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jkeuphoriadreamland · 2 years

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Cathexis 🜍 PJM 🜍 1

Masterpost

🜍Title: Cathexis

ca·thex·is/kəˈTHeksəs/ noun: the concentration of mental energy on one particular person, idea, or object (especially to an unhealthy degree).

🜍Summary: Possessing a power that was genetically passed onto him, Jimin has to face life’s struggles managing this burden alone. He finds himself back in a town he vaguely recalls , where he hopes to find some semblance of peace, but what he doesn’t expect is to come face to face with his past.

🜍Film: Firestarter

🜍Pairing: Jimin x reader

🜍Genre: Slight Yandere 🜍 Firestarter au 🜍 Thriller 🜍 8.8K words

🜍Warnings: future smut 18+M, angst, pining, bullying, slight yandere themes (to come), childhood trauma, mentions of alcohol and being tipsy, emotional trauma, mentions of death, angst, depression, shy Jimin. (these will become darker in the next chapters)

🜍A/N: It’s finally here. This one was a lot of work and I am so in love with her. Please love it just as much. Thank you to my wifey @outromoni for the banner and for reading this over and always supporting me. I’d also like to thank the lovely @multiplefandomsfangirl and @chick-who-runs-parched-lips for beta reading and leaving comments and suggestions that really polished this fic. I appreciate you so much! Your support and love means the world to me. ***italics are past***

moodboard by @multiplefandomsfangirl

“Leave him alone!”

You yelled at the bully who was currently pulling the hair of the quietest kid in your class, Jimin. You watched on as the bully twisted Jimin’s locks tighter, snickering when the smaller boy cried out at the pain. It made you angry that most of the kids called him a freak and treated him like an outcast. Ever since kindergarten you tried to keep all the bad kids away from him even though you weren’t really friends. Everyone called him a freak, but you could never do that— you saw no reason for him to be labeled a weirdo. Sure he was a little bit different, but he seemed really nice, and you didn’t understand why everyone else hated him.

“Are you gonna make me?” spat the sniveling ten year old snot. It was obvious the brat was too big to even be in the second grade. He’d probably been left back a few years. An insult was on the tip of your tongue, but you held it back knowing that it would only anger the bully more and cause Jimin to pay the price.

“Let him go or I’ll tell the teacher!” You did your best to sound intimidating, but your voice wavered, and even with hands fisted at your sides you didn’t think you were intimidating enough, but you still challenged him with a stare.

The bully simply snorted and watched as your best friend Lisa ran off to do the very thing you just threatened. Not wanting to lose his recess time, he released his hold and rolled his eyes. “He’s a loser and a freak anyways.” he spat before turning to leave. .

As he walked off you gave his back a deadly glare before turning your attention back to Jimin who was still on the floor with head bowed down. You watched as he stood up from the kneeling position he’d been put in and shook his beautiful black hair out. It took a minute before he lifted his face only to turn away quickly.

“Thanks.” Was all he could manage to whisper before running off. He was incredibly embarrassed, but only because he’d finally gotten your attention…just not in the way he wanted.

It was curious to you how after all these years of being bullied he could still treat others kindly. It takes a special kind of person to be able to do that. As he walked down the hill away from the playground area, you blinked a few times unsure if your eyes were playing tricks on you. There seemed to be a smokey mist surrounding his figure, almost like a fog, and it had you completely transfixed.

“Hey, I told Ms.___ .” Lisa interrupted your focus.

“Yea,” you mumbled, still curious about the loner who was currently sitting in the grassy area in the distance. There was something different about him, this was true, but it wasn’t bad. You could tell by the look in his eyes that he just wanted to be liked. As Lisa recounted the almost fight you had both saved Jimin from, you continued to observe the very person, noticing how he wiggled his fingers near the ground. You watched on and thought for a moment you saw some rocks levitate, but Jimin’s eyes were suddenly on yours and you turned away quickly.

“Y/N, are you okay? Let’s go play on the monkey bars.”

“Yea…ok.” You dared sneak a peek back in the direction where Jimin sat but he was already gone.

🜍🜍🜍

“Jimin, baby, I’m sorry, but we have to go now.”

Jimin’s parents scrambled to pack the small amount of items they owned and were quickly loading them up into their small station wagon. Jimin did as he was told, always ready to be on the run because that’s what his parents had taught him to do since he could remember. Dejected, he turned to look around at the small apartment he and his family had stayed in for most of his life. He’d gotten used to the comfort of it —in truth he knew nothing else. From how his parents behaved, it seemed like they’d finally found somewhere they could call home, but that was before the letter that came in the mail that morning.

His parents explained that the bad people they’d been running from had finally caught up to them and that they wanted them to turn themselves in immediately due to the large number of strange behaviors they’ve noticed in the other participants of the experimentation they had also been a part of. The signature on the letter was what made it all the more scary. It seemed that the government was now involved which made matters worse. Jimin had been sheltered from all of this and the fact that they were now discovered was incredibly dangerous.

“The military wants to use us to do things for them because of our abilities and…if we do not comply, they will take you from us, Jimin. Do you understand?”

Trying to process all of this at a young age, Jimin nodded innocently, and the rest of the day was spent getting the hell out of town. In the back seat of the car, looking above the boxes that were piled up in the hatchback, Jimin could see the place he called home slowly fade away. Maybe someday they could come back. Not everything in this town was awful, you especially. He really liked you. He turned to face forward and sighed. Hopefully he’d be able to come back, but he knew that would never happen.

🜍🜍🜍

An annoying sound roused Jimin from his sleep and he glanced over at the clock on his dash and groaned. Fuck. He was already running late. Pushing himself off the worn out mat he slept on, he complained as the muscles on his back and neck ached. It wasn’t exactly the best sleeping quarters, but it was enough. It’s not like he had a choice.

Carefully, he stepped out of his jeep and looked around, stretching his cramped muscles happily. He enjoyed the silent mornings in the woods knowing that there wasn’t a single person around for miles. Although he didn’t exactly choose this loner lifestyle, it was something he’d gotten used to, and so far it’s worked out perfectly for him.

Checking the large jars of collected rainwater he had mounted up on a tree, he smiled when he realized there was enough water for a quick shower. Thank God it had rained last night. With one tug on the strings in front of him, he tipped the jars over and icy shards cascaded over his form making him hiss out loud. If he wasn’t awake before, he was now. Lathering the soap in his hand, he made sure to scrub over his skin thoroughly. He’d been waiting a while for this much water so he made sure to clean himself well. Who knew when his next shower would come?

He wasn’t much for complaining, but on occasion his mind would wander into the deepest parts of his repressed memories, and the traumas there would sneak up without him realizing. As he scrubbed his rigid body, his thoughts wandered into the past and his anger began to rise. His mind took over and the air around him became hotter. With clenched fists and eyes closed, he didn’t realize how upset he’d gotten until the once cool water he’d been showering with turned hotter. Snapping out of his trance, he glanced up and swore under his breath. He really needed to remember to keep his emotions in check or next time he’d scald his entire body.

Ready to tackle the rest of his day, Jimin covered the items at his camp, tucking whatever he could into his jeep before taking off to work. He didn’t exactly love his job, but it was decent work and it paid him enough to sustain his rugged outdoor life. He didn’t need much, the truth was he’d been saving all his money just in case.

Arriving at work, Jimin mindlessly moved around the large pieces of steel and worked out every muscle in his body without wanting it. He knew it was doing him good though because in the last few months he’d become incredibly fit. Sure he could have made it easier on himself with just one thought, but he did his best to lay low. Barely anyone knew his name and that’s how he planned on keeping it.

Today should have been like any other day, and it would have been, except that his eyes caught several strangers at the office of the construction site. It was obvious the visitors were looking for someone, and it didn’t take him long to realize who that someone was. When he saw his boss point in his direction, he knew that this job was over.

Jimin always parked in a far away lot in case of emergencies like this knowing it was easier to make his escape. He never let down his guard, not even for a moment, and right now was a prime example of why he had to live this way. Stealthily, he drove out of the covered location and headed back to his camp hoping to quickly gather whatever items he could, but he didn’t even make it within a mile of his camp’s location when he saw the familiar government vehicles. Fucking assholes.

Glancing at his gas tank he cursed under his breath. Mistakes like this could cost him. Knowing he had no other choice, he turned away from the place he’d called home for the past three months and prepared himself for whatever journey lay ahead. Because of his quick wit, Jimin wasn’t seen and so he drove on completely disassociating himself. There was no point in dwelling on the place he once called home. Why should he? The reality of it was that he was used to this, that’s why he never got attached. What was the point?

When he was finally far enough away, he fueled up his jeep and continued driving. At the moment he didn’t have a plan, but there was never really any place he could settle in for long anyway. The last place he’d been “settled” at with his family ruined the rest of his life. They thought they could see Jimin graduate high school…give him a future…give him a chance…

The truth was they’d become too soft, let their guard down hoping that the chase had come to an end, but the real end was with their lives. He sighed. He really missed them…

It didn’t even matter. He’d been alone for the past ten years anyway, so being on the road for months was no problem at all. Ten years…ten fucking years ago he’d become an orphan unwillingly. At the tender age of fifteen he was forced into this unwanted life…running alone…

Always alone.

Mindlessly he drove without thinking and for a few nights he stayed at roadside motels. He had no real plan this time, he honestly had no idea what he was going to do. It was like his mind was on autopilot and his body just followed. He was tired. Tired of running, tired of thinking, tired of watching his back…he just wanted to hide in a deep hole never to be found again. Would it even really matter if he disappeared? Who would even know? Who would care? It’s not like there was anyone alive that loved him.

“Fuck, I need sleep,” Jimin laughed at himself realizing he was spiraling again. Deciding to pull off at the next exit to find a motel, a sign on the road caught his eye. 5 miles to Asheville. Asheville? The name sounded oddly familiar and for some reason it brought a warm feeling over him. He worked his mind trying to recall why he got butterflies in his stomach just from the name—and then it hit him…he was eight, almost nine…his parents were running…leaving behind the first place he remembered calling home…he’d been here before.

Without a second thought, he directed his course toward a town he never thought he would see again. This was the last place he remembered feeling safe with his family…where they had been happy until they weren’t. It was strange how something like this could happen out of the blue. It was almost like a sign. If he didn’t go and see it for himself, it might be like it never happened at all. Going back would solidify that he had indeed been loved and that he had indeed been happy—if only for a short time.

Shaking away the harrowing thoughts, Jimin continued to drive realizing he didn’t know what the hell he was doing. If he was smart, he would drive away and find somewhere else, but where else? He had nowhere to go. He was exhausted and he knew Asheville. He felt comfort from it. This was the last place he’d been happy. Clenching his jaw, he gripped the steering wheel tighter and made up his mind. It’s not like he was going to settle here permanently. Maybe the fact that he had been here before eliminated the possibility of them searching it again. It would be stupid of him and yet curiosity got the better of him.

Before he knew it, he was at the local motel. Exhausted from being on the road for so long, he paid the attendant and went right to his room. He doesn’t remember going to bed, and when the morning came he felt a bit disoriented. Stretching his lean body, he moaned in pleasure realizing that this was the first mattress he’d slept on in a long time. He can’t even remember the last time he got a good night’s sleep. The other thing he couldn’t remember was the last time he’d had a nice warm shower. Smiling, he bounced off the bed and headed into the bathroom to get himself ready. If he was going to stay here for a bit, he needed to take care of a lot of things and one of those things was to find a job.

Of course he couldn’t just work anywhere, it had to be lowkey and temporary. Hopefully being in a small town would make it easy for him to find just the place. He hoped that the fuckers who had taken his family from him wouldn’t think to come back to this town, after all, why would Jimin go back to a place that he was already found before? It made perfect sense, or so he hoped.

As he showered, his mind raced and then suddenly memories of this place sporadically popped into his mind. He remembered he wasn’t really liked in school and that the kids were mean to him…and then he remembered you. He laughed thinking you probably wouldn’t remember him if you saw him now. He remembered liking you and that you were really nice to him. Hmm. Jimin shook it off, it’s not like you were even in this town anymore. Everyone grew up and most people left. It’s not like he’d run into you.

He made his way to his jeep wanting to get an early start, but first, breakfast. He was starving and the last thing he ate was salted peanuts and a bag of potato chips. He asked the motel attendant for good places to eat and was directed to a diner named Omelas. It was easy enough to find, and after having breakfast, he began circling jobs in the newspaper. There were a lot of promising opportunities and Jimin began to see a little light at the end of the tunnel.

It wasn’t until the waitress came back that he looked up and his eye twitched. This wasn’t his first waitress…no, this one was different yet familiar somehow.

“Thank you.” Jimin offered and the waitress smiled. That too was incredibly familiar.

Before she walked off Jimin stopped her. “Excuse me, miss. Would you happen to know where this location is?” He pointed at the paper and she quickly answered him. “Yeah it’s just up the block. It’s next to the only elementary school in town. The school where I used to go to.” She added, with a small giggle and that sound was even more familiar.

It was you. “I’m sorry, but…” Jimin realized he was fumbling his words before they even left his mouth. He also realized he was about to ask for your name when it was clearly displayed on your uniform. “Y/n…” he tested it on his lips and you smiled.

“That’s me. Well, let me know if you need anything else.”

As you walked off Jimin held his breath. After all this time he didn’t really think that his elementary school crush would still be here. Leaving his money on the table, he walked out hoping not to run into you again. If he could recognize you, then maybe you could recognize him, and he didn’t need anything complicated in his life right now—it was already complicated enough.

🜍🜍🜍

Pulling into the construction site, Jimin was greeted by a manager and within fifteen minutes he was hired. He didn’t waste time making it clear he preferred cash and that he couldn’t give more information than his name. The good thing about small towns is that most people didn’t care as long as you did the work and kept your nose clean.

The day stretched on and late into the evening the workers were sent home. Jimin quickly came to realize that there weren’t very many places to eat a good meal besides the diner he’d been in earlier. If he was lucky maybe he wouldn’t catch you often and for a while this worked, until your shifts changed. It was now a few weeks into him being there that he continued to run into you after working long hours. You didn’t always take his table since some nights you were in charge of others, but he noticed how you took notice of him, and it was mostly his fault. Jimin couldn’t keep his eyes away from you either. He followed you around, watching the way you smiled and served others as if being the kindest soul in the world was your sole purpose in life. He remembers you being that way as a child and if it weren’t for you, he may have had to deal with a lot more shit back then.

Tonight in particular you were hovering way more than usual. His table wasn’t yours but you couldn’t get the idea out of your mind that you knew him somehow. It was when you finally had a break that you ventured over noticing that he had also been lingering, his meal having been eaten a long while ago.

“Hey, back again?” It was a lame attempt at breaking the ice and when he looked up at you your courage faded. There was something so mesmerizing about his look and you suddenly felt stupid for interrupting him.

“Where else can I find such amazing food and quality service?”

You may have been imagining it, but the way he said service felt targeted. “I’m glad you like it here seeing as how this is really the only real dining place for miles.”

“That too.” He chuckled.

You turned to walk away already feeling like a nuisance, but his hand caught yours and a surge of heat flowed through your arm. “Stay a while. I don’t get to talk to many people in town.”

You glanced over your shoulder and smiled nervously. Why was he touching you when you didn’t even know who he was? “I can’t actually. I’m not on break.” You paused for a second wondering if you should ask him what you’ve been curious about this whole time. Taking a risk, you did just that.

“Actually…I wanted to ask…do I know you?”

His hand let yours go and he immediately retreated into his shell. “I doubt it.”

“That sounds an awful lot like you’re lying.”

At this Jimin deadpanned. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Came your quick-witted reply.

“Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. I wouldn’t know.”

He was smiling at you as he spoke, a mischievous look in his eyes that almost begged you to probe further. But then he did something with his hands, something you remember seeing a long time ago and it hit you immediately.

“Jimin?”

Immediately he stopped pinching the soft flesh of his hand and looked up at you in amusement. “Who’s Jimin?”

In the blink of an eye he was up and out of the diner leaving you with even more unanswered questions.

🜍🜍🜍

For the first time since Jimin arrived he got a weekend off; something about a Fall Festival. Apparently the whole town shut down so that everyone could attend. Even though he’d been invited he didn’t really want to go. It was already annoying that he had to deal with the questioning stares of so many people in the town. Everyone was incredibly curious about the new person no one knew anything about. Not to mention, Jimin didn’t even stay in the community. He’d always drive out and return in the morning to do his work. Why would he indulge them in more rumors by participating in their events? Although, he had to admit the flashing lights above the trees were really pretty. Even though the festivities were far off, the winds somehow brought over brain tingling scents that had him drooling slightly. He never had festival foods before, but he didn’t really need any of that. Not really.

The thing is Jimin had to be this way, just like before, hiding in the shadows of the neighboring woods in order to make a quick escape if needed. He wasn’t going to spend his money staying in a hotel when he had a perfectly good vehicle to sleep in. And he certainly wasn’t going to spend money on some silly event that wasn’t going to benefit him in any way. So he ignored it, or that is what he tried to do for hours, but the celebration happening hundreds of feet away was too loud and tempting. He was so close to falling asleep, but it seemed the entire town wasn’t going to let up the festivities any time soon, so Jimin decided to go see what the ruckus was about. In truth, he was secretly curious due to the fact that when he was a child he missed out on so many things. He flipped his blanket off of his body and blew out a frustrated breath. “Ten minutes, that’s it. In and out.”

It didn’t take him long to get ready and walk over to the festival. The environment was overwhelmingly crowded, the lights and music verging on overstimulating. No one gave him a second glance, and for that he was grateful. The smell of the fried foods and cotton candy had him biting back a smile. It was the first time he’d actually experienced anything like this. Most places he stayed at were small or too big and some were boring. It suddenly hit him why his parents had chosen this place. Maybe they’d been onto something trying to raise an innocent child in a place where he could find normalcy.

A child walked past him with a candy apple and Jimin’s eyes followed the path to the food stand. His feet guided him before he could even make a decision, and pointing at the delicious red treat before him, he was handed one instantly. Upon biting it, he melted at the taste. Is this what heaven was like? He was so enraptured by his treat that he didn’t notice you walking up with a friend.

“Hey, it’s Jimin, right?”

He was caught off guard, licking his lips and finishing the large bite he had just taken. When he realized it was you, a small heat began traveling up his back, and he closed his eyes for a second to tamper it down.

“I never said.” He smiled and looked around for a garbage bin, but there was none leaving him to hold the half eaten candy apple awkwardly in his hand. It was then that he realized you were not alone.

“You didn’t have to. I recognized you instantly. Gosh, I remember we were like six or something. Right, Lisa?”

Jimin was listening to you, but then his eyes flicked over to your friend and he smiled. He remembered how you’d both been best friends back then. It amazed him you still were, something he never got to experience himself.

“Yeah. How are you, Jimin? Why did your family leave? It’s like a ghost spooked ya’ll or something and then y'all were gone.” Lisa was quick to shoot out assumptions and Jimin froze.

You poked Lisa in the ribs with an elbow and Jimin laughed through his nose. “Yeah, a ghost…or something like that.” He humored her.

You felt embarrassed and wanted so badly to run, but something in Jimin’s amused eyes held your feet in place. “Sorry about her.”

“No, it’s okay. I honestly didn't think anyone would recognize me. Are you the only ones?” As much as he reveled in the fact that you remembered him, he couldn’t afford anyone else knowing. The point was to stay hidden and now that Lisa knew who he was he had a lot to worry about.

“I think we are? I mean, how many people have you talked to?” You smiled and Jimin returned it thinking you were quite smart.

“This is very true. Listen, I know we really don’t know each other much, but, could I ask you both to keep my return a secret?”

His request piqued your curiosity, but you knew deep down that what he was asking for was important, so you nodded your head and hugged yourself. “Sure. It’s not a problem at all. It’s really nice to see you though. Is there a reason you’re back? Is your family here?”

Jimin was going to give some tart reply, but at the mention of his family his countenance dropped. “Ugh, no…it’s just me.”

“Well! This has been fun. It was nice meeting you, Jimin. I gotta um…go see about those fish bowls.” Lisa quickly walked off, having felt like a third wheel and clearly seeing something going on between you and Jimin that you were both oblivious to.

“Yeah…ok…” You reached out weakly, begging with your eyes for your friend to help, but she was gone in a flash leaving you with Jimin.

“So…would you like some candy apple?” He gestured awkwardly at his half eaten treat.

You rubbed your arm at a sudden chill and laughed. “Yeah sure, why not?”

You both decided to walk around, the conversation limited since Jimin wasn't very open about many things. You told him about school and how things went with you and how now you were stuck working at the diner to get you through college so you could eventually leave.

“There’s really nothing much for me here. I want to visit New York and other places…see what the real world is all about. What about you?” Your words flowed effortlessly. Talking to Jimin felt comfortable and you didn’t know why, but it was like he understood you. It was refreshing.

“I’ve traveled quite a bit, but I have yet to venture further. I’m trying to save money so I can…” Jimin paused, not wanting to reveal too much. The thing was, if he told you anything you’d become an accomplice, and he didn’t want anyone else getting hurt because of him.

“So you can what?” You eyed him softly hoping to prod him enough that he’d spill, but he kept quiet and soon you found that you both had walked to the edge of the fair near the lake.

“Y/n, it was nice seeing you again, but I have to go. Will you be at the diner soon?”

“Yeah, I work tomorrow night. Where are you staying?”

Jimin’s eyes strayed over to the other side of the lake, and he shook his head. “Somewhere close.”

“You’re a man of many secrets I see.”

Your words were meant to tease, but for Jimin they came heavy. He didn’t like to have secrets or be limited in his interactions with anyone. In truth, he actually wanted to know what it felt like to have a friend, but he was already risking too much being nice to you.

“Something like that. Anyways, thanks for keeping me company.”

“Yeah, of course. I hope we can hang out again some time.”

“So do I.” Without warning Jimin reached out to your face and you flinched slightly not expecting it. He smiled and tilted his head teasingly. “You’ve got something…”

Gently he ran his thumb over your bottom lip, and without a second thought, he brought the tip of his finger to his mouth and sucked. “Candy,” He said matter-of-factly and your face began to heat up.

“Oh my gosh. How ladylike of me.” You tried to brush it off as a joke, but truthfully, your face felt like it was on fire. Thankfully Jimin had the grace to end the awkwardness first.

“You’re perfect.” He whispered, and then he walked off leaving you standing at the edge of the lake wondering how this man seemingly came out of nowhere and was already stealing your breath away.

🜍🜍🜍

For the next few weeks Jimin worked hard. He’d been pushing his body harder than ever and he knew it, but he didn’t care. Pushing always felt good. It was like all the anger and trauma he held subsided while his body and mind were busy. You, of course, were never far from his mind. He didn’t come to see you like he insinuated but the truth of the matter was that he couldn’t. Even thinking of you for a moment was bringing back his past feelings of the crush he held for you. As a child he knew you were unique…special…but he never let himself get too close because as his parents had warned him– Never trust anyone. Those that seem like friends may be wishing you harm. And Jimin never let go of that warning. Even now it kept him alive.

But soon canned tuna and ramen noodles weren’t enough, so he was forced to go grab a decent meal at the only place he knew. As he sat in his car, he peptalked himself before going inside. It wasn’t like he was a kid after all. He was an adult now, and whatever feelings he had as a child didn’t control him now. You were a temporary person in the line of many temporary people he’s met along the way. It was no big deal.

When he entered, he didn’t see you immediately, so he sat in the corner booth blowing out a sigh of relief. Opening the menu he began deciding what to eat when a voice he’d come to know and missed interrupted him.

“What’ll it be, stranger?”

Behind the shield of the menu Jimin cracked a smile. You’d always had a little attitude on you and he could appreciate that.

Bringing the menu down, he leaned back on his chair and lifted his chin. There was a lopsided smile on his lips and he didn’t even know where to begin because your face distracted him completely. How were you more beautiful now than just a few weeks ago?

“What do you suggest?”

“I suggest the avoidant sandwich, it’s really classy. Has all the fixins. It starts off with the no call, no show and the best part…the audacity to top it right off.” You lifted a brow and dared him to make up some lame excuse.

“Hm, sounds awful. I think I’ll just have the steak.”

“Coming right up.” You replied a little too snappy for his liking. When you turned to leave, he grabbed you by the elbow and pulled you back gently.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I got caught up at work. I just think we…this is just…”

“No need, Jimin. I read you loud and clear. You don’t owe me anything. You left long ago and what does it matter if someone from your childhood is trying to be nice to you and show you a little compassion? No one else around here knows who you are and you seem to be holding back a lot of things. I was just trying to be a friend. I just think it’s rude of you to just disappear all over again.”

Jimin wanted to agree and let you walk away, but there seemed to be a hurt behind your eyes that he never caught before. His emotions began playing tricks on him and before he rationalized what he was about to do, he pulled you out and through the side door of the diner. He glanced around making sure no one was nearby before pushing you further from sight. Continuing forward, he walked you backward until your back hit the wooden fence behind you. Leaning in close so that no one could hear, he set his face inches from your own and a chill ran down his spine. Perhaps it was the fall breeze that made him shiver, or the nervousness he felt from the proximity, he wasn’t exactly sure, but all he knew was that he’d never been this close up to anyone—ever. Realizing that he’d brought you out here for a discussion, he pinched at the skin between his thumb and index finger and bowed his head. All he wanted was to understand why you were being so unreasonable.

“Okay. I’m sorry. I get we had a good time at the fair and maybe we flirted here and there, but I cannot commit to anything right now. Not friendships or ….anything. I don’t know how long I’ll even be in this town. Why do you even care, Y/n? We were kids then.”

You thought for a moment on how to respond to him, his proximity throwing off the annoyance you felt for him. His eyes were intense and he was looking at you with such desperation you didn’t know what to say. You sighed and pulled up the apron that was now loose on your waist. “I know. I remember that I tried to be your friend back then too and you never let me. Why did you even leave, Jimin? I hated seeing you get bullied but I didn’t think it was bad enough for you to leave town. I may have been a kid but I was heartbroken. I didn’t stop talking about you for years until Lisa finally convinced me you weren’t coming back. I was so worried.”

Jimin was a bit shocked at your confession. The entire time he’d been at school he didn’t really talk to anyone, and you were the only person that had been nice to him. You even protected him. He just couldn’t understand why you were so upset now. “Y/n, this is crazy. I remember you too, hell I even cried for months at the thought of not returning but…I’m not even worth it. We barely knew each other. You really get attached to things, huh?”

“It’s a curse.” You confirmed sarcastically. “Listen, I’m not trying to be pushy here but, it’s not nice to lead a girl on, Jimin. I’ve been in this town for far too long and have dealt with every single idiot there is here trying to ask me out. I thought that perhaps you coming back was a good thing because I hoped you were still that nice kid, but it seems I misunderstood everything.”

Pushing him back, you walked back into the diner leaving Jimin standing there in the dark, hungry and now feeling more alone than ever. He wasn’t going to chase you this time because he knew you were right. Perhaps the tuna would taste better on crackers tonight, he thought.

After dinner, he tried to sleep, but it was impossible. Why couldn’t he just keep you out of his mind? Sure he’d basically lived his entire life without any real friends, and now he was all alone, but that’s how he liked it…right? It’s not like he could get attached. Look what that got him. His parents were now dead and as a child he cried more times that he could count over friends he was never able to keep. Being a loner was best. He only needed to work for another year and then he could take off and live in some remote location with a home and privacy. Just one more year.

As he sat staring at the little fire he made for his camp, a half empty beer can in his hand and body slouched in comfort, he was completely lost in thought as he always was. There was never a night of peace for him. He’d often replay that night…the night where he lost everything…over and over. If only he’d been older. If only his parents had let him use his powers…or whatever this was. He barely understood it himself. Whatever was coursing through his veins hadn’t disappeared. This ability has done nothing but torment him daily. The constant controlling and balancing of his emotions in order to avoid catastrophe was weighing him down, and the worst part of it all was that he had to endure it alone.

A snapping twig catches Jimin’s attention and the flame before him increases in height. He sat up more rigid and attentive now wondering why his alarms hadn’t been triggered. Whoever was there had gotten smarter at their attempt. Slowly he stood and walked backward toward his vehicle. Another twig snaps and this time the alarm on his wrist vibrates. He glances at the image and releases a sigh of relief. The flames calm as his body relaxes. It’s only now that he realizes he’s drenched in sweat. When you pop out of the bushes he pretends to act surprised.

“Holy shit, you scared me.” Jimin shifted on his feet and wiped his brow discreetly. “How did you even know I'm staying here?”

You rocked back and forth nervously, the fact that you were actually in front of him making you lose your words. “I kinda assumed after that night at the carnival when you gestured toward this area. I’m sorry. Have I overstepped?”

Jimin smiled and shook his head. “No, it’s okay.”

It takes you a moment, but you realize you came to him for a reason, and you weren’t leaving until you made things right. “Jimin, I’m sorry to come here unannounced like this. I wasn’t even sure if this was where you were…it’s just that…I wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn’t have been so rude.”

Jimin thought for a moment about how you really just took a risk in coming to his camp in the late hours of the night just to apologize. No one had ever apologized to him before. He bit his bottom lip to keep himself from smiling and opted for shrugging his shoulders instead. “It’s really not a big deal. I pretty much deserved it.”

You don’t agree with his words and move forward almost desperate to get him to understand you really were sorry. “No. You don’t deserve it at all. It’s just that, I don’t really know everything about you, but I can tell that you haven’t exactly had a nice time and I don’t want to be someone that adds on to your burdens. I want to be your friend, Jimin. I truly do. I know that’s not your thing but—.”

Jimin watches you speak, enjoys the way your pretty eyes flick down and back at him, how you wring your hands and attempt to move closer without violating his space. It was all so mesmerizing.

When it’s his turn to speak, he closes his eyes and inhales deeply before exhaling slowly. “Listen. I know you want to be my friend, but it’s just not something I can offer. I don’t stay anywhere very long and I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I don’t even know why I came back here at all.” The frown on your lips isn’t missed by Jimin. He really could be a dick sometimes. “Hey. I’m sorry.”

“No, there is no need to apologize. I shouldn’t have come anyway. I am clearly trespassing on your private time. It wasn’t right of me to come here without asking.” You go to leave but then Jimin feels his stomach twist. He can’t let you go like this. Why did he always fuck everything up?

“Y/n. wait. Please…just…do you want a beer?” Jimin’s smile is lopsided, but he really doesn’t know what to say to diffuse this situation. He knows you should leave, but something in him doesn’t want you to hate him.

The tender way you look at him stirs something in his heart and suddenly he feels a bit lighter.

“Yeah. I’d love that.”

You both settle around the fire and you dominate most of the conversation while Jimin sits and listens completely enthralled. All of your experiences and childhood moments sound like a dream to him. You ramble on about the town, about your friend Lisa, and about your life so far. Jimin is happy to just listen because somehow he’s living vicariously through your stories. He wished he could tell you his life, tell you how he doesn’t remember much about his childhood. He longed to tell you why he never settled anywhere for long and what his family had to endure during the times they were constantly on the run. He ached to tell you everything.

As young and financially desperate students, his parents had agreed to be participants of a questionable experimentation at their university that the head of the science department claimed could enhance academic ability. They figured they’d kill two birds with one stone since the pay for volunteering was a lot of money at the time. While there, they met each other, and after the testing was complete they continued their friendship which soon blossomed into a romance. Years later they were married with Jimin on the way.

They never spoke of the weird abilities they had discovered about themselves, how they could manipulate objects with just the thought in their mind, because the truth of it was, they were scared. When they had signed up to be test subjects they were told that if anything strange were to come up that they should immediately contact the chief doctor, but now that they had Jimin, they weren’t so sure they should reveal such things.

And so as Jimin grew older he started being able to do odd things as well. His parents kept this quiet for as long as they could, but it was getting harder to hide. Wanting to get away from the small town they knew would be quick to spread rumors, they ended up driving halfway across the country to a town called Asheville.

During his time here Jimin lived a quiet life with his parents, and when he turned five, he was able to attend kindergarten. Everything was fine until he started school. He didn’t need to tell you that the community quickly picked up on the quiet and unique family with a son who wasn’t like the other children. He also didn’t need to explain the kids, replicas of their parents, and how they made it clear they didn’t like him. Not that what the kids thought of him mattered. In fact, he didn't care. He knew he was different and that he had to control his emotions because of it. Miraculously, there was one student who caught his attention right from the start—and here you were.

“And well…that’s pretty much what’s been going on around her since you left. How about you?” You pause for a moment watching Jimin’s face twist into a reaction you can’t quite decipher. It took him much too long to respond and all you could focus on was the deafening silence in the darkened forest. Finally the silence was broken when Jimin shifted in his chair.

Huffing through his nose, Jimin took another drink from the can he’d been holding for way too long. The beer was warm now and he liked the idea of him being so entertained by you that he forgot his drink. It was astonishing that merely being in your presence could distract him from his pain more than the alcohol could. He laughed at himself and then stood up slowly. The world around him felt unsteady making him incredibly lightheaded. His face was flushed with the warmth of alcohol coursing through him and he became annoyed at the fact that he’d become this tipsy so quickly.

“I don’t really have much to say. There’s not much to talk about. I’m actually quite boring, but I really enjoyed listening to you. It’s nice to know you’re having an amazing time here. At least one of us got to live a happy life.” He paused to steady himself on a nearby tree and blinked his eyes a few times. This was literally the worst time to feel out of sorts. “Sorry. I think I had one too many beers. I had an early start. I should get to bed.”

You stood up as well and a wave of dizziness hit you. Whatever Jimin was saying didn’t quite compute. How much had you been drinking in between rambling on about your life?

“Yeah…me too. I should really…” You glanced around realizing you didn’t know where you were exactly. Where had you come in? Where was this place even? What time was it? As these thoughts aided your dizzying state, you took a step in a direction you hoped pointed home. Of course you were not successful. Your teetering only lands you in Jimin's arms. It was like a whirlwind before you realized where you were. His arms cradled your body as he held you tight to keep your drunken form from falling. You looked up at him and he looked down at you. That crooked smile back on his face, making your heart flutter once more.

"What happened?" You asked softly.

"You tripped on that branch around your ankle." He said, matching your tone. You stood and he let you go looking down at your ankle, seeing just as he'd described, a leafy branch had caught your shoe and was pulled taught to make you fall.

"Oh..." you said softly, and then looked back at him. "I'm sorry I fell into you..."

He laughed a little. "It's fine. I would catch you any day."

You faltered at his words before looking around again. "Um...shit. Which way was the exit again?"

“I think it’s over that way.” Jimin chuckled.

“Yes I know that, but…where is that way?”

“Um, I don’t know.” Jimin replied, confusing himself. You both looked at each other knowing this wasn’t getting anywhere.

“Okay…look. I know this isn’t … I mean….I would never do something like this but I can’t make it home right now.” You waved your hands around chaotically solidifying your point and Jimin followed your movements in a daze. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Jimin follows your hands and his body begins swaying in the same motion. He nods, not completely sure what you mean.

“It’s just that I don’t want to impose. If I go out there alone…who knows what could happen?” You're rambling like a mad woman and Jimin thinks it’s the most hilarious thing he’s ever seen.

"Y/n stop." Jimin laughs as he cuts you off. "What do you need?" He asks softly, calming you.

"Do you have another sleeping bag? I won't make it home."

“I have two sleeping bags.”

“Great. Could I use one, please?”

Your voice is laced with sweetness, the honey pouring out of it already achieving what you wanted. How could he even say no to you? Your pretty eyes bore into him in such a way he’d be a fool to deny you. “Yea, of course you can.”

Somehow you both managed to find his extra sleeping bag and settled it in his tent. Jimin, although tipsy, knew it wouldn’t be right to sleep in the same place, so he settled in his jeep after everything was quiet. Miraculously he fell asleep right away. It wasn’t until the light of the morning dawn cracked through his window that he remembered where he was. He groaned and turned, realizing that his entire body ached. Slowly things came back to him. He’d been drinking…you came…you both talked and…

Jimin shot up then, sitting rigid and stressed. You were here…outside…in his tent! He searched around for his clothes. When had he removed them? He must’ve gotten hot while he slept. He was always hot. Getting himself together, he stepped out of the vehicle and released a slew of tiny swears. Stretching, he found his water source and rinsed his face and mouth as best as he could. Most of his supplies were in the tent leaving him with limited options to make himself presentable.

What exactly did one do when there was a girl that slept over? This was technically the first time he stayed anywhere near a girl for the entire night and he was freaking out because even though you hadn’t slept together, seeing him like this would be…

Should he make breakfast? Should he clean up? A wave of pain shot through his head and he squeezed it tight. Perhaps he should hydrate and take care of himself first. Distracted by his task, Jimin didn’t see you step out of his tent. You came up to him and tapped him on the shoulder and when he turned around his stomach dropped.

The current state you were in was incredibly distracting and Jimin couldn’t stop himself from staring at you in a most inappropriate manner. His throat became dry and it took him a minute to relax before acknowledging you. The air around you both was completely still and he clenched his fists before breathing out and releasing them. Your hair was a mess, but not in a bad way, more like if you'd been tossed around in a bed after love-making way. He continued to scan over your face landing on your lips which he realized were swollen and his mind began racing with thoughts of him being responsible for it. He felt the heat creep up his spine first and then tingle at his fingertips. As his eyes continued the forbidden path down your body, his breathing became rapid and soon the air became warmer. You didn’t seem to notice since the mornings tended to be a bit frigid, but Jimin knew…he knew he’d better stop himself.

The sweatpants he was wearing were doing him no favors as he felt himself getting aroused simply by standing there. He turned back towards the water and continued to splash his face trying to pretend you didn’t exist.

“Jimin…” you spoke groggily, wondering why he was acting so strange.

It took everything within him to swallow down the pathetic groan he was about to release solely at the sound of your voice. “Yeah?” His reply was weak, the pathetic attempt at holding himself together frustrating him.

“Sorry for crashing last night. I don’t usually drink that much. But…um do you have a restroom or something out here?”

Jimin turned then at the concern in your voice and realized that his bathroom wasn’t exactly ideal. He panicked. “Ugh…yeah well…no. I have this partition you can use to cover if you need. I’m sorry I’m not really set up for guests or anything.”

“Don’t be silly. It was my fault I got drunk off my ass and stayed. I’ll use whatever.”

Jimin nodded and dried his face with a towel. He found the equipment you needed and set up a privacy area several feet away from the camp. While you were away, he paced and moved about unsure of what he should do or say once you returned. Relationships have always been hard to come by and maintaining his composure without being awkward was becoming a real struggle. It didn’t take long before you arrived and the first thing you asked for was water. This was something he could do, so Jimin handed you a bottle, but then you both stood standing next to each other in silence.

“Um…so…thanks again, Jimin. You’re really a lifesaver. I might have gotten lost in the woods as drunk as I was.” You chuckled trying out some humor to break the tension and it worked because Jimin cracked a beautiful smile.

“It was really no trouble at all. Do you need me to walk you out now?” Again he bit his tongue after speaking, knowing he sounded rude. He wasn’t trying to kick you out or anything.

“No. I got it. But thanks. I’ll see you around?”

“Yeah.”

With a shy smile you walked off and Jimin watched as you did. It was the first time he’d spent this much time with anyone. And the best part was that it had been you. He caught himself smiling before shaking it off and forcing himself to remember what he was supposed to be doing—getting ready for work.

PART TWO

🜍🜍🜍

(Oh my silly Jimin! What do you think is going on in his silly little head? Isn’t he just the cutest?👀)

🜍🜍🜍

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sohemotional · 1 year

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Firestarter - Brittana AU

Summary: Santana has two secrets that no one in the world can find out about. One is the fact that she’s head over heels in love with her best friend. The other is that she has the superhuman ability to create fire from thin air.

Exposure to a strange, red meteor rock gives Santana the ability to create fire and now it’s threatening to burn her up from the inside out unless she admits her true feelings for Brittany.

Rating: M, NSFW

A/N: This is a Brittana AU set in the Smallville universe that I’ve been working on for a while. It’s set in the same universe as my other story “I’ll Keep You By My Side (With My Superhuman Might)” so if you’d like more context you can check that out. Frankenfinn’s “Red Fire” is based in a similar universe. So according to the Smallville wiki: "Red Kryptonite brings out the rebellious and immoral personality of Kryptonians and rids them of their inhibitions. The effects of Red Kryptonite are likened to that of being under the influence of too much alcohol or narcotics, without the loss of physical capability."

I’m bending the rules a little on how this kryptonite works. So during the meteorite crash, Santana gets infected with the red kryptonite and it causes a mutation which leads to her developing fire powers. Whenever she’s exposed to red kryptonite again, it makes her powers much stronger and has all of the same effects on her as a human that it would have on Kryptonians.

Part I

All she remembers is explosive anger. It’s the emotion that takes over the entire Lopez household and reaches a boiling point inside of little Santana. To their neighbours, they’re a picture perfect family, always decked out in the finest, most expensive clothes and appearing at church every Sunday or parties held by the richest local WASP families in the community.

Behind closed doors, everything is volatile. Santana’s Papi and Mami are fighting again, as they always do, while her uncles and aunts are joining in with vicious words. Anger is how everything starts. Their voices get louder, reaching a deafening pitch.

All of the appliances in the house are running on full blast, her mother trying to busy herself with cooking an elaborate meal in the kitchen in the middle of the shouting match. Santana is five and she covers her ears with a grimace, frowning when Abuela gives her another disapproving glance as she storms away and shouts that she hates her family.

“Santana! Behave yourself right now!” Abuela’s furious tone sets Santana off even more when she grabs the little girl by the arm forcefully as she scolds her. “No! Leave me alone, you old hag!” Sometimes Santana likes her Abuela but right now she glares at her, annoyed at the judgmental look on the old woman’s face and she hates her. She’s annoyed by the way she can never do anything right for her grandmother.

Abuela gasps, appalled and slaps her on the same arm. It’s her left arm and Santana thinks about how Abuela never liked how Santana has only ever been able to do things with her left hand. She always mumbles things about “The Devil” whenever she notices Santana using that hand and encourages her to try with her right.

Her Mami gets angry at Abuela for saying such things.

“You little viper! What has happened to you, Child!?”Santana runs away with an angry scream before Abuela can hit her again. Mami and Papi would be furious with Santana if they found out how rude she was but luckily they’re too busy fighting each other.

She goes into her room and hides under her bed, curling into a ball. The house remains loud and then it’s as if something snaps. Everything explodes. There’s heat, then the smell of smoke reaches her nostrils as she crawls out from under the bed and tries to get out of her room. The door jams and she can’t escape so she starts to panic.

No one seems to hear her when she screams for help. Sweat begins to pour down her small face and Santana can’t breathe. Shouting turns into fearful screams down below. There’s another explosion, a ball of fire hits her and it’s a complete blur as she flails her arms uselessly. She feels suffocated and the room around her eventually fades to black.

When she wakes up on a stretcher and wondering if she’s really alive, she’s surrounded by firefighters and there’s the sound of Mami weeping nearby. The pain is excruciating. The firefighters struggle to put out the flames that are still engulfing the Lopez mansion, pieces of shiny rock fragments scattered all around the garden by the basement window. There’s a shower of more of those red crystals all over the Lopez complex and sharp pieces of them are wedged into her skin.

“Meteor rock” was what Papi would call it later when Santana found a piece while they made their way through the wreckage of the house days later and had shown him, her eyes lit up in fascination. That blood red crystal is glowing now, almost tauntingly at her from every angle, like red eyes, unaffected by the flames and she irrationally hates it. It terrifies her. She swears the rock is somehow feeding those flames, making them more intense and the fire itself turns an unnatural shade of maroon like the colour of the rock but no one other than her seems to notice.

There’s no time to think because people are screaming and it’s not just her house that's on fire but many in the same street.The doctors say Santana has second and third degree burns all over her body when she gets to the overcrowded hospital. There’ll be craters and scars all over her forever, they say. Yet something inexplicable happens, the burns disappear just hours later to the amazement of everyone.

No one can explain it. Santana’s skin is even smoother and more even than it was before. It looks polished. Santana doesn’t feel a thing, relieved that the pain is finally gone. No one in the family talks about how odd it is that Santana healed so quickly. She thinks about the meteor rock and wonders if somehow that ruby-red stone that she was surrounded with had somehow protected her.

Maribel Lopez moves herself and her daughter to a new house in Smallville once the divorce is finalized and Santana breathes a sigh of relief that the arguments between her parents are done after Papi is no longer around.

___

“Carlos has been getting straight As. He’s already at the top of his class,” Tia Carmen, the older sister of Santana’s mother, boasts with that smug smirk she always wears as she parades her immaculately dressed children around after church when they get back to Maribel’s house. “Of course, he’s also so very athletic and so popular at his age.”

“Yes, yes, Carmen. Congratulations,” Maribel replies in a slightly bored drawl. “I do wish Santana would study harder and try to apply herself. I can’t get that child to behave. She has such a hot temper.”

Santana has heard these talks a million times before from her grandmother, aunts and uncles. According to her family, nothing she can do measures up. Whatever she does will never be as impressive as what her cousins do. So Santana doesn’t see any point in trying too hard.

“Don’t worry, Dear. Not everyone can be brilliant. I’m sure your Santana will find… something she can do.”

Santana hides under the table, listening to her mother talk to her aunts. She scowls and the anger wells up in her until it has nowhere else to go. She runs out from under the tablecloth and it’s as if the flames just burst out of her, engulfing the furniture and the carpet.

“Santana! What did you do?!” Abuela demands, rounding on her and grabbing her by the sleeve. “I know you had something to do with this. You… you found my box of matches!”“I didn’t do it!”

Santana argues back loudly in her high-pitched little voice. Maribel rushes for the fire extinguisher, trying to get everything under control and her relatives all turn to glare at Santana while she shrugs, shaking her head before storming away.

It’s tough being different. She’s already different because she likes girls the way she’s supposed to like boys and now there’s this… this weird fire thing she has. Her mother doesn’t know for sure what’s wrong but after one too many accidental fires at Christmas parties and birthdays, she tells her she needs to control herself.

The family thinks this is a phase, a ploy for her to get attention. Though it says a lot that the only time they give her any attention is when she accidentally torches yet another thing. They tell her that if she keeps it up, she’ll be arrested for arson and ask her where she’s hiding the matches.

“Don’t think I will be the one bailing you out, Santana. You make your bed, you lie in it.” Abuela reminds her for the five hundredth time while the child rolls her eyes.

She’s insecure about a lot of things, mainly her parents’ divorce that she’s sure she caused and knowing that she’s a weirdo with freak powers. She makes her first and only real friend soon.

Being a human flamethrower isn’t easy but Brittany S. Pierce is the most beautiful thing ever in existence. She makes all of the torment worth it. The other kids are wary of her edginess, seeming to sense her anger and all stay away from her. Brittany doesn't get scared of her at all.

“Hi, I’m Brittany.” A six year-old, freckled blonde with a pretty, rosy flush to her cheeks smiles sweetly.

Santana attempts to growl and bare her teeth on instinct, fearful of other people but all that comes out is something like a nervous whimper. That never happened to her before with another kid. She tries to scowl to make up for the pathetic sound.

Brittany’s smile doesn’t go away and Santana is somewhat annoyed but flustered about how Brittany doesn’t shrink away from her in fear like the other students do whenever she threatens them. She tries a scarier approach. Brittany is too pretty so she can't have her around.

“I’m Santana Lopez and you better stay away!”

Brittany just tilts her head to the side and stares at her blankly, then she smiles. Her smile is so cute that Santana forgets everything she is about to say.

“You’re really funny. I like your black hair and your red shirt.”

No one has ever complimented Santana on anything before at school and it makes her lose her cool for a moment, her heart beating a little faster. Brittany just smiles even wider and hugs her when Santana attempts to look scary. Santana doesn’t push her away.

She has never let anyone hug her like this before.She completely melts and hates the fact that she likes Brittany’s hug so much. Santana has seen blue eyes before but never the warm, playful ones Brittany has that are upturned and cat-like and seem to be able to see right through her.

Her entire body feels hot, as if there’s liquid fire running through her veins and she feels like she can do anything with Brittany at her side. They’re best friends after that, just like that after one comment by Brittany. She takes the blonde’s hand and holds it tightly, leading her over to the playground.

They’re closer than best friends, really. She walks around the school aimlessly, feeling lost whenever Brittany is sick and home from school. Santana starts to imagine them as grown ups, still doing everything together.

Then quickly the image morphs into just the two of them, living together. It’s as if they’re married to each other. Just them and their love for each other, as it should be. It’s a silly image, she thinks and tries to bury it deep, to pretend she doesn’t desperately want that life with Brittany.

“I really wanna kiss you right now.” The blonde girl comments casually out of nowhere, laying on her bed sideways and hanging upside down off of it as they do homework together.

Sparks fly from Santana and she nearly explodes, in the literal sense of the word but she exercises every bit of self-control she has to avoid torching Brittany’s bedroom.

Kissing Brittany is all Santana can think about for the rest of the night and the next week yet Brittany is so casual about it as if she hasn’t just caused Santana to practically spontaneously combust as soon as she uttered the words.

One day, a group of cheerleaders are bullying Brittany, calling her names like “Stupid” and “Weird.” Santana sees the tears welling up in the blonde’s soft blue eyes along with the way her chin crumples and her lower lip wobbles.

She goes ballistic, marching up to the group of them as Brittany starts to cry openly, covering her face with her hands.

“How dare you treat her like that!” She roars, shoving one of the girls so hard she slams into a wall and turning to face the others furiously.

“You have a problem with that, Santana?” Chelsea drawls. “Brittany’s the dumbest girl in the entire school and I guess you must be too if you’re defending her.”

She creates the tiniest flame on the tip of her finger and flicks it onto its intended target. Of course, she’s discreet and no one sees her. Predictably, the group of girls begin to scream as the ends of Chelsea’s long, dishwater blonde hair are now on fire.

When the girls run away after the flames have been outed, Santana gets down onto her knees, pulling Brittany into her arms as she nuzzles into the crook of the darker-skinned girl’s neck as if seeking her protection.

The thing about Brittany is that she thinks on another wavelength and lives in another world. A beautiful world, Santana thinks. Fairies and mermaids and every other kind of creature exist in Brittany’s world and Santana is amazed by that.

At the same time, not everyone thinks as innocently as the blonde and she has to protect her from the cruel world they live in.

“Britt, where are you going?” She finds the blonde heading in the wrong direction with her head in the clouds and puts her arm around her shoulders protectively, pulling her in close and steering her gently back towards their math class.

“Oh sorry. I was thinking about cats and I guess I got lost,” Brittany sighs in relief, resting her head against Santana’s shoulder. “Good thing I have you.”

Santana isn’t expecting it, accidentally setting fire to the wall nearby as flames blast out of her hands when the blonde leans in to brush her soft lips against hers for just a few seconds.

In her effort to not burn Brittany, she uses every cell in her body to concentrate on burning the wall instead. She holds Brittany close, taking her to safety as the fire begins to spread and her eyes dart around, making sure that no one else saw what just happened.

It’s a good thing the hallways were almost completely empty and Brittany was in front of her, blocking her body from view. It’s at that moment that she realizes how deep her feelings are. They don’t talk about what the kiss meant but it’s as if everything has suddenly changed, every touch and conversation between them charged with tension.

Santana is lucky enough that the school doesn’t link her to the fire this time even though she has been in the same place as two incidents now.She can never tell Brittany how much she likes her or about her powers.

Smallville is a weird little hick town known for nothing except its endless fields of corn and that weird meteorite shower from way back when she was a kid that no one ever wants to talk about. Someone like herself will never fit in here.