she got her bag

“You boys have fun” she laughed as she opened the door and hurried off to work, I smiled taking him sitting in his high chair by the table, he liked watching my play chess even if was only just about a year old. He kept making grabby hands towards the side of the table where my hat sat so I laughed picking it up and sitting it on his head even if it was miles too big for him

“It’s okay luke. You’ll grow into it” I laughed “But you're not having it properly, till you win. That's the rules, same for you as it was for me. Hey. You’re a watts. And that's the one thing no one can ever take away from you” I told him

#tbs #tbs fanfiction #thomas #thomas sangster #thomas brodie sangster #thomassangster #thomas sangster imagine #thomasbrodiesangster #benny #benny x reader #benny smut #benny imagine #benny watts #BENNYWATTS #bennywattssmut #benny watts imagine #benny watts smut

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sadienita · 4 years

Text

Maison des cartes - Knight of Swords

Pirate!Sua x Gender Neutral Reader (feat. Jayoung and Iree of Rolling Quartz, and Ateez)

Word Count: 10.9k

Contents: death and dead bodies, gore (pretty much just blood), magic, pirates, sword fights and sword injuries, cannons, a giant snake, mentions of fire

Previous | Next

disregard for consequences

Your hand shook slightly as you felt the scars on your body and sat up. They didn’t hurt at all, and they felt old, like they had healed from years and years ago. But it chilled you to feel them at all. Didn’t Youngeun say you wouldn’t die? Or you couldn’t? Was she lying? Or did she know something you didn’t?

You tried to shake the eerie feeling you were having as you searched the bed, your fingers finding the scraps of paper. More and more of them were between your fingers and you sat there, trying to keep your mind off of the scars, you pieced them together. More of the sheet was there, only a few pieces remained and that made you feel better. You would only be stuck here a little bit longer.

You dragged yourself up off the bed and into the hallway. The moon had moved again in the sky when you looked outside, you didn’t know if that was good or would have happened anyway. A quick glance around the hallway led you to another door that had swung open. It was creepy but some part of you was a little numb to it now. Something about all of these experiences was getting to you, clearly. But you were almost done, only a couple more cards to find and then you would have the whole paper.

You looked into the creepy child’s bedroom. Old dolls were cracked on the floor and a rocking horse sat collecting dust. You moved quietly towards the bed, only barely registering that that was where the card was as you laid down. A sigh left your lips as you looked over at it and put down the music.

“Here we go again,” you muttered, breathing in deeply before grabbing the card.

“Get up!”

You started as someone shook you awake, scrambling to grab at them and stop the bed from shifting underneath you.

“Where am I?!” Your eyes adjusted to the sunny face in front of you. A woman had her hand on your shoulder and was shaking you, a grin on her lips and long red hair cascading down from under her bandana.

“Sleeping quarters, but you’ll be in quite a bit of trouble if anyone else finds you down here.”

“Uh-h” Something about the way everything was swaying was disorienting you. “A-Are we on a boat?”

The woman looked at you like you’d lost it. “I’d bloody well hope so,” she said, tugging at you. “Now get up we need to get up to the deck.”

You followed her, trying to get your bearings as she led you to the ladder and then up onto deck. Sun streamed in from above and then filled your vision before she pushed back the door to reveal the clear blue sky and salty air above. You climbed out after her and gasped at the sea that stretched out to the horizon, kissing the sky and reaching up for the sun in the form of waves.

“C’mon,” the woman hissed. She pulled you towards a gathering of people and you kept your mouth shut as the men looked up at you and one sauntered up to the woman.

“Finally got your charge out of bed,” he smirked. “My boys have been cleaning the deck since dawn.”

“Shut up Hongjoong,” she hissed. “At least my charge has an important job.”

The man, Hongjoong, opened his mouth to speak again but stopped as he saw something over your shoulder. He barked to the men to line up and the woman pulled you in line next with her.

A small, blonde woman came around to the front of the line. No one moved or said a word and you pressed your lips together as she inspected the line. She muttered things to the different men in the line and got closer to you. You felt your heart beating faster but she merely glanced at you before looking at the woman next to you.

“Just make sure they’re dressed properly tomorrow, Iree.” She sighed. Some of the men snickered. “Shut up!” she snapped at them. “You all have work to do, get going!”

The men scrambled off and you looked nervously between Iree beside you and the blonde haired woman.

“Sua needs my help today. I trust you can take care of getting our new friend acquainted with the ship?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Iree replied brightly.

“Good,” she nodded. “I’ll be in her study if you need me.”

Iree nodded as the woman walked off. She turned to you with a bright smile on her face.

"Okay! Let's get you acquainted with the ship shall we," she said happily, grabbing your hand and pulling you along behind her.

"I-I okay-" you mumbled as she dragged you towards the front of the ship.

"This is the Midnight’s Curse. She's a good ship and she's run by Sua, one of the fiercest pirates out there. We run a tight operation around here so I expect you to be ready every day for it. You need to dress properly but I'll give you a uniform and all that."

"Ah, okay, uniform? And what do I do everyday? You said I have a special job."

Iree stopped, leaning against the railing at the bow of the ship. "Sua's been tracking down a magical artifact. I only know a little about it, she's been very secretive. But we… brought you aboard… because of what you know."

"What I know?" You felt some level of panic rising inside of you. "I-I know about this artifact?"

"Yes!" She smiled. "Well that's what Sua said, that you know what it is and how it works. She says you have knowledge beyond the present or something."

You had no clue what that meant and it scared you. What would happen if you didn't have that info? Did they think you were someone that you weren't? You didn't want to think about it too much but you also needed a clear idea of what you were supposed to do. And who to help. There were so many people on this ship so far. How would you figure out who it was?

"That's where the study is, you might go in there in a bit to talk to Sua." Your brain came back to the present and you realized Iree had been telling you more about the ship while you worried.

"Does she see everyone often?" You asked.

"Usually, she's been checking her maps a lot recently and trying to get us to where the artifact is supposed to be. But she might come out later on too."

"What's she like?" You asked as Iree walked you towards the stern of the ship.

"Sua? She's strict at times but she likes to have fun and she takes good care of us. Jayoung is scarier than her," Iree giggled. "She's the one who inspected us this morning. She's the first mate, and quartermaster. Sua does do it a lot but not much recently."

You mulled that over. "And Hongjoong and the others. Are there more?"

“There are, mostly gunners to work the cannons. They have their own inspections but some of the crew are trained on the cannons too. And don't let Hongjoong fool you, I outrank him," she said proudly.

You chuckled. “I’ll remember that. So he’s in charge of the crew?”

“Yep,” she nodded. “He oversees them and does some of the gunner training, though I don’t talk much with the other gunners since they look after other things. I see the crew around. Seonghwa cooks. Most of the rest of them are in charge of the sails and cleaning. They’re more spare gunners than anything but they do all know how to fight well. You might see them sparring if you're lucky.”

“Don’t they get hurt?” You worried.

“Not usually,” she shrugged. “They’re pretty good. You should see San and Wooyoung spar, or Hongjoong and Seonghwa. Perfectly matched partners, it’s something else.”

“Wow,” you hummed, wondering if you’d get to see that. “So, what’s your role?”

“Oh yeah!” She exclaimed. “I almost forgot! I’m Sailing Master. I assist Sua in sailing and I look after you now when she’s busy. You’ll be with me, her and Jayoung most of the time.”

You nodded and followed as she walked. “You might as well meet her.”

“N-Now?” You asked nervously.

“I think it’s a good idea. You’ll like her. And she can tell you more than I can about this artifact.”

You followed Iree nervously, playing with the fabric of your shirt and chewing on your lip as you spared glances as the sea. You still didn’t know what it was you were supposed to know to help them. Or what your task was while you were here. It was exciting but you had a feeling it could get dangerous.

Not that any of these trips had been without mortal peril.

Iree led you across the deck of the ship and through a large wooden door. Inside was a beautiful round room made of warm woods. Tapestries with patterns you’d never seen before hung from the walls. A large globe sat near the centre of the room with a large desk and a table set up with a map. Bookshelves on the walls were lined with large tomes.

But what caught your eye was nothing on the walls or tables.

It was the beautiful woman who had just turned to look at you, hair cascading over her shoulders. Her hand rested on the hilt of the long rapier in her belt and she scuffed her book across the floor as she turned on the spot and gave you a dazzling smile.

“I was wondering when you would show up.”

You couldn’t seem to find any words as she approached you, seeming to look you up and down before extending a hand to you.

“Captain Kim Bora of the Midnight’s Curse, but everyone here just calls me Sua.”

You stumbled through an introduction and Sua chuckled at you before ushering you closer to the map, a spot along the shoreline was stuck with a dagger.

“I trust Iree told you why you’re here?”

“She told me I know something about the artifact that you’re looking for.”

Sua threw a quizzical glance at Iree before focusing her eyes on you. “That’s part of it,” she pointed to the dagger. “The artifact is held here, and getting to it won’t be easy. That’s no ordinary cave.”

“There’s magic there, isn’t there?” you asked.

Sua smiled. “Aren’t you a smart one. Yes, there is magic guarding the way. I don't know much about it but I do know that you might know something.”

You bit on your lip as you thought for a moment. “If you think I have magic…”

“Oh I don’t think that,” she laughed. “No one has seen much magic for a while around here. But I heard you have seen things. And we could use all the help we can get.”

You didn’t like the sound of that, no magic in a long time. What did that mean? Was this the same world, much further on? Or a different one altogether? You didn’t know. You weren’t sure that you wanted the answer.

“I think you may also know about the artifact, but I won’t give away too much.”

You quirked an eyebrow at her. “And how do you know so much about me?”

“I have my sources,” she grinned. “Now, we’re about here.” Sua pointed to a spot on the map. “About a day or so out from the cave. You’re welcome to look through the books here if they help you get acquainted with the ideas, and this one,” She grabbed a book and handed it to you, “is about the legends of this cave. Read up.”

“Yes Ma’am,” you nodded.

“And he shouted ‘En garde’ and drew his sword,” San cried, reagailed you all with a tail.

“You can’t call a baguette a sword, San,” Seonghwa chuckled.

San ignored Seonghwa and the chuckles from his crew mates as Wooyoung jumped to his feet, as if on cue.

“En garde, you mangy scoundrel,” his tone was dramatic as he and San drew their swords in unison. “Today will not be the day you steal from me.”

“I’ve never stolen a day in my life!” San cried, both of them seemed in character now.

“Then empty your pockets you filthy thief,” Wooyoung sneered playfully.

“And I reach into my pocket,” San mimed the action with his free hand. “And pulled out that delectable sweet roll, the one I stole to share with my dear little sister.”

“Your older sister,” Seonghwa corrected.

“Who worked,” Hongjoong added.

“For my dear little sister,” San reiterated. “The fiend charged at me!”

“With a baguette!” Seonghwa, Hongjoong, and Yeosang called out.

“He charged at me with his sword!” San cried, ignoring the snickers.

Wooyoung let out a cry and charged at San and the sound of steel clashing filled the air. Their swords swung quickly, meeting each other every time as their feet moved lithely across the deck in the dark, only light by candlelight.

“They’re good,” Sua leaned over as she sat next to you and you turned your head to look at her but she was quick to grab your chin and turn your head back to look at them.

“No no don’t look at me,” you could hear the smile in her voice. “This is the best part of the story. Their spars are amazing.”

“Perfectly matched,” you hummed.

“Exactly,” she said quietly. “They work so well in tandem. Of course Wooyoung will start to go easy on San so that San can-”

As if on cue, San's sword spun around Wooyoung’s in a smooth manner and it flew from his hand, landing some feet away on the deck. The point of San’s sword was pressed to Wooyoung’s chest as he fell to his knees dramatically.

“You should have let me have the sweet roll,” San said dramatically before miming running through Wooyoung’s chest with his sword. Wooyoung grabbed onto the sword and died the most dramatic fake death you had ever seen.

For all of their jeering and heckling during the story the crew all stood and gave a round of applause, cheering as San helped Wooyoung up and the two bowed and grinned. Sua stood next to you and you followed her to your feet, clapping.

“You see what I mean?” She asked.

“I do, they’re so impressive,” you finally looked at Sua. “Do you do this every night?”

“Ah not every night, but often enough. It makes the nights feel warmer, safer, when we’re way out here. It can feel very alone being out on the sea.”

“I imagine it would,” you hummed thoughtfully.

“Well then!” Sua’s voice was loud now as she clapped you on the back with her hand, making you stumble a bit. “I think our guest might have a few tales to tell.”

“I wh-what?? No?” You stuttered.

“Aww come on,” Sua flashed you a brilliant smile. “You must have come across something interesting.”

“I-” You thought for a moment, feeling shy with all the eyes on you. Your hand came up to your stomach, tracing the scars. “Have you ever heard of shapeshifters?”

One or two of the group nodded but most shook their heads and quickly turned to sit and watch you excitedly.

“Well then, I guess I have a story.” You chuckled.

You slept well that night despite the way the boat rocked under you and moved with the waves. It lulled you and sent you to sleep calmly and you arose with everyone else in the morning, eating breakfast before heading to the captain’s study and immersing yourself in the books. You figured the more you knew about it the better and so far you were recognizing things in the stories, though the way they were talked about like things of the distant past chilled you. How far in time had you traveled in this strange world? How much time had passed?

“Learn anything interesting?” Sua asked as she studied her map closely.

“I’m seeing things I recognize, so that’s good. I may be of some use after all.”

“Good,” she hummed. “I hoped we hadn’t grabbed you for nothing. If all goes well we’ll be able to explore the cave tomorrow.”

“This artifact you’re looking for, why?” You asked.

“It will allow me to… gain some insight into the future shall we say. It’ll make things clearer and that can be of use to me and my crew.”

You nodded as you digested her words. Your lips had just parted to ask another when the door swung open. You both looked up to find Hongjoong standing there, looking very serious and sword on his belt.

“Captain, you should come take a look at this,” she said.

Sua gazed at you. “I’ll be back,” she said before following Hongjoong out the door.

You went back to reading, trying to put the looks on their faces from your mind as you did so. If they were worried it could be over any number of things to do with the ship, and there wasn’t much you could help with anyway. The best option was likely to stay put until the matter was solved.

Footsteps rushed around on the deck and you buried yourself further in the book, hoping to tune it put as much as possible. There were many pages in this book about potions and that much you were familiar with. You had seen some potion making and you knew a few of them on sight. The ones you didn’t… well you hoped you wouldn’t need to test anything out to see if it was safe.

A loud bang from the deck made you jump.

You looked towards the door as you tried to make sense of what sounded very much like a cannon. Smaller bangs started but before another loud on as the ship rocked and your stomach dropped as you realized that the ship was under fire.

As much as it scared you you couldn’t just sit here and hide. You had no fighting skill that would help you in a pirate scuffle but you weren’t sure you wanted to stay here with no clue of what was happening. If you could find anyone or if you needed to escape you didn’t want to get stuck if the ship was sinking.

You walked quietly across the room and opened the door.

You were met with mass chaos and you cowered behind the door as you took in the scene.

Another ship was right next to yours and pirates had poured onto the ship. The sounds of clashing metal and firearms going off filled your ears. The air was filled with smoke and the scent of sulfur stung your nose as you slipped out of the room and hid behind a set of barrels.

Everything you could see was bloody and made your stomach turn. Amid the clashes lay bodies on the deck, pools of blood encircling each one of them. You could barely see with the smoke but the fact that so many faces you had never seen were rushing past was a bad sign. You were outnumbered and there was no way for you to help.

Was this right? Was this supposed to be happening? Everything felt strange, as if shifted off center like your whole world was tilting. Your eyes scanned the bodies you could see and you felt your stomach turn and tears well up in your eyes, your hand coming up to cover your mouth and hold in any screams at San’s lifeless face staring off into nothingness.

How many of them had already died? You tore your eyes away from him and caught sight of Wooyoung not too far away. The fighting was already dying down and the blank expression on his face, the numbness told you that he had already seen.

You could barely bear to look at the faces, feeling a horrible twist of your gut with every face you recognized. The men you had been dancing and singing with just last night were lying dead on the deck. A loud bang so close to you caught your attention and you couldn’t help your scream as Iree’s body slumped to the deck, blood pouring from her abdomen and gaze going glassy and lifeless. You tried to run to her, as if you could save her, only to have someone grab you by the back of your shirt.

“And what might you be?” He sneered.

No words escaped you, only a pitiful sound so your eyes locked onto the smoking gun in his hand. You remembered what Youngeun had said. You knew what she had said. You had nothing to truly fear and yet. You couldn’t shake the question, couldn’t forget the scars.

Could you die?

“Ill prepared,” the loud voice caught your attention and you both stopped, looking towards it.

If you didn’t already feel as if your heart was made of lead, you did now. Sua was on her knees, holding her arm that was bleeding all over her jacket and hiding where her hand should have been, giving you the horrible sense that her hand was gone. She was looking up at a man with contempt, the point of his sword against her throat.

“Ill prepared to take us on. You should have known Sua, you should have known.”

“I’ll pay you back for this,” Sua grunted. “I’ll pay you back ten fold.”

“Oh no,” his grin was cold and unfeeling. “I made that mistake last time.”

You screamed as he plunged his sword into her chest, leaning in while she sputtered up blood. “This time I’m not leaving you alive.”

The man stood up and kicked Sua to the ground where she coughed as blood spilled from her body and her mouth until she stopped moving. Darkness spotted your vision and you felt dizzy as the man looked towards you. Your world tilted sideways before you were engulfed in blackness again.

“Get up!”

You started as someone shook you awake, scrambling to grab at them and stop the bed from shifting underneath you.

“Where am I?!” Your eyes adjusted to the sunny face in front of you. The sunny face of Iree, smiling down at you. Iree, who you had just seen die before your very eyes, was shaking you awake again as if it was yesterday.

“Sleeping quarters, but you’ll be in quite a bit of trouble if anyone else finds you down here.”

“Uh-h,” the words slipped from your mouth as you tried to figure out what had happened. Iree was dead. She was supposed to be dead. How was this happening?

Just like she had before she tugged on you. “Get up, we need to get up to the deck.”

You followed her out on the deck, not so disoriented by the setting but more so by what was happening as you followed her up the ladder and out into the bright sunny day, the smell of salt hitting your nose and sea spray in the air.

“C’mon,” Iree hissed. She pulled you towards the other crew members and you tried to quell your confusion and emotions as you saw their faces, lively and smiling. All eight of the boys you had spent the evening with, that had fought, some had died. And here they were, in front of you, very much alive.

“Finally got your charge out of bed,” Hongjoong smirked. “My boys have been cleaning the deck since dawn.”

“Shut up Hongjoong,” she hissed. “At least my charge has an important job.”

Hongjoong opened his mouth to speak again but stopped as he saw something over your shoulder. He barked to the men to line up and Iree pulled you in line next to her.

Jayoung came around to the front of the line. No one moved or said a word once again and you almost tuned out what she was saying as you tried to make sense of it. Iree was dead. San was dead. You were sure so many of the others were dead. Had you gone back in time? How? You had no clue that was even a possibility.

“Just make sure they’re dressed properly tomorrow, Iree.” Jayoung’s sigh brought you back to reality. Some of the men snickered.

“Shut up!” she snapped at them. “You all have work to do, get going!”

The men scrambled off and you looked between Iree and Jayoung, letting it all sink in.

“Sua needs my help today. I trust you can take care of getting our new friend acquainted with the ship and how we do things?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Iree replied brightly.

“Good,” she nodded. “I’ll be in her study if you need me.”

Iree nodded as Jayoung walked off. She turned to you with a bright smile on her face.

"Okay! Let's get you acquainted with the ship shall we," she said happily, grabbing your hand and pulling you along behind her.

"Sounds good,” you said, a little dazed as she dragged you towards the front of the ship.

You wracked your brain, trying to remember what you had asked her the day before. “And what do I do everyday? You said I have a special job."

“Ah,” you hummed. "So I know about this artifact then?"

"Yes!" She smiled. "Well that's what Sua said, that you know what it is and how it works. She says you have knowledge beyond the present or something."

You were reeling still. So that was wrong, the bad ending. Then there was a good ending? Clearly they were not all meant to die being raided by another pirate ship. Clearly you were all meant to be alive and finding that artifact. Were you in charge of changing fate? Was that what you had been doing this whole time? Altering pathways, altering fate, changing history in some way?

"That's where the study is, you might go in there in a bit to talk to Sua." Your brain came back to the present and Iree telling you about the ship all over again.

"Does she see everyone often?" You asked idly.

"Usually, she's been checking her maps a lot recently and trying to get us to where the artifact is supposed to be. But she might come out later on too."

"Is she nice?" You asked as Iree walked you towards the stern of the ship.

You hummed in response. "Is it just the ones I saw on the ship?"

“There are more, mostly gunners to work the cannons. They have their own inspections but some of the crew are trained on the cannons too. And don't let Hongjoong fool you, I outrank him," she said proudly.

You chuckled a little hollowly. “I’ll remember that. So he’s in charge of the crew?”

“That would be something to see,” you said, “so long as no one gets hurt.”

“They’re pretty good.” She said. “You should see San and Wooyoung spar, or Hongjoong and Seonghwa. Perfectly matched partners, it’s something else.”

“Mmm,” you hummed. “And what about you?”

“Oh yeah!” She exclaimed. “I almost forgot! I’m Sailing Master. I assist Sua in sailing and I look after you now when she’s busy. You’ll be with me, her and Jayoung most of the time.”

You nodded and followed as she walked. “You might as well meet her.”

“Now?” Your mind was elsewhere. It was eerie hearing her say the same things over again.

“I think it’s a good idea. You’ll like her. And she can tell you more than I can about this artifact.”

You followed Iree almost numbly. You thought you ought to be happy but you felt like you were spinning or falling into some strange dream. And yet this felt right again. The strange feeling, the off feeling was gone. So you were back on track then?

Iree led you across the deck of the ship and through a large wooden door. Inside was the study, so familiar to you now. But your eyes only seemed to care about Sua, the way she turned and smiled at you. Seeing her in front of you alive and well with a fire in her eyes again. Everyone was alive again. Everyone.

So you just needed to keep them all from dying this time.

“I was wondering when you would show up.”

Sua approached you, seeming to look you up and down before extending a hand to you.

“Captain Kim Bora of the Midnight’s Curse, but everyone here just calls me Sua.”

You still stumbled through an introduction and Sua chuckled at you before ushering you closer to the map, pointing to a spot along the shoreline with a dagger stuck in it.

“I trust Iree told you why you’re here?”

“She told me I know something about the artifact that you’re looking for.”

“There’s magic there, isn’t there?” you asked.

Sua smiled. “Aren’t you a smart one. Yes, there is magic guarding the way. I don't know much about it but I do know that you might know something.”

“I’m not magical,” you said

“I don’t think you are,” she laughed. “No one has seen much magic in a while around here. But I heard you have seen things. And we could use all the help we can get.”

You still didn’t like the sound of that.

“I think you may also know about the artifact, but I won’t give away too much.”

You quirked an eyebrow at her. “And how do you know so much about me?”

“Yes Ma’am,” you nodded.

The days were so similar it was eerie. But you did see why people loved San’s story so much, it was just as entertaining the second time, just as much fun watching him spar with Wooyoung. It was just as much fun telling them stories again and for a few moments, you forgot the images of them laying dead, lifeless in their own blood. For a moment it gave you peace and you joy and let you sleep well enough.

The morning went by the same way and once again you found yourself pouring over the book about the cave, looking for what might help you out. You were further into the book now, with a few more things that could help. Still, they might be rumours, they might not be real, you wouldn’t know for sure until you were there.

“Learn anything interesting?” Sua asked as she studied her map closely.

“I’m seeing things I recognize, so that’s good. I may be of some use after all.”

“Good,” she hummed. “I hoped we hadn’t grabbed you for nothing. If all goes well we’ll be able to explore the cave tomorrow.”

“Are you sure about this?” You asked.

Sua looked up at you. “What?”

“This cave, by all accounts, looks dangerous. Are you sure this thing is worth it?”

“This thing will let me see beyond the moment,” she said seriously. “This will let me know before something happens, what I can expect. I-”

Sua was cut off by the door being thrown open. Hongjoong stood there, looking very serious and sword on his belt.

“Captain, you should come take a look at this,” he said.

Sua gazed at you. “I’ll be back.”

“No!” You were on your feet before you realized it. This time you had to stop it.

Sua looked surprised. “If you’re sure.”

“I am,” you said seriously.

Sua and Hongjoong rushed from the room and you followed them to the deck, very clearly seeing the problem as he took her to the wheel. The large ship, not too far off in the water. You were just close enough to hear what they were saying.

“They want us to go around, they’ve already fired off a warning shot.”

“No,” said Sua, “I’d know that flag, that ship anywhere. And I know where he’s going.”

“Sua.” As the three of you stopped at the wheel Iree came rushing over. “We need to change course. If we don’t-”

“If we don’t we take out them and their crew.” Sua said darkly. “Or we die trying.”

“Then you’ll die,” your eyes were fixed on the ship ahead of you.

“What?” You heard Sua’s voice as she gripped the wheel.

“If we take them on we’ll die, we’ll all die,” you said bitterly.

“We can take them o-”

“Sua,” your voice was harsh as you turned your head sharply and Sua met your gaze, looking startled. You barely realized you were crying until you felt something wet drip down your cheek. “We are outnumbered. You didn’t plan for this. If we do this, you sentence us to death.”

Sua moved closer to you, her voice dropping to a whisper so only you could hear. “How do you know?”

You just shook your head. “Just trust me when I say I know. We can’t take them. Not like this.”

Sua stared at you, a hard look on her face, nearly unreadable. She pressed her lips together before taking in a sharp breath.

“Iree, change course. Heed their warning shot,” she said through gritted teeth.

“Yes Ma’am,” Iree said, taking the wheel.

“You better be right about this,” Sua growled before turning on her heel and stalking back to her study.

You leafed through the book again, dog earing pages for things you recognized and taking note of the things that seemed to be mentioned more than once. The more substantiated the claim the more likely that it would show up in the cave, that it was true. That’s what you thought at least.

You were holed up in a cozy nook under the deck and you had been all afternoon. You thought Sua might be angry and you wanted her to calm down before you spoke with her, or maybe you were just afraid of the conflict. Either way you were hoping to be left alone while you read and reread sections of the book, looking for what you might find in the cave. Hopefully you hadn’t saved everyone just to get them killed again.

“You’ve been down here a while.”

You started at the sound of Hongjoong’s voice. There was a curious look on his face as he leaned against the nearby wall, just able to see where you were hidden from where he stood.

“You startled me, don’t sneak up on me like that.” You muttered.

“And you didn’t respond to what I said.” He hopped up onto a nearby barrel and sat there watching you. “You’ve been down here a while.”

“Yeah I wanted some peace and quiet,” you muttered.

“The study is peaceful and quiet.” He said. You shot him a look and he smirked. “Afraid of the captain?”

“I’m giving her time to cool down.”

“Do you know who that was?” He asked. “I’m betting you don’t. Those are her oldest rivals. They’ve cheated her, they’ve stolen from her. In her eyes they’re to be killed on sight.” Hongjoong leaned a little closer to you.

“What did you say to change her mind?”

You looked back down at your book. “Just that it was a bad idea, okay?”

“Are you okay?”

Your head snapped up to see him. “What?”

“You were crying earlier. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” you muttered. “Just- Let me read okay?”

“Sure thing,” he said calmly. “Iree is looking for you though, and you ought to talk to the captain. She may have been angry about changing course, but whatever you said to her…” He jumped down from the barrel. “Sua wouldn’t have done that for anything. So for some reason, she trusts your judgement. You ought to talk to her.”

You sighed and slumped against the wall as Hongjoong wandered off.

It was nearing dinner and you were heading back up to the deck when you felt the ship slowing down, lurching. You rushed up the ladder in time to hear Hongjoong yelling and the crew pulling ropes, the sails bundling up towards the masts. The sun was sinking in the sky and painting it a brilliant array of red and orange.

You looked around and found Sua standing at the bow of the ship with her telescope. You were quick to rush closer but stopped a little ways away. She was caught up in looking ahead through her scope, hair whipping around her head in the wind, jacket rustling and blowing, the stunning sky her backdrop as she lowered the telescope and caught sight of you, a curious look on her face as she beckoned you over.

“They’re in the cave,” she pointed to the ship and then to the mouth of the cave that looked rather small from here. “They got here before us.”

“So we need a plan,” you said.

She regarded you for a moment. “Indeed. Jayoung, can you grab the small map for me?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Jayong hurried off and Sua stepped closer to you, now alone with her.

“This was your idea,” she said seriously.

“If we had attacked them we all would be dead right now,” you said.

“I believe you,” she said. “I don’t want to but you’re probably right. So now we need a plan for if they come out of that cave. In your reading did you get a sense for how long it might take to get through there?”

“I- uh-” You thought it over. “A day, maybe a little longer. From the writings it doesn’t seem large but does seem complex. If they rush through though they might not make it.”

She nodded thoughtfully, looking back at the cave. “Then we wait, amush them if they come out.”

“And if they don’t?” you asked.

Sua looked back at the cave. “We wait tomorrow, we watch. If we don’t see anything by the next morning then we go in after them, and assume the worst.”

“By worst y-you mean-”

“I mean they get what’s coming to them,” she said bitterly.

The day had passed uneventfully and the night as well so you spent the early morning gearing up to explore the cave. You tucked the book away in your bag before heading up to the deck where Hongjoong was fighting with Jayoung.

“I don’t like it either but we’re not going,” Jayoung said. “Now pick who to send.”

“I can’t just send them off, you know I can barely keep them alive as it is-”

“Hongjoong,” Jayoung had a warning in her tone. “If they need us, we’ll go in.”

“Fine,” Hongjoong muttered bitterly. “Take San and Wooyoung, they’re the best fighters. Do you need more?”

“Sua said four.”

Hongjoong groaned, crossing his arms. “I hate this.”

“So do I,” said Jayoung. “Now pick.”

“Jongho, he’s strong and…” Hongjoong gazed at his crew preparing the bags. “Mingi. They can take Mingi.”

“You’re not coming?” You questioned.

Hongjoong glanced at you. “Someone has to hold down the fort here, and come in and get you if you all mess up.”

“We’ll be fine,” Iree said brightly, coming up from behind you and slinging an arm around your shoulder. She handed you a pistol and you took it carefully. “No need to be saved.”

“We need to get going,” You heard Sua’s voice and looked over to where she stood near one of the lifeboats. Iree led you over happily as Hongjoong barked to the four to follow you. They all did as they were told and the crew came over as you got into the boats. Hongjoong’s hands were on the ropes but he stopped when Sua’s hand grabbed his, looking at him and Jayoung.

“If they others come out and we don’t you come in after us,” She said. “But if two days pass and no one comes out you leave, do you understand?”

“Sua, we can-” Jayoung started.

“Do you understand?” Sua growled.

“Yes, Ma’am,” they both mumbled before slowly lowering the boats into the water.

The trip to the cave was quiet. You and Iree rowed your boat as Sua checked her pocket watch and her small map. The four in the other boat chattered happily and teased Mingi for being afraid.

You thought over what you knew about the cave and listened idly to their laughing until you got to shore, all of you getting out of your boats and tying them up before making your way to the mouth of the cave. You finally felt the fear setting in. What if this just got them all killed? But should the other group have come out by now? Why were they taking so long? You figured they didn’t know what you knew though.

Sua stopped the group, speaking to you all. “We only have some idea of what we’ll be facing. Everyone, stay behind me and move slowly and quietly. Don’t touch anything unless I tell you to. We have a goal and we don’t know what happened to the others. We may very well encounter them inside. Stay on your guard at all times.”

You all nodded and followed her in, you staying close by Sua’s side. The initial entrance looked much like a normal cave, rocky and wet being near the shoreline. You were careful as you walked in, figuring the traps would be deeper. The book had mentioned an uneventful beginning.

Maybe it was because you were all a little scared but no one talked too much as you moved through the cave. Into the first few rooms you moved slowly and quickly, hands on swords or pistols just in case. But the cave had a strange feeling. Like the carnival. As if the rocks around you were just a little strange, too cartoonish, as if time was thick and slow as you moved, as if it was ticking closer to a stand still as you got deeper in.

You stopped Sua in one of the small passageways.

“Check your watch,” you whispered.

“What?”

“Just… check your watch.”

Sua pulled out her pocket watch and a look of shock took over her face. “It’s broken.”

You shook your head before turning to the group. “I think we’ve gotten to the magical part of the cave, and it’ll only get thicker the further we go. Be careful.”

The others nodded and you snuck forward, them at your heels as you slipped into the room and held your breath, freezing at the scene in front of you. The floor was littered with bodies and bones. The other crew, you assumed, was lying dead in front of you. There were swords all over the floor and the air reeked of the stench of blood.

“What killed them?” Mingi whimpered.

Your eyes scanned forward. An army was guarding the way, that’s what the book had said. Ahead of you were empty stone chairs and beyond them stone chairs still housing seated skeletons, swords in their hands or laps.

“There,” you motioned with your head. “The skeletons. They’re the guards.”

Sua took a deep breath while Mingi whined. “Alright,” she said. “Slowly now, let’s do this. Expect them to jump to life. Take them out. They others didn’t know, we do.”

You followed behind the group this time, wondering if a pistol would help you out. Sua, Wooyoung, and San led the way, followed by Jongho and Iree, then Mingi, then you. The creaks of old bones filled the air and you watched in horror as the skeletons moved from their seats. Only twelve of them remained but you fell back more as San and Wooyoung jumped to action. Iree rushed forwards with Sua to take on three of them and Mingi clung to your side as Jongho glanced back at the two of you and sighed, staying where he was to defend you.

The skeletons sparred well but they were fragile. It only took one hit to knock them down and San and Wooyoung were whizzes with their swords, ripping through them with what looked like ease. Jongho fought off the two that made their way back towards you while Iree and Sua fought back to back.

The others must have been ambushed, unprepared, and none had made it, or some were somewhere up ahead. Either way as the last skeleton crumpled to the ground Jongho looked back at Mingi wearily.

“Really helpful,” he said.

“Shut up,” Mingi muttered.

You joined Sua at the front again and slipped through a set of winding passageways before a room opened up ahead of you. You were slow as you looked through the mist of the room, listening to a quiet sound that moved over the rocks. Hiding in the shadows you slipped along the wall, signalling for silence from the others and happy that they all complied. Soon enough you were closer and fear struck through your heart as a large serpent lifted its head.

Sua raised her pistol but you grabbed her hand and shook your head. Though it couldn’t see you from where you stood in the darkness you could see in its eyes, the look in its eyes.

This was a shapeshifter.

You motioned for the others to be quiet and follow your lead. You knew that this shifter could hurt you, and might. How long had they been stuck here? Was there anything that would help you turn them back? You didn't know.

The large serpent put their head back down and you snuck slowly along the wall again. As the curve of the cave brought you closer you noticed the bodies littering the floor around the snake's body.

So they would kill you.

Good to know.

Your eyes scanned the room and you noticed a passageway just beyond the snake. Of course. Of course you'd have to go through the snake den.

You stopped the group, looking at the floor. There had to be a way through here. It had to be possible to get past. For those who created the cave, to check on things, to store more deep inside and get things out. Like magical security. There had to be a way past, something to control the creature.

You kneeled down and grabbed a few stones before creeping forwards, toward the light. The serpent stirred in the mist but didn't move too much. The closer you got the more you saw cuts in its skin. Did shapeshifters stay in their form all the time? Did they change when hurt? Wouldn't this one, to hide?

If most of who came in here were wizards they could cast spells to keep the beast still. But this was a person, and if they didn't want them changing form, wanted them to stay a snake. Then…

Even as the stone left your hand you knew it was incredibly stupid. This creature could and would kill you all easily, and here you were trying to draw their attention, not directly to you but still, they might see you.

The serpent stirred, looking up and following the sound. Sua grabbed your arm to pull you back but you stood firm, looking at the snake's body and sure enough.

"There," your voice was barely audible even to you. "Tied on the tail. It needs to come off, that’s the only chance."

Sua nodded before turning to the others. You heard a whimper from Mingi but her voice was too quiet to hear. A hand landed on your shoulder and you looked at Iree who nodded to you with a nervous smile. Beyond her San and Wooyoung were slipping through the shadows. A quick turn of your head told you Mingi and Jongho were going the other way and Sua was still behind you.

She leaned closer and whispered. "When you hear noise, go. We'll distract the serpent, you and Iree get that thing off its tail."

"Yes Ma'am," you whispered.

Your heart pounded as Sua backed away from you. You trained your eyes on the snake's tail while whispering to Iree. "We need to cut that off. If I'm right that'll make it change forms."

"Okay, a-and if it doesn't?"

You gave Iree a dark look and she nodded quickly before creeping into the light with you. The large snake didn't see you at first, seeming to explore where the rock had hit but stopped suddenly and you both froze as it started to slowly turn its head.

"Hey! Slither boy!" Wooyoung's voice bounced off the walls of the room and the snake snapped it’s head in that direction.

"Over here rats-for-brains," San was quick on the uptake, a little ways away. He mimicked Wooyoung's voice, clearly trying to confuse the serpent. You returned your attention to the tail as the other five popped in and out of the shadows, calling to the snake and keeping its attention away from you and Iree.

Iree dashed as quietly as she could around the edge of the room, trying to get to the far side of the tail. You spared a glance at the beast's head before watching its rattled tail raise into the air, shaking. The snake lunged for someone and you dashed closer, diving for the tail.

You managed to grab a hold but only for a few moments before the snake flicked you forcefully off, throwing across the room. You hit the wall with a groan and looked up, dizzy, at the snake rising above your body and hissing. A flash of red hair out of the corner of your vision just made it into your consciousness before the snake lunged and you rolled to the side, just barely missing it and trying to get to your feet.

The snake let out a piercing cry and you froze, looking at it as it's form shrunk, Iree triumphantly holding up the tie that was on its tail in her hand. Sua and Jongho rushed to you, helping you to your feet. You moved forward slowly with their help as you recovered from the hit. A young woman was on the floor, panting and gazing up at you dazed.

"Where- Who?"

You kneeled down. "Do you know where you are?"

Tears welled in her eyes as she shook her head. "I- I don't r-remember?"

"Shh, it's okay," you hushed her before looking around at the group. Your eyes landed on Sua.

"We can't leave her here." You said.

"I know,"Sua looked around seriously. "Do you have any idea how much longer this cave is?"

You shook your head. "Time doesn't work right here. But there were only a couple more accounts that seem probable."

"Okay," she looked around the group. "Mingi, take her back to the ship, update Jayoung on what we've seen and let her know that no ambush is coming."

Mingi seemed relieved as he helped the girl to her feet. He bid you all goodbye before leading her carefully back the way you'd come. You stood again and beckoned for the rest to follow you onward and you made your way forwards through the passageways in the rock.

As you stepped into the next large space a fire pit sprung to life in the center of the room, throwing shadows on the wall. You stopped the group and whispered to them.

"This one was mentioned in a number of accounts. Terrifying illusions thrown on the walls. None of it is real, but it will play on your fears. The room will look bigger. And…"

"And?" Sua's voice came.

"We won't go any further if we go as a group. We have to go one by one. Stick to the shadows, away from the flame no matter how much you want the light."

"What if something's actually there?" Jongho questioned.

"Nothing is," you said. "I've seen these before, they're terrifying but harmless. Just keep moving and don't let it get to you."

"Who's going first?" San asked the real question and you knew what the answer had to be.

"I'll go first. Sua last to make sure everyone makes it in. Everyone else in between. Okay?"

All of the responses sounded scared but there was little you could do. You took a deep breath and stepped forwards. As you walked the darkness swallowed you, so thick you could only see the light and you moved around it. The room was too big and shadows moved too near to you. Whispers in a woman’s voice seemed to sneak up behind them. It made your hair stand on end but you steeled yourself and kept going, walking around the flame.

A low growl caught your attention and you glanced into the shadows just long enough to see the outline of a large leopard. Fear struck through your heart as the shadow beast lunged at you and you couldn’t hold back your scream as your feet hit the ground hard and you flew through the room. You kept the flame in your line of sight, out of the corner of your eye as a wolf howled. Shapes appeared on the ground and you realised with a horrified shriek that the ghostly dead faces of San, Iree, and Sua, were staring up at you, glassy and unfeeling.

You could feel tears on your face and you weren’t sure if the screams you heard were merely your own or the others as well. The beasts behind you were right on your heels and despite the burning in your legs you couldn’t stop, losing sight of the flame behind you now and too busy running through the darkness to care, racing from the beasts, too afraid to look back.

A groan left your lips as you hit a wall. The sounds behind you disappeared in an instant and you noticed light to the left of you, feeling along the wall until you found the passage onwards. You gazed around, panting. You were sure you heard screams but they sounded distant. You hoped the others would make it but you just needed to wait. You leaned next to the passageway.

Iree was the first to come through, hitting the hall near where you did. She had tears in her eyes and was gasping, clambering to you when she saw you and hugging you tight while her body shook.

“Th-That was th-the- the w-w-worst-”

“I know,” you hushed her, hugging her and stroking her hair as she caught her breath. “It’s okay, none of it’s real. It’s just meant to scare you.”

Iree kept her arms around you until Jongho hit the wall not too far away. His breathing was shaky and he kept quiet as he made his way over to you, trying to play it cool but you could see the tear stains on his face and you and Iree pulled him into a hug anyway.

Next was San, who collapsed against the three of you in tears, inconsolable until Wooyoung made it through as well. The two were shaky and teary but no worse for wear and now you were just waiting on Sua.

The feeling of time was off and you knew it, so there was no use wondering how long you had waited for her. Still, it made you antsy that it felt like it was longer than the others. That was probably the way the room worked though, suck you back in, lost in the darkness being chased by your fears forever looking for one another.

“Sh-She’ll be fine, right?” Iree asked.

“She’ll be fine,” you said, more to calm yourself than anyone else. “It’s likely a trick of the room, make you go back looking right when they’re about to make it.”

“Right, b-but what if-”

“Iree, no. We can’t go back, you won’t find her in there.” You said sternly.

“Please I could jus-”

As if on cue Sua hit the wall hard. She was panting as you called her name but she didn’t move right away, seeming to catch her breath first. Finally, she shook out her hair and stood tall, turning to you all, the most stoic exit of any, though she looked incredibly pale.

“Let’s just go,” she said.

You led the way into the passage, praying there was very little left. It didn’t seem to take long before it opened into a much smaller room lit by torch light. At the far side of the room, a glowing passageway and in the center a circular, shallow calderon. A body lay on the floor, on the far side of the cauldron and Sua let out a cold laugh.

“Well, looks like he really did get what was coming to him,” she walked to the pirate captain’s body and rolled him over with her foot. “Serves him right.”

“It looks like we can just go-” Wooyoung started but you cut him off.

“Don’t! That’s what killed him.”

“Yeah Wooyoung, that’s what killed him, keep up,” Jongho teased.

“Geez Wooyoung,” San snickered.

“Quiet,” Sua warned before looking at you. “What do we need to do.”

“Pay,” you said, looking around the calderon. Sure enough there was a dusty old wand hidden in a pocket along the side and you pulled it out. You wondered if you could use it, could you really have come this far for nothing.

“Take what you give,” Iree read off an inscription from the cauldron. “It’s a payment right, so it needs to equal what’s being taken.”

“I’ll do it then,” said Sua. “Since I’m the one taking, just tell me what I need to pay.”

“A memory, knowledge, something like that.” You said.

“Okay,” She thought for a moment. “Okay I think I know what to give. Whenever you’re ready.”

You bit your lip, still unsure. The wand though, seemed enchanted. As soon as you touched it to Sua’s temple she shivered. A long, silvery-grey nearly smoke-like substance was pulled from her head and slowly fell into the caldron. Sua leaned against Iree and you turned to see another entrance open. A smile spread across your face when you saw the riches beyond.

“We did it,” you grinned.

“Good,” Sua’s voice was breathy. “Everyone, look for a mirror, a small hand held mirror. Touch nothing else.”

A chorus of ‘yes ma’ams’ left you all as you spread out into the room. It was stacked high with piles, mountains of gold and jewels. You couldn't see how far it went but could see the light from the fire scones along the walls glinting off the treasure and up to the ceiling of the cave. You wondered if you would have to go back the way you came, not sure you could face the room of darkness all over again.

Beyond the initial piles were pedestals, nestled between the precious jewels.

“Hey, come this way I think it’ll be-” You started to call out but your voice seemed to cut out as you spotted the mirror. The hand mirror, the small, pretty hand mirror with a surface that seemed to move and shimmer like water.

You approached it slowly, picking it up with tears in your eyes. If this was here…

How long had it been? How long had they been gone? Was it possible this was before Siyeon and Yoohyeon’s time? You had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t, that this had been hidden away here for a long time. That your dear friends were gone.

Even though you knew that at some point they wouldn’t be around it still pained you. It felt like losing them in real time, felt like you would never see them again.

Though the thought dawned on you that after tonight, you would likely never see any of them again. You had no clue how to get back here on your own. All of these people, the ones you had spent days with, the ones you knew for weeks, or months, would be lost to you forever once you found all the pieces of that paper.

And you were just worried about getting out of the house.

You heard a voice nearby but ignored it as the surface of the mirror moved and an image formed. You saw fire, a room burning and a woman in the midst of before a hand landed on your shoulder and the image vanished.

“You found it,” Sua smiled. “Everyone, come here!”

Sua took the mirror from you and up ahead a light shone in, the sound of the waves and the view of the shoreline and the ship was in sight. The others gathered round as Sua turned the mirror over in her hands.

“We’ve got it!” She cheered. “And we’ve got a way out!” You couldn’t help the way it made you smile to see them all so happy. They all made their way to the exit and as you got closer you realized it looked more like a portal, like it would jump you back to the outside, and your heart dropped. Just before reaching it you stopped them all.

“When we-” You started, unsure where your words were going. “Going through that portal. I-I might not- I mean I might- uh-”

“What’s wrong?” Asked Iree.

“I-” You sniffed, holding back the lump in your throat. “I think when we go through there it’ll send us back home. But this isn’t my home so I don’t think I’ll be going with you all. Wh-What I’m saying i-is-”

“-that this is goodbye,” Sua finished. You nodded, unable to meet anyone’s eye. They were all quiet for a moment before San stepped forward and hugged you, Wooyoung joining in and then Jongho.

“We’ll miss you,” San mumbled. The other two agreed and you nodded, saying goodbye before watching them walk through the portal. Then Iree stepped closer.

“It feels like it’s been so much longer than a few days,” She sniffed.

“Yeah- yeah it does. Just, take care okay?”

“Of course,” she smiled. “You too.”

“Definitely.”

Iree hugged you tightly before heading through the portal as well. Finally you turned to Sua.

“You kept us alive,” she said. “I have a feeling that was more than just in the cave.”

“I- Yeah, yeah it was. Sometimes it takes a second chance.”

Sua looked at you curiously. “Thank you, for making me see reason. For leading us through this so I can see reason,” she held up the mirror, “on my own.”

“Take care of them all,” you said. “And have some fun for me.”

“We’ll toast to you, we’ll tell your story, no matter how long you’re gone from here you’ll always be here in our hearts. Of that I can assure you.”

You nodded, sucking down you tears before throwing your arms around her. She hugged you tightly and neither of you said a word more, walking towards the portal together. You let her pass through first, with one last smile back at you, before she was gone.

You took one last look at the cave, one last look at this world before taking a deep breath and stepping through, falling into darkness.

action

It felt as if you fell onto the bed, but it was still a bed so at least there was that. You saw the puff of smoke out of the corner of your eye but covered your face instead, not wanting to deal with it. You knew the paper was there, you knew you needed to move on, that something was in this house pushing you through.

“I just-” You mumbled. “I don’t know if you’re listening, but I just need a minute.”

Masterlist

#maison des cartes #sua imagines #bora imagines #kim bora imagines #dreamcatcher imagines

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hopelessromanticspoonie · 4 years

Note

Well, you know I need to play...Fluff, #7, Tom. One day I will want to play with Loki...but not yet.

I’m so glad that this one was next, because I needed some fluff in my life! Before I knew it this was very much not a drabble any longer - I hope you don’t mind! Thank you for the request, bestie.

Gentleman

Tom Hiddleston was nothing if not a gentleman.

So, when he bumped into you while on his morning run, spilling your water all over the two of you - which was not pleasant in the chilled autumnal air, he had to offer some form of recompense for his misdeeds. On that occasion, that took the form of a cup of hot chocolate purchased at a small coffee shop just around the corner. The beverage replaced that which he had spilled, and you spent the time it took for your clothing to dry chatting away over the steaming mugs of decadent sweetness.

And when you were both standing up to part ways after hours lost to delight conversation, he couldn’t help but politely say, “I would very much like to see you again.”

You paused in tugging on your coat, eyes wide as you took in the sheepishly smiling giant of a man before you. “I’m sorry?”

He came around behind you, holding onto your coat to further help you slide into it. Once it was done, he patted your shoulder gently before standing before you once again. The simple act of kindness lit through you, warming you far more thoroughly than your cup of cocoa could ever manage. “Nothing too serious or formal. But it was simply nice to have a riveting conversation with such attractive company. I’d like to see you again, continue this later, if that’s all right with you.”

Your stammered agreement made such raw happiness shine through his sky blue eyes that any nerves you’d had were quickly soothed. You’d do anything to make that beautiful man smile, even if it plucked at the carefully guarded strings of your heart.

And that was how your friendship with Tom began. Over the next several weeks, you met up for countless coffee dates, quick lunches, bites of dessert after he was finished at the stage door, and aimless meanderings through a park nearby your apartment. Your comfort level grew with him, any anxieties set at ease by his ready smile and catching sunny attitude. When your attraction only increased as your unease decreased, butterflies multiplying rapidly in your belly and your fingers twitching with the urge to reach out to take his hand, you simply ignored it.

This was Tom Hiddleston, and you were, well, you. Someone who, on the grand scheme of things, couldn’t dare to believe that you were on the same level as him in all aspects of life. How could a regular person compete with everything that the world had to offer such a brilliant, handsome, talented man? It was best to take what you could get - his friendship - and be grateful for it.

You were. You were unendingly grateful for it, and for him. Despite the anxiety that crawled beneath your skin when you waited for him to come over to your apartment for the first time, you were excited. Everything had been thoroughly deep-cleaned in a whirlwind of activity that admittedly made you a little sore from all the elbow grease required, but it’d be worth it. Tom had mentioned he was homesick, frankly missing any sort of comfortable living situation that wasn’t a hotel room, and you had offered an evening watching movies at your place as an alternative. Sure, it was a Monday night because his schedule was hectic and crammed, but it was still exciting.

Your heart surged into your throat when steady knocks sounded on your door. Shoving it back where it belonged, you ushered him inside out of the light snowfall that had been traveled in with the latest cold front.

“Hello, darling. Thank you so much for having me,” he greeted you warmly, pressing a kiss to each of your cheeks before shucking off his worn black peacoat, hanging it on a hook beside yours.

Ignoring the heat rising in your cheeks, you gestured toward the couch as you trotted off quickly to the kitchen. “I’ll grab the snacks if you want to get settled. I already pulled up the movies, so you can just pick which one you prefer.”

When you came back bearing a tray of two steaming cups of hot chocolate and a plate of brownies, he quickly rose from where he perched on the couch to take it from you. He carefully placed it on the coffee table before leaning back into the couch, stretching his arm across the back of it and spreading his knees wide. It left you no choice but to brush your thigh against his when you sat down, almost tucked into his side from how much room he took up. Not that your racing heart was complaining.

Not much was said for quite a while. You both sat in companionable silence, drinking your cocoa and watching the movie he had selected. Only when the cocoa was gone did he speak up, interrupting your occasional glance at his carved jawline to look at you. “I hate to ask, but do you have a blanket? I have been so cold with the change in the weather.”

Apologies erupted from you so quickly that they were basically nonsense, and you jumped up from the couch to run back to your bedroom, grabbing the large throw blanket that you had spread out on your bed to add another layer of warmth.

“I’m so sorry about that. The blasted heating isn’t the best in here. I’m afraid this is the only one I have,” you said in a flurry, coming back and draping the blanket over his lean form.

He grinned genially, lifting the corner. “Mind if I leech a bit of your body heat as well?”

How could you say no to that? Unable to meet his earnest gaze, you curled up against him on the couch, tucking your feet beneath you and pressing your side into his. He adjusted the blanket around you both before dropping his arm over your shoulders. It was heavy and warm and you were enveloped in the heady masculinity of his cologne. How something that smelled so clean could bring you to think such dirty thoughts was beyond you.

“Better?” you asked, hating how your voice cracked as you tilted your head back to look at him.

He directed his heart-stopping smile in your direction, all white teeth and crinkles around his eyes that made your hands shake. You opened your mouth to respond, but he cut you off with his brow furrowed in concern.

“Are your hands cold? You can hold my hand. It’s okay.” His arm moved beneath the blanket until you felt his fingers graze over your arm, trailing down until they slipped passed your wrist and laced with yours effortlessly.

Speech was honestly beyond you at that point, so you nodded, turning back to the television so you wouldn’t get lost completely in the depths of his searching gaze. If anyone asked you, you wouldn’t have been able to recount the details of the remainder of the movie. You were too busy focusing on the man beside you, his breaths moving his chest against the back of your shoulder, his thumb rubbing against your knuckle, the absentminded scratch of his index finger over the fabric covering your shoulder.

“Well, that was an excellent film in far better company. Thank you for having me,” Tom said quietly, speaking as if he were saying his goodbyes for the evening, although he hadn’t moved a muscle.

You dared to look at him. This close his breath fanned across your face, chocolatey sweet and tinged with something uniquely him that you longed to taste to fully unravel. This close you were hit with the full force of his beauty, the elegant slope of his nose, the razor-sharp cheekbones that drew your attention to the soft pink lips of his expressive mouth. You couldn’t think of anything clever to say in response, so instead, you blurted out what had been playing on your mind for the entirety of your friendship, “I still don’t believe that you’re real sometimes.”

His tongue darted out to wet his lips, squeezing all of the air out of your lungs. The hand that held yours ghosted up to your chin, finger and thumb caressing the skin there lightly to keep you from turning away. “This is real. I’m real.”

Who moved first, you weren’t sure. But in the next breath your lips were working together, teasing and testing the waters until you found a rhythm that more closely matched the pent-up passion that pounded in your chest. Your fingers found a home in the soft knit of his sweater, and his hand cupped your cheek while his arm only pulled you more tightly against him. It was sweet and addicting and you soon knew the taste of him - addictive, tantalizing, altogether too much and not nearly enough.

Your name upon his lips was a prayer when he finally broke the kiss, his nose nudging along yours as your eyes fluttered open. His pupils were blown and you felt the raggedness of his breath beneath your splayed fingers.

You wanted. You wanted so badly that it ached in your core and stole your breath. It wasn’t proper, it wasn’t right, and it wasn’t as if you had spoken on the subject at all. But he had all of the strings to your heart in his clutches, and he tugged on them once again when he answered your unasked questions with the playful nip of his teeth at your neck.

He was a gentleman, after all, and a gentleman did not leave his lady wanting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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#imagine tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston drabble #tom hiddleston fluff #tom hiddelston x reader #gentleman #hoplesswrites #hopeless750celebration

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opes-magnas · 4 years

Text

those two days.

A wise man once said, ”The bad news is, nothing lasts forever and the good news is, nothing lasts forever.”

That’s freaking bullshit. Whoever told that hasn’t gone through the amount of trauma I’ve been through, which made every single moment feel like an eternity. Oh wait! I should’ve explained it more graphically.

Every single second felt like I was being skinned alive and being rolled over in salt and then fried in burning hot oil, then my limbs being torn out of my body and I could probably go on forever. In short, my time as a mortal on this planet has been miserable.

My mother and father were the epitome of love, they were the ideal couple who fell in love as soon they laid eyes on each other and the middle of their story is so cliché I’d rather let you imagine it in the most typical way possible and the end of it is, they got married!

They sadly never had their happily ever after cause they then got pregnant with me.

(After 9 months of my mother craving weird things)

He kept pacing the length of the waiting room, anxious, his face was dripping with perspiration and his brows were knitted in deep thought, his hands were clasping and unclasping and fidgeting with his jacket.

* Piano playing a sad note*

He hears the OR doors opening and rushes towards the doctor and shakes that poor guy until he’s pale. The doctor says that there were a lot of complications with his wife’s pregnancy and that they could save only one of them, and his wife told them to save his child and that he now has a healthy 4.5 pound baby boy.

He fell to the ground. How could he even live without his beloved wife! His moon and stars, his better half! He felt so utterly devastated.

Sometimes when people lose the very thing that defines their life, the very thing that they lived and breathed for, they lose faith and when that happens there is no coming back.

I think this was that moment for my father. I’ve always wondered how anyone could love anything so intensely. But I guess love is a very elusive thing which sadly won’t fit into the bounds of words.

I can try to make sense of though, from what I’ve seen, love is when my father returned home after a tired day of work and as soon as he saw the face that opened the door, he could find calmness in spite of all the chaos surrounding him. One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I couldn’t see and feel that pure unconditional love.

Anyways, in my bittersweet flashback my father also gets to know that it was my mother’s intentional decision to give her life in order to save mine.

So, from that day my father loathed to see my face. As every time he looked at me, I reminded him of the day he lost the purpose of his life. He became an alcoholic and just gave me money to do whatever the hell I want with it.

I never actually went to school regularly, used to bunk most of the time. But that didn’t matter because I passed somehow by cheating and my street smartness. But, it really hit me when I flunked my senior year and all of my friends went to Ivy League colleges, while I was left to attend my dreadful senior year AGAIN with a bunch of crackpots.

Though, that wasn’t the part that made me lose my sense of self- dignity. It was when the look of nonchalance on my father’s face when he heard the former news. Even this far in life I didn’t have goal or any plans to look forward to. This part kept me most of the nights and stole any little peace of mind I had left.

Then I attended community college in hopes of at least getting proper education. In college, I couldn’t stick to any one major for a year as I was pretty fickle minded about it.

One sunny happy day, birds are chirping, I’m braying Beyoncé’s halo and enter the college premises to see this guy snogging my girlfriend. My fury knows no bounds as I beat the shit out of him then I get to know that my girlfriend had been cheating on me with him for many months. But, it was too late to reconsider my actions as I had probably broken 50 of his bones oops!

Then I got slapped an assault case and got expelled from college for disgracing them. This particular joke that I’m about to say is a big touché moment but humour at my expense has been a trend I’ve experienced everywhere so hell with it.

I got expelled from a freaking community college with drug addicts, goons, people who have flunked their freshman year about 3 times go to. And I have been expelled from such a college for “disgracing them”!!!

Go on laugh yourself out.

But a tiny ray of hope appeared after a jumbo combo of disappointment with a side of bad luck and a dollop of ugly fate. I was discovered by the basketball scouts and got a chance to play in the local league and if I did play well, I had a chance of playing ball in college! They absolutely loved me. I had gotten so used to people being disappointed in me that I was so unsure of myself when people really appreciated me.

But as you know of my series fuck ups I had to screw this one too. But, this one was the most epic of them all. I had a few shots in before the game just to you know, bring that edge.

During the game, when I was passed the ball, my drunken brain thought it was the head of my ex-girlfriend and I started smashing the ball against my head (which my brain thinks as a pathetic attempt of kissing “her” or rather “it”). So, at the end, everyone thought I was some lunatic and I got kicked off the field (literally).

I finally let go of all the little self-respect I had and applied for a job as a cashier at McDonalds. And the reply from them was the single most embarrassing moment of my life.

I got rejected!

Then I heard a call saying that my grandpa had died but he had also left me the family mansion, which I assume is out of pity for being ignored for most of my life. This was just in time (not my grandpa’s death of course! Gee I’m not so devoid of emotion!) as I was being kicked out of my apartment due to not paying rent for past 3 months and needed a place to crash.

But, aside from that I was a 23 year old man with no job, no girlfriend, and no degrees to show for, no friends and absolutely broke. I should be the poster boy for the word “miserable” (at least that way I’ll make some profit out of my pathetic existence of a life).

The mansion looks absolutely beautiful from outside. It has a huge dome at the centre with 2 parapets flanking its either sides. The entire dome is made of tinted blue glass which makes it look like it’s a part of the sky but a glistening one filled with hand painted butterflies, hummingbirds, Macau’s and various other exotic species of birds.

The front lawn is as exorbitant as a rare and secret meadow left untouched by mankind, where the flowers unknown grow at their own liberty, unrestricted where bees hover over them making a slight buzzing sound . The whole estate looks so unreal and glorious, it is like a medieval castle left untouched.

But, all I could feel by looking at it was dejection. I felt even this wonderful piece of architecture was looming over and looking at me in pity. I sighed heavily and gathered my meagre possessions and stepped inside.

It was even more splendid from the inside. I don’t know what I’ll do with so much space, I could fit all of my things in the pantry closet! I just lay down on the plush divan to take a small nap because thinking about my wretched life made my mind blackout and heavy like I’d had a few too many tequila shots.

“Poor boy, how can anyone’s life be so tragic and pitiable!?” said pride, wiping off the tears rolling down its cheek, “I know what a troubled childhood feels like, even my mother was too haughty to admit that she had become too fat because of giving birth to me and she never looked at me with a hint of motherly affection, it totally damaged my self-confidence.”

“As if you ever had it to begin with! You appeared to be so full of yourself in front of people but deep down you’re a pathetic little wimp!”

“Stop it envy! See, you made him cry, aren’t you living up to your name! Always jealous of others! I know it’s like we can invade his privacy, by taking a peek at his thoughts, but this boy can’t even defend himself. He doesn’t get angry at all when people talk all sorts of things about him! How can he even live with himself!”

“Now now, anger you don’t upset yourself too much, your BP is gonna skyrocket. All this boy needs to do is to get laid man! He so uptight, he needs to loosen up a little and take a chill pill.”

“I totally agree with you, said Sloth, he needs to take some time out for himself and have a little self’-introspective nap once in a while right, Glutton?”

“All you ever do is take naps! And anyways he needs to round up and appear fuller, he’s such a scrawny kid! Eat more spaghetti and meatballs!”

“You’re awfully quiet Greed, speak up man this isn’t like you! You’re always complaining that you don’t as much time to speak”.

“Yeah dude, it’s just I’ve never seen any man not having even basic survivalist desires. We gotta help this fella.”

“Okay then roll up your sleeves gentlemen and ugh *cough* cough* sorry woman, we got some work to do!”

I opened my eyes and nearly peed myself in the pants, in front of me were six men and woman, I screamed like a cat dunked in a bucket of water!

“Hey Yo mate, chill down, we’re just here to help”, said a boy who was in his teens clearly by the amount of acne on his face and the ripped jeans and hoodie he wore further justified my guess, he wore a badge called “sloth”

What a weird name, I thought. Who would like to be named after the sloth bear!

“Yo, for the fact the sloth bear was named after me!”

“Now, sloth you need to follow your own words, the boy must be scared shitless. By the way, I’m Greed, nice to meet you too and that rude fellow was Sloth.”, spoke a middle aged man with a rather baggy shirt and tight jeans.

“Guys let’s introduce ourselves to make it easier for him. Hello young fellow, I’m Glutton!”, said a shirtless man whose abs glistened with sweat as though he’d come from a workout.

“Hello kitten, I’m Anger.”, said a strikingly beautiful woman with a purple dress synched at the waist with a Gucci belt and black stilettos.

“Greetings from the better part of hell dear, I’m Envy.”, said a man with a formal attire and red horn-rimmed glasses.

“Morning, I’m Pride.”, said a tall man wearing an expensive Armani suit, reebok sunglasses and slick blonde hair.

“Hi, I’m Lust.” ,he whispered, God he must be the male-version of Aphrodite! He was enough to turn a straight man like me, gay.

(I gave such detailed description of them, as they keep recurring and I wanted you guys to see them exactly like I did.)

“Umm. Hi, I’m max I guess.”, I blurted.

“God! We need to work on your self-confidence boy! Okay I’ll tell you why we’re here. While you were napping, we looked into your past and thought you might need a little boost to help you live a better life. So, each of us will help you in their own area of expertise and ooh! I almost forgot we are here only for two days, so buckle up!”

Have become schizophrenic?! I am hearing voices in my head!

“Relax honey, we are visible and audible only to you.”, Anger said.

“Humph okay, what should I do to get rid of you lot?”

Quit the sarcasm brother, first we need to get a good workout. Come on move your ass, and Glutton then pulled me away for what seemed like forever and made me workout like hell. The workout was so intense, I was so sore I couldn’t move a muscle and every time I got up my butt ached.

But, when I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t believe my eyes, my body looked like it was photo shopped! Six pack abs, killer thighs, amazing collar bone and to top it off a chiseled jaw! I looked like a Greek God!

Then, without wasting a minute, Sloth whisked me into the kitchen which was filled with amazing food and magazines. He told me, “You know what mate, you need to take some time out for yourself and make yourself happy once in a while.”

I never forgot those words.

I ate to my stomach’s fill, of course only healthy foods allowed (Glutton approved- check). Then my slot was with Anger.

We took a walk and were talking everyday stuff when she pulled me into a McDonald’s. I resisted as I had just eaten the feast of my life, but she insisted and made me sit down in a booth.

“Sometimes anger in the right direction is okay.”

Then a waiter came and asked for our order, before we could even blink an eye, he started bellowing out like a cow belching and started telling people that I was the specimen of a man who got rejected even from a McDonald’s job and thought a ball was his ex-girlfriend!

People around me started taking selfies and snaps of me and posting it on social media.

Anger whispered, “You need to defend your honour, sugar. No one is going to do it for you.”

I mustered all the courage I had left in me and punched that guy in his face. I pulled Anger away and we made for the run.

After the running all the way to house, I told her, “I never felt so exhilarated and satisfied in my entire life!”

“But, remember kitten, anger only in the right direction and for the right cause, like you defending your honour for example.”

Will remember, Ms. Anger.

Then Pride and Greed approached me together and took me into my room and gave my laptop.

“Listen son, you are quite capable and intelligent, all you need is to believe in yourself a little more and go after the things you want.” , Pride said. “So you need to write an essay to get into Ivy League colleges with full scholarship, so begin writing.”

I bit my lip. Just believe in yourself.

Then I wrote my essay by pulling an all-nighter and submitted it.

I could feel someone shaking me hardly, I rubbed my eyes and opened them reluctantly only to see Greed pulling off my blankets and telling me to get ready for a small basketball session.

We then drove over to the Baltimore city gym, I then realized he had brought me to the basketball try-outs for the city’s team!

Believe in yourself.

After almost half a day, we returned home then Lust dragged me into various clothing stores and dressed me up and told me to remember one girl who had impacted me the most.

Then, I thought how I could miss the one girl who stood with me through thick and thin! She never doubted me! Suddenly I could remember all the subtle hints she gave throughout the time we were friends, and I, a fool, never paid her enough attention, trying to go after girls who were popular!

Oh Sarah! Then I saw the smirk on Lust’s face and knew he was the one who helped me clear my thoughts.

He murmured, “Go! You moron.”

I rushed to my car and drove to Sarah’s house and almost punched a hole into her front door trying to knock.

The door opened, and when I saw her face, I found calm in midst of all chaos of my mind, guess I finally got to see the true love I always yearned for.

I gave her my true confession with gulps in between.

She told, “I thought you’d never realize.”

I pulled her waist close to me, and whispered in her ear, “Better late than never” and tucked the hair on her cheek behind her ear and kissed her like I’d never see her again.

Well, two days passed within a blink of an eye, and yet I have changed so much, grown into a better man. Oh! Only Envy hadn’t had his chance to speak to me.

I then told Sarah I’d see her tomorrow and drove back to the house to see all of them standing on my front porch. I got down and t and went and hugged each one knowing it was time to say our goodbyes.

Envy stepped forward, “Max, we always knew you were a special young man, but always remember that when you succeed, there are always gonna be people who will envy you and try to bring you down, you have to then remember how hard you worked to get there and say, fuck you assholes and stay put.”

“I love you guys; do you have to go?”

“Yes child, but we will be watching you, okay?”

Goodbye.

When I was going to unlock the front door, I saw my reflection on the glass, and I then I realized that I was always like this, but I never saw myself for what I really am.

I measured my life by milestones and achievements all along, never realizing those small moments where I was the best possible version of myself.

I guess, the old wise man was correct.

Epilogue – After a year

I am so busy right now, I don’t even have the time to write this, but I know you guys I are curious of what happened after that.

I got selected to play college ball for Princeton University with a full scholarship. Sarah and I are in a very serious relationship and we are thinking of getting married after college, oh and by the way, she also got accepted to Princeton.

I also work as a part time model for Vogue (who knew!) I think I may be playing for the NBA next year.

And I made things right with my father and actually forgave him of all his shortcomings.

I am so grateful and happy for those two days last year, though I still think my mind is playing tricks with me as I went back the McDonald’s store and asked the guy whom I punched if he remembered me and he gave this weird look .

Anyways, you guys might have thought I have finally achieved something, but I think otherwise. I am still so very insecure about myself in a thousand different ways. But when I wake up in the morning, I am so grateful for being given this life in contrast to before when I used to wonder my purpose.

~ Lady Lazarus

#writeblr #new blog #humor #writings #this is based off a tumblr post #lady lazarus #oneshot

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babbushka · 5 years

Text

Lemonade

Hi this is entirely @adamsnackdriver ‘s fault

Word count: 3k

Warnings: it started out fluffy but then turned into p*rn y’all

It was hot.

A sunny day out of the blue, you found yourself drawn to spend as much time bathing in the warmth as you could. After you ran your errands for the day and were back home, you stripped down to a bathing suit (even though the pool was still covered from the leftovers of winter), grabbed a magazine and your sunglasses, and went to the kitchen.

Today was a lemonade kind of day, and you were sure your husband would appreciate the cool drink when he got home in a few minutes. He had an early day today, and was supposed to be home by three, the hottest time of day. The clock chimed a quarter-till, and you smiled, happy to know that Flip would be home soon. Maybe the two of you could get a little lazy lovin’ in while the sun was still up, work up an appetite for a big dinner you had planned.

You turned on the portable radio and mixed up the water, lemon juice, and sugar on the stove, pouring it into a pitcher and sticking it in the fridge to chill. With radio in one hand and magazine in the other, you went outside and stretched out on one of the sun-faded lawn chairs, crossing one leg over the other.

The sky was a beautiful powder blue, not a single cloud to be seen. You regretted not grabbing the sunscreen from the bathroom. Tanning was all the rage right now, but you had more of a tendency to burn. It didn’t matter, you would go back in when Flip came home anyway.

The little radio crackled a little, readjusting to the signal outside, playing the latest hit, Al Green’s new song Tired of Being Alone. Tapping your foot along to the beat of it, you got so engrossed in the magazine you didn’t notice when a pair of big strong hands closed around your ankles, making you jump.

“Flip!” You yelled, startled.

“Hey baby.” Flip laughed at the reaction, wrestling with your legs and making you giggle, eventually pressing kisses to your knees, resting his cheek there adoringly.

“Don’t do that, you’re gonna give me a heart attack one of these days.” You run a hand through his hair, mussing up his middle part and making him laugh again.

He was too handsome for his own good, you thought.

“You love me.” Flip replied, cheekily, letting his hand happily trail up and down your thigh.

“Yeah I do.” You smiled back, wiggling your legs so he would get off. “Lemonade’s in the fridge, probably isn’t cold yet though I just put it in.”

“You’re sweet to me.” He said, leaning down to give you a chaste kiss on the lips. You hummed against them, and he pulled back just as you were sure he was going to deepen the kiss. What a tease, you thought with a smile.

“Anything for my man.” You replied happily, “How was work?”

“Why don’t I tell you while I rub some spf on your pretty skin?” He pinched at your upper arm. “Can’t have my girl burn.”

You rolled your eyes at him but was grateful nonetheless. He loved to slather you with lotion as an excuse to get his hands on you, but you never minded too much, especially if it meant you wouldn’t turn into a crispy lobster.

Flip went inside the house and didn’t come back out for a while. You almost had half a mind to get up and see what sort of trouble he was getting himself into, but it was too hot outside for you to really want to.

You couldn’t help but laugh at him when he did re-emerge – he had shed half his clothes and was holding the pitcher of lemonade, two empty glasses, a bottle of sunscreen, and some sandwiches you kept in the fridge.

“Carrying enough there, honey?” You sat up and took the glasses from him so they wouldn’t accidentally fall and shatter.

“You bet ketsl.” Flip chuckled, setting down the pitcher on a little circular stepping stone on the grass. He made his way back towards you with the bottle of sunscreen in his hands. “Give me those soft shoulders.” He smiled at you, and you sat up, your back unsticking from the plastic of the chair.

You scooted towards the end of the chair so Flip could sit behind you, brushing your hair out of the way so lotion wouldn’t get in it and make it all gross.

“Thank you.” You sighed happily, shivering at the momentary chill of the lotion but then practically leaning into the touch as he spread it around your shoulders and back. “Now tell me about work, anything new?”

“Bridges is being a dick again.” Flip grumbled, “But that’s not new.”

“I’m sure Harry will talk to him.” You nodded.

“Ron and Patrice invited us over for dinner tomorrow night, I told them we didn’t have any plans.” Flip continued, spreading the sunscreen onto your arms and thighs.

“I can wear my new dress!” You giggled when he tickled you, getting up from the chair and handing you the lotion so you could do your front.

“You’ll look stunning.” He ducked down to kiss you, a finger brushing under your chin, “Always do.”

“Thank you honey.” You blushed, rubbing the sunscreen onto your stomach and shins.

Flip watched the movement for a minute, before licking his lips and pouring a glass of lemonade. He took a sip and smacked his lips when he was done.

“I’m gonna go workout.” He said, patting a hand on your knee.

“Come do it out here, the weather is too good to be cooped up all day.” You waited for the sunscreen to soak in a little more before leaning back against the chair, giving him a devilish smile.

“You’re right.” He nodded, a sly grin creeping up onto his face.

On hot days like this, you were grateful that you bought him that workout set. Most days he kept them out of sight in the garage, opening up the back door to let some of the steamy air out whenever he felt like using the bench press or lifting his dumbbells. He had them in all different weights, and sometimes you liked to watch him get all sweaty as he pumped iron.

You especially liked it when the thin white tank top he wore went see-through with sweat, and you could see how the fabric stuck to his firm muscles. You never got too close, never wanting to distract him and potentially get him injured, but damn was he a fine sight to see.

Today was no different. He was turned around mostly to keep the sun out of his eyes, and you had the pleasure of watching the muscles in his very toned back flex and move under his tanned skin. You loved how quickly the sun soaked into his skin, it made all of his freckles and beauty marks stand out that much more.

He was wearing jeans, much to your dislike. His thighs were insane, you had always told him so, and that he needed to show them off more than he did. But he was in his jeans, and the waistband was getting dark, soaking up the little droplets of sweat that rolled down his back as you lost count of how many reps he was doing.

Every now and again he did turn around, and whether he knew you were watching or not, he made sure to put on a bit of a show for you. Flexing maybe a little more than necessary, shaking the hair out of his face, tensing his abs.

You wanted to climb him like a tree.

It seemed like Flip could tell that you were taking less than sneaky looks at his body from over the top of your magazine.

“You like what you see?” Flip caught your eye, lifting a fifty pound weight like it was made of air. Your eyes roamed over the way his tanning skin glistened in the sun, a vein begging to be traced by your tongue.

“You know I do.” You smirked from your spot on the lawn chair.

He set the weights down and made his way over to you, picking up a glass and the pitcher, making it a show to pour the lemonade and stir it with a spoon. The condensation on the glass dripped down his forearm and nearly evaporated as he chugged down the drink.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and straddled your hips, the lawn chair creaking slightly under his added weight.

“You gonna do something about it?” Flip hovered over you, nosing at your throat.

“Flip we can’t – the neighbors could hear.” You protested half-heartedly, arching your neck back so he could sink his teeth into the skin there. He did, and slipped a hand under the bottoms of your bathing suit, teasing a few fingers right at your folds. “Flip!” You gasped, he took his hand away with a chuckle and pressed it to your lips.

“Shh, no one will know.” He said, sitting back anyway.

Fuck he looked good, his hair getting piecey from the sweat of his forehead, his rippling muscles begging to be kissed. He roamed his hands over your arms, stomach and thighs, and you crinkled your nose at him playfully.

“You’re getting your sweat all over me.” You said, not the least bit angry.

He grinned and plucked at the strings holding the top of your bathing suit on.

“Let me see those pretty tits of yours.” His voice was low and sweet like honey, and you arched up into his touch to help him, despite the blush that was blooming over your cheeks. He threw the scrap of fabric across the backyard, and sighed happily at the sight in front of him.

“You’re crazy.” You grinned back, humming softly as he kneaded your breasts in those big hands of his.

“I didn’t build a fence for nothing ketsl.” He chuckled, grabbing an ice cube from the lemonade pitcher and running it over your nipples. It stiffened immediately under his touch and you gasped at the cold.

“Flip!” You whined, but he just laughed some more, he loved paying you back for all the teasing you put him through on a daily basis.

He left the ice cube to melt on your skin, transfixed as it slid down your stomach, and he pulled out his hard cock giving it a few lazy tugs.

He wanted to get off all over your tits, make you eat it. He knew you would too, and he stroked himself a little harder at the thought.

“You like watching me, don’t you?” Flip growled, and you nodded, reaching towards him, wanting to help. He grabbed your wrist with his free hand and brought it to his lips to give it a kiss. “Better keep those hands to yourself or else I’ll cuff ‘em.” He said.

“Fuck.” You hummed, raising your wrists above your head and pinning them down to the hot plastic of the lawn chair.

“Soon.” Flip promised, knowing he couldn’t possibly last.

You, his gorgeous wife underneath him, topless and sweaty in the bright light of the sun in your backyard, was more than enough to get his breathing going hard and fast.

Soon enough he was coming with a grunt, shooting his load all over your breasts, making you gasp and wrinkle your nose again. He grinned and reached for your hands which hadn’t moved since he told you to put them there. He made you rub your hands in the mess on your chest, and he could feel himself growing hard again as you did.

Dirty.

“That’s it, I’m fucking you.” He announced, getting off the lawn chair and lifting you bodily up and over his shoulder like you were some sack of potatoes and not his very human wife.

You laughed and laughed, your stomach doing little flips with anticipation. He left the radio and your magazine out there without a care in the world for them.

Flip didn’t get very far before he was setting you down carefully, bending you over the kitchen counter and kicking your feet apart.

“Good?” He murmured in your ear, wanting to make sure that you were comfortable despite his manhandling.

“Good. Rough please?” You nodded back eagerly, and smirked at Flip’s little intake of breath.

He liked to be gentle with you usually, but how could he deny you when you asked so nicely?

With no hesitation, he slid his fingers into you and began fingering you open, making sure you were nice and wet for him. Once he was satisfied, he pulled his jeans down far enough to get his cock out again and he rubbed the head of it up and down your pussy before thrusting it in all the way in one harsh movement.

“Oh!” You felt like the air was knocked out of your lungs, and his hips pushed your further onto the counter.

Flip rocked into you, his hands on your hips grabbing hard enough that there were definitely going to be little bruises dotted along your skin.

“Fuck (Y/N).” He groaned through his teeth, watching the way he slid his dick almost all the way out of you before thrusting back in, making you cry out in pleasure. “Fuck, look at you.”

Your hands were grasping at nothing, so he kept his hips moving as he reached for them, pulling them around your back like he was going to handcuff them. He cursed that he didn’t have the cuffs on him, and just held your wrists with one hand instead, using his other to grip the counter-top hard.

“Flip – oh honey – !” You cried out, drooling onto the counter, eyes shut tight in pleasure.

“Fuck, I need – ” He wanted a better angle, and the counter wasn’t cutting it.

He pulled you off and slid out of you just long enough to walk the two of you over to the living room, where you both went down to the floor to rest against the soft rug near the fireplace that hadn’t been lit in some time.

He maneuvered you to his liking, this time with you on your back. He hiked your legs up around his waist and fucked into you wasting no time, reveling in the way your face scrunched up with pleasure.

He kissed the moans off your lips, sucking at biting at your tongue and licking at your teeth, you felt like he was swallowing you whole. You had a hand fisted in his hair and the other wrapped around his strong bicep, holding on for dear life as he pressed you into the rug with the weight of him.

The radio was still going on outside, you could hear it crackling but it sounded a million miles away, the noise of his breathing and the slick sounds your bodies made against one another echoing in your head.

“I’m going to come in you so hard that you’re not gonna be able to walk without feeling me.” He panted, feeling his orgasm starting to build in the pit of his stomach.

That suddenly was the most appealing thing in the entire world to you just then, and you made him hiss by clenching down around him as he fucked your cunt hard and fast.

“Please.” You gasped, wanting very much to feel him for the rest of the day.

“What, baby?” Flip wanted to be more husky, wanted to be aloof and cool about his dirty talk but fuck you were so hot he could barely get the words out without his voice shaking from the force of you all around him.

“Use your words, come on.” He let one of his hands down to rub at your clit, and he practically drank in the high moans that spilled from your chest.

He rubbed and fucked and bit you until you were crying out, coming hard, your body arching up into his embrace.

“Please come in me!” You didn’t even finish before Flip’s hips stuttered, your big mountain of a man curling his shoulders in around you as he came.

“Holy shit.” He panted after a few moments, his head dropped into your chest. His hair was in your mouth and blew it away, arms too boneless to brush away the knotted locks.

“If we keep going like this I’m gonna get knocked up.” You huffed out a laugh, making him lift his head to look up at you with another one of those adoring smiles of his.

“Isn’t that the plan?” He asked sincerely, making you smile wide.

“Love you.” You whispered. Only Flip could turn things so tender so quickly, you thought.

“Love you more.” Flip said, kissing your sternum before taking a deep breath and pulling out. He stood on shaky legs and held out his hands to pull you up. “Shower?”

“Yes please.” You shivered, sparing a glance down to the state of your bodies. “You got me all sticky and gross the least you can do is clean me up.” You smiled, blissful and very much in love.

“Yes ma’am.” Flip said, wrapping an arm protectively around your waist even though in that moment, it felt like you were the only two people in the neighborhood.

Outside, the radio played and the ice cubes in the lemonade pitcher melted, and your bikini top laid out on the crisp green grass. And there it would probably stay, because you sure as hell weren’t finished with your man just yet, and neither was he with you.

Tagging some pals! :) As always, if you’d like to be added or taken off the list please just shoot me a message! @fullofbees @spinebarrel @oh-adam @dreamboatdriver @bad–bad–man @thecurlycaptain @bourbonboredom @driverficarchive @aweirdlookingtree@rosalynbair @redhairedfeistynerd @adamsnackdriver @glitzescape @arwarz @adamsnacc-kler @kyloxfem@fallin-for-youreyes

#reader insert #flip zimmerman x reader #flip x reader #blackkklansman #flip zimmerman #my writing #this one is pretty filthy so its totally okay if u wanna skip it lol #or if its not ur cup of tea #or should i say ...lemonade #okay im gonna go now

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exodusmc · 5 years

Text

A dream 06

Genre: Royal au

Words: 2732

Paring: Poor Jongdae! x princess reader!

Warning!: Blood, poverty, hinting to selling sex

a/n: One more part and I think it will be the end :)

pt 1 pt 2 pt 3 pt 4 pt 5 pt 6 final

Jongdae didn't mean for you to see him, he just wanted to watch her one last time before he left. Now, however, were you staring right back at him and he felt panic build in him. Sunny smiled and giggled before she grabbed the princess hands, her voice like any childs, filled with wonder and innocent.

“Why is uncle calling you princess?Are you one?!”

“No no I’m just me”Jongdae swallowed thickly, hearing someone walking up the the stairs. Junmyeon came in to his sight, appearing beside him, watching you with slightly wider eyes.

“Oh..Has our little Sunny let someone go?”he spoke to the girl, grinning and keeping his stare on you, studying.

“I did! She was crying so I helped her!”the girl mused happily, while you felt uncomfortable by the new person. You didn't trust any of them, not the boy who he crashed through your window either, but felt more at ease when only he and Sunny were there.

“Well that’s good but I need to speak with her, alone for a while. Is that okay Sunny?”

“Yes but after I wanna play with her!”

Jongdae slipped down the hallway, getting one last good look at you and your eyes, which had stared right back at him. He wanted to run, to disappear but the selfishness lingered. The sun stood heigh on a blue sky, forest held them secret and no one was anyone inside of it. Jongdae got down, gritting his teeth when Minseok rose from a chair, Sierra standing beside a mad looking boy.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes. You don't need me any longer and I want to go home”he wanted to lash out again, shout profanities and demand a good reason for their lies, but Jongdae kept quiet. He was leaving this life and at the same time you, the princess with shining eyes.

“You don't want to..”Minseok spoke lowly, already knowing the storm of emotions in the younger.”You don't want to leave he-”

Jongdae gripped his collar, forcing Minseok to stop mid sentence. Fire burned in his eyes, even in shadow, and Sierra grabbed a knife. She jumped, slashing at him. Tension grew steadily, blood slowly forming on Jongdae's arm. Sierra stood in front of Minseok, as to protect him, a gaze with no emotion.

“Stop”Baekhyun spoke for the first time since his betrayer, holding a crying Sunny. She was shaking and the older girl felt a pang in her heart. “Stop right now”

“You can't go yet Jongdae…”Minseok stated hushed, Sehun watching the whole ordeal.”You’re too hurt. You need rest and care. Stay the night and be free next sunrise”

“I assume you are quite scared and confused as to everything which happened”the man with black eyes smiled warmly, looking like no threat but it didn't calm your nerves.

“Yes”he sat in a chair, leg draped over the other. He could have been a king from the power he shone of.

“Well let’s start with our names. I’m Junmyeon and it’s nice to meet you”bunny like teeth came in view when he smiled wider.

“Y/n...and it’s nice to meet you too”you courtesy made itself remembered when you answered. Junmyeon merely nodded at you, leaning back a little. Looking at him was like staring at your father but no wickedness swirled in Junmeyons eyes.

“So Y/n..I assure you that we mean no harm to either you or the kingdom. As a matter of fact, we want to do something which would help..”he stood up, chills running over your body. Junmyeon may say that he means no harm but why would you trust him, after all he was involved in your kidnapping. “We want to show you what your parents kept away, hid from you with all their might”

He stretched out a hand, some rugged lines made their way over it but it still looked soft. Junmyeon wanted you to take his hand because it would mean he would win, the people would win.

“Will you let us show you?”

“Sit still” Baekhyun spoke as he cleaned some of Jongdae's cuts, eyes not meeting even if the latter stared.

Sun filtered through thin fabric, making stars of dust in the room. Jongdae was angry, fuming, and Baekhyun felt it but things were like they were for a reason, they couldn't be changed either.

“Why?”the question had slipped over his lips so many times, it started to become tiring.

“We won't hurt her...The others already told you..”grey hair hung over his eyes, duller and not as clean as the first time they met.

“And you wouldn't have done it if we told you”Sierra walked in, her face falling with sleep. She had not slept well in a long time and Sunny seeing her like the assassin she was made her scared, scared for what the little girl would think, what she would do. Sierra would rather die than admit her love for the child, the fuzzy feeling everytime she said mommy.”But we needed you for the better of our people…”

“Yeah..What’s one life for thousands?”Jongdae held no amusement in his question, hoping they at least told the truth this time, the truth about the princess’s safety.

“He wants to leave”Sehun told Junmyeon, who just left you to change and think about his words.”Jongdae wants to escape”

“I know but that’s not the truth...He wants to stay with her...He loves her and it is a turn which I did not expect”the older smiled warmly, glancing down the hall for prying ears.”But a turn which will work in our favour”

“How?”

“Have you ever hear of a kingdom where the royal married a commoner? No but it could happen now and it would be the first step to something beautiful..”

You stared at the simple dress, something a villigare from the farthest corner of the main city would wear. A white under dress with faded blue details, so very far from what you usually wore, and you loved it. Your jewels were taken of and hair fell down from the updo one of your maids did for the ball. You smiled, watching a reflection so different from what stared back at you in the castle. Happiness lingered in the corners of your mouth, the simpleness of everything being a refreshing wind. You would need help getting your hair braided but it still looked perfect in your eyes. Everything feel to its place, hugging you with gentleness no gown had ever done before. You could breathe in it, not only because the lack of structure but also the way it made you normal.

“How is it going princess?”Junmyeon startled you, standing in clothes exactly like yours but he still looked to be a royal. It was his way of holding himself, like all the courts you had seen.

“Good..”it still felt weird, how carefree you could be. The man gazed over you, his mind realizing your beauty which stood out, fueled by a dazzling smile.”But I need help with my hair..”

“Of course..Come with me and meet everyone”he turned, walking away and leaving you with the decision to flee or follow.

The house weren't a castle but nice no the less, its walls and decor reminding you of a lord's house from when you were little. Pictures of people and nature hung in the corridor, letting you in on what was once. A smile spread over your lips, feet free from heels. You wanted to dance, to run, to feel wind between your fingers, like flying birds.

“Everyone..Meet Y/n, our princess”Junmyeon ushered you to step out in the open room, sun hitting multiple faces.

“Hello..”nerves clung around your throat, watching Baekhyun’s eyes widen, the boy blushing at your soft cheeks and unsure smile.

“That’s Baekhyun, Sierra and Minseok”Junmyeon began, smiling as you gazed at the mad looking woman and man which grinned carefully, the once who had taken you.”Over there is Sehun and Sunny should be somewhere..”

You met Sehun’s cold orbs for a second, feeling small under his gaze and tall frame, but you unknowingly searched for another boy. A boy which started it all. Minseok saw how you tried finding a certain someone, who probably sat frowning in his room.

“We will go to a village tomorrow but until then, why don't we eat and relax for a while?”

Sierra frowned slightly and you was beyond confused. These people had kidnapped you but acted like you were visiting them, like you were here willingly. Baekhyun tried smiling at you for a second, eyes hurting because of what he did, but you didn't feel anger. The rest of a puzzlingly day was spent telling stories of different backgrounds, eating and laughing. They weren't bad, you realized it quickly, but they had history which made your heart hurt. Sunny smiled all the time even without a mother, something you could never do. If the queen would be lost, would you too. You liked listening to them, take part of their life, and you felt safe with them, no matter how many times Sierra threatened the boys. However, what made you want to be with them more was an answer to a question you asked when the moon slowly rose.

“Aren't you afraid?If the guards finds you...Death wouldn't be inevitable”Sunny was sleeping, protected from monsters, and they smiled, each and every one of them. The woman looking like a goddess.

“I would give my life if it would change the unfairness of our kingdom”Junmyeon’s eyes disappeared to a place where no one was hurt, where his life wouldn't be repeated by children.”..and who knows, our queen may be able to protected us like the ruler she is supposed to be..”

The blue light shone over your room, a moon like the night he came crashing in with, at the time, black orbs, eyes like you had never seen. No houses or walls reached for the navy sky, trees being in their place. An insect played outside, serenading your ever late slumber. You couldn't sleep, thoughts running wild inside a head over clouds. Right now weren't you you, not a princess but a girl, and it was hard to grasp, to touch and understand. Sitting up, fabric carased your legs which took you to the window, a portal to the outside. It felt calm, no movements gliding through the forest, just mere stillness. A sigh escaped your lips, fingers dancing over glass. You would not leave because of a promise to see your land, the kingdom you would rule, a kingdom you hadn't been granted to love. It wasn't like you were so naive that you didn't know about some hardships which existed, it was that you didn't know them all.

A lone figure slipped through the corridor, not scared of the shadows, calm to the bones. You sneaked out, closing your eyes as the moon welcomed you with open cold arms. The sphere had always been a great pleasure to you, it being the symbol for a queen. Grass tickled up your bare ankles, giving way for your dancing feet. Freedom came with the movements and you soon stood panting by the forest edge, staring into it.

“Trying to flee?”a voice, clear as water, rang from behind you and this time was it you who came crashing in.

“No”you stood with your arms behind your back as the answer left you, gazing at him with a question of your own. His name, a word you wanted to know. It was quiet again, letting you gaze in his eyes and he in yours.

“What is your name?”you stared at him, following curves and lines which flowed over his face, some for him just being him and some from bruising. He had been hurt and still looked unbothered.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why not?”

A sigh escaped his pretty lips, hand dragging through brown locks. If he could relax and let go of the stress, he would hold your fingers and twirl like you did before, with a different man.

“Jongdae”a smile broke over your face, darkness hiding the pink roses over your cheeks. You liked Jongdae, his name smooth from your tongue, because he was the opposite of you. He was free to run and you were the bird in a beautiful cadge.

“It’s nice to meet you Jongdae..I’m Y/n”unknowingly to both of you, bodies had moved forward. If you raised your arm, would fingers touch a chest, and if he took a step forward, would he be able to wrap arms around you.

Jongdae’s orbs were black again, holding both the moon and stars like the first time you saw him. He had plucked them down from the sky, a gift for you, a breath of freedom..of love.

Junmyeon smiled as he walked to your room, sun bright and newly awoken. He remembered two different souls bathing in moonlight and hope about something more for the people. The man knocked on your door, pushing it up, regarding you sleeping for a second. Peace had smoothen out your features and it made you livelier.

“Good morning princess, it’s time to wake”once your eyes had opened and found his, Junmyeon left you to get ready. He almost missed the horse galloping from the forest.

Sehun dropped from the animal, hood hanging in his eyes. He seemed on edge as he made his way into the living room, where Junmyeon stood waiting.

“Jongin and Kyungsoo spotted guards in Fevial...They’re getting close..”a letter was transferred between them, its paper thin and closed by a stamp in their symbol, lines in a hexagon like form.

“It should be okay but be sure to have everything ready when we come back..”

“Am I not coming with you?”a small frown made its place on Sehun's face.

“You’ll have to stay here to take care of Sunny..I’ll have the others..”

The slow pace of the maroon horse you rode was relaxing, your body used to riding and finding it a place like home. Junmyeon and Minseok had asked if you wanted help, their mouths falling open when you sat up effortless, earning a small chuckle from Sierra. It was fun to surprise them but it all went away as the old houses and wild dogs started to come close. Your eyes widened slightly, gazing at people, your people, who was thinner than paper, gray like ash. Tears welled in your eyes at the sight, more of your fathers lies being uncovered.

“It’s awful, isn't it?”Junmyeon spoke, his eyes cloudy, gone. A small nod was all you could muster. “There’s more, disgusting things yet necessary for these people..”

A girl two or three years older than Sunny ran across the dirt road, feet bare and face scared. You could hear a man scream terrible words, words which a girl should never hear. It was painful, eating you up with guilt. Your life had been so easy and painted in money while there were people who starved, who broke. How could the king let this happen? How could he ignore the need of his nation, just to hunt or dress in jewels.

“This is why we took you, to show you what’s happening..”Minseok's voice burnt with passion, gaze locking with yours and giving you strength to fight.”In hope of making you realize and help your people..To be a better ruler than the king”

“A King who lives of nothing more than power and pain”Junmyeon fished, hatred in his words.

“You could change it, you could change it all. Not only for these people but others whose suffering as well..” Sierra gazed at you with warmth she usually didn't have.”You can change your role as a queen…”

And you would because watching the village which was tucked away in a corner of the world, thinking about your mother’s falling eyes and the unfairness you had seen your whole life made you want to stop it. Fire like you had never felt before burnt in you, no longer willing to cower under the king.

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