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seospicybin · 2 months

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TOO HOT TO HANDLE.

PART I

I.N x reader. (s)

Too Hot To Handle Masterlist

Synopsis: You and Jeongin become contestants in a reality dating show, Too Hot To Handle. (12,9k words)

Author's note: Hope you like this one too. Don't forget to leave a feedback x

JEONGIN: I consider myself to be a pretty shy person. People tell me it's an extra charm I have and I learned how to use that to my advantage. My main charm? It's my smile, they work to reel the girls in [smiles] but don't worry, I have better things to show [winks]

Jeongin isn't sure that he'll do well as a contestant on a dating show.

It's definitely not about the dating part, it's the 'show' part that he's having a problem with. He doesn't consider himself as somewhat entertaining which is what someone who goes on a TV show should be.

Jeongin knows that he's reserved and quiet, unless he has something important to say, and he gets shy at times. But when it comes to his physical attributes, he doesn't have any problems with it.

He puts on his best foot forward once the staff gives the cue for him to start walking down the pier that leads to a docked boat.

It's the first time he gets to board a big, luxurious boat like this but he keeps his awe to himself knowing that a group of people have been waiting for his arrival.

Jeongin is the last contestant to get on the boat therefore he's aware of the anticipation and the expectations that he has to fill.

Even so, he's not here for that, he's here to have fun and enjoy himself.

"Oh, there he is!" Says the girl who first notices his arrival.

And also, to mingle with these attractive people he's looking at.

"Hello, what's your name?" A girl asks as she gives him a hug with a quick cheek-to-cheek.

"It's Jeongin," he answers.

"I'm Justine," she says.

Justine has blonde hair that flows down her back like a waterfall and a pair of full lips that curve into a flirty smile when he looks at her. One look and he knows that she is the type who knows how to have fun and doesn't mind getting into trouble. Not sure if Jeongin is ready to make mischief with her but he won't rule her out yet.

He quickly shifts his attention to the next girl taking her turn to hug him, she goes for both cheeks and then hands him a glass of bubbly wine.

"You're tall," she beams with a smile.

Jeongin never takes pride in his height but he can't deny that he likes being called tall.

"Thank you," he mutters.

"I'm Linda," she says.

On the contrary, Linda offers a different charm. She is a brunette with a cute smile and a thick British accent, she's looking at him with these big round, eyes and a smile that doesn't wear off her face.

However, the twin mounds on her chest catch his attention and well, he's a man after all so he glances at it just to satisfy his need.

"You have really beautiful eyes," Jeongin compliments her eyes even though he has just looked at her breasts.

"Oh, thank you," Linda says.

Jeongin continues by introducing himself to more girls. There's Francoise, another blondie with gorgeous light blue eyes, Bianca with her long legs and glowing golden skin, and then there's Courtney, who looks like she just stepped out of a swimsuit photo shoot.

"I like your smile and the dimples," Courtney says, her teeth fainty biting her lower lip as she stares at him.

It's only been a few minutes but Jeongin thanks his old self for agreeing to join this show. Never in a million years, did he imagine himself going on a yacht trip with a group of attractive people for the summer.

JEONGIN: I'm loving it here. I'm ready to rock the boat! [Grins]

Instead of being jealous, Jeongin admires his fellow male contestants for having greater bodies than him.

Especially Keith, he's big and tall, his muscles are toned and his tan skin makes his abs more defined. He must've spent countless hours in the gym to get that body and Jeongin admires him more for that.

"You're ripped," Jeongin mutters in awe at him.

Keith lets out a chuckle and brushes his wavy, brown hair to the back, "Thanks, man."

It's almost empty anyway so Jeongin decides to drain the wine straight from the bottle and he notices that everyone's head is turned. He follows to where everyone is looking then he sees a man standing on the upper deck of the boat who he assumes is the host of the show.

"Ahoy!" He greets.

Everyone is replying with various answers but Jeongin can't respond verbally when his mouth is full of wine, so he claps his hands instead.

"Welcome to my dating show, Love Overboard and I'll be your captain," He introduces himself.

Everyone is cheering and Jeongin hurriedly swallows his drink so he can also show his excitement.

"You're all about to head out on the vacation of a lifetime, and hopefully find love along the way," the captain continues.

Not sure about love but everyone is eager and frisky for this, and Jeongin is no exception. He wonders how the show is going to be because he's already having so much fun and it's only the beginning.

The captain continues with his announcement, "Tonight will be your first beach party of many, and at each party, we'll be picking up a new, sexy single."

There'll be more people joining on board? Jeongin isn't sure about finding love but hearing that, he instantly changes his mind. Maybe it is possible to find love along the way.

"However, there's a catch. There are only five double beds on board so if you don't want to sleep alone, you better pick your shipmate," the captain finishes his speech with a tricky task.

And just like that, the boat starts to sail the sea and everyone is having a round of toast to mark this moment.

"We're going to have so much fun!" Bianca says as she clinks her glass with Jeongin's empty wine bottle.

"Unless I get seasick then yeah, we're going to have fun," He jokingly says.

"I hope not," she says with a crisp laugh.

JEONGIN: There are already so many hot people on board. I don't think I can take anymore [laughs]

The males somehow gathered at the top deck, having another bottle of champagne pop open and a toast. Then the talk begins, well, you guessed it, it's about the girls.

Or in Kurt's words, the birds.

"Tell me about the birds!" He says, asking everyone for, what Jeongin assumes, girls they fancy.

Keith leans back on the sofa and brushes his brown locks, being the first to share his choice, "It's Francoise for me, she's on the top of the list," he says.

"She's fit, yeah," Mick comments, then sips his wine.

With the strong winds, Kurt decides to tie his dirty blonde hair into a low man bun, "I'm going to put myself on a race with you then," he says to Keith with a mischievous smile on his face.

"I always go for blondes so it's also Francoise for me," he remarks.

Jeongin smells competition between the two and he can't decide who to root for, they're both well-built and good-looking.

"How about you, Damon?" Kurt asks.

"I want to have some fun so for now, I want to keep my options open," Damon coyly answers, his braided curls also swinging with every gust of wind.

Jeongin sips his wine as he intently listens to the conversation going on and he almost chokes on it when Kurt slaps his knee with his big hand.

"Jeongin, my man, how about you?" He asks.

He allows himself to swallow his drink first and decides to give everyone the safe answer, "Uhm... same with Damon."

Not going to lie, Jeongin gets a little tipsy from chugging the champagne bottle earlier so it's wise that he stops drinking. He puts his drink away and focuses on giving everyone a proper answer.

"They're all beautiful but I don't want to be haste and put all the eggs in one basket," he honestly answers.

Kurt and Mick are nodding to his answer while the rest are not saying anything but seem to agree with him as well.

Jeongin glances down at the lower deck to where the girls are gathered and indeed, they're all beautiful. The girls are all beautiful in their own way and have their own distinct charms so he can't tell who he fancies the most only from their looks.

JEONGIN: It's hard having to try and choose between five girls right now so I'm not going on a chase yet, I'd rather see who approaches me.

The sea is so blue, so vast that it goes as far as his eyes can see.

Jeongin enjoys the view from the front of the boat with the wind blowing his shirt away and sending his dark hair flying, making it a mess that he has to brush it to the back.

He's not aware that someone is there until he's standing next to him.

"Hi," the girl says.

With the surface of the water reflecting the sunlight at him, he has to squint his eyes to see who it is. It's the brunette girl with hazel eyes, Linda.

"Oh, hi," he greets back.

"How are you?" She asks while holding all of her hair on one shoulder.

"Good. How are you?" Jeongin asks back, liking the shape of her body which is lean yet toned in the right places.

"Better now," she answers with a bright smile.

Linda then looks out at the view and inhales the salty air, then lets out a delightful sigh.

"Beautiful isn't it?" She says.

"Yeah," Jeongin also sighs as he takes in the picturesque view.

Then Linda turns her body to the side facing him with a smile that slightly turns into a flirty one, "Then how about me?"

It takes no genius that she's fishing a compliment out of him so he gives it to her, "I think you're beautiful."

Linda's smile grows wider on her small face, she brings her hand close to her mouth and tugs a finger between her teeth, looking at him with wild glints in her eyes.

After a moment, she speaks again, "I feel like we've got a vibe going on, yeah?"

It's only been a moment so Jeongin can't decide if he should agree with what she said but to be polite, he lightly nods at that.

"What is your type?" She asks.

Whenever someone asks him that, he gets confused. He does have a few things he's looking for in someone but it's always changing from time to time.

"I don't have too much of a type," Jeongin answers.

"Okay, so anything that breathes, huh?" Linda jokingly says with a low laugh.

"In that case, I ticked it off the box," she jokes again.

Jeongin laughs along with her. He has to admit that she does have a sense of humor, not too much, just perfect.

She leans in closer and lowers his voice, "I've got a secret," she mutters.

That gets him intrigued and somehow, he follows suit and lowers his voice as he asks, "Yeah? What's that?"

"You're probably my number one to share a bed with tonight," she says, putting shyness into her flirty smile and it somehow works on her.

She bites on her finger again and sheepishly asks, "What do you think?"

"Sharing a bed with you would be nice," he sweetly says.

"You want to share a bed with me?" Linda asks with her eyes wide and hopeful, telling him to say yes.

It was only a moment ago that Jeongin decided not to choose anyone yet but Linda makes him falter a little that he has to remind himself about his initial plan.

"Let's see," Jeongin settles on a vague answer.

Not hard to tell that Linda doesn't like the answer Jeongin gave from the way her eyes dim even though her smile remains wide and bright.

The sound of the water splashing shatters the silence and Jeongin looks to the side of the boat to see that Kurt has just jumped into the sea for a swim.

"I think I'll join them," Linda says while fixing the straps of her bikini.

She walks away to go to the back of the boat and stops after a few steps to look over her shoulder to ask Jeongin, "Are you coming?"

"I'll catch up later," he says.

JEONGIN: Linda is flirty and sweet. We had a good chat, there's a potential there but I want to see how this unfolds.

Instead of swimming in the sea, Jeongin goes to the upper deck and gets into the jacuzzi that has been set to keep the water warm at all times.

The rose petals are bubbling along with the water as he leans back and enjoys the pleasant afternoon. It hasn't sunk in yet that he'll probably be having these kinds of days for the next three weeks.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Someone asks.

Jeongin snaps his head in the direction of the voice and finds Justine there. Girls are coming to him one by one, he should consider this his lucky day.

"Not at all," he responds.

Justine ties her long blonde hair into a messy ponytail before slowly getting herself into the tub and sitting next to him, sending the water level rising but not enough to slosh out of the tub.

She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and smiles at him, "You know as soon as I saw you coming, I just know that you're the one I'd go for," she says.

Justine doesn't even bother to small talk first and Jeongin likes the directness in that since he's a very straightforward person.

"I get that feeling that we're going to match well," she adds.

Jeongin doesn't know how to answer that. A part of him wants to entertain that idea but another part of him doesn't want to give her false hope so he ends up responding with a smile.

"I like that you're a bit shy," she says with a giggle.

And that sends Jeongin's hand touching his ear, a habit he does whenever he gets shy.

Justine plays with the petals by scooping them in her hand, "Do you like blondes?"

"Not really, actually," Jeongin says, again, he's a very straightforward person.

Thankfully, Justine takes it well and uses it to her advantage, "Well, you're to love blondes after this."

Justine knows how attractive she is and how to use it as a weapon, every little thing she does is indeed attractive.

But Jeongin firmly stands his ground, "You're going to have to persuade me," he says with a half smirk.

Justine licks her lips and brightly smiles, "It's not much persuading, really."

Her boldness amuses him so much that Jeongin cracks a sonorous laugh.

JEONGIN: Justine is oozing with confidence and I dig that.

The ripples on the water tell Jeongin that Justine may have subtly moved closer and he's right, he finds her sitting close next to him in the tub.

Once the laughs die down, Justine tilts her head to the side and seductively asks, "Okay, maybe I can persuade you a little bit," she mutters.

He knows what would happen if he turns his head to the side but something in him tells him to do it and his intrusive thought always wins.

The moment he turns his head, Justine grabs his chin to hold him still so she can pleasantly leans in for a kiss. Once she captures his lips, she moves her hand to the nape of his neck as she keeps kissing him.

Jeongin needs a second to calibrate himself into the kiss as Justine keeps his tongue busy by twirling it with hers. He places his hand on her neck and that way, he can angle her head as he pleases and deepen the kiss.

There's nothing but the smooching sound and the sound of the water bubbling in the tub. For a moment, Jeongin lets himself immersed in the kiss then slowly pulls away after sensing that Justine is running out of breath.

As expected, Justine gasps for air the moment he lets go. She's letting out a chuckle and he guesses it's out of triumph.

"Was it a good persuading?" She asks

"Not bad, yeah," Jeongin plays it cool when it's in fact, a really good kiss and he has to look away to resist the urge to go for another.

Justine wades the water around her with her hand, "So what's the bed situation for tonight?"

It seems like he comes close to a decision but he wants to keep it for later because who knows? Maybe someone else will come his way and change his mind.

"Tonight, you'll know," he tells her.

"I think I know the answer already," she says with a triumphant smile.

JEONGIN: Somehow I pulled off getting two out of five girls to want to sleep on my bed and deciding on one is hard [chuckles] but there's no harm in that, right? [Raises eyebrow]

It's going to be the first party tonight.

If there's one thing that Jeongin takes seriously, it's his fashion. He doesn't just put on something together, he's dressed to impress.

It's not even about the fact that there'll be a new single tonight but that's just how he is. He likes building an outfit and puts so much effort into doing it.

He chooses dark jeans and a printed shirt as the top, he has his hair pushed to the back and leaves a few strands falling over his forehead. Not forgetting to decorate his hands with metal rings that flatter his skin tone and highlight his long fingers.

And now, he's ready to step into the night.

The captain leads the group down a path right after the boat docked not far away, carrying a torch as a source of light. He takes us to a backyard of what looks like a villa but it's too dark to know for sure.

"I promised you the holiday of a lifetime so welcome to your first beach party!" The captain says as he takes the steps as his center stage.

Everyone is looking their best and excitedly cheering in response to him.

"Let's get it started!" The captain shouts, pointing to the beach where the fireworks go off and light up the sky.

The next thing he knows, everyone is partying. The music is blasting, there are fire dancers, and drinks are being passed around and constantly refilled.

Everyone is having fun and getting frisky while at it, especially for Damon and Bianca who share a passionate kiss in between dances.

The captain takes center stage once again and he guesses it's time for the new single revelation.

"Great party, right?" He asks with a wide grin on his bearded face.

Everyone is replying with various answers but they all agree that it is a great party and it's just one of many.

"What do you say we make it even better?" The captain asks.

"Yes!" Courtney enthusiastically shouts from next to him.

"This is going to blow your mind. It's time to introduce you to a new, hot sexy single!"

The captain slowly retreats from where he stands as the place goes dark and Jeongin only notices it now that the dancers are already leaving.

It suddenly turns dark and a spotlight appears on a curtain, heightening everyone's anticipation to see the new single entering the show.

When the curtain finally drops, there's no one there but a cone on top of a small table.

"No!!!" Courtney aggressively shouts out of spite.

"No! I came here for dick!" Bianca screams, almost hysterical with both hands holding the sides of her head.

The party turns into a frenzy while Jeongin is scratching his head, and doesn't understand why everyone starts breaking down over what looks like an air freshener to him.

JEONGIN: The new, sexy hot single is a cone. A cone?!

"Hello, everyone."

It's when the cone starts talking that Jeongin knows it's not an air freshener but he's still confused why everyone is groaning in complaint.

"I am Lana. Love Overboard has hit the rocks and you're now washed up on Too Hot To Handle."

Jeongin is still oblivious to the fact that the show has changed to what he believes is still a dating show only that it has changed its name.

"I didn't sign up for this," Kurt cries, fisting his hair in distress.

Then Jeongin sees that Damon has dropped to his knees, crying. He taps on his shoulder to check, "Are you crying?"

But Damon is too bust pulling at his hair to even answer his question.

"You all have been selected because meaningless flings mean more to you than genuine relationships," the cone continues talking.

"The fuck?" Mick curses, offended.

Francoise clicks her tongue and coyly shrugs, "Who cares about emotional relationships?"

"Since your arrival, I have been gathering data on your behavior."

Justine snorts and flips her hair, "I hope you like what you saw, Lana!"

Jeongin hopes everyone else quiets down so he can hear the rest of what the cone has to say so he knows how to properly react to it.

"But from now on, you must adhere to my retreat rules."

So it's not a dating show? It's a retreat? And there are rules? Jeongin doesn't remember them saying something about it when he signed the contract.

"No kissing."

"What's going on?" Bianca meekly says, rubbing her temple erratically.

"No self-gratification."

"What's that?" Jeongin asks with a perplexed look on his face.

Keith who happens to standing nearby answers the question for him "No rubbing one out, mate," he says along with a hand gesture for a visual aid.

"That's lowkey sick," Jeongin blurts out.

Not allowed to touch his own body part? What kind of rules is that?

"That's not even funny," Kurt comments with an exasperated sigh.

But everyone hasn't heard the worst of it all.

"And no sex of any kind," Lana delivers the last rule they have to follow in the retreat.

"Is that even healthy?" Kurt comments again, completely flabbergasted.

JEONGIN: Can we... unplug her or something?

Jeongin gets it now why everyone is simultaneously going on a mental breakdown.

This summer isn't what he expected it to be, one where he imagined he would meet and mingle with attractive people and you know, get lucky.

Then the cone comes and shatters his dreams with those rules. Now he's going into a meltdown on his own.

"As a reward for the progress you make, I have allocated a prize of $200,000," Lana announces.

Everyone else is happily exclaiming at the announcement of the sum of money they would win out of this show.

"Two hundred racks, bro!" Damon grins and his tears seem to have magically dried at the mention of money.

"That's a lot of money," Kurt comments, also reacting differently once he hears of the prize money.

On the other hand, the information isn't enough to console him. He is still reeling from the harsh reality that this is not the summer that he dreamed of.

"Welcome to my retreat and Welcome to your long, hard, sexless summer!" Lana finishes.

JEONGIN: The money is tempting but breaking rules is so fun, you know [smirks]

As everyone is doing a tour around the villa, Jeongin couldn’t help but think that it’s unfair for Lana to gather a group of hot singles, and make everyone live together in a gorgeous villa only to be told that they can’t do sexual things.

The swimming pool, the hot tub, the firepit… All these cool places and he is not allowed to kiss anyone anywhere. This is so fucking unfair. He should have followed the captain and boarded the boat to get him home.

However, the captain is right about one thing though. There are only five beds in the bedroom and there are ten people, so everyone needs to find a bedmate.

Jeongin randomly chooses a bed and dives right onto it, feeling how bouncy and comfortable it is as he lies on it. These fucking beds and no one is allowed to fuck on it, so fucking- Fuck!

He completely forgot about the bed situation and that he has not yet decided on who he wants to share the bed with which explains why Linda keeps glancing his way from the bed across his. He then slowly turns his head to find the blonde-haired girl and as expected, Justine is uneasily looking his way too.

Jeongin puts his hands behind his head and starts thinking. He can usually solve it by keeping both girls happy but he can’t do that here, right? He has to decide on one.

JEONGIN: I have to pick one out of two great girls. What am I going to do?

Justine and Linda, they’re both physically appealing to him so it has to come down to who will get along well with him.

Jeongin is touching his ear as he recalls the interactions he had with those two girls to help him decide. Linda has a good chat and a sense of humor, she’s someone he can have night talks with. On the other hand, Justine is fun and confident, she’s someone who won’t mind doing mischief with him or worse, leads him to temptations.

In conclusion, Linda is the safest choice for him, not that he doesn’t want to rule break with her but she’s the type that avoids rule-breaking instead of encouraging it.

But does Jeongin want to play safe? Like… what’s the fun in that? Jeongin thinks that he has come to a verdict.

“Hey, Justine,” he calls for her.

Justine seems to have expected him to call her name and looks over her shoulder to look at him, “Yes?”

“What are you doing there?” he asks her.

He then pats the space next to him on the bed and says, “Your bed is here.”

“Okay,” Justine triumphantly smiles, not wasting time to get on his bed, and crawls over to sit next to him.

Jeongin secretly peers over to Linda who’s looking rather disappointed that he didn’t choose her. In all honesty, he has his reasons for choosing Justine but he believes Linda wouldn’t want to hear it.

“I think she’s upset,” Jeongin lowly mutters at Justine.

Justine looks around the room to see who he talked about, “Who?”

He covers his mouth so no one can read his lips as he says, “Linda.”

Justine doesn’t look right away but when she finally does, she nods in agreement.

In another part of the room, the battle for Francoise has been won by Kurt as she chose him as her bedmate and Keith has to share the bed with Linda. Everyone might as well call it the bed of the defeated.

JEONGIN: I mean, I don’t mind taking Linda in my bed too if she is keen to join us [Chuckles]

Jeongin is still forcing his eyes to open when the cone lights up and chimes in the middle of the room.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Morning, Lana," Justine croaks from next to him, clutching the duvet to her chest.

Everyone else is still as sleepy with their bare faces and eyes heavy with sleep. Definitely, not in the mood to hear Lana as as the first thing to hear after they wake up.

"The goal of my retreat is to teach you how to form deep and meaningful relationships. To do that, you have to be able to put the needs of others before your own. Especially when you are horny."

Okay, Jeongin gets it. Breaking the rules means that not only does he lose money but also means, he chooses to act selfishly on the group.

"Good luck," Lana concludes her morning greeting.

Well, last night was overwhelming and Jeongin was too tired to even do anything. He fell asleep almost immediately as Justine snuggled up to him.

"Respectfully, I hate that fucking cone, bro," Kurt states from the bed at the other end of the room.

Mick drinks from his water tumbler, then observes everyone with his piercing, brown eyes.

"Got a question though," he says, putting away his tumbler on the bedside table, "Did anyone break a rule?"

It seems like Mick has just voluntarily become the chief and making sure everyone is adhering to the retreat rules.

He takes a look around the room and sees everyone's faces one by one. He puts more suspicion on couples who are a little more established.

"Kurt?" Mick asks.

Kurt shrugs his question away and Francoise confirms it with a verbal answer, "Nah."

Mick shifts his suspicion onto the next person, "Jeongin?

Jeongin calmly brushes his hair to the back, "I literally fell asleep when Justine and I were still talking," he shares.

Justine is nodding next to him because she knows that it's true, "Last night with Lana... that was intense," she adds.

Mick moves to the next on his suspicion list, eyeing the bed across from him which is Damon and Bianca's bed.

"Damon?"

"Nothing," Bianca speaks for both of them.

Jeongin wouldn't believe these people right away and he knows a lying face when he sees one. One or two of these people are lying to the group but he won't play the saint as well.

It's still early to tell that he won't stumble and break any rules.

JEONGIN: I share a bed with Justine and there’s a sexual tension there but honestly, it’s just too early to be hated by a group of people [chuckles]

The boys are already cooling down when Jeongin gets to the beach to work out.

Kurt is lying down with his beads of sweat glistening under the pale morning sun while Keith is still doing some lifting and then there's Mick who sits on the mat, brushing his damp hair to the back.

"You guys are already done?" Jeongin asks as he starts stretching his body.

"Uh-huh," Kurt answers while panting.

Mick wipes his sweaty face and turns to sit facing everyone, "I really want us to listen to what Lana is saying. Does anybody else agree? Or am I alone on this?" He suddenly asks a critical question.

Without looking at him, Kurt talks with his eyes closed and hands folded on his abdomen, "I just don’t see how you can make a connection without physical touches. That’s impossible."

"You can cuddle," Keith says in between his grunts of labor.

"Oh yeah, but sometimes that’s not enough," Kurt hits back then peers over at Keith.

Jeongin thinks that Keith is secretly not wanting anything to happen between Kurt and Francoise but Kurt is quick enough to see his intention.

"What’s the longest you went without having sex or you know, getting off?" Mick casually asks like he didn't just ask when is the last time anyone rubs one out.

Kurt purses his lips as he thinks, "Uhm... Like a week?"

Mick surely doesn't expect to hear that answer and Jeongin personally could do a month without a release, especially with money at stake.

But there are hot girls in the equation here and that's what makes it hard to solve.

"If you think about it, you can connect with someone without sex," Mick says.

Instead of giving Mick's wisdom words seep in, Kurt immediately shoots it down with his pessimism.

"I don’t know, man."

Keith puts down his dumbbells and wipes the sweat on his forehead with his t-shirt, "It’s a great idea but uh…" he seems to doubt Mick's words as well.

Jeongin steps in to be the one accepting Mick's words even though he also doubts that's how it works.

"We’ll see where this goes," he says with a pat on Mick's shoulder.

JEONGIN: Justine and I have got a bit of a naughty vibe going on. I'm afraid it's just a matter of time before we break the rules.

Justine notices that Jeongin has just showered when he enters the dressing room.

She's done doing her makeup and offers to dry his hair for him. Jeongin doesn't see any harm in that so he sits on her chair and lets her do it.

"I'm a makeup artist, I'm good at this," she convinces for the last time, then turns on the hair dryer.

The constant humming of the hairdryer fills the space and while Justine is doing what she does best, Jeongin observes the makeup tools scattered on the vanity right in front of him.

He picks them up one by one and guesses what their use is, when in doubt, he shows it to Justine and asks, "It's an eyelash curler, isn't it?"

Justine looks at him through the rectangular mirror, "Yes."

He continues his exploration through Justine's makeup pouch and takes out the one that interests him. He opens a tube but instead of a cap, he finds a wand with a spoolie at the end of it.

"Is it for eyelashes? Mascara, isn't it?"

Justine turns off the hairdryer and uses a hairbrush next, "No, that's for the eyebrows."

He notices the difference between the two, the one for the eyebrows has a smaller spoolie.

Done brushing his hair, Justine gives the back of his head a quick ruffle to add volume. She then takes a moment to appreciate her work.

"You have soft, fine hair," she compliments.

When she looks at him, she notices that Jeongin is very much intrigued by her makeup. She lightly chuckles and takes it from him.

"This is how you use it," she says, demonstrating how to use it.

To get a closer look, Justine slightly bends down as she applies something to his eyebrows while Jeongin can only watch through the mirror.

"It needs a trim," she mutters as she moves to the other eyebrow.

Justine then jams the wand back into the tube and looks at him to check on his work. She wipes the excess with his thumb.

"Hey, hey, hey!

Mick's jarring voice startles Justine so that she accidentally pokes Jeongin's under eyes with her long nails.

"What are you guys doing?"

Justine sucks air through her teeth and spins around on her feet, "We're doing nothing," she innocently answers.

Mick stands at the end of the long vanity table and props his hands on it, "This is my money you're playing with," he says, already taking ownership of the prize money.

"I promise you, we were just talking," Jeongin assures him while checking himself in the mirror for what Justine did to his eyebrows and he likes it.

Mick purses his lips in doubt and drops his head to the side, "I want to know if I can trust you," he says.

Justine grabs his hand and takes it for a handshake, "You can trust us," she says.

"Okay," Mick says as he shakes her hand, signifying that he chooses to trust her.

That seems to work to convince him but not enough to keep his laser eyes away from both of you.

"I'm watching y'all," he says as he walks backward to the doorway.

After Mick left, Justine plops onto the chair next to his and picks up a hairbrush to comb her hair with.

"We shook on it but I was like... fuck it," she says with a giggle.

She is what he expects her to be, a girl who thinks that the rules are meant to be broken and it's low-key hot, but also a bit threatening. Jeongin is not ready for the repercussions.

"If we break the rules, we would have the whole team against us," he says, reminding Justine that everyone is going to be pissed about it.

She abruptly stops combining her hair as if she just came to her senses. She then looks at him and cracks a smile, "You’re the good one out of the two of us," she says.

And Jeongin e can't tell if she means it in a good way or a bad way.

JEONGIN: If it were up to Justine, we would break rules already but I don’t want to be the first.

Before the dressing room gets crowded with everyone getting ready for the night, Jeongin hurriedly goes to the bedroom once he's done dressing up.

Damon is also there, lying on his bed and drinking wine. To pass the time, Jeongin casually chats with him, and in the midst of it, the cone chimes.

Jeongin's head snaps toward the source of the sound, "Damon and Jeongin," Lana calls their names.

Jeongin presses his lips together into a thin line and exchanges a panic glance with Damon.

"Yes, Lana?" Damon asks with his wine glass hanging mid-air.

"Can you please gather everyone in the cabana?" Lana requests.

Jeongin gets up from his bed without saying anything and goes straight to the dressing room to tell everyone. From the sheer shock on their faces, he senses that someone has messed up.

"Anyone have any ideas why we’re here?" Mick says, putting on his detective hat the first thing everyone settles on their seats.

"Could be Lana going to throw another party for us?" Linda wildly guesses with an innocent look on her face.

Mick doesn't take that answer and squints his small eyes as he asks the important question, "Did someone break the rules?"

The silence that passes answers his question and he sighs, disappointed that the group chooses to hide their lies instead of owning up to it immediately.

"Let’s just hear what Lana says," Keith says.

Keith's words summon her, the cone chimes not long after, and instead of her usual greeting, she goes straight into the business.

"This morning I asked you all to start putting the needs of the group ahead of your own. It seems that my request fell on deaf ears."

Even though she talks in the same robotic voice, everyone knows that she's upset that someone is indeed fucked up.

"Oh, shit! She’s pissed," Kurt says, making it clear to everyone.

Mick gets serious this time, clasping his hands together and dropping them between his legs, he asks again, "Did anyone break the rules?"

The silence answers his question again and he lets out a heavy sigh, not accepting the fact that they choose to remain silent when Lana clearly said that someone has broken the rules.

JEONGIN: Everyone is just lying at each other’s faces [shakes head]

"Jeongn and Justine?" Mick glares at him.

Jeongin can calmly deny his allegation and say, "No."

"You sure? A hundred percent?" Mick asks again.

Justine nods at him and answers it for him, "You can move on and ask someone else."

Mick goes to the next person who sits on the smaller sofa on the side of the room, "Francoise and Kurt?"

They remain quiet and then Francoise starts to scratch her neck, silently gulping air and constantly avoiding everyone's eyes. Everything she does gives away the answer.

"This is the time to fess up," Mick says, either trying to press on them or encourage them.

"We uh... we..." Kurt is blabbering, he's looking anywhere but not the people he's talking to.

"I'm going to be honest, we did a little kiss," Francoise calmly says.

Both Mick and Keith drop their heads onto their hands but it's for two different reasons. Mick is obviously devastated about the money while Keith is well, he just lost another battle against Kurt.

"I needed a goodnight kiss then we fell asleep after so..." she explains.

"Yeah, right," Keith lowly mutters out of spite.

"And I'm going to have to be honest again," Francoise is not finished with her confession yet.

"Oh... fuck!" Linda breathlessly gasps with her hand rubbing her temple.

"We also had another kiss down the beach," Francoise admits another sin.

Everyone is exclaiming, not expecting that this posh girl who always looks calm and collected is breaking rules left and right.

"You had two kisses and it's only day one?" Justine says but instead of sounding like she's scolding her, Jeongin catches a hint of jealousy in her voice.

Mick is left speechless that he can only turn his head side to side like he's watching a tennis match but in this case, Francoise and Kurt are playing with his money instead of a tennis ball.

"Francoise and Kurt, under normal circumstances, each kiss would cost $3,000. Unfortunately, these are not normal circumstances," Lana announces another bad news.

Mick's eyes widen in horror at the mention of how much money they could have lost and it's going to cost a lot more worse than that.

"Earlier today when I asked you all to put the needs of the group before your own, I implemented a covert test."

Linda dramatically gasps, then immediately shut her mouth with her hands.

"Unfortunately, you have failed this test. Furthermore, all fines have been doubled."

"Unbelievable..." Mick sighs into his hands.

It's bad news after bad news and Jeongin should be relieved that he's not a part of the cause but it doesn't make him feel better either.

"Any rules that have been broken since arriving at my retreat will now cost the group twice as much," Lana furtherly informs.

"Wow!" Jeongin's eyes widen in surprise.

"That’s a big chunk of money," Linda innocently comments.

"Francoise and Kurt, your two rule breaks have cost the group $12,000."

Lana drops another bad news right away, not giving everyone a moment to recover from the previous ones.

JEONGIN: It's just... brutal [sighs]

"Regrettably, the other couple has been more selfish," Lana spoils that there's another rule breaks no one knows of.

This has been overwhelming for everyone and Linda may have run out of patience with anyone who keeps quiet about their rule breaks.

"If you have any respect, you'll be honest with us," she says, a little upset that she gets to suffer from someone else's actions.

"Can anyone please tell the truth!" Mick desperately begs, having no other way how to get anyone to admit to their wrongdoings.

"It's us," Damon finally comes forward, "we kissed in the firepit earlier."

Mick has nothing else to say but to hear how much money has been lost to another reckless behavior.

"Your rule break has cost the group a further $6,000," Lana informs.

Jeongin calculates it roughly in his head and if everyone keeps this reckless behavior for the next three weeks, nothing will be left in the pot.

"We’re going to be broke," he mutters to Keith who sits next to him.

"The prize fund now stands at $182,000," Lana updates.

JEONGIN: Now, I'm so glad that I wasn't the first to break the rules.

Mick can't hide his disappointment even when it's bedtime. He gets on the bed and tucks himself in, he keeps his head turned away from everyone.

"Oh, I’m so mad," he says, not holding back in letting everyone know that.

Justine cringes in horror at Jeongin while everyone else stays quiet the whole night, unlike the previous night when everyone loudly chatted to each other until the lights turned out.

It's like the temperature in the room drops a few degrees after that reveal in the cabana and drops a few more when the lights are off.

But that is when Jeongin feels most alarmed because things could happen in the dark.

Justine's hand slides across his chest and then she rests it on his shoulder where he can feel the tip of her sharp nails on his skin.

"Your skin is so soft," she compliments with a smile that could be heard as she rests her head close to his.

"So is yours," he compliments back.

Based on profession, there's no doubt Justine knows how to take care of her body well. Her skin is smooth, her hair is soft and she always smells good. There's no denying that she is beautiful and she could easily tempt him when she wants to.

As his thoughts are busy wandering, Justine places her hand on his jaw and starts caressing his cheek. It's the way that her fingers inching closer to his lips that makes his heart rate elevates.

"Don't you think that we'll eventually rule break?" She asks out of the blue.

Jeongin has the same thought as well but after what happened tonight and how everyone reacted to rule breaks, he has second thoughts about committing one.

"Yeah, but I think now is not the right time," he simply refuses.

"Fair enough," she says.

A moment later, Justine's face is hovering inches away above him. She stares right into his eyes long enough that Jeongin can see the naughty intent behind her eyes.

She then leans in and Jeongin has his hands ready to push her away when he needs to. But Justine goes for his cheek and places a soft kiss on it.

"Goodnight," she mutters once she pulls away then lays back on her side of the bed.

JEONGIN: Why am I here? How the fuck I ended up in Too Hot To Handle? [clicks tongue]

A couple of days have passed uneventfully.

Everyone is still reeling from the fines that have been doubled thus making them more cautious around each other.

Jeongin thinks that it's only a matter of time before someone breaks the rules again.

You can take the player out of a game but you can't take the game out of a player, that's just how it is.

For Jeongin personally, he doesn't have any problems following the rules, except when Justine starts doing something. However, she has been behaving well and maybe she's doing her own thing but he doesn't want to look too much into it.

There's someone else that has been giving him the eyes lately. After Jeongin chose Justine over her, he thought that Linda had already gotten over him but apparently, she's not.

He reckons it's probably because he hasn't broken the rules with Justine yet and that makes Linda think she still has another chance with him.

That's not entirely wrong though, Jeongin isn't going to close on a chance of getting to know someone else.

"Hi. You okay?" Linda asks, appearing from inside the villa and joining him on the terrace.

"I'm okay," he answers, brushing his damp hair from showering, "you?"

Linda sits on the wooden chair next to his and puts her legs up with her body facing him, "I think I'm good."

Jeongin smiles hearing her cute giggle at the end of her answer, she offers different charms than the other girls here.

"I like your dimples," she says, tugging her finger between her teeth again.

"Thank you," Jeongin mutters his gratitude with a smile.

Linda holds his gaze and says, "It's one of the many things I like about you."

Jeongin's hand flies to his ear, touching it as he leans back on his chair and tries not to look into Linda's eyes because they're rather dangerous.

"What was it?" She asks, dangling her legs on the armrest of the chair.

"What did you say the uhm... your favorite feature on me?"

Jeongin has to rake his brain to remember that day, he remembers looking at Linda's breasts when he said a totally different thing.

"Your eyes," he finally answers with a sheer doubt.

"People normally say it's my boobs," Linda says with a crisp laugh.

Now that she said it, Jeongin's eyes automatically flick down at her cleavage and quickly look away.

"They're alright," he coyly says, trying to remain calm even though he knows Linda caught him looking at it.

"You haven't looked, have you?" She jokingly says, putting all of her hair to the back.

"Nah, it's the first time I looked," he jokes back.

Without looking, Jeongin knows that he's profusely blushing and his ears are reddening, his hand comes to the rescue, rubbing it to give him a sense of ease

On the other hand, Linda is enjoying every second of it.

"About you and Justine," she carefully says.

"Are you guys like in a thing or...?"

Linda's eyes are small and warm brown, however, the way she looks at him is piercing like daggers. Jeongin knows that the conversation will eventually get to this.

"We're still getting to know each other but we're also doing our own thing... I'm not stopping her from getting to know anyone," Jeongin answers.

"But do you think it has the potential to be a relationship or more like... friendship-ish type of thing to you?" She asks, biting her finger again.

"Well, uhm..." Jeongin has no answer to that yet, he's been grasping things around Justine and is not sure what he wants to do with it yet.

"I don't know, honestly. I just don't want to rule out any possibilities yet," he adds.

Linda nods and bites her lower lip, "Have you ever thought that you have more potential with someone else?"

"Could be," he coyly says.

She props a hand under her chin and looks at him with a soft gaze, "How about with me?"

Jeongin cracks a smile, not expecting Linda will be this bold. Somehow, he likes this use of subtle aggressiveness.

"We'll see..." Jeongin keeps his cool and stares back into her eyes as he says it.

"Well, you'll see," Linda says.

JEONGIN: Linda, Linda, Linda... she's being all cute and flirty, trying to make my head turn.

Linda's game doesn't just end there.

In the dressing room while everyone is getting ready for the night, she puts on a dress and checks herself in the mirror, then all of a sudden turns to him and asks.

"How do I look?"

Jeongin has to check for the people around him, thinking that she is talking to someone else.

"Uh... good," he shortly answers.

"Just good?" Linda asks again.

She's so bold for doing it in front of everyone. Worse is Justine is in the room too and Jeongin keeps actively telling his brain not to look her way.

Linda takes a step closer toward him and spins around on her feet, "Do you like the dress or should I put on a different one?"

The whole room suddenly turns quiet when it is full of chatter a while ago and he feels pressured with all the attention he's getting.

"No, I like this one. It looks good on you," Jeongin says, wanting to end this exchange.

"I trust you," Linda says, walking back to the mirror to fix her hair.

Jeongin continues buttoning his shirt facing his closet to avoid everyone's eyes.

That little stunt Linda pulled in the dressing room seems to make Justine need to mark her territory. She brings him a drink and corners him on the sofa in the cabana.

"I like this shirt on you," she says, softening him with a compliment.

"Thanks," Jeongin sheepishly says, sensing that she's going to ask about him and Linda.

"How are you feeling tonight?" She asks, then sips her drink.

"I'm feeling good," he answers but that would imply that he talked about the thing that happened with Linda.

"I guess," he quickly adds, then gulps his wine.

He swallows it quickly, not wanting to give Justine a chance to talk about it, "You?"

Justine smiles and taps her glass of wine with her long nails, "I feel good. I feel like kissing someone tonight," she says with a sonorous laugh.

Oh, fuck.

Remember when he said it's only about time that he and Justine break a rule? Well, this is it.

She inches closer to him and puts her leg over his lap, "I know we both want to explore things here..."

She props her hand against the sofa and tilts her head to the side as she looks at him, letting a moment pass in silence to build tension.

"But if there's one person I want to break rules with..."

Justine drags her nails down his arm, sending a shudder down his spine then leans in to whisper, "It's with you,"

Deep down, he knows the bad in him wants to come out and play.

"What do you think?" Her voice drops lower than before.

All sorts of thoughts fill his head and most of them are going against him. It costs $6,000. Lana will be pissed. The group is going to kill him for it. What if he craves it more?

He keeps considering Justine's offer until he runs out of excuses to not kiss her and his thoughts favor his desire.

"I guess a kiss won't hurt," he mutters to her.

"Promise, it won't hurt," Justine says, before crashing her lips against him.

It's the second time they kiss but it feels different now that there are rules that forbid it which makes it oddly satisfying. There's just something about breaking the rules that makes him feel so damn alive.

Justine gets it and that's why she's smiling when she lets go of the kiss, leaving Jeongin's lips tainted with her lipstick which she hurriedly wipes with her hand.

"See? It doesn't hurt," she says.

JEONGIN: I know everyone is going to be mad about it but I-I don't regret it. Not for a bit, to be honest [laughs]

Jeongin and Justine know how to keep their poker face on the whole night.

Damon almost caught them earlier but thankfully, they manage to make him not suspect anything and so does everyone even until it's bedtime.

"Guys, we've been good these past few days," Mick says to everyone in the room.

"So we're allowed to kiss now?" Damon jokes.

"Man..." Mick sighs, patting his pillow before resting on it, "I'm saying that you guys should keep it that way,"

With the lack of answers, Jeongin can tell that not everyone agrees with the idea, especially him. He exchanges a knowing glance with Justine.

"Better not be any rule breaks tonight, got it?" Mick warns with a glare.

If there's anything Mick shouldn't say to a bunch of rulebreakers, that is exactly it. Tell them to not do it only makes them want to do it more.

That notion seems to be right with, again, no obvious answers but low, weak mutters just to get the conversation over with.

The bedroom turns dark not long after and Justine scoots closer to him until her head rests next to his.

"It's best that we don't tell them," she whispers.

Jeongin agrees. He sees no benefit of being honest to them other than potentially getting crucified by them so it's a hard pass for him.

"I think so too," he says to her.

Justine lowly chuckles, "We shouldn't say anything until the last minute," she suggests.

He nods at that, "No one says anything."

Justine takes his hand and has him link his pinky finger around her for a pinky promise.

"That's a promise," she says and to his surprise, kisses interlinked fingers.

Somehow that night, Jeongin falls asleep at ease.

JEONGIN: I feel guilty about last night. I know everyone is going to hate us but Justine and I decided to not say anything about our rule break.

In the morning, no one still suspected anything.

Maybe the only one that does is Mick, his hawk eyes are scanning everyone's faces even though he's barely awake yet.

"I have a boner for like... 80% of the day," Damon suddenly shares a fact no one even asks.

Bianca chuckles at that while untangling her braided dark hair.

"When you get a boner, your blood rushes to your dick and if it goes for too long, it takes away the blood from your brain," Damon explains.

Everyone doubts that's how it works but they're laughing at his unconfirmed theory, including Jeongin with Justine clinging to his arm and her head resting against it.

Jeongin's eyes somehow wander to bed opposite him, seeing Linda looking not pleased seeing him with Justine which makes him abruptly stop opening his mouth completely.

The day continues and he knows he's only counting down to the time until Lana finally calls everyone to the cabana.

When the call comes, he isn't ready and he believes, so is everyone.

"This is not good," Keith mutters as he adjusts the waistband of his swimming trunks.

"It's too early for this shit," Damon grumbles behind him.

Everyone is taking heavy steps to the cabana, knowing that good things never happened there and today is one of those, that Jeongin knows for sure.

"What do you think Lana wants?" Kurt asks.

Courtney throws all of her hair to the side, "I have a feeling she's not going to be nice to us today," she says.

Jeongin nervously gulps air because Courtney is right.

JEONGIN: This is not good [scratches head] I'm absolutely shitting myself.

To avoid suspicion, he chooses to sit separately from Justine and when the chime comes, he immediately puts his poker face on.

"Despite doubling the fines, I regret to inform you there have been further breaches," Lana announces right away.

It's always a bad sign when Lana skips the formality and goes straight to the rule-breaking announcement.

"Oh, my days!" Keith shortly responds.

Jeongin pretends to act surprised, parting his mouth open in perfect O shape then rubs his chin in wonder. His eyes wander to where Justine sits and he sees the opposite reaction on her, she looks slightly excited for it.

"Breaches?" Francoise points out that this means that there's more than one rule break.

"Y'all need a stricter regime," Mick says with an angry sigh.

However, that doesn't make Jeongin feel relieved, he's still fear of what's going down in a few minutes.

"Does anybody want to get anything off their chest?" Keith asks.

JEONGIN: It's definitely not the time I want to tell everyone that I fucked up.

Despite his calm expression, Jeongin's heart is racing inside his chest. Is it too much of him to ask everyone for a little bit of understanding that for there to be a connection, there has to be a little physical thing?

"Who broke the rule?" Mick asks again.

It's at the tip of his tongue, he wants to get them out as soon as possible but something keeps holding him back. He takes a deep breathe to muster up the courage to say—

"Bianca, what's with your face?" Courtney and her observant eyes.

Biance starts turning her head side to side, propping a hand under her chin then looks at Damon.

"I have to be honest," she says.

"Oh!" Mick shouts in disappointment, holding his head in distress.

"It was last night. It was romantic. It just happened... we kissed," Bianca admits, then turns to Damon, asking him to add something to it.

"I think that was one of the most valuable rule breaks," Damon says.

Surprisingly, everyone takes that well. There's no shouting, no silently cursing and there's not even a glare aimed toward them.

"I think that you guys are building a connection. I think you guys deserve it," Francoise says.

"Your kiss costs the group $6,000," Lana informs.

JEONGIN: Wait... what is going on? This is not the reaction that I thought they were going to get.

Jeongin doesn't expect that to happen so maybe if he admits his rule break like Bianca and Damon did, everyone is going to take it well too, right?

Right???

"So who else broke the rule?" Mick asks again.

This is the time, if he waits until Mick asks again, that'll only earn him the opposite reaction from what he wants.

"Justine and I kissed last night," he says in one breath.

And guess what? Everyone is groaning at that. He looks at Justine to seek some help here through his eyes.

"It just happens, you know," Justine says, not really a strong defense.

"How much money have we lost? Does anybody know?" Mick starts to lose his shit again.

Jeongin's hand flew to cover his eyes, not wanting to see this and also disappointed that everyone reacted differently to him when it was only his first rule break.

"A kiss is harmless," Justine casually says which only angers everyone more with her blatant ignorance of the rules.

"Oh, my God!" Mick shouts in disbelief.

"Why did we get a different reaction from them?" Justine asks the important question here.

"Because we know what Damon and Bianca got going on is solid," Mick explains.

Everyone seems to agree with his answer but Jeongin still can't accept the unfair treatment.

"Thanks, guys," Bianca thanked everyone with a smile.

"Jeongin and Justine, your rule break has cost the group a further $6,000," Lana informs again.

There comes the groans again but despite that, he's not going to waste his energy by holding a grudge over it.

"The prize fund now stands at $176,000."

In the end, everyone is as disappointed to hear how much money they have lost.

"Thanks, Lana," Courtney mutters.

Everyone is getting up from their seats thinking that Lana has done talking when she chimes again and everyone stops moving.

"I haven't finished."

JEONGIN: Oh, what now? [Groans] Seriously?

Everyone is getting nervous once again as they wait for what Lana is going to say and they believe it's yet another bad news.

"It's time to establish how committed to each other you really are by sending some of you on dates..." Lana announces.

"Who's going on a date?" Bianca asks with a blushed cheek, secretly wishing that it's her and Damon.

Jeongin can't say if he and Justine are categorized as a couple yet but he'd love to get on a date, the others start to think that maybe it's good news this time.

"...with new arrivals."

Everyone is exclaiming all at once and this time, Jeongin doesn't even have to pretend to be surprised, he is genuinely surprised to hear that there'll be new guests in the villa.

"Our new arrivals are already aware they're on Too Hot To Handle."

Jeongin notices that not everyone is pleased by this, Bianca and Francoise are not accepting it well from their lack of enthusiasm.

"I have given the new arrival a choice of dating one of the boys currently in couples," Lana further announces.

"It's a curveball y'all," Kurt excitedly says while rubbing his hands together.

Jeongin could feel Justine's eyes boring a hole in between his eyes at the newly shared announcement and the possibility that he could get chosen for this.

"She has selected..."

Despite Justine's reaction, is it wrong of Jeongin to want to be picked for the date? He suddenly feels like meeting new people since he plans to keep exploring his choices.

"Jeongin."

He manifests it so hard that it becomes true but he reminds himself to keep calm about it even though he feels excited to meet the new girl before anyone else.

JEONGIN: I mean... the timing is impeccable [Grins]

"The other new arrival also has been given a choice of dating one of the girls currently in couples," Lana continues.

It's the girls' turn to get excited and Jeongin has no problem if Justine gets picked, that way he wouldn't feel bad about going on a date with the new girl.

"He has selected..."

Justine taps Courtney's knee, hinting that it's probably her chance even though she won't be selected because she's not in a couple.

It's either her, Justine, or Bianca.

"Bianca."

"Thank fuck for that," Kurt lowly mutters, grateful that the new guy doesn't choose Francoise.

"This really is about testing the waters, huh?" Linda says, being the only one enjoying this.

Well, Jeongin feels a sense of relief that he's not as established as Damon and Bianca because, for them, it could be a test to see how genuine their connection is.

"Jeongin and Bianca, please go and get ready for your dates," Lana orders.

Jeongin lets Bianca lead the way to the villa and goes straight to the dressing room to get ready.

Bianca plops down on her usual spot on the vanity table and reclines on her chair, "This is crazy..." she sighs.

He goes to his closet to pick something to wear, this is a date so he's definitely putting an extra effort to build his outfit.

"I'm having a date and it's not with Damon," Bianca sighs again.

Jeongin starts by picking a shirt from the ones he brought, pondering whether he's going for a plain shirt or with prints.

Bianca turns her head to look at Jeongin, then asks, "Do you think your head will be turned?"

That stops him from whatever he's doing, he turns to look back at her and answers, "I don't think I'll be tempted..."

Then he settles on a decision to wear a plain white ribbed shirt and takes it out of the hanger, "Unless she's a gorgeous girl with beautiful eyes," he suddenly adds.

Bianca laughs because she thinks Jeongin is confident about staying loyal to Justine until she hears the rest of his sentence.

"Eyes are your weaknesses, huh?" She asks.

"Yes."

"Well, we'll see," Bianca says, starting to do her make-up as she speaks.

And Jeongin can't wait to find out what you look like.

LANA: I have given our new arrivals one free kiss to use on their dates. They think I'm just being generous, but in reality, I want to see how Jeongin and Bianca, who are both in relationships, react if offered a fine-free kiss.

The date takes place somewhere quite far from the villa.

Jeongin part ways with Bianca when they get to the beach as she goes in the opposite direction and he has to walk the rest of the distance by himself. The staff has prepared a picnic with its classic checkered picnic mat and a basket of what he can safely assume is filled with food.

Being the first one to get there, he sits down and leisurely waits for the new girl by looking at the view from this part of the island he has never been to.

Jeongin gets more nervous the longer he waits for the new girl to come. When you do finally come, he's getting even more nervous that he can hear his heart beating loudly in his ears.

You gracefully wave your hand at him to announce your arrival, looking an absolute lush in a white bikini and a see-through skirt that does nothing to cover your body but floats around your hips as the wind blows your way.

Jeongin gets up and prepares himself to welcome you, putting on a smile that is way too easy to conjure. You are only a few steps away but he already likes what he's seeing.

"Hello," you softly say, introducing your name as you exchange a quick cheek-to-cheek.

"Jeongin," he introduces himself back with a smile that matches the excitement bubbling inside him.

With the afternoon sun hits you right in the eyes, they appear wide and bright, and Jeongin believes those eyes are going to get him in danger.

JEONGIN: Lana brought out my dream girl to test me. Fuck!

"This place is amazing," you delightfully say as you stare out at the sea with the sun slowly sinking into the horizon.

Jeongin is busy filling the glasses with a cocktail mix and tries not to spill a drop. But he knows exactly what you're talking about, he's been living here for a few days and never gets tired of the view.

"Oh, it's paradise," he adds.

He hands one of the drinks to you and without anyone initiating it, you both clink your glasses together for a toast.

"Cheers!" You both mutter in unison.

It's when he has swallowed his drink, he finds your eyes on him again and since you already caught him staring, he may as well use the opportunity to admire your face. There's no denying that you're beautiful but the eyes... he can't stop staring into them.

"You have beautiful eyes," you say, as if you heard his thought and say it out loud for him.

He sheepishly smiles and brushes his hair to the back, "So do you. You're uh... really pretty," he shyly compliments back.

You tuck your hair behind your ear and smack your lips together before talking, "As soon as I flicked past your photo, I was like, yeah, that one," you share with a mix of shy and seductive smiles.

Jeongin's hand flies to his ear and he hopes that they're not turning red from these compliments. He looks away to calm himself down but continues talking, "Really? What is your type?"

"Like you," you answer without a beat.

When Jeongin looks at you again, your eyes automatically lock in a gaze, "I like pretty, bad boys like you."

This time, Jeongin is sure that his ears are reddening and his cheeks are also heating.

"What's your type?" You ask back, sipping your cocktail after.

"I don't have a type," he starts to find it hard to think, "Even if there is, it's always changing."

"Then how about now? What's your type?" You ask, playing with the mini umbrella in your drink and eyes that are doing things to his heart.

Are you really asking? Or do you want him to tell you that he has found his type just now?

"Beautiful eyes, uh... great smiles, good chat," he stutters his words, knowing that he has just described you. He then quickly sips his drink to help clear his throat.

You lightly chuckle then make this gesture with your index finger, drawing a ticking mark in the air as you say, "Tick, tick, tick."

JEONGIN: I'm really enjoying getting to know her even though she's so tempting.

The way you sit on your side with a hand propped against the mat, Jeongin can see every curve of your body, the ascents and descents, and gosh, he likes what he sees.

"You've got a great body," he blurts out and at this point, he just can't control his brain from saying things without filtering it first.

Surprisingly, you take it well and with a smile, "Thanks."

You sit straighter to show him your form and put all of your hair to the back, "I worked hard on it."

"Yeah?" Jeongin asks in wonder.

But you seem to take it as a doubtful response from him and you get up, kneeling on the mat to remove the thin skirt wrapped around your hips.

"It's all natural," you confirm, running your hands down the side of your body.

If he were in some cartoons, Jeongin's eyes would be popped out of their sockets at the sight of your body. It evokes something in him that makes his throat suddenly dry.

You sit back down on the mat and pick up your drink, "Let's make it fair," you say.

Jeongin gulps air to be able to speak, "huh?"

"I'd like to see you with your shirt off," you say, a naughty smile dancing on your pretty face.

He has no problems showing you his body, he worked hard on it too but he doesn't want to spoil it to you right away.

"You'll see it off," he teases, surprised that he's still got game in him despite his brain barely functioning.

"Okay," you simply say, then bring your glass close to your lips but not drinking it.

Just so you know, Jeongin also has a thirst for something else.

JEONGIN: She has all of my attention. I'm just not thinking about anything else.

Jeongin takes the food out of the picnic basket and lays it out on the side of the mat, a bowl of sliced fruits while the other bowl is filled with melted chocolate.

"Why are you sitting so far away from me?" You ask, pointing out the big space between the two of you.

Even in this distance, he can feel the heat and the tension between the two of you. He doesn't want to know what would it feel like to be in such proximity with you.

"Come closer! I don’t bite," you cutely whine, putting a cushion to where you want him to be.

"Okay, maybe, just a little?" You add a joke and a giggle.

Jeongin relents, he scoots closer to you yet maintains a safe space in between. He watches as you open the bowl of sliced fruits and take out a piece, dipping it in the chocolate before feeding it to him.

He hurriedly leans closer and opens his mouth for you, he manages to eat it alright but the chocolate drips onto the corner of his mouth.

"You like to get messy, do you?" He jokingly says, cluelessly wiping around the mouth.

"Yes, I do," you confidently answer.

You're quick to offer your help to clean it for him, wipe it with your thumb, and not hesitate to lick it clean after.

He then takes his turn to pick up a slice of fruit and dips it into the chocolate, he carefully brings it close to your mouth. You hold his wrist to keep his hand steady as you take it into your mouth and keep holding his hand to clean the chocolate coating his finger.

It does something to him seeing you taking his finger into your mouth and also feels how hot and wet the inside of your mouth is.

"Mmh... yum," you delightfully hum as you pull his finger out of you.

JEONGIN: The longer this date goes on, the more I can't resist her.

There's so much sexual chemistry here and it's getting heavy that Jeongin doesn't know how long he can go on, you are literally too hot to handle.

Your hand reaches for his face, using only your fingertips to trail his jawline, and then rest your hand on his thigh. The two of you are staring into each other’s eyes but he can tell that your minds are thinking the same things.

"Kiss me," you say out of the blue.

As if making his head feel like a scrambled egg isn't enough for you. He can't remember if Lana has briefed you on what kind of show you're in and that you ask him to do something he's not allowed to do.

"You do know it's Too Hot To Handle, right?" He asks with his brows furrowed, feeling bad if the answer is no but he's more afraid to know the answer is yes.

"I do know," you tell him, your hand inching closer to the hem of his swimming trunk.

The tension is getting unbearable and Jeongin feels like it's weighing down his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Lana told me that I get a free kiss without getting fined," you explain, tipping your head to the side while your fingers are lightly caressing his inner thigh.

His brain is close to short-circuit yet he tries so hard to think straight and what would happen if he does certain things with you.

"I do want to," he says.

A smile rises on your face and your eyes light up the second you hear his answer.

Jeongin doesn't want to see those glints in your eyes disappear when he tells you about Justine but he doesn't want to hide it from you either.

"It's just like... there's a girl inside there," he says, not giving you the detailed information.

That doesn't seem to stop you as your eyes remain wide and bright as you tip your head to the other side and hold his gaze, "Is she special to you?"

Special? Jeongin isn't sure about that so he settles on a safe answer, "It's only been a few days so I can't really tell."

You smack your lips together again, tantalizing him with how plump and soft they look to him.

"I don't see the damage in it. If anything, we'll know if there's sparks between us," you give such a strong argument to him.

It takes every bone in his body not to try and kiss you right this very second. He may have said Justine is not that special but kissing another girl behind her back... that's not how he wants it to go.

"Come on," you tease, leaning closer to his face.

His heart leaps when you place a soft kiss on his cheek and rub the lipstick mark after.

"I know you want it," you lowly mutter, teasing him more with your sultry voice.

He doesn't know if you notice but his body is slightly shaking from constantly resisting the urge to fill his desire to kiss you and his hands are gripping the picnic mat to not get them anywhere close to you.

"I do want to kiss you," he breathlessly says as if it takes all of him to admit that.

You smile in satisfaction, leaning in to land another soft kiss on his jaw to give him a taste of your lips. Your lips linger close to his ear to sweetly whisper, "Come on, Jeongin."

JEONGIN: I am so tempted. I don't know what to do [Exhales]

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murdockparker · 1 month

Text

Paralyzed

Steve Harrington x Reader

Summary: She walked in on a Friday afternoon. Steve needed nothing more than to get to know her--if only he could find it in himself to speak to her.

Word Count: 5k

Warnings: just pure fluff, mentions of murder (but not frfr)

A/N: no this isn't based on a big time rush song you're crazy anyway!! I think this is my first real Steve fic? The first real one I got around to posting I guess. Cheers!

It was a Friday afternoon.

Correction, it was a terribly busy Friday afternoon. Family Video was seemingly the place to be, people swarming the building in hopes of renting new releases for their perspective weekends. Steve usually loathed his Friday shifts for this exact reason, countless questions about the new tapes, a dozen or so mothers berating him when a certain movie is out of stock—as if Steve Harrington himself is the reason behind the madness.

But, this afternoon was different.

This afternoon she walked in.

He had enough of the madness, leaving Robin all alone to deal with the wolves for a mere five minutes—he needed to get out of there. With his head in his hands, he sat on an unopened box filled to the brim with different assortments of candy—candy he needed to stock sometime today, a fact he surely couldn’t have forgotten even if he tried. Only two minutes into his escape, Robin came bounding in the backroom, a wild look grazing her eyes.

“Steve,” she nearly panted. “You gotta take over for a minute. This woman is just—ugh—not taking no for an answer! I told her we don’t have The Breakfast Club in stock, but oh no, why trust the employee who rented all ten copies earlier today? Huh? How about we give the girl who makes a little over three bucks an hour a hard fucking time!” Robin was rambling at this point, the words falling deaf on Steve’s ears.

“Robs,” Steve groaned, finally looking up at his friend. “Give me another minute, I have a nasty headache—”

“Me too, Harrington,” Robin sighed, plopping down on the box next to him. “Her name’s probably Debra and she’s a beast in fake leopard print.”

Steve snorted with laughter. “Fine, I’ll head back out there,” he stood up, dramatically dusting off his jeans. “I just don’t know why the hell our help wanted sign hasn’t brought in more folks, we’re dying out here.”

“No one wants to work for Keith,” Robin said simply.

“Damn straight,” Steve pointed, pushing his way back onto the sales floor. The leopard printed demon was nowhere to be seen, much to Steve’s utter relief—he didn’t have the energy to fight her off anyway. Finding his way behind the counter, the doorbell rang out, a pavlovian response nearly spilled from Steve’s lips. “Welcome to Family Vid—”

His heart stopped.

She was gorgeous, like she just stepped out of a magazine ad—the one’s his mom bought, not the trashy shit they sell down at the gas station. Sunglasses adorned her temple like a crown, her hair perfectly falling around the pink lenses. Steve didn’t know what to say, it felt as if he simultaneously forgot all the words in the English language and stuffed seventeen Saltines in his mouth—he was tongue tied.

“Uh, hi,” the girl said softly, waving towards the frozen spectacle behind the counter. “I saw you have a help wanted sign outside?”

Steve could only nod, making a good effort to keep his jaw from falling on the floor.

“Well,” she smiled, the kind that would make babies giggle at the sight, “I just moved here and sorta need a job so…” A resume was placed on the counter before him. It looked professional—way more than what Family Video could ever hope to ask for from an applicant, anyway. Steve couldn’t stop reading it. She was literally an angel, an answer to his very prayers—every one of them. If he had the power to hire her on the spot, he’d be tossing her a green vest from the back without a second thought. Part of him was cursing the fact Keith wasn’t here to interview her this very second, he needed to get to know this girl.

“I-I…” Steve tried to speak, feeling his cheeks grow inflamed with embarrassment. He wasn’t used to being so… foolish around a girl.

“Steve, is it?”

She knew his name.

Of course he knew she read it off his name tag, he wasn’t that thick, but hearing it come straight from her lips? He could have melted directly into the floor and no one could have stopped him.

“Yeah, this doofus here’s Steve, I’m Robin,” Robin appeared by his side, seemingly in the knick of time. “Don’t worry about him, we’re getting him the help he needs.”

The mystery girl giggled. “Ah, I see.”

“You want to apply here?” Robin asked, prying the resume from Steve’s—reluctant—hands. “Oh thank God, we’re dying for more bodies around here.”

“I love movies,” she explained quickly, noting how intently Robin was reading over her simple paper. “A-and I used to work at a movie theater back home before moving here, so I know a lot about the recent releases—”

“I’m gonna be honest,” Robin said, leaning onto the counter, voice dripping with secrecy. “You’re probably too good for this place, I mean, way too good for this shit-hole—”

“I need a job,” she repeated, almost desperately. “My folks forced me to move here and I’m trying to save up to get my own place back in Chicago, I’m not built for this small-town bullshit.”

This made Robin explode with laughter and Steve shrivel in despair. She had an expiration date—a way out of Hawkins.

“Well, I’ll make sure to pass this off to our manager—with a glowing recommendation, of course,” Robin winked.

“I appreciate it!” She smiled again, the sight nearly had Steve wishing he had his own pair of sunglasses to wear—it was blinding. “Well, I hope to see you guys around?”

“We’ll be here!” Robin called out, watching the girl walk back towards the door and out towards her car. A hand smacked across Steve’s bicep.

“Hey!” He finally responded, rubbing the aforementioned spot. “What the hell?”

“I should bring that whiteboard out of retirement,” Robin arched her brow. “You’re positively hopeless, Steve Harrington. What the fuck was that all about?”

“I don’t know, Robs,” Steve sighed. “She was just—I didn’t even know what to say!”

“Clearly,” she snorted. “You looked like a gaping trout—”

“I did not—”

“This was worse than the girl who asked for a Mint-Choco Deluxe and you handed her a straight scoop of ice cream—no cone. I had to practically chase her out with a stack of napkins and a thousand apologies.”

Steve cringed at the memory. “Maybe…”

“When Keith hires her—and you know he’s gonna—you better get your act together. I don’t wanna deal with…this every day.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Steve waved. “Sure.”

And deal with it, she did.

(Y/N) was her name, Steve had the pleasure of unpacking her new name tag for her first day. He almost wanted to keep it, but figured it would make him look like a crazed lunatic. Patiently, he waited by the front door, hoping to see her pull up in her car, ready and rearing for her first day on the job. Steve begged Robin to allow him the pleasure of training her, given he could somehow speak in her presence, of course. She simply rolled her eyes and agreed to the shift exchange.

A shiny, cherry-red BMW peeled into the lot—Steve noted it looked awfully familiar to his own car, minus the color of course. It seemed a bit out of place in a small town like Hawkins, but the car had suited her just fine. Everything about her suited her kindly, Steve had noticed, especially the clothing she wore. Family Video was no place for a fashion show, Steve could attest to that himself, but with the way she was practically strutting towards the doors? The parking lot was her runway and he was begging to see more.

“Good morning!” (Y/N) greeted cheerfully, pushing the glass door open wide.

“Morning,” Steve managed to squeak out. He pushed the unflattering green vest towards her. “Your uniform.” She easily slipped the fabric over her own shirt, the stark whiteness of her blouse really made the green pop.

“Well?” She spun around, twirling like a princess. “Do I look the part?”

Steve could only nod.

“So what’s the first thing on the agenda? Do y’all have a time clock?”

Steve nodded again, pointing his thumb towards the break room.

“Ok..ay…” She said quietly, walking in the direction she was given.

He could cry—it was so pathetic. The way this girl had him so worked up? How was he expected to train her? No, forget training her, how was he supposed to even talk to her? Steve had been in pickles before, but this one took the cake.

“So you just… don’t speak then?”

She had managed to sneak up behind Steve, who had clearly been deep in thought. Her angelic voice alone made him jump.

“I-I speak,” Steve explained. “I just… have a lot on my plate currently, s’all.”

“I’m sure working at the Family Video is real hard work, superstar,” she giggled, jumping up onto the countertop. “But I’m glad I don’t have to understand your training through charades."

“I’m pretty good at charades,” Steve said, crossing his arms. “O-or so I’m told…”

“I’ll take your word for it,” she smiled. “But seriously, I really thought you just didn’t want to talk to me or something.”

That couldn’t have been farther from the truth.

“So… I should probably show you the computer system for rentals,” Steve tried changing the subject—poorly, but she graciously turned her attention to the computer she so-conveniently sat next to. “Y’know, because that’s like, the entire job.”

The girl leaned in, not daring to remove herself from the counter top, trying to see what Steve was clicking on.

“You seem tense,” she noticed.

“It takes me a while to get warmed up to new people,” he lied.

“What? Like a cat?”

“…exactly like a cat.”

“Well, Steve,” she hopped off the counter, “it’s a good thing I like cats.”

He tried his best to hide the redness flooding his cheeks.

She made Family Video more enjoyable, even after her first shift, Steve thought. He already liked the job enough, spending time with his best friend and getting paid for it was already a huge perk, but now that he got to know her? He might just keep this job forever.

Forever lasted only four months.

“Steve!”

He peeked his head over the horror aisle, finding (Y/N) staring at him expectantly from the front counter.

“Yes?”

“I’m dying over here,” she said dramatically, falling over on the countertop. “It’s so… boring.”

“It’s a Monday morning,” Steve said simply, commanding every fiber in his being to not shrug at the statement. “Mondays are usually boring around here.”

“Everything about Hawkins is boring,” she said, not lifting her face up from the counter. “How do you manage living in this God-forsaken town?”

“I don’t think everything is boring,” Steve scoffed, ignoring the rest of the tapes that needed to be put away. His feet were already leading him towards the counter, as if they had a mind of their own. “I mean, I doubt you’ve run through everything this town's got to offer?”

She lifted her head up from the counter, a red mark gracing her forehead. “In the last four months of living here? I think I have. Hell, the one cool place y’all could have had burned to the ground.”

Steve winced at the mention of StarCourt, the wounds still fresh. “It wasn’t that cool…”

“Fine,” (Y/N) propped herself up, head in her hands, “name one cool place in Hawkins.”

“Skull Rock.”

He doesn’t know why he said it.

“Skull Rock?”

“Uh, yeah,” Steve sheepishly said, hand finding the back of his neck quickly. “It’s the go-to for the coolest kids in Hawkins—made popular by yours truly.”

“And what exactly is Skull Rock?” Her arms were neatly crossed by the time he managed to look back at her.

A make-out spot.

“A-an… experience?” Steve squeaked, trying his best to sound cool. “It’s hard to explain, you just kinda gotta go and see for yourself.”

“Huh,” she tutted. “Why haven’t I heard of this Skull Rock until now? Certainly if it was as neat as you say it is I would’ve heard about it by now.”

“It’s underground,” Steve tried to convince her. “Not physically, I mean. It's above ground, I promise. Underground in the sense that only the cool kids know about it.”

She snorted. “Cool kids?”

“Y-yeah,” He tried to double down.

“As in, like, high schoolers?”

“Other people besides high schoolers can be cool kids, y’know,” Steve said, trying his best not to cough.

“Maybe I’ll ask Robin about it when she comes in—”

“I could take you?” Steve is quick to interject. “To Skull Rock, I mean. Tonight, if you’re free.”

A smile crept across her ruby red lips. “Like a date?”

“Pshht, no,” Steve waved. “Like a thing friends do! An activity of sorts.”

“Sounds like a date.”

“An activity,” Steve corrected, feeling queasy at the thought she may actually say yes.

As if mulling over her options for the evening, (Y/N) stared directly into Steve Harrington’s brown eyes, pinning him to the spot with such a glare. “Hm. Alright.”

“A-alright?”

“Do you think I have to change for this ‘activity’?” (Y/N) motioned her hands up and down her body, giving Steve actual permission to fully look at her. Her outfit was already sensible enough—she was here to work, after all—he didn’t ever see a reason for her to change.

“Maybe different shoes?” Steve offered, looking down at her feet, adorned with ruby red flats to match her lips.

“What sort of shoes do you recommend? These are my favorite flats.”

“Sneakers. Something you don’t mind getting dirty—”

“I don’t mind getting these dirty.”

“Something more suitable for the forest,” Steve amended. “Sticks, mud, poison ivy. Would hate for the tops of your feet to succumb to that bullshit.”

“Succumb,” (Y/N) repeated. “Big word.”

“Average word,” Steve mumbled, feeling only a tad bit embarrassed.

“Average is fine,” she shrugged. “I have sneakers in my car. We could go after work?”

—

Six o’clock couldn’t have come faster.

Steve had spent the last few hours of his shift trying to best plan his escape from Family Video—an escape that involved pulling (Y/N) into his car before Robin could tell her what Skull Rock really was. Thankfully, (Y/N) hadn’t had the mind to tell Robin what their plans were after work yet, but he knew it would come.

The minute hand finally ticked to the top of the clock. 6pm on the dot. Steve practically threw off his vest and ran to the wall clock to punch out.

“In a rush?” Robin asked.

“Something like that,” Steve said, not wanting to share much more.

“Well, enjoy yourself Rob!” (Y/N) nearly sang, now standing behind Steve waiting for her turn with the wall clock. “I left the counter nice and warm for you!”

“I know you meant that to sound endearing, but it just sounds gross,” Robin laughed, not even looking up from the book she had been reading. “Get out of here before Keith makes you both work overtime.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” (Y/N) said, pushing her pink sunglasses—which were housed in the tiny locker she used every day—onto her head. “Besides, we’ve got plans.”

“We?”

“Gotta go Robin!” Steve could only shout, pushing (Y/N) out of the small room in the back—it could hardly be called a break room. Containing a small T.V on the wall, a stack of lockers, a small fridge, quaint table and a broken microwave.

“Alright, weirdo,” (Y/N) laughed, “we made it outside.”

Steve hand only blinked, but she was right. Somehow he didn’t recall the jaunt from the break room to the front door, much less the fact they made it out to their cars. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” she laughed again, “oh.”

He was sure his face was the near same color as her lipstick—cherry red and probably emitting the heat of a thousand suns. “Are you gonna change your shoes?” Somehow he strung together a full sentence.

“Go start up your car, pretty boy,” (Y/N) said smoothly, “I’ll meet you in a second.”

Pretty boy.

Start up his car, he did. He fumbled through the few cassette tapes he stored in his glove box, eager to find one she’d like. Though a thought like this had crossed his mind a handful of times, he never thought she’d actually agree to go out with him. No, not go out, this wasn’t a date. Right?

She had called him pretty boy.

And he was planning on taking her to the unofficial make out spot of Hawkins.

Maybe it was a date.

“There!” (Y/N) exclaimed, sliding into his passenger seat, showing off her worn shoes. “My well-loved sneakers! Just like you requested. How I allowed you to talk me into going to a random forest is beyond me.”

Me too. Steve thought.

“You’re not going to murder me, right?”

“What!?” Steve had already begun driving to their destination, but her sudden question had him nearly swerving off the road. “No!”

“That’s what a murderer would say.”

“I—why would I…?” Steve was at a loss for words. “If I was going to murder you, don’t you think I’d admit to it at this point?”

“No,” she shrugged, crossing her legs. Her sneakers were red too—her favorite color, perhaps? “I assume you’d admit it right before you kill me, not in transit to the murder location.”

Steve could only laugh. “You confuse me.”

“You love me,” she admonished.

Maybe he did, and if he didn’t? He certainly could see himself, though, sooner than later.

It only took another fifteen minutes of driving to reach their destination, parking his beloved BMW in a spot he knew all too well—part of himself cringed that he could admit that, even to just himself. “We’re here.”

“I’m still not convinced you’re not going to murder me,” (Y/N) hummed, hopping out of the car, a spring in her step.

He couldn’t help but chuckle, popping his trunk to dig for a blanket he knew he had left behind for one reason or another. “Come on,” he ducked his head towards a clearing, “it’s this way.”

“You really have to start explaining the appeal, Harrington,” (Y/N) said, pushing past a rather suspicious looking bush, following closely behind Steve. “This trek is nothing to scoff at.”

“Do you trust me?”

“I thought the murder accusations already confirmed that I did not?”

“Yet you still got into a car with me,” Steve said.

“I still got into a car with you,” she repeated.

As if on cue, Skull Rock, in all of its glory, peeked through the brush and into view—thankfully with no one else around.

“We made it!” Steve exclaimed, nearly impressed he remembered how to get here. Quickly unfurling the blanket he grabbed, he sat on the ground. “Come on, I promise it’s clean.”

“Doubting that,” she said, still sitting beside him. “So, spill it, what makes this place so cool?”

Steve took a deep breath.

“I, uh, may have stretched the truth a bit?”

“How far?”

“Huh?”

“How far did you stretch the truth?”

“Not by much…”

“You’re sweating,” she pointed.

“No I’m not!” Steve said, trying his very best to not look down at his pits, afraid they were betraying him. Looking back up at the girl sitting beside him, her ruby lips were twisted in a wicked smirk. “You’re making fun of me.”

“Nah,” she said, almost sounding honest. “But I also know pretty well what goes on around this rock—sick as fuck, by the way, it really looks like a skull.”

“You know about Skull Rock?” He was nearly dejected, embarrassed, even.

“I do.”

“And you still came here with me?”

“If it meant I could spend some time with you outside of work? Sure,” she said with her brilliant smile. “Though, don’t expect any swapping of saliva.”

“Then why…?”

Her knees tucked under her chin, arms wrapped fully around them. “I don’t have many friends here. You and Robin kind of are it for me, at least, since I moved here. I figured I should try and spend time with y’all before I move again.”

Her big move. The one she was saving up for.

“Back to Chicago, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah. Though, it’s going to be a while until I do actually move. Who knew trying to rent your own apartment in a big city is stupid expensive? Wait—don’t answer that, that’s a stupid fucking observation.”

“It’s a bit silly,” he agreed, trying his best not to laugh. “But, yeah, way more expensive than Hawkins.”

The sun had begun to set, not that they could see it, through the trees and all, but the sky was now a warm orange. The kind of color that reminded Steve of summer, melted creamsicles and sweet memories.

“What’s in Chicago, anyway?” Steve finally asked, eyes glued to the sky. The question had been on the tip of his tongue since he met her. “I mean, I never really hear you talk much about it—only when you feel the need to dig at Hawkins.”

“It’s where I grew up,” she shrugged. “All of my friends are out there, my life is out there.”

“I mean, you did just say Robin and I were your friends?” He offered, leaning back on his hands.

She narrowed her gaze, pulling her head up from her knees ever-so-slightly. “Most of my friends are out there,” she corrected. “I just… my dad moved out here for work, a job he literally can’t tell us about—my mom is stuck being some bored housewife waiting every night for him to come home, slaving over a home cooked meal, and I’m just his failure of a daughter who works at a video store.”

Steve knows that feeling a bit too well.

“It doesn’t even have to be Chicago,” she chuckled, mostly to herself. “I just can’t stay here. My forward thinking mind is too big for this town. I figure, maybe in the city I can find myself, figure out what this planet has in store for me, you know?”

“I do.”

“You do?”

“I mean, I never had the thought to leave Hawkins,” Steve said, still looking up at the sky—darker now, but still orange. “Especially now with all of the…”

How does he explain the Upside Down? Does he explain the Upside Down? No. She doesn’t need to know. Not yet, anyway.

“…you know, the missing people,” he finally said, finding the right explanation. “But the idea of going to a big city, finding my way and maybe figuring out what this big head is good for?” His self deprecating laugh echoed from under the large rock formation. “I get it.”

“Y’know,” (Y/N) relaxed her grip on her knees, “my mom had hesitations about moving here because of the missing people—afraid I was going to go missing too.”

“And your dad still moved you here anyway?” Steve still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact people would move here willingly, especially all that’s been in the news about their small town.

“I told you, big secret job,” she said, as if that was the only answer. “My dad’s answer to the problem was buying my mom a new kitchen set and me a car.”

“The BMW?”

“Hell yeah,” she snorted. “Though I suppose once I get to the city—any of them, I’ve decided—I’ll sell it. No need for a car if you’ve got decent public transit. I wonder how much I can get for it?”

“Probably less than what you’re thinking.”

“You’re probably right.”

The sun had finally set, leaving a hazy, sort of mystical hue over the rock and clearing.

“You could come with me, you know,” (Y/N) finally spoke up.

“Huh?”

“Get out of Hawkins? Lord knows I’d need a roommate. Rent is gonna be insane regardless.”

He pondered the thought. Moving out of this God-forsaken town with practically the girl of his dreams? It sounded too good to be true. “Huh.”

“You obviously don’t have to answer right now,” she said, nearly flustered. Was she flustered? “It was just a dumb thought…”

“It’s not dumb,” he said steadily, truthfully. “Not dumb at all.”

“What? You’re actually considering it?”

“Don’t ask me things if you’re not serious about them,” Steve joked, pointing at her. “I mean, it sounds pretty perfect. Leaving Hawkins, making a way for myself, trying to not rely on my parents… I dunno. Something to think about.”

She only nodded.

“Of course, I can’t leave yet,” Steve corrected, mostly to himself. “I have… unfinished business.”

“Ominous,” she snorted.

“A man has his secrets,” he smirked, turning to look at her. “Not murder-y secrets, I really can’t stress that one enough.”

“Handsome, funny and mysterious, the full package,” she hummed.

“You think I’m handsome?”

“I don’t want to stroke your ego,” (Y/N) said. “Surely you know you’re handsome.”

“I didn’t know you thought I was handsome.”

“I think everyone thinks you’re handsome,” her eyebrow raised. “Especially all those girls who come in to rent movies I know for a fact they have no interest in. Robin says you had a similar effect back at the ice cream place.”

“You’ve talked to Robin about my handsomeness?”

“I’ve talked to Robin about your obliviousness,” she corrected, “I think there’s a difference.”

He felt like his brain was melting. If he had a mirror, he’d check his ears to make sure no pink matter was dripping out. “But you think I’m handsome?” If the lighting hadn’t been as low as it was, he’d probably be able to see just how dark her cheeks had become.

“Irrelevant.”

He found the courage to scoot a little closer to her. “I mean, I think it’s pretty relevant… considering I think you’re pretty handsome too.”

Her head couldn’t have turned faster.

“Beautiful! I meant beautiful! Not that you can’t be handsome,” Steve felt himself choking on his own foot, falling deeper into a hole he knew he couldn’t get out of. “If you’d rather be called handsome, that’s fine by me, but traditionally, you’re stunning—so so pretty and I—”

“Steve—”

“A-and I’m messing this up,” Steve deflates. The crickets around Skull Rock must have been paid actors at this point. Steve made a mental note to bring a can of Raid the next time he came here—revenge of some sorts. “I can’t believe I’m messing this up.”

Something slightly wet touched his cheek.

“I don’t think you’re messing anything up,” (Y/N) said, pulling away from his face. She kissed his cheek. “I think you’re a little silly and overthinking a lot, though.”

“You kissed me?”

“I kissed your cheek, no need to short-circuit,” she smiled softly. “I figured it was a good way to bring you back down to Earth. Did it work?”

He nodded, a bit too fast for his liking. “Uh, yeah. I think so.”

“Good,” she said, so sure of herself. “You were really spiraling there for a moment.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I guess I was.”

More crickets.

“Would you have kissed Robin on the cheek? If she was spiraling like that?”

“No,” she said honestly. “Just you.”

“Oh.”

“You took me to the make-out spot of Hawkins,” (Y/N) gestured to the rock above them. “Did you expect me to not kiss you?”

“You kissed my cheek,” he clarified, feeling bolder. “I don’t think that counts.”

“Hm,” she tapped her chin in faux-thought. “It probably doesn’t.”

“I could let you try again?”

“Oh you’d let me?” She crossed her arms, voice airy, light.

“Or I could kiss you,” he shrugged. “Dealers choice.”

“Oh what endless options I have,” she laughed, getting up from the blanket. It was only a little scratchy. “Come on, pretty boy, it’s getting late. My mom is probably worried sick I haven’t made it home yet. Probably waiting by the front window with some terrible dinner in the oven, I assume.”

She offered her hand, helping Steve up off the ground. “You’re probably right.”

“This was nice,” she said, walking back to the car. “Thanks for taking me out here, Steve. I finally found the one good thing in Hawkins.”

“Skull Rock is just that impressive, huh?” Steve laughed, his smile reaching his eyes.

“Something like that,” her smile was just as big.

BONUS: “Pop your trunk, I’ll put this nasty blanket away,” (Y/N) said, circling to the back of Steve’s car.

“It’s not that nasty,” he snorted, fulfilling her request. Climbing into his car and starting up the engine, he waited for her to throw the scrap of fabric in the back. In the corner of his eye, he could see her through the mirror, staring intently at the contents of his trunk. “How long does it take to put a blanket away?” He sighed, hopping back out of the car to join her, realizing quickly why she was just staring in his trunk.

“Y’know,” she clicked, “this doesn’t really help the whole ‘I’m not gonna murder you’ thing.”

In her hands was his tried and true baseball bat—still outfitted with spiky nails and the very essence of dried blood.

“I-I can explain—”

“You probably can,” she said, throwing the bat back into the trunk, slamming it shut. “How about over dinner sometime?”

He’d be stupid to say no.

#Steve Harrington #Steve Harrington x Reader #Steve Harrington x You #Stranger Things #Steve Harrington Imagines #okay fine twist my arm this is loosely based on the btr song of the same name #can't blame a girl for finding inspiration everywhere #does it have a plot? no #do I like pining and love-sick steve? yes

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autisticlancemcclain · 4 months

Text

The air in his apartment is getting staler, and his scalp is starting to ache.

Everything is going to fail, he thinks to himself, unhelpfully. He doesn’t have time to correct himself because he has time for nothing. He barely has time to breathe. People will be coming in less that two hours, and he’s only just begun decorating; at this rate people will arrive and everything will look barren and horrible and boring and of course no one will say it to his face but he can hear how muttered conversations will go on the way home, how everyone will think he’s —

The front doorknob rattles. Lance gasps, a great, heaving breath forcing its way in and out of his lungs, realizing for the first time his hands are trembling too much to hang the tinsel correctly.

“Lance?” calls a voice, familiar and soft and raspy from years of cigarette smoke. “You in the kitchen?”

Lance finds himself frozen in place. His mind has gone completely blank, and he’s become a statue; thoughtless, still, unblinking, unable to process. As if someone has hooked him up to a remote and pressed pause.

Quiet sounds of boots unlacing echo the empty apartment, followed by socked footsteps. Keith appears round the bend of the front hallway, eyebrows knit together in concern, lips pursed.

“…Lance.”

“Everything is falling apart,” Lance blurts. He twitches suddenly, stiff muscles spasming, and the sudden movement rocks the rickety footstool under him. Quick hands flit out to grip his arms before he falls, steadying him on the ground with a soft, “Woah, dude.”

For several moments the only sound is the synched billowing of their breathing. Keith’s hands slide down his biceps to rest on his elbows, squeezing gently. Slowly, dragging through molasses, Lance’s heart begins to slow.

“You’re freaking out,” Keith says. “There is no need to freak out. Take a breather.”

“I don’t have time for any of this,” Lance says, heartbeat picking up again. “I barely finished the last of the food fifteen minutes ago, decorations aren’t out yet, there’s flour all over my clothes and my face is a mess and I haven’t washed my hair —”

Darting out faster than Lance can track, Keith’s hands come to rest on Lance’s cheeks, thumbs brushing under his eyes — rough, warm, startling. Lance stares at him with wide eyes. Keith smiles back, quickly, widely, crookedly; breathtaking. His hair is twisted back neatly, thick and gorgeous, and festive red sparkles line his eyes. Pretty red stones glitter in his ears to match. The gold bands of his thumb rings are cool against Lance’s cheeks, and the chain he got from his mother rests delicately over black knit fabric. The high-cut neckline of his sweater compliments his frame nicely. His jeans are the only pair he has without rips — a pair Lance forced him to get last time they were shopping together.

The air punches right out of Lance’s lungs, and the last of his worries with it. Keith tucks a curl behind his ear, lingering.

“Go shower and get dressed,” he urges, indigo eyes dark and imploring. “Let me help.”

“Okay,” Lance breathes. He doesn’t move.

Keith smiles. He pulls Lance’s face down at the same time that he stands up on his tiptoes, eyes fluttering shut. Their lips press together softly, one, two, three, and then he pulls away.

Lance makes a noise in the back of his throat. His fingers come up to brush the swell of his lip. “What was that for?”

Keith’s eyes flick up at the doorway. Amusement dances across his expression.

Mistletoe, green and white and fragrant, hangs delicately from the door frame.

“Oh,” says Lance, flushing. He remembers, abruptly, the stepladder and falling into Keith’s arms. He becomes hyperaware of the bareness of the rest of the apartment, hardly lived in one month.

“Lance,” Keith says again, noticing the shift in his expression. He slides a hand down and pats his hip. “Go, you walking mess of anxiety. I got this. Get fixed up. Everything will be fine.”

Lance closes his eyes, exhaling shakily, and nods. It’s too late, now. Whether or not things get finished is irrelevant — he can’t very well host a Christmas party in sweatpants and his grossest, most threadbare hoodie. Whatever Keith can manage while he showers will have to be enough.

He rushes off to his room, tearing off his clothes the second the door locks behind him, practically throwing himself under the stream without bothering to wait for it to heat. He rushes through his routine faster than he maybe ever has in his life, toweling off so roughly the first two layers of his skin go with it, and buzzing around his closet like a horde of wasps on a field of decaying grapes.

There is Nothing to wear. Because of course there isn’t. The outfit he’d picked last night suddenly seems inadequate, and most of his other stuff is still boxed up, so he doesn’t even have the time to go digging. Eventually he just throws on what he’d planned and tells himself to get over it.

Forty-five minutes have passed, by the time he steps out of his bedroom, and the state of his apartment makes him gasp.

String lights are hung delicately along the walls and wrapped around his small tree. Ornaments and decorations sit artistically on every surface, as if each placement was deliberated and perfected. Paper snowflakes, even, that Lance had made in a fit of procrastination to avoid work weeks ago, are hung from the ceiling. Keith stands on the same footstool Lance tumbled from earlier, hanging a few more.

“Keith,” Lance chokes out. “Oh my God.”

His friend shoots him a grin. “What, surprised? I told you I’d handle it. Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course I do.” Lance swallows as the words come out on reflex, heavier than he’d ever usually let them. “I just.” He looks pointedly away from where Keith stretches his arms above him, thin paper held delicately between his thick fingers, sweater raising to show a strip of pale skin. “I appreciate it, is all. Turns out you do have some taste, Mullet.”

“Asshole,” Keith huffs.

But he’s smiling.

They spend the next twenty minutes in comfortable silence, putting up the last of the decorations and plating up the last of the food. Lance doesn’t need to say, I should have asked for help from the beginning. Doesn’t need to say, I’ve missed being close to everyone, being a real adult is hard, finally finishing school and growing into a new phase of adulthood, away from all the people I’ve grown up with, is hard. I had to prove I’m handling it. Doesn’t bother admitting, I couldn’t have done it on my own. Thank you for knowing me enough to come even if I couldn’t ask.

Keith brushes his hand on the small of his back as he walks by. Lance smiles, shy and pleased, and sinks into the comfort of Keith knowing, of Keith knowing him; of the proof of their familiarity despite all the new changes. He sighs, long and silent and heavy, something settling in his bones.

When the doorbell rings, and the rest of his friends start pouring in, he’s ready for them.

———

Hours later his giggly and red-cheeked and a little bit tipsy. Pidge brought bottles of liquor and Allura brought novelty shot glasses, and the rest of that story wrote itself. Lance lost count somewhere between Hunk slicing up the honeyed ham he brought and Shiro busting out the Twister. Cheesy Christmas songs have been looping for hours on Veronica’s CD player, and the air smells of plátanos a sweet-smelling incense Adam pulled out, and Lance is drunk on more than just the booze.

“The place looks great!” shouts Shiro, not particularly because it’s loud in here. He looks pretty red-cheeked, too, glass of wine tucked protectively to his chest. Adam watched him in amusement, arms half-raised in preparation for his clumsiness.

“Keith helped,” Lance admits, just as loud. Their shouted conversation draws teasing glances from the rest of their friends, but for once Lance isn’t self-conscious of the stares on him.

They’re drunk. It’s Christmas. Who cares?

“Speaking of, where is Keith?”

Lance frowns. He blinks some of the dizziness out of his eyes — he truly needs to stop walking around, there was way more rum in that daiquiri than he thought, typical Matt — and scans the crowd of people shoved into his tiny apartment. He would recognize that mullet anywhere and from any angle, and it is not currently among the masses.

“Hm,” he says out loud, and wobbles off.

The first place he checks is his bedroom. It’s locked, but he knows Keith can pick a lock and also has no qualms about picking the lock for Lance’s bedroom, because he was raised by wolves. He’s not in there, though, so Lance pivots to checking the bathroom — occupied by Kinkade and Rizavi who are busy sucking face — and the weird little linen closet tucked in a random alcove, which is empty. Keith is, strangely, nowhere to be found, but he couldn’t’ve just — left, right? He would have said goodbye.

Lance pouts. He hopes he would have, because Lance’s emotions are Compromised right now, okay, and if he gets sad he’s going to get sad for real. And Keith leaving just like that will, indeed, make him sad as shit.

“I need t’clear my head,” he mumbles to himself. He pushes through the tight circle Allura, Pidge, and Veronica have formed — he does not want to know, it might be actual witchcraft knowing them — to make his way to Hunk, tugging on his sleeve to pull his attention away from Shay.

“‘M gonna go get air.”

“Don’t die,” Hunks says. Lance nods, moving to stumble away, but Hunk grabs his sleeve and tugs him back. “No, wait, drink this, buddy. Else you’re going to walk into a wall and we’re going to end up in the ER on Christmas again.”

Lance dutifully chugs the three separate glasses of water Hunk hands him, realizing suddenly that he’s parched. By the end of them and also a banana Hunk has him eat, his head has miraculously stopped spinning.

“Hunk,” he says in total seriousness, “I love you. Deeply. From the bottom of my soul.”

Hunk rolls his eyes fondly and presses a kiss to the top of Lance’s head. “I know, you doofus. Begone.”

Lance snickers and heeds his command. As he closes the apartment door behind him, shutting out the noise with it, he breathes a huge sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized how overwhelmed he’d been getting, as much as he’d been having fun.

He understands, immediately, where Keith has gone. He huffs a smile.

“Goober,” he says around a smile, and jogs to the stairwell.

———

A sobering seven flights later, he pushes open the door to the roof, panting breaths turning to steam in the frosty air.

“You are elusive, you fucker.”

Keith looks over his shoulder, smiling in that quick way he does. “And you’re tipsy.”

“Nuh uh! Hunk made me drink water!”

“Right, and that undoes the six shots you took when Pidge dared you.”

“Obviously.”

Keith laughs, a little, and Lance preens like he’s won the whole lottery. Keith most definitely notices. Lance can’t bring himself to care.

“C’mon, let’s sit somewhere not so close to the edge. Knowing your shit luck you’ll go careening over the edge and I’ll have to jump after your dumb ass.”

Ignoring how that makes his heart pound, Lance shoots back, “That wouldn’t solve anything, stupid, we’d just both be dead.”

“A very Merry Christmas to us both, then.”

Keith finally finds a spot on the ground that’s mostly clear of snow and only a little wet. He plops himself down. Lance grimaces, looking down at his expensive and shimmery black slacks before sitting down beside him.

“You good?” Lance asks after a moment.

Keith lets out a breath. “Yeah, it was just getting to be a lot in there.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re basically a cat in human form. Surprised you didn’t bite anyone on your way out.”

“Oh, shut up.”

“Make me.”

Keith looks over, eyebrows raised. A smile twitches at the corner of his mouth.

“That was very transparent, you know.”

Lance shrugs, not bothering to hide his own smile.

“Hey, you’re the one who kissed me. Not my fault I’m thinking about it.”

“You think I kissed you to shut you up?”

“A little.”

Keith holds his gaze, challenging. Lance crosses his eyes. Keith snorts, punching him in the shoulder.

Heh. Success.

“I didn’t kiss you to shut you up, you goober. I kissed you because I wanted to.”

“…Did you maybe want to again?”

Now it’s Keith’s turn for his smile to turn shy, for a slight flush to rise on his cheeks. Lance’s own cheeks hurt from grinning.

“No mistletoe up here. Not sure I have an excuse this time.”

“Aha, but that’s where you’re wrong.” Lance digs in his pockets until he finds the little sprig, plucked from when he and Hunk were caught under the doorway sometime after shot number five. He holds it up between them.

Keith’s smile grows. “You really are a genuine actual goober.”

“You seem to like it,” Lance says cheekily.

“It’s fine, I guess. If I had to live with it.”

“Mhm.” Keith’s hand has snaked its way around Lance’s neck. Lance’s own hands are planted firmly on the ground between them, keeping him balanced as he leans closer, closer, closer. “Is that the case.”

“Yeah,” Keith breathes, and then he doesn’t bother with anything else, closing the distance between them. “Merry Christmas.”

Lance sighs into his mouth, tilting his head as their mouths move, as Keith’s long eyelashes tickle his cheek. Merry Christmas, indeed.

———

based on this art by @mothmanavenue

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girlboypersonthingy · 1 year

Note

Hiya!! Love your work so much😆

I was wondering if you’d write something where the paladins (especially keith hehe) have to go to a formal event like a gala to bring the coalition together (??) and how they’d ask y/n to be their date and/or how they’d react to y/n in their formal attire?? (maybe even add Matt too if you feel inspired) Thank youuu 🫶

Brooooo stoooppppp I am so weak for this idea holy shit 😩 And you are my first non anon request so THANKS FRIEND 🥹 I went with my three fav paladins 💙❤️💚AND Mattie boy 🧡Also I love writing with emojis, sorry not sorry. ENJOY DARLING~

KEITH ❤️

OH MY GOD POOR LITTLE SHY BABY BOY

He waits until the last minute to ask you, let’s be honest. Like a day before the event, he’s sitting beside you in the training room, trying to catch his breath when he goes “So that thing tomorrow. Wanna go together?” And you’re like 😏 “Are you asking me to be your date?” And now he’s like 🙄 “Shut up before I change my mind.”

It’s silent for a second but he’s staring at you. “So, are you gonna answer my question?” “Yes, Keith. I’ll be your date to the gala.” And he’s bright red in the face now.

He tries to act all cool and mysterious as you both leave the training deck and go opposite ways. As soon as you’re out of sight, he’s SPRINTING to Lance’s room.

“HELP I HAVE A DATE AND I DONT KNOW HOW TO ROMANCE!!!” 😰

He’s so fucking annoyed as he spends hours trying to memorize and properly recite pick up lines to Lance as practice.

He also totally does not steal a bottle of cologne from Lance’s bathroom before he leaves.

The morning of, he finds Shiro for wardrobe assistance. Big brother Shiro totally cleans Keith up, giving him a more semi-formal look. Keith thinks he’s too cool for a coat and tie. Shiro also convinces Keith to pull his hair back into a low pony tail.

He decides he’s just too nervous to meet you at your room so he kinda just sits on his bed for a while, fully dressed and smelling great and waiting for you.

Finally you step into his open door way, instantly catching his attention. He stands quickly, almost stumbling over his own feet as he approaches you, admiring your look for the evening.

“OH WOW. Oh…Uh…sorry. You look really nice.” You look so nice he’s stressed out about it like wtf why are you so gorgeous? He thinks you’re sooooo far out of his league.

“I like your hair pulled back like that.” You smile at him and he thinks he might just spontaneously combust rn.

He keeps his arm linked with yours as you walk together to the front of the castle where all the guests are.

Once there, you mostly hang out together or with the other paladins. You’re both kind of shy and you find comfort in being together. You’re like the two emo kids at prom who just stand against the wall and complain about the lame music.

At some point, you two disappeared from the party. Allura and Shiro are like Hello? Where did they go? Shiro wanders outside to look for you only to find you both laying on your backs in the grass right outside the castle’s front entrance, staring up at the sky. He smiles as he hears you laughing at something Keith said.

“Im serious! Lance told me to say ‘even in zero gravity, I’d still fall for you’.” “BOOOOO that’s a terrible line!” You laugh up to the dark night sky.

His hand moves slowly to the side until it meets yours. When you feel the touch, you link your pinky finger with his and look over at him. He’s still staring up at the stars as a smile grows across his face.

He was so worried about disappointing you tonight, he just wanted to charm you. But he didn’t need pick up lines or fancy clothes to make you smile. Just being his normal self seemed to make you happy.

LANCE 💙

You guessed it…Lance is going all out for you.

The morning that they are told about it from Allura, he’s literally interrupting the whole meeting to ask you to be his date.

Freaking cheese ball gets down on one knee, takes your hand and kisses the back of it softly. When he looks up at you, he’s got that flirty smirk on his thin lips. “Would you, (Y/N), make me the happiest man in the universe and be my date to the coalition gala?”

You: 😍🥵🤭

Lance: 😘😏😎

Everyone else: 🤢🫣🙄

Obvi, you say yes with dreamy eyes and a goofy smile on your face.

You thought it was cute that he asked you even though you’ve been dating for a while now. You just assumed you’d be going together anyways. What a sweet boy~

While you’re feeling fine about the whole thing, Lance is freaking out. He’s digging through his clothes looking for something fancy to wear, he’s doing double face masks, he’s forcing Pidge to smell different colognes and help him pick the best one, he’s practicing his slow dance AND his salsa skills. Keep in mind, the gala isn’t for another week but he needs to get prepared NOW!

“There’s not even gonna be music, idiot. It’s a gala, not prom. When are you two even gonna have the chance to do the lift from dirty dancing?” “SHUT UP, PIDGE! IT’LL HAPPEN!!!”

He just wants to impress you so bad. It’s his top priority at the moment.

The night of the event, he’s freshly showered, dressed for the gods, smelling like a whole bath and body works and he’s sitting in your room keeping you company while you get ready.

“Lance, the gala doesn’t start for another 4 hours. Why are you- nevermind. Forget it. You look great.” And he gets so excited at the compliment.

He watches as you get ready. He’s not as talkative as he usually is.

“You okay?” He nods with a dopey grin on his face. He’s just admiring you, that’s all. A compliment leaves his mouth like every 5 minutes as you continue to get all dolled up.

He follows along side you all the way there, his hand is in yours and it’s SWEATY. He’s so nervous.

Once you’re there, his attention span is that of a gold fish. He’s so excited and chatty and asking people questions and he never fails to introduce you to everyone…every single person…S E P A R A T E L Y. He just wants to brag.

“This fine little honey right here…yeah, all mine. I know what you’re thinking, how’d I get so lucky? I ask myself that every day.” What a sap omfg

He notices you’re looking less than happy, kind of tired. Your social battery is at like 5%. He can tell you need a break.

As you’re standing beside Allura, listening to her talk to an ally of the coalition, Lance grabs your hand and pulls you away. You’re running behind him just to keep up with his long legs.

“Where are we going?” “You’ll see.”

THIS MF SET UP FAIRY LIGHTS AND MUSIC AND CANDLES IN HIS ROOM. BRO IS LITERALLY SUCH A HOPELESS ROMANTIC I CANT DEAL WITH IT. That’s why he came to your room so early. He didn’t wanna risk you coming in to his room and seeing everything.

You might think this is so extra but if Lance is anything, it’s extra. He takes any chance he can to make you smile and feel special. He’s so sweet, it’s disgusting.

“I just really wanna dance with you, (Y/N)…” “You did all this…for me?” He nods with a shy smile, bitting his lip as he watches for your reaction. You’re over the moon, your smile uncontrollable now.

So you dance together for a couple songs. He gently caresses your back as he sways with you, occasionally letting his hands roam to your hips. At this point, his cheeks hurt from how hard he’s smiling. It’s cute and sweet and innocent and you’ve never loved him more.

PIDGE 💚

LMAO PIDGE WILL NOT EVEN ASK YOU.

Bc they’re too shy for that romantic shit.

They’re like “Who else would they go with? I’m not worried.”

They assume y’all are going together bc you’re obviously more than just friends.

They will get dressed up nice for you tho. They know everyone else will be dressed up too but they secretly WANT to make you swoon over them. Like plz feed their ego.

They actually go to Hunk for help with their wardrobe. Hunk is the best wingman to ever exist, change my mind. Also, they are really unsure whether they want to wear something more masculine or more feminine and they really trust Hunk with the topic of their gender identity.

“Hey, you guys ready?” You pop into Hunk’s room, all dressed up and ready to go.

“Almost! Hunk is just helping me with the zipper on-“ Once Pidge lays eyes on you, the little gears in their head stop completely. It’s like everything else faded away as they looked you up and down. You’re so angelic, wow oh wow.

“Aww, Pidge! You look stunning.” Aaaaand you broke them. You’re gonna have to turn them off and restart them.

“Uh yeah, you’re good now.” Hunk assures and nudges Pidge back to reality. “Go.” He whispers as he ushers them to move towards you.

You walk together in complete silence, your arm linked with theirs. Finally, they speak up first.

“Are you nervous?” “Yeah, are you?” “Yeah…” “I hate parties.” “Me too.”

So together you devise a plan: you’re gonna sneak around and pull silly little pranks on people and just eat all the food you can get your grubby little hands on.

And you do exactly that. You’re both having so much fun! You’re laughing so hard you’re snorting. You’re far from nervous now.

Pidge is the best at breaking you out of your shell and making you feel comfortable. You can be your true, authentic self around them. They are your best friend first and your ✨partner✨ second.

After a while, you two sneak off to their room to play video games. The food was good and the pranks were hilarious but you had both had enough.

As soon as the door shuts behind you, you’re both ripping off your uncomfortable fancy clothes and changing into pajamas.

You’re sitting beside them, watching the loading screen for the game. It’s taking a while…

“So…what do I have to do to get you to stare at me like that again?” Pidge whips their head around, watching you with nervous eyes. They take a deep breath before they speak. “I always stare at you like that. You’ve just never noticed.” “AAAAWWWWWWWW REALLY?!”

Forget the video game. CUE THE CUDDLEFEST!!! 💚💚💚

MATT 🧡

Matt literally goes like this: 😌👉🏻👈🏻 “Hey…uhm hey…wanna be my date to the gala tomorrow?” *blushies*

And you’re like “Matthew, we’ve been dating for 8 months.” “Yeah, so?” You sigh heavily. “Yes, I’ll be your date, you dork.”

He doesn’t go to anyone for help with anything. Man is so confident and he knows you love him no matter what he looks like.

But of course he cleans up for you. He dresses up all formal and uses mouth wash like 10 times. He puts on so much lotion. He got some from Lance bc his hands are always so dry. He just wants to hold your soft hand in his own soft hand, ya know?

He’s waiting outside your door for a while, giving you privacy while you get ready but being right there for you when you’re done.

Once your door slides open, he turns and now he’s looking at you like he just won the lottery.

“HOT DAMN, YOU ARE SO FINE! What did I ever do to deserve you? Oh my god, you’re so perfect. You are the most perfect thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on, did you know that? I swear, you are so precious-“ “Maaattttt, stooooopppppp.” You’re blushing so hard rn and he LOVES IT.

He walks with his arm around your shoulders, chatting with you about who is attending the event tonight and the importance of it all.

You sort of follow him around most the night, not doing much of the talking bc you’d rather listen to him talk.

He is so intelligent, just like Pidge. He uses words so big you cant even begin to imagine what half of them mean. He was so smooth with his words, the way he could spit facts about anything and everything without a second thought took your breath away.

At some point, you lost him in the crowd. He was busy, he was working to protect the universe. You understand. This is more than just a party.

You wander outside for some fresh air and a break from all the loud banter. Matt is meeting you out there within minutes.

“Hey. You alright?” He rests a hand on your upper back, rubbing his thumb back and forth between your shoulder blades. “Yep! Just…need a break.” “Yeah, I get it. It’s overwhelming.”

He turns and looks over his shoulder before he waves, a big smile on his face. “Oh hey! Yeah, this is (Y/N), my partner. The one I was telling you about.” He’s introducing you to an ally of the coalition who he’d just met earlier this evening.

You can’t help but smile, your heart pounding in your chest. He was talking about you to someone here tonight? What was he saying? Did he just call you his partner??? You’ve never actually heard him call you that. You’re so blushy and flattered and happy.

After a brief meeting, the visitor leaves you two alone. You pull Matt into a hug, squeezing him as tight as you can.

“You know I love you, right?” “Yes. You know I love YOU, right?” “Yeah, I know.” “Good, don’t you ever forget it.” You can decide who said what. Either way, y’all are so in love it’s not even funny.

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s-t-a-y--g-o-l-d · 11 months

Text

Fun at the Drive-In

Two Bit x Reader Smut

Contains: Blowjobs, cursing, idk other horny stuff

This is my first fanfic please be nice to me 😭

Criticism is 100% welcome 🤗

You glanced over at your boyfriend, your interest in whatever lousy comedy played on the bright projector in front of you slowly disappearing. You had gone with him to the drive in, though you had much more on your mind than a movie. It was the first time in a while that you had been on a date. As much as you loved the gang, it was nice to have a night with just you and Two Bit. Or rather, Keith. Two Bit was what his friends called him, and you liked it because it fit him well. It felt intimate, and sweet.

His brown eyes caught yours, and that gorgeous smirk you loved crept onto his face.

“What, do I got something on my face?” Two Bit mused, to your embarrassment.

“No. I just can’t help but admire you, is that so bad?” You bit your lip and shifted closer to him. Not only had it been a while since you could hang out, but it had been even longer since you last had sex. You couldn’t wait much longer, you were getting desperate.

“Oh, getting right into it, huh (Y/N)?”

Instead of responding, you turned his head to the side and began to kiss the warm skin on his neck. You could feel him begin to squirm excitedly as you sucked on his neck’s sweet spot. A soft moan escaped his lips.

God, you loved how delicate he became under your touch.

You pulled away and held his cheek in your palm. Your heart melted at the way he gazed into your eyes. You glanced around, to find that nobody else was there. You felt slightly aroused by the idea of having sex somewhere so public.

“Are you okay with this baby?” you asked, not wanting to pressure him into doing this with you.

You smirked as he quickly nodded his head yes. You dropped to your knees and sensually unzipped his denim jeans. You felt your arousal grow as you pulled out his already hard dick. You spit into your hand and gently began to stroke his cock. He let out a quiet moan and grabbed onto your free hand as you sped up. You took the leaking tip of his stiff cock into your mouth, giving it a gentle suck and continuing to stroke the rest of his member.

You swirled your tongue around his shaft and relaxed your throat, slowly taking the rest of his dick in your mouth. Your eyes slightly watered at his length, but you felt encouraged by Two Bit’s growing moans. You looked up at him and saw he had his eyes scrunched shut, his face contorted into one of please and his fingers gripping his chair desperately. You bobbed your head, slurping loudly and drooling around his dick. It was intoxicating, listening to your boyfriend gasp as you sloppily licked at his cock.

Two Bit grabbed a fistful of your hair, fucking into your mouth as he neared his orgasm.

“Oh fuck, (Y/N)! Oh god…” Two Bit cried out as he bucked further into your throat. Hot ropes of his cum shot down your throat as he held your head down, letting out a low groan.

As he began to pant, you pulled your mouth off of his dick and looked up at your dear boyfriend. He chuckled as he caught his breath.

“You are amazing…you know that, right?” Two Bit questioned as he held your hand to help you off the ground.

“Yes…you only tell me that every day,” you said with a giggle. You gasped as he pulled you onto his lap, gripping your waist with one hand and cradling your cheek with the other.

“Let me return the favor, baby.”

Okay that’s it bye bye

#the outsiders #the outsiders smut #two bit matthews x reader #two bit mathews

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chermanji · 2 years

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children of paradise

A/n: Flustering robin buckley bc yes. (This turned out way longer than I expected so… enjoy? Also first ST post wohoo)

CW: pervert Robin! She’s a lil freak lmao, peeping down shirts n up skirts, no actual nsfw, WLW, feminine reader, Robin being socially awkward, not proofread

She pretends like she has the cool and makes some nonsensical greeting when she hears the bell on the door, but it dies in her throat when she sees you, you the girl from her AP lit class. How you come into family video, dressed up in a too short plaid skirt that she’s sure will flash your panties if you bend over too much and a pretty lacy top that has her eyeing your exposed neckline.

You’re way too bright is the first thing she notices. Pretty golden bangles on your forearms that jingle with each step. And the step of your legs has her unabashedly drooling over the long expanse of skin, down to your strappy summer platforms. You’re like something out of a movie, a real valley girl. Both her and Steve stop their idle chit chat to oogle at you, and Robin almost makes a joke about flies getting into Steve's mouth, but she's no better. How has she never noticed you before?

Maybe she has, she just hasn’t noticed how drop dead gorgeous you are with how chaotic everything’s been. But maybe she should’ve because you stroll in with sunshiney, “hey Robin,” and you tip your head to her friend,

“Harrington.”

Before she can even open her mouth, Steve is acting like his usual desperate self. Flashing you a self-righteous smolder and saying, “welcome in! What can I do for you?” He's practically drooling over the counter like a dog, and Robin watches in uncontained horror as you smile up way too sweetly at Steve.

Usually Robin would gag at the way her co-worker pines for women’s attention, but this time she gets it. And honestly, she wishes she could shove him into the office in the back and lock him there. Yank his stupid up-do away from your beautiful face and kick his lanky body under Keith's desk.

But to everyone’s surprise (and Robin’s delight) you completely dismiss Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington, who’s dumbfounded at how he is completely missing another chance to score a sweetheart like you. You instead want her to help you, bypassing the boy and folding your arms across the counter where she sits on her stool.

Robin is straightening her back in some odd attempt to appear more formal. Well as formal as she can in her dark forest green Family Video vest and button-up. You ask her for a movie recommendation, some vague comment about needing a tape for a girls night - and she’s fumbling. The funny quips dying on her tongue once you get up to the counter.

She’s so used to watching Steve mooch his way with the ladies that she thought she might’ve picked up a thing or two, but once you drew a pretty manicured nail across the candy rack and give her a smile - she’s melting. It’s not her fault though! You’re so gorgeous it’s unreal, a babe as Steve liked to put it. And you push your glossy lips into a pretty curved pout for her as you ask,

“What’s your favorite movie?”

Oh how she blushes carmine red, freckled smattering turning tanner on her cheeks as her baby blue’s widen at your tone. She’s rambling and bleeting like a sheep, and fuck you’re wearing that low cut top and she can see your tits pressed up in the fabric. Is your bra really pink? She wants to smack her forehead on the counter, stuttering out like a moron.

You twirl strands of your hair around your finger, leaning up against the counter as you listen to her flush and ramble. You don’t mock her like she thought you would, but instead listen intently to her forceful retelling of Children of Paradise. Mhmming and oooing when her eyes light up, you nod and she feels like she’s gonna pass out if she doesn’t get air soon. She’s picking at the flakey nail polish on her thumb under the counter, throat going dry at how close you are.

“Can you show me?” You say it so soft, so sweet, she has a hard time computing what you said. She goes stupid for a minute, not registering what you mean, letting out a dumb “huh?”

To which you giggle, hands splaying over the vinyl counter as you nod your head to the racks of VHS tapes in the back. She can see your earrings dangling off your lobe, pretty sparkly ones that would only look good on you. The column of your neck smooth, in that moment she gets the sickly thought of sucking your skin till you’re marked purple and blue. What would she look like if you kissed her with your lipgloss on? She tucks a lip between her teeth to stop a whine from bubbling in her throat.

“Can you show me the movie, I think I wanna get it.”

She can hear Steve trying to stifle his laughter and she resists the urge to turn around and bare her teeth at him. Robin nods her head dumbly, swiftly walking around the counter, not before stomping Steve’s foot in revenge, and gesturing you to the romance section of the store. She hears him mutter a small, “dork” as she walks by and she just hopes you don’t think so too.

You chatter with her, making idle conversation about this and that - but to be completely honest Robin isn’t listening, making small mhmm’s to show she’s partially cued in. More entranced with the shape of your ass in your skirt. The way your hips sway when you walk and how your thighs look so plump she’s resisting the urge to wanna sink to her knees right now. She’s honestly stunned, she’s never this quiet.

You scan your eyes across the rows of movies until you find it, reaching up to grab it. And Robin is practically sinking into the floor when you stand on your tip toes to swipe the tape, she swears you’re doing this on purpose. She knows she should grab it, or at the very least ask Steve, but right now she has the perfect view of your skirt riding up the back of your legs. If you go just a little higher she might be able to see the pretty cotton-

“Got it!” You mumble in victory. Are you some sort of demon? Literally perfected by the hands of god and sent to lead her astray. She’s not religious by any means, but fuck she might just believe in it after seeing you.

“So are ya up for it?” You swivel around to look at her. A content smile is on your lips, but your eyes hold a clear disposition. You’re up to something.

“Oh, uh- up for what?” She croaks, shuffling her feet awkwardly.

“Movie night!” You beam at her. You hold up the tape of Children of Paradise. She really wishes she paid more attention to what you had said. Her brow creasing together as she tries to piece what you mean. Movie night? Aren’t you renting for your girl night? Wouldn’t that mean you want her to join girls night-?

You mistake her dumbfound silence for a no, a pout settling on your mouth. Arms dropping down, bangles clacking together as you step closer to her. Leaning close enough she can smell your perfume, a light daisy kind that makes you all too encompassing. She could fall into you if she really wanted to.

“I know we don’t really know each other, but if you’re not interested-“

Her eyes widen, “No! No- I mean, I’d love to join you for movie night.” She squeaks if out like a mouse that’s been stepped on, a far cry from the cool girl she tries to portray in band. She couldn’t say no even if she wanted to.

You giggle at her answer and Robin swears you have the prettiest laugh in all of Hawkins. She spends the next 5 minutes staring at you in starstruck awe, and you break it by saying, “This is cute n’ all, but are you gonna ring me up?”

Steve snorts in the back. And honestly Robin forgot he was even there in the first place. And she grins shakily at you, walking you back to the counter and logging your information into the computer. “You’re all set.”

When she hands you back the tape your fingers brush along her knuckles, and Robin almost shudders. You give her another smile and an airy thanks. You begin walking out of Family Video when you call over your shoulder, “I’ll see you tonight at 9, Buckley. And bring snacks.”

And you’re gone. Down the street in the summer heat with you new copy of Children of Paradise.

“What the fuck.” Robin whispers. Steve claps a hand on Robin’s shoulder and practically guffaws in her ear, “I can’t fucking believe it.” He mutters your name like it’s a sweet honey and wine, “you scored a date with the prettiest girl in Hawkins! You! You’ve outdone yourself Rob.”

Robin can’t believe it either. She’s grinning like a maniac behind the counter while Steve yaps at her. But all she can think about is you. Her first date and with the hottest girl in Hawkins - she almost can’t believe it. Is it a date? She’s still going back and forth, she sure hopes it is. She stills, sighing.

Fuck. What kind of snacks do you even like?

#robin buckley #robin buckley x reader #robin buckley smut #robin buckley x reader smut #robin stranger things #stranger things x y/n #stranger things x reader #robin buckley x y/n #robin buckley x you

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windtooweem · 1 year

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Mockingbird - Eminem

How are they like as your parent figure

For Pidge I’m gonna do it as sibling figure because their younger

They/Them reader

Platonic

Allura the last season fucking broke me

She will call you her little Princess/Prince

She will put you above all else

She will tell you old fairytales about her planet and will tell you story’s about her childhood

She will sing to you too 🥰

Coran is your weird uncle

Coran Coran the gorgeous man is very passionate dramatic

So Allura tells you to not listen to him

She’ll take you to the hologram of her father to meet you

He is a good grandma

Lance will try to get close to you because of your relationship with Allura

Shiro SPACE FATHER

I live for space dad

Such a good yet tired dad

So many children and a weird man with a mustache

Keith is your unofficial sibling and babysitter

Shiro likes to spend quite moments with you instead of the common yelling from most of the team

Will carry you in his his arms like a baby when you’re tired no matter how much you fight him off

Likes to fidget with your hair a lot and try different styles with it

Will hurt anyone who hurts you

Lance he’s my spirit animal

He baby’s you

Will support you no matter how stupid or dumb something is

Never stops you from doing something unless it’s bad

You get better treatment for Keith which makes Lance confused

He’s like: we’ve known each other longer, I mean I appreciate you treating my kid nice but what???

Will shove your face with Hunks glass cookies unaware that their not edible 💀

When he finds out he’s at your feet, kissing and begging for forgiveness

Will play video games with you and Pidge

Dad jokes so many of them

Keith he’s so pretty also him and Shiro look related in the Gifs I put

Very worried father

If you think he worries about Shiro too much imagine how much he worries about you

Will train with you daily just so he’s reassured that you can defend yourself

When you’re in battle he is somewhere around you even if you can’t see him, he’s there and he’s gonna kick some ass

Is your impulse control

Kosmo the space wolf Loves you so much

Krolia sees you and Keith as baby Keith and her husband when he was still alive

Isn’t the best at affectionate but he will give you the occasional pat on the head or back when a mission has gone right

When he found out he was part Galra he tried to hide it as long as he could scared of that you would say

Relaxed when you said that you didn’t care and the race doesn’t define someone

Hunk grandma is that you???

He acts more like a grandma than a dad

The favoritism is there

When you get back on earth he introduced you to his family as his child

Will put the most food on your plate

Will say “here’s some food for the road” then he’ll give you a whole turkey

Don’t ask where he got it

He’s another father who baby’s you

When you get injured he’s fretting over you even if you have a little scratch

You also spend a lot of time with Pidge as well

Pidge so god damn pretty I need to date someone like her

Gremlin sibling

Will drag you into all of their stuff

Will jump anyone who hurts you

She doesn’t even hide her favoritism

She wants everyone to know that you’re her favorite and nothing will change that

Will BEG her parents and her brother to adopt you

They probably will

She will drag you everywhere with her

They’ll play video games with you as you and them beat Lance at Mario cart

Will talk about science to you all the time

Matt sees you as a sibling too

Their parents sees you as their child as well

#platonic x reader #voltron x reader #vld x reader #allura x reader #shiro x reader #lance x reader #keith x reader #hunk x reader #pidge x reader

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first-edition · 1 year

Text

Fire Light

Keith Toshko x reader

Sum- you never thought you could be rained in. A virtual hurricane going on outside leave you to spend several days with the Keith who shares the Airbnb with you.

Smut- sex, PinV, unprotected, round 2, floor sex, Alcohol consumption, size kink, dirty talk, dom! Keith.

If you haven’t seen the movie barbarian….dont watch it lol it’ll scar your veiw point on airbnb’s.

THIS IS A SMUT AND CONTAINS SEXUAL CONTENT MINORS DNI

You sit across from each other playing battleship and drinking wine.

“Uh d6?” He asks

“Mm miss.” You say somehow he’s miss every single one of your ships and you hit his.

“A7?” You ask

“Fuck, hit and sunk. I’m out.” He says running his fingers through his hair.

You begin to reset the boards. He watches you contently organizing all the pieces. Your fingers grasping them little bits. His eyes travel down to your bare legs and move up. The way your shorts ride up, you over sized sweater leaving your body to the imagination. The way your skin glows in the fire light.

“Keith?” You ask? For the third time snapping him out of his trance. His eyes snap up to you.

“Hm?” You ask.

“All out.” You say holding the bottle of wine.

“Damn.” He sighs sitting back a bit.

The windows rattle causing you to gasp. And look over at the doorway seeing the rain violently hitting the glass.

“Well damn…you know I’ve been snowed in before but never rained in.” He says you giggle and he stands picking up the glasses and empty bottle from your hand.

“I’ve never been snowed in I’ve always wanted to be though. The cold, and sitting infront of a fire sounds like fun.” You say

“Well your half way there.” He chuckles disappearing into the kitchen. You look down putting the game on the coffee table before speaking once again.

“Keith…”

“Hmm?” He asks

“Th-thank you. For being you. I just um… you could’ve turned me away and made me sleep in my car a few days ago but you didn’t and thank you for that.” You say looking up at him as he walks back to you sitting back down on the poofy comforter under you both.

“Your welcome but seriously I would do that…especially to you.” He says trailing off a bit you grow slightly looking into his eyes.

“What do you mean.” You ask.

“Y-your beautiful. Well- no yeah. NO I didn’t mean no you’re not I mean no for myself not that I’m not beautiful but that no your not, not beautiful you are your gorgeous you’re um….I’ve had too much to drink I’m sorry.” He chuckles you laugh at him as he runs the back of his neck. You lean forward to him placing your hand on his cheek. He looks up to you.

“You’re beautiful too.” You smile. His eyes search your face for any form of sarcasm but he can’t find it you really mean it dispite his awkwardness.

“C-can you help me put the covers on.” You say getting up forgetting that that’s what you were doing the whole time before distracted by battle ship and wine.

“Oh yes right.” He hops up picking up the comforter.

“No no hold-hold on I gotta trick to this.”he says taking it turning it inside out and then hauling it over his head you laugh. Watching as he straightens it out.

“Okay. yeah now you hand the cover and you Flip It!” You jumps pulling the cover over the comforter.

“Oh my god!” You laugh helping him pull it over.

“You sure that’s how you do it?”

“Yes I saw it on opera.” He replies

“Opera you saw it in opera what? 5 years ago?” You ask laughing at him.

“Yeah. Very educational” he laughs “it never bunches up it gets completely smooth you’ll thank me later when your lying under a completely smooth duvet cover. Okay but now you gotta hand me the corners” he says making you laugh with is muffled voice under the sheet.

“There you go.” You reply handing him the comforter.

“My hands kieth haha your taking my hands.” You laugh as he grips onto your hands as well.

“Sorry” he laughs letting go. “Okay so now here where it get a little bit!! ARGH!” He jumps and shakes around pulling the duvet over the covers. Making you laugh your ass off.

“A little aggressive! But that is how you get the duvet in!!” He says successfully but also breathing hard.

“Are you usually this out of breath afterwards.” You giggle at the covers now surprised that actually worked. He chuckles.

“I’ll help you bring it to your room yeah?” He asks his eyes following you as you walk down the hall to your room.

“Uh no actually i heard a sound under the floor last night and i freaked me out i think a poor raccoon or something got stuck under there. Im gonna have a sleep over out here.” You say arriving back into the living room with pillows. Putting the on the ground with the covers.

You move to him fixing his hair that he’s been disheveled by the motion of the blankets.

“I’ll um…I’ll head to bed if you want you can stay out here with me or um take the bed tonight.” You say

“A sleep over?” he chuckles.

“A boy girl sleep over.” You laugh as well. You pull your and away but he grabs your wrist pulling you into him pressing his lips against yours. You immediately kiss him back throwing your arms around his neck.

His hands grip your waist pulling your hips into his wandering around pulling up your sweater just enough for his hands to feel your skin making you pull away from the kiss in a gasp.

“I-I’m sorry what’s wrong?” He asks you make sure he dosnt pull away from you as you look into his eyes.

“Y-your hands are cold.” You giggle. Pecking his lips.

“So you still want me to fuck you?” He says blaintently which catches you off guard. The once timid, shy, awkward Keith has left leaving a lust driven one.

His finger pushes your chin up to look at him as he waits for an answer.

“Yes.” You breath out against his lips. He smirks and places his lips back against yours moving up your back and pulls off your sweater leaving your top bare to him his kisses move to your neck as he picks you up your legs wrap against his waist as he kneels down laying you both into the comforter and pillow.

He pulls away from you only to hurriedly pulls off his shirt then his lips are right back on your body.

His large hand taking your breast in his palm giving it a squeeze pulling a gasp out of your mouth. His other grabs ahold of the waistband of your shorts and underwear pulling them off with one motion throwing it on the floor.

“Fuck..” he breaths as he admires your body. Finally what he invisioned is so much better. Both his bands grip your sides move if up to your ribs Ashe kisses up and down your body whorpising every peice of you. He makes sure to mark you on his way back to your lips.

His hand moves down the center of your body as he finger snake inbetween your folds immediately finding your clit. You gasp-moan both in pleasure and amusement he found it with out trouble or guidance. Every other man you’ve been with has just fucked you for thier pleasure.

The fact that he’s making you feel good, whorsiping you in every way turns you on more and more. He curls his finger up into you stroking the soft spot inside you making you bite your lip and moan. He watches every little movement you have anyalising what your reacting to.

Adding another finger his pace quickens. He pulls your hips back up into him as he places his other hand on your lower stomach adding pressure making your clench around his fingers ultimately cumming at his will.

He pulls out as to not overstimulate you wanting to do that on his cock. He presses his lips back against yours for a brief moment before he removes his ph pants giving you time to catch your breath. You glacé down seeing his erect dick large and long. He hover over you kissing your cutting off your eye contact with his manhood.

You move out hand between your body’s taking ahold of his cock stroking it in your hand chasing him as he groans out of the kiss and grips your breast again as he lets you stroke him. His hair falling infront of his face.

“Keith..p-please fuck me.” You moan out he kisses your neck moaning into your jawline as a yes. You line him up as he pushes into you slowly being cautious of how large he is. He fits like a glove as he slips inside.

You moan out as he lets thrusts through already drunk on the way you feel. Your nails digging into his back for sure leaving marks as his hips slam against yours. He grips the sheets aside your head. You feel his back muscles flex against your fingertips.

You can taste the wine on his lips as he kisses you. His other hands grips your hip in a bruising manner before he moves his hand down the side of your thigh pulling it against his hip wrapping it around his waist. The slight new angle allows him to brush against your soft spot making you slut as his command.

“K-Keith ah!” You moan out his pace picking up. His breath and moans hitting your ears turns you on more that he’s enjoying himself as much as you are. Your walls clench around him fluttering.

“F-fuck.” He moans

The knot in your stomach burst as you cum on his dick clenching around him. His thrusts become ridged as he over stimulates you his thumb rubbing your clit. Too much for him and you to handle within seconds you cum again and he follows roughly pushing into you.

Making your back arch and nails grip his shoulder blades.

As you both come down down from you high he pulls out of you trying not to hurt you. He sits back on his heels pushing his hair back.

“FUCK!” He exclaims realizing what he’s done. You sit up to him wrapping your arms around his neck.

“No no..Keith. Hey..” you say kissing his face.

“Shit im so sorry. I didn’t mean-“

“Keith hon look.” You say holding out your arm as he sees a small scar you take his hand running his fingers along it as he feels the slightly raised device under your skin.

“I have an implant its okay.” You say reassuring him with kisses. He calms down as his hands snake around your waist pulling you back up into him you sit in his lap straddling him accident grinding against him.

His finger tips feel your body as they move down your gripping your ass getting a moan out of you. In embarrassment you bury your face into his neck.

“Keith..” you say he kisses your neck.

“Hmm?” He replies.

“Take me to the bedroom.” You reply.

He pulls you up higher on his waist and stands walking you both to the bedroom for round two.

#keith toshko #keith Toshko x reader smut #keith toshko x reader #Barbarian fanfic #barbarian smut fanfic

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childoftheriver · 9 months

Text

Emerson, Lake and Palmer

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walalppper · 3 months

Text

Sour

Jealous! Silvio Ricci x Reader Warnings: 18+ Slightly suggestive, jealousy and violent themes.

─── ─── ─── ─── ─ ⛧°｡⋆༺♱༻⋆｡°⛧ ─ ─── ─── ─── ───

Silvio Ricci wasn’t a jealous man, at least not before he met (Y/n), now every man he saw near her was a potential threat to him. He always thought he was very good at pretending not to be jealous, but anyone in plain sight could sense he was fuming inside, especially Gilbert. Sitting across the comfortable couch, he looked over at the gigantic windows, and there she was, carefully showing Prince Keith the variety of flora that the Rhodolite Garden had to offer. Watching (Y/n) talking with Gumskull made him agitated. Gilbert smirked, putting down his cup of tea on the table, he knew exactly what to say to sting the white-haired male that sat across him. “She seems to be enjoying herself-” That was enough to make Silvio get up from his seat. “Oh, I bet she fucking is!” Silvio scoffed, quickly heading outside.

“You’re so easy to piss off…” Gilbert whispered, completely amused by the mess he created.

Feeling an unsettling aura behind her, (Y/n) turned around only to meet with the familiar ocean-blue eyes she loved. But this time they were different, his eyes glared with resentment towards her and the Prince in front of her. “What y’all talking about?” he suspiciously asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, and pulling her towards him. Receiving a warming smile from Prince Keith he tried to explain. “Oh, (Y/n) was showing me the diversity-” “Boring, c’mon…” Silvio answered, dragging his lover along with him, leaving behind Prince Keith confused. “Silvio-” (Y/n) tried to protest. “We’re leaving” He firmly answered.

Forcing her into his room he slammed the door shut behind him. “You don’t think I’m this fucking dumb, do you?” He asks her, trapping her between his arms against the beige wall.

“What?!” furrowing her eyebrow (Y/n) asked, completely confused about the whole situation. Thinking about what could have caused him to be acting this way, she finally understood. “You’re not seriously jealous of Prince Keith are you?”

His eyebrow twisted and he chuckled darkly. Feeling one of his hands raise her chin, he spoke again. “I’m not jealous, I just don’t like you keeping from me.” “I was just showing him the variety of roses-” She tried to reason with her lover.

“You never did that with me.”

“Because you hate roses!”

There was an almost awkward silence in the room as he ran out of arguments to use against her. “I saw how you looked at him!” He accused once again. “You wanted him to fuck you, right there in front of-” His sentence was cut off by a sudden slap against the skin of his left cheek, leaving a red mark across his gorgeous face.

“You’re acting like a fucking asshole!” She shouted back at him. Silvio’s frustration boils over as he grabs her wrist forcefully. Looking at each other’s eyes, the tension between them was going beyond their limits.

“Maybe I need to remind you who you belong to…” He smirked, placing one of his hands on her lower back, pulling her body closer to his. The air thickened with desire as his lips met with hers, she tried to resist his urgers, but she couldn’t. Whatever heated argument they were having was already vanishing in her mind as their lips danced together. The tension of their disagreement quickly transformed into lust, and time seemed to stand still as they lost their selves in the heat of the moment.

Pulling apart to give her some time to breathe, he wasted no time covering her neck with marks. He bit, sucked, and kissed her the most sensitive areas of her neck, that only he knew about, leaving her a total mess in his arms. “S-Silvio, stop- ahh~” He smirked to himself, deep down he knew that power he had over (Y/n), he loved it so much it turned him on.

Melting into his arms, Silvio knew exactly what she wanted. Wrapping both her legs around him, he lifted her, bringing her to the bed where he gently laid her on, placing himself on top of her.

“This is a punishment, why do you seem to be enjoying it that much?” He mocked while caressing her inner thighs, noticing her aroused features. Adverting her timid gaze from his, he forced her head to look his way. “Answer me…” he whispered against her lips. “I-I need you…” (Y/n) whispered sweetly against him. Chuckling darkly, he stared at her bare neck. “You’re gonna have to do better than that…” he murmured, burying his head deeper into the curve of her neck.

“Beg.”

─── ─── ─── ─── ─ ⛧°｡⋆༺♱༻⋆｡°⛧ ─ ─── ─── ─── ───

Hey, hope you enjoyed :p

#silvio ricci #ikepri silvio #ikemen prince #ikemen series #ikepri #cybird #ikemen prince silvio #ikemen silvio #silvio ricci x reader #mc #benitoite

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ikeromantic · 4 months

Note

Happy New Year's Eve!

May I request Wicked Keith in the rose garden with red hots? (It sounds like Clue, lol)

Thanks

Hehe, you know it does sound like Clue ^_^ I’ll take Colonel Mustard in the kitchen with ropes and a blindfold plz ;) Approx. 1900 words of a very spicy Wicked Keith and his rose garden adventure. Contains spoilers if you have not read Keith's route. TW: descriptions of kissing, fingering, intercourse IkePri New Years Event story!

Keith found Emma where he expected to. She was adorably predictable at times. He’d known the moment he woke that she would be wandering the rose garden. The winter-white blossoms were at their peak this time of year, information his other self passed on to her the day before. So here she was, walking along the paved path that wove through thickets of blooming roses.

He watched her, following along with quiet steps. Not that he needed to bother sneaking. Emma was lost in her own thoughts, a ghost of a smile on her lips. Keith wondered if she was thinking of him, or of his other self. Sometimes he was jealous of his kinder half. Sharing was hard.

Careful and quiet, he plucked a flower, one with gorgeous white petals that looked like drifts of snow. His deft fingers avoided the sharp points of its thorns. Keith moved closer to her as she paused to smell the vining flowers that hung from one of the path’s stone arches.

Emma’s back was to him as he closed in. With a wicked little smile, he brushed the flower petals across the back of her neck. She gave a start, her hand slapping at the unexpected touch.

Keith couldn’t help but laugh as she turned on him, glaring.

“Ooooh it’s you.” She tried to hold onto her frown, but couldn’t stop her lips from curling up at the edges. “I didn’t think you’d be out for another few days at least.”

“We agreed to trade off. Today is mine.” Keith shrugged. “Disappointed?”

Emma went on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. “Not a bit. Just surprised.”

He grinned and caught her waist before she could step back. “Let’s try that again.”

“Wha-”

Keith kissed her on the lips, a hungry demanding kiss. The burn of jealousy eased as she sank into his embrace and kissed him back with passion. He felt like a man given water after a long journey through the desert. When he reluctantly set her down, he grinned. “That’s more like it.”

“You can’t expect every kiss to be like that.” Emma looked around furtively. “What if someone was watching?”

“What if they were? We’ll give them a good show.” He patted her rear and got a slap on the hand for his effort. “Hey! Am I not allowed to touch? That’s not what you said the last time I -”

“Keith!” She cut him off, her face heating. “Let’s not . . . bring that up in public.”

He looked around and raised an eyebrow. “There is literally no one here. What are you afraid of, hm?” Keith took her hand and raised it to his mouth. He nipped the tip of her forefinger and then kissed it. “I know. Talking about it excites you. Makes you want to do it again.”

Emma’s ears flushed and she looked away, trying to pull her hand back. “No! That’s - that’s not it. I’m not . . . excited. I’m embarrassed! Because if someone heard you . . .”

“They would know how much I love making love to you?” Keith grinned. He loved the way she looked when she wanted him but didn’t want to admit it. Her face was so expressive, even when she was trying to pretend nonchalance. Emma would never make a good courtier, but she was an amazing lover.

She made a throaty little gasp as he nipped his way down her arm from her wrist to the little crook of her elbow. He bent his head to reach, letting his hair fall into his face to screen his wicked smile.

“You are so - grrrr!” Her attempt at a growl was adorable.

Keith backed her up to the stone arch, bending further to kiss her neck and bare shoulders. He drew the flower petals along her skin after his lips, and her skin dimpled and flushed from the touch. “And you are so wonderful. Did I ever tell you that I love the way you taste?”

Emma’s breath shook as she tried to seem unaffected by his desire. “Nope. No. Definitely not a compliment you’ve mentioned. D-does that mean you’re going to eat me?”

“All up,” he laughed. “Like the big bad wolf. You’ll be my red riding hood.” Keith stepped back. “But first I have to catch you.”

For a breath, she looked uncertain, trying to decide if he was joking or serious. Then she lifted her skirt with one hand, laughing as she spun around. She was off like a wild hare, down the path and around the hedge.

A kind man might have given her to the count of ten. Afterall, she was shorter and didn’t have his training. But Keith wanted to catch her. Besides, he’d already given away a headstart. He bolted after, a hound on the scent.

Though he was faster, Keith hadn’t counted on Emma knowing the garden so much better than he did. She wove her path around hedges and thorny rows of vining roses. Somehow, she stayed a step ahead, even as he pushed himself to run faster.

“Come on, Big Bad,” she giggled, ducking under a low gap in some flowering bushes.

“Shouldn’t taunt the beast,” he gave her a feral grin as he launched himself over the bush instead of under, landing right in her path. She had nowhere to go as the other direction was blocked by an old evergreen tree.

Emma laughed in surprise, narrowly avoiding his grasp. “Too slow!”

Keith felt a surge of affection for his silly, precious, teasing girl. “Just means you fell for the feint.” He lunged to catch her as she tripped over his strategically placed foot.

“Oh no,” she pretended terror. “Now I’m in trouble.”

“Big trouble,” he confirmed, and tucked the rose into her bun. Her eyes went wide as he leaned down and bit her neck. His teeth scraped her skin, lapping and suckling the spot to leave a love-bite behind.

She inhaled sharply, her eyes fluttering shut in pure pleasure.

The expression only urged him on as he kissed down her collarbone, and tugged the bodice of her dress lower to reveal her breasts. Her nipples were hard in the chill air, and dimpled with cold. He took one in hand and the other he kissed. “Emma.”

“Mmm, y-yes,” she opened her eyes to look down at him.

“I want to make love to you.”

“H-here?” Her eyes opened wider.

Keith caressed her nipple with his tongue, eliciting another gasp from her. “Here.” He lifted her with a hand around her waist, moving her against the tree. They were screened from view by the evergreen boughs. The air smelled of sweet sap and the sharp, clean scent of pine. “Please?”

She gave a soft chuff of laughter. “Big bad wolf asks permission, hm?”

“Say yes?” He slipped his hand under her skirt, his fingers teasing up her thigh. He brushed his thumb along the line of her panties, and could feel her warmth beneath. “I know you want me to.”

“I do,” she admitted, her breath unsteady. “But if - if someone comes . . .”

“Besides you and me?” He grinned, his finger sliding beneath the lace edge to caress her most sensitive places. Keith let his calloused fingertip brush across her hard little pearl. Her bare skin was almost hot to the touch, and already slick.

Emma arched into his touch with a muffled moan. “You are so wicked!”

Keith laughed, his breath strained as he contained his desire. He wanted her so badly that he almost shook from it. An addict, denied. “You knew that already.” His fingers strummed her, finding a melody she liked. He could tell by the way she tensed and trembled, hips twitching. “Let me have you.”

“I - I -” she bit her lip to hold back another pleased sound. Her back arched, pushing her into his hand, grinding against him for more. Her body knew what it wanted, even if she was still deciding. But Keith held back, keeping her on the edge, the rhythm of his play inconsistent. Fast and then slow and then still.

Emma gave a desperate, breathy laugh. “Damned tease. Alright. Yes. God, yes. But quiet!”

The next sound was tearing fabric as Keith impatiently removed the obstacle to their pleasure. It took only a moment for his belt to hang open, ends undone. A shock of cold air and then he was pushing past the silk folds of her skin and into the heat of her core. Ecstasy coursed through him, and he nearly buckled then. She felt so good. There was nothing in the world like being joined with his lover, flesh to flesh and heart to heart.

He drew out slowly, angled up to stroke her pearl with his shaft, and then in again in one hard, swift motion. Impaling her on him again.

Her legs wrapped around his hips, her hands holding onto his shoulders, face pressed against his neck to muffle the sounds of her pleasure. Wordless sounds to urge him on, gasped endearments, and ragged breath.

Each time he thrust into her, his world nearly shattered into shards of pure bliss. Keith held himself back by a thread. A breath. He wanted to bring her to her peak first, to feel her shudder against him, the flood of heat washing over his aching cock. Then he would let go. But it was so hard to hold back against the velvet caress of her.

Then she bit his neck, a love-bite, and he couldn’t hold back longer. He pushed deep, his whole body narrowing to just her. The smell of her, the feel of her, the sound. There was nothing but his lover in the world. He shuddered, gasping as he came.

His climax pushed her over the edge, and she found her release in the same moment. Trembling, as she rode out the waves of her bliss.

For a long few breaths, they clung to each other, supported by the tree at her back and not by their quivering limbs. Keith kissed her again, a gentle, slow kiss that drew out the pleasure between them. He wanted the moment to never end, but he was spent - for now. He slipped out of her and pulled back, letting her skirt fall back down.

As he made himself presentable, she asked, “Did you follow me out here just to make love in the garden?”

“Hm? No.” Keith chuckled, the effect a little different with his breath still ragged. “I came out to invite you to lunch. But you were so lovely. And then we kissed and I wanted you.”

Emma smiled, her gaze warm and full of love. “I guess I should be more careful with those kisses.”

“Or we might end up making love in even more inappropriate places?” His smile stretched wider. “I can think of a lot of places we shouldn’t. But it would be fun. I’ll make a list.”

“You will not!” Her expression was horrified as she laughed. “I don’t even want to know what you’d come up with. The throne room? The city square? No. Absolutely not.”

Keith shrugged. “Never say never. Those are pretty good ones too. Gotta right that down . . .”

She smacked his arm. “Don’t you dare.”

“You are so cute when you’re mad.” He pulled her into a hug.

“Keith. That wasn’t reassuring.” Emma poked a finger at his chest as he picked her up. “Keith? Keith! I’m serious!”

He just laughed as he carried her back to the palace.

#ikemen prince #ikepri #ikepri keith #keith howell #wicked keith #fanfiction #fanfic #otome #otome guys #smut #very spicy

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maboroshi-no · 5 months

Text

Hamefura Movie Novel Chapter 4 Summary

I am currently reading the light of the novel of the upcoming Hamefura movie and will write summaries as I read.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1: The Foreign Merchant Caravan

Chapter 2: The Emissaries From Mutlaq

Chapter 3: Food Supplies

Chapter 4: Encounter

Katarina fell asleep while thinking hard about how to help Aaqil.

Before the Welcome Party

The next morning, Katarina wakes up and continues thinking about how to help Aaqil. Doing so, she absentmindedly nods whenever her father, her mother, and Keith tell her something.

Before she knows it, she has been taken to the castle all prepped up with makeup and hair done.

After a while, Katarina realizes that she is in the castle and gets confused. Keith sighs. He had the feeling she wasn't listening at all.

Keith explains that they have been called to attend the welcome party of the Mutlaq emissaries. There will only be the royals and the nobles close to them at this party.

The welcome party is held a few days after the Mutlaq emissaries have arrived, but it can't be helped since they arrived earlier than expected. And because of this, the party was prepared in a hurry.

If Katarina hadn't remembered about the otome game, she would have been happy to meet foreigners, talk to them, and eat delicious food. But since she has remembered, she knows their objective. They didn't come to have relations with another country, but to retrieve their sacred beast. And after they do, a tragedy will happen. She can't enjoy this party. She must do all she can for Aaqil and the others.

Keith has said that there were royals among the emissaries. Based on the game, it may be Aaqil. In that case, she should be able to meet Aaqil at this welcome party. Once she does, she should try to probe him for information about the sacred beast. If it goes well, she might even get information regarding the seal.

Katarina feels lucky that she will be able to meet Aaqil today after all. Piyo would be jealous if he knew.

Katarina hits upon a realization. She and Aaqil met each other as a town girl and a caravan member. Under these identities, they could interact without restraint. But once Aaqil learns that she is a Sorcier noble, he might act hostile towards her. And in that case, she won't be able to get any information from him.

Katarina panics about the situation.

The Welcome Party

It is time. Keith escorts Katarina to the party.

The welcome party is held in a wide space where people can dance. Katarina has been there so many times but it is the first time she is so nervous. She would rather avoid meeting Aaqil here and just return to the merchant caravan as a town girl afterward. She doesn't want Aaqil to act hostile towards her. If he rejects her, she won't be able to help him.

Katarina nervously glances around her. Looking at her, Keith tries to reassure her: she doesn't need to be nervous since the Mutlaq people are not fussy about manners. She will just need to greet them normally and then she will be able to enjoy the buffet. Keith seems to have misunderstood her nervousness, but she nods. She really doesn't want to greet Aaqil.

Katarina tries to reassure herself. Aaqil is not necessarily at the party. And if she finds him, she will just need to hide so that he won't find her.

Katarina and Aaqil Meet

Geordo walks up to Katarina with his best smile. He tells her that she has arrived at the right time since he would like to introduce her to someone.

Geordo starts introducing Katarina to someone. Then "he", appears before her. A pretty boy dressed in gorgeous clothes. Upon setting her eyes on him, Katarina freezes. He, too, widens his eyes for an instant. She doesn't know if they are gazing at each other for a long time or an instant.

The boy introduces himself as Chihab Waaqid Aaqil Khalif. Aaqil doesn't look the same as yesterday night at all. He has an artificial smile on his face and he introduces himself with a long name. Katarina is shocked but she manages to give a ladylike bow.

Geordo and Aaqil talk about something but Katarina can't hear them.

Katarina feels upset after Aaqil has looked at her like they were complete strangers.

Geordo and Aaqil are walking away. Katarina runs out of the venue and hides in a corner of the hallway.

Katarina is upset over Aaqil being possibly hostile to her now. Even though they had fun talking and have become friends.

Aaqil has looked at her like she was a stranger and she has felt rejection from him. She may not be able to do anything for him anymore. Awful things await him and she wants to prevent them so badly.

Katarina raises her head. She has been able to prevent her doom, so she should be able to prevent Aaqil's doom.

Katarina and Aaqil Have a Talk

Katarina sees Aaqil going out of the venue. She silently chases after him.

Aaqil stops in front of the garden.

Aaqil: I know you are following me. What do you want?

Katarina appears in front Aaqil.

Aaqil is looking at her with the same cold eyes he had on their first meeting.

Aaqil: Did you approach me from the start to probe me regarding our objective?

Aaqil has said this with a voice as cold as his eyes. Katarina's chest hurts. She realizes that Aaqil thinks she has approached him to deceive him.

Katarina: Not at all. It was a coincidence that I went to the merchant caravan.

Katarina has said this while looking straight into Aaqil's eyes. Aaqil makes a wry face.

Aaqil: A noble lady would go to a merchant caravan for commoners? There's no way it can be true.

Katarina: It totally can! I often go to town to have fun. Like, I buy food there, I buy romance novels and stuff like that. And I also go to farm villages to study.

Katarina has said this in a decisive tone. Aaqil looks surprised.

Aaqil: No, normally, nobles, and especially the fiancée of a prince, wouldn't go to towns so readily. By the way, why do you even go to farm villages?

Katarina: I cultivate fields, so I go to farm villages to learn how to develop them. It's very useful.

Aaqil: ...Fields?

Katarina: Yes, fields! I have cultivated fields in the garden of my house and at the academy. I have graduated from the academy, so my juniors have taken over the ones there. I still plan on working on the ones at home, so I study a lot.

Aaqil: Is it some kind of investigation for the development of your country?

Katarina: No, it's just my hobby.

Aaqil: ...

Aaqil has gotten silent. Katarina doesn't know if it is a good silence or a bad silence.

Aaqil: ...Why did you hide your social status?

Katarina: Because if I told you I was a noble lady, you and the others would fuss about me, don't you think?

Aaqil: Just because of that?

Katarina: Just because of that.

Katarina has said this decisively. Aaqil makes a big sigh.

Aaqil: I feel stupid for getting wary for nothing.

Aaqil has reverted to his usual self. Katarina feels deeply relieved.

Aaqil: I see, it was a coincidence. I'll believe you for the time being. You really don't seem like the type who can act naturally while lying.

Katarina wonders if it is a compliment.

Katarina: Y-Yeah...

Katarina nods.

Katarina: And so, why this "Aaqil"?

Katarina has remembered the game, so she already knows the reason. Still, she wants to hear it from Aaqil's mouth.

Aaqil is silent for a while, then...

Aaqil: I also thought you would fuss about me since I am an emissary from Mutlaq.

Katarina may be dense, but even she can tell that this is not the real reason. She wouldn't believe it even if she hadn't remembered about the game.

Katarina stares at Aaqil in silence.

Aaqil: I guess even you wouldn't swallow that.

Aaqil chuckles. Katarina wonders how stupid he thinks she is. She shows him an angry outraged face.

Aaqil: No, I just thought that, since you're so honest, maybe it would work. Don't be so outraged.

Aaqil chuckles again. Then he lowers his eyes.

Aaqil: I have some circumstances. I can't talk about it in detail but I won't cause you trouble. So please continue to pretend that you don't know me, and then I will disappear from your sight right away.

From Aaqil's sad eyes, Katarina can tell he has no intention to talk. If it were the "her" from yesterday, she would have backed away. She wouldn't have cornered someone who told her with sad eyes that he clearly didn't want her to step further. But if she backed away here, she would probably not be able to see Aaqil ever again.

After he brings back the sacred beast to his country, he will lose the caravan people, and control something that will drain his life. Maybe the heroine who is supposed to save him will appear at some point but she doesn't want such a terrible thing to happen to him. She can't just abandon the caravan people, who have welcomed her so cheerfully.

Katarina Tells Aaqil About Her "Power"

Right now, Katarina needs to probe Aaqil for information about the sacred beast and ensure he won't bring it back to Mutlaq. But what should she tell him? She can't think of anything that sounds good. How should she ask it? How should she extract the information from him? What if she talks to him about the content of the game that she saw in her dream? No, he would probably think she is crazy.

Katarina: The dream...

Aaqil: The dream?

Katarina is so panicked that she has voiced her thoughts.

Katarina: Ah, umm...

Katarina tries to come up with an excuse, but she takes a defiant attitude.

Katarina: Yesterday evening, I had a dream. You took something from Sorcier back to Mutlaq, and because of that, something horrible happened to you.

Katarina has talked about the content of the game while blurring some details.

Aaquil freezes. Then he looks at Katarina with suspicious eyes. Katarina thinks he is probably suspecting her of being a spy.

Aaqil: Is it the power of Sorcier's magic?

Aaqil doesn't seem to be suspicious of Katarina. It appears he doesn't know much about Sorcier since his first time here. He only seems to know that Sorcier people use a wondrous power called "magic". He probably thinks that Sorcier people also have the ability to see the future since they can seal creatures.

Katarina decides to take advantage of it.

Katarina: That's right. It isn't public information but I have the ability to see the future in my dreams.

Katarina fully rides the tide. She feels bad for lying to Aaqil but she can't think of any other way to stop him.

Aaqil: Does magic have this kind of capability?

Aaqil has muttered this with wonder.

Katarina and Aaqil Talk About His Plans

Aaqil suggests they talk in the parlor provided to them, Mutlaq emissaries.

Katarina feels relieved that Aaqil believes the spur-of-the-moment lie that she has uttered. Even if it wasn't all a lie.

When Aaqil and Katarina reach the parlor, Aaqil warily looks around and invites her to enter.

Aaqil asks Katarina how much she saw in her dream. He stares right into her eyes.

Katarina hasn't thought so far. To make up for any blunders further on, she pretends she hasn't seen everything and it was all fragmentary.

Aaqil asks her if what she told him earlier is all she saw. Katarina hesitantly replies that she saw him controlling the creature that came out of the thing that he took from Sorcier. Then she stops, unable to say the rest.

Katarina can't bring herself to tell him that the caravan people were all killed and only one remained to be used as hostage. Fiction is one thing, but this kind of thing is too cruel in real life.

Aaqil sighs and tells her he knows what will happen. Katarina is surprised and wonders if Aaqil knows about the game after all.

Aaqil sadly tells her that he knows that, once he brings the creature back, he will be coerced into controlling it, and then the King will keep using him as a tool.

Katarina is surprised. Aaqil seems to know that the King will coerce him into controlling the sacred beast but he doesn't know that the caravan people will get killed.

Aaqil tells her that he is fine with being a tool if it means that the caravan people will be able to live freely and smile. He shows an awkward smile.

Aaqil seems to believe the Mutlaq King's words promising him that he would set the caravan people free if he brought back the sacred beast. Even though the King didn't mean any of it.

In the game, Aaqil didn't trust people at all because of all of the horrible things that happened in his past. But this Aaqil is different: he spends time with the caravan people whom he considers family, the caravan leader along with the older people dote on him, and he gets along with his friends. As a result of this, he trusts people. While he considers the King as a stranger, he doesn't think he would betray him so cruelly. And that's why he was deceived.

Katarina remembers the words of the caravan leader: he asked her to get along with Aaqil. Because Aaqil has grown up loved by the caravan people, he has become such a gentle and big-hearted boy who will even believe her.

Katarina already found his doom cruel when she was playing the game. It would be way too cruel if it happened in reality.

Katarina: You can't do that, Aaqil! You can't return to Mutlaq! Don't bring back the sacred beast, Aaqil!

Katarina has shouted this. She feels like her heart will burst open because of the cruel reality. Tears overflow from her eyes.

Aaqil is surprised that she even knows about the sacred beast. Then he notices Katarina's tears.

Aaqil: Hey, what are you crying about? I'm just someone you got a little involved with. What a softie.

Aaqil has said this with an awkward expression.

Aaqil decides to tell Katarina about his past since she seems to know most of his plan already.

Aaqil is a royal, but only one among many. His father and blood relatives have always felt like strangers to him, so he was always alone. Because he had a powerful animal-controlling power, he often received orders that he blandly executed. This was how he passed his days.

Katarina stays silent. Even though she already knows his backstory from the game, it feels so heavy when she hears it directly from him. Aaqil talks about it like it is nothing, but they definitely were terrible days.

Aaqil tells her about the day he saw the show of the caravan people. They were making such bright faces that he felt jealous. As a result, he started secretly peeping at them.

Katarina is surprised to hear some details she didn't know. But she is confused about the peeping part. She wonders if Aaqil might have committed some improper deeds and asks him to explain himself. Aaqil smiles.

Aaqil explains that he peeped at the caravan people because he wanted to see them so badly. Then the caravan leader would find him right away, and instead of scolding him, he would drag him to have dinner together, and once they were finished, he would ask him to come back again. Before he knew it, he had become part of the family.

Aaqil has said it with a happy expression.

Aaqil continues. The caravan people taught him about human feelings. If he hadn't met them, he would have probably remained an emotionless tool.

Aaqil explains that "Mutlaq caravan" or "state-managed" are just words. The country doesn't do anything for the caravan. On the contrary, they monitor them and snatch away all their earnings. That's why no matter how much they earn, they remain poor, and they can't do what they want either. They're like slaves owned by the country.

Katarina feels sad upon hearing this. Mutlaq appears to be a more horrible country than she thought.

Aaqil explains that if things go well, the caravan will be free. And then, they will definitely be happy since they have talent and popularity.

Aaqil has said this so happily. Katarina feels sad: Aaqil hasn't included himself in this bright future. On top of this, it won't happen, no matter what he says. If she doesn't stop him, Aaqil will lose everything.

Katarina asks Aaqil if everyone is okay with him carrying all of the burden.

No matter how she thinks about it, Katarina doesn't think that the caravan leader, who considers Aaqil as his own child, and Qumiit, who seems to be his close friend, would be okay with this.

Aaqil tells Katarina that he hasn't told everyone because they would be against it. He asks her to keep it a secret from them too.

Aaqil seems to have decided everything alone.

Katarina: No way! You don't tell them anything and then deceitfully part with them! There's no way they can be happy and smile after that!

Katarina has said this with a strong tone.

Aaqil: But what else can I do?! At this rate, if I don't bring back the sacred beast, I don't know what kind of ordeal they will have to suffer!

Aaqil has replied to her with the same tone.

Katarina realizes that the caravan people will also suffer even if Aaqil doesn't bring back the sacred beast. She thought she only needed to convince Aaqil not to bring it back and everything would be fine, but she was wrong. Mutlaq, or rather its King, is just so awful. She feels sorry for the caravan people, who will need to return to Mutlaq. They would be so much better if they stayed in Sorcier.

Katarina suggests that Aaqil and the others don't return to Mutlaq and just live in Sorcier or even any other place than Mutlaq.

Katarina thinks to herself that, like this, they will naturally fade out from the story. It is such a great idea.

Aaqil thinks it would be wonderful if they could, but unfortunately, it is impossible. Because they are monitored by Mutlaq royals.

Katarina is surprised to learn that one of them is monitoring them. She didn't find anyone like that in the caravan, so it must be among the emissaries at the castle.

Aaqil explains that the ones monitoring them are not people, but animals. Royals are controlling animals and using them to monitor them. The animals are keeping watch to pick up any betrayal. If the caravan people make a suspicious move, the royals will send troops and use animals to purge them.

Katarina is at a loss for words.

Aaqil explains that since they have gone far away this time, they are especially monitored, whether it is in the sky, inside their luggage, or even in the crevices in the area.

Hearing this, Katarina startles and looks around.

Aaqil reassures her: there are no animals watching them here. Katarina is surprised and asks him if he can tell whether there are animals watching. Aaqil says yes since these animals are different from the ones who are not controlled. Even so, there are many of them and he can't do anything against those above. So there's nothing he can do.

From this, Katarina realizes that Aaqil can't run away. He'll suffer if he returns empty-handed, but he'll also suffer if he runs away. He has no choice but to bring back the sacred beast. She can't do anything. Katarina bits her lips.

Looking at her, Aaqil thanks her for thinking so hard for someone she has just met.

Katarina is so frustrated that she can't do anything for him.

Aaqil asks her if she has told anyone about the sacred beast or them. Katarina shakes her head. Aaqil asks her not to tell anyone then. He asks her not to worry because they will be gone soon.

Aaqil turns away.

Katarina: ...Aaqil. Don't get involved with the sacred beast. Stay away from it as much as possible.

Katarina has told him this after seeing his back burdened with such a heavy load. Even though she knew he wouldn't listen to her.

Aaqil awkwardly raises his hand and leaves.

Katarina Is Frustrated by Her Powerlessness

Katarina returns to the welcome party. She is still upset and she is feeling unwell as a result. She looks completely pale, so she is allowed to go home ahead.

Katarina goes home with a worried Anne. While in the carriage, Katarina keeps thinking hard of a way to help Aaqil. But in the end, she is completely powerless.

Once she reaches home, Katarina heads straight to her room. She looks back at the paper where she wrote the information about the game, looking for a hint to save Aaqil. But whether he brings back the sacred beast or not, he and the others won't be safe.

Katarina wonders if it is the influence of the game. After all, in the game, it was because Aaqil was hurt that he crossed the continent, met the heroine, and fell in love with her. It would be so cruel if it were the case. There may be people who love the idea of saving a handsome boy with an unfortunate past, but in reality, it means that this gentle boy and these good people have to suffer because of it.

Just thinking about it, Katarina feels a boundless rage welling up inside her. Katarina already resented the company for the same things they did in Fortune Lover. If she could, she would march into the company and hurled insults at the scenario writers.

Katarina Ask Piyo for Help

Without thinking, Katarina vigorously hits her desk. Because of the noise, Piyo gets startled and chirps from inside the basket. Katarina apologizes to Piyo for startling him.

Katarina gets close to the basket. Piyo hops in her hand. Feeling Piyo's warm fluffy feathers calms Katarina a little.

Piyo has sensed that she isn't like usual. He gives her an anxious look. Looking at him, Katarina wonders if Piyo might actually be smart. He seems to understand what she says and he seems to look at people's expressions. Pochi is very smart (even if he doesn't listen to her at times) and she has been interacting with Piyo the same way. Piyo might actually be very smart.

Katarina tells Piyo that his beloved Aaqil is in trouble. He has to bring back a sacred beast to his country but it is a dangerous creature. And if he doesn't bring it back, the country will make him suffer. While looking at Piyo's eyes, she asks him what she should do.

Piyo jumps down her hand and walks towards her bookshelf. Piyo looked like he understood what she said, but it may have been too difficult for him after all.

Katarina looks back at the paper and starts thinking. Then after a while, Piyo drops a book from the shelf. Katarina is about to scold him for pulling pranks, but then, Piyo keeps jumping on the book as if urging her to do something.

Katarina is confused about why Piyo is jumping. Piyo keeps flapping his wings and pointing at the book. Katarina asks him if he wants her to read the book. Piyo chirps in affirmation. Katarina replies that she is busy and will read the book to him later.

Katarina is about to put away the book, but Piyo fiercely pecks at her hand.

In the end, Katarina gives up and complies with Piyo's wish. She thought Piyo was smart, but he doesn't seem to understand human hearts after all.

Katarina Gets a Lead Toward a Solution

Katarina starts reading the book.

It is titled "The Cursed Dragon and the Saving Maiden". It seems to be a fantasy novel where a cursed dragon and the girl who has become his friend search for a way to lift his curse. In the end, after his curse has been lifted, the dragon turns into a human and marries the girl. It is a good romance novel, but Katarina wonders if it is an interesting story for a chick. Especially since no chick appears in it.

Katarina thinks a bit about the story and realizes that it is similar to Aaqil's route in the game. Katarina puts away the book and rushes to the paper containing the game's information. She reads the part about what happens after Aaqil and the heroine's love has developed. She has been so fixated about the part about Aaqil's past that she didn't notice.

All while controlling the sacred beast draining his life, Aaqil let the heroine into his heart and gradually got charmed by her. He had kept on living with the intention of taking the rampaging sacred beast with him when he died. He only had several years left to live at this rate.

Aaqil tried to use this reason to push away the heroine but she didn't give up. She lifted the curse on the sacred beast that was draining Aaqil's life. Once the sacred beast had regained its senses, Aaqil was freed from the task of forcibly controlling it. He didn't get his life drained anymore either. Then, he and the heroine had their happy ending.

The sacred beast that Aaqil must bring back is actually cursed. Aaqil will need to forcibly control it, and while doing so, his life will get drained. And then the tragedy will happen.

So, in other words, if they lift the sacred beast's curse here in Sorcier, even if Aaqil returns to Mutlaq, nothing will happen. In addition to this, it seems like the sacred beast has become Aaqil's friend at the end of the game. If Aaqil becomes friends with a sacred beast that can destroy a country, even the Mutlaq King won't be able to oppose him. In short, if they can lift the sacred beast's curse, then it will settle everything.

Katarina raises her face and notices Piyo right next to her. He chirps triumphantly. Katarina asks him if, by any chance, he showed the book to tell her a plan that would settle everything. Piyo chirps in confirmation.

Katarina can hardly believe that a chick like him can read characters, or that he can come up with a plan based only on her simple explanation, without even knowing the situation. While full of questions, she believes that Piyo did convey this solution to her. Piyo is a mysterious unidentified chick who suddenly appeared in front of her one day. Katarina has the feeling he is not a normal chick.

Katarina thanks Piyo and assures him that she will do her best. Piyo chirps in encouragement. Katarina strongly nods her head.

Mental Meeting

Katarina starts a mental meeting.

The Katarinas will think of a way to lift the curse on the sacred beast.

A Katarina suggests tearing it off Aaqil like they tore the black snakes off Keith. But they don't know if the sacred beast will entwine itself around Aaqil.

A Katarina invites the others to stop joking around and think about it seriously. Another Katarina replies that they are not joking around since they don't know anything about the curse. In the game, it was only written that the sacred beast was rampaging. It might not be related to Keith's snake case after all.

A Katarina thinks that "sealed in Sorcier" and "cursed" smell like dark magic. The other Katarinas agree.

A Katarina asks the others how the heroine lifted the curse. Another Katarina replies that she just held out her hand and then some light came out of it. It may have been magic.

A Katarina remembers that in the game, it was said that the heroine's mother came from the country of magic, on another continent. She gave birth to the heroine but she knew she couldn't raise her because she was the fruit of her love with a person of different status.

From this, the Katarinas deduce that the heroine's mother actually came from Sorcier. And in that case, her daughter probably possessed magic. And if a light came out of her palm, then it was most likely light magic.

The Katarinas are thrilled that being isekaied enabled them to solve the mysteries of the game.

With this, it is clear that the curse can be lifted using light magic. And Katarina happens to be friends with the heroine of Fortune Lover, who is also the number one Wielder of Light in the country: Maria.

The Katarinas decide they will ask Maria for help. Maria will probably accept if they tell her Aaqil's circumstances.

A Katarina brings to attention that the curse will make the sacred beast rampage. Maria may be able to lift the curse, but it won't be easy for her.

A Katarina asks how the heroine did it. Another Katarina replies that Aaqil controlled the sacred beast to make it stay still. Another Katarina suggests doing the same then. But another Katarina reminds her that they can't let Aaqil take control of the sacred beast.

A Katarina asks what they can do to make the sacred beast stay still. Another Katarina suggests using magic. Another Katarina doubts her Earth Bump will help in any way.

A Katarina suggests asking everyone for help. Aaqil asked her not to tell anyone but it is definitely not something she can solve alone. And if she asks everyone for help, once they learn about Aaqil's situation, they won't abandon him even if it is another country's internal issue.

The Katarinas decide they shouldn't waste any time. They should contact Maria and the others and tell them she would like to talk about something. Tomorrow, she will talk with them and ask them for help.

After the mental meeting, Katarina immediately writes a letter to everyone.

Katarina will definitely break Aaqil's doom flag. She won't lose to the influence of the game. "Don't underestimate the tenacity of a villainess!"

Aaqil's POV

Aaqil Can't Help Thinking About Katarina's Words

Katarina: "...Aaqil. Aaqil, don't get involved with the sacred beast. Stay away from it as much as possible."

Aaqil can't get Katarina's words out of his head.

Aaqil was surprised when he learned that Katarina was a duke's daughter and the fiancée of a prince. For a moment, he suspected her to be a spy who approached him to probe him for information, but after seeing her simple-minded face, his suspicions disappeared at once.

Aaqil is surprised that Katarina can see the future in her dreams. There's a lot he doesn't know about Sorcier's magic, but he can't believe there is this kind of ability. This ability might be the reason why Katarina is engaged to a prince. Looking at it this way, he can rationalize why someone like her has become a prince's fiancée.

Aaqil wonders if Katarina will really leave him alone. She is so softhearted to the point worries so much about someone she has just met. Maybe she is the kind who can't help meddling.

Aaqil needs to leave Sorcier with the sacred beast fast so he won't cause trouble to her. And then, he will go back to being a tool used by the country.

No one knows except the King and his entourage, but Aaqil has the strongest ability in the country. From the moment he received the mission, he knew that once he brought back the sacred beast, he would be the one chosen to control it. Even so, he took the burden because the King told him he would set the caravan people free.

He was a problem child, but the caravan people took him in and cherished him as family. He would be fine with going back to being a tool if it meant they could become free.

Aaqil remembers Katarina's words. She told him there was no way the caravan people would be happy with his sacrifice. Her words pierced his heart. She was right. If the caravan people knew what would happen, they would do all they could to stop him. That's why, once they are back, he intends to go see the King alone. He will also leave a letter saying he wants to go back to his luxurious life as a royal. The caravan leader and Qumiit might doubt his words, but if they go to the royal palace, he won't meet them.

Aaqil wants everyone to live freely in another country. The caravan is full of talented people. They will probably spread their name right away as an amazing caravan. If such a rumor reaches the royal palace, he would be so happy.

Aaqil and Qumiit Discuss About the End of the Mission and After

Qumiit suddenly calls out to Aaqil. Aaqil was lost in thought, so he got startled.

Qumiit is dressed in female clothes since they are in the castle.

Qummit asks Aaqil if he is alright since he has seemed deep in his thoughts. He peers into Aaqil's face with a worried expression.

Aaqil lies and tells him he was just musing about how their mission will end soon. Qumiit tells him it is unusual coming from him. After all, they still need to take out "the thing".

Aaqil is amazed to see his longstanding friend knows him so well. But he can't have him notice anything.

Aaqil tells Qumiit that he has carefully confirmed that there was no coming and going in that place. It is probably some kind of storage room.

Aaqil has followed the presence of the sacred beast and localized the place where it is sealed. The room is locked but he can simply unlock it using a wire. If things go well, they will be able to unlock the room, go inside, take out the thing, and take it back to Mutlaq.

Qumiit asks Aaqil when he will start the operation. Aaqil replies he can't do it tonight since people will get even more suspicious of him if he goes there at night. He intends to do it tomorrow morning. He will go there while pretending to go on a walk, and then sneak inside. Qumiit wants to join him, but Aaqil refuses since they would stand out and it would be troublesome to come up with an excuse. Qumiit reluctantly accepts and asks him to be careful. Besides, there's the issue with the noble ladies.

By "noble ladies", Qumiit is referring to Katarina's friends, who watched the show and attended the closing party. They are also noble ladies and one of them is even engaged to a prince, like Katarina. Aaqil didn't meet them because he met Katarina early in the party, but Qumiit did. He met them while wearing female clothes and a veil on his face, and he changed his voice when talking to them. According to Qumiit, they didn't realize anything. The other caravan people didn't get found out either. Still, there is no guarantee things will go well next time. That's why, he has decided to leave Sorcier fast.

Aaqil has left the welcome party by pretending he wasn't well. He has kept secret that he knew Katarina and didn't talk to her so he won't get found out.

Qumiit probably thinks that Katarina is an average noble. He probably doesn't imagine that she is the fiancée of a prince and that she has a mysterious power. Unlike these noble ladies, Katarina doesn't look like a noble.

Qumiit asks Aaqil with sparkling eyes if they will really be free if the mission is a success. Aaqil says yes. Qumiit asks Aaqil what kinds of countries he would like to go to once they're free. Aaqil returns the question to him. Qumiit tells him he would like to go to a cold country to see the thing called "snow" falling from the sky. He has heard that "snow" is pure white, cold, and very beautiful. Aaqil agrees. Qumiit wonders if they can eat snow. He happily invites Aaqil to try eating snow together when they see it.

Aaqil painfully realizes that Qumiit naturally considers that he will be there once they are free.

After talking about the future, Aaqil and Qumiit each return to their assigned rooms.

Aaqil Retrieves the Sealed Beast

Aaqil goes to sleep early in preparation for tomorrow, but he can't sleep. Qumiit's sparkling eyes while he was talking about the future, and Katarina's words asking him not to get involved with the sacred beast, keep appearing in his mind.

The next morning, Aaqil goes outside early, pretending to go on a walk. He walks around the garden as always. The Sorcier servants recognize him but don't stick to him. They have led them to think that the emissaries and the princess are free-spirited and unruly people.

Aaqil has arrived at his destination. He makes sure there is no one around. He uses the wire he has prepared and easily opens the door. He looks around again and enters the building.

The room is full of dusty furnishings. As he has thought, it seems to be a storage room.

Things are going well so far. Aaqil fires himself up and starts searching for the sacred beast's presence. It was faint when he was in Mutlaq but here it gets stronger the closer he gets. Following the presence, he finally reaches a dusty box with mounted gems. He can tell that the sacred beast is sealed in there.

Aaqil softly touches the box. There doesn't seem to be any problem. He takes the box with both hands and holds it against his chest.

Aaqil has expected the box to give off an eerie feeling, but it actually gives him a nostalgic feeling. A mysterious feeling like he touched it before. Aaqil is confused about why he feels that way but guesses that it must be because of the presence overflowing from the box.

It is not the time to think about this. Aaqil clears his thoughts and puts the box in the bag he prepared. He has worked various measures in cases where the box would be big, but luckily it is way smaller than he thought. He feels relieved.

He just needs to bring the box back to Multaq and then everything will be over. Based on the books, only Sorcier magicians can break the seal, so he has approached a convenient and easy-to-handle noble who possesses magic. He will return to Mutlaq with them.

The King told Aaqil to unseal the sacred beast in Mutlaq. He explained that it was to prevent the Sorcier noble from realizing its grandeur and trying to get it back. Aaqil thinks it is rather to prevent Aaqil from taking control of it and using it to oppose him. The King is wary of this kind of thing.

The sacred beast is said to have mighty power but there are a lot of mysteries around it. Aaqil won't take any risk. He will ensure that the caravan people will be free.

Aaqil nonchalantly gets out of the storage room and returns to his assigned room. He feels relieved that he didn't get found out.

Now, Aaqil only needs to get out of the castle. He will most likely be checked upon leaving like he was upon entry, but during it, he will leave the box to the Sorcier noble cooperating with him. Then, he will only need to return to Mutlaq.

Katarina: "...Aaqil. Aaqil, don't get involved with the sacred beast. Stay away from it as much as possible."

Katarina's words resound in Aaqil's head. Aaqil shakes his head. He must forget them and leave fast before she starts meddling.

Katarina's POV

It is morning. Katarina couldn't sleep well because she had a lot in her head. She wishes she could stay in bed but she can't afford it.

Katarina has the feeling that Aaqil will make a move soon, but she doesn't know if he has already found the sacred beast or if he is still searching for it. In any case, she must hurry.

Katarina has contacted everyone to tell them she had something to talk about with them, and they have all accepted. She has also borrowed a room in the castle.

Katarina fires herself up and gets out of her room. She takes Piyo with her since he wants to come and has helped her come up with the solution. Piyo rides on her shoulder like always. Then, Keith complains, so she puts him in a basket.

Katarina has reached the castle. She doesn't feel any strange feelings: either Aaqil is not making any move, or he has already finished his mission and left. It is probably not the latter or there would be a more tense atmosphere. Things should still be okay.

Katarina and Keith head to the room that she has borrowed. Everyone is already there. As expected of her competent friends, they have come in advance. She feels a bit embarrassed to arrive late.

Geordo asks Katarina if she has summoned them to talk about her Multaq friend. Katarina is surprised he can tell since she hasn't mentioned it at all in her letter.

Geordo explains that he could tell there was something between her and the emissary representative based on her attitude yesterday. And when he asked Mary, she told him that the emissary representative was her close friend.

Katarina is amazed that Geordo has investigated this just because of her reaction at that moment.

Katarina confirms what Geordo said and tells everyone that Aaqil is in trouble. She explains that Aaqil has been ordered by his King to take back the sacred beast sealed by the Sorcier people. Some Multaq people have the ability to control animals and they use it to have the animals watch Aaqil and the others, so Aaqil can't go against his order. And once Aaqil returns to his country with the sacred beast, he will be ordered to control it.

While retelling Aaqil's story, Katarina realizes something.

Katarina was about to tell them that the sacred beast was cursed and that if Aaqil didn't control it, it would destroy Multaq. And that this curse was most likely dark magic, which meant it could be lifted with light magic.

But all this information comes from the otome game. Even Aaqil isn't aware of it. If she tells them, they will ask her how she knows and then she will be troubled. But she currently has great momentum, so she has to take advantage of it.

Katarina tells everyone the rest of the information by pretending she saw it in a dream. She uses the same excuse as with Aaqil. Once she finishes, everyone gives her dubious looks.

Geordo realizes she has stuck her neck in trouble again. He says with distant eyes that aside from Mutlaq wanting to retrieve a sealed sacred beast, everything including the curse and the destruction of Mutlaq comes from a dream.

Mary reminds Geordo that when Maria was kidnapped, Katarina saw in a dream the exact location where she was confined. Sophia seconds Mary.

Alan adds that Katarina seems to have for some reason a good intuition. Keith agrees with Alan.

Maria says with a firm look that she thinks Katarina has an amazing and special power.

Hearing this, Katarina feels bad since she doesn't have a special power, she just frantically played otome games in her past life.

Nicol remembers a record he read while investigating Mutlaq. It is an ancient record written by people who went to a faraway country with many deserts. This country appears to be Mutlaq.

Katarina is surprised that some Sorcier people went to Mutlaq.

Nicol adds that the record didn't mention whether the people went to Multaq only once or if they returned thereafter. But they wrote that the memento they brought back from there needed to be kept carefully. Katarina is shocked and asks about it. Nicol tells her it is most likely the thing in which the sacred beast is sealed.

A deep silence falls into the room.

Geordo concludes that they probably need to act on it.

Katarina feels relieved that her friends believe her. She thanks them and tells them she wants to help Aaqil and the caravan people. She can't do it alone, so she would like to ask for their help.

Katarina bows her head to her friends. They strongly accept.

Geordo asks Nicol if he knows where the memento is kept. Nicol replies that he doesn't know since it wasn't written in the document. It may have been kept at the beginning and then gone missing after some point. Geordo concludes that they must locate the memento first and then talk to the Mutlaq prince.

Geordo asks Nicol where the Mutlaq Prince is. Nicol calls someone outside the door. It is Raphael.

Katarina is surprised to see Raphael again. Nicol explains that he has asked Raphael to monitor the Mutlaq emissaries.

Following Nicol's request to the Ministry, Raphael has been monitoring the emissaries and thus knows where they are. Geordo asks him where the prince is. Before Raphael can answer, they hear a huge explosion.

#hamefura light novel #hamefura movie #hamefura #my next life as a villainess: all route lead to doom #katarina claes #keith claes #geordo stuart #aaqil #qumiit #mary hunt #sophia ascart #maria campbell #nicol ascart #alan stuart #piyo hamefura #raphael wolt

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