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0097linersb · 9 months

Text

I See Red (m)

ONE SHOT

Pairings: San x Reader

Genre: Smut (basically pwp)

Word count: 5.1k

Warnings: Jealousy, dom!San , he spits in your mouth at some point, slapping, choking, overstimulaton, edging, the whole deal really, name calling, oral, fingering - This is just pure filth I’m sorry.

A/N: this was originally an nct jeno's fic but I thought it matched San so well so here u go

Follow me on twitter for updates, previews, spoilers: wooyosgfreal <3

You didn’t know what finally set San off.

Sure, you haven’t been on your best behavior lately but it’s not like it was your fault; Ever since he decided to go on little gym dates with Yubin and just casually mentioned it to you one day, like he was talking about how sunny it was outside and not about how he was hanging out (almost daily) with a super hot girl, alone - and in minimal clothing too.

You couldn’t even trick yourself with “she’s not his type” because that woman was everyone’s type, damn, she was even your type.

It’s not like you didn’t trust him or felt insecure about yourself - it made no sense, really. It’s like people say: Jealousy is a little green monster that ate your insides and got you to unreason things. You just couldn’t help feeling slightly annoyed, you mean, try knowing your boyfriend is hanging out for hours with a blonde goddess with a six pack AND be happy about it.

So, since he decided to be a pain in the ass, you decided to become what you were born to be: His worst fucking nightmare.

But in all fairness, you didn’t know exactly what tipped him over the edge. It could have been you casually hanging with his roommates in the shortest skirt you could have possibly found, it could be the way you kissed Wooyoung (just a small peck) so the boy would stop playing around and annoying the others with his over-the-top signs of affection, it could even be the way you asked Seonghwa to massage your shoulders because you were in pain but too annoyed to ask your boyfriend for it. He sure must not have liked the way you were dancing with Mingi at the party last Friday or how he got home on Monday to you wearing one of Yunho’s shirts - but he was San, of course he said nothing about it. Plus, he knew you better than that.

It didn’t help when Wooyoung and Mingi asked what was going on between you two and you shared your boyfriend’s gym adventures, of course you could trust those guys to join in on making their friend’s life living hell. It was just open game then, Mingi playfully flirting with you and complimenting you whenever he could and Wooyoung teasing your boyfriend about it.You were always careful to not cross any lines, though. Only doing things that you knew weren’t actually going to upset San and would be perceived by him as one of your little games, which is what they were. You also kept it subtle and spaced out - which is why you were expecting to be playing for a long time, or at least for a bit longer than you actually did.

Your plans were ruined on Wednesday afternoon, when the black-haired boy came out of the shower to a Jung Yunho pulling you to sit on his lap, his arms going around you to show you how to play the video game. Your boyfriend quietly sat down next to you two, saying nothing and staring deeply at the Tv screen but, the look on his face and his clenched jaw were sending a shiver down your spine.

Damn you for refusing to have sex since you found out about San’s gym buddy, this pent-up frustration was not helping you at all.

Thanks to the distraction that was your boyfriend, you couldn’t focus on the race going on and lost at the easiest level, resorting to whining to Yunho, who simply patted your thigh in a comforting manner and let out a soft, “It’s ok, baby.”

Your pouting soon morphed into a face of shock and your little fit was interrupted as your boyfriend hastily stood up, groaning a “That’s it. Room, now!”

You looked up at him confusedly but not done with being annoying yet, you decided to try one last jab, sending him a challenging look, “I don’t really feel like it.”

San simply raised an eyebrow at you, his whole aura shifting, making you coward immediately under his cold gaze, “Care to repeat that?”

“I said- Nothing.”

“That’s what I thought. Now, move.”

You repeat what your boyfriend said in a mocking tone but obey, leaving an amused looking Yunho behind as you wondered where the fuck did all your confidence go to. You really couldn’t keep the character up when San lowered his voice - you liked playing with fire but you weren’t crazy enough to jump in it.

As you entered your boyfriend’s room, your heart was beating like crazy. You felt like a kid again: When you knew you did something wrong and your mother was about to punish you for it. The anxiety did not sit well with you, maybe you should start being nicer to the man.

“San, I-” You tried reasoning as soon as he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

“I don’t give a fuck, sit down.”

Damn.

You were happy to comply, legs getting wobbly as his strict tone had a weird effect on you. You sat on the edge of the bed and San was quick to stand up in between your legs, you tried to look anywhere but at him, but that was proven impossible as his hand softly but confidently grabbed your chin and tipped your head up so you were forced to stare at him like a deer stuck in head lights. You could hear your own pulse throbbing inside your ears.

Well, no use acting all innocent now, you really did bring this upon yourself.

“Had fun?” He asked, his voice could cut you right open. You didn’t know what to answer, nervous of any extra consequences that may come if you did, but your silence was clearly not accepted as his grip on your jaw tightened, “Speak.”

“Yeah.”

He hummed, eyes slowly skimming over your face as his thumb softly brushed your cheek, “So pretty. Too bad you don’t know how to behave, huh? I think it’s about time for me to put you back in your place, don’t you agree?”

You close your eyes and enjoy the smooth circles he was tracing with his thumb, not sure where he was going with this - your heart was trying to leave this room, though, by the way it kept pounding against your ribcage- but knowing you wouldn’t get a lot of soft moments from this point forward.

“Did you think I would find it cute?” He sternly asked, his tone contrasting with the light touches on your face. He knew your answer to that and you knew he was just playing your cards, and well, it was working.

“No.”

“So you acted like a brat on purpose?” He tried giving you a chance, knowing you really had no way out of your own mess.

“At your service, sir,” You joked as you rolled your eyes, trying to lighten the mood, maybe make the man laugh a bit so he would forgive you.

“Watch it,” He spat out and you kind of regretted saying it when his hand flew to the back of your head, pulling on your hair harshly so you were forced to look up.

Ok, San was mad mad.

His cold expression didn’t faze at the way you groaned in pain, neither did his grip on your hair as he bent down so his face would be right in front of yours as he warned, “You brought this upon yourself. Clothes off.”

You had it in you to fight a bit, but honestly, you were already aching between your legs and curious to know how all of this would unroll. You quickly undressed, leaving your panties on since he didn’t say anything about it, your eyes not leaving the floor as you did it. You then stared at your boyfriend, who was now sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for the next instructions. San simply looked at the place between his spread legs, signing where he wanted you. As you sat down, you noticed the man had placed the full body mirror he owned right in front of you while you were undressing.

Oh, boy.

You two locked eyes through the mirror and he calmly asked, “What’s the safe word?”

And that’s when your brain stopped working, knowing you had really fucked up. San has always been a little bit more on the rough side in bed, even kind of dominant sometimes, but never like this. You two had never used a safe word before. He noticed your struggle and suggested in a soft but strict tone, “Is Apple ok?”

“Yeah,” You muttered and he nodded in acknowledgement before harshly forcing your thighs open with his hands, making you gasp. His chest was pressed against your back, but you couldn’t feel his heart hammering crazy like yours was.

San slowly moved his hands higher up your thighs, getting goosebumps to erupt all over your body. He ever so lightly traced one single finger against your clothed slit as he said, eyes still locked with yours in the mirror, “I want you to watch yourself being a slut, maybe then you’ll be embarrassed and learn how to behave.”

You whined, not sure if it was at the tip of his finger barely grazing over your clit or at his words. Honestly, who the fuck was this man?

You could see the wet patch of fabric between your legs in the mirror and San caught you staring at it as his middle finger rubbed slow circles on you, only smirking at you in response, clearly satisfied with the effect he had over you.

It was embarrassing how quickly you were squirming under your boyfriend’s touches; your bottom lip was almost bleeding from how strongly you were biting it to keep your whines inside your mouth as you tried to move away from his finger because it was soon becoming too much. He was having none of it and his other hand firmly found its place on your jaw once again as he grunted right into your ear, “Be a good girl for once and take it. We have barely started.”

You did whine at that, his stare not fading for one second as he tightened his grip on your face and pulled your head back to the front every time you tried to look away from the mirror.

“Look at you. I haven’t even touched you properly yet and you’re already a mess, what happened to all that attitude, huh?”

He was right, he had only touched you through your panties and you were already so close. Guess you really were all bark and no bite – But to be honest: You were dripping, your underwear was soaked and his finger drawing shapes against your clit just felt so good you didn’t care about your little personality problem at all.

Your thighs were quivering from the stimulation and when he sped up his movements they tried to fly shut, but his voice stopped you midway, “Don’t you dare.”

You grabbed the fabric from his pants harshly, “San, I’m-”

“Only talk when spoken to.”

This new side of San, his heavenly (or devilish) finger teasing you plus his hard dick throbbing against your lower back, got you spasming in record time. Your nails carving shapes on the skin of his thighs as your whole body shook when you orgasmed. San continued tracing your clit through your high, until you were jumping from sensitivity and whining at him to stop. He lightly pushed you so you would stand up and you struggled to comply with your shaky legs, but tried your best.

You stood in front of your boyfriend, expecting him to then order you to suck his dick or something and this would be all over with, but were surprised when he pulled your panties down your legs with delicate fingers. Goosebumps filled your skin again at the mere touch of his knuckles against your lower abdomen. It was weird how he touched you so softly while his eyes burned holes into you, you had never seen San so worked up before, you felt like he could explode at the wrong move of a finger from you.

He slowly kneeled in front of you, eyes locked in yours. His hands were on the back of your thighs and you felt cold and warm at the same time, nipples hard with the shivers that ran up your spine. San didn’t comment on your shaking frame, giving your clit a soft kiss as he stared up at you.

“San, I-“ You began, trying to inform your boyfriend you were too sensitive from just cumming.

“I’ll make you cum once for every time you flirted with someone this week, and now once more for disobeying me,” He simply informed before going back to work, tongue doing wonders against your swollen clit.

You cried out at his words.

The man pulled your legs slightly apart so he could go all in, his wet lips and warm tongue playing with you until the sensitivity turned into pleasure and you were entering a place of euphoria, trying to not moan too loudly since his roommates were right outside. He noticed you were trying to contain your noises and tskd, eating you out more fervidly. When it became too much again, your hands grabbed his hair for support, which only resulted in you receiving a firm look, “No touching. If you want to act like a whore, I’ll treat you like one.”

Ouch.

You tried balancing on your feet, but your body was quivering at San’s ministration and he wouldn’t let you go. Not managing it anymore, you let your body fall to the front, supporting your hands on the bed, thanking the heavens your boyfriend didn’t complain about it. You wanted to tell him you needed his fingers inside of you but didn’t want to disobey his order once again, only letting moan after moan leave your lips. San simply looked animalistic kneeled in between your legs and you forced yourself to close your eyes, throwing your head back in pleasure.

You were not recognizing yourself but that thought was far from your worries as you released once again against his tongue, hand gripping the sheets so tightly you were afraid of breaking your fingers. San stood up, holding your waist so you would do the same as you breathed hard, “This one was for rubbing yourself all over Mingi at Yeonjun’s.”

You could see the way San’s cock was throbbing against his pants, but he seemed to pay it no mind as he pushed you down into the bed on your back. He hovered over you, slightly brushing his lips against yours before telling you, “I’m giving you 10 seconds to recover.”

One, he counted out loud before kissing your cheek. Two, he mouthed just below your jaw. Three, he whispered and sucked on the side of your neck, making you twitch in bliss. Four, he licked your collarbone. Five, he kissed between your breasts, your back automatically arching. Six, he brushed his fingers against your hardened nipple, loving the sound of your mewls. Seven, he left an open-mouthed kiss on your stomach. Eight, he did the same to your navel, feeling your abdomen tense under his fingers.

Honestly, this was not helping you calm down at all. Shivering this much couldn’t be healthy.

On the count of nine, his nails scratched the inside of your thigh and on the count of ten, he plunged two fingers inside of you with no warning. You chocked around nothing, biting the back of your hand so you wouldn’t legit scream. You had never been so wet in your life and the way his fingers were slowly rubbing so good against your walls, had you out of your mind.

“Put your hand away, I want to hear you,” He ordered, eyes locked on the way his fingers disappeared inside of you. How did he even know you were biting on your hand?

He continued pumping and curling his fingers, speeding up when he felt your walls tightening. You started feeling your third orgasm approach you even faster than the first one, tensing your legs so you wouldn’t close them because of the sensitivity.

San smirked at you, “Look who’s being a good girl for once.”

You didn’t even care anymore, everything felt so good you couldn’t even remember your name and you were sure you sounded like a porn star, having no control over your voice. You were so close, knuckles white again at the force you were holding onto your pillow. So, so close.

And then it all stopped.

You whined loudly and San simply ordered, “Use my fingers.”

When you gave him a confused look, hoping you hadn’t understood what he said right, he nodded at you, “You heard me.”

You groaned and dropped back down, San easing three fingers into you and waiting still, patiently. This was humiliating but when he gave you a pointed look, you simply forgot about your pride and pushed yourself against his fingers until you were ready to explode again, and as promised, San didn’t do a thing, letting you make yourself cum only using his fingers. It didn’t take long, considering how fucked out you were already (and you weren’t even actually fucked yet). A few more bounces and you were done for, wanting to cry at how good it felt.

“This one was for getting my friends hard, prancing around in those mini clothes of yours.”

You couldn’t help shutting your legs now, body spasming every 2 seconds. San said nothing about it this time as he stood on his knees, undoing his belt with one hand, groaning he couldn’t take it anymore. He dropped his pants and boxers, letting his cock out and your heart pumped faster at how hard and swollen it was.

Your boyfriend roughly opened your legs, positioning himself on top of you and entering you in one harsh thrust, not even waiting for you to adjust (not that you needed it much, considering he was just 3 fingers knuckles deep into you). Real tears started to run down your face at the oversensitivity, your mind couldn’t form a single comprehensible thought, “San, I can’t-“

“I’m not stopping unless I hear the safe word, you can take it,” He snapped, voice as harsh as his thrusts inside of you. He had never fucked you this hard, the whole bed shaking and complaining. There was no way people wouldn’t know what was going on by now.

You trashed under him, it felt like too much but at the same time you didn’t want it to stop. San’s hand was quick to wrap around your throat, squeezing on the sides to hold you down so you would stop moving.

“My pretty princess crying over getting fucked after acting like a slut for days. That doesn’t seem right, now, does it?” He groaned, not faltering his speed or strength one bit. “Tell me, if I didn’t give you the attention you wanted, would you have let one of them fuck you?”

You whined, nails digging harshly on his back (which he thankfully allowed). You thought about answering but you couldn’t really mutter any words with the way San was drilling into you and he knew it.

“I asked you a question,” He hissed, tightening his grip around your neck, cutting the blood circulation from reaching your head.

The lightheadedness didn’t help your case and after another few seconds without an answer, you felt a sting from the slap San gave right across your face. He had never done that before and as a strong independent woman, you didn’t expect to like it as much as you did it.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“N-no.”

“No what?” He demanded. The neighbors must really hate you from the way the bed frame kept hitting the wall, but nothing else really matter besides how you were being so pleasantly destroyed.

“Only you can fuck me.”

“That’s right, you’re mine. Open up.”

You were not sure what he meant, embarrassed of doing what you thought he was implying and being wrong, but when he stared you down so intensely that you got actually scared, you slowly opened your mouth. He gave you a wicked smile before slowing down his thrusts a bit, his hold on your neck still strong and when he slowly lowered himself and spit right into your mouth, your body betrayed you and you came all over the place without a warning, not even giving you the chance to brace yourself.

“Good girl,” He caressed the place he had slapped you with his thumb, stopping his movements to let you calm down for a bit. You were not even sure your brain would ever go back to working normally. He silently and slowly sucked marks on your body until your breathing somewhat resembled something normal again.

“Come look at yourself,” He called, tone a bit gentler. Maybe your tears softened him up a bit.

You tried to obey, carefully dragging yourself to the edge of the bed so you could stand up in front of the mirror where he wanted you. As soon as you tried standing up, your legs gave out, but San was right behind you to catch you, holding you up by your waist and pointing to the mirror, “Look.”

And you did. You had purple bruises on the left side of your neck, on your breasts and on the inside of your thighs. Your hair was clearly all tangled up, there was dark mascara running down your face and smudged around your eyes. You looked absolutely wrecked already.

“So fucking pretty,” He whispered, littering your shoulder with soft kisses. “All of you. Every single part, and they are all mine.”

You shakily nodded. At this point, if San wanted you to walk around wearing his hand as a necklace you wouldn’t even complain.

“It’s all of my friends’ wet dreams to fuck you, I don’t want to ever hear you moaning Seonghwa’s name or see you kissing Wooyoung again, understood?” Your boyfriend told you, placing two of his fingers on your lip for you to suck. You wrapped your mouth around him, sucking on it gently and drawing your tongue along the length of his fingers, feeling his still hard cock against your lower back. He had no reason behind that action, he just wanted to show he could do whatever he wanted with you, whenever he wanted, and you would enjoy it.

“It was a joke,” You breathed out once he retrieved his hand, referring to the kiss your boyfriend was talking about.

“I know baby girl, but let’s not give them any hope. I want them to know who you belong to,” He quietly told you, his breath hitting your ear. “Get on all fours.”

Your body stiffened, “San, I really can’t-“

“Did I ask?” He cocked his eyebrow at you and you took a deep breath before shakingly obeying.

As you crawled in bed, your boyfriend finally took his clothes off before positioning himself behind you. At least this time he pitied you enough to at least start fucking you slowly.

A hiccup escaped your throat, almost sure you couldn’t handle it anymore and San caressed your lower back to comfort you as he grinded his cock inside you, “Only one more, princess.”

You were in heaven and hell at the same time, your pussy was so sensitive that every thrust felt like you were right on edge, you had never experienced anything like that before. Your arms gave out quicker than your attitude dropped, left side of your face pressing against the sheet and staining it with your mascara and tears. You were honestly not even sure you were moaning anymore, not being able to hear yourself, but with the way San sped up his movements you figured you were.

“Hands,” San asked and you complied, like being used by him was your sole purpose in life.

He grabbed both of your wrists and held it together on your back, the bruising tight grip and the low groans leaving the man’s mouth brought you closer to reality. If you were in a normal state of mind, you would wonder how your boyfriend could last so long, he had been hard and throbbing since he locked the door earlier - But since your mind was floating somewhere far away, your only reaction was to sob in pleasure and overstimulation.

“Do you remember the safeword, baby?”

You shut your eyes tightly and nodded your head desperately.

“Tell me,” San asked.

“A-apple.”

“Good girl. We’re almost done,” He told you and you could feel how his thrust were getting shallower and messier. You were so close too.

After another few minutes, San let out a loud moan with a broken whine and shot inside of you (something else you two rarely do, both of you enjoyed it but the pregnancy scares were always too much), you could feel his cum hitting your walls and you loved it. He continued to fuck into you for a whole minute, riding out his high as the hottest sounds left his lips. You clenched around his sensitive member, signaling you were close and he hissed, suddenly pulling out.

You whined like you had never whined before and he simply shushed you, slowly gathering his cum dripping from your hole with his fingers and pushing all of it back inside. You cried out, using your now free hands to hold onto the sheets as he pumped his finger into you – You honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the sheets were ripped by the end of the day. He was teasing you, knowing you wouldn’t be able to reach your high with the speed he was using. You tried pushing back into his fingers but he was quick to hold your hip still, “I don’t think so. Sit down against the wall.”

You wanted to scream.

“San, please,” You sobbed.

“What? You’ve been teasing me with Mingi for almost 2 whole weeks and I can’t even tease you for a few minutes? Don’t you think that’s a little bit unfair?” He asked, stopping his fingers only when he felt your walls spasming around him. “Now do as I say.”

You accepted your fate, trembling as you followed his instructions, surprised when he got out of the bed and sat down on his desk chair, calmly looking at you.

“Touch yourself,” He instructed. “But don’t cum, or else we will go for another round.”

“You said we were almost over,” You wail.

“And we are baby, just do this one more thing for me.”

You opened up your legs, letting your fingers rub against your clit. You were so wet and San’s cum just made you more lubricated. Since you were already so worked up, you had to trace less than 5 circles against yourself before becoming a noisy mess, ready to let it all go.

“Stop,” Your boyfriend’s strict voice cut you off.

You opened your eyes, which you hadn’t even noticed you had closed, and stared at San in shock, halting your motions.

“Now do it again while looking at me.”

You held the sob that wanted to escape down your throat, shakingly nodding and obeying, just doing anything he wanted so you could cum already. You touched yourself while you looked into San’s stern eyes, your cheeks burning at the fact he had never seen you so vulnerable before.

“I can’t hold it any-“ You stuttered, your eyes stinging again.

“Stop.”

The sob that you had been trying to hold back escaped, ripping through your whole body, you had no pride anymore, or shame, as you let your tears spill freely as you begged, “Please, San. Please. I ca-can’t-“

San silently got up and crawled into bed, positioning his head in between your legs.

“It’s ok, princess. You can cum now,” He told you gently before lowering his head and sucking on your clit. He only had to do that three times and you were seeing colors you never had before. The wave of pleasure hit you so strongly that you tough you passed out for a second or two, seeming lost when you managed to open your eyes again.

“Hey baby, it’s ok,” San comforted you softly, quickly getting up on his knees to hug you with one hand while drying the tears that wouldn’t stop soaking your flushed face. “I got you, it’s all over now.”

He was fast to embrace you tightly, bouncing you gently like people do to calm babies down as he muttered praising words after praising words against your ears. It all filled your heart with warmth and pride.

“Want to take a bath?” He asked you in his baby voice and you managed to form a small smile, remembering that was the same man who was slapping you across the face and spitting in your mouth a few minutes ago.

You nodded and the boy ran into the bathroom so quickly you didn’t even process his absence.

“I’m only preparing the bath, baby. I’m here,” He assured you when he wasn’t back after a minute or so. You were thankful he understood how vulnerable you felt in this moment and how it was something new to you.

He eventually came back and cuddled you until he felt like the tub was full enough. San carried you easily to the bathroom and tested the water temperature before placing you down with care.

“I used your favorite bath bomb,” He smiled and you returned the gesture, appreciating the warm water around your muscles and the gold glittery appearance of it. “I’m just going to go grab our towels, ok? I’ll be right back.”

You waited for a while, playing with the water and taking deep breaths to inhale the vanilla scent coming from it. The water looked so creamy and you slowly rubbed your face with it, trying to clean all the make up and dried tears. You were content, you just had the best sex of your life and San was proud of you.

You were almost falling asleep when you heard your boyfriend’s voice, “Honey, are you covered?”

You looked down confusedly at the opaque water, the man had just almost chocked you to death, why was he worrying about your modesty now out of all times?

“Yeah, why?”

“Wooyoung and Mingi are being a pain in the ass, they want to make sure I didn’t kill you.”

At that you laughed and just let yourself slide down the bathtub, letting the water drown you in shame.

____________________________________

“Babe?” You called, watching the way San played with your fingers. When the boy hummed at you, his chest pressed against your back making your body vibrate, you continued, “What finally set you off?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, I’ve been trying to get on your nerves for days-“

“Oh,” He laughed and then sighed in embarrassment at his confession, “Yunho called you baby, only I get to call you that.”

You turned around from where he was holding you on the tub, trying to see if he was serious, only to find your boyfriend pouting.

“I can’t fucking believe you, Choi San.”

Pt. 2 (a little extra, not a continuation or necessary for the plot)

#ateez #ateez smut #san #choi san #san smut #choi san smut #san scenarios #ateez x reader #choi san x reader #choi san x y/n #ateez scenarios #ateez fics #ateez fic #san fic #wooyoung #mingi #yunho #seonghwa

3K notes · View notes

bipanicoverthegravessiblings · 6 months

Note

Can you write about toxic policule of andrew x reader x ashley. Reader is Ashley childhood friend, who genuinely befriended her not trying to get to Andrew. The type that will try to throw them food during quarantine.

The polycule is in shambles ❤️

Andrew and Ashley x ChildhoodFriend!Reader

Befriending Ashley Graves was no easy task

She made you work for it to say the least

Giving you her homework to do because a good friend wouldn’t let their friend fail.

Some girl was saying stuff about her, so a good friend would go punch her square in her ugly face!

A good friend wouldn’t stare at other people, or make other plans

Ashley was exhausting, yes- and a lot of the time you wonder why you’re even her friend.

You catch yourself wondering that sometimes too…

“Yeah! Fuck off to your whore mothers!”

Your vision was still hazy- only being able to crack it open ever so slightly as to not mess with your black eye. You flinched as a small hand placed itself on her bruised cheek.

“Hold still!” The shrill voice snapped, “Lemme get a look at cha..”

LeyLey hummed, her lips pursing as she inspected your beaten up face. She retracted her hand and reached into the pocket of her overalls, and pulled out a crumbled up bandaid still in the package. She fumbled with the wrapper and placed the bandaid overtop the cut on your chin. It did nothing, but she smiled proudly.

“There! Now if those assholes do that again, just let me know! I’ll make Andy join me!” She grinned. You couldn’t help but smile back.

No one ever stood up for you as a child, and Ashley always made the bullies go away.

Albeit, out of fear- but fear was better than anything

So you stayed by Ashley’s side, because without her….you’d just be a target again. She told you herself.

Being so close with Ashley only mean being close with her brother as well

To an extent

Ashley pitched fits whenever you two hung out without her, claiming you were scheming against her to leave her.

Neither of you would do that

There was a silent agreement between you and Andrew to shower Ashley with as much affection as you both could when you three were together

This is probably how you became so used to their closeness

You and Andrew somehow managed to find common interests outside of Ashley, something she made fun of you two for on a regular basis

You don’t know how, and you don’t know why, but you slowly fell for both of them

It just hit you like a bag of rocks

To say you were subtle would be a blatant lie, so it didn’t take long for the siblings to catch on.

And make note to tease you about it…

“Here, let me help you with that Y/N..”

Sirens went off in your head as Andrew pressed himself against your back, trapping you between him and the counter. He reached over you, grabbing the bowl you had been reaching for. The few seconds he did that felt like an eternity, and you feared your face boiling from the heat that had risen to it. Your brain buffered, not registering that he had left to sit with Ashley on the couch.

Mr and Mrs Graves were out, and normally this led to a movie night the pair would invite you along. It was just a movie, you told yourself, you could handle it.

Oh you could not have been more wrong.

The pair felt far more….touchy than usual- and it was slowly killing you. As you sat, sandwiched between the pair, Ashley clung tightly to your arm. Her nails dug into your skin possessively as she rested her chin on your shoulder. Andrew had his arm over the both of you, claiming to just be resting it. He was also awfully close.

You slowly blocked the movie, and any other sounds out, the only thing being audible to you was the rapid beating of your heart.

You could’ve sworn you died for a second when both of them placed a hand on your thigh.

Both of them had a bet to see how long it would take you to tell them

Neither had anticipated it would be over the phone…

The quarantine hit and you weren’t allowed to see them

The entire thing made you anxious

Parasites in the water supply…

As dramatic as it was, you were worried you wouldn’t see them again

So you called them, confessed everything

And like any good siblings would….they decided to share you <3

They took turns staring down at you fondly from the balcony when you came by to throw them food

They called you late into the night to pester you, Andrew especially when he couldn’t sleep

Eventually security became so tight you couldn’t even go near the apartment without risk of being shot.

And the calls had stopped

You were worried they were mad at you…that they hated you…

Until they showed up on your doorstep one night….

#the coffin of andy and leyley #ashley graves #andrew graves #andrew graves x reader #ashley graves x reader #I have a lot of these to get through—#sorry yall I’ve been working on things!

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denileisariver · 4 months

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pairing: batman aka bruce wayne x f!reader

summary: you move into wayne manor, but not everything is as it seems.

warnings: dark!bruce, established relationships, male and female masturbation, descriptions of male and female genitalia, voyeurism, another age gap fic cuz i love dilf!bruce, reader is described as a vigilante and being dicks friend, some non-consensual touching kinda, no piv unfortunately :(, reader is also described as having hair long enough to pull, one tiny use of the word 'baby', size kink if you squint, some overall darkish batfam? not rlly but I'll tag them as yandere anyway.

a/n: tbh i jus pulled this outta nowhere and have no idea where this might lead but fuck it we ball.

you had no idea what you'd gotten yourself into.

your new life at wayne manor was fast-paced and quite absurd. the transition from living in a cramped dorm with one girl to an ancient mansion with a bunch of other heroes whose lives you could barely keep up with hit you like a ton of bricks, it gave you whiplash.

you'd been friends with dick grayson ever since the two of you were teenagers. he was always someone you could easily bond with. whether it was about school, relationships, or being a vigilante the majority of the short time the both of you had been on this earth, he was always there for you. he was your best friend.

you never really had anyone you would consider family. orphaned at such a young age, you grew up to be cautious of other people, always wary that they would abandon you or find ways to exploit you.

at the beginning of your friendship with dick, you had honestly been quite jealous of the older male. you knew it was a bit selfish, but you couldn't help it. there was always a small part of you that despised him for being taken in by a wealthy man who could support him at his every whim, his newfound family that seemed to only grow bigger and bigger each time you saw him. how despite all the terrible things he had been through, he managed to find happiness, or at least content in his life.

and you wanted that, too.

but you always buried those feelings deep down. it wasn't his fault, and you couldn't blame him for it either, so you pretended it was never there in the first place. instead, you put on a brave face. it wasn't too difficult, and for some short moments, you did truly believe that you were happy, regardless of how out of place you felt sometimes around dick and his brothers and sisters.

brothers and sisters. those words were so foreign to you, that when you looked over the relationships you had with dick and his family, you almost had a sort of epiphany. none of them were blood related at all, but they went through thick and thin together no matter what. and a small part of you hoped, wished, that maybe you could be apart of that too.

maybe it was all just irrational.

dick and you had spent a lot of time together. at school, at the justice league headquarters, fighting side by side at unholy hours of the night, or just casual hangouts. you knew him well enough to catch that subtle look in his eyes whenever he looked at you. pity. it was there whenever he brought up what parties bruce was throwing for one of the kids' birthdays, or how tim and jason got into another petty fight that he had to resolve, damian getting awards at school that the family had to attend.

all experiences and problems that you never had, and probably never would. at least, that's what you thought, up until now.

"why don't you come stay wayne manor?"

at first, the question caught you off guard. sure, you spent countless of sleepovers at the place, and you'd known a decent amount about it to get around by yourself with ease, but still. you never considered the possibility of actually staying there. and by the look on dick's face, he seems to notice that too. "i meant- if you want. i just know how lonely it can be for you sometimes, and it would just be easier for us, y'know with our nighttime activities and-"

your eyes roll at his quick rambling, internally cringing a bit at the prospect of him mentioning you being fucking lonely. you flash him a weak smile, your tone dripping with sarcasm.

"sheesh, dick, thanks." you don't mean to sound so harsh, but it's difficult when all of this is so personal to you.

"i didn't mean it like that. and it's no big deal, really. we have plenty of space, and im sure bruce won't mind. maybe alfred, since he has to pick up after your ass but-" dick continues, shrugging it off like it really didn't mean anything. like he wasn't asking you to pack up your shit and move in with him and his family. "you're always welcome there."

and at that, your heart softens a bit. of course, you knew that, but even when you stayed over for a weekend or two, you never wanted to feel like you were overstaying. "i'll think about it, dick."

and you did. you thought about it quite a lot actually, even before dick had asked you that ludicrous question. and he was right. it would make things easier. you'd have a stable roof over your head, instead of the cracked ones that leaked like your dormatory back in gotham. you'd be able to spend more time with the people you cared about. you'd have people that cared about you too, look after you, and defend you if needed. it couldn't be that bad, right?

that's how you ended up here.

in a room that was bigger than all the shitty squats you lived since you were a kid combined. there was so much space you didn't know what to do with it. but the rowdiness of the boys and girls outside your door brought a smile to your face. life at wayne manor would call for some serious adjustment, but you felt like you could power through it. plus, it was only a bonus that you'd always thought jason was cute, much to dick's disgust.

the first couple of weeks staying here were honestly going great, much to your surprise. the family had welcomed you with open arms, some of them not even batting an eye when you regularly attended dinner with them, or walked around in your pajamas, or were quick to be in the cave once it was time for patrol. like you were supposed to be there all along.

your friendship with dick was more of the same, only now you lived with him. jason and you had gotten closer, but you didn't trust calling whatever feelings you had for him enough to call it a crush. you didn't always understand whatever nerd stuff tim would ramble about, but you listened to him anways. you appreciated how much stephanie and cass involved you into their movie nights and gossiping. well more you and stephanie gossiping than cass, but it still felt like you had the girl best friends you had always craved for. damian took some time to warm up to you, but you could still bond with him over his art and love for animals. alfred loved you already, so there wasn't much there to add. and then there was bruce.

you couldn't quite place your finger on bruce. even when you were younger, his stoicism and broodiness was something you couldn't get past, only in rare moments. there was always something about him that you found off-putting. granted that he was always kind, if that's even the right word for it, he never made you feel unwelcome, but you always felt uneasy around the man.

maybe it was how he seemed to be able to read you like an open book, how he could disappear in a room full of people, how he never quite matched the energy in the room, his incessant staring. god, you hated how much he stared at you. bruce's gaze made you feel small, when you usually were confident and assured of yourself. you could feel his eyes burning into you across the room, and you didn't know how to say anything about it or do much for that matter besides distract yourself.

you thought that by now you'd be able to get over whatever it was about him, that you'd known bruce long enough that you could just play it off as him being strange in his own way, but those feelings had only intensified ever since you moved into the mansion.

chills would run down your spine whenever he'd place a heavy hand on your waist, seemingly as casual touch, but it always lingered too long. held on too tight. this look in his eyes, but you couldn't tell what it was. you had brought it up briefly to dick, but he didn't think much of it, laughing it off, saying something along the lines that's just bruce, you'll get used to it.

but you didn't. you couldn't.

especially now that bruce was inviting you to spar with him. to make sure you're prepared, he said. prepared for what exactly, you're not so sure. but you reluctantly agreed, trying to see it as something useful and educational that you could actually use while fighting against whatever villain of the day thought about creating mayhem in gotham.

bruce was strong and brutish compared to you. every time you tried to throw your best at him, he always managed to get the upper hand, and you'd be flat on the sparring mat in a matter of seconds. it had almost seemed like childsplay to him, and if you didn't know any better, you'd think that maybe deep down a part of him enjoyed it.

he'd roughly grab and contort your body in uncomfortable positions, to test your flexibility, as he so called it. your hair would be pulled unforgivingly, and he'd place his weight on top of you, telling you to try and escape from him, much to your avail. you felt like he was taunting you, "you think those criminals in gotham are gonna be easy on you like i am?"

it didn't fucking feel like he was going easy. bruce would place his hand on your neck and choke you out till you were clawing at his skin, only letting go if you tried to beg or actually managed to use your own skill to get him to stop, but that had only happened once and never again. and when you writhed and struggled in his bruising hold, you'd notice that damn look in his eyes again.

no, this wasn't normal sparring.

you'd seen him spar with the other boys and girls, and it had never been like this. and although he was still ruthless, he'd given them actual advice. advice that you'd seen them use out in the field on multiple occasions.

you'd been wandering around gotham long enough to know when someone had it out for you. whether it was sex, crime, or something else, you knew that distinct look in a persons eyes.

a predator hunting down prey.

☆☆☆☆☆

you tried to wash off whatever the hell that was with bruce down the drain. everytime the eery thought of him having less than good intentions for you came up, you pushed it away. whether it was out of guilt for even thinking of him in that way, cause he saved so many people each night without expecting anything in return, or because he was your best friends father, and no he'd never hurt you. that's just unreasonable.

the whole situation just made your head hurt. maybe it's just an overreaction. dick said that whatever this behavior was is normal of bruce. and so you foolishly continue to believe it.

you search your drawers for a fresh pair of panties, too tired to realize that some of your favorite pairs had gone missing. the room, which you personalized after your couple of weeks here, feels suddenly strange to sleep by yourself in.

when you first moved in, you slept like a baby. you felt safe, like this was a normal thing because you'd slept well in these walls ever since your sleepovers with dick. now, it just felt like something was watching you. a feeling that sometimes left goosebumps on your skin, and you couldn't understand what it was.

there's bruises on your skin from how tightly bruce held onto you. some as big as the shape of his hands on your wrists, and as small as the tips of his fingers on your neck. you're completely oblivious to the camera that's watching you closely, placed strategically so you'd never find it. you're oblivious to the man whose behind them.

even if you had just taken a shower, you decide to get yourself dirty again, in other ways. your favorite thing to relieve stress. playtime. so you trace your fingertips down your body with a feather-light touch, gently tweaking and rolling your fingers between your nipples to get yourself excited. you allow your mind to go blank for a while.

you have no idea that bruce's breathing only gets heavier when he realizes what you're about to do. don't know how his cock is hardening beneath his joggers when you push your panties to the side, gathering up your slick and finding your clit to pleasure yourself. don't know that he's stroking himself too, between the layers of his pants and boxers, with your panties in his hand.

how he wishes there was better light in the darkness of your room, so he could get a better look at your glistening pussy, and swearing to himself that he'll get a good look at it upclose one day. he matches your pace, making sure he only gets to cum at the same time you do.

you seem frustrated. he thinks that maybe he can fix that for you. you lick at your middle and index finger, using your own saliva as lubricant, teasing yourself by slowly rubbing along your wet folds. torturing him. the soft pads of your fingers find your clit, setting a medium-slow pace. and bruce tries his best to mimick your actions. pulling himself out of the constraints of his clothes, teasing the fat mushroom head of his cock, gliding a thumb over the tiny slit where his pre-cum dripped out of him, then moving it down his shaft to gently pump it with his hand.

and when your fingers pick up the pace, so do his hands. his eyes intently watch the screen before him, admiring the way your body arches up off the bed, head pushing into the pillows. your chest heaves a bit, and by the way you're biting on your bottom lip, he can tell you're struggling to be quiet. he doesn't want you be, but he'll take what he can get, for now.

your hips writhe a bit, almost like you wanted to fuck back at your fingers, desperately needing something thicker than your petite hands. you move both hands down to your cunt, so you can play with your clit and finger fuck yourself at the same time, and the action makes your pussy cry at the attention.

bruces muscles flex with each jerk of his hand, his free hand going down to gently cup his balls. his eyes hone in on your tiny digits, moving in and out of your cunt with one sole purpose, your juices creating a filthy sound that's like heaven to bruce's ears. he wants to be there so he could get a taste of that sweet pussy, but he suffices with your panties in his mouth, biting down on the fabric.

he could see the markings he left on your delicate skin in the moonlight that peeks into your room, possessiveness coursing through him. he feels pathetic for even doing this, but he can't help himself. bruce's cock twitches in his hand at the sight, knowing your orgasm was coming quickly by how sloppy and rushed your movements were becoming.

it's been so long since you've touched yourself. too long in fact, that your cunt spasms and gushes, completely soaking your hands and the sheets beneath you in the process. and bruce allows himself to cum too, his cock jumping a bit with every rope of the sticky substance, covering his happy trail and abs.

you seem too tired to care that you're laying in your own pussy juice, darkening the fabric below. bruce's eyes are soft, watching you roll over on your side, not even bothering to clean up afterwards. that was a tomorrow's problem.

bruce makes sure to save the precious evidence that the camera caught, knowing it'll be hidden away for his eyes only. he watches you fall asleep in your own mess till his cock begins to soften, placing himself back into his boxers.

he knows you pretty well, he'd like to think. knows you well enough that if you knew what he'd just done, you'd probably slap him across the face. another part of him hopes it turns you on just as much as it turns him on, but maybe that's just him feeding into his delusion. he trails his eyes over your sleeping form just one more time, a small goodnight baby whispered from his lips, even if you can't hear him.

he shuts off the computer for the night, hoping that he'll soon be lucky enough to watch you touch yourself again tomorrow. or maybe even get to fuck you. soon. really fucking soon.

he'll have to remind himself to be a bit grateful for dick inviting you to stay here, in his home. bruce hadn't been too proud when he suggested it to dick, bringing up that you'd easily accept to their request of moving into wayne manor. and he was right.

if dick or anyone else was suspicious about what bruce was doing, or planned on doing, he wasn't too worried of it. he also knew his adopted children well enough that they wouldn't tell on him, and loved you too much to allow you to leave, and for that, he was also grateful.

he had you right where he wanted you, and he'd give you a really hard time if you even thought about leaving now.

#batman x reader #bruce wayne x reader #smut #batman #bruce wayne #batfam #dick grayson #yandere batman #yandere batfam #yandere bruce wayne

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ambermeh · 1 month

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Chris Sturniolo Firsts

⋆ His first crush: does not really know how to act around you and will become the most nervous and giggling person ever. This man will just want to talk to you. Especially if you two are friends and he has feelings. 'why don't you come over, i'll get the food' 'chris it's two in the morning'

⋆ He will drop subtle hints and play it off as joke because he doesn't want you to know or him to have to tell you 'outfit looks good ma might have to fight the other guys for you' 'shut up chris, what are you even talking about?'

⋆ As much as he pretends to be a player around you or jokes that all the girls love him, he cannot even look or think at a women in the same way after having a crush on you for a while. To the point you will be at a party somewhere and you will try and set him up with someone as a joke but he is dead serious and will act pissed off if you mention it. 'what's wrong I was just trying to help you find a girlfriend' 'yeah, well maybe I don't need help'

⋆ as you two are spending more an more time together you start having the same feelings and talk to Matt and Nick about it because they know Chris the best 'i think you should just go for it' 'i mean if chris says no he literally has lost his mind'

⋆His first relationship: when he finally builds up the courage to say it I think he would make a whole romantic surprise. For example, you get back from a week long holiday and he realises how much he actually likes you and so makes you find these clues etc and will be waiting for you at the end with a bunch of flowers. (Nick and Matt were also made to help because he would be stressing about doing something wrong)

⋆ The dates would be the funniest thing ever because he will randomly think of things he wants to do and there is page on his notes of all the dates he wants to do with you

⋆ Even though he will act like he doesn't like the romantic shit that other people do he LOVES it

⋆ Want to bake cookies and eat them while watching a romcom, sure. Want to do skincare and put make up on him, 100%. and the TIKTOKS that he would post would be so cute because he is literally just in awe of you. Does anything that you want really.

⋆ Just wants to make sure he is still the funniest person ever in your eyes. I feel like he would randomly show you videos while you two are just cuddling just to make sure you find them funny and will text you at the most random time with a joke he thought of 'well you could always show me when i'm not trying to get to sleep' 'sorry it was too funny not to'

⋆ First pet: it would be a cat because even if he didn't love the idea at first he would slowly start to be persuaded by the tiktoks of cute and funny cats. The cat would have to be a ginger cat or black cat because I think he would want one that matched his energy. Gets it as a kitten and was all I'm not going to get too attached to the cat BUT when it starts cuddling him at night he will act like it's his child 'I'm gonna stay at home because I can't leave him alone thinking I've left' 'thought you said it was my cat'

⋆ First child: The sweetest Dad ever

⋆ Will want to play sports with them all the time and dress them in outfits 'y/n i'm gonna go out and play some basketball with the kids i'll be back soon love you!!!'

⋆ Records everything because he thinks they are too cute not to. (and sends them all to you) 'Say hello to mummy for me, look y/n she's walking'

⋆ is that Dad who no matter what supports their child, you will never hear Chris comparing them to any other child because he loves them for who they are

⋆ AND even if you two are tired with having kids Nick and Matt are more than up for having them over, while you and Chris just eat a meal or watch a movie together. The love that you two have for each other is even more now that you have a family. 'we are parents now, I'm so proud of us' 'I know and at least we are not one of those boring couples' 'how could we be? I'm hilarious and you are so beautiful and funny and smart and' 'Chris shut up' 'you're blushing ma'

#matt sturniolo x reader #matt x reader #sturniolo triplets #matt sturniolo #chris sturniolo smut #chris sturniolo #nick sturniolo #matt sturniolo smut #chris x reader #chris sturniolo x reader

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cannellee · 5 months

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NARUTO OMEGAVERSE ☆

alpha!sasuke x alpha!naruto x omega!reader (f)

— what is it like being team 7's omega ?

my masterlist : ☆

ALPHA!NARUTO X ALPHA!SASUKE

the moment it was announced that you were going to be a part of naruto and sasuke's team, you knew it would be difficult.

being both alphas, they're naturally in competition most of the time, but adding an omega to their quarrel made things even worse.

it's in their nature to seek their close omega friends' attention. you didn't particularly favour any of them, but naruto was ready to prove anyone else he could be a better partner to you than sasuke.

from this day on, the two of them started to fight even more than usual.

THEIR DYNAMICS

sasuke is a silent type of alpha, but you noticed he didn't particularly try to drive you away. he didn't seem to get annoyed either when you talked to him, you figured it was a privilege reserved to naruto alone.

actually, it's safe to say that sasuke always made sure you were out of danger while out on missions.

he wasn't exactly doubting your level, but he didn't trust you and your abilities fully. his nature made it hard for him to just ignore an omega in possible danger.

it was kind but subtle gestures, noticable to those who paid attention.

whereas for naruto, he was eager to replace you, to tell you to stay away and let him do the work. he didn't mean to come off as condescending nor disrespectful, he was just extremely preoccupied by your safety and wanted to show you he could take care of you.

it didn't take much time for you guys to become a real little pack. both had their antics and grudges, but deep down you knew they both liked each other in their own way.

you played a big part on how they interacted with each other, without you realising. your calming presence and gentle scent helped the two alphas chill down a bit.

your nurturing instincts also contribute to the cohesion of your team. you sometimes act like a mediator, having little to no trouble to resolve conflicts. kakashi has even given up trying to appease those two when they start arguing and directly lets you do your thing. you always succeed in maintaining a good harmony between the three of you, he's really thankful!

your secret trick is letting naruto scent you as long as he wants, he loves to be able to claim you like this, it appeases him so much! it does get on the nerves of sasuke who curses at him to let you go though.

moreover, they may fight once in a will and throw snarky remarks to the other, but if it comes to you, your safety or your mood, they immediately work hand in hand to reassure you.

it would be one of the rare time you'll hear sasuke be so openly mean at someone. he doesn't even foster the idea of an enemy targeting you.

come back injured and you'll be heavily questioned so he can track the one responsible.

both care so much about you, it's safe to say you bring a sense of unity that wouldn't be present if it wasn't for you.

if the three of you were out at a restaurant for example, it was a tacit rule for you to sit between naruto and sasuke.

they pay extra attention to you, naruto in a more exaggerated manner than sasuke, but you noticed sasuke warmed up to you really quickly after you guys first met.

none of them will ever let anybody disrespect their partner, and they trust each other completely to look after you.

sasuke might let his scent spread widely around you, to hold off other people. whether you notice it or not doesn't matter, he will do it regardless.

don't be fooled, they both are very jealous alphas!

naruto expresses his openly, whether it's a friendly interaction that seemed too close for comfort or a compliment directed at you, he'll playfully pout or at least put his claim on you to reaffirm his position as your alpha.

sasuke's is a bit harder to perceive but present nonetheless. you're able to notice it in the way his jaw tightens, the look of his narrow eyes and protective stance.

they both consider you theirs, it's only natural they drive away other alphas. now that they grew much closer, they only accept gestures of affection directed to you, if it comes from one of them.

they also understand you're an omega and your needs manifest differently than theirs. if you need alone time, guidance or to get away from any situation... they got your back! they'll go even as far as giving you their strongly scented clothes and note down every food you like and dislike to make sure you get your favourite next time.

sasuke is at peace with how he feels about you : he likes you a lot and wants to keep you safe. the long days and hours you spent together as teammates forced the three of you to build an unbreakable bond.

their initial alpha rivalry transformed into a playful banter now. they tease each other and use their omega's laughter to measure their victory against each other.

sasuke still likes to mock naruto in front of you, because he knows it makes him embarrassed and it makes you laugh. they love the sound you make, and your lighthearted scent is like a reward.

you might not notice it, but sasuke pays close attention to you and you can expect sweet gifts from him, like pretty flowers which caught his eyes while on mission and reminded him of you.

during training, both of them become very reliable teachers. they want to demonstrate, help you with certain moves... but always having in mind to keep you away from harm.

the same goes for missions, they'll always step in if they assume you're in danger. and they'll do it over and over again, they don't even consider that as annoying or a burden to their mission.

if you think they're doing too much and you want them to calm down with all their protection, they'll understand and let you manage your thing alone. just know that they'll still have an eye on you.

naruto is very passionate and yes, he'll jump in front of you to shield you from anything. he's like a steadfast guardian you know you can count on, no matter how much he likes joking around.

however, sasuke is protective by placing a vigilant eye over you. he assesses potential threats and his actions are calculated. his protective nature is rooted in a silent commitment to keep safe what he holds dear, in this case, you.

during missions, both will offer their hand or arm to cross a particularly tricky path, they'll regularly ask you how you're feeling and if you need a break. if you do, they'll let you rest and go search for some food while the other is inspecting the surroundings.

overall, they are very careful and attentive.

and it really does make you feel protected and safe. you wouldn't trade you team for nothing in the world!

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suzukiblu · 21 days

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do you have any kryptonians hcs that you think would be fun to see incorporated in more fics out there? like cultural stuff & biology

Ones I've seen before and really like:

Kryptonians purr

Kryptonians are built physically harder/denser/heavier than humans and don't have much "give" in their bodies

Kryptonians can tell that humans aren't the same thing as them, but humans can't QUITE tell that Kryptonians aren't the same thing as them; there is just the tiiiiiniest bit of uncanny valley there when they aren't deliberately trying to pass for humans, though

Kryptonians immediately just "recognize" other Kryptonians as being Kryptonian ( though maybe this one is at least IMPLIED in canon, though I've never been totally clear on that one--but like, a stronger version of it, if that makes sense?? )

Ones I've been slooowly forming myself for personal use:

Kryptonians have different voices and different hearing, in the sense that a Kryptonian has more tones/nuance in their voice and can HEAR more tones/nuance in a voice, and a lot of other species' voices sound flat or toneless to them because they lack those additional tones

"chiming" as a way for children to get their parent/caretaker's attention; basically a specific musical little sound that they make

Kryptonians typically only being physically expressive or emotive with close family members/friends, and vocal communication frequently being more emotive/descriptive for them than physical is

Kryptonians come in just sliiiightly brighter colors than humans do--eyes, hair, skin, etc

it takes a long time and extended time together to "learn" someone's heartbeat

food is generally served on specific complementing dishware, in terms of color/shape/specific meal

most clothes involve multiple layers, mainly a fitted undersuit that covers as much skin as possible, and then an overrobe or two that hide(s) the shape of their bodies as much as possible; specific cuts of drapery are a big thing in their fashion

wearing house crests is a Big Deal all the time and involves certain rites of passage/ages/etc

diet being fairly simple and minimalistic; they have rice but not really bread, eat more fish than red meat, and cuisine tends to concentrate on very subtle and natural flavors; there's not typically a lot of different things on their plate and they don’t generally use chemical preservatives in daily life

to a Kryptonian it'd be a LOT more normal that Kon and Match got made in test tubes than it'd be that Jon and Chris got made via natural births, and there would absolutely be a "is cloning worse or is just leaving your kid's DNA up to chance worse??" kind of argument going on there, culturally speaking

( also I could go on for a fucking MINUTE how Jon being a successful and healthy hybrid who is also apparently fertile enough to have at least one descendent alive and well in the thirty-first century is an insane and weird thing that makes very little sense that I DESPERATELY wish came up in more of the fics/canon that I see involving or mentioning him; seriously, Kryptonian DNA is so complicated that Bizarro syndrome is a regular thing in clones produced from it even by people who SPECIALIZE in cloning, but the kid who just got whatever random genes won the random race is the one who came out perfectly stable and healthy and has ZERO health issues/concerns? like, EVER?? hOW, canon. HOW. )

I will actually live and die on the hill of "Lex is more genetically compatible with Kryptonian DNA than Lois is" because fuck a) biological determinism and b) loving couples DO frequently have to deal with genetic incompatibility and that's just much more interesting to me narratively, and also I love the weird little not-quite-tragedy of that concept, both in how Lex refuses to be an ally to someone he actually is so naturally “compatible” with and in how Lois would have genetic compatibility issues with someone she loved so much and was loved BY so much

ONE DAY I will write the fic where Jon is actually NOT a healthy hybrid and has a ton of health issues from birth and can't even use any Kryptonian powers without having a freaking asthma attack or HEART attack, resigns himself to it just being an unavoidable Kryptonian-human hybrid thing and that he'll never live up to his dad or grow up to be "Superman"--and then one day an oblivious newborn bb clone Kon shows up out of the blue in perfect health with EXTRA superpowers and very publicly declaring that HE'S gonna be Superman someday, and everyone in the Kent family has to just deal with that and how they all feel about it. ONE DAY.

#anonymous #meta ecetera

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the-ineffable-dance · 4 months

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Throughout both seasons of Good Omens, I adore watching how Aziraphale and Crowley show their love for each other. They each have a different set of needs that the other knows about and validates... Crowley is big on giving Aziraphale Acts of Service. Aziraphale leans more towards Physical Touch.

But one thing that they both give the other is possibly the most important for our two man shaped beings... Words of Affirmation.

It's easy to see when Crowley does this for Aziraphale, and I think it's quite easy to see when Azi both needs those words and also how dramatically he responds to them.

He doesn't just enjoy Crowley praising him... he needs it. Heaven has been brutal to Aziraphale. They have never had a kind word for him... instead they belittle him and mock him at every turn.

Imagine that THIS is what you are given for thousands and thousands of years. No matter what you say, no matter what you do, THIS is the response. Nothing is ever good enough. EVER.

And then, you meet a demon. And he listens to your ideas. He sees you for who you are. And he never mocks you. He listens. He accepts you. And he tells you that you're doing good things, that you're smart, that you're clever. That you have value.

Look at that face!!! Look how much it means to him! Even with six thousand years together, Aziraphale is ready to be mocked, and when Crowley encourages him, it is everything!

Even waaaaay back, in the Garden. They hardly knew each other, and yet already we have this affirmation that Aziraphale desperately needs.

What might be more difficult to see is how Aziraphale gives Crowley Words of Affirmation that HE needs just as much. It's much more subtle, but Crowley needs them, and Aziraphale provides.

Crowley's entire existence is a delicate balancing act. Inside, he is at heart a good person. He didn't lose that in his Fall like many of the other demons. We can see his kindness in a thousand small ways... his concern for children, his love of Aziraphale, following Hell only as far as he can... But imagine. He's a demon of Hell. Surrounded by people who think words like kind, nice, love are "four letter words." And the punishment for that kindness is not just mockery, but it's physical, brutal. How easy would it be to lose those parts of yourself just out of pure survival?

And then, you meet an angel. And he sees you for who you are, deep down, all the little things that you had to hide away. And he says it out loud, so you know that he sees it and accepts it and appreciates it. And he helps keep those parts of you you cherish alive.

Aziraphale is the only person that validates those parts of Crowley. And even if Crowley reacts negatively to it either out of fear that they're being listened to or even just habit, he still hears it.

Okay, he reacts REALLY badly to it... but Aziraphale never stops saying it, either. He knows deep down just how much Crowley needs him to say it.

Kind, nice, these are the most common of Aziraphale's Words of Affirmation... but there is one that I think Crowley needs the most... the one that he himself brings up the least... the fear that as a demon he is truly unforgiveable. He is unreliable when describing his Fall through out the series, and I see that as a sign that it is something that eats away at him. No demon gets forgiven. Period.

But Aziraphale forgives him. Offers it to him over and over. (Ignore the final offer of forgiveness in S2... those circumstances are out of the ordinary).

And when Aziraphale offers his forgiveness, I don't think that he's limiting it to whatever the surface reason is. Look at him... that's the face of someone who is trying to put as much meaning behind his words as he can. To reach that core of self-doubt that Crowley hides away, and ease the ache that is there. "You can be forgiven. You are worth forgiving. I forgive you, even if no one else does." We see throughout the series the forgiveness that Aziraphale offers start off pretty broad, and moves more and more intimate... from "May God forgive you" to "May you be forgiven" to finally "I forgive you." He refines his words until he finds what Crowley needs.

For both of them, the Words of Affirmation that the other provides is such an important part of their relationship! I'm thinking that soon I'll take a look at some of the other Love Languages that they use throughout the series. Until then!

#good omens #ineffable husbands #aziraphale #crowley #aziraphale loves crowley #crowley loves aziraphale #aziracrow #anthony j crowley #mr a. z. fell #good omens 2 #good omens meta #ineffable love languages

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jinsoulfromlewna · 2 months

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𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗗 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘'𝗦 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗒𝗈𝗎

𝗌𝗒𝗉𝗇𝗈𝗌𝗂𝗌 how the pyramid game characters show they're undying love for you! as subtle as it may be or as obvious as possible

𝖺/n god this kdrama is SOO good! i know it's a bit new but i got sad at the lack of fics ;(

btw, eunjueng n yerim don't like eachother here (boooo!!)

S𝖴𝖭𝖦 𝖲𝖮𝖮-𝖩𝖨

this main characters almost curses herself for falling in love with you! i mean, sure, you're talented, nice.. amazing.. pretty.. but she's trying to destroy the pyramid game! and you're distracting her so much. maybe talking to you and sitting next to you in half of your classes will help, yeah!

she sweats, trying to start any small talk with you. of course, it's not obvious at all. sooji has a talent of acting calm and stuff. when she asks you the time, and you turn on your phone to reveal the time and coincidentally, what song your headphones are playing, she quickly makes a conversation with you about the artist. you quickly become friends.

but like.. it's just for you to join them in defeating the game! at least that's what she tells jaeun.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖬𝖸𝖤𝖮𝖭𝖦 𝖩𝖠-𝖤𝖴𝖭

ja-eun has always liked you, you were the only reason she kinda.. stayed alive during her continuous years of being grade F. you (mostly) always stayed in grade C but even if you moved into D, or even F, you were always with her. one time, you actually moved into the F grade with her and she won't ever forget how you giggled on the floor with her after getting beat up.

she hated that moment, but loved seeing you giggling over the saddest things, really.

she always admired you a lot, and that special friendship slowly turned into love. she would feel special as you reject your other, more popular, friends to eat with the school's outcast.

you were one of the first people she brought home, and you even called her mom once! though, it hurt when you introduced yourself as her friend. she wanted to be more, so, so badly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖡𝖠𝖤𝖪 𝖧𝖠-𝖱𝖨𝖭

harin never really.. liked you. you thought, because she would always stare at you with that lifeless, shiver inducing stare. you never really understood why everyone liked her so much because of this.

but it was all wrong, harin liked you a whole lot. but god knows she would rather die than admit that. she's secretly praying for the day you confess your secret love for her, as you ramble how you were too shy to say so because she's so rich and popular and pretty, and then she interrupts you with a kiss and-

"ha-rin! c'mon, let's go to lunch!"

ugh. well, fantasies aside, you were already hers the moment she stared into those beautiful orbs of yours.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖨𝖬 𝖸𝖤-𝖱𝖨𝖬

this idol trainee has always been head over heels for you since you two met! she found you very interesting to say the least, and having lunch with you and eunjeong has.. made her realize some things. like her sexuality

but she brushes it off, not wanting to ruin the friendship you have. to show her love (in a normal, 100% platonic way) constantly buys you stuff like snacks you seem to enjoy, or gifts you might like. she also invites you on shopping sprees, on "friend dates", or to her house to have a sleepover together! or yours, she wouldn't mind either

just be careful when ogling something you want or even show the minimum interest in when on a hangout with her, because you will find it on your desk the day after. maybe with a letter... a flower or two.. or a dozen..

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖲𝖤𝖮 𝖣𝖮-𝖠𝖧

probably the hardest to catch on to. she's a bit cold and tough to crack but after she realizes the tad crush she has on you, it'll be easier to talk with her. if you're lucky you might even get a moment of her smiling!

she always pressures you to study for finals or midterms, well, exams in general. she video calls you sometimes but like, just to be sure you're doing that project due thursday at first period, not because she wants to see that cute little face of yours- i mean, what?

even after all that pressure from her to study, you don't do it as much as she does, so when the teacher isn't looking you whisper into her ear. "do-ah, what's the answer to number 17?" and while she usually never replies when it's someone else, she can make an excuse for you. "a." she whispers back.

after the exam results, you two walk out of school together, you were going to say farewell but she interrupts you. "hey. you owe me for giving you the answer." do-ah was never the one to do things like that, but you complied. "how about a dat- uh, a hangout at a restaurant o-or the movies?" you smiled. getting close to her, you whisper in her ear. "to a restaurant, ey? hehe, a date it is."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖡𝖠𝖭𝖦 𝖶𝖮𝖮-𝖩𝖨

this cutesy girl had the biggest friend crush on you since you met! i mean you were so pretty and kind, who wouldn't wanna be your friend?! she'd try and eat lunch with you everyday, she'd sit next to you whenever she can (in and out of class) and just really tries to spend time with you whenever she can!

as you get more used to her being all over you all the time, you give in and accept being her friend. i mean, it's not like you ignored her but you kinda thought she was weird and stuff. yet now, she's one of your best friends!

she's with you at all times, and you were there for her when baek ha-rin yelled at her and you were there when she didn't have anyone. when you hugged her, and said everything was going to be okay, wiping her tears as you stared into her eyes, she knew you were the one.

the one for her. she smiled. <3

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

𝖪𝖨𝖬 𝖣𝖠-𝖸𝖤𝖮𝖭

while she's an absolute bitch to everyone else, that changes completely when you're around. she even gets a bit lively, but obviously she's still super mean, in a teasing way!!

she hooks an arm around your shoulder as you two walk together to class, cutting off anyone who wants to try and flirt with you. whenever she's bullying a grade F, just tell her to hangout with you, especially in that tone when she can tell you're sad about her actions, she'll leave them alone immediately.

you're one of the only people she goes to so she can vent and stuff, a lot of times she goes to your house (when your parents aren't around, obviously) and smokes or drinks liquor as she talks about her problems. you're a real comfort for her, well, your presence in general is.

if you ever get into grade F (unlikely, because she has like over half the class threatened to vote for you plus your friends and her), let's say the 'bullying' is a bit different. you guys are just friends, yeah, but she still teases you by saying stuff like how about you give me a kiss?

and well, who are you to reject what a grade A says, right?

written by @jinsoulfromlewna. please do not repost or translate without consent.

#pyramid game x reader #pyramid game #baek harin #sung soo ji #ja eun #seo do ah #bang wooji #kim dayeon #pyramid game x y/n #pyramid game x you #fanfic #x reader #kdrama #kpop

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hotvintagepoll · 2 months

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Propaganda

Lena Horne (Cabin in the Sky, Stormy Weather)— Incredibly talented biracial actress, singer, dancer, and activist (she did so much work towards integrating audiences). Because of the racism of the era, she rarely got to be the lead actress but filmmakers loved her so much that they would often create stand alone segments within a film to highlight her beautiful singing, knowing that these segments would ultimately be cut from the film by censors in areas that forbid films with Black performers. Also, she's just so wonderful in Cabin in the Sky as a gold-digger villain who is not the least bit subtle about her intentions. I would highly recommend checking out her work.

Jane Fonda (Barbarella, Sunday in New York, Barefoot in the Park)—Feminist icon, LGBTQ+ rights activist since the 70s, Civil Rights and Native American rights advocate, environmentalist… she really is THE woman ever

This is round 4 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Lena Horne:

Black American powerhouse singer and actor who faced all the usual bullshit that any BIPOC faced in vintage Hollywood and achieved legendary status anyway. Also a Civil Rights movement icon.

She was a gem

She was so beautiful and those dimples are amazing! Truly depressing how badly Hollywood treated her because she was black. I would love to have seen what she really could have been if they didn’t cast her in so many yikes roles. She’s got gorgeous eyes and that body! Her joyful smile makes happiness sexy!

youtube

Civil rights actress, singer, dancer, actress, she's got the whole package

Lena Horne was a wonderful singer and actress who largely starred in black cast musicals. While she had a lot of main stream success, she ultimately lost the lead role in showboat (a role she had played on the stage) to a white actress due to hollywood's prejudices. She was also blacklisted during the HUAC hearings, but she still managed to be hot be hot as fuck and have a career spanning decades, working with more well-known stars like Judy Garland in musicals, and working on stage and releasing albums when her hollywood career began to suffer.

Miss Horne became famous during a period of time when Hollywood had very few meaningful roles for people of color. Although she is more so known as a performer, she starred in two successful all black productions (Cabin in the Sky & Stormy Weather). If that wasn't enough, she also guest starred on the Muppets (Season 1, Episode 11)

Jane Fonda:

" I assume she's already been submitted but I gotta make sure. I think there's an element to movies like Barbarella or her segment of Spirit of the Dead of those having been directed by her husband, who famously made movies about her being hot, and the incredible costume design also helped, but good lord. Look at her"

"She was so pretty, dear lord! She was and still us stunning. She’s great at comedy and drama."

"Shes so hot im so gay for me i will let her hit me with hers car"

"Gorgeous and also still getting arrested at climate protests, which is sexy behavior"

"Watching her in Barefoot in the Park seriously made me, a straight woman, question things"

"PLEASE I LOVE HER SO MUCH"

"Her vibes in these movies are so interesting because she, the daughter of an Old Hollywood star, went on to make both poignant dramatic movies and the some of the silliest things you've ever seen but even in the silly space adventures and sexploitations there's always this undeniable gravitas to her. It's like she's able not to take herself very seriously but at the same time never stops having this grace and elegance and makes it all work together. And she's always been very politically active which is also sexy. Her famous mugshot is from 1970 so right at the cutoff mark but come on"

#jane fonda #lena horne #hotvintagepoll #fuck that old woman #ladies 4 #Youtube

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biteofcherry · 1 year

Text

To find the light, we must first touch the darkness

Please also check out @bluepinkangel’s amazing hot moodboard for this universe 🖤

dark!mafia Steve Rogers x female reader

summary: When you’re unexpectedly appointed to run a health center, you foresee many struggles along the way, but not one in the form of a merciless mob boss. Steve Rogers’ core aim is to own and he won’t take no for an answer. To any of his demands.

warnings: dark!Steve Rogers (really, he’s not a softie here, he dark); manipulation; blackmail; threats; power imbalance; specific warnings will be added for each chapter separately

warnings for this chapter: none

Be patient, please, this first part is only an introduction and setting the scene.

Chapter 1. Storm on the horizon

~ * ~

A stream of dark cars, which slowly pulled up to the curb, distorted the innocent image of pristine sidewalk with raised flower bed pots soaked in early summer sunlight, immediately drawing Felix’s attention from the plants he’s been watering in his office.

The center had a large parking lot on the other side of the property, where clients could leave their cars without interrupting the usual street flow at the front side. No one ever pulled up to the very front; beside that one evening a few years ago when the official opening ceremony turned into a gala with VIPs coming in their fancy limousines.

Felix narrowed his eyes, watching through the window as three big, black cars stopped right in front of the steps leading to the building. Expensive models. They looked reinforced, too, meaning they were probably more expensive than a line of limousines.

Two men stepped out of the first car, both of them doing a subtle sweep around before approaching the middle car. They stood on both sides of the backdoor, watchful of anything changing in their surroundings.

A man slipped out of the front passenger’s side - big and bulky, with dark hair pulled into a bun, and dark sunglasses covering his eyes. He was wearing all black, from the heavy military boots to leather jacket and leather gloves.

He walked around the car to the backseat guarded by two other men and pulled the door open.

When yet another man stepped out, slowly stretching to his full height, Felix’s heart dropped to his stomach.

That man he recognized.

That man should not be anywhere near here.

The watering-can almost fell out of Felix’s hand, his fingers spasming in a tremble of panic. Water spilled on the windowsill as he dropped it down with a thud, before running out of his office.

The center has been quiet for the past few days, only slowly getting back to life after its short period of mourning. At this early time of day there weren’t many people inside, most patients coming in a bit later.

Felix rushed down the corridor, shaken with the unexpected arrival and not knowing how to proceed.

He should be doing something, he thought. Warn the right people. Having things not go smoothly was a novelty with which he had trouble dealing, especially in those circumstances.

Not so long ago he boasted about having things under control, gaining even more confidence when you turned out to be kind and inexperienced in the nuances of the city’s complex socio-political wires. He could work with you without a hitch, Felix convinced himself - and others - of that fact.

Three black cars pulling up in the early morning hours wrecked that simple plan.

Almost at your door, Felix ran straight into Natalie, your assistant. She was smaller than him, a filigree silhouette with a sharp bob and a murderous look. With a calendar in one hand and a traveling mug with hot coffee in the other, Natalie glared at him.

“Felix, what the hell?” It was too early in the morning, for her at least, to be dealing with any crap.

“Rogers is here! S-Steve Rogers is here!”

He was breathless, air in his lungs burning not from the pace with which he ran, but the fear of that man about to enter the place.

Natalie frowned, looking above Felix’s shoulder at the still quiet and empty hall. Rogers’ name was recognized by many people in the city, even the lucky ones who had absolutely no connection to the dark tentacles of his criminal empire.

Though, some whispers suggested that somehow everyone was tied to him. Some people just didn’t know it, living in sweet oblivion.

“Well, then,” she took a sip of her coffee, “shouldn’t you be greeting him at the door and asking what exactly is he here for?”

“He’s not here for me, you know that.” Felix nearly shrunk in on himself, scared of the prospect of facing Rogers.

He definitely didn’t want to be on his radar, even as someone simply pointing directions. They said Rogers never forgot a face. Oh no, it was better to be completely out of sight. Hide in a closet and wait for the storm to pass.

“Of course.” Natalie rolled her eyes. “It’s obvious he’s here for the new boss.”

That moment the door to your office opened and you stepped out, almost bumping into Natalie - your newly acquired, or inherited, assistant.

“I was actually about to go look for you.” You smiled at her.

Natalie, though she could be sour like a lemon, provided you a sense of security in the wicked waters you were treading through as of a few days.

“I went through the outlines for the group classes last night.” You informed her.

“I’d like to schedule a meeting with the therapists and construction manager. It would be better if they explained to him which changes in the project they need to be done.”

“I’ll arrange it.” She nodded, balancing the mug in the crook of her elbow and flipping the calendar open.

You’ve met some well organized people in your life, but Natalie was like the highest functioning computer in a tiny human flesh. She included everything in the schedules she made, with traffic jam and bathroom breaks.

Why she kept a paper calendar as well as a digital one in her phone, you had no idea. As long as it worked for her, and she worked for you, you weren’t going to judge her methods.

“I’ll reschedule today’s meeting with the lawyers, too.” Natalie added casually.

“Isn’t that in-” you checked your watch- “half an hour? Why do we need to reschedule?”

“Another meeting came up.” Natalie answered with a shrug, her gaze flicking to the end of the corridor from where heavy footsteps of someone approaching were gaining in volume. “A rather important one.”

“With whom?” You frowned.

Beside the lawyers, or your grandmother, there wasn’t anyone you expected to be calling you on a whim demanding immediate attention. No one that you were aware of, at least.

“Steve Rogers.” Felix squeaked.

“Who is that?” Your frown remained, only deepened.

You didn’t recognize that name from any legal papers in which you were swarmed for the past couple of days.

Felix’s eyes grew big, even Natalie seemed surprised that you didn’t immediately react at the sound of his name.

Working at the center since its beginnings, they were probably used to all the people from elites and various organizations with whom Howard Stark used to work while running this place.

You were barely familiar with some of the institutions. You knew you had to broaden your knowledge now, but it couldn’t be done in a week. You doubted it could be done in a year.

You were simply a neuropsychologist who spent two days every week for the past year helping Howard Stark after his stroke. A pawn on the full board of other specialists, who all tended to Howard.

And yet, it was you with whom he grew a certain bond, maybe fondness, that led you to the overbearing mess of a situation.

When Howard passed a few weeks ago, your mourning over a friendly patient was disrupted by an unexpected summoning. To the will reading.

Among all of his wealth and companies, which were all inherited by his son Tony and his family (the sweetest woman you ever met, Pepper, and their daughter), the little chunk - a drop in the ocean really - was signed over to you.

The health and therapy center which Howard founded after his first stroke. Back then he bounced back to health quickly, but his road to recovery taught him how little help there is for people with neurological damages and impairments of any kind.

It was a very narrow field. Getting appointments with specialists was hard, and mostly not covered by the insurance companies.

So Howard founded this center - in a huge building that once upon a time was a palace, then a private school, then a library before that one got a new, modern building in the heart of the city.

You visited the place with him a few times, using very well equipped rooms and strolling through the vast inner garden. During one of your visits, you briefly mentioned how the place could also open for kids and teens after appropriate adjustments.

Was it then that Howard decided to leave the center to you after his death?

Was a single sentence enough to make such a drastic change in his will?

Then again, Howard was eccentric. Tony was too, from what you learned. He also wasn’t at all annoyed that his father included you in his will.

Since the will reading, your life flipped upside down. You had no idea how to run a place like that, there was so much to learn. But it also was like a spark of courage to reach for dreams you never hoped to achieve. With the right people at your side, you could maintain the place and even expand it in the right direction.

For now, however, you were a green little sprout in a huge field of unknown. And the name Steve Rogers rang no bells.

“He’s-” Natalie paused, searching for the right word- “influential.”

He was more.

He had power and control.

Not only over the city’s streets, which he was ready to drown in blood if needed. Over hundreds of rats running in the wheel of the underworld’s crime machine, as well over people in pristine places and on high stools in the capitol.

And he conquered it in brutal ways; paved his road with bodies and fear.

It was safe to assume that if someone had any influence - be it political, or in the media - Rogers had that person on a string. No, not a string, a heavy chain with immediate suffering at the end if they stepped out of line.

One could assume Stark knew Rogers in some capacity, though the man not once stepped anywhere near the center. Whether he had Howard in his pocket, or if they had a different relation, they were never seen together here.

“I’ve been meeting influential people for the past week.” You scoffed. “Each of them had a scheduled meeting. Mr Rogers can schedule one too.”

You wanted to maintain a good relationship with donors and patrons, but you weren’t going to bend your back for any of them. People needed to learn boundaries. Rich people especially.

“It would be better-” Natalie began.

A male voice, deep and cool as a mountain brook, interrupted her:

“I do have a scheduled meeting.”

His voice carried over through the corridor easily, without him having to shout. In a few, long strides he was standing right behind Felix. Another man kept a step behind him.

He walked with the prowess of someone who owned the place (and anyone in it). For a split of a second you felt like taking a step back and bowing your head. Then you remembered that he did not, in fact, own the place.

Nor did he own you.

Rogers was tall, Felix’s head barely reaching above his shoulder. With golden blond hair, shorter at the sides and slightly longer strands coiffed back. You saw a glimpse of your own stunned reflection in his dark aviators before he took them off, revealing stunningly blue eyes.

Broad shoulders seemed to stretch the black leather of his jacket and when he put his hands on his hips his frame appeared to double in size.

His gaze briefly slid from you to Natalie, who was now taut like a string, quickly returning to you with a mocking glimmer in his eyes.

“Don’t I, Miss Stendhal?” He addressed Natalie. Somehow, it sounded as if he knew her, and it wasn’t a good thing at all.

“Yes.” She replied immediately, astonishingly calm and stoic. “Mr Rogers had scheduled this meeting a week ago, but I made a mistake writing it in the calendar. It’s my fault there was a mishap. I’m sorry.”

You turned to stare at her, disbelieving every single word.

You may have known her for less than two weeks, but you already learned she makes no mistakes of that kind. Her organization skills were better than the army’s.

Natalie’s face betrayed nothing. She was as poised as every day, admitting to the supposed mistake with cool professionalism.

“That’s okay. I’m sure you corrected the issue.” Rogers smiled.

It was charming at first glance. Reminded you of a chivalrous sweetheart from the romances you occasionally liked to read. But there was an edge to it, like a shark’s grin a second before making you his dinner.

“Of course.” Natalie tilted her chin, as if offended that someone dared to doubt her efficiency. “Like I said, I’ve rescheduled the lawyers to clear this hour for you, Mr Rogers.”

Then she took two graceful steps to the side, clearing the entrance to your office. She sent a glare Felix’s way - who was nearly shaking like a leaf having Rogers at his back. He shuffled quickly to her side, not once glancing at Rogers or his bodyguard.

Natalie gave him her coffee mug, so he could focus his trembling hands on something. His thoughts scattering, Felix mindlessly lifted the mug to his lips and took a nervous sip. Natalie would undoubtedly tear his head off for it in different circumstances.

The moment his path was clear, Rogers took a single step forward. It was enough to find himself toe to toe with you.

A waft of spicy, woody scent of his cologne swirled around you; a teasing tendril as much part of him with its dangerous allure. He towered over you and the expanse of his chest seemed to cut off your vision of anything else around.

The fact you had to crane your neck to look up at him seemed to amuse him. Or please him.

Perhaps both.

Whatever kind of benefactor he was, you suspected you wouldn't like him a single bit. There were no idle threats made, not even any pompous comments a spoiled prick with money could make.

Yet he made the hair on your nape stand, your pulse quickening as adrenaline poured into your system at the instinct’s suggestion that this was a dangerous predator.

You weren’t sure if you’d fight or flight, though usually you chose the former.

Unknown to you yet, he wouldn’t allow you either.

#steve rogers x reader #steve rogers x female reader #dark!mafia steve rogers x reader #dark!mafia steve rogers x female reader #steve rogers x you #steve rogers imagine #steve rogers fic #dark!mafia steve rogers #touch the darkness #my fic

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n0tamused · 8 days

Note

Hi! I saw that you requests were open and I had a brain rot about an idea, with platonic! Ratio with a student who acts like Bronya Zaychik. Feel free to ignore this if you don't feel like writing this! I love your work sm! Take care🗣🗣🗣

- 🧈 anon

A/N: My first emoji anon >:D Hello! Thank you so much for your request, I do hope I did it justice. I do have to say I did not play HI3 besides a little bit of the start, so I am not that well versed with Bronya's character there, but I did ask a friend to tell me about her, so I hope this is alright <3 Enjoy! You take care too!

Contents: PLATONIC! Dr Ratio x Reader, hcs, fluff?? Fight me

-Dr. Ratio is hard to get close to, both as a professor and an individual outside the Intelligentsia Guild. With that comes great impartiality when dealing with people, no one gets a better or a necessarily worse treatment by him, unless they’re really asking for it

-This does not mean that he is not keen on observation. Seldom few things can go by him without his notice, and that includes the little details about the students he teaches. The things they think escape the view of others

-It took some time, some odd few months before he really began to focus a bit more on you, all past observations accounting up to what he thinks now. His view definitely changed, positively so too.

-He is very appreciative of you, as a bright spark among the sea of dull minds, and he also began to look forward to your essays and exam papers. Although his rather harsh outward demeanor is yet to soften, it is clear he is taking steps to take a bit more care about you, taking steps to nurture your mind and to encourage its further growth

-Dr. Ratio really does want to spread knowledge far and wide, that is his life mission, and his way of teaching can be hard to catch on to, something he is aware of. So whenever he does see someone grasping his talks and being in tune with the material, he will do his best to not let that student stray from this path

-As a professor it is his duty and responsibility to be like that, but he takes that duty on tenfold

-During the days and classes which are spent in practical learning, Dr. Ratio would observe your way of going about the task, the way you look so…deadpan when being seemingly sarcastic with your peers, and how much you just cherish those few people in your closest circle, and how they cherish you in return- it is something that leaves him with an odd sense of pride in his chest.

-Having mentioned that, he finds it oddly peculiar and curious how you seem to refer to yourself as a third person too, and at times he does find it to be a pet peeve of his. In his mind it’s a cruel way to demean yourself like that, and at times when it seems as if you’re being rude to yourself, he will jump in to correct you - not only on the way you refer to yourself, but also the way you talk about yourself. He may be blunt, but he is not unnecessarily rude and there is care interwoven between his sharp words. Dr. Ratio does not take out rage on his students either, unless asked for, obviously - when did he ever mince his words or actions with idiots? But you are human, so at least treat yourself as one.

-It is an odd feeling Dr. Ratio feels, a sense of paternal protectiveness when it comes to you after a long while of teaching you and getting to know you through small talks here and there and through the answers you offer.

-Should you encounter an issue, any issue, rest assured, Dr. Ratio does not mind repeating himself - after he let a small sassy remark fall from his lips about having to repeat himself. He shows you how he does it himself, before letting you take a go under his watchful eye. You may even catch a subtle praise or two slip from him

-He is well aware of the setbacks you can encounter, mainly with the issues of walking and going about. Dr. Ratio would try to accommodate the needs of his students, including you, as practically as he could. Thankfully, you won’t need to walk much at all during his classes.

-Going back to the protectiveness he feels, he sort of has that demeanor which in a nutshell is just “I can yell at them but no one else can”. The other professors at the Guild can really strike his nerves when they are just rude and cruel to students, and aeons save the person that dares to dig their nasty teeth into either one of his students. They’re not gonna hear the end of it

-Say what you want about him, but one thing that is not true is that Dr. Ratio is emotionless, or that he lacks empathy. He was a student once too, and someone’s child. And now you’re his student, and while you may not be coddled in any way, you will be taken care of.

#Dr Ratio #Veritas Ratio #Dr ratio x reader #dr ratio x you #dr ratio x y/n #gn reader #dr ratio x gn reader #veritas ratio x reader #veritas ratio x you #dr ratio headcanons #honkai star rail #honkai star rail x reader #honkai star rail x you #honkai star rail headcanons

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theyhavetakenovermylife · 6 months

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Unwanted Attention

Bayverse!Leonardo x reader

The boys have brought you along for a party at the NYPD headquarters, where a police woman finds your crush, Leonardo, very interesting. Leo on the other hand is not interested and turns to you for help.

Warnings: Spelling and an annoying police woman that doesn't understand no.

All characters are at least 21.

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The atmosphere at the NYPD headquarters was vibrant, filled with laughter and cheers. Drinks were served along with snacks, and a table where everyone was free to serve themself. It was police chief Vincent’s idea, as a way to celebrate the new partnership between the NYPD and the mutant turtles. It also served as a way to celebrate the defeat of Kraang, and to let the rest of the department meet the four turtle brothers that had saved New York City once again.

The brothers, not sure what to do with so many humans around them, had invited you, April, Caesy and Vern. They insisted that the four of you had as much to do with the saving of New York City, yet they failed to remember that it was them that came up with a plan and guided everybody through it.

Yet there you were at the NYPD headquarters, with a drink in hand chatting and laughing with the people around you. Raphael was having a conversation with Caesy about motorbikes, Donatello, April and police chief Vincent was talking about something techy, while Vern and Michelangelo was trying to see who could drink their drinks the fastest. You had been standing with Leonardo and a policeman, talking about your experiences during the Kraang invasion.

As the three of you spoke, you couldn’t help but throw glances in Leo’s direction. You had known him for two years now, and you couldn’t deny your growing feelings for the leader in blue. Especially not after the ordeal that was the Kraang invasion. There was just something about him that drew you in - his confidence, his leadership, his unwavering dedication. And his eyes. Those pretty blue eyes that made your stomach tingle. But little did you know that Leonardo harbored feelings for you as well, just as you secretly held a crush on him. He had been aware of these growing feelings ever since April pulled you to the roof where they had asked her to meet them so they could bring her to Master Splinter.

As the night unfolded, Leonardo found himself trying to enjoy the celebration, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. And it wasn’t your beautiful eyes looking at him every once in a while. No, it was some new strange eyes on him. Unknown eyes. Glancing around, his eyes met those of a police woman, her gaze intense and determined. Curiosity piqued, she made her way through the crowd until she stood beside him, right next to the police man. You saw her as she came over, a nauseating feeling growing in your stomach. You did not like the way she looked at Leonardo.

"Leonardo, right?" she asked with a coy smile, her voice carrying a subtle flirtation.

Leo nodded, a bit caught off guard, slightly fidgeting with the glass in his hand. "Yeah, that's me. Can I help you with something?"

The police woman leaned in slightly, her eyes locking onto his. Leo leaned away, clearly not expecting it. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the room. A fearless leader, I presume?"

Leonardo chuckled nervously, his eyes darting around the room. "I don't know about fearless, heh. We just do what we can to keep the city safe".

She playfully twirled a strand of hair with a smug smile. You wanted to yank her hair to whip that smile off of her face. "Well, a brave man deserves a reward. How about another drink, or maybe a dance, Leonardo?"

Leo hesitated, glancing around as he searched for a polite way to decline. You could see the “nope” written across his face. "I- I appreciate the offer, but I'm here with my brothers and my best friends… Maybe some other time?"

She didn't seem deterred, stepping closer. You were getting mildly shocked. Wasn’r she supposed to be a police officer? "Come on, Leo. We're here to celebrate. Loosen up a little".

Leo felt the awkward tension, realizing he needed a way out of this encounter. That's when he remembered you stood by his side. He turned to you, catching your eye briefly.

"(Y/N)... Babe?", Leonardo said, trying to keep his tone casual as he turned to his friend, noticing your surprised look at the sudden nickname. "We have plans later tonight, don’t we?"

You stared at him for a second, heart skipping a beat when you suddenly realized what was happening. The urgency in his eyes and the way she started to look at you in confusion. The police man the two of you had been talking to looked even more confused by the sudden change in your demeanor. "Yeah, we agreed not to go home too late, since we have that thing with your dad tomorrow".

“I knew there was something”, Leonardo said, acting relieved, before placing a hand on your back, making your knees go a little weak. “Thank you for reminding me, babe. I don’t know what I would do without you”. That’s when Leo pulled you close and placed a kiss on your forehead. You could feel your knees buckle and your head spin as he turned to the woman, and told her he couldn’t go out for a drink or a dance.

That was when she finally took the hint and left, you and Leo watching to make sure she wouldn’t be back. Once she was gone for good, you and Leo let out a sigh of relief, turning back to continue your conversation with the police officer, only to realize he had left, leaving the two of you alone.

You turned to Leonardo with a teasing smile, and smacked him gently on his strong bicep. "You know, you owe me for saving you back there".

Leo chuckled, rubbing his arm as if you had actually hurt him. "I owe you big time, (Y/N). Thanks for being my fake girlfriend".

Your heart warmed and broke at the same time. The word “girlfriend” brought you happiness, but the word “fake” tore it apart. Yet you had thought that was it. That Leo would take a step back and leave you alone. But he didn’t. The rest of the night Leo stayed close to your side, placing a hand on or around you every once in a while. You thought it was because he caught a glance of the police woman or something, and therefore you didn’t think much more about it.

As the night continued one, the two of you found a quieter spot away from the crowd. It was down one of the hallways from the big area the main body of the part was held in. Here the light was dim, with an empty couch with space for the two of you. You took a seat, laughing at a really bad joke Leo had told you. It was nothing new. Every once in a while Leo would make you laugh with his dry humor, to the point where you would be in tears.

“You can’t say stuff like that Leo”, you laughed, drawing away the tears that had formed in your eyes. “We’re surrounded by police”.

Leonardo smiled as you laughed, feeling his heart beat a little faster. He looked into your eyes with a warmth that went beyond their charade. It was a look that made your laughter quite down, feeling excitement and nervousness grow in your stomach. Leo’s eyes just had this power over you, that you couldn’t explain.

"I have something to confess," Leo began, his tone serious yet sincere, causing your breath to hitch for a moment. Leo fidgeted with his hands, looking at them instead of your eyes now. "(Y/N), I... It’s really not easy to say, but I think it’s about time. I… I've had feelings for you for quite a long time now. I just didn't know how to tell you, at least until now". Leo swallowed a lump, still not looking you in your eyes. “When you played my fake girlfriend I realized… how badly I really want to. I mean, how badly I want you to be my real girlfriend. I know it’s strange, but I just couldn’t do this without telling you”.

Your eyes widened in surprise, and a blush crept onto your cheeks as you felt your smile growing big and bright. "Really?”. The happiness in your voice made Leo look up at you. “Because I've kinda had a crush on you too for some time now".

Leonardo smiled, a mix of relief and happiness crossing his face. He breathed out a sigh of relief, his head working to find a way to answer you. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one".

You both chuckled, unsure of what to say or do. You cursed yourself for being so awkward, and Leo yelled at himself for being so nervous around you, even after he had fought an alien from another dimension.

Then Leo finally asked. “(Y/N)? Can I kiss you?”

You could only imagine how you looked when you heard his question. “Of course you can Leo”.

The kiss that followed was soft and unsure, yet with a passionate undertone. Leo held you close with a soft hand on your face, as if he was scared he would break you by accident. But once you placed your arms behind his neck and leaned further into him, the kiss ever so slowly turned more and more passionate. Leo’s hands moving from your face to your back, pulling you closer to him.

Who would have thought that some unwanted attention from a flirty police officer, was the push the two of you needed?

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seospicybin · 2 years

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SATURN.

Hyunjin x reader. (s,f,a)

Synopsis: Realized that Hyunjin's true love will always be his art, you decided to move on with your life to only cross path with him once more. (6,7k words)

Author's note: Don't say I didn't warn you!

Black and blue.

Hwang Hyunjin had been painting his canvas with those two colors, black and blue, and the hues in between.

"What are you painting?" You asked as you took a little break from your painting to see him working, at how he immersed himself in it, becoming one with his art.

"I dream my painting and I paint my dream," he responded with the Van Gogh quote he always uttered to you whenever you ask almost the same question every other day.

Or to be exact every Saturday afternoon.

You took a painting class because it had always been your hobby since you were a teenager. You love it simply because it's relaxing to you and you feel a little more alive when you paint. Many people said you have a talent for it and a lot more people had coaxed you to make your hobby into a career but you opposed the idea.

That would be a dream job, of course, doing something you love and making money out of it.

But sometimes, your hobby should stay as a hobby, or else it wouldn't give you the same excitement as it used to and ruin the experience for you.

You prefer working a normal job to make money and do something you love once a week, that was more than enough for you.

For Hyunjin though, it's a whole different thing.

Painting is more than just a hobby, something he does once a week or to pass time, it's his life. He believes it's what makes him, him.

He does it because it's the path he chooses for him, to be a painter and to be acknowledged by people as one.

He has the talent his skill is above everyone in the class and you believe the only reason he attended the class is nothing but to paint more.

You wouldn't say you knew him, you didn't know each other apart from you always sitting next to each other and chatting a little during class. You weren't that close to being considered as friends, well acquainted was more like it.

"See you next week!" You say to each other after class and after that, you went to your respective homes. It was never more than that.

Except on that one rainy day in spring.

It wasn't like you have anything to do for the rest of the day, you decided to wait for the rain to stop by sitting on the big windowsill with the raindrops tapping against the glass.

You took out your sketchbook and pencil case when Hyunjin came then sat at the other end of the windowsill.

"It's a spring rain," he said, also taking out his sketchbook.

"What are you going to draw?" You asked and regretted asking because you could guess what his answer would be.

"You," he shortly replied.

You pursed your lips, guessing if he was joking or not.

"And I'll draw you!" you said back and not getting any complaints from him.

It was more like a challenge you put on yourself, you knew it would be hard to draw him, impossible even. He's so beautiful, his facial features are sharp yet delicate, God must have taken his time creating him, making him the most beautiful human you ever laid your eyes on.

"Beautiful necklace!" He beamed.

You glanced up from your drawing when he already looked down at his drawing, your hand flew to your necklace, rubbing the pendant between your thumb and index finger, "thanks, it's a family heirloom."

Since you were already looking at him, you looked at him intently, observing his face to catch something no one has ever seen on him or something subtle that people miss.

You leaned in close and he glanced up to find you staring at him, "what?"

You squinted your eyes and touched the faint mole under his eyes, "I didn't notice this before!"

You leaned back and continued drawing, trying to draw him as best as you could, trying not to at least, made a disappointing drawing of him.

When the rain turned into drizzle, you finished drawing him or what you thought is the best drawing you could ever do of him.

"I'm finished!" You said, looking at him who was still deep in concentration with a crease formed between his eyebrows.

He flipped his sketchbook shut and looked up at you, "let me see!"

You hesitated to hand it to him, your finger fiddling with the spine of your sketchbook, gripping it tightly.

He held out his hand at you, long fingers adorned with rings reaching out at you.

"Let me see!" he said again.

You reluctantly gave your sketchbook to him, getting a little anxious as he took it and flipped it to the drawing you did of him.

His fingers trailed the paper as if he was touching his face, feeling every stroke of your pencil on it.

"I'm not good at doing portrait drawing," you quickly told him, giving him an explanation even though he was quiet the whole time he looked at your drawing.

Then he ripped the paper out of your sketchbook and put the drawing in his book, "I'll take this!"

Your eyes widened in surprise, "You have to pay for that!" You joked.

He roughly shoved his sketchbook into his bag, "how about dinner?"

"Huh?" You got confused by his answer.

"I'll pay it with dinner," he said again then got down from the windowsill.

You were joking, you didn't think that he would take it seriously. Then you checked the time on your phone and it was hardly five pm, "but it's too early for dinner."

He shrugged and hoisted his bag higher on his shoulder, "do you have something else to do?"

Would it be embarrassing to tell him that you don't have anything to do on a Saturday night? Or every Saturday night for that matter?

"I don't have any plans... no," you settled with a simple answer.

"Okay then, let's go!" He offered his hand to help you get off the windowsill.

The rain has stopped completely when you walked out, he asked where you live so he could think of a place to eat somewhere in the area.

It was the most personal thing he ever asked you and he did it for your convenience.

"Where do you live?" You asked back since he asked yours and it was appropriate to ask for his as well.

"I live downtown," he vaguely answered while swiping his card to enter the subway station.

There were a lot of eyes looking your way, but when you looked twice, they were actually on Hyunjin. You understood that he's pleasant to the eyes, it would be hard to not glance his way.

When you looked at him though, he looked unbothered and you thought he must be so used to this.

He grabbed the strap of your bag and pulled you to the side as someone walked past you.

"What about noodles?" He asked.

"Hmm?" Your mind was elsewhere a few minutes ago and then he asked you out of the blue.

"Noodles for dinner?" He asked again.

You squinted your eyes at him, "Come on, my drawing isn't that bad! I think I deserve meat for dinner," you teased him, nudging his shoulder and earning a small smile from him.

He squinted his eyes as well and considering your offer, put an arm around your shoulder to keep you close in the crowded train in the early evening on a Saturday.

"I wouldn't say it's bad but—"

"I was joking. I'll take anything for dinner!" You quickly told him, hoping he didn't take your joke seriously again.

The train stopped at your station and he let go of your shoulder to hold your hand, leading you out of the train.

"How about both?" He asked, still holding your hand as you both climbed the stairs out of the station.

You turned your head at him and squinted, "did you read my mind?"

To wait until dinner time, you stopped by a bookstore where he recommended you his favorite novel and in return, you recommended him a book from your favorite poet. That ended up with you buying a copy for him.

"I already have a copy at home so please take it!" You pushed the book to his chest and he looked at it, having no other choice but to accept it.

"Thank you!" He muttered.

By the time dinner was served, you were already hungry, famished even. It seemed like Hyunjin was the same that nobody talked but kept stuffing your faces with food.

At one point, you both looked at each other and burst out laughing at how ridiculous you looked.

You took a stroll around the park after dinner while sipping iced coffee and enjoying the cool night air after a rainy day.

"Let's sit there!" Hyunjin pointed to the steps overlooking the river.

You followed him by sitting on the step next to him and staring up at the night, at the stars hiding behind the grey clouds.

"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day," he said, putting his drink down next to his feet.

"Yeah?" You weren't sure about his remarks but everyone has their view about everything, it's not about right or wrong.

"Do you also paint at night?" You asked out of curiosity.

"Not always," he answered.

He looked up at the starry night and sighed, "but seeing the stars like this makes me dream."

It's so rare to find someone like him, who openly romanticize his life and is not ashamed of it, not a bit. It made you curious of what it would be like to see the world through his eyes.

"When people look at your painting, what do you want them to feel?" You asked again, purely out of curiosity.

That question got him quiet, he didn't think that you would ask a such question out of the blue. He had no answer for that, not yet.

You understood that maybe he wasn't expecting it and you quickly came up with another question.

"Can I have your drawing of me too?"

He sipped his drink and stalled, "I'm not finished yet."

You clicked your tongue at him, "don't even dare to ask for dinner when you give it to me," you joked again.

"That's fair!" He said.

Since the stars were disappearing behind the thick clouds, you took it that it was going to rain again and decided to go home.

Hyunjin insisted on walking you home no matter how many times you told him that it was only a few blocks away from the park.

It was starting to drizzle again when you arrived at the front of your apartment building, "thank you for dinner!"

"I wasn't treating you to dinner. I paid for your drawing!" He corrected.

You softly chuckled in response and stopped walking with Hyunjin also stopped on his track.

"You'd better get home fast, I think this going to turn into a big rain," you suggested.

He didn't answer but kept staring at you, making you flustered standing there right in front of him. You hurriedly thought of something to say to not let it be awkward, "see you next week!"

"See you next week!" He said back then took a step closer, opening his arms to hug you.

You opened your arms as well in reflex and hugged him back, he feels so warm and comfortable, like a spring morning.

"Goodnight!" You told him while pulling away from the hug.

He let go but put his hand on your neck, without warning, giving you a peck on the lips. Strangely, the kiss felt natural like you've done it a thousand times already while in fact, it was long overdue. Yet it felt so good, so right, better than the ones you imagined in your silly little daydreams.

He let go of the kiss and then looked at you, his thumb tenderly caressing your cheek in a slow, circular motion.

"Goodnight!" He muttered with a voice so low it was almost like a whisper.

You nodded because you didn't know what to say, your brain was failing to form a verbal response for him. You waved your hand at him instead then went inside.

It took twice the time it usually takes you to climb the stairs to get to your unit with a hand touching your lips, the lips that touched Hyunjin's lips and kissed.

It was the kiss that distorted your reality, turning it upside down and proved you that time is indeed relative, a week felt like a year when all you could think about is when your lips will reunite with his again in a rapturous, enamoring kiss.

Every week it was him holding your hand, taking you places and discovering new ones, making each other laugh and smile, while everybody else could only be jealous of you.

For one day in a week, he snatched you from real life and into his world, where you could see everything through his rose-colored lenses where everything looked enchanting and beautiful, for that one day he made you feel like you're living in a fairytale.

It was raining one night and you both ran to the nearest building to take shelter from the rain.

He removed the wet strands of hair stuck to your face from the rain while you were giggling and panting at the same time from running. He put all of the hair behind your ear and held it there, planting a soft kiss on your lips, he tasted like roses in the rain.

"Are you cold?"

"A little."

He pulled you into a hug and put his jacket around you, wrapping you in the warmth of his embrace where you rested your head on his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, drinking in his scent of creamy vanilla and sunshine and... freshly cut flowers?

Then you realized that you were standing right outside a florist shop and saw buckets of flowers on display inside the shop, colorful and delicate, blossoming even after the sun had gone for the day.

Hyunjin noticed that you were looking at the flowers, "should we buy some?"

You shook your head, "I don't like flowers."

He jerked his head away, probably because it was the first time he heard someone say it, "Why?"

"Because they wither and eventually die," you replied.

You looked up at him, "if you want to gift me something, I expect something that lasts for a long time."

He raised one of his eyebrows, puzzled.

"You know... like gold, diamonds, company stock!" You joked.

He looked the other way, at the night sky that poured rain that was getting heavier.

"We're already close, if we ran, we might make it in 5 minutes," he said while taking his jacket off.

You laughed at how he didn't respond to your remark and changed the subject. Then he put the jacket on both of your heads and his hand held yours.

"Are we going to run through the rain?" You asked, thinking he wasn't really serious about the suggestion.

"We're already drenched anyway, what difference would it make?" He asked.

You looked down at your clothes and he was right, you were already soaking wet, a little more rain wouldn't be a problem.

"Come on! Run!"

The two of you ran and kept on running, you led the way while he kept you close with his hand clasped yours so tight, didn't care about the water splashing as you stepped on the puddles on the pavements.

The drops of water dripped down the end of your clothes as you climbed to your unit and Hyunjin followed you from behind, too busy catching his breath.

"The blue one or the black one?" You asked, letting him choose from the two bathrobes you have in the house.

"Black."

You handed him the one he chose and he didn't hesitate to take his clothes off right then and there, putting the clothes straight into the washing machine.

He stripped his clothes off until he was stark naked in front of you and unfazed by your presence. You knew you should be looking away, but you couldn't, you kept staring at him, at his lanky figure, dainty waist, the mass of his muscles, on his arms, stomach, and thighs, he was just perfect.

In contrast to his calm, your heart was beating so loud, you believed he could hear it too.

He put his bathrobe on and turned to face you, "aren't you going to take your clothes off too?"

Your mind was adrift, it took you a minute for it to be back to your head, "huh?"

"Aren't you going to wash them too?" He asked again.

You swallowed hard, starting to get nervous, or maybe it was the cold that started to seep into your body. You took a deep breath and started by taking your shirt first, it was hard because the fabric stuck to your skin.

Like you weren't anxious enough, the button got stuck in your hair when you pulled it over your head, "Ouch!"

"Here, let me help you!" He offered, getting behind you to carefully untangle the hair.

There was a sudden rise in your body temperature and you thought that it was coming from the heat his body emitting, the kind of heat that you wanted to envelop your whole.

"There!" He said, letting you know he was done helping you with the crisis.

"Thank you!" You muttered, throwing the shirt into the washing machine.

Hyunjin sighed and turned away, "I'll make tea!"

You smiled because there was no way he would know where to get anything in your kitchen but he did it so you can have some privacy to take the rest of your clothes off.

Hyunjin managed to locate where you store the mugs and he was boiling some water, you quickly walked to the cabinet to get a box of teabags, then put one on each mug.

"I hope you like a lemon balm!" You said.

Hyunjin carefully poured the boiling water into the mugs and let the tea brew, you helped by dumping the teabags until you saw his soaked bag on the dining table.

"Oh no!" You rushed to spill the contents of his bag, knowing that he got a sketchbook in there and afraid they would get damp, ruining all of his artwork.

You saw the book you bought him and there was a bookmark between the pages, "you're reading it!"

"Of course, you bought it for me!" He casually said while carrying the mugs of tea to the dining table.

You got touched, and you bought it as a gift but knowing that he read it meant so much more to you, that meant he treasured it, cherished a gift you gave, and probably got a grasp on why you like it so much.

It was comforting to have him in the apartment, just sitting and having tea with him, the rain had stopped but the night was not yet ended.

You wanted him to stay for as long.

"Will you stay the night with me?" You blurted out your thought, fingers gripping the handle of the mug so tightly.

"What makes you think I have another plan?" He asked back after sipping his tea.

You didn't know why everything felt so natural with him like you'd done it thousands of times already, how easily he entered your life without making you feel you were being invaded.

"You have so many books," Hyunjin said, pointing to the stack of books on the bedside table.

"I read when I can't sleep," you elaborated.

Hyunjin took a copy of the same book you bought him and flipped it open, finding the poem you marked with a flower sticker.

"That's my favorite one!" You elaborated.

He gave you the book, "Read it to me," he requested, shifting on the bed to face you.

"I don't know, I'm not sure–"

You reluctantly took it from him, conflicted about whether to fulfill his request and let him know you suck at reading poems or disappoint him straight away by not doing it.

"You only need to read it," he said.

"Okay then I'll just read my favorite part," you caved in then held the book a bit higher to provide you the right angle to read it.

You cleared your throat before you start reading.

"I didn't want any—" you paused to glance at him if he had a second thought.

He responded with a nod, telling you to continue.

You continued reading and restarted it from the beginning,

"I didn’t want any flowers, I only wanted

To lie with my hands turned up and be utterly empty.

How free it is, you have no idea how free—

The peacefulness is so big it dazes you,

And it asks for nothing, a name tag, a few trinkets.

It is what the dead close on, finally; I imagine them

Shutting their mouths on it, like a Communion tablet."

You immediately closed the book before he asked you to continue.

"That's it!" You said but didn't dare to look his way, it was embarrassing enough to have him listen to you reading him a poem, and the silence that hung in the room only amplified the awkwardness.

He gently grabbed your chin and turned your head to meet him, then he slowly leaned in to kiss your lips, so tenderly like you were a fragile paper doll.

You opened your eyes to find his staring into yours.

"You're achingly beautiful," he muttered and pressed a kiss on you again.

You could say the same about him, he's made of dreams and all of the heavenly things, a prince charming that is somehow trapped in this real, cruel world. He belongs in a fairytale yet he was there with you with his body molded perfectly into yours, held you close, protecting you from the nightmare that might invade your sleep.

But it was also his lonely hand that seeks yours and the kisses that found solace on your neck that woke you up.

You looked over your shoulder to have him capture your lips in a kiss, knocking the air out of you.

His free hand started to part open your bathrobe, exposing you to the night cool air, and raising the goosebumps on your skin. His hand was quick to raise your body heat with light, feather-like touches, making the butterflies in your stomach fluttering awake.

His fingertips left a trail of searing touch down your chest to eventually met your heating core and out of reflex, you shut your legs, feeling flustered.

"May I?" He asked, his plush lips grazing yours as he spoke.

You nodded, spreading your legs wide enough to let him touch you there.

A low gasp escaped your mouth the moment his hand made contact with your sex, delicately like he would touch a flower.

Hyunjin didn't hesitate to taste you with your essence coated his fingers, licking them clean.

That was so arousing and he was just as aroused, you could feel his erect member poking your rear.

"Let me make love to you..." he whispered, his warm breath tickling your ear.

"Yes, please," you responded, nodding so eagerly because when it comes to him, you lose your common sense and there was no use in pretending.

His hand parted your legs open once more and you helped by keeping your leg lifted to allow him access, to touch you more, tease your entrance with his swollen cock like you weren't drenched enough.

He kissed you so hard before putting all of his focus to push his length inside you, slowly and stopping just to make sure you were alright.

He kissed you in between your moans, "you're taking me so well," he hummed against your lips.

He placed his hand on yours, keeping your leg lifted together with you then pushed deeper until he fully buried inside you.

"Ah... perfect!" He sighed.

He kissed your lower lip and gently bit it, "you're so perfect."

Again, you could say the same thing, you could feel how hard and big he was inside you. You couldn't say anything but let out moans in response.

Hyunjin started moving, thrusting into you from behind, and in the middle, he lifted your leg higher, allowing him more space to move.

He pushed even deeper, hitting you in all the right spots that your body started to shake as pleasure bubbled up inside you.

"You're made for me," he murmured with his mouth on your shoulder.

"So perfect for me," he said again through his gritted teeth as he added more speed.

His other hand wrapped around you tight, fondling your breast in his hand, squeezing it hard knowing that you were so close to climax.

"Close... oh, close..." you breathlessly said, squeezing the hand that cupped your breast.

Hyunjin moved at an impossibly fast pace, hitting you right on the spot again and again until you come to your high, around him, in his tight embrace.

"So beautiful cumming around me like that," he sweetly praised you, putting your hair away to kiss you on the side of your face.

He thrust a few more times to eventually pull out, keeping his cock clamped between your inner thighs, and kept thrusting.

The least you could do was clench your thighs together for him, moaning with every friction he made between your slick inner thighs.

Even his moans are beautiful, low, and breathless like the sound of a gust of wind.

He grabbed your chin to sink his mouth on you again and you felt something trickling down your thigh, you sighed into his mouth knowing that he just came all over your thighs.

He didn't let go of you yet, he held you tighter like he would float away if he didn't.

His hold was firm but his body was warm, his kisses turned tender as the night turned the darkest.

As much as Hyunjin makes the perfect prince charming, he's just as flawed as a human being. He has this notion that in order to be a great painter, every painting he made should turn out great, or at least, fit into his impossible standards of what a painting should be.

You witnessed it happening a couple of times, him being hard on himself, belittling his talent just because his painting didn't turn out the same as the one he envisioned in his head.

You stopped him from placing a big streak of black paint across his canvas, "I love it," you said.

You put his hand away, putting yourself between the painting and him.

"I love what you painted," you praised and took the paintbrush from him, joining it with your hand to not let him pick it up again.

Hyunjin said nothing but turned away, couldn't stand seeing his painting one more time.

"Let's just go home!" He said.

And by home, he meant your bed, your soft skin, and the beating heart inside your chest.

His hands painted your body with slow, gentle caresses. A canvas that was so divine he would only use the best colors but he couldn't think of any color that would match the blush on your cheeks.

He sure could get the color of his cum making streaks on your flushed body, pearly white glistening under the hazy afternoon light.

He placed kisses on your bare shoulder as you lay face down, "how are you so soft all over?"

You smiled in response, turning your head just enough to give him a quick peck on your lips.

Hyunjin took a pen lying on your bedside table and uncapped it, biting the pen cap between his teeth as he started to draw on your back shoulder.

You stayed still for him, watching him through the reflection in the full-length mirror, eyebrows knitted as he focused on the drawing he made on your skin.

After a few minutes, he finally stopped and capped the pen back. He rubbed over the skin to place a gentle kiss on it.

You didn't waste time to see what he was drawing, turning it to face the mirror and saw the drawing of flowers.

"They're not going to wither or die," he told you, placing his hand on your waist, not letting you out of his reach.

You turned to face him, "yeah but they'll be washed off when I shower tomorrow," you said.

"Then don't shower!" He joked, pulling you back to lie down on the bed again and hovering above you.

He kissed you so deep you got breathless even though the kiss only lasted for a few seconds. He then looked into your eyes, intensely yet they held sentimentality in them, "I'll make you a flower field," he promised.

You ran your hands up on each of his arms and joined them on the nape of his neck, "I'd love that."

Just like any fairytale, there was one thing that you shouldn't do, it could be pricking your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel or one bite of an apple but for you, it was the one question that you should never ask: What are we?

There was this temptation to ask and the hope that things might turn out different from what you expected or it could be that, falling into a deep slumber and never waking again.

What you were having with him was nice, being with him, not having to name, it was all nice but the uncertainty of it all made you the slightest bit worried about what the future holds for you both.

And you wanted to be with him for as long and as far as this heart takes you.

What are we? You muttered in your head as you stared into his dark brown eyes.

Am I yours?

You asked in your head but didn't dare to let it out to the world, for him to hear.

Are you mine?

You turned over on the bed, having him pinned under you while you sat on top of him. Placing your hands on his chest to lean closer, you chose to bind him in another way.

"Promise me!" You dared him.

He got up to sit up, looking at you with unwavering eyes and long fingers trailing the shape of your jaw, "I promise."

You put your lips on him to mark his words and sealed the promise with a kiss.

It was crazy how you always crave his body, it was even crazier that he always cater to it. It was never just sex with him, it was making sweet, tender love together with him whereas you always felt so involved, in it together with him.

You bounced on his cock while he gripped your waist, guiding you, setting a pace to your movements. Your fingers clawed into his shoulders, crying in pleasure.

"You keep clenching around me," Hyunjin said between his soft grunts.

Not for one second, you thought of your pleasure, you did it for him, to please him. You took his mouth in yours and kissed him hard.

"I want you to cum inside me," you muttered.

He let go of your waist and put his hands around you, "You want me to cum inside?"

You nodded while looking at his face, a sheen of sweat formed on his forehead.

"Cum inside me," you said again before planting another kiss on his plump, red lips.

You continued moving, bouncing on his cock while he was still processing your request but he didn't get much time for the time that. You were getting him off, picking up the pace while clenching around him, smothering his cock in your tight, velvety walls.

"Gosh, you're so alluring..." he sighed.

You smiled at his praise and held his face in your hands, kissing him until he cum inside you. Hyunjin held you so tight as he buried his seed deep inside you that you found it hard to breathe.

You kept moaning, feeling his cock engorged and twitching inside you, his mouth sucked on your shoulder hard enough to leave a mark there.

His mouth eventually found yours and gave it a long, lingering kiss. When he pulled away, he kept his forehead pressed against yours, "you are..."

He paused to peck your lips, leaving your lips wet with his saliva, "you are my northern star."

The northern star, Polaris, a star that neither rises nor sets, a constant star in the dark of his sky and guides him when he's lost. Not the brightest star but holds such great importance to him. The only star that he looks up to when he needs his way home.

"You are my northern star," he muttered the praise again with a tender gaze.

When morning came, reality woke you up with the harsh truth that you couldn't stay in the fairytale too long. Hyunjin usually stayed for the rest of the weekend and never left without telling you. One day though, you sat on the edge of the bed, watching him sleep for a minute before leaving for work, looking at his sleeping figure with his back basking in the morning sun. You gently brushed his dark locks to the side and accidentally woke him up.

He caught your hand and held it in his, "why are you up?" He mumbled.

"Work," you shortly answered.

"You can stay as long as you want," you told him, rubbing the metal ring on his index finger with your thumb.

"Okay," he responded with a sleepy smile.

"I'll get going," you said.

He forced his eyes open to look at you and said, "Have a great day!"

Then he kissed your knuckles before letting you go, smiling even though his eyes were still heavy with sleep. When you came home, Hyunjin was already gone but you found a drawing of flowers stuck to your refrigerator door, there was a sign on the corner of the page, the initial H in a cursive letter.

And that was how you tried to survive another week with the promise that you get to relive that fairytale again.

But the thick clouds cast a shadow on supposed to be a warm, sunny spring day. It wasn't the perfect lighting for an art class but everyone managed to paint something despite the gloom the day brought.

You were too immersed in your painting that you didn't realize Hyunjin barely started yet, he kept mixing paints on his palette but not a stroke of paint on his canvas yet, it was still pristine with no speck of paint on it.

Maybe he hasn't decided on what to paint yet so you left him alone, afraid that you might only disrupt his creative mind from working.

After a while, you glanced in his direction and saw that he had started painting. That put you at ease, knowing that he was just stuck on ideas and not what you thought it was, a creative block.

Then you heard a loud thud next to you, you saw that Hyunjin just dumped a whole jar of dirty water onto his painting, making the still-wet paints drip down the canvas.

"What's wrong?" You asked but you were too late to grab his hand and get an answer.

He roughly took his bag and left the class. Everyone else watched as he made his way out of the door and followed his figure until he was out of sight.

There were so many things crossing your head at that very moment, there was a part of you that wanted to run after him and asked what went wrong. But your feet stayed immobile and you froze there on your seat, deep down it was best that you let him be.

You started to doubt your decision when he didn't come to the art class the next week.

And the next week when the art class did a painting of sunflowers.

In the following week, his seat remained empty.

He didn't come on the next Saturday when it marked the first day of summer that promised brighter days ahead. You eventually stopped wishing that he'll be back and his absence told you so much about how much his presence meant to you and your presence to him, how the answers contradict each other.

You found yourself lying awake in bed at night, seeing the stars in the night sky then sighed. Hyunjin was right, seeing the stars makes you dream.

You woke up in the middle of the night to the knocking on your door and you trudged to open it, and found him behind the door with tired, sunken eyes.

You didn't ask him questions but took him to bed, lying next to him as he stared at the ceiling of your bedroom with hollow eyes.

After a moment, he took your arm out and made it a pillow for his head. He put his hand across your chest with his head nuzzled into your neck, "I want to touch people with my art..." he said.

You placed your hand on his and let him speak his thoughts out loud, "when people look at my paintings, I want them to say..."

Hyunjin took a sharp, deep breath before continuing, "he feels deeply, he feels tenderly..."

His voice was so low and broken, a picture of the state he was in, trapped in his own head, suffering from his ideas and having problems setting them free. Mostly, how tortured he was by his romantic ideal of what an artist should be.

"I know..." you said to him while squeezing his hand, assuring him that you were there and listening to him.

Hyunjin only let his heart open when he painted, he bleed through every brush of paint on his canvas, his love for his art is pure and unparalleled. He is what he paints, you can see the beauty of his paintings through the cracks of his fractured soul.

And for that, the world couldn't love him, a broken thing.

"This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you," you told him.

He exhaled a cold breath into your neck, "You're the only one who understands me."

That was also why he let you in because you were the only one who understands him, but not enough to figure him out.

It is the only way you know how to love him when all of the doors to his life are closed and he keeps his heart locked in a box.

Tears caught in your throat when you realized you weren't exactly in a fairytale, you were lost in the maze you put yourself in for trying to love him, a man whose true love is his art, not a person, not you.

"You're my northern star," he said again, tightening his hold around you.

You looked away, at the night sky through your bedroom window, and then it hits you, for when Hyunjin looked up at his sky, the first thing he would see would be the brightest star and it wasn't you.

He tenderly brushed his lips on your cheek while putting his arms around your body and closing the gap between your bodies.

His hand turned your face at him, "read me a poem," he softly spoke.

How could you think of any when all you could think about was how your love didn't make him whole, your love didn't feed him, he could and would survive without your love.

Ultimately, how much you love but it did nothing to him.

"Read me a poem..." he spoke again, his eyes were on you but he couldn't see how you were shattering from the inside.

You nodded and thought of something, despite the amplifying pain that numbed you from the inside. You got reminded of something, it wasn't a poem but a verse from a play you read once.

Hyunjin pressed his forehead to the side of your face with the tip of his nose poking your cheek, his hand clasped yours and rested on your stomach.

"Life is a flower, of which love is the honey," you began.

You stared up at the ceiling and inhaled air as it was getting harder to breathe when the truth kept weighing on you, "it's the dove and the eagle united in the sky."

You continued as he pressed another kiss on your temple, "it's a grace trembling at insistent force, it's your hand sweetly forgotten in mine."

You let the words hang in the air and seeped into the silence, let them become vain, like those three words which you decided to leave unspoken.

"Beautiful..." he sighed with a slow caress on your cheek then brought his lips onto yours.

He kissed and kissed while you swallowed it all down, further down until your feelings were buried deep in the pit of your heart never to let them out.

And the world was indeed never meant for one as beautiful as him.

While you learned that the world was never meant to be a fairytale.

A FEW YEARS LATER

How could you be this stupid?

Not realizing that your ring was missing until you looked down at your hand once you boarded the train that will take you home.

You managed to recall the last time you saw the ring, it was a moment before you checked out of the hotel you'd been staying in for the last three days.

The hotel insisted that one of their staff probably found it and forgot to report it to the hotel security, they told you so many excuses to stop you from going full-on hysterical about it.

The receptionist came up to you, "it might take a long time since we couldn't contact the staff on duty because of the change of shift," she informed.

The information only heightened your panic, making you even more anxious than before.

"I really need that ring back," you said with a trembling voice, holding your tears back from the fear of losing the ring forever.

"We're very sorry but we'll keep on trying to contact her and we'll do everything to get your belonging back," she explained, she was as just as panicked to see you on the verge of crying.

"No! You don't understand!" You didn't mean to snap at her like that and echo in the hotel lobby, it was almost midnight but there were still a few people going in and out of the hotel at that hour.

You took a deep breath to calm yourself down then lower your voice, "that ring is precious to me," you said again with a suppressed, frustrated tone.

You felt the tears pooling in your eyes, "I have to get it back, it's a..." your words trailed off.

At first, you thought your brain deluded you into seeing him. When it registered that it was him, it felt like a dream... seeing him again after so many years, of all many places and times, he saw you again when you were scared shitless, a nudge away from bursting into tears.

From your peripheral vision, you saw him coming in your direction and you quickly swallowed your tears away.

"It's important, it's a... a family heirloom!" You finished before looking away, away from his line of vision.

"We understand the importance of your belonging, and we'll try our best to get them back for you, for now, please remain calm and we'll get back to you once we got an update," the receptionist furtherly explained then excused herself to get back behind the desk.

It was too late to hide yourself from being seen by him, so you looked down at your feet and hoped he would turn away from you even though that would be a betrayal of your heart's desire.

You felt his hand on your shoulder and you didn't dare to breathe until he turned you around.

"Hey," he softly greeted you.

There was no way he didn't recognize you, you already expected he would despite you being the one who saw him first and tried not to let him see you.

You hesitated to look at him, you knew what damage it would cause from just seeing his face.

Then again, you missed so terribly much so you looked up and met his eyes, "hey..." you croaked.

He tilted his head to the side and the hand that was on your shoulder moved to cup your face, "are you okay?"

His hand felt warm against your cheek, it was comfortable and safe.

You hated how you hard stacked your guard up so high only for him to knock it down easily with the simplest of his touch.

"I'm..." there was a lump caught in your throat, "I'm not okay," you finished and admitted it making the tears flow out of you.

Without further questions, he pulled you into a hug and let you cry into his chest, shielding you from the hurt of the world even for just a moment.

In the middle of the night, on the sofa of the hotel lobby, he saw you struggling to open a bottle of water and doing it for you at the end.

"Do they know where is it?" He asked as he sat on the sofa next to you.

"The staff who was on duty probably took it with her," you answered, fumbling to wipe the tears in the corner of your eyes with your knuckles.

"Do they call the police?"

You shook your head, "No, I don't want to make a big fuss. I just want to get my ring back," you told him the reason why.

"That means she stole it!"

You didn't need him to put it that way. You combed your hair to the back out of frustration, "I don't know," you sighed.

You kept your head down as he placed slow, soothing rubs on your back.

"I'll be back," he said, leaving you alone on the sofa.

That only gave you time to blame yourself, how could you be this reckless and lost such an important item?

You hadn't been in your right mind recently, you had a lot on your mind that you took days off from work, hopped on a train that took you out of the city, and stayed in the hotel for days.

All that just to try to put your mind off things but it did the opposite, you couldn't stop thinking about why things went wrong.

"Let's go!" He suddenly said with his hand stretched out at you.

You looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"I have the address of the housekeeper who took your ring," he explained, "let's find her there and get your ring back!"

Deep down, you knew that there was a big possibility that the ring had gone forever. With just one look, people would know how much that ring costs.

But you didn't want to give up on looking until you were a hundred percent sure it was really gone.

The streets were almost empty when you arrived at the neighborhood of the housekeeper's address. You climbed the stairs that took you to her apartment and rang the doorbell several times.

You tried knocking on the door as well but there was no answer.

You slumped against the wall, getting more hopeless the louder Hyunjin banged on the door.

The next-door neighbor probably heard it and poked his head out of his apartment door, an elderly with a balding forehead and grey hair.

"Are you looking for Mrs. Kim?"

You were the one who noticed him first, "yes, I'm looking for the person living in this apartment," you answered, pointing to the apartment number written on the address.

"She's probably still out but she'll come back soon," he informed.

You sighed, didn’t know where to start but you needed him to know how important it was for you to meet her.

"It's urgent, I need to see her as soon as possible. If you know any way to contact her, can you please tell me?" You asked.

The elderly man saw the desperation in you, then weakly smiled, "she'll be back soon," he said again.

"How do you know she'll be back soon?" Hyunjin asked this time, standing next to you facing him.

"Because her son is here with me," he answered with the same smile.

Hyunjin felt bad for being impolite to the elderly man, especially when he invited both of you to wait in his apartment and Mrs. Kim's son made you a cup of tea.

You looked around his place while sitting on the couch, he got an eccentric taste for an old man. There was a neon sign, an aquarium, a round table with a silky red tablecloth, and dried flowers hung on the wall.

"I have excellent taste in home decor, right?" He beamed at you.

You softly chuckled, feeling embarrassed to be caught by him, "No, I like it."

Mrs. Kim's son carefully placed two cups of steaming hot tea on the table in front of you then sat on the floor, working on his homework.

"I read people's cards for a living, dear," he explained, "I still take sessions but people rely everything on the internet nowadays."

"Ah!" You exclaimed.

"Have your teas, please!" He said to both of you.

You slowly lifted your teacup and brought it close enough to your mouth, blowing air on it before taking a small sip.

"You want me to read your cards?" He offered out of the blue.

You put your teacup back on the table, "Oh, no. I'm good," you kindly refused.

He waved you off, "please, it's not like I have an exciting thing to do," He pleaded.

You glanced at Hyunjin who was watching Mrs. Kim's son working on his homework and he glanced back at you with an eyebrow raised, hinting at you to accept the man's offer.

"Well, if it's not a bother," you said, relented.

"No, it's my pleasure, dear!"

He led you to sit on the chair facing the round wooden table with the silky red tablecloth while he sat across from you, then he took out a deck of tarot cards from a small drawer under the table.

"You know, this morning I did a quick reading of what my day would be and I got Page of Cups," he told you while shuffling the cards in his wrinkled yet agile hands, pretty much showing that he was experienced.

You smiled at him even though you didn't get the meaning behind his remark, you guessed it was a good thing since he said it in a happy tone.

He gave the deck of cards one last good shuffle then spread it on the table into a nice curve, the cards looked worn and slightly torn on the corner.

"Pick three cards!"

You took a deep breath, then stretched out your hand.

"Use your left hand and hover it along the card, then pick the card that speaks to your heart," he instructed as you switched your hand with the left one.

You did what he instructed you to do, hovering your hand above the spread of cards then picked the one that felt right and clicked in your heart.

He placed your three chosen cards in the middle of the table, then flipped the first one open.

There was a picture of a child passing a cup filled with flowers to another child then there are 5 other cups in front of them.

On the second card, a naked lady hovers above the earth surrounded by a green wreath.

And the last card shows a woman and a child in a boat being rowed in the water to a land that is on the other side.

The elderly man hummed as he observed the cards then nodded to himself.

You never really believed in this kind of thing but if any of the cards mean a bad thing, you were sure it affected you in a way.

"This," he pointed to the first card, "Six of cups, meaning that you've been thinking of memories, happy memories from the past," he explained.

"It could be of a thing, or a certain moment in your life or a person."

Your eyes unconsciously gazed in Hyunjin's direction and the elderly man noticed that subject of this particular card was him.

He nodded without saying anything.

"This is The World," he said, pointing to the second tarot card.

The naked woman holds a staff in each hand, she looks so divine that the creatures around her look up at her.

"But it's in reverse," he said.

Your heart skipped a beat, alerted that it might be a bad sign.

"Don't worry, it's not always bad," he comforted you.

"It means that there's a delay in your life or that you are seeking personal closure from something, halting you from going to the next cycle in your life."

He was merely reading your randomly chosen cards yet you felt so seen like he was reading through your mind and finding out everything you were trying to hide. Maybe this is why some people don't like having their fortunes read, it's like peeking into something you shouldn't be seeing in the first place.

"Don't be alarmed, dear," he said to you, he tapped his old, shriveled finger to the last card, "this last card shows a good turnout," he said.

"This is Six of swords," he elaborated, "you'll experience a transition of some kind, and it's a happy one without regret,"

A smile rose on your face, feeling relieved that your cards weren't as bad as you thought they would be.

"I'm glad to hear that," you honestly admitted to him with a sigh.

He smiled at you, then took your hands in his on the table, "Just remember, dear, in order to move forward, you have to leave something behind," he warned you with gentle eyes.

He squeezed your hands, then flashed you a comforting smile before letting go of your hands.

"Well, I hope that gives you enlightenment," he playfully said while laughing gathered all of the cards but left the last of your chosen card on the table.

"You left one," you told him.

"That one is for you," he said.

You tipped your head to the side, "for me?"

He nodded then placed the card on your open palm, "despite your sadness, you need to remember that moving on is the ideal option for your future," he said.

The words lingered like some motivational poster hung in the back of your head as you looked at the tarot card for a little while, then put it inside your bag.

You went back to the sofa and sipped your warm tea, glancing at Hyunjin who was so invested in helping Mrs. Kim's son with his math.

When your teacup was almost empty, that was when Mrs. Kim finally came knocking on the door and his son ran to open it for her.

She gave you a strange look as she got into the apartment and saw you sitting on the sofa.

"You're having guests, Mr. Lee?" She asked the elderly man.

"They're looking for you," he answered.

You quickly got up from the sofa and walked up to her, "Can I talk to you for a second, Mrs. Kim?" You politely asked her because you didn't feel great with his son listening in on the reason why you came for her late at night like this.

The truth was Mrs. Kim did take the ring with her, but since she was almost late for her second job, she forgot to turn it in to the hotel. It was indeed accidental, and you were glad that you didn't involve the police in the first place.

She thanked and apologized to you countless times until you were both back in Mr. Lee's apartment no matter how many times you told her that it was alright.

Afraid that you might lose it again, you tied a scarf on the ring and put it inside the inner pocket of your bag.

"Thank you once again for kindly letting us wait here," you told Mr. Lee.

"I'm sorry that we disturb you late at night like this," Hyunjin added, feeling sorry for both Mr. Lee and Mrs. Kim, also his son.

"No worries. It's a happy surprise," he said to you.

You were feeling blue for saying goodbye to them, added to the fact that you wouldn't see them again, it was a nice short meeting on an eventful night. One that you would remember you shared with an odd ensemble of people in your life.

You didn't remember climbing these stairs before, maybe the anxiety took you completely that you couldn't think of anything but the ring.

Then you got it back and you felt so relieved, you kept exhaling air as you climbed down the stairs. The tension slowly subsides, leaving you completely drained to eventually slip on your foot and fell down the steps.

Hyunjin rushed to help you, kneeling on the wet pavements from the melting snow, soaking your coat and jeans.

"Are you okay?" His voice was tinted with concerns.

You nodded and took a moment to sit there, "It's the uh... tension..." you breathlessly answered.

"Let's take a taxi back to the hotel!" He put an arm around you to help you get up.

You brushed your dirty hands together, "No, I have to go to the train station."

Hyunjin helped you to stand on your feet and craned his neck to find a taxi nearby, "you can always take the first train home tomorrow," he insisted and waved his hand to hail a taxi.

"I have to go home fast, I have—" you yelped when you saw the scrape on the heel of your hand.

The taxi pulled to the side of the street and Hyunjin opened the door for you, "I'll take you to the train station myself first thing in the morning," he promised and helped you get into the car.

Hyunjin already changed into comfortable clothes when you got out of the bathroom wearing the hotel bathrobe, he insisted on getting your dirty clothes laundered and will be delivered back in the morning.

"I ordered dinner earlier but it's already cold now," he said, gesturing you to sit on the small dining table.

"I tried to order a new one but the kitchen is closed," he furtherly explained, placing the utensils in front of you.

Since you were no longer anxious, you got to see him closely, his hair was still long but a bit shorter than the hair he had a few years ago and his facial features were more evident, defining his age and reminding you that he got older too just like you.

But Hyunjin will always be beautiful... warm eyes, sweet smile and you looked down at his delicate hands that have created so many beautiful paintings.

"I'll make us tea," he said, leaving the table to turn on the water boiler.

You dig into the plate and laughed at how the pasta became stiff that you had a hard time twirling it with your fork.

Hyunjin softly laughed seeing you struggling to eat it, he helped by stirring it with a spoon.

"Are you still painting?" He suddenly asked.

You already knew that the question would come out at some point, "I stopped painting a year ago," you shortly replied.

He put down the spoon and looked at you, "Why?"

You shrugged and shoved a forkful of pasta into your mouth, "it just hit me that art supplies are really expensive," you joked.

You slid the plate toward him, "let's share the dinner," you offered.

Hyunjin stared at you for a few seconds before digging into the pasta, "Sure!"

There was a knock on the door when the two of you were having tea, it was a hotel staff delivering a first-aid kit box for Hyunjin.

"Can you sit here?" He asked you, patting the space on the bed next to him.

"I can do it myself," you kindly refused.

"Please?" He pleaded with a soft voice.

You walked to the bed and sat next to him with the box of first-aid kit opened on the floor next to his feet.

"Your hand," he asked for your hand.

You held it out for him, "it's just a scrape," you said.

He didn't say anything but carefully put ointment on the wound with a cotton swab, so carefully and blowing on it once in a while.

He's so, so beautiful and you once again felt like being in a fairytale again.

A prince charming helping a damsel in distress.

He put the bandaid next and made sure it securely covered the wound.

"Thank you!" You muttered.

But he wasn't done yet, he took your other hand and turned it over, saw the deep scar that ran along the side of your palm.

"Is this why you stopped painting?" He asked.

You were stupid to ever think that he wouldn't notice, Hyunjin has always been that, attentive and observant.

"I got into an accident a year ago," you explained because there was no use in hiding it from him anymore.

"Crushed half of my hand, my ring and pinky fingers are paralyzed but I'm still lucky—"

Your words got cut off as Hyunjin placed his lips on it, kissing your scar like it would magically heal it for you. He pressed a kiss along the scar with eyes closed like it was hurtful to do so.

Maybe he couldn't heal you, but everything he does felt magical.

You suddenly got hit by a wave of sadness that came from how much you missed him, yearned for him, and longed for him.

A tear rolled down your face, out of happiness or relief, you didn't know which.

"I missed you," your voice quivering against your sniffles and you swallowed air to help you finish the sentence, "so terribly much."

Your tears kept flowing out of you like a river and you couldn't stop it, guessed your heart was just as happy to be close to his once more as he pulled you into a hug.

"I missed you too," he said as he held you tight, wrapping you in his arms.

And you crumbled in his arms, into the warmth that was once offered the safest embrace, reminded you of the most painful and happiest time of your life.

He took a moment to look at your face and gently wiped your tears with his knuckles, smiling so fondly as he doing it.

Then, he ever so softly placed his lips on yours and stayed like that for a while. Just his lips on your lips, plush and warm.

And it felt like coming home to him.

He had been places, new places, strange places, beautiful places with the most breathtaking sceneries but nothing can beat this wonderful feeling of coming home.

You provide comfort and warmth, a body that is so pliant to his touch, molded to his body when he holds you against him, and a hand that could break open his heart just from resting it on his chest.

His fingertip traced the curve of your lips before kissing it, it instantly took him back to the rainy spring days, your feet tangled and hands touching each other under the cover.

The days when he had the least confidence in his dream but also the happiest when he was with you.

"It's you, isn't it?" You asked out of the blue.

Hyunjin tangled his hand in your hair, "mmh?"

"The painter with the initial H," you answered.

You didn't need to wait for his answer, from the subtle shock visible on his face, you could tell that your guess was true. It wasn't just about the initial that fits his name, but from his paintings, you could feel all these endearing, gentle touches of his hands in every brush of paint on the canvas.

It was vivid, intense, and flawed but if you could see through the cracks, you could find him there, pure, delicate, and bewitching, Hyunjin.

"It's true," he admitted and brought his hand to your jaw, "that's me."

You triumphantly smiled because your heart knows him well more than your mind could perceive.

"I'm so happy for you," you genuinely said to him because you knew how much he wanted to be a great painter, and being acknowledged as one, all of that came true.

Hyunjin connected the dots and noticed something, "did you come here to see the exhibition?"

You let him slip his fingers between the spaces of your fingers, "yes."

He couldn't be happier to know that not only had he found his way home but a home that welcomed him to stay.

"What do you think?"

Art is not about right or wrong, like or dislike, good or bad, art is a tool people use to convey the message it wants to tell to the world. And it's imperative that you get the message in his paintings.

"They're..." you paused to try to fathom your thoughts into words as he held onto your hand as if his life depends on your words.

"A little reserved, tender..." your eyes stared deep into his before finishing your sentence, "beautiful just like you."

But nothing could quite describe how beautiful you looked when you said those words to him and how it made him feel, it would be impossible to paint it as well.

"Are you happy?"

That one question turned the table back to him, he never even asked that himself.

"Are you happy with your paintings?" You asked again.

He had to look deep within himself to find the answer, he got older and he lost pieces of himself, good or bad, it was inevitable. There was still a stubborn part in him, but he knows how to make peace with it.

And he could confidently answer, "yes."

"I'm happy for you," you responded with a delightful sigh, that was all that mattered to you, he made peace with himself.

He pulled you closer and held you tighter because the regrets of leaving you a few years ago came haunting him again.

How he left the morning after when you were still fast asleep and stopped coming to the painting class, he couldn't afford love at that time, the fear of losing his passion for his art was much bigger than the fear of not being able to give you the love you deserve.

"I'm sorry I left," he muttered and it felt bitter coming out of his mouth, how he hated himself still for it.

"It's okay. I understand," your voice was muffled as you nuzzled your head into his chest.

"What I did was—" he stopped talking mid-sentence as if it was painful to keep talking.

"What you did is right," you convinced, then forced him to look at you in the eyes, "there's no guarantee that you'd be this great if you stayed."

That didn't make Hyunjin feel a little less guilty, his conscience remained the same, "I'm sorry."

You put your hand on his chest to stop him from muttering another apology, "you're happy now. That's all that matters."

"And how about you? Are you happy?" He turned the table back at you.

You nuzzled your head further into his neck and nodded, "I'm happy."

And that was all that mattered to him.

He put your hair to the side and looked into your eyes which guided him back here, his haven, home.

"My northern star," he sighed.

And he wanted to stay in that home, own it and live in it, forever.

Your hands folded under your head, snuggling up to his chest to seek more warmth as the night had turned to morning.

Hyunjin watched you sleeping and he felt nostalgic, at how it reminded him of the days he spent in your bed, waking up next to you and seeing your face first thing in the morning.

There was a crease on your forehead and he put his finger to make it disappear, warding the nightmare that might reside in your sleep.

"I'll make it go away," Hyunjin muttered under his breath, rubbing over the crease on your forehead while holding your face with such loving.

Your eyes fluttered open and he quickly removed his finger from your forehead.

"Good morning!" He said out of reflex.

You blinked your eyes a few times to adjust to the light and rubbed them.

"Morning!" You mumbled your reply.

You looked so adorable to him, still lost between dreamland and reality, pure and innocent. He couldn't help but kiss you.

That took you by surprise as you stiffen against his kiss and when he pulled away, you shyly smiled at him.

"That's a bad idea. I haven't brushed my teeth," you meekly told him.

He chuckled at your flustered response and ignored your warning, pinning you under him so he could press another kiss.

A kiss that takes things further and you opened the gate to him by letting him invade your mouth. His hands silently made their way to part your bathrobe open, exposing your heavenly body to him.

He abruptly stopped kissing you to take his t-shirt off in one swift move because he needed to feel you skin-to-skin, he wanted that softness lathering him all over.

He kissed and kissed, dragged his mouth down your neck and chest to put it on your lips again with hands touching you all over.

Then all of a sudden, he pulled away with his face hovering a few inches above yours.

"Stay for one more day," he asked.

All he needed was one more day to show you that he wouldn't leave this time around.

"Just one more day!"

The glints in his eyes told you how much he wanted you to stay and he couldn't afford to get the unwanted answer from you.

Before you could think of an answer, he put his lips on you again and put his body on top of you, a hand propped on your side to not put his whole weight on you.

But you have to let him know, "Hyunjin..." you tried again.

"Please?"

And the plead tasted so sweet against your lips.

How could you say no to him? But you couldn't say yes either. You got quiet as you thought of a way to put things gently.

Hyunjin placed kisses down the side of your face as his hand went lower, lower to down south until his fingers met the elastic band of your underwear.

"Hyunjin," you stammered, couldn't focus when he caught your ear shell between his plush lips, "Hyunjin, I can—"

The knocking on the door put a halt to everything and you sat on the bed, putting on your bathrobe again.

"That must be my clothes," you said and got off the bed to open the door.

The breakfast was already served when you got out of the bathroom, dressed in your freshly laundered clothes.

But his eyes darted to the ring on your finger and it seemed like you decided to put it on that day. The blue diamond looked striking against your skin tone.

He poured coffee into your empty cup, knowing that you prefer that for your morning drink.

"That's a nice ring!" He complimented without looking at it. "No wonder you were so terrified of losing it," he added.

You put your hand on your lap, under the table, out of his sight.

"Thank you," you weakly said and sipped your coffee.

He finished his toast in two bites and got up from his chair, "I'm going to shower."

"Okay," you responded, looking up at him with a smile.

The taxi ride to the station was short, probably it was because of Sunday morning which caused no significant traffic.

But the station was already crowded with people, Hyunjin waited as you bought your ticket.

You clutched your bag in front of you as you walked back to him, "my train will leave in half an hour."

Hyunjin had been trying to make sense of it all, the ring, the reason why you came here, how you met and why you needed to get back home. He came to one conclusion.

He took both of your hands and held them, "don't lose it again," he said with his thumb rubbing over the ring.

You softly chuckled and nodded.

Hyunjin sighed and gathered his guts to blurt out the truth: you came here not to restart.

"I know it's not a family heirloom."

The smile on your face slowly faded like someone had brought the brightness down.

"I know you have someone waiting for you back home," he said even though it was hard for him to say it out loud, he didn't want to acknowledge it but at the same time, he couldn't just ignore it.

"Hyunjin, I—" you choked on your tears as tears streamed down your face and he had enough of seeing you crying.

"Shh... please, don't cry!" He cooed, holding your face in his hands like you were a fragile object.

You took a deep breath and began to explain everything, "I had a second thoughts about my engagement."

"You don't have to—"

You shook your head, "that's why I came here, I came to see your paintings in the hope I get to settle this matter... this attachment... to fill this hole in my chest," you continued with a trembling voice.

"But my heart ached for you, Hyunjin. I was broken and you took a piece of me with you when you left," you cried harder and it was heartbreaking to know that he caused you all of this.

"I couldn't move past it... I tried so many times and I couldn't," you vigorously shook your head and crumbled completely in front of him.

Hyunjin didn't realize he was crying too until tears rolled down both of his cheeks, he immediately brushed it off with his hands and pulled you into a hug.

"I tried to love someone else but you keep calling to me," you sobbed into his chest.

This wouldn't happen if he didn't leave without telling you, he could have told you that he couldn't love you at that time and let you go to love someone else, someone who deserves it.

He didn't know that it will have you tethered to him.

"I'm sorry," he repeatedly said because that was all he could come up with, a limitless amount of apology.

He hugged you so warmly and shielded you from the world, letting you cry your heart out, let the pain that he caused seeping back into him.

It would be unfair for him to keep you chained to him, you deserve your happiness as much as he deserves his.

He tilted your head up and attentively wiped the tears from your face, he looked at you with eyes that had seen behind the veil.

Then he slowly brought his lips to yours and gently kissed you, kissed you like he never had and never will. Star-crossed lovers are on the verge of collapsing.

I let go of my claim on you, he said in his head as he kissed you again with the utmost affection he has for you, breaking and shattering, shrinking and deflating. He didn't know how would he recover from that but time heals, time heals everything.

"I want you to be happy," he said.

He brushed your hair to the side and held them there, "are you happy?"

You nodded.

"Are you happy with him?"

You nodded again.

"Does he make you happy?"

"Yes."

"Good!" Hyunjin beamed while nodding his head.

"That's all I need to know," he kissed you again for your lips will never touch again.

After a moment, he let go of the kiss with a gasp.

"I'm sorry but kissing someone's fiancé is kind of hot," he joked.

You sadly laughed while wiping your teary-eyed and bravely looked at him, "thank you for keeping your promise," you told him.

"The flower field," you said, "it's beautiful."

He was more than glad to know that his message was received. A painting of a flower field that he promised you and wanted to show you himself. But he didn't have the chance to do that, he has to set you free and let you fly.

"You'd better get on the train," he reminded you with a squeeze on your shoulder.

You took a long last look at him and smiled with your aching heart, "you are a great painter, Hyunjin."

You took his hand and squeezed it, "You do feel deeply and tenderly," you praised.

There was a lump forming in his throat but he wouldn't let it out, you were the only one capable to deliver such earnest praises and moving his heart.

"Thank you," he said, squeezing your hand back.

There was an announcement to board your train and you hurriedly slung your bag on your shoulder, "it's time," you said with a sad smile.

It was time, time to go and time to let go, time to move on and part ways, time to say goodbye because this is where your life path branched out.

Hyunjin took a deep breath to lessen the pain inside his chest, "I'll see you next Saturday!" He joked or it was his wistful thinking to wanting to go back to those days.

You chuckled then it changed into a sad smile, "I'll see you next Saturday!" you said back.

You took your hand back from him and he let it slip away, and started walking away from him.

He watched you stop after a few steps and turned around, running to give him one last hug. He knew you were crying again but you let go so fast, he didn't get to hug you back. He could only watch as you walked further away from him.

You kept walking and walking without looking back at him and he realized that he has just become the past.

The exhibition wasn't open yet but the security knew he was one of the artists featured there, letting him in without questions.

He strolled through the gallery flooded with the morning sunlight and sat on the bench facing his painting, the painting that evoked so many things out of him.

The Flower Field by H.

He suddenly remembered the poem you read to him on the last night he spent with you.

'Life is a flower, of which love is the honey.'

But you are not flower nor honey, you are a field filled with the most beautiful flowers and he wanted to stay there, lay down with his eyes closed and his hands turned up.

It was the only painting that tells so much about him, where he poured his heart out and let it open for the world to see.

He pulled his phone out of his jeans pocket and called his agent, he picked up on the second ring.

"I have told everyone that you'll never sell The Flower Field," his agent said through the phone, knowing that he would reject so many offers for this one painting.

"I changed my mind," Hyunjin said.

There was a long silence before his agent could respond to his remark, "you want to sell it?"

"Yes."

There was another silence then a long sigh, "there's this good offer from a gallery—"

"I don't care who you sell it to, just... I don't want to know," he resisted the lump in his throat to come out by swallowing it down.

"What happened? What changed?" His agent said because it was just last night he insisted on never selling the painting.

"The northern star," his voice broke at the end of the sentence and he tried again, "I lost the northern star."

His agent got confused by his answer but he sensed that something was not alright, "it's okay, you will make a lot of paintings better than this," he comforted.

Hyunjin's face dropped as his phone slipped from his hand and fell onto his lap. He couldn't look at the painting anymore without the reminder that he made it for you with the thoughts of you in his head and the poem you read to him.

No, he can't make better paintings than this because it was done in love and what is done with love is well done.

He felt stupid for believing his art is far greater than loving you, it was the opposite. It was your love that brought out the emotions in him, the force to keep thriving and push himself to keep going. It was your love that makes his art harbor so much more than just a message, there are emotions and memories. The painting is a love letter that will not wither nor die, just like his feelings for you.

But Hyunjin was too late to learn that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.

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laxmiree · 3 months

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[CN] MLQC Lucien’s On Fire MQ translation + video with sub EN (Part 3/3)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for an MQ that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

On Fire MQ | Part 1 (1-2) | Part 2 (3-4) | Part 3 (5-6) | Moisturize ASMR

[Warning]: The content of this MQ is currently the most explicit compared to other dates and may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 17 (CN server). It is recommended that those who do not meet this age requirement refrain from proceeding beyond this point.

Part 3 & 4-> [Here]

✂———————–

[Subbed Video, TURN ON CC!]

youtube

✂———————–

—[Part 5]— Video Timestamp [31:11]

The kitchen is filled with all sorts of ingredients.

After studying a few recipes, Lucien starts by cleaning the vegetables one by one, arranging them neatly based on size and color.

I put the excess ingredients into the refrigerator and see him preparing to chop vegetables on the cutting board. His movements are meticulous yet unfamiliar.

MC: Do you want some help?

Lucien arches an eyebrow ever so slightly, then frees up one hand to pull me behind him, his voice gentle.

Lucien: Yes, then come closer and help me, okay?

I wrap my arms around Lucien from behind, adjusting his hand to control the force and posture of chopping vegetables.

MC: [smiles softly]...Are you sure about this?

Lucien: Mm, I'm not particularly skilled at this. This position makes it easy for you to correct me at any time.

I wrap my arm around him with some struggle. I can feel his heat seeping through our clothes, causing a slight warmth in my ears.

Unwittingly, I remember the first time I spent New Year's Eve with Lucien. He also once stood behind me and wrapped his arm around me under the pretext of learning to make dumplings.

MC: ...Then, I'll make an effort to not get distracted.

MC: It's better to cut in from this angle...

Two people working together noticeably accelerate the process. After the pot is ready, Lucien and I stand on either side of it, seasoning it together.

Seasonal vegetables lose their raw appearance in the sizzling hot oil, transforming into delectable dishes on the dining table.

MC: The colors are right, and the cuts are similar. At least in terms of appearance, we've perfectly replicated these dishes.

MC: I just wonder how they taste. These dishes look so good, they couldn't possibly be bad, right?

Lucien: They're definitely going to be delicious. After all, we made them together.

Lucien: However, in the coming year, I will try my best to break away from this lady’s help and lead this process independently.

MC: Hehe, it's okay if you don't break away.

MC: I'm happy to accompany you and enjoy this process together. Plus, occasionally being Professor Lucien's "guide", I couldn't ask for more.

Lucien glances at me with a smile on his face, then bends down to kiss me lightly on the eyes.

Lucien: [chuckle then KISS!!!!] Since I have your permission, I won't insist on proving myself anymore.

Lucien: In the days ahead, accompany me to tackle more complex menus.

At the dining table, Lucien picks up his chopsticks, slowly bringing each dish to his mouth. He chews carefully, seeming to savor the unique taste of each dish

Though it's just an ordinary lunch, he eats with exceptional seriousness.

Lucien: The change in cutting technique has a much greater impact on the crispness of the vegetables than I anticipated.

MC: It's subtle, isn't it? Even though the cooking method remains the same, just changing the cutting technique makes the texture much crispier!

Lucien: Hmm, it's also interesting to stew meat with fruits.

MC: Hehe, that's because fruit acids not only tenderize the muscle tissue but also blend in smoothly with the flavor.

Lucien: [chuckles] So, although all these dishes are delicious, I particularly enjoy the stew you've added your ingenuity to.

It's rare to see him provide detailed commentary on dishes beyond just "delicious", and I can't help but raise my chin in pride.

MC: I've actually made some observations before when cooking. Just a slight change in the dish can make a huge difference in taste!

MC: It's kind of like the difference between the front leg meat and the hind leg meat, very distinct!

Lucien's gaze, which was originally focused on tasting the dishes, shifts towards me. Under the lamplight, his eyes soften, as gentle as water flowing into a stream.

Lucien: This classmate's metaphors are always so imaginative.

Lucien: It seems like every inch of the world you perceive is so vibrant and intriguing—

Lucien: Just like these rich dishes, they can evoke a range of emotions and also spark inspiration.

I prop my chin up, looking at him with interest.

MC: If that's the case, then I also want to be the “fruit” in the stew, making Professor Lucien even "sweeter"~

MC: Every happy and interesting experience in my perception, I want you to experience them together with me~

Lucien's eyes soften, and he taps his knuckles gently on the table.

Lucien: [whispers] In that case, can we do something fun together right now?

My eyes light up, and I stand up, walking over to his side. I cup his face in my hands, smiling as we lock eyes.

MC: Of course, then... what do you want to do?

Before I finish speaking, Lucien's hand gently lowers my head, and he plants a light kiss on my lips.

Although it's just a gentle touch, and although the atmosphere isn't ambiguous, I feel my heart beating wildly due to the unexpected intimacy.

I look at him with a flushed face, seeing overflowing tenderness in his eyes, and a magnified reflection of myself.

Lucien: I want to thank this lady who “shares the world” with me.

Then, he leans down, slowly closing the distance between us—

Until our hearts and minds feel the same frequency, melding together into the gentle twilight.

As the last rays of twilight fall, Lucien invites me to experience the festival in this small town.

Lanterns adorned with festive decorations hang on the streetlights, and the air is filled with the scent of firecrackers.

As New Year's Eve approaches, there are already many stalls in the small night market, with couplets, paper-cut decorations, and various potted plants joyfully arranged together.

MC: These paper-cut decorations are quite ordinary, yet they're selling for two digits. They're not as pretty as the ones you've made, but I just bought something really nice!

I take out a box of pink, peach-shaped pastries and hand one to Lucien.

MC: "Longevity Peach Buns"~ Would you like to try one?

Lucien takes a bite, his brows furrowing momentarily as he examines the bun in his hand with a hint of skepticism.

Lucien: [smiles helplessly] I wouldn't recommend it.

Even Lucien, who isn't usually picky about food, expressed dissatisfaction with the bun, which piqued my interest.

I take a bite, and the dry bun with a hint of artificial flavoring fails to satisfy even basic taste expectations.

MC: Uh...!

MC: [unamused] Although it's not tasty, it does look festive... Let's just display it at home when we get back.

Lucien smiles and shakes his head, then picks up a set of spring festival couplets from a nearby stall.

Lucien: The wording on these couplets seems rather ordinary.

Lucien: I'm thinking, why don't we buy some raw materials and try writing our own couplets at home?

MC: Sounds good! Then when the God of Wealth arrives, he'll see that the couplets we've put up are heartfelt and sincere.

MC: If he's in a good mood, who knows, maybe we'll strike it rich~

From the "福" (fortune/blessings) character for the front door to the refrigerator and even the shoe cabinet, to the money tree for the entrance and the glowing little dragon...

As we chat and laugh, the bags we're carrying are already overloaded.

We load the bags into the car and return to our seats. Just as I start to fasten my seatbelt, Lucien pushes open the car door again.

Lucien: I suddenly remembered there's something else I need to buy.

MC: Then I'll go with you.

Lucien: No need, it's right nearby. I'll be back soon.

Before I could react, Lucien had already closed the car door and disappeared into the bustling crowd once again.

✂———————–

—[Part 6]— Video Timestamp [36:42]

(T/N: if you haven't watched the video, please watch it from this timestamp! The BGM choice + voice acting really help set the mood~)

MC: What did Lucien go to buy...?

Snacks, or decorations? Before my thoughts can stray any further, Lucien's figure returns to the car with bags in hand.

MC: You're back!

The car door is pulled open, and along with Lucien’s scent, the chilly wind brings in a subtle smell... of gunpowder?

Lucien: [chuckles] I bought some fireworks...

MC: Oh~

Lucien: And firecrackers.

MC: [surprised] Eh?

I widen my eyes and look into the bag. Besides a few fireworks, there are…

MC: O- one-thousand-firecrackers-rolls and firework rockets?

Seeing my reaction, Lucien satisfactorily curls up the corners of his lips.

Lucien: As an "experiencer," of course I must try some sufficiently exciting things.

The car, loaded with goods, returns to our courtyard. Lucien parks the car and, together with me, we unroll the long red firecrackers on the ground.

The long firecrackers snake around like a red dragon lying on the ground, almost covering the entire courtyard.

I hold the lighter, watching the fuse that is about to ignite the firecrackers and can’t help but feel nervous in my heart.

MC: Lucien, could you, could you wait a moment? I'm not quite mentally prepared yet!

Lucien: [chuckles] Then allow me.

Lucien seems to chuckle softly. Before I can react, he has already struck the match, and the flame dances on his fingertips.

The fuse instantly ignites, speeding forward like a shooting star. I quickly grab Lucien's hand tightly, pulling him away as we run.

The next second, the firecrackers erupt like an awakened dragon, emitting a thrilling roar.

My body instinctively tenses, and I hastily cover Lucien's ears while he does the same for mine.

(the way they instinctively protect each other instead of themselves :”…)

His broad palm reassuringly shields those startling explosions.

Despite the barrier, my hearing becomes even more acute, listening as the firecrackers "rampage" through the courtyard.

I look at Lucien, in the faint red glow, his face is coated with a shimmering warm light, and from beginning to end, his lips are always brimming with a smile.

The bright light swiftly dashes through the dark night. After the long-lasting thousand blasts fade away, the air in the courtyard seems to have turned red.

Lucien waves his hand in front of him, trying to dispel the pungent smell of firecrackers, yet the smile on his lips never falters.

Lucien: Whether it's from the sense of hearing or the sense of smell... The stimulation I'm receiving is far more excessive than I anticipated.

MC: Many things you just have to experience firsthand to truly feel them!

MC: Just like I've come to realize, besides with the beauty of fireworks, Professor Lucien and the firecrackers are also quite "compatible"!

Lucien raises an eyebrow and takes out all the remaining fireworks and firecrackers from the car.

Lucien: That sentence sounds like a stereotypical impression of "Professor Lucien".

Lucien: Fortunately, tonight happens to be a good opportunity for "out with the old, in with the new."

The night sky stretches endlessly, as dark as a piece of black velvet, while the courtyard ground is scattered with remnants of red firecrackers.

Lucien stands between the darkness of the night and the redness around him, with the match he ignites in his hand being the only source of light around.

This glimmer of light remains silent, yet always manages to ignite clusters of earth-shattering fireworks in my world.

So I walk towards him, and together we light up all these fireworks.

The light flies into the night sky, showering down gently, casting warm hues upon us.

And beside me, Lucien's smiling expression is just like the fireworks filling up the sky.

In the end, Lucien and I left a few fireworks unlit and returned to the car for warmth.

The distant sound of firecrackers can be faintly heard, with occasional fireworks lighting up the night sky, illuminating the scene inside the car.

We sit side by side in the back seat, enjoying a moment of tranquility after the playful revelry.

Bright light filters through the car window, casting ambiguous light and shadows on Lucien's face. I trace his profile, and my heart is filled with joy.

MC: Looking back, we've had a lot of fun in just a few days.

MC: Going to the home exhibition together, selecting ingredients and cooking together, wandering through the festival night market, and even setting off fireworks and firecrackers...

MC: I wonder how Professor Lucien feels about this "town trip"?

Lucien meets my expectant gaze, but instead of immediately responding, he ponders for a moment.

Lucien: I've thought of many different answers, many different adjectives.

Lucien: Happiness, warmth, contentment... Each word seems to encapsulate my feelings, yet they all appear a little shallow.

I listen earnestly, reaching out my hand to intertwine with his palm.

Lucien: Whether it's in the warm room, cooking together under the bright lights, or lighting firecrackers together and making "noise".

Lucien: At the moment of accomplishing these things, I have a vague feeling.

Lucien: These seem to be things I've never consciously longed for but deeply desire to do.

Lucien: And year after year, in the New Year, you've helped me realize these, even wishes that I myself didn't fully grasp.

Lucien pauses unusually as if carefully considering his words. After a while, he simply casts his gaze toward me.

Lucien: So if there's anything missing, it's that I want my little lady to feel my happiness.

MC: I've already felt it...

But Lucien gently shakes his head.

Lucien: I want to paint it more vividly for you. Not through carefully crafted rhetoric, perhaps not even by speaking.

(T/N: insert the solemn, melancholic, yet hopeful 5th anniv special theatre BGM 😭 if you've read this far and haven't watched the video, I’d actually beg you to watch 🥺 The timestamp is: [42:09] )

Lucien gently takes my hand and places it over his heart.

In an instant, the world quieted down.

With the familiar heartbeat in my palm, it feels as if the overflowing sense of happiness is also held within my grasp.

"Thump, thump," resounding as if echoing through the entire universe. And it speaks—

Lucien is very happy, very content with life.

And so am I.

At this moment, I seem to also taste the shallowness of "words", for no matter how many words are spoken, they can't fully express the deep love beating in my heart.

So I recklessly approached him, wanting to convey my most profound feelings to him.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, my fingertips threading through his soft hair, as I lean in closer, Lucien gently but firmly pulls me into his embrace.

The smell of gunpowder fills my nostrils, seemingly carrying the heat capable of igniting flames with it.

The lips merely brush against each other, then clinging lovingly and inseparably, unwilling to part ever again.

Our tongues entwine as if thirsting, drawing out every bit of sweetness, until our breaths become so chaotic that they can't be distinguished from each other.

Can a deep kiss express this love? Can a long embrace reveal the yearning in the depths of our hearts?

While thinking about all this in a daze, Lucien's whisper comes to my ear.

Lucien: [whispers breathlessly] Is this kiss enough to explain it all?

MC: Not enough...

I instinctively spoke out, not knowing whether I was answering him or telling myself.

Upon hearing this, with one arm still around me, Lucien unbuttons his shirt with his other hand, revealing his well-defined physique.

Lucien: [chuckles and whispers] Then tonight, I will lay bare all of myself to you, okay?

His eyes still carry a faint smile, but they are moist as if they've captured light, burning and deeply sincere.

I nod and kiss the corner of his eye, taking in all of him.

His warm lips carry a slightly wet sensation as they wander over my body, igniting my skin like clusters of flame.

The intimate and meticulous licking makes me feel like I'm about to melt, my body instinctively tensing up, sliding towards the only fulcrum.

Lucien: [noises of him eating… something, and sighs in satisfaction] ….

The fingers holding my calves suddenly tighten, pulling them wider apart. I sit back heavily and then whimper out in pain.

MC: [blushing] Lucien….

My voice comes out sweetly and aggrievedly, elongating the end of his name with a deliberate undertone. It sounds like pleading for mercy yet also carries a tacit demand.

The sound of muffled laughter reaches my ears, Lucien flips over to be on top of me and presses me down, kissing me on the lips.

Between the disorganized breaths, he murmurs something on the tip of his tongue.

Lucien: [whispers] Sorry, does it hurt a bit?

I nod, but in contrast to my answer, I thrust my hips upward, wanting to fit even closer to him. In the process, I almost hit my head on the car door, but Lucien protected me.

The decorations on my clothes roughly brush against Lucien's exposed skin as he moves, causing him to tremble lightly.

Lucien: [chuckles] These little decorations are a bit in the way.

Those words are much colder than his kisses, and I can't help but watch my heart beat faster as he gently picks at them and lets the decorations fall.

It's just that there seem to be more and more things that get in the way between us… the top, the belt, and the skirt, they all seem a bit unnecessary.

The car's air conditioning blows dry, warm air, dispersing the remaining traces of coldness on our skin.

The moist sensation behind my ears makes me feel like I'm lying on a stream, his voice, hoarse and low, reveals a fervent longing.

Lucien: [hoarsely] Now, can you understand this feeling clearly?

My heart beats fiercely, and within my hazy consciousness, I seem to hear the emotions hidden behind Lucien's questions.

Instinctively, I tighten my arms around his neck and wrap my legs behind his waist. My hand gently caresses him.

MC: I think... I still need more time to understand.

MC: This is what you want too, isn't it?

Lucien’s laughter-tinged voice drifts into my ears.

Lucien: [whispers followed by more wet kiss noises] The night is still very long.

The ambiguous warmth inside the car envelops us like the steam of a hot spring, carrying us into the clouds.

It seems there are small trinkets on the dashboard that can't withstand the shaking, but we are too preoccupied to notice.

Unintentionally, someone presses the car window button, and the distant sound of fireworks leaps into our ears.

Tiny snowflakes land on my outstretched arms, only to be melted into droplets by the heat.

"Splat," "splat."

This night, when the old days and the new years merge, we seem to need a little more warmth.

--———FIN————–

✂———————

[Bonus: some h-word translation notes before afterword because I don't want to ruin the beautiful smut with my dumb commentary]

Lucien: [whispers] Sorry, does it hurt a bit? I nod, but in contrast to my answer, I thrust my hips upward, wanting to fit even closer to him. In the process, I almost hit my head on the car door, but Lucien protected me.

(T/N: this sentence implies that the pain is not from her sitting back but… him fitting inside *cough*)

The car's air conditioning blows dry, warm air, dispersing the remaining traces of coldness on our skin.

(T/N: this description implies that they are both already completely undressed at that point. To counteract the chill from being unclothed, the warm air conditioner is turned on :>)

✂———————

[Afterword, rambles and highlight(s)]

⎯ Just like how sunlight helps plants to grow, love nurtures Lucien's growth over the years.

Even after 6 years, Love and Producer still have such a talented writing team that never FAILS at making us feel h-word and cry at almost the same time ༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽. This date is not angsty in the traditional sense, in fact, the date in general is so sweet and full of daily life. But the end really punches you just right in the feelings ESPECIALLY with the 5th anniversary special theatre BGM.

Honestly, it’s hard to explain why this date is so good and makes many CN stans cry by the end of the date. It’s… something that you can experience only if you know him for so, so long. It's something that can only be felt by witnessing his growth from the moment you first 'met' him until now. The feelings of observing someone you've ‘nurtured’ with love and care for years finally blossoming into the most colorful and unique 'fireworks' you've ever witnessed… they’re really hard to describe.

But anyway, before this essay turns into an analysis of "The Little Prince" and Lucien, let’s talk about the date, shall we? If last year's date theme was along the lines of "accepting yourself and your emotions from the past," then I predict that this year's theme seems to be about "experiencing and living the present"; and this is such a fitting theme for Lucien. Why? Because as a character, before he met the MC, he was simply an "observer" instead of a “participant”, curiously observing and experimenting on everything around him, and yet never really ‘participates’ and ‘experiences’ in it. However, thanks to MC, he has begun to actively participate in the hustle and bustle of the world, experiencing many things that have made him more vibrant and ‘alive’. This transition from ‘observer’ to ‘participant’ is cleverly depicted in this date by making him into a participant in the experiments with MC, rather than solely being the experimenter as usual.

This date as a whole centers around two important things, experience and emotions. While the relationship between experience and emotion can be complex and multifaceted, the way I get it from this date is that; if ‘experience’ is more about the ‘input’ that we get from our senses, then ‘emotions’ are the ‘output’ of our experience. In other words, experiences provide the stimuli that trigger emotional responses. Both experience and emotions are important things for us humans; together, they contribute to our ability to fully engage with and appreciate the present moment, rather than simply going through the motions of survival… They’re also two things that Lucien has been learning over the years.

First, let’s talk about experience, when our observer scientist sheds his lab coat and removes his glasses, he transforms into an ordinary person sincerely in love with you and deeply experiencing love. This date depicts how he experiences love in the warmth of everyday life, and amusingly, it almost makes this date feel as if MC and Lucien are newlyweds on their honeymoon ahah. From shopping for furniture for their new home to encountering silly and unexpected problems that the organizer throws at them (just like how everyday lives always throw problems at us lol), to grocery shopping and cooking together, and cough even the fact that they’re basically ‘on fire’ everyday cough— The grocery shopping parts are especially funny (with just Lucien being Lucien lol)... and cooking scene is just chef kiss. It's really endearing to witness how he adapts to homemaking tasks in his unique way, all because of his love for you.

Still on the topic of ‘experience’; do you know that both of the more descriptive spicy scenes are part of the plot? First, the spicy domming ‘guiding’ scene. In that scene, MC guides him to focus on what his senses told him instead of giving processed answers. And this seems to work because, throughout the date, you can notice him developing more opinions on things based on his senses as he experiences everything. Previously, because he never slowed down and always looked far ahead (See also, his Summer UR MQ, recent CN birthday date and story for more in-depth digging about this theme-), he never fully ‘experienced’ life. But with MC's guidance, her “sharing the world” with him, he starts to perceive the world around him more keenly. This transformation is evident in tasting scenes and fireworks scenes, where he earnestly uses his senses to taste their cooking, hearing the loud firecracker noises, and smelling the scent of gunpowder. She doesn’t only ‘bring’ color to his monochrome world, but also the taste, smell and noises of the world around him as he experiences the present. All these stimuli make his world no longer feel ‘silent’ to him. Sometimes, loving him feels like pulling a ‘god’ from his pedestal to experience the lively and ordinary life of mortals. Perhaps he loses some of his ‘invincibility’ (like for example, that causes him to fall for consumerism trap lol), but in this way, he becomes more alive and real.

Then about emotions. The initial discussion about emotions centers around “emotional synchronization” between lovers, setting the stage for exploring how MC and Lucien perceive and handle each other's emotions. Just as MC accepts all of Lucien's emotions, whether they be sadness or happiness [referencing Lucien’s CN birthday date in 2023], Lucien reciprocates by accepting all of her emotions. Lucien demonstrates emotional stability and maturity as a partner, creating an environment where MC feels no need to restrain her emotions in his presence. He is fond of and intrigued by her colorful range of emotions (and a bittersweet reminder of how her moods affect her “color” in his eyes ahah:”””). This highlights their curiosity and fascination with understanding each other on a deeper level.

For them, all human emotions are important, but MC initially wanted Lucien to feel more positive emotions. With the concept of “emotional sync” in mind, she promises to convey more positive emotions for him, inadvertently restraining her own emotions in the process. However, during their time together in the small city, she learns that even so-called “negative emotions” have value. Despite facing challenges or "troubles," both characters find joy and support in each other's company. MC finds Lucien's moments of vulnerability endearing, while Lucien appreciates MC's encouragement and companionship. They both come to acknowledge the natural ebb and flow of emotions in their relationship, realizing that some negative emotions are far from being detrimental; it’s simply part of their day-to-day life. Those emotional fluctuations are just a very small part of their overall happiness~

ALL THE FEELINGS FROM THE SECOND EXPLICIT SPICY SCENES SUCCESSFULLY MADE ME CRY. Experiencing all sorts of things with her during experiments and everyday life … even things and wishes that he never consciously longed for yet always wanted:

许墨很快乐,很幸福

The meaning of these words are difficult to render accurately in English, and my “Xu Mo/Lucien is very happy, very content with his life.” are just barely scratching the surface… While 快乐(kuài lè) refers to a more transient or temporary feeling of happiness and joy, often related to a fun event, 幸福 (xìng fú) encompasses a profound and enduring sense of happiness and contentment in life. It signifies a state of well-being that extends beyond momentary pleasures, often associated with having a loving family, spouse, fulfilling relationships, and a sense of overall satisfaction with one's life. So when combined, it emphasizes the fact that while experiencing all the ups and downs of the world with her, Lucien is not only feeling immediate joy and pleasure ("快乐"), but also enjoying a deeper, more lasting sense of happiness and fulfilment ("幸福"), he is both happy in the moment and all of his life. By slowing down and deeply experiencing each moment of their shared life, he discovers his own happiness and longing that even he himself never knows about. So, he wants her to experience every bit of his happiness and love that has blossomed because of her… candidly and unrestrainedly wants her to experience all of him.

In another vein, LOVE IS A VERB, NOT A NOUN!!! It's a continual action, continual choice, continual promise to another person. And no matter how many words are spoken, both of them can't fully express the deep love beating in heart. So, when words are too “shallow” to even capture a fraction of deep love and happiness, he can only confess them through instinctive actions, recklessly pouring out his heart in every embrace, every kiss, and every touch. And yet, the question still stands, Can a deep kiss express this love? Can a long embrace reveal the yearning in the depths of our hearts? They’ve done everything, yet it still feels not enough, and perhaps… it will take a lifetime of shared experiences and ‘confessions’ to fully reveal the depths of his love and longing for her.

AND SPEAKING OF CHOICE(S), the BGM choice for that last spicy scene is freaking genius!!! It comes from 5th-anniversary special theatre“The many choices of life” video (You can check it on my YT!). This special video is all about the power of your/MC’s choice. I want to highlight the first “what if” scenario. The first “what if” is about what would happen if she had chosen to not meet Lucien.

In this scenario, the narrative explores what would have happened if MC hadn't met Lucien. Without their encounter, Lucien would still be questioning and seeking understanding from the world around him. He would have found another path, albeit one that didn't involve her, dedicating himself to searching for the 'most optimal solution.' However, his world would remain black and white, indifferent to whether there were people who tried to understand him and care for him :”. Anyway, by using this as a BGM choice, it accentuates the power of your/MC’s choice in shaping him being the way he is right now; while still running on the path to explore truth with dedication, he also finds happiness and contentment along the way because of her choice.

In conclusion, Lucien’s writers never fail to captivate us and deliver top-tier writing! This date highlights the importance of experiencing life fully and embracing all emotions, while also underscoring the transformative power of love~ His writers really excel at utilizing his character to its fullest potential. I can go on and on, talking about all the small details and references on this date but this UR won’t be published any time soon if I do LOL. If you’ve read so far, thank you for reading this date and my rambles~

#I wont talk much in tags bc i put it all in my essay #enjoy the 1.8k essay LOL #10/10 makes me WET not only from iykwim but also TEARS #mlqc lucien #mr love queen's choice #mlqc cn #mlqc spoiler #mlqc #mlqc translation #mr. love queen's choice #mr love lucien #mlqc xu mo #mlqc spoilers #Youtube

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reduxulousoctopus · 1 month

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X-Men '97, Post-Episode 7, ~2500 words Morpherine established relationship, missing scene (unless the show actually does explore what happened during that fight, in which case boy is there egg on my face).

I follow established show canon by referring to Morph as he/him in diegetic works (fanfic and fan art) and they/them in non-diegetic works (my episode analyses and reblogs), because that's the stupidest option and, like Morph, I am also an enby with a terrible sense of humor.

Now come watch me struggle to write two whole lines of dialogue for one of my favorite characters in the series, Beast, because Me Too Stupid to Write Smart Talk Good.

“You wanna explain what the hell happened back there?”

Although he considers pretending he didn’t hear the question, Morph reluctantly glances across the center aisle of the Blackbird to see Logan glaring back at him with an expression as hard as the adamantium underneath it. Although it’s a look he’s seen plenty of times before as an innocent bystander, Morph has only been the target of that glare on a handful of occasions. Usually when he’s severely fucked something up. Or when Logan is completely out-of-his-mind, cuckoo-bananas worried about him.

Morph suspects that this time, it’s a little Column A, a little Column B.

A wiser person might realize they were in a hole and stop digging; Morph smirks and asks, “What, the Summers Family Reunion? Well, you see, when a man and the clone of his wife love each other very much…” Morph chuckles. “By the way, this might be a bit creepy to say as one of his honorary uncles, but Baby Nathan grew up to be a serious hottie—emphasis on serious.”

No laugh. Okay, maybe that wasn’t his best material, but not even a lip twitch? Logan must be pissed.

Morph sighs and slouches in his seat. God, he doesn’t want to talk about this right now. Or maybe ever. He can feel his throat literally closing up to stop the words from coming out.

When enough time has passed that what little patience Logan had left in the tap completely runs dry, he goes right for the jugular: “I thought you were dead. Again.”

Morph winces.

“I saw that… ‘Trask Sentinel’ blow your goddamn head off. Then, next thing I know, you’re up and walkin’ around like nothing happened.”

“Not that you’re complaining, right?” Morph asks with a weak attempt at a laugh. “You know what they say about gift horses. Although, you’d think the lesson from the Trojan War would be that you should look gift horses in the mouth.”

From the seat behind him, Morph hears: “Although it’s a common misconception, that phrase actually has nothing to do with the Trojan Horse. The proverbial ‘gift horse’ is a literal, living horse, and to look it in the mouth—”

“With all those books you read,” Logan grumbles, “I thought at least one of them would've taught you it's rude to eavesdrop.”

“It would be difficult not to overhear, given the two of you are speaking quite loudly in a confined space while surrounded by people,” Beast points out. “Have you considered that this perhaps isn’t the best venue for a private conversation?”

“He is a super-genius. We’d better listen to him,” Morph tells Logan. “We’ll talk later, okay big guy?”

The stubborn set of that heavy jaw says Logan knows damn well ‘later’ means ‘never,’ and he isn’t gonna let Morph weasel out of this that easy. “If you ever want me to let you off this plane, you’ll talk now.”

“Let me?” Morph scoffs. He transforms into Quicksilver, puts on his best smug speedster grin, and says, “Just try and stop me, slowpoke.”

To his shock, Logan actually flinches. It’s a subtle thing, Morph might not have even noticed if he didn’t know Logan so well. The cause eludes him, however—until Morph remembers that he looked like Maximoff when the Thrask Sentinel… when everything went dark and quiet for a few seconds.

Funny. There was a time when Morph, blinded by youthful naivety and hero-worship, would have insisted Wolverine wasn’t afraid of anything.

Returning to his default form, Morph mutters out an apology. He tries to imagine what it would be like to see Logan die, only for him to get up a few seconds later and act like nothing happened. With that healing factor of his, they’ve gotten damned close to that exact scenario more than a few times.

How much worse would it feel, if Logan had kept his quick-healing abilities secret and Morph had to find out the hard way?

Morph takes a breath, looks out the window at the black clouds rushing by, and starts from the beginning.

“You know how most of us don’t know we’re mutants until we hit puberty, and our powers manifest? Well… I didn’t have to wait that long. Problem is, since I was just a baby, I had no idea how to control my powers—no more than a normal baby is born knowing how to walk or talk.

He holds out his hands with his palms cupped together to form a shallow, makeshift bowl.

“When I was born, I looked like a wriggling lump of white clay, about yay-big. No arms or legs, no face, no ears, no eyes. Just a mouth that would appear somewhere on my body whenever I was hungry or wanted to cry.”

Whatever Logan was expecting to hear, from the look on his face, it clearly wasn’t that.

“But even at that tender age, someone clearly recognized my star potential. I was only two days old when I made my media debut: Severely Deformed MUTANT Born In Pittsburgh Hospital.” Morph shrugs. “Not the most positive review, I’ll admit, but you know what they say: all publicity is good publicity. After all, that’s how the professor found me.”

Logan’s frown returns, more confused than angry. “You told me you didn’t meet Xavier until you were thirteen—after your mom passed.”

“That’s when I moved to the Institute. Turns out we actually met quite a lot earlier than I remembered, which is pretty embarrassing. Ideally, you don’t want to meet your future high school principal, college instructor, mentor, and world famous civil rights leader while wearing a diaper. Even worse, I was wearing a diaper, too—and I told him, mister, one of us is going to have to go home and change his outfit and it sure isn’t going to be me.”

That gets him a smile and a huff of a laugh, which would be an encouraging sign if he didn’t know how the story ends.

“So Xavier talked to my parents, explained the whole ‘mutant thing.’ Dad wasn’t happy. Then again, I’m not sure he ever was. He would have been disappointed to have a girl—a sentient lump of polymorphic biomass was right out. Thankfully, Xavier was able to use his telepathy to coach me through my very first transformation. He showed me how to turn into a normal baby boy, who would eventually grow up to look like this.”

Morph transforms into his old default, the one he still uses whenever he wants to pass: pale (although not that pale) skin, brown eyes, brown hair, hooked nose, pointed chin, gaunt cheeks, arched brows. Not exactly Fabio, but it’s the face Logan used to know him by—the face he sometimes worries Logan might secretly still prefer.

“Then he put some psychic blocks in place to limit my powers to something a bit more… manageable. Don’t give me that look. It sounds shady, but the professor messing with my head was the only reason I got to have a normal, happy childhood with my parents. God only knows what would have happened otherwise—if I’d even be alive now.”

The worry and suspicion that appeared on Logan’s face at the mention of psychic tampering grudgingly fade away. “When did you find out?” he asks instead.

“A couple months after the professor… y’know,” Morph sighs. “I hacked his personal files. Since he wouldn’t be around anymore to help you recover your memories, I hoped that maybe I could find something small he overlooked, some clue that might give us an idea where to look next.”

Logan’s eyes widen and his mouth goes slightly slack. “Morph…”

“I didn’t find anything, before you get excited. Not about you, anyway. Sure found out a lot about myself, though—a lot more than I was bargaining for.”

“That’s when your default form changed,” Logan realizes.

“Yeah. It was kind of hard to think of this,” Morph replies, gesturing at the face of his human-passing form, “as my ‘real’ face after that. Not that my new look is any more real, of course.”

“Who else knows?”

“Other than our friends listening to this conversation right now?” Morph asks pointedly, causing an entire plane full of X-Men to each make their best attempt at looking busy. Nightcrawler’s method of peering thoughtfully at the radio controls with one hand on his chin is particularly masterful—Logan mentioned he used to perform in a circus, so it’s no wonder he’s got such a good instinct for stage-business. “I told Hank and Moira not long after I found out. Seemed like a bad idea to keep that information from my doctors. Especially when one of them is also my therapist.”

At receiving a glare from Logan, Beast develops a sudden and convenient fascination with the view through the Blackbird’s window.

“But you didn’t want anyone else to know.” Logan could accept that, even if he doesn’t like it. Nothing personal. A man’s business is man's business, after all—even for a not-quite-man like Morph.

Too bad it wouldn’t be the truth; no more ‘real’ than any face that Morph wears.

“I didn’t want you to know.”

Morph can handle Logan’s anger, no problem. That’s almost charming, after all these years. But it’s the flicker of hurt, just like that little flinch earlier, that really cuts him to the quick.

“Not because I don’t trust you, or want to keep things from you or anything, it’s just… I didn’t—I couldn’t—”

He sighs and looks away again. He transforms back into his new default: smooth white skin, mask-like face. Obviously inhuman.

Still a lot more human than he looked when he was born, though.

“So, yeah. That’s why I’ve apparently gained the ability to survive having my head blown off. It sure would have been handy to know that my organs were optional the last time a Sentinel put me down. Now, instead of being out of commission for two years I’ll never get back, I can just squish myself back together and keep on keepin’ on.”

Logan doesn’t respond, and slowly, the mutter of other conversations step in to fill the void. Morph stares at nothing, sick with nerves. It’s deeply unfair that he can still feel nauseous even though he doesn’t have a stomach anymore.

He would say it’s all in his head, but if he can survive without one, maybe he doesn’t have a brain, either.

Badum-tch.

Good line. Hopefully he’ll remember it after the existential horror wears off, in the brief window when things will be funny again before the heartbreak sinks in.

Because there’s dropping a bombshell on a relationship—then there’s dropping a fucking nuke.

Oh God. There isn’t going to be a window, is there?

“Morph. Look at me.”

Although he considers pretending he didn’t hear the command, Morph reluctantly glances across the center aisle of the Blackbird to see Logan looking back at him with an expression as soft as the heart he usually tries to hide.

“No matter what you look like, there’s one thing you’ve never been able to change,” Logan tells him. “That’s real enough for me.”

A wiser person might realize they were in a hole and stop digging; Morph can’t stop himself from opening his big stupid mouth. No wonder that was the one feature even Baby Morph knew to give himself. “There are more blocks Xavier left behind that I haven’t pushed through, yet. Maybe I’ll even figure out how to change my scent, someday.”

From the look on his face, Logan clearly hadn’t considered that possibility. Morph immediately wishes he could take it back, feeling like he’s just tarnished something sacred.

It’s always been strangely intimate, the way Logan can recognize him by scent alone. Even from the beginning, when Morph decided to pull a prank on the grumpy new recruit, only for Wolverine to sniff him out mere seconds into his planned routine—it was as if, like the Emperor’s New Clothes, he suddenly realized he had been naked the entire time.

Another, smarter shapeshifter might have avoided Logan after that; Morph couldn’t get enough.

One-sided pestering turned into an unlikely friendship, turned into friends-with-benefits, turned into… whatever they have now. That which dares not speak its name.

The thought of losing that connection, the idea that someday he may be able to change himself so thoroughly that even Logan won’t be able to recognize him anymore… It’s too awful. Cursed knowledge. Like learning about the solar cycle when he was a kid, and suddenly having the horrible realization: if even the sun is going to die someday, what makes him so sure Mom will get better?

Out of the corner of his eye, Morph sees Logan’s hand start to move, stop, then start again, reaching across the aisle towards him. For a insane, terrifying moment, he thinks Logan’s about to hold his hand, outing them in front of God, the other X-Men, and everybody—but of course, that enormous, rough mitt lands on his shoulder instead. Perfectly platonic, approved for all audiences by S&P.

Though they’re shooting through the air at supersonic speed, under the heavy weight of that hand, Morph feels rooted to stable ground. He closes his eyes and takes a few slow breaths he doesn’t actually need, with lungs he only has when he remembers to make himself some.

If there are any people left when the sun finally burns out in a few billion years, they’ll still be telling each other jokes as they go into that endless good night. Just think of the money we’ll save on sunscreen. Maybe, but you know the light-bulb companies are gonna take us to the cleaners. Ha ha, freeze frame, theme song, end credits.

Even as her body slowly wasted away under the combined onslaught of cancer and chemo, Mom always laughed at his jokes, no matter how many times she heard the one about the chicken who crossed the road. His most appreciative audience, to the very last curtain call.

The world is pretty fucking scary right now, and only getting scarier. Sinister. Genosha. Losing Gambit. Sentinels again, in all new and even more monstrous forms. Even worse: total war between humans and mutants looming over the horizon, shaking the ground with each step, getting closer and more inevitable every time someone mentions it, like a demon whose power grows every time you says its name.

But just because things are scary doesn’t mean the world's turning into a horror movie, and just because things are sad doesn’t make it a tragedy. Everyone gets to choose the genre of their life story—and Morph will always pick comedy.

He gives the hand on his shoulder a friendly pat, and uses the motion to disguise a slightly more-than-friendly squeeze. “I’m alright, just a little airsick. I think it’s making me maudlin.”

As he pulls his hand back, Logan frowns a little in confusion—he knows Morph is experienced enough in the air that he shouldn’t be getting nauseous over what are, for the Blackbird, barely above pleasure-cruise speeds.

“How unfair is that, by the way?” Morph asks. “I don’t even have a stomach right now.”

Logan chuckles. Nah, baby, don’t give it up for me that easy, Morph thinks, fighting a grin. You gotta make me work for it a little…

He needn’t have worried, though. When he does make it to the punchline, Logan laughs so hard that he snorts, the laugh-lines Morph has personally carved into that seemingly indestructible face creasing and growing deeper still. And as their friends who Definitely Weren’t Eavesdropping join in—even Rogue, so teary and congested that her laughs would sound like sobs if she wasn’t smiling—Morph knows all their attempts to hide their relationship have been for nothing, because there’s no way that all the love he feels for Logan in that moment isn’t writ large all over whichever face he's wearing right now.

That’s real enough for him.

#x men 97 #x men #morph #wolverine #morpherine #my stuff #wait what this actually ended up good #have I actually been a good writer this whole time and just too depressed to notice?#what the fuck that's not fair

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